This Week on Straight to the Bar
I’m constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you’re looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you’ll enjoy these :
What is More Effective for Building Muscle Mass: Intensity or Volume?
Matthew Denos
Few repetitions with heavy weights or more repetitions with light weights?
Conor’s Corner : Instability Training
Conor Doherty
Invaluable Tool, or Flavour of the Month?
Over to you. I’d love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.
NB : If you’d like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here’s how.
Video : Zakaveli’s One Arm Pull-Ups
I’ve never seen so many strict One Arm Pull-Ups. Fantastic.
Gymchat 196 – Explaining Crossfit Principles (with Dai ‘The Moose’ Manuel)
If you’ve spent any time exploring the world of fitness, chances are you’ve heard of CrossFit.
This week we’re going to be discussing the thinking behind it – what it is, and the logic behind doing things the CrossFit way. The daily workouts, Olympic Lifting, diet and a whole lot more. Helping us tackle it is CrossFit Level 1 Coach, Dai Manuel. Fantastic.
NB : I’m very keen to hear both Dai‘s thinking on CrossFit, and yours. If you’ve got questions or opinions on the CrossFit approach, join us on the Hangout. Here’s how.
Details –
Who : CrossFit Level 1 Coach, Dai Manuel, Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine and you.
Topic : Explaining Crossfit Principles
When : Thursday Jan 24, 9pm EST
How : Google+ Hangout. If you’ve never been to one, here’s how to take part.
URL : We’ll be announcing this shortly – both on the blog and on Google+ itself.
NB : If you’re keen to fire in a question or three, be sure to get there early. In addition to Kirk and the Interviewee, only the first 8 people to join us on the Hangout (and here’s how) will be able to join in the conversation. Everyone else will be able to watch, but not ask questions.
See you there.
If you’d like to suggest a future topic, or schedule an interview for one of the upcoming discussions, you can contact us here. Look forward to hearing from you.
Previously : In Gymchat 195 we talked about ‘Fitness Over 40‘, with Corporate Trainer Kevin Redman and Personal Trainer Kirk Fontaine. Great discussion.
If you missed the broadcast, the full video is available over on Kirk’s Youtube Channel. That’s also the best place to subscribe to the videos directly, and to see previous discussions.
If you’d like to suggest a future topic, or schedule an interview for one of the upcoming discussions, you can send us a message privately here, or swing by our Community site on Google+. Look forward to hearing from you.
Tip of the Week: Finding a Good Training Partner
Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there’s always a way to improve what you’re doing.
This tip comes to us from the Gymchat on ‘Motivation‘, and is part of a longer discussion of training partners. Enjoy.
Over to Roger :
Finding a good training partner is rough and really all depends on the person’s temperament. Some like to train with someone who is far above them as motivation to get better while others like someone who is at their level or slightly beyond them, otherwise they get discouraged because the gap is so wide (a prime example of that negative self talk).
I would start by just searching the gym for someone who does a similar style of training (or something completely different if you’re in to trying new things) that you do or someone who has attributes that you’d like to have (e.g. freaky strong, etc) and strike up a chat with them. You already have at least the gym in common, so start there.
Good stuff.
Checking Out : Eat and Run – My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness
This looks superb.
Eat and Run covers the story of Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek. Co-written with author Steve Friedman, it’s a memoir looking at just what it’s taken to master such a gruelling sport. Everything from diet to the mental side of running Ultramarathons.
Fantastic.
NB : Although this book actually came out in a couple of formats a few months back, I was waiting for this one (the paperback). And yes, it’s still on my ‘books to read‘ list.
Quick update on the Renaissance Fitness Supplement Kits we mentioned recently – superb idea.
As we noted, we’ll be reviewing these just as soon as they’re available. And if you missed the announcement, here’s a brief video to explain the basic idea :
For more information, head on over to the official site – renaissancefitnessinc.com.
Exercise of the Week : Depth Jump to Box Jump
Two bodyweight staples – Depth Jumps and Box Jumps. Nice one.
Incidentally, if you’d like to get in touch regarding this or any other aspect of strength, you can contact me here. Look forward to hearing from you.
Kettlebell Exercise Demonstrations & Tutorials
We’ve looked at a lot of kettlebell exercises and variations over the years – in the form of tips, tutorials and demonstrations.
Where do you find them all? Right here – a complete list of Kettlebell Exercise Demonstrations & Tutorials.
Enjoy.
Free Downloads from the Strength Kit
I recently added a number of resources to the Straight to the Bar Strength Kit, and as a Strength & Fitness Newsletter subscriber you’re more than welcome to download as many of them as you like. Several great eBooks, podcasts and videos – all absolutely free.
Just head over here, save them to your hard-drive, and dive in.
Good stuff.
NB : This is an ever-changing list. If you’d like to put your own work in front of a fantastic strength-focussed audience, let me know.
Want to Help Out?
As you might expect, at Straight to the Bar we’re always looking for new ways to share the love of strength-training with the world. Via the main site, the weekly Gymchats, this newsletter and a whole lot more.
We’ve got a new project coming up (a couple actually), and we’re looking for someone to help out with the graphics side of things. In return we offer not only our eternal admiration, but the sincere appreciation of the entire strength-training community. And, of course, the myriad connections and opportunities that go along with that.
If you’re a designer (think illustrations more than physical products) and have more than a passing fondness for the world of strength training, get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.