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 :

• Part 2: Kettlebell, TRX, & Ultimate Sandbag Exercises for Hurt Shoulders and Pulled Hamstrings
  Troy Anderson
  This is a superb follow-up to Troy's Top 7 Hamstring and Shoulder Injury Recovery Exercises, and introduces another batch of creative exercise combinations. Good stuff.




• Straight to the Bar Flickr Group
  Various authors
  There have been several great photos posted here recently (you'll see some of them in the sidebar), notably by Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  And yes, it's free.

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : I've set up a new commenting system for Straight to the Bar, which makes it even easier to share your views with the world. You can log in using your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus accounts. Much simpler.

To kick things off (and to test that everything's working correctly), I'd love it if you could share a few thoughts. If you can, please leave comments on 2 or 3 of the superb articles on the site.

Thank you. It really is appreciated.

Incidentally, if you're looking for a list of the various articles by a particular author, head over here :

straighttothebar.com/articles/sttbauthors

Cheers.

Video : Broomstick Shoulder Mobility Drills

A couple of simple ways to get the shoulders ready for action. Nice one.

Twitterchat 123 - Nutrition for Beginners II

Over the past few years I've gradually been refining my diet, and seeing some incredible benefits in the process.

This is the second part of the 'Nutrition for Beginners' discussion, taking a further look at the things we eat; and how to adjust that to our advantage. To reduce weight, improve health, accelerate recovery, reduce stress and a whole lot more.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than All Round Athlete's Dean Coulson (@DeanCoulson ). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Nutrition for Beginners II
When : Wed Jun 22, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

If you've never been to one of these twitterchats before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Turning a Good Gym into a Great Gym. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's a brief summary. Was a great one.

Tip of the Week: Add Tennis Balls to Your Pull-ups

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, facebook, the forums, 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 via David Heaton (@Alpha82), and is part of a longer conversation on twitter, facebook and email. Enjoy.

---

Looking for a challenge? Grab a couple of tennis balls.

Via David :

@scottbird here's a tip for grip, Hold tennis balls in the palm of your hand while doing pullups! If you've never done this try it and feel it!

NB : While you've got the tennis balls out, there are a couple of other ways to use them in the gym. They're great things to always have available.

Two of the most common are for soft tissue work and for direct grip training. Good fun.

Looking Forward To : Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement

This looks great; perfectly combining three of my own passions.

First - and perhaps most obvious - is a fascination with the Olympic games themselves. With only 403 days to go (there's a countdown clock on the London 2012 site), it's definitely time to start planning things.

Second is the historical aspect. There have been some superb sports presented at the Games over the years, both as demonstration and competion sports. Tug-of-war, Roque and many, many more. Love it.

Third is the fact that - and yes, I know this is somewhat unusual - I collect dictionaries. Odd, yes, but also fascinating.

Overall, it's a fantastic mix. No matter which aspect of things (perhaps even all three) appeals to you, keep your eyes open for the Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Beautiful.

Quick update on the The Ultimate Sandbag : Last week we noted the incredible Ultimate Sandbag. Beautiful thing.

Whether you're looking at it as a conditioning or strength-building tool (or both), swing by the Straight to the Bar Guide to Sandbag Training. Loads of information there, examples and ideas.

Dive in.

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 :

• Old-Time Strongman Performances
  Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
  Brief clips from some of Mike's Strongman shows. Good stuff.
  
• Robert Lucarelli's DIY Equipment
  Robert Lucarelli
  I love a spot of DIY, and here are a few examples of Rob's work. Nice one.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Double Overhand Axle Power Shrugs

Love a spot of yoke work? Same here.

Twitterchat 98 - Improving Your Client's Success

There are many ways to set your training-related goals - whether they're goals for a particular competition or overall fitness goals for the year. To lift this much, run that far, beat that time and so on.

This week we're taking a look at a spot of goal-setting, and several other elements that make up a client's success. Behaviour change models, motivation etc; from both the athlete's and the trainer's point of view. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Food and Fitness's Anthony Paradis (@foodnfitness). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Improving Your Client's Success
When : Wed Dec 29, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Training for Football : AFL. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Ever tried a little Australian Rules football?

Considering : Equipment for the Home Gym

I love the home gym - it's the perfect place to get away from everything for a while, and focus on building a stronger, faster, fitter me. Good fun.

Looking around, I'm certainly not the only one. If you're in the market for a bit of equipment (whether you're just setting up the gym, or adding to the one you've already got), take a look around places such as the Exercise & Fitness area on Amazon. Some very interesting ideas in there.

One item that caught my eye is this neck-training machine. Personally, I'm a fan of the neck harness approach, but I'm curious : has anyone here used a machine such as this?Thoughts?

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 :

• The Pistol Squat
  Al Kavadlo
  Always learning new skills and combinations, Al takes a look at this extremely challenging bodyweight (or with added resistance) exercise.
  
• Training Logs
  Various athletes
  There are many, many ways to train. Here are just a few.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the SU and Twitter icons beneath each post). Cheers.

Video : Staggered Stiff-Legged Deadlifts

Interesting variation.

Twitterchat 97 - Training for Football : AFL

No matter which sports you enjoy, if a spot of Australian Rules Football (AFL) is on the list you're in for a treat. It's certainly a fast-paced and - if you're not used to it - somewhat unusual game. Highly recommended.

This week we're taking a look at the training required for this particular code, and how it compares to other forms of the game. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Alpha Kettlebell's Troy Anderson (@troyATS). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Training for Football : AFL
When : Wed Dec 22, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Fitness Gifts. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you ever buy yourself a fitness gift or two? What sorts of things?

Watching : The Corrections

I'm a long-time fan of Jordan Vezina's work, and I really admire stuff like this.

Jordan has put his entire DVD 'The Corrections' on Youtube, for anyone to watch - completely free. And yes, it's superb information.

To check out all the videos (the DVD's been broken into several parts, separated by topic), swing by Strength Beyond Strength.

Superb.

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 :

• Three Technique Corrections for Tearing Your First Deck of Cards
  Jedd Johnson
  Just getting started? Perfect.
  
• Combat Trainer Chronicles
  Rob DeCillis
  Rob's training log. Good stuff.
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like, Digg and Retweet icons). Cheers.

Video : How to Climb a Rope

Keen to add a little rope-climbing to your training mix, but not quite sure how?

Jim explains the most common techniques. Nice one.

Constructing : Suspension Handles

Want a great project for your next free evening? How about building a few sets of handles for use with sleds, suspension trainers and much, much more. Inexpensive, simple to make and incredibly versatile.

Over to Ryan.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 76 - Photographing Strength Athletes

Two things I've been immersing myself in for years are a passion for photography (ranging from creating images to collecting vintage cameras), and a serious love of strength training. Doing, watching, supporting, and of course, talking about. Absolutely love it.

This week we'll be combining these two incredible pastimes, taking a look at the best ways to photograph/video either yourself or a competing strength athlete. Everything from 'which camera to use', to how to record the audio so people can hear it over the wind noise, to the ways of getting some great - and legal - music onto your Youtube videos. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Daniel Ng, (@daniel_hautjobb); a man who's been combining some serious odd-object work with photography for years now. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Photographing Strength Athletes
When : Wed Jul 28, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to Tim Hull (@THull) and everyone else who took part in the discussion on Incorporating Strongman Training. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you incorporate a little Strongman work in your training, and in what form?

Getting Ready For : The 1,000 Pound Total

The third part of Brooks Kubik's (Dinosaur Training) incredible Legacy of Iron series (Legacy of Iron and Clouds of War) is arriving soon.

This volume - The 1,000 Pound Total - covers the real-life battle between Steve Stanko and John Davis to become the first man in history to total 1,000 pounds in the three Olympic lifts.

Fantastic.

Exercise of the Week : TTK Negatives

These are superb. For more brilliant ways to put the Titan's Telegraph Key (TTK) to work, swing by Jedd's excellent article Getting the Most out of Your TTK. Good stuff.

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 :

• Floral Apron Adventures
  GoodyGirl77
  Hard and heavy.
  
• Australian Fitness Tour
  Various Authors
  Superb idea for a trip. Which places, competitions and groups would you suggest?
  

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like, Digg and Retweet icons). Cheers.

Video : Brad Pilon - 6 Meals per Day

No doubt you've heard the '6 Meals per Day' advice at some point. But just what qualifies as a meal? You may be surprised.

Over to Brad.

Deal of the Week : TRX Kettlebell - Iron Circuit Conditioning

A blend of kettlebell and TRX goodness - fantastic.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 75 - Incorporating Strongman Training

I've been a fan of Strongman training for as long as I can remember; the beautifully simple idea of 'picking up something heavy, and putting it down somewhere else'. Love it.

This week we're taking a close look at the world of Strongman, specifically at how to integrate it with your existing training. No matter whether you're a professional athlete or just someone who loves taking care of themselves.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than The Strength Doctor, Tim Hull (@THull); a man who's been exploring the possibilities of Strongman work in his own training. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Incorporating Strongman Training
When : Wed Jul 21, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Quick update on last week's twitterchat : Thanks once again to Robert DeCillis (@CombatTrainer) and everyone else who took part in the discussion on Conditioning. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, I'd love to hear your thoughts. What sort of conditioning do you favour, and in what form? How do you measure your progress?

Getting Ready For : Super Human Training

Super Human Training is a series of interviews (one per week) with some of the strongest guys around.

Hosting the discussions is none other than Logan Christopher (certainly no slouch himself in the arena of Strongman). And to give you an idea of just how cool this is, here are a few of the guys you'll be learning from :

• Andrew Durniat
• Steve McGranahan
• Adam Glass
• Mike Mahler
• Ryan Pitts

And many more. Fantastic.

Exercise of the Week : Lever Side Bend

This is one of the many superb exercises detailed in Adam's brilliant Leverage Lifts article; definitely a keeper. Dive in, and enjoy.

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 :

• First Powerlifting Meet
  Various authors
  On the forums, both Chris and Meatax are getting ready for their first powerlifting meet (fantastic experience). What advice would you give them?
  
• Floral Apron Adventures : 26
  GoodyGirl77
  The hard training continues. Nice one.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.

NB : if you enjoy the articles, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the Like, Digg and Retweet icons). Cheers.

Video : Pain Time - Farmers' Holds

Combining grip strength, mental toughness and a great posterior chain workout. Farmers' Holds.

Checking Out : Bulldog Leash

Just noticed this on the Art of Strength site - the Bulldog Leash. Essentially a covered 10' length of chain designed to attach to the base of a kettlebell, ready for swinging, lifting, throwing, and other fun things.

Looks fantastic.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 63 - Kettlebell Training for Beginners : I love training with kettlebells. Indoors or outdoors, by themselves or with ropes, bands and other fun things.

This week we're taking a look at Kettlebell Training for Beginners - how to get started with this wonderful form of training, what to use and where to go for help. The way to go from a complete novice to someone who uses them on a regular basis.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating world is Jackie, better known as @girlwithnoname. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Kettlebell Training for Beginners
When : Wed Apr 28, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets.

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

NB : If you'd like to be a guest on a future twitterchat, let me know. It's great to hear how other people are training.

Nitro Circus Live

Last night, 60 Minutes (the Australian version) had a segment on motocross rider and stuntman Travis Pastrana; the core of Nitro Circus.

For anyone who's currently enjoying the sun in this beautiful part of the world, there's a great chance to check out Travis in action - the Nitro Circus Live show. Fantastic.

Learning From : Free eBooks, Podcasts and More

I've added a number of ebooks to the list of items that newsletter subscribers receive. For everyone who's already signed up, here are the links. As a bonus, there are also a number of sites, podcasts and newsletters I recommend :

Free eBooks, Podcasts and More

NB : if you'd like to recommend an item to add to this list - whether it's yours or just one you've stumbled across - I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.

Exercise of the Week : Band-Assisted Handstand Push-up

Handstand Push-ups are great things, and this is the perfect way to test them out. Band assisted.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• The Human Flag
  Al Kavadlo
  Al takes a look at a another great exercise - the Human Flag. Good fun.
  
• 635lb Deadlift at 196lb Bodyweight
  Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
  The deadlift PRs keep on coming. Nice one Mike.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Traveling Push Up

Another great push-up variety - the Traveling Push Up.

Good fun.

Deal of the Week : Powerclubs

I love club training.

During the week I got a couple of emails from people asking where to get clubs in the UK; the short answer, London Kettlebells. Perfect.

Incidentally, no matter where you are in the world, there's a good chance that you're not too far from a supplier of these wonderful tools. Here are several others that I've used over the years, as well as those that come highly recommended by trainers I've worked with.

Enjoy.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 58 - Making Your Own : Combat Training Equipment : Building your own gym equipment is a fantastic way to kickstart the home gym, no matter what your training goals are. What's more, it's an inexpensive way to get a taste of the many options available.

This week we're diving into the world of DIY Combat Training Equipment - everything from medicine balls and sandbags to clubs, rings and push-up boards. There are hundreds of superb home-made tools just waiting to be constructed.

Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is Keith Johnson - better known as (@Ogedei). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Making Your Own : Combat Training Equipment
When : Wed Mar 24, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading : The Bending eBook

This is a fantastic book.

Although it came out more than 3 years ago now, I still refer to this book regularly (the review will help explain why). And what's more, the latest version contains a host of updates which will certainly help take your bending up a notch.

Filled with detailed information on the materials and techniques you'll need, this is an incredible resource. If you're just getting serious about short steel bending, you need this book.

Brilliant.

Exercise of the Week : Renegade Row

The Renegade Row is a fantastic exercise.

Named after Coach John 'The Renegade' Davies, it's a controlled lift with each arm (independently) from a near-push-up position. As with many exercises, the simplest way to learn it is to see a bit of video, and try it out for yourself.

Here's the kettlebell version of the humble Renegade Row. Good fun.

NB : the weights being lifted can be in the form of kettlebells, dumbbells or anything else that's close to hand. Experiment.

On the Forums

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, head over to the forums :

• All About Australian Pull-ups
  Al Kavadlo
  Al takes a look at a great exercise - the Australian Pull-up.
  
• Two PRS : Bench and Squat
  A great day in the gym.
  

Ready to add your own workout log or training article? Just head over to the Articles & Logs page and log in, and click 'Post to Your Blog'. That's all there is to it.

NB : if you like what you see, show the authors your appreciation by voting (using the icons for Digg, StumbleUpon etc above each article). Cheers.

Video - Steve Maxwell: Half-Moon/Iranian Twisting Push-Up

Enjoy last week's Circular Push-ups? Grab a taekhte and try these.

Good fun.

Deal of the Week - TRX Mobile Workouts

In last week's twitterchat we noted the value of the TRX for combat athletes. Here's a simple way to store your favourite workout or two on a mobile device - the TRX Mobile Workouts.

Good fun.

Coming Events

Twitterchat 57 - Achieving Optimum Health : It's pretty clear that health is strongly connected to your training. Feel better and you're well on the way to a solid performance in the gym.

This week we're diving into the world of Optimum Health - how to eat better, feel better, and function better in the weight-room. Helping us to navigate this fascinating area is NU FIT's, own Max Barry (@NU_FiT). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Optimum Health
When : Wed Mar 17, 9pm EST (1am UTC)
How : include #sbgym in your tweets (here's how)

To see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the twitterchat calendar.

See you there.

Got an event that you'd like to add? Let me know.

Reading - The Primal Blueprint

Over the past week I've been getting a number of questions about my diet, particularly on the difference between Paleo and Primal approaches. The Primal Blueprint (full review) takes a detailed look at the Primal side of the fence.

As Sandy notes, since switching to Primal he's noted a number of changes in both body composition and overall health. If you're curious to see how, pick up a copy of The Primal Blueprint.

Great book.

Exercise of the Week : Battling Ropes Pole Pull

I love Battling Ropes work, and this is one of my favourite exercises. The humble Pole Pull.

Enjoy.

Video

I love training outdoors, and a workout on the beach is about as good as it gets. Here's a CrossFit Inferno Team session on the sand; featuring Leaping Burpees, Sandbag SDLHPs and other fun things. Enjoy.

Event

The Australian Strongman scene's, well, growing. Here's an event which should really get things moving - the 2008 Oz Strongman Nationals (Nov 9 in Brisbane, Queensland). And yes, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on that one.


If you'd like to recommend a site or event to us, send us an email.