8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

I'm a big fan of both physical and mental strength, and this book has an intriguing combination of the two. Mark Divine's 8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

Here's a comment from the Amazon page to give you a taste :

Jumping into this program taught me something really important: you cannot HIDE from the work required here. I've been doing more traditional weight lifting and strength programs at the gym over the last many months, and while the plans and programs have gone rather well for me, in just six days of working on this program I realized that I hadn't been giving it my all, and I'd been cutting corners. With 8 Weeks to SEALfit, if you stay committed to the work in front of you, you can't hide. And that's a great thing.

Good stuff. 8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

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 :

• Gem From The Vault : Straight to the Grip Contest Part V - The No-sets
  'Napalm' Jedd Johnson
  Looking for a great DIY project?

  
  

• Looking At : Apr 5, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

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're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Relentless Performance

Essential.

Gymchat 280 - How to GRIND for Your Gains (Nassim Jebran)

Nassim Jebran.

Whether it's for your own training or in competition (or both), it's an essential skill. Helping explain exactly what's involved - and how to maximise things - is Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Nassim and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : How to GRIND for Your Gains
When : Sunday Apr 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Speedbag Punch Technique

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.

The humble speedbag is a fantastic tool. When it comes to the right way to use it, there's no better place to discuss technique than the incredible Speed Bag Forum.

Amazing place.

This tip comes to us from SBF's own Alan Kahn, and looks at a couple of the basic techniques (leading up to a front + side punch combination). Good stuff.

Re-Reading : 8 Weeks to SEALFIT - A Navy SEAL's Guide to Unconventional Training for Physical and Mental Toughness

8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

I'm a big fan of both physical and mental strength, and this book has an intriguing combination of the two. Mark Divine's 8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

Here's a comment from the Amazon page to give you a taste :

Jumping into this program taught me something really important: you cannot HIDE from the work required here. I've been doing more traditional weight lifting and strength programs at the gym over the last many months, and while the plans and programs have gone rather well for me, in just six days of working on this program I realized that I hadn't been giving it my all, and I'd been cutting corners. With 8 Weeks to SEALfit, if you stay committed to the work in front of you, you can't hide. And that's a great thing.

Good stuff. 8 Weeks to SEALFIT.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

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 :

• Gem From The Vault : The Zercher Squat
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Superb exercise.

  
  

• Looking At : Apr 5, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

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're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Beginners' Calisthenics Tutorial - Core

This is a great series. Here's part 3 - abdominal work.

Gymchat 280 - How to GRIND for Your Gains (Nassim Jebran)

Nassim Jebran.

Whether it's for your own training or in competition (or both), it's an essential skill. Helping explain exactly what's involved - and how to maximise things - is Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Nassim and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : How to Grind for Your Gains
When : Sunday Apr 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Neck Bridge Progressions

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 is in the form of a video which we first saw back in 2008; I was reminded of this technique after a brief discussion of neck training over on Google+. It's a very interesting series of neck bridge variations.

Over to Martin Rooney :

Good stuff.

Re-Reading : Basic Anabolic Hypertrophy Training

Basic Anabolic Hypertrophy Training.

We mentioned this one a little over a year ago now, and you'll be pleased to know that Josh is currently using it for his new hypertrophy goals - full details shortly.

In the meantime, a quick look at what BAHT is and how to get it :

Josh Hewett's shared some fantastic information over the years - in the form of videos, articles and, well, just doing it. Good stuff.

Basic Anabolic Hypertrophy Trainingis a detailed guide to putting a little more muscle on your frame; regardless of your starting point. A summary of what works, why, and how to use it. If you're serious about getting bigger, this is an excellent place to start.

Best of all, it's absolutely free. Basic Anabolic Hypertrophy Training.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Nassim Jebran.

Whether it's for your own training or in competition (or both), it's an essential skill. Helping explain exactly what's involved - and how to maximise things - is Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Nassim and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Strength Coach (and Strength Athlete) Nassim Jebran, Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : How to Grind for Your Gains
When : Sunday Apr 26, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

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 :

• Gem From The Vault : Visualisation
  Scott Andrew Bird
  See it first.

  
  

• Looking At : Mar 29, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

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're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : Paused Benching

Great information.

Gymchat 279 - The Power & Importance of SLEEP (Adam Farrah)

Adam Farrah.

This week we're taking a close look at this wonderful area, whether your goal is muscular recovery, a mental reset or simply to perform better throughout the day.

Joining us is Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Adam and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : The Power & Importance of SLEEP
When : Monday Mar 30, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Holding the Bar in the Front Squat

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 is not so much 'How to Hold the Bar in the Front Squat' (though the article shows no fewer than 10 ways to do just that), as much as a simple demonstration that there are often many ways to achieve the same result in strength training. If what you're doing isn't working (or you simply don't enjoy it), try something else.

From the article Holding the Bar in the Front Squat :

Front Squat.

If the Mike Boyle article on T-Nation has you considering the Front Squat, you may be mindful of just how awkward it can be to hold the bar. Like Zercher Squats, they're often overlooked simply due to the difficulty.

There are several ways to hold the bar for the Front Squat. If one method doesn't feel right, or your current flexibility or injury precludes it, try one of the others. It really is a great exercise.

Re-Reading : The Anatomy of Stretching, Second Edition

The Anatomy of Stretching, Second Edition

Although the paperback version first appeared a couple of years ago, the one I'm talking about here is the Kindle version of the Second Edition. Fantastic.


If you haven't read it before, check out the 'Look Inside' offering on the Amazon page. Suffice to say that it's one of the best books on stretching you'll ever see. Here's a piece from one of the reviews to help explain why :

Walker's book provides wonderful schematic drawings on how the muscles are involved at the very moment of each specific stretch. Unlike other stretching anatomy books, Walker's provides a specific itemization of how to do the exercise, what body part is affected, what injury it treats, what sport it's good for, and when to avoid the stretch if you have a particular injury. It's the best diagrammed text around.

Perfect.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

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 :

• Gem From The Vault : Entries for the Home-Made Equipment Competition
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Looking for a great DIY project?

  
  

• Looking At : Mar 22, 2015
  Scott Andrew Bird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

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're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, here's how.

Video : The Pendulum Swing

Which aspect do you focus on?

Gymchat 279 - The Power & Importance of SLEEP (Adam Farrah)

Adam Farrah.

This week we're taking a close look at this wonderful area, whether your goal is muscular recovery, a mental reset or simply to perform better throughout the day.

Joining us is Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Adam and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : The Power & Importance of SLEEP
When : Monday Mar 30, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.

Matt Palfrey.

Tip of the Week: Buying a Power Rack - Determining the width you'll need.

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 following a discussion I had over the weekend (I was helping a friend choose a power rack), and is a snippet from the article 'Buyers' Guide : the Power Rack'. Determining the width you'll need.

Now that's a rack.

Although the width of a barbell never changes (within one type, that is - standard bars are about a foot shorter than their Olympic counterparts), the width of racks vary from brand to brand. The rack's minimum width will depend largely on what you're going to do with it.

Sumo squats and rack pulls will take the most room; somewhere around 40" would be an absolute minimum, but your best bet is to measure your own squat (outside one foot to outside the other).

If you intend to bench press in the rack, or use the bench as a seat for other exercises (such as the overhead work I mentioned earlier), make sure the bench fits. If you're buying them both at the same time, great. Test them out.

One more thing to note with the bench inside the rack - if you plan to use dumbbells from the bench, make sure there's plenty of room to drop the dumbbells once they get heavy. Oh, and something to protect the floor (in the drop zone) is always a good idea - a couple of rubber mats will do nicely.

Re-Reading : Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar : The Definitive Guide to Bar Calisthenics.

Over the weekend I found myself discussing calisthenics with a friend of mine, which resulted in two things :

1. an impromptu workout
2. a re-reading of Al Kavadlo's superb book, Raising the Bar : The Definitive Guide to Bar Calisthenics.

If you haven't already, check it out. Love it.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Adam Farrah.

This week we're taking a close look at this wonderful area, whether your goal is muscular recovery, a mental reset or simply to perform better throughout the day.

Joining us is Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett. Fantastic.


NB : We'd love to hear your questions and comments. If there's a particular subject you'd like Adam and Josh to address, just swing by the event page for this Gymchat and leave a comment or jump in the Hangout and ask it directly.

And if you'd like to point your friends/colleagues to the discussion, just use the 'share' button at the top of that page. The more the merrier.

Details -

Who : Kettlebell and CrossFit Coach Adam Farrah, and Personal Trainer (and Strength Athlete) Josh Hewett, and You
Topic : The Power & Importance of SLEEP
When : Monday Mar 30, 8:00pm EDT (the Event page shows what time that is in your local timezone).
How : Watch the live stream, join the hangout (just add Top Form Fitness to one of your circles, and Josh'll send out the URL when the Hangout starts), or jump in the Q&A on the Event page itself. We'll also post the full video shortly after the Gymchat.
Previously : We've been fortunate enough to have Adam on previous episodes of the show. Check out Gymchat 221 - The Paleo Approach to Nutrition, and Gymchat 255 - The Pillars of Paleo. And of course, you can watch any of the previous Gymchats whenever you like - there's a full list here.