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 :

• Blast from the Past : Good Morning Variations
  Scott Andrew Bird
  Whether it's for rehab, prevention or simply strength (these can really help your deadlift) - there's nothing quite like a dose of lower back work.

  
  

• 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 Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

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.

Video : GripBalls at the Playground

Here's a video that Ryan posted during the week, showing a couple of ways (note the different grips) of getting a dose of grip work in during outdoor workouts. Nice one.

Gymchat 141 - Stretching & Warming Up

Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a little travelling (New Zealand - should be plenty of photos when I get back), returning on Nov 16. As I'm not sure what my internet connection will be like at the time of the discussions, I've invited a couple of guest moderators to look after things.

This week it's the incredible Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo. Should be a brilliant conversation.

---

When you work out, do you warm up at all? Stretch perhaps? Or do you dive straight in?

This week we'll be discussing the benefits of warm-ups and stretching - how, and when. Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than personal trainer Kirk Fontaine (@fitnewbie), interviewed by Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo (@bodybydrock). Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Stretching & Warming Up
When : Wed Oct 26, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions 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 calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on How Do You .... Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: License Plate Tearing Technique

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, 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 use from performing Strongman Chris Rider, and is from his superb article Tearing A License Plate. Enjoy.

---

Following a thorough description of the safety requirements for performing this feat (and it really can be a dangerous one, so proceed carefully), comes the basic technique involved. Over to Chris :

Now that we have ourselves protected, it's time to grab the plate. I personally like to tear plates at chest level, and that is the method I am going to discuss. As a dry run without a plate, place your dominant hand in a hammer style grip. Place the pinky side of that hand just above the bottom of the sternum. Now place the other fist in the same manner below the dominant one so you have the thumb side of the non-dominant and the pinky side of the dominant meeting. Squeeze as hard as you can and push your hands in opposite directions with the top hand going slightly upward and the bottom hand going slightly downward. If you push straight through, the potential for being cut dramatically increases.

Want more? No problem. Head over to the original article, and watch the video below to see it in action. Beautiful.

Reading : The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation

Superb.

The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation is a guide to making the switch to a Primal lifestyle, in only 21 days. If you've ever read Mark's blog (or The Primal Blueprint itself), you'll appreciate how significant this change can be. Highly recommended.

Incidentally, this is the perfect book for the people you know who'd love to try something like this; but are not quite sure where to start. It really is a superb guide to making this transformation.

Fantastic.

Quick update on the Experiments with Intermittent Fasting ebook we mentioned last week : a downloadable PDF version is now available. Absolutely free.

Beautiful.

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 :

• Getting to Know : Personal Trainer Vic Magary
  Scott Andrew Bird
  I love finding out more about the people here - their training, background, ideas and goals. Here's an insight into the incredible Vic Magary.

  
  

• 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 Roy Scott, Zach Wheeler, Davie Easton and Wild Kiwi. If you haven't already, add some of yours. Love seeing where/how everyone trains and competes.

  
  

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.

Video : Kettlebell Jerk Tutorial (Side View)

Very interesting indeed.

Gymchat 140 - How Do You...III

One of the many fascinating aspects of strength-training is that everyone has a slightly different approach; based on their own goals, available equipment and information. Love it.

This week we'll be returning to our discussion on training approaches, focusing on the many aspects of fitness other than the lifting itself. What's your current diet like, and do you take any supplements? What sort of music do you listen to whilst training, or do you prefer to lift in silence? Other than getting a good nights' sleep, how do you recover after a heavy session?

However you train, we'd love to hear about it. Join us for How Do You ... III. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : How Do You ... III
When : Wed Oct 19, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/HU5qTrK8zf1

If you've never been to one of these discussions 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 calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Hand Strength II : Grip Work. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Minimising Wrist Pain in Olympic Lifting

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, 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 use from Lane Hagen, and was a comment posted on the 'World Record Front Squat' piece. Great advice.

---

On 'World Record Front Squat', in response to the comment :

I use the clean position. I find it's the only way that seems secure to me. Although lack of flexibility in my wrists causes crazy pain with high weight. I am still kinda new to the movement. Maybe practice will help.

From Lane :

Hold it in the clean position and always focus on pushing your elbows up. You can also just do it using 2 fingers till you gain the flexibility. Put a bar on a rack and stretch in that position before you load up. If your wrists are getting really sore it's probably your triceps and forearms that aren't flexible enough and they are putting unnecessary strain on your wrist. Go light 'til you can keep your elbows up.

Good stuff.

Reading : Experiments with Intermittent Fasting

If the interview with Vic Magary got you intrigued about Intermittent Fasting (IF), then this free book will fill in the blanks. It's a great read.

'Experiments with Intermittent Fasting' is a collaboration between Dr John Berardi, Dr Krista Scott-Dixon and Nate Green. The book looks at what Intermittent Fasting is all about, what the benefits can be and the results of a little experimentation. Very interesting indeed.

Over to you. For anyone who's tried it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did it/does it work in your case?


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

I love finding out more about the people here - their training, background, ideas and goals. Always fascinating.

This time it's in the form of an interview with a particularly inspiring Personal Trainer, Vic Magary. As you'll see, he's got an incredible outlook on the world.

Let's dive in.


1. Firstly, a bit of background. What is your name (and nickname), and where did you grow up?

My full name is Victor Nicholas Magary. Nearly everyone calls me Vic. I grew up in the small river town of Steubenville, Ohio in the United States.

2. I believe you've been studying Martial Arts in one form or another since you were 10 years old. How did you move from student to teacher (in the form of a Personal Trainer)?

My first exposure to teaching came during martial arts classes, even when I was still a kid. I was the 13 year old terror that my instructor put in charge of leading the warm up exercises at the beginning of each class. I was all too happy to tell guys in their thirties to drop and give me 50 push ups because they weren't staying focused in class.

Moving into the personal trainer realm didn't come until after I finished my time in the Army. I started out making "house calls" and going to the homes and offices of clients to put them through their sessions. My equipment at the time consisted of a pair of Powerblock dumbbells, boxing gloves, and focus mitts.

3. Following the closure of your gym, you shifted focus to offerings such as 31 Day Fat Loss Cure and the Rebel Strength Guide. What are your goals like now - a return to a physical space in some way, or are you enjoying the online life?

I have no plans to ever return to the physical space. I can help more people with far less overhead costs online. I now have a few documented cases of people losing 100 lbs or more via my online programs - I never accomplished that in my physical gym. I am considering offering one-on-one coaching and personalized program design via email and telephone support, but that is the closest I plan on coming to doing individual training.

4. What changes in commercial gyms (and the way they are run) have you seen over the past few years? What would you like to see?

I currently use a commercial gym. It allows members 24 hours access via electronic key entry and there are absolutely no high pressure sales tactics. I love it. I've been turned off from large corporate gyms previously from being bombarded with personal training packages and other upsells.

I would love to see more access to "odd object" equipment in a commercial setting. Things like sandbags and a designated sledgehammer area would be great. But I understand that the overall demand for such training implements is relatively low and the commercial gyms will always lean toward providing the unfortunately popular eliptical machines and treadmills.

There are a number of ways to get your regular fix of Straight to the Bar, including the many feeds & newsletters listed below. Whether you're after a general overview or a detailed inspection of a particular area, we've got you covered :

Feeds

• Articles
  Don't miss a thing. This is the main feed - every article that appears on the site. Grab the RSS version, or get it delivered automatically via email.
• Comments
  All new comments received, on every article on the site. The perfect way to hear everyone's thoughts on things.
• Facebook Wall Updates
  Everything we post on Facebook. Warning : this one's for serious strength enthusiasts only - it tends to be a little on the high-volume side.
• Tweets
  Love twitter? Same here. This is a feed of everything I tweet.
• Youtube
  There are two main Youtube feeds for this site. Check out the videos I'm watching/sharing, and Josh Hewett's channel - filled with regular Gymchat goodness. Dive in.
• LinkedIn
  Fan of LinkedIn? Me too.
• Delicious Bookmarks
  Still using delicious? It's great for some things, as you'll see.
• Photos from the Flickr Group
  Every new photo added to the Flickr Group. And if you'd like to add a few of your own, just join the (free) group.

Newsletters

• The Strength & Fitness Newsletter
  This is the easiest way to keep up with the world of strength. It's a weekly newsletter (delivered each Monday), containing highlights from the blog, details of upcoming gymchats, exercises, tips and a whole lot more.
• The Straight to the Bar Daily
  A daily dose of the various things (generally fitness-related) we're talking about in the Straight to the Bar community. Grab it here.
• The Better Sleep Nightly
  I've been fascinated by sleep for as long as I can remember. Here's a daily dose of tips & research into this wonderful area.
• Leave it in the Ground
  On Straight to the Bar we talk a lot about air pollution, primarily from a gym-owner's perspective. This newsletter looks at the topic far more broadly - the gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels : Leave it in the Ground
• Electric Cars in Australia
  Diving in to the area of air pollution a little deeper, we take a look at a great way to help reduce it - with electric cars (in Australia in particular). If you're considering an EV or would just like to learn a little more about air pollution & health, swing by.

Twitter Lists

In addition to the various feeds & newsletters above, I use Twitter's 'List' functionality to sort and maintain information on a number of topics. In particular :

• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/exoskeletons
  Wearable Robots. As mobility aids and to augment strength.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/sttb-writers
  Many, many people write for Straight to the Bar (let me know if you'd like to join us). Love it.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/all-things-medical
  New medicines, procedures & equipment.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/cycling
  I want to ride my bicycle.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/Aging & Longevity
  Research into aging and longevity.


• https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/twitterchats
  The twitter list you'll see in the sidebar - covering events, gym sessions, strength feats and a whole lot more. Everything training-related.

As well as the lists on various training-centric topics, I also use them to help keep an eye on other interests - electric cars, photography and so on. You'll find the full list here.

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 :

• Blast from the Past : Rope Training II
  Scott Andrew Bird
  After three years, a few things have changed. Here's another look at this wonderful form of training.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Guides : Returning to Heavy Training After a Break [PDF] *
  Vic Magary
  No matter how long you've been away from the iron - months/years/decades - this free ebook will help you get back to it. To return to a regular routine, using the gear you've already got, and without getting injured.

  
  * as you're already subscribed to this newsletter, you get to see it first - here's the download link for the ebook. Enjoy.
  

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.

Video : Glob Lifting

Here's a brief look at a very interesting implement - half of a globe dumbbell, a blob variant if you like - The Glob. Nice one Jedd.

Gymchat 139 - Hand Strength II : Grip Work

I love challenging the hands. Fingertip push-ups, climbers' chins, TTK work and a whole lot more. Good fun.

This week we're continuing our discussion on Hand Strength, focusing on the Grip Training side of things. What it is, why it's important and how to go about it.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the inimitable Lane Hagen. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Hand Strength II : Grip Work
When : Wed Oct 12, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/9Qrcm3LMR7L

If you've never been to one of these discussions 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 calendar.

See you there.

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

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

Sledgehammer Challenge for Charity

A note on the Sledgehammer Challenge for Charity we mentioned during the week. If you haven't seen it yet, the idea is simple : Rob Russell will attempt to strike a tyre with a 25kg sledgehammer a whopping 1,000 times in an hour, to raise money for the charity Children In Distress. Brilliant.

As a bonus, everyone who donates £2 or more will receive a copy of his superb ebook Unconventional Conditioning, as well as going in the draw for some particularly cool strength-training equipment. Details here.

Tip of the Week: Nail Bending Benefits - Neural Strength

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, 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 use from 'Unbreakable' Adam Glass' article 'Why Bend Steel?'. Great question, great answer.

---

From 'Why Bend Steel?' :

First benefit is to your neural strength: Steel bending is an exceptional way to build your single unit application of tension. What I mean is this - you have to tense and load every muscle in your body, take out all "leakages", brace everything together and direct it through you hands with a sniper's precise angle. If you get sloppy punching on the nails ends, you will hurt yourself. You could possibly punch yourself in the face, roll your hands out of the groove, stab yourself, or any other combination of less desirable outcomes. This activity will turn your wrist to stone. Your ability to direct power will be significantly increased. This will directly carry over to any other strength-skill you currently have. The way I load up to bend a Huge Stainless Steel Bastard is exactly the same feeling as when I load up to pull a max dead, to press a 48kg bell, or to slam an axe through a log. It adds a critical power appliance to your "strength skill tool box".

This increase in strength and power naturally will carry over to an increase in your endurance. Anyone who has bent a nail will tell you the first time they bent it was so tiring. I have watched people sweat bullets bending their first respectable nail. As time goes on you gain huge reserves of power. A personal testament to this level of power for me was October 2007 when I bent 150 60D nails in one hour using the double under (DU) grip. That represented a massive improvement from Jan 2007, when bending 10-15 nails left my hands extremely fatigued.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : Universal Strength Apparatus

Of the many suspension trainers available, this is the only commercial one I haven't thoroughly tested. Might be time to change that.

After reading Derek's updated Suspension Training 101 piece (grab the free PDF here), I grew intrigued at some of the less-common alternatives to things like the TRX. As much as I love the setup here, it'd be great to give the USA - Universal Strength Apparatus - a solid workout or three.

How about everyone here : which one (if any) do you use? What are your thoughts on it?


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

No matter how long you've been away from the iron - months/years/decades - we're here to help you get back to it. To return to a regular routine, using the gear you've already got, and without getting injured.

Helping you make this transition is Personal Trainer Vic Magary. Perfect.

And as a bonus, you'll receive a subscription to the weekly Strength & Fitness Newsletter - highlights from Straight to the Bar, invaluable training tips, uncommon exercises and much, much more. A great way to start the week.


To grab this free ebook, simply type in your name & email address below. You'll be taken directly to the download page.

How Exactly Do You Use It?

Like This.

 

As a bonus, in addition to the ebook you’ll receive a complimentary subscription to the Strength & Fitness Newsletter.

It's a great way to start the week.

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

Over the past seven years this site's amassed an enormous amount of content. To help you find the highlights, I'll be taking an occasional wander through the archives.

---

We first looked at Rope Training (in this series) almost 3 years ago. While the basic idea is very much the same, a couple of new exercise variations have cropped up since then.

Here's another look at this wonderful form of training :

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 :

• 3 Things You MUST Know About Sandbag Training
  Josh Henkin
  These 3 'rules' (guidelines really) outline the importance of a serious, progressive strategy for your sandbag work; as well as describing how to achieve exactly that.

  
  

• Straight to the Bar Guides : Suspension Training 101 [PDF]
  Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo
  I'm a huge fan of suspension training (particularly when travelling) and this ebook* by Derek Peruo will explain exactly why. It's an incredibly powerful approach.

  * as you're already subscribed to this newsletter, you get to see it first - here's the download link for the ebook. Enjoy.
  

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.

Video : BOSU Handstand Push-ups

With Barmageddon 2012 coming up in a few months, it's time to bring out the serious bodyweight training. Fantastic.

Gymchat 138 - Hand Strength

I love challenging the hands. Fingertip push-ups, climbers' chins, TTK work and a whole lot more. Good fun.

This week we're taking an in-depth look at all aspects of Hand Strength. What it is, why it's important and how to train for it.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than the inimitable Lane Hagen. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Hand Strength
When : Wed Oct 5, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
URL : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/NHd6mBn86jQ

If you've never been to one of these discussions 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 calendar.

See you there.

Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Grip, Clubs & Health. Some superb ideas in there.

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

Tip of the Week: Returning to Heavy Training - Inspecting the Equipment

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip is an answer to the question 'If you're using your old gear, how do you test things to make sure they're still safe and working correctly?', directed at Vic Magary during the Heavy Training after a Break Gymchat. A great discussion.

---

From Gymchat 136 - Heavy Training after a Break :

I think the most important thing to inspect would be the J-cups where you set the bar. Also simply taking a wrench to all of the bolts of a rack to make sure they are good and tight. Depending on the type, you may want to double check the collars. I'd think the barbell and plates would be fine even after a few years as long as they were subject to normal conditions.

Good stuff.

Reading : Convict Conditioning (Kindle Edition)

I love this book.

I somehow missed out on this the first time around, and was only reminded of it during a chance conversation over the weekend. And I have to say, it's a great read.

Convict Conditioning looks at a reasonably uncommon way to employ bodyweight training : to provide some serious strength gains. Through a progression of exercise variations and routines, Paul 'Coach' Wade takes the reader from the realm of absolute beginner (in a strength-training sense) to being freakishly strong. There is no doubt at all that this approach - though certainly not the only one - works.

If you're at all curious about the 'forgotten' aspect of bodyweight training - the ability to make some serious strength gains - then Convict Conditioning is for you. Fantastic book.

NB : As with last week's book, I'm reading it via the Kindle app on the iPad. It's also available as a paperback, or as an ebook directly from Dragon Door.


Quick update on the StrongerGrip Loadable Club Set we noted a while ago : I had a great discussion recently on club workouts for beginners. Great way to train.

When it came to the equipment part of the discussion, we both agreed on the loadable clubs from StrongerGrip. 3lb empty and around 8lb loaded up. Beautiful things.

What to Get?

Whether you're setting up a gym, beginning your fitness journey or anything in between : you'll find the necessary equipment here. Everything from a single kettlebell to a complete home gym.

• Bars & Plates

  

  York Barbell 300lb Olympic Weight Set.
  These items are very much at the heart of your gym. No matter how you like to train, there's a great chance that there are various bars & plates involved. Here are the ones I recommend.

  Bars from Champion, such as their Olympic Power Bar (or the set below)
  Plates from Body Solid or sets like this one

  NB : when you're buying the plates, if you can, buy a set of a few hundred pounds. Unless you're adding to an existing collection, you'll frequently be using several of them at once.
  
  

• Bending & Tearing Gear

  
  
  

  Beginners' Bag from FBBC.
  Braced or unbraced, short steel or long. If it can be bent, it's in here.

  Recommended : Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson's Bending Manual. Fantastic book.
  
  

• Grip Tools

  
  
  

  Red Rafter Leverage Block from Stronger Grip.
  If you're similarly obsessed with this incredibly addictive sport, you'll understand the magic words : Stronger Grip. Superb gear.

  Recommended : StrongerGrip 'Red Rafter' Leverage Block. Beautiful thing.
  

• Hammers, Clubs & Maces

  
  
  

  Loadable Clubs from StrongerGrip.
  When it comes to training, this is definitely my kind of thing. If you enjoy a spot of outdoor training yourself, check out some of the Sledgehammers, Clubs and Maces we use.
  Love it.

  Recommended : Pair of StrongerGrip Loadable 'Long' (27") Clubs. Perfect.
  

• Complete Home Gyms

  
  
  

  Body Solid EXM3000LPS Double Stack Home Gym.
  Although a lot of the things we talk about on this site focus on training with free weights, there are certainly situations where an all-in-one gym is more appropriate. If it's an option you'd like to explore for your own home gym, I'd recommend checking out something like the :

  Body Solid EXM3000LPS Double Stack Home Gym
  I like the Body Solid gear - well made, and nice & tough. That said, there are several similar gym setups on the market; many of which are quality pieces of equipment. To get an idea, check out the reviews on sites like Amazon.

  NB : these things aren't exactly light, and if you've got a chance to get it delivered, take it. If you're getting one online, consider getting something like Amazon Prime first. A one-off cost which will make life a whole lot easier.
  




• Kegs

  
  
  

  Dave Lemanczyk
  Dave Lemanczyk clearly demonstrates the extraordinary potential of this simple conditioning tool. With no more than an empty keg (or partially-filled if preferred), a small training area and a bit of determination there is a wealth of power available.

  Recommended : Keg Conditioning. Brilliant.
  




• Kettlebells

  
  
  

  Kettlebells
  Kettlebells are fantastic for a variety of strength and strength endurance approaches, and after a great deal of experimentation I ended up using the Dragon Door 'bells almost exclusively.

  Smooth, well-made and extremely tough. Superb.

  Recommended : 35lb DragonDoor Kettlebell Quick-Start Kit with DVD. Fantastic.
  




• Rope

  
  
  

  Manilla Rope.
  Thick Rope is brilliant as a training tool. Whether it's something like the Battling Ropes for conditioning work, or the shorter Battle Ropes for variety; rope training is superb. Highly recommended.

  Recommended : POWER GUIDANCE 30/40/50ft Rope. Beautiful.
  




• Sandbags

  
  
  

  Ultimate Sandbag
  I love sandbag training, for both strength and conditioning work.

  Recommended : Ultimate Sandbag 'Strength' Package. Beautiful.
  




• Suspension Training

  
  
  

  Suspension Training
  Suspension training is fantastic; particularly when you're travelling.

  Recommended : TRX Suspension Training Equipment. Love it.
  




• T-shirts, Smartphone Skins & Wallpapers

  
  
  

  Mandy Stafford.
  Finally, a great way to show your love of this site - and of strength training in general. Straight to the Bar's T-shirts & Wallpapers.

  Recommended : Got Yoke?, which you can grab here. And if you'd like to send us a photo or two, just upload it (or them) somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.
  

How Exactly do I Use it?

When it comes to the 'how' part of the equation, you may like to check out the Straight to the Bar Training Guides. Alternately, check out the books (and ebooks) we recommend, as well as the instructional DVDs to demonstrate the various techniques discussed.

However you like to learn, we've got you covered.

Welcome to the Straight to the Bar community. It's great to see you here.

You'll receive the first email shortly.

In the meantime, here are several free videos, photos and training guides that you're more than welcome to download, print and make full use of :

Tutorial Videos
Photos of Training, Competition & Equipment
Training & Equipment Guides

And a whole lot more in the Member Bonuses area of the forums. See you there.

---

And thanks once again for subscribing. Hope you find the information useful; and I'd love to hear your thoughts.