Looks great.

Kettlebell Essentials is a series of on-demand videos by Max Shank, demonstrating and explaining the various kettlebell techniques which he considers fundamental to training. Everything from Cleans and Swings up to complex movements such as the many varieties of Get-Up.

If you're just starting out, or looking to fine-tune specific aspects, check it out. Max Shank's Kettlebell Essentials.

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 : Re-Entering the World of Fitness
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Where it all began.

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 31, 2016
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : Weighted Jumps

Great combination Johnny.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Kyle Bohannon.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week: Rice Bucket Rehab

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.

In the discussion on Recovery Work for the Hands we noted several superb recovery techniques, including the ever-popular Rice Digs.

If you've never tried doing these, the process is incredibly simple. From the post 'Rice Digs (for Grip-Training Warmups)', a brief description :

The exercise is an extremely simple one; pour some uncooked rice into a bucket and repeatedly burrow your hands into it. Make fists, rotate your wrists and generally move your hands around whilst they're surrounded by rice. To make it more difficult, use sand or even lead shot instead of the rice. Nice and painful.

NB : All other things being equal, a finer material will feel more difficult. Things like lead shot have less give, and will quickly prove challenging. Rice is a good starting point.

And to make things a little clearer, have a look at the video below. Great exercise.

Checking Out : Kettlebell Essentials (Max Shank)

Looks great.

Kettlebell Essentials is a series of on-demand videos by Max Shank, demonstrating and explaining the various kettlebell techniques which he considers fundamental to training. Everything from Cleans and Swings up to complex movements such as the many varieties of Get-Up.

If you're just starting out, or looking to fine-tune specific aspects, check it out. Max Shank's Kettlebell Essentials.

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 :

• Live Video Streaming of Sports
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Will we see live video streaming used for various sporting competitions?

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 24, 2016
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : Women's Deadlift Ladder (The CrossFit Games)

Very interesting event - a Deadlift Ladder.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Kyle Bohannon.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week: Atlas Stone 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.

As you may have already noticed, we're constantly adding new pages to the Guides section of this site. One of the most recent additions looks at the many ways to lift heavy stones - good fun.

To get you in the mood for a little stone work, here's the incredible Jouko Ahola explaining (and demonstrating) one of the most popular forms - Atlas Stone lifting. Love it.

NB : In addition to the technique itself, Jouko makes an excellent point near the end of the video. He notes that in his own training the platforms are a little higher than those used in competitions, and the stones are slightly heavier. Sage advice indeed.

Checking Out : The Weightlifting Life (Catalyst Athletics)

The Weightlifting Life.

The training-related podcasts continue to appear, and joining the collection is Greg Everett's latest - The Weightlifting Life. Downloading it now - I'll share my thoughts shortly, in the usual places. Looking forward to it.

Incidently, what's on your own podcast list these days? Any you're enjoying, and would recommend?

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

If you've ever seen Mike Robertson in action, you know what to expect. In these videos from the seminar - 12 hours in total - the team shares insights on the following areas :

• The R7 Approach to Training Supercharged - How to write consistently great programs in less time. Period.
• The Block Zero Concept - How to get new athletes introduced and up-to-speed in your training system in record time. This is ideal for young athletes, or vets who are new to your program.
• Single-Leg Training - The ins-and-outs of single-leg work, including when to use it, what it does, and how to coach it effectively.
• Dissecting the Tier System - Coach Kenn takes you step-by-step through how he writes and designs programs using his Tier System.
• Breathing and Core Training - An in-depth lecture on anatomy, followed up with practical application on how to get the most out of your core exercises.
• Establishing a Coaching Identity - Coach Kenn, a 28-year veteran in our field, tells you the truth about what it takes to be successful.

Interesting combination.

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 Gym Bag Essential that Could Take You to the Next Level
  Jeff Wilson | Follow @BasInsFitness
  A fantastic grip accessory - the towel.

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 17, 2016
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  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, get in touch.

Video : Bodyweight Training - Carry and Balance

Interesting combination.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Google+ etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Kyle Bohannon.

If you missed the live stream (or just want to go over a particular point again), you can watch the entire video here.


NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week: Planche Nugget

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.

Beast Skills' Jim Bathurst.

The skill is very simple to describe but hard to do. Here we go:

• Take the ab-wheel.
• Get into a pushup position while holding an ab wheel.
• Now instead of rolling it toward your head, roll it toward your feet and back.

If you can roll the wheel with straight arms down to the point where the wheel will touch your pubis (lower front of hipbone) and bring it back up to the pushup position, you should hurry and take Paul Hamm's spot in the Olympics.

Nice one.

Checking Out : Elite Athletic Development 3 Seminar DVDs (Mike Robertson)

If you've ever seen Mike Robertson in action, you know what to expect. In these videos from the seminar - 12 hours in total - the team shares insights on the following areas :

• The R7 Approach to Training Supercharged - How to write consistently great programs in less time. Period.
• The Block Zero Concept - How to get new athletes introduced and up-to-speed in your training system in record time. This is ideal for young athletes, or vets who are new to your program.
• Single-Leg Training - The ins-and-outs of single-leg work, including when to use it, what it does, and how to coach it effectively.
• Dissecting the Tier System - Coach Kenn takes you step-by-step through how he writes and designs programs using his Tier System.
• Breathing and Core Training - An in-depth lecture on anatomy, followed up with practical application on how to get the most out of your core exercises.
• Establishing a Coaching Identity - Coach Kenn, a 28-year veteran in our field, tells you the truth about what it takes to be successful.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.