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 : 30 Day Challenge - Becoming a Morning Person
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  Is it possible to switch from being a 'night owl' to an early riser? Yep.

  
  

• Looking At : May 22, 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 : How to Hang Clean with a Kettlebell (NO WRIST BANGING!)

Great tutorial.

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.

Pierre Johnson.

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: How a Paleo Diet Can Benefit Strength Training

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, Google+,

StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes).

For several years now I've been using the 'Warrior T' Push-up Handles (same basic idea), with no problems at all. Love 'em.

The StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes) are a slightly different shape, though with the same goal in mind - to make push-ups a little more of a challenge. In particular, the wrist plays a much bigger role.

I'll post a few thoughts shortly, and I'm also keen to hear from others who try them out. The StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes).

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 : Australian Strongman Don Athaldo
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  The man behind 'The Athalding System'.

  
  

• Looking At : May 15, 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 : The Hook Grip

Great explanation.

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.

Pierre Johnson.

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: Constantly Fine-Tune Things

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.

I've received more emails over the years on the transition to biphasic sleeping than almost anything else I've ever written. I can't thank everyone enough for those, they really are appreciated. Thank you.

Most of them take the form of 'do you think this would work...' and the answer is usually to try it and see. I really haven't made any large structural changes to the original routine; however there has been a little fine-tuning. A snippet from the article Biphasic Sleep : 30 Day Summary explains the overall idea :

Nap in the Sun.

When I started doing this, my idea was to have a 1.5 hour nap and a 3 hour main sleep period. This proved to be a little under what my body required, and I switched to a 3/4.5 hour split (3 hours by default, 4.5 on workout days). Once again this didn't feel like quite enough, and I changed to a regular 1.5 hour nap followed by a 4.5 hour sleep (every day). This feels right.

I say this to demonstrate that making small changes can be of benefit, and I'll continue to make them as required. As the volume of weight training increases (as it almost certainly will), as I age and as my life situation in general changes; the length of the main sleep period will change.

Checking Out : StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes)

StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes).

For several years now I've been using the 'Warrior T' Push-up Handles (same basic idea), with no problems at all. Love 'em.

The StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes) are a slightly different shape, though with the same goal in mind - to make push-ups a little more of a challenge. In particular, the wrist plays a much bigger role.

I'll post a few thoughts shortly, and I'm also keen to hear from others who try them out. The StrongerGrip PUGS (Push Up Globe Spikes).

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

CrossCore® Hardcore.

CrossCore® Hardcore by Marty Gallagher and Dr Chris Hardy is a wonderful introduction to suspension training, showing how to get the most from this remarkable tool. It's an ideal way to train when you're travelling, or when you simply don't have access to machines and free weights.

NB : The suspension trainer used in the book is the CrossCore System. If you've already got something similar, use that. If not, you can grab the CrossCore System here :

http://www.dragondoor.com/cc001

Great thing.

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 Bulgarianization Experiment
  Al Heinemann | Follow @AlHeinemann
  Time for a little experimentation.

  
  

• Looking At : May 8, 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 : Body Fat Testing Using Hydrostatic Weighing

Great demonstration of the hydrostatic method - by far the most accurate approach.

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.

Chas Melichar.

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: Becoming Aware of Your Transverse Abdominis

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.

There's an awful lot more to abdominal work than exercises like the humble crunch. Everything from Louie's infamous 'Stand-Up Abs' to the many, many varieties of the squat.

Before doing any of that, however, it helps to understand a little about the various muscles being worked. For that, it's over to Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker.

For starters, from Kat's superb article Specific Training for the Transverse Abdominis: Belt It In, here's a quick way to learn to feel what your TA is doing :

Tara Scotti.

Begin by becoming aware of this muscle. Sit upright on a bench. Have a partner face you, place both of his hands on your shoulders, and gently push you backward (gently!). Your goal is to maintain your upright position, not allowing your spine to extend/your back to arch. Your TA will kick in to achieve your goal.

Checking Out : CrossCore® Hardcore

CrossCore® Hardcore.

CrossCore® Hardcore by Marty Gallagher and Dr Chris Hardy is a wonderful introduction to suspension training, showing how to get the most from this remarkable tool. It's an ideal way to train when you're travelling, or when you simply don't have access to machines and free weights.

NB : The suspension trainer used in the book is the CrossCore System. If you've already got something similar, use that. If not, you can grab the CrossCore System here :

http://www.dragondoor.com/cc001

Great thing.

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

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Fit Biz Magazine.

Fit Biz Magazine is both a physical and digital magazine, focused squarely on the 'running a fitness business' side of things. Whether that's a gym, an online offering or a regular gathering in a local park.

Created by the incredible Mark de Grasse (and if you don't know Mark's training approach, here's a peek at one of his own workouts to give you an idea), it's promising indeed. To find out more - and to grab the first issue - swing by the project's Kickstarter page :

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fitbizmag/fit-biz-magazine-the-magazine-for-fitness-business

Fit Biz Magazine.