Logan, how do I get my upper back to bend when pushing up into the bridge? I can push up off the floor so my head fully clears the floor but I cant get my arms close to being straight locked-out not even close. My arms stay bent real bad. …
Goals for Health and Pain-Free Movement
“How do you decide upon fitness goals? I’ve struggled with this my whole life. I’m not interested in lifting any specific amount of weight or anything, I just want to be healthy and pain free.” – Watts Personally, I do enjoy this stuff, so picking something challenging and going after …
My Opinion on the Royal Court
An interesting few questions surrounding the Royal Court exercises came in recently, which I haven’t talked about in some time. I read your blog and find it interesting. I found the blog entry on Royal Court of exercises- pushups/ squats particularly interesting and too be honest unbelievable. Did you actually …
Wrestler’s Bridge Basics
Recently a customer asked about bridging and after searching I realized I didn’t have a good article simply covering the basics. This one covers the wrestler’s bridge and a future article will go into the gymnast or hand bridge. The wrestler’s bridge is by no means a new exercise. It …
The Case for Neck Strength
Youtube comments often make me laugh. In this case, it came on the Amazing Feats of Strength Video, which you can watch here. The comment was referring to the weighted wrestler’s bridge concrete break that begins the video, with strongman Bud Jeffries swinging the sledgehammer. To that, Dan V said… …
1000 lb. Neck Bridge
I did it! I’ve had this goal in mind for several years now, ever since I really got started with weighted bridging. Over 1000 pounds! As you’ll see pointed out in the video the total is 1003 lbs. (about 456 kg) 275 lb. barbell lifted overhead 495 lb. barbell placed …
More Handstand Q&A
Gonna dip into the mailbag today and answer a couple questions. —— I had a question that relate to both my bridging, and hand balancing. When I do either, the blood rushes to my head very soon, not letting me hold either very long. Is this normal? Will it go …
Straightening Handstand, Wrist Strength & More
Diving into a few questions and comments today. “In the hand stand, and especially in the bridge, the main persisting difficulty is an inherent wrist weakness. In fact I observe steady improvement in back and shoulder flexibility, but the wrist is always setting me back!” Joseph I know your pain …
Joe Nordquest
Joe Nordquest was a classic strongman back in the early part of last century. He was the brother of ‘The Young Sandow’ Alfred Nordquest. Here are some of his hand balancing exploits. From Klein’s Bell in November of 1931: Joe Nordquest performed a one hand stand and with the free …
Increase your Hand Balancing Abilities
Got a question from Patrick. “I am a beginner at hand balancing. How can I find exercises and stretching drills thats will increase my abilities” C’mon people. This is a call to all who submit questions. Be more specific. I can provide better answer when I know what you want. …
Gymnastic Bridge Turn-Over
Going to step away from hand balancing today and a bit more in the coming weeks to focus on related acrobatics and various tumbling moves. And I’ll be sharing many of them in video form like today! First up is a bridging movement that I’ve been throwing in my routine …
Bridge Gymnastics
Check out this video of some wrestler’s bridge gymnastics. [youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD56_U–TI0] Here is another video I took while I was at my gymnastics class. Let me start by saying don’t try this at home. It took a lot of effort to work up to this level. I didn’t jump into this …