I’m always harping on progression because that is ultimately what all of fitness is about. Challenge your body in some way and it comes back better the next time. But what that means is that you must continually challenge yourself in a progressive manner to go from where you are …
Form Follows Function
There’s a design precept by the phrase of “Form Follows Function.” This was used in architectural design, meaning that the form of, say a building, what it looks like will in large part depend on its function or purpose. What’s true in architecture is also true of your body. Let …
How I Keep a Workout Log
The basics of a workout journal is to simply write out your workout on a given day. You fill out the details, all the exercises you do, the sets, the reps, the time, everything involved that you choose to keep track of. • Exercise• Weight or Variation• Sets/Reps/Time These are …
120 lb Barbell Getup
I’ve been working on the getup for the past couple months. And I’m happy to report that I’ve hit a new lifetime PR in the move. Watch it here: I believe I had previously hit 115 lbs. years ago when I was practicing this exercise daily thought I could be …
Progression Keys – Varied Wave Progression
In the previous article, I covered the linear system of progression and the double system, which looks something more like a stair step progression. Today, we cover the varied wave. It is varied in that you use multiple methods of progression, intensity, set, volume and density. It is a wave …
Progression Keys – Linear vs Double Progression
It was the summer before Sophomore year at high school. I figured if I started with 20 pushups each and every day, and added one pushup per day, by the end of Summer I’d be significantly stronger. So I started on my plan. It was easy in the beginning. Then …
Progression Keys – Intensity, Volume, Density, Quality, RPE
I’m going to be doing a series on progression in training. Why? Because this is the most important aspect, the principle, that you must understand in order to get results. And, sadly, most people do NOT really understand progression. I haven’t talked about progression all that much since writing The …
Progressive Stand Up Challenges – Burpees
This video is the third in a series of progressive stand up challenges, where I cover regressions and progressions to be able to do various bodyweight movements. This video covers some possibilities with the basic burpee. Prerequisite: None Standard: Burpee. Squat down, jump the legs back to bottom of a …
Progressive Stand Up Challenges – Rollback Squats
This video is the second in a series of progressive stand up challenges, where I cover regressions and progressions to be able to do various bodyweight movements. If you missed the first video covering the cross leg sit to stand go here. This covers the rollback squat. The rollback squat …
Rafter Rows
One thing I never really had an opportunity to work on is rafter pullups. If you’re not familiar with this exercise, it is where you pinch a rafter, fingers on one side, thumbs on the other, and holding up yourself just like this, you do pullups. In my new place …
On Parallettes
Back at the end of January I had the pleasure of meeting up with some new friends at a seminar they were hosting. It was some top quality gymnastic strength type training information suitable for all levels. It was a lot of fun and some of the exercises and drills …
Straight Arm Press
It’s a skill that has long eluded me. A straight arm press. With my long limbs, I don’t have the leverage and flexibility to quite get the move. Bent arm presses are easy. Straight arm presses not so much. But I am making progress. There are a number of ways …
Handstand Endurance
In my last post on juggling I talked about the differences between learning most skills and that of hand balancing. The biggest difference being that hand balancing takes a lot of strength and endurance. People talk about having the proper position which places the stress along the structure of the …
You Need Strong Abs for Hand Balancing
Let’s face it, you will NEVER become an excellent hand balancer or acrobat without having incredibly strong abs. Powerful statement but true. Have you neglected training this area with the same kind of force you train the rest of your body? I know I did for a long time but …