Putting a plan together
I have spoken about periodisation before, I even produced a DVD on the subject - The Winning Edge. Specifically linear periodisation, where the athlete follows a specific phase e.g. Hypertrophy phase, strength phase, power phase then power endurance for the final phase.
This time around I’m looking at a more practical method particularly for combat athletes and even regular folks, looking to maintain a decent level of strength and fitness.
Big Push-ups
After having a 60 sec max push-up competition last week, I though I'd make it easy on you and only make you do 30 reps... Simple right..?
I happened on something my cousin sent me. He had picked it up from his training in the Marines - the workout was quite popular on YouTube and you may have heard the song by Moby - "Flower".
New Year - New You??
Well how is it going folks? You well into your New Year resolutions? Or have you falle by the wayside?
The ladies I train are dying to lose inches, weight and fat and the gents are trying to pull in their guts and add inches to their arms!!!
Bearing in mind that most of the men I train are combat athletes I find this bizarre! But it just goes to make an interesting point, we all like to look good and be noticed by people.
Boys wanna be jacked!! Girls wanna be fit and slinky!!!
Bags of Bulgarian Fun!!
When I first heard about this tool I thought it was just another money-making modality, the brain-child of a hungry fitness professional who had thought of a new twist on a sand bag. Well, like the man in the orthopaedic shoes, I stand corrected!!
This bit of kit blew me away, the Bulgarian bag is designed to add resistance to any and all exercises in one way or another. Drills like squats, reverse lunges, bridging all take on a new meaning when performed with this bad boy!!
Some of you may or may not remember Dave Starbrook, he was Great Britain’s first Olympic medallist in judo. He formulated this workout and I routinely perform this with a sand bag as it stresses the grip in the same way a judogi (uniform) would. Plus I like grip training, as some of you may have guessed!!!
Odd Object Lifts
Following on from last time, talking about backyard gyms, this article focuses on odd object lifting.
Combat athletes have used this type of non-balanced, “functional” training for years. Now however, the mainstream fitness industry has jumped on the bandwagon – the spandex-clad, wasp-waisted, pencil-necked trainers who balked at the idea of training in a manner that was not stable and did not use a machine, now advocate it to anyone who walks into a gym!
The method of training is as sound today as it ever was, my problem is with how it is so commercialised now by the industry.