Blog
06 Mar 5 Unique Benefits of The Kettlebell Swing
What makes the Russian style kettlebell swing such a unique exercise? Specifically, what makes the exercise so unique and effective for optimizing back health? It's so valuable, that I wrote a recent article for StrongFirst about my personal experience and how the kettlebell swing has greatly contributed to keeping my back strong and pain-free after a major injury years ago. But, what specifically makes this exercise different compared to other major lifts and exercises?22 Feb The Kettlebell Snatch and Aerobic Capacity (New Science)
Does the kettlebell snatch really improve aerobic capacity?
The answer may seem obvious to those who’ve expereinced the power of the full body explosive exercise, but now we have new science to support the claim.
If you know anything about the kettlebell snatch, I'm sure your guess would be as good as mine in that it would improve cardiovascular fitness with the right training protocol.
But, would you guess a signfiicant improvement in just a few short weeks with minimalist snatch based program?
There's a brand new study that looked at the kettlebell snatch in 17 female collegiate soccer players and it's a very interesting study on the continued benefits to support the latest science in the area of kettlebell training.
03 Feb Does Strength Training Ruin Our Joints?
If you're like me, you care about your joints. The last thing any of us would want is to have joint pain or any joint issues that limits us in any way. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the effects of heavy strength training on our joint health. Does heavy training ruin our joints? This is a big deal if you think about the consequences of wearing down the joint surfaces and what that can mean for us in terms of pain, loss of mobility, and functional decline. This topic was prompted by a great podcast interview I had with Chad Waterbury. First, let me review some science. Then I'll share common sense and personal experience about this question so we can logically approach strength training for the long term.12 Jan Best Strength and Conditioning Tool Under $100 (That’s Not a Kettlebell)
There are many great tools we have to hack body fat, improve cardiovascular conditioning, and build qualities of strength. A kettlebell is obviously one of them. But, there's one tool in particular I'm a huge fan of because it builds high levels of conditioning - fast. This awesome tool is also low cost and doesn't take any space to store away.
29 Dec The 5 Best Fitness Books of the Year (2014 Edition)
It's that time where I review the top 5 "fitness" books I've read over the last year. This is my 3rd annual review of the top 5 books of the year. While it's never an easy decision, this year was extremely difficult based on the number of great books I've read.
22 Dec 6 Killer Squat Progressions: A Practical Guide For Advancing The Squat
Is there anything more debated than the squat? Is there anything more fundamental in training than the squat? The squat and it's variations are regarded as one of the most effective , if not the most effective exercise, to build total body strength and enhance functional and athletic performance. But, what type of squat is best? It depends. When I started training years ago, the squat was always one of my favorite exercises. It still is.