What’s up DIESELS!

I hope you’re training is going awesome.

During July, I got a wild hair to try Dragon Flags.

The Dragon Flag is the sick core exercise that Silvester Stallone does in Rocky 4 lying on a table. It always looked so stinking hard, I’ve never really tried it.

However, I decided to give it a whirl a few weeks back, and to my surprise, I was
actually pretty close to pulling one off!

I enlisted the help of a former coaching client in the Grip Task Force, Rick Geise. Rick is AWESOME at Dragon Flags and can do them with LOTS of extra weight added to his ankles. Cray man!

Well, after just a couple weeks, I’ve gone from doing singles from the top position, to doing doubles from the top
position, and 2 Saturdays, I was even able to accomplish this: Click Here to See Jedd’s Dragon Flag Progress

To give you an idea of how hard this was, after doing this set of Dragon Flag practice, I did a hold for time on the
Crusher, and I ended up getting a bloody nose, for the first time ever, in training.

The crimson flow wasn’t enough to put a damper on my excitement for pulling off this feat.

Recently, after my buddy, Mike Rinderle, talked to me about producing maximum tension in the glutes, I was able to pull off 5 of them!!

It’s been fun pursuing this goal, and I look forward to perfecting it even more.

I can tell you without a doubt – if I hadn’t had guidance from Rick Giese, I’d be nowhere near where I’m at now with these.

Having direction from someone who’s been there makes all the difference, allows you to make fewer mistakes and waste more time, and get to your goals even faster than you ever thought possible!

I’m a core strength amateur, to be honest.

But, I know how to coach people who want stronger hands and a better grip.

If you want help in your Grip Strength training, let’s put our heads together and jump-start your progress.

Join me in the Grip Task Force <= Click Here I've got room for 3 more people right now, so if you want in, now is the time. All the best in your training. Jedd

New Core Training Program

Click to order Nuclear November Today

Ab Wheel Training For Real

GANGSTA

I have been continuing to experiment with the Ab Wheel. It is by far my favorite piece of equipment for training the core right now. Here are a few reasons why.

1. It Works a LARGE Portion of the Body

The Ab Wheel is similar to a dynamic plank – you must create tension from the shoulder area to the knee area. Because of this large amount of muscle that is working, I find basic Ab Wheel roll-outs to be a great warm-up, and I often use it at the beginning of workouts as a bridge from my general to specific warm-up.

2. It is not ONLY Hip Flexion

So many abdominal exercises involve hip and trunk flexion – sit-ups, leg raises, crunches – all of them involve drawing the hips and rib cage closer together, potentially causing shortening of the hip flexors. I sit down so much while I work and drive, my hip flexors are short enough, so I avoid doing that movement pattern in training as well. This is something to keep in mind if you sit down a lot and your back hurts – it could be due to tight hip flexors.

3. It Doesn’t Hurt My Neck

For whatever reason, in the past I have strained my neck doing ab movements. Whether it is from hooking my hands around my head, clenching my teeth together, or whatever – it has happened, and a strained neck is one of the most annoying things for me, so I look to avoid it like venereal disease.

With these three benefits considered, the Ab Wheel continues to be something I include in my training on a regular basis.

Plus, in the long-term, I want to be able to do a Standing Ab Wheel Roll-out. It seems to be an advanced feat for this simple device, and I think if I were to train to obtain it, it would be a “Gateway Feat,” in that my core would be so strong that the increased strength would assist in many other lifts as well.

With this in mind, I have been looking for ways to gradually increase the difficulty of the more basic ab-wheel roll-outs in order to progress more smoothly to the more advanced movements.

One drill I have come up with that I have not seen elsewhere is Decline Ab Wheel Roll-outs. For these, you set the Ab Wheel up on some sort of decline, instead of a flat surface.

There are two main strength building benefits to performing roll-outs on a decline:

1. The eccentric challenge level as you roll out is increased greatly, as you must stay engaged in order to control the descent. This gives you much better stability than the basic exercise does.

2. The concentric challenge level is BRUTAL as you must pull much harder to climb back up the hill. This teaches you to pull much harder with the shoulders, lats, and core when returning to the starting position.

Decline Ab Wheel Roll-outs

There are surely many ways you could set this exercise up. One way that I think would be perfect is with an inside pitching mound, such as the one below, to begin with.

However, instead of busting out the nails, hammer and circular saw, I just dragged an extra gym mat out to the hill beside the house and used mother nature to my advantage.

As you can tell by my screams and grunts, this version of Ab Wheel Roll-outs is no joke. Far harder than the basic exercise, this one will hit you hard.

Of course, before you try this, you need to make sure you have the Basic Ab Wheel Technique down first. For a quick video on how to do them right, click here => Basic Ab Wheel Roll-outs.

Even if you don’t go for the more advanced movements with the Ab Wheel, this piece of equipment is a great investment for those with home gyms. For about $10, it takes up no room and leaves every muscle in your core absolutely destroyed.

Get your Ab Wheel here: Valeo Ab Wheel

All the best in your training,

Jedd

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Perfect Tool for Core Strength

4 Days ago, I did the drill I am going to show you today, and I am STILL SORE.

Normally, I wouldn’t judge the effectiveness of an exercise by whether or not it made me sore, but consider the following…

I have been doing Ab Wheel work for several months. I have been working it HARD.

I did 10 sets of 10 Roll-outs on my knees one day while I was on vacation, so I thought I was getting where I needed to be.

Then, last Friday, I set this drill up and 4 days later my abs are still cooked. That just goes to show you how vicious this exercise is, and why you should start doing it right now.

Standing Ab Wheel Roll-out Training

If you are looking for a way to build core strength, get stability for the lower back, strengthen the hips, and build your abdominal muscles, the only real piece of equipment that you need is the Ab Wheel.

Over the last 4 months or so, I have been including the Ab Wheel in my training on at least a weekly basis and I love it. I have written several articles about the Ab Wheel this year and will be continuing to experiment with it.

• How to Use the Ab Wheel Correctly
• Back and Triceps Training
• The Perfect Tool to Compliment Your Kettlebell Training

I would say my experimentation is still in its infancy, although the ideas that are going through my head are non-stop. I am doing my best to get them onto my ever-growing note pad, and hope to one day compile everything for you.

I have decided that one of my goals I hope to complete before the end of this year is a Full Ab Wheel Roll-out on the Feet.

As I am sure many of you know if you have tried one of these variations, the difference in difficulty between Ab Wheel Roll-outs on the Knees and Ab Wheel Roll-outs on the Feet is crazy. These two drills are not even in the same galaxy.

For Full Ab Wheel Roll-outs on the Feet, you must have much more abdominal strength, you must be much more stable through the core and the hips, and your shoulders must be able to with stand a great deal force in the full flexed position as well.

All of these factors, plus more that I am surely over-looking, make the Ab Wheel Roll-out version on the Feet much harder.

I have begun implementing more Ab Wheel work on my feet and moving away from Ab Wheel work on my knees altogether.

Today I want to show you a very promising progression step I have been using for working up to the Full Ab Wheel Roll-out on the Feet, and it involves using bands.

Someone asked how to do this method if you do not have bands. My answer to them is GET BANDS.

Bands are useful for countless exercises and methods. There are innumerable ways they can be used to make exercises easier, harder, and to de-load or assist you in bodyweight movements.

If you do not have a set, here are a couple of places to get them:

• Rogue Fitness Monster Bands

• RBT Rubber Band Training

Again, if you don’t have bands, I really have to ask why. They are very affordable and the myriad of ways that they can be used make them very high in value. The links above are affiliate links. When you order through them, you will not only be getting yourself some training tools that you will use in countless ways, but you will also be helping me out with some commissions. Although they are small, it all helps me continue to improve this site and keep it available as a source of reliable information.

Keep an eye on new updates on my pursuit for legit Standing Ab Wheel Roll-outs by joining my Ab Wheel Roll-out Update List below.

If you don’t have an Ab Wheel yet, you can get one here: Where to Buy an Ab Wheel

All the best in your training,

Jedd

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The Ab Wheel

I recently wrote an article for My Mad Methods on the Ab Wheel, and since then, many people have contacted about it. It seems that many of you have thought the Ab Wheel was a bogus device that was just a scam or fad, but in reality, it is a very good piece of equipment that comes with a very cheap price tag – I got mine for less than $9.

For the record, I always thought the Ab Wheel was joke too. But that was before I ever used it. The first time I tried it, I could not do one good rep on my knees.

History of the Ab Wheel

Bob Backlund

What gave it even more credibility for me was when my friend, Niko Hulslander, told me that Bob Backlund, legendary Champion of the WWWF back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, based his workouts primarily around the Ab Wheel.

Now, Bob Backlund wasn’t as big as Superstar Billy Graham, who held the title before Backland, and he wasn’t anywhere near the size of a more recent Bobby Lashley, Dave Batista, or John Cena by any means, but he was always in top shape, and perhaps second only to Ric Flair in their hay-days.

Plus, Backlund is still in phenomenal shape to this day, and the Ab Wheel continues to be one of his primary forms of resistance training.

While I am sure Backlund used other types of training to attain his level of muscularity and leanness, there is no denying that the Ab Wheel is able to make the entire body work, because it is essentially a Plank on Steroids.

Bob Backlund Training on the Ab Roller

I’m coming after you, Backlund!!

How to Implement the Ab Wheel

I am sure there are hundreds of ways to add Ab Wheel work into your training program, but I can tell you that I like to use it on my Back and Triceps day. If you haven’t tried training these two together, you should – the feeling is unbelievable.

Generally, one of my first movements on this day is either Pull-ups or Chin-ups, and I superset them with Ab Wheel for 6 to 8 reps. Surely, I could do much more of this, but I train this day with a partner and if we went for more than 8 reps, it would take up way too much time and mess up the rotation, so we stick with 6 to 8.

In addition, if you do your Ab Wheel reps the right way, it becomes the perfect bridge between the Lats and Triceps. The reason is because you can use your Lats and Triceps together to explosively pull your extended body back to the starting position. This explosiveness wakes the Triceps up so they can start getting worked, and it further excites the Lats, allowing you to get deeper pulls on your Pull-ups or Chin-ups.

Of course, as I stated, you have to be doing the Ab Wheel exercise correctly in order to get this benefit out of the movement. That leads me to the next section.

Ab Wheel Technique

One of my best friends from college, Chris Christian, recently began implementing Ab Wheel into his routines. I used to train like an all-out Savage Beast with this guy back in college. I was happy to hear he was getting an Ab Wheel, but I also was concerned because he did a stretch of service for our country in Afghanistan, I believe, several years ago and ended up hurting his back. So I asked him to shoot a video of him doing them, just to make sure he was doing them properly and not putting too much stress on his back.

Turns out, his technique was just a little off, so I shot a quick video for him last night and uploaded it to YouTube. It turns out there were others doing the exercise incorrectly, and putting too much strain on their backs as well, so I am sharing the video here for all of you, too.

Demonstration of How to Use the Ab Wheel Correctly

Sorry for the weird abrupt ending. The battery died right at the end…

Look, this piece of equipment is bad-ass, even if you just stick with the basic technique, on your knees. My goals is to work up to performing the reps on my toes. It may take some time, but I will get there.

If you want to get an Ab Wheel, they are readily available at most fitness stores, I saw one this past weekend at Play-it-Again Sports, and you can find them on Amazon: Valeo Ab Wheel<= That link will take you to them.

Grab one up, give them a try and let me know what you think of the Ab Wheel.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

DIGITAL STREAMING VERSION

When I first began delving into Strength and Conditioning literature after I got out of college, I was given a copy of a strength training documentary about Werner Gunthor called, L’heritage d’une carriere, by my friend Dan Cenidoza

At the time, I was reading a lot of the materials from the NSCA, and even though they were much more geared toward strength training than the bodybuilding magazines I read in college, even the NSCA manuals did not prepare me for the type of training I would see in this video.

To my dismay, I somehow lost my copy of the tape and had not watched it in years, but I was able to find it recently, in its entirety on YouTube.
(more…)

Scottish Highland Games:

An Introduction to the Heavy Events

Adriane Wilson
3X Women’s World Champion

This is a guest post by Adriane Wilson, world-renowned Track and Field Throwing Athlete, 2X Champion at Highland Games and the first ever certified Women’s Captain of Crush. To read more about this unbelievably well-rounded athlete, check out my interview with Adriane Wilson or check out her youtube channel.

My athletic background has been focused around track and field, specifically the throwing events. I have trained at the elite level for the shot put, discus and hammer throw for 10 years and I have competed in two U.S. Olympic Trials.

Upon contemplation of professional retirement from the Olympic events, I was lured into the Scottish Highland Games as a competitive substitute. It was an easy transition in the weight room, I continued to focus on the development of a strong posterior chain to handle the heavy implements but the time in the trig proved to be the most time consuming with nine new events to master.

After a year of training for the heavy events, my need for competition was rekindled in the Olympic shot put and I managed a 4th place finish at the 2010 USA Championships in the women’s shot put. It was clear that training the heavy events complimented my Olympic dream. London is calling for 2012. Until then, I will train for a few World Records and my third World Championship title in the Women’s Scottish Highland Games.

What are the events in the Scottish Highland Games?

Braemar Stone

(Standing Stone Toss)

The heavy stone is thrown with one hand and the stone is held at the neck until release. There is minimal movement with the feet, specific instructions may be regulated by the head judge.

Men: 20-26lbs.
Women: 13-18lbs.

Open Stone

(Similar to the Olympic Shot Put)

Any style of approach is acceptable to throw the stone but one foot must remain inside the trig at all times. Most throwers use the glide technique or a variation of the rotational spin to complete their throw.
Men: 16-22lbs.
Women: 8-12lbs.

Why is there no standard weight for the stone events?

Stones are chosen by the Athletic Director and it is up to their discretion the weight, texture, and shape of the stone. The stone is weighed prior to the game and will be used annually for the festival. Throwers may use tape or an elastic wrap for their throwing wrist for support.

Weight for Distance

Metal weight is held with one hand and thrown from one or two turns inside the trig. One foot must remain in the trig at all times and throwers frequently use tape on their fingers to prevent ripped calluses and blisters. Occasionally, throwers will use a hook grip on the round ring or D-handle for the throw.

Light Weight for Distance
Men: 28lbs.
Women: 14lbs.
Masters: 28lbs.

Heavy Weight for Distance
Men: 56lbs.
Women: 28lbs.
Masters: 42lbs. or 56lbs.

Scottish Hammer Throw

Round metal ball attached to a long rod made from rattan, wood, bamboo or PVC. The hammer is thrown with two hands on the handle of the stick and generates speed by winding the hammer around the thrower’s head. The thrower’s feet must remain stationary throughout the throw and cannot pass the wooden trig at any time. Occasionally, throwers will wear boots with hammer blades or spikes attached at the toe for added leverage.

Light Hammer Throw:
Men: 16lbs.
Women: 12lbs.

Heavy Hammer Throw:
Men: 22lbs.
Women: 16lbs.

Caber Toss

Most recognizable event of the Scottish Highland Games. The caber does not have a regulation size or weight but must be made of wood. The caber is positioned upright for the thrower with the heavy end on top. The bottom may be tapered for easier hand placement and the attempt is established when the caber leaves the ground.

Generally, the fingers are interlocked together and the bottom of the caber rests in the palms of the hands. The thrower manages control of the caber by hugging the caber close to their shoulder and neck during the throw. The caber is an event of accuracy, there is no measurement for distance but each thrower has three attempts to turn the caber.

The toss is scored when the caber is flipped end over end and its position on the ground in relation to the thrower determines a clock score. For example, the thrower is standing at 6 o’clock and the caber flips over and lands slightly left of center. If the foot placement of the thrower upon the pull is 6 o’clock, the score would result in 11:00 or a time decided by the judge following behind the thrower.

A turn can be scored between 9:00-12:00 or 12:00 to 3:00. The perfect throw is 12:00. However, quite often the caber is too heavy or long for a thrower and the caber does not reach past a vertical position to score a turn. A side judge would establish the score by the degree of movement of the caber. A protractor would be handy to score 0-90° from the sidelines.

Weight for Height

Implement is thrown with one hand overhead to clear a fixed or knock off crossbar.

Weights Used in the Weight for Height:
Men: 56lbs.
Women: 28lbs.
Masters: 56lbs. or 42lbs.

Sheaf Toss

Burlap sack filled with rope or twine that is thrown for height over a fixed or knock off bar crossbar with a pitchfork.

Sheaf Toss Weight:
Men: 20lbs. or 16lbs.
Women: 12lbs. or 10lbs.
Masters: 20lbs. or 16lbs.

How are the height events scored?

Similar to the high jump or pole vault, each competitor has three attempts at each height. The thrower may pass earlier heights; however, once the thrower has begun the event, he or she must attempt each progressive height throughout the competition. Three misses at a height results in the elimination of the competition. In the case of a tie, the judge will determine the winner based on the fewest number of misses from the tied competitors throughout the event.

Some athletes choose the spin technique but Scottish tradition recognizes a standing throw only in the height events.

What is the trig?

The trig is a wooden toe board in the front of the competitor’s throwing box in the distance events. It is secured in the ground to provide a stop board for the thrower and establish a common measuring site.

How do you score the events?

The Athletic Director determines the number of events for a particular game but generally the winner of each event will receive one point for first place and second place will receive two points etc. The competitor with the lowest score is the winner.

How do you compete in a game?

Most games ask you to fill out a registration form with an entry fee and poof! You’re in. Make sure you show up with your kilt, a good attitude, and a lot of ibuprofen. There are many online forums to help out the new throwers with questions on technique, game schedules, and general inquiries regarding the events. Most throwers visit the North American Scottish Games Athletics site (www.nasgaweb.com) to view results and records. There are regional clubs and athletic groups as well to aid in the networking of Athletic Directors and competitors.

Many thanks to Adriane for putting together this great article explaining the events in the Scottish Highland Games. Once again, congrats on your fantastic accomplishment on becoming the first woman certified as Captain of Crush as well. All the best to you in your future training, Adriane! -Jedd-

ON SALE 50% OFF UNTIL 10/28/2011 AT MIDNIGHT

Hello DIESELS!

I have been telling many of you about Mike Fitch’s Animal Flow Workout, and this thing is AWESOME. I first found out about Mike when he posted a comment here on the site and it has been good getting to know him ever since.

When I saw his promotional video on YouTube for his new program, I was like, wow, I have to give this stuff a try, especially after enjoying Scott Sonnon’s Flow and TacFit maneuvers and some of my own bodyweight experimentations.

This is some of the most fun I have had training in a while. It makes me feel like I am a kid playing out in the yard, but I also get a kick-ass workout.

I found this stuff so interesting, that I asked him to do an interview with us and he was glad to oblige. Mike has an interesting background and obviously stays in great shape. I love trying new things with my strength training and I plan on using this as my cardio and flexibility training for a while.

Here’s the interview…

Jedd: Hello Mike, thanks for taking time to sit down and tell the Diesel Universe about yourself, and your upcoming DVD, The Animal Flow Workout.

First off, could you please tell us about yourself, including your athletic back ground and how it is you ended up d some of the amazing bodyweight stuff that you do?

Mike: Sure, I’ve been a strength coach, personal trainer and post rehab specialist for a little over 12 years. Even though I had been lifting since a young teen, it wasn’t until I was about 17 that I started learning more and more about anatomy and different training styles. There was no looking back – It was on!

I spent the next ten years obsessively gathering information on as many training styles as I could, from corrective exercise to KB coaching to Olympic lifts to sports-specific and speed-agility training, and attained certifications from about every organization I could find.

But, about two years ago I started feeling unchallenged in my own day-to-day routines. After walking around at fifty pounds heavier than I am now and grinding out countless hours in the gym, I came to the point where I was just done. My joints hurt all the time and I felt like it was time for something new.

I’ve always been interested in non-traditional methods of exercise, but it wasn’t until I started watching the way gymnasts strength train, that something started to click. I began checking out all bodyweight disciplines. Everything from gymnastics, hand balancing, parkour, martial arts to capoeira.

So, getting into to pure bodyweight training started out as a diversion from the lifting routines I’d become bored with, but the more I got into it, the more I wanted to do. There are so many disciplines within bodyweight training that it is a constant learning and progressing process and once you start combining them, the possibilities are endless.

Jedd: Mike, you have a website called, GlobalBodyweightTraining.com – obviously it has to do with bodyweight training, but could you tell us a little bit about what all Global Bodyweight Training entails?

Mike: The idea behind Global Bodyweight Training was simply to create a platform that showcased and increased awareness of all disciplines of bodyweight training. Most importantly though, I wanted to drive the message that no matter where you were, you could get in a killer workout without a single piece of equipment. Allow people to be creative with their programs rather than just getting stuck in the same routine.

On the site you’ll find instructional videos, blog posts, alternative exercise, challenges and rehab techniques. One of the main goals is to provide quality info that’s practical. I’m still learning new styles and exercises all of the time so I feel the content will continue to grow without becoming stale.

The global part was just to create a world-wide project where readers could participate and become part of something. More like a network that everyone can add to and learn from. We encourage people everywhere to send in their photos and videos of their bodyweight training around the globe to inspire each other.

Jedd: Would you say that you specialize in bodyweight training? Is that all that you do? What sorts of weight training exercises do you do?

Mike: My tendency (for better or for worse) is to commit myself 100% to whatever it is I’m focusing on, so once I set down the weights I rarely picked them back up. Also from the experimental side, I wanted to see how far I could push myself going purely BW.

Once I switched over, my workouts became much more of a practice. Each workout was about improving a little bit with each session, but in this case it wasn’t adding more weight but maybe mastering a skill or improving on a bodyweight feat of strength. So I would say that I specialize in bodyweight training but I am still very much a student.

However, with my coaching I’ll never get away from the big lifts or KB’s. It still comes down to whatever is necessary for my clients and students. Of course, if they request to go pure bodyweight, I’m more than happy to oblige – and more and more of them are asking for it as they see how I’ve adopted it myself.

Jedd: What role does the ability to move your body have to do with being strong? Are there any examples of movement patterns that big strong DIESELS might be able to improve upon IF they can move better?

Mike: Hmmm, how about pushing, pulling, dragging, carrying, twisting, bending, lifting, sprinkled with a lot less pain and risk of chronic overuse injuries….haha. Seriously though, movement is everything. I think the importance of mobility and motion is often overlooked by the big guys, when in fact restricted muscles and joints are restricting serious strength potential.

Ape Walking

Jedd: Could you go over an example of a bodyweight workout that you like to do that supports the rest of your strength training?

Mike: Sure, that’s one of my favorite parts.

When done properly you can structure your BW exercises to illicit whatever training response you want, whether it be strength, power, endurance, etc. Usually if I’m training for strength, I’ll pick the goal rep range, then pick the exercises that challenge me within those ranges.

So a workout may consist of full range single arm push- ups, chin ups with a single arm negative, unsupported handstand push-ups and super slow tempo pistol squats. Once you’ve adapted to those exercises, you can still change your lever arm or decrease your mechanical advantage to make it more challenging again. I’m still working on that single arm handstand push up (it may be a very long time).

Jedd: When I think of bodyweight training, I think of bodyweight squats and lunges, which to me can be pretty boring. But your dvd goes way beyond those. What made you move past the basic bodyweight stuff and start moving like an quadruped?

Mike: Well that was all part of the quest. With researching and practicing different BW disciplines I started to realize that 1: they all eventually cross over into each other and 2: each one can play a very different role in your program, depending upon how it’s utilized. The animal movements are super versatile in the respect that they are literally good for everything. These types of moves have been used for thousands of years to increase health and vitality.

While I had played with them off and on in my training, it wasn’t until I dedicated a tremendous amount of time to check out different styles of animal movements that I really began to understand their potential for performance. What developed was a program that was highly teachable and highly effective. Once you learn the movements, you can put them together in an endless flow that is unbelievably challenging. And you’re right – it’s a long way away from your basic BW squats/lunges or the dreaded treadmill!

Jedd: Can you point to any examples of movement or strength improvements you have experienced since adapting this type of upper body bodyweight training?

Mike: Absolutely! The positive benefits have been almost overwhelming. Especially considering we spend most of our careers looking for that one thing that’s going to give us an “edge” in our training. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this is the end all be all magic pill, but I do know the changes I’ve seen in myself as well as my clients.

As I had mentioned earlier, I rarely pick up a weight these days. However when I do, it’s to assess my strength as compared to my weight training days. The results have been favorable to say the least! I credit this to pure muscle integration and higher neural coordination as a result of this style of bodyweight training. While I’m not the biggest guy around (by a long shot), my body has completely changed in proportion. It’s like Symmetry out of necessity, results I could not achieve while I was weight training.

Jedd: What is something that many people commonly experience once they start adopting these types of skills into their training? Let’s assume that Jedd Johnson is NOT the most limber guy on earth – what might I notice after doing the stuff from your dvd for a couple of weeks?

Mike: Well Jedd, I can say that a lot of the bigger guys or strongmen I’ve seen or worked with have characteristically had tight and locked up hip flexors/deep hip rotators, less than optimal spinal rotation and unbelievably tight and internally rotated shoulders. Usually any mobility or flexibility work is gladly traded in for another couple sets of strength training. Who has the time for everything right?

Well even when using the animal movements at the beginning of a strength workout as a dynamic warm up, can yield some pretty impressive results. Some of the most common responses I hear are “holly s#*t, I feel so opened up!” or “I actually feel lighter.” The animal movements take your through active ranges that will mobilize those tight areas like the shoulders, spine and hips.

Let’s see Jedd, give it a shot for two weeks and then tell me!

Jedd: I plan on it, brother! So, Mike, let’s get down to it. Let’s say some of the DIESELS are interested in your dvd. What is the number one reason to pick it up?

Mike: I really believe it has something for everyone. The beauty of animal movements is that they can be incorporated into almost any workout, whether you are a strongman, a yogi, a traceur, an MMA fighter, and so on. I’ve designed the video so that the information is provided in an easy to follow format, so that anyone can pick it up quickly. That way, a DIESEL can pick up the DVD and almost immediately be able to incorporate the movements into their own workout, at the level they want.

Animal movements can be your whole workout if you want, or can be an added element that you do in addition to your regular routine. Either way, you’ll be using movement in a different way, and It’s an excellent way to improve your cardiovascular performance and endurance. No matter what the sport, athleticism can be rated by ones strength, power, endurance, speed, coordination, flexibility, agility and balance. The Animal Flow Workout will help improve all of these!

Jedd: Mike, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to break off some knowledge for us. I for one am looking forward to trying some of this stuff out. Thanks again!

Mike: Thanks for having me Jedd

Guys, I hope you enjoyed the interview. If you think that you might want to try some bodyweight training in your routine, I suggest you give this a try. As I have said, after just a few rounds of the forward Ape maneuvers, my arms were blown up like I had just worked bi’s and tri’s for an hour.

P.S. Go through the banner above to pick up the program and send me your Clickbank Receipt and I will schedule a half-hour strength training coaching call with you as a bonus!

Slight Change of Plans, DIESELS!

A couple weeks back, we contested the Dumbbell Snatch and I said that during the week of June 11th we would be contesting the Barbell Snatch.

I am changing that up, but it is for a VERY COOL REASON.

After this week, the next four weeks’ challenges will be WILD CARD events to qualify for the Wild Card spots at the North American Grip National Championship on July 16th, 2011.

ANYONE in North America can take part and instantly qualify, IF they win in just ONE of the FOUR wild card weeks.

Next week, the challenge will be the Two Hands Pinch. The Euro-Pinch device will not be necessary. Instead, two 35’s or 45’s or their kilogram counterparts can be used with a pipe through the middle. An entire video demonstration will be available on my YouTube Channel showing you exactly what to do.

IF YOU WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN THE NATION, BUT HAVE HAD NO QUALIFIERS NEAR YOU, THEN THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET TO NATIONALS.

That’s next week – let’s look at this week’s challenge!

This Week’s Challenge – Barbell Snatch

The Barbell Snatch is another OUTSTANDING drill for developing not only full body strength, power, and explosiveness, but also Grip Strength, as long as you don’t mess around with a hook grip or use straps (please don’t be that guy…)

The Barbell Snatch is great for athletes because it trains the core, is a posterior chain dominant, and it also requires the all-important triple extension of the ankles, knees, and hips, which is also present in jumping, leaping/bounding, and sprinting. So put this movement, or a variation, into your program on a routine basis to get the most benefit.

To perform the Barbell Snatch, load up a barbell and Snatch it overhead in one movement.

For the challenge, again, no hook grip or straps are allowed. A wrist wrap is fine for support and injury prevention and belts and chalk are also perfectly fine.

To see the Barbell Snatch in action, just play the video below.

The winner this week will be the one who Snatches the most weight the most times in one (1) minute. No press-outs will be counted. Also, the off-hand should be used to a minimum. My watchful eye will be checking this out. And again, no hook grip or straps!

Make sure you are getting quality reps. You should be locked out with one hand on the bar and feet in line. Any questionable reps will not be counted. I will begin the 1-minute time limit once you begin your first rep.

Get warmed up and get your best effort on film! Remember, any number of reps at a higher weight will beat any number of reps at a lower weight. So go heavy and go for time!

Let’s see those submissions, and please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in winning one off the Wild Card spots at Nationals for their Division, so they can participate next week.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. Get on the Strongman Training DVD Early Bird List. Put your name and email in the box below.

Who is the Strongest Strength Coach at Juniata?

Below are the events for the Strongest Strength Coach Event at the 2011 PA Strength and Conditioning Clinic at Juniata College on June 17, 2011.

Log Clean and Press for Reps

The Log will start on the ground, weighing roughly 150-lbs. The coach will pick the log up and clean it to his/her shoulder and from there Press/Push Press/Jerk it to the locked out position overhead for a “GOOD” call. For each subsequent rep, the log should taken back below the waste and then cleaned and pressed again. There will be a one-minute time limit. Points will be awarded for each good Lockout with head through and feet even upon recovery.
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Try this out – It feels AWESOME

A couple of year’s ago, I put up a post here called, How to Turn the Glute Ham into the Modern Day Torture Rack.

In that post I combine the Glute Ham Raise with other forms of training in order to bring about some very challenging and fun movements.

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Guest Post by Mike Fitch of GlobalBodyWeightTraining.com

The Three Best Ab Exercises from the Lower Body Up

I already know what you’re thinking, not another ab article, how many times can we repackage the same old crap?
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Off Season Training for Baseball

A guest post by Joe Meglio

One of the biggest problems I see in high school, college, and professional baseball players is their off season training program. Too often I see these athletes performing the WRONG exercises. Some athletes focus on the “beach muscles” that don’t have any positive effect on performance. Others will only train their “core” and do rotator cuff work. While it is important to train the core and rotator cuff, by no means should they be the meat and potatoes of your program.

Instead of focusing on these exercises that don’t have any positive effect on athletic performance, baseball players should perform compound lifts. These lifts give you the best bang for your buck and help you optimize performance. Once the baseball season approaches, baseball players should start to include more jumps, medicine ball throws and sprints.

Below is a list of my top 10 lifts for baseball players in the off season.

Top 10 Exercises for Baseball Players

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Powerful Lower Body Domination for Explosive Athletes

by Jim Smith, CSCS

As we transition from the foundation (strength / hypertrophy) block of their strength training, the MMA fighters move into their explosive phase.  In the previous video we were allowing them to get acclimated to absorbing the impact from jump training, drilling proper landing mechanics and preparing them for the full execution of more complex plyometric exercises.

As proficiency their increased, you will now see much more complex exercises.  And the end of the phase, even depth jumps are performed after a strength movement, i.e. complex training promoting post-activation potentiation.

* SPECIAL NOTE – explosive training should be done early in the workout and after a very thorough and complete warm-up.

Complex Jump Training (end of block)

Athlete 1:

Exercise 1:  Sandbag Zercher Squats

Loading anterior (with additional chains) to promote proper squat mechanics, overload the spinal erectors and force powerful torso bracing

Exercise 2:  Depth Jump into Deep Squat Landing

Promotes explosive lower body power, reactiveness, deceleration and proper landing mechanics.

Exercise 3:  Band Sprints

Promotes stride frequency, arm swing and leg drive

Athlete 2:

Exercise 1:  Sandbag Zercher Squats

Loading anterior (with additional chains) to promote proper squat mechanics, overload the spinal erectors and force powerful torso bracing

Exercise 2:  Depth Jump into Split Squat Landing

Promotes explosive lower body power, reactiveness, deceleration, balance, kinesthetic awareness and ankle/knee/hip stability and proper landing mechanics.

Exercise 3:  Band Sprints

Promotes stride frequency, arm swing and leg drive

UFC, MMA LOWER BODY STRENGTH TRAINING

Powerful Pressing Power AND Core Strength With an Important Lesson

In this new article I am going to discuss something that is of great importance.

But first, something really cool.

One Arm Dumbbell Press on Swiss Ball

This movement is awesome for:

• increasing pressing power
• improving core strength (anti-rotation, statics / dynamic isometrics)
• improving shoulder stability

We cycle in this variation once in a while after the lifter / athlete demonstrates proficiency with horizontal and vertical pressing AND horizontal and vertical pulling (*Remember, we must create a balance in the volume of movements).

As the lifter goes through the range of motion of the press there is a torque across their torso that is very significant and this must be stabilized.  Once stabilized and braced and with the shoulder retracted and packed back, the lifter will begin their set.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON #37

In the video you’ll hear me instruct John (the second athlete in the video) to switch hands on the press.  During his set I am always observing, instructing and providing lifting cues for form.  I saw his rep was slow and he was losing stability.  Once I see this, I must immediately jump in and instruct him to switch hands or end the set if he has already lifted with both arms.

This is the key.

NO GRINDING REPS.  There is no need.  In a fatigued set where the reps are grinded out, that is when injuries occur.  Also, if every set is taken to this “failure”, overtraining is much more likely.  We want to see quality reps and complete focus by the athlete.  They must be “in” the set the entire time.  As my good friend Rob Pilger says, “Fatigue makes cowards of men” and fatigue also puts the athlete into a compromising position.  Do you let them grind the rep out in a bad movement pattern, or do you cut the set and get another rep on the next workout?

My 20 years in the trenches advice?  Cut the set.

Step 1:

Coaching Cues:

• Stabilize and Brace Core
• Retract Shoulder
• Drive Feet Down

Step 2:

Coaching Cues:

• Stabilize and Brace Core
• Retract Shoulder
• Drive Feet Down
• Drive Dumbbell to Lockout and Reset Your Air
• Slowly Return to the Starting Point*

* Key Note:  A neutral grip is preferred for athletes as this is the most advantageous and safest position.

One Arm Dumbbell Press on Swiss Ball

Cool Testimonial for AMPED

You have to see this testimonial for AMPED Warm-up.  It is from Nicolas Amp (yeah I love his last name!) and it is awesome.  Not only does he provide great feedback, he also sent me a picture of him watching AMPED in his car during a traffic jam!  Check it out!

“As a strength coach, it is my responsibility to make sure my athletes get the best from their workout and do not get injured. Every training programs, no matter how good they are, can not be performed well without a proper and well-designed warm up protocol. This is where AMPED comes in action! Everything you need to know about warming up is explained. Self-myofascial release methods, mobility training and activation… everythig is in here. I’ve been particulary interested in mobility training and what I’ve found in AMPED totally answered my questions. Thanks to AMPED, I’m confident I’m going to bring my athletes to the next level. If you are a serious strength coach, you have to get AMPED!” — Nicolas AMP

Hardest Core Exercise EVER

Part 1

I am starting a new series on Diesel to really jack up your core training.  It is titled the “Hardest Core Exercise EVER” series.  It will contain some of the hardest core training exercises ever created.  Most are used with the athletes or bodybuilders I train at Diesel.  Needless to say, there are very tough.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Hardest Core Exercise EVER

Part 1

I am starting a new series on Diesel to really jack up your core training.  It is titled the “Hardest Core Exercise EVER” series.  It will contain some of the hardest core training exercises ever created.  Most are used with the athletes or bodybuilders I train at Diesel.  Needless to say, there are very tough.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Smitty and I have participated at the NSCA’s PA Strength and Conditioning Clinic at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA for several years now.

We have done speaking presentations on Grip Strength, the Core Training, On-line Marketing, Chaos Theory and many other topics.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Fast Conditioning with Kettlebells and Chains

You want to make ANY exercise harder?  There’s a simple solution.

Add chains…

When you add chains to an exercise, it gets real.

If you remember our first chain training video (it had a huge amount of positive feedback), it really opened peoples eyes to not only making training fun again, but many different practical uses for chains besides accommodating resistance.

CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Bruce Lee’s Strength Training

Bruce Lee’s physique and his dedication to strength training has long been documented.  In fact when he traveled, he had his training equipment shipped to him so he could train on location. (3)

Bruce built his legendary strength (holding a 100lb barbell at arms length for several seconds, thumb push-ups, 1″ power punch, just to name of few) and power with a combination of martial arts, isometrics, weight training, calisthenics, cardio fitness and stretching, hand grippers and  hill running.  (1) He knew that if he engaged in a variety of modalities it would give him the most “functional” strength.  It would not be gained by just weight training alone.

READ THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

I’ve just got to show you this piece that I recently added to my training equipment collection.

The Demolition Club

CHECK OUT THIS POST AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

BULL STRENGTH CONDITIONING

My buddy Joe Hashey released Bull Strength Conditioning last week. He was all done with his introductory sale on Friday.

I went up and hit a workout with Joe this past weekend and afterwards, Joe and I went to Tully’s for their famous a buffalo chicken sandwich.

While we were chomping away, I asked if he’d be interested in letting the Diesel Universe have a chance to get Bull Strength Conditioning at a reduced price.

He just got back with me today and he is giving everybody here the chance to pick it up at the original introductory price – Just 27 bucks.

Also, this weekend, I designed a complete Done-for-You 8-week Grip Training Program that I am going to send to everybody that picks up Bull Strength Conditioning through my link. All you have to do is just forward your receipt to my email address, (jedd dot diesel at gmail dot com) and I will send you the links to get the 8-week Grip Program Video.

You can use this 8-week program in your own training or with your athletes. Each week’s routine includes 3 movements. No exercise is repeated throughout the entire program and all disciplines of Grip are included: Pinch, Crush, Support, Wrist Postures, Forearm Work, and Grip Integration.

There’s also a PDF version of the workout that you can print out, take with you to the gym, and make notes on each week.

This program will compliment the Bull Strength Conditioning perfectly, and you’ll have 24 exercises that you can use later on to modify the program however you want to.

Just pick it up through my link, send me your receipt, and I’ll hook you up with the 8-week Grip Program. Here’s my link: http://tinyurl.com/BullDiesel.

All the best in your training.

-Jedd-

P.S. Did you see the cool banner Joe designed just for all my friends that pick up Bull Strength? You can see it here: http://tinyurl.com/BullDiesel

P.P.S. Update – This just in from Pedro Morales on Facebook: “I highly, highly recommend this program, I just bought it a few days ago, I love it, The bonuses are enough to stand on their own right!!! Awesome thing about Bull Strength Conditioning is you can get a High Level of Conditioning without beating up your Knees! I love this about the program, My knees are beat to hell from all the H.I.I.T. I’ve done in the Past!”

P.P.S. My link is an affiliate link and I do get a portion of the sale money – that is why I put together this killer bonus.

Would You Help Coach Me to a Muscle-Up???

Ever since I started seriously training for size and strength, I enjoyed trying new training methods. I just plain love training and learning new things.

I also like to take things to the extreme. I guess it’s the way I was brought up. You either do something for real, or you don’t do it.

My dad would say when I was a kid: “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.”

Well, I took that to mean work your ass off until you’re successful.

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Muscle Building / Strength Training Exercises

Core Training / Leg Training

Here are two videos from recent workouts.  One shows a cool rotational core training exercise that no only improves rotational and decelerative core strength but it also incorporates the upper body.

The next video shows front squats, a staple in all good strength training programs (as long as there are no existing shoulder / wrist issues).  Don’t forget if there are issues with the conventional front squat racked position you could; use a different bar, use a cross armed / bodybuilding rack or even use lifting straps tied around the barbell. (more…)

Lean on Me

Guest Post

Barry Gibson

http://www.grapplefit.com

It’s something of an honor to be asked to do a guest post for Smitty and Jedd, especially as I’ve been a big fan for some time. For people that don’t know, my name is Barry Gibson and I own and operate Grapplefit Training in Sunderland, England. I have been the regular strength contributor to Fighters Only Magazine for almost four years now, and have had the concept of Grapplefit for at least seven years. Only now is it becoming a reality and I have my own unit where I train combat athletes full time. I also run fat loss boot camps for ladies and gents not involved in the fight game. One of my more recognizable clients is Ross Pearson – TUF season 9 lightweight winner and now UFC fighter. At the time of writing, Ross has just defeated Aaron Riley at UFC 105.

SEE THE KILLER WORKOUT VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

I remember a few years back I went to the NSCA PA State Clinic and watched Mike Rankin, the head strength coach at Drexel University, present on how he used gymnastic rings with his athletes.  I was pretty blow away with how innovative he was and how many different variations he used.   Zach Makovsky, his assistant strength coach at the time and MMA athlete, demo’d the rings with Mike at the hands on.

INNOVATIVE RING TRAINING AFTER JUMP (more…)

Stronger Grip Mace / Core Club

Since putting up the post last week about the Stronger Grip Mace and Core Clubs being available here, I have had some readers ask me about how to perform mace swings with them.

It seems like many people are making this movement more difficult than it should be…

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP (more…)

Hello Diesels.

I am going to show you something today that can quite easily be described as TORTURE.

If you think you are tough enough to try it, then please go ahead. You HAVE to be Diesel to do so.

But I am warning you that you are trying it at your own risk.

If you get sore afterwards, I am not to blame. It’s the movement that’s at fault.

This series of movements is intense and if you are not in proper physical condition, you could end up having a very very bad day.
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The sport of strongman continues to grow and becomes more and more exciting all the time. Each year, more and more amateur competitors enter the ranks, shooting for the stars and the chance to get their pro card. Many say the biggest attraction about the sport of strongman is the tremendous test of raw, brute strength, lifting the mighty atlas stones.
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I can’t hold back any longer!  I am here to expose the Matrix.

Have you ever seen Keanu Reeves?  Yes, he rides a motorcycle.  Yes he has a band.  And yes, he has a very substantial beard.  I mean he could either be the 4th dude from ZZ Top, or rent the space in his beard for a butterfly or sparrow retreat.

This post is AWESOME! (more…)

Planks 2.0

Here is a guest blog post I did for Joe Defranco.  It talks about taking a conventional plank to a new level.  It also reveals that core strength is a synergistic collaboration between the anterior and posterior musculature surrounding and engaging movements of the torso.

Of course planks resist hip extension and this version resists hip flexion, but because of the planked position, I chose this name.  Also, remember that we must diversify our core training.  Not only building strength in movement patterns, but also resisting these same movements.

Check out this cool video (more…)