Here is a guest blog post I did for Eric Cressey.

It dealt with modifying a conventional activation exercise and you know, here at Diesel, that is what we are famous for.

What I do with my athletes is introduce an elastic band into their rehab / activation protocols for scapular wall slides (SWS).

Here was a question from one of Eric’s readers:

“On the surface, the sounds extremely innovative and effective, but it got me wondering…..I thought the purpose of low(er) level activation work was merely to get the muscle firing and then to integrate it in other training (rows, pull-ups, etc) to derive further benefits in MU recruitment, strength, and so on.

For example, “classic” scapular wall slides followed by a chin or pull-up with full scapular retraction and depression, possibly even with iso holds i the top position.

I am genuinely curious and do not mean this post in an offensive way.”

Here was my response:

You’re exactly right in your progression model. The intent of the exercise is to transition from low threshold motor unit (LTMU) recruitment to a higher threshold motor unit (HTMU) improving intramuscular coordination prior to integration (intermuscular coordination).

You can read all about it HERE.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

WHEN:  Saturday, April 11th, 11:30AM

Come watch us hit some heavy squats and deadlifts. Matt Ladewski and Joe Hashey are coming to kill this workout.

Click on this Link to Watch the Workout

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

I’ve been around a long time and I’ve seen most of the muscle building programs promoted on the internet.  And let me tell you something, they are missing MANY very essential components.

I’ve summarized these missing components in my new killer video.  It is the one you’ve been waiting for from me.

It has PROOF!

Proof that AMD works and builds sick muscle.  I know what I’m talking about and guess what, in the AMD manual, I list all of the scientific studies that back up the program!

I think you’ll like this one, you have to check it out.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

Here is an old video of us hitting heavy support grip holds for time on the GRex.

Support grip is one component of grip strength. The others are crush, pinch, wrist postures and hand health.

Grip strength is the forgotten element of functional training and is essential since the hands are involved in all athletic and strength training endeavor (including building muscle or losing fat).

In fact the hands are the end point of the kinetic chain, so they must be developed if we hope to transfer the power created and accumulated from our bodies and express it through our hands.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

This video shows one arm floor presses with a dumbbell.  The goal is to isolate the pressing arm with no leg drive.

Benefits:
Build Tricep Strength
Increase Pressing Power
Build Shoulder Stability

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

This video shows conventional cable tricep extensions with a twist. Adding a typical jumpstretch band (from EliteFTS.com) will turn this exercise into a killer workout. Do this after your primary work sets.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

AB(Duction) Band Squats

Benefits:
No More Knee Pain
Hit Your Squat Depth
Improve Hip Mobility
Activates Glutes
Activates / Strengthens Hip Abductors
Improves Patella Tracking

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

AB(Duction) Band Squats

Benefits:
No More Knee Pain
Hit Your Squat Depth
Improve Hip Mobility
Activates Glutes
Activates / Strengthens Hip Abductors
Improves Patella Tracking

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

Here is footage of Brad and Eli squatting.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

Check out these two great workouts from Mike Hanley from the Training Studio and CJ Murphy from TPS.

Both take little time and will leave you in a pile on the floor. Get moving before, during or after the big game.

Check out my new article in Men’s Fitness.  The original article was titled How to Increase Punching Power for MMA Athletes, but it has been restructured to:

Get a Fighter’s Physique

Throw serious punches to build muscle and burn fat

Get yourself a copy of the magazine for this month, or check it out online.  The article comes with a pretty extensive workout program.  In the magazine, I have a couple other small blurbs too!

Men’s Fitness Article HERE

Check out my new article in Men’s Fitness.  The original article was titled How to Increase Punching Power for MMA Athletes, but it has been restructured to:

Get a Fighter’s Physique

Throw serious punches to build muscle and burn fat

Get yourself a copy of the magazine for this month, or check it out online.  The article comes with a pretty extensive workout program.  In the magazine, I have a couple other small blurbs too!

Men’s Fitness Article HERE

Here is a recent post directed to me on the Elite Q/A:

Jim what are your 5 favorite standing abdominal movements?

____________________________________________________

Cory,

In no particular order, here are some of the top abdominal exercises.

– zercher squat, bracing the torso, under tension, while engaging movements of the lower body

– explosive med ball rotational throws, no deceleration

– core statics – lateral shuffles with agitation and breathing regulation, anti-rotation

– pull-ups – upper back muscular is an essential component of core strength

– deadlifts – full body movement requiring bracing (rigidity) and is essential for developing posterior chain, the other half of the core

________________________________________________

Why are pull-ups and essential part of core strength?  What is torso rigidity?  How do you perform zercher squats correctly?  Check out Combat Core!

Here’s an example of an anaerobic conditioning circuit for a wrestler or combat athlete.

1a)  Hindu-Push-ups, 30 sec

1b)  Power Rope Double Slams, 30 sec

1c)  KB swings, 30 sec

1d)  Overhead Med Ball Squats, 30 sec

1e)  Partner Zercher Good Mornings, 30 sec

1f)  DB Clean & Press, 30 sec

The athletes will do as many reps as possible in the 30 second blocks and switch on the whistle.  Each run is roughly 3:30 minutes.  3 minutes of resistance and :30 seconds of total rest which is the accumulated time to switch between exercises.  Run through this circuit 3-5 runs, dependent upon the sport.

Check out this story on Brian Urlacher’s off-season training program.
Some interesting notes:

• hypoxic training considerations
• heart rate monitoring
• agility training
• lots of dynamic warm-ups (15-20 movements)
• push/pull workouts with minimal rest (25 sec)

Click here to READ

Check out this story on Brian Urlacher’s off-season training program.

Some interesting notes:

• hypoxic training considerations
• heart rate monitoring
• agility training
• lots of dynamic warm-ups (15-20 movements)
• push/pull workouts with minimal rest (25 sec)

Click here to READ