Blast from the Past : Ring Training II
Over the past seven years this site's amassed an enormous amount of content. To help you find the highlights, I'll be taking an occasional wander through the archives.
We first looked at Ring Training (in this series) almost 3 years ago. While the basic idea is very much the same, a couple of new exercise variations have cropped up since then.
Here's another look at this wonderful form of training :
- Ring Dips with Progressions
Looking for a challenge? Try some of these. Good stuff. - Ring Push Ups
If you're just getting in to Ring Training, consider the humble Ring Push-Up. Feels great. - How to Use Rings

Looking for even more ideas? No problem - over to Peter. - DIY Rings
If you haven't got your own rings (or you just like making your own gym gear), here's a superbly simple set of home-made rings in action. Nice one Dan.
- Rings, Ropes and Kettlebells
Finally, a great way to integrate ring training with existing routines (NB : this is my kind of workout - outdoors, great tools).
Further reading
Want more? Take a look at these :
- The Bodyweight Aficionado's Guide to Gear (Jason Kirby)
This is a superb look at the equipment that falls into the 'optional, but great to have' category. - Another 30 Days Without Weights (Matt Potak)
If you occasionally train without the weights, there are a few things to keep in mind. Matt explains.
- Which ones to get?
If you're starting from scratch, a kit is probably the best solution. These typically contain both the rings and instructions in the form of a DVD or eBook (or both).My favourite is the EXF Pro package from RingTraining.com.
There's also an incredible array of articles and videos on this site. Use the search box at the top of each page, or send me an email.
Scott Andrew Bird is a writer, photographer and a guy who just loves this stuff. He's been at home in front of a computer for more years than he cares to remember (OK, 30) and is now making amends for years of many mistakes noted in the De-constructing computer guy articles (part 2) on T-Nation.
Stalkers may wish to track his every move via Twitter or Google+; everyone else is cordially invited to hop over to his online home. Enjoy.
Like this? Check out some of their other articles : For a full list, head over to the author page for Scott Andrew Bird.
Want even more? Try these :
And if you'd like to join the writing team here and share your own thoughts on strength-training, get in touch. Look forward to hearing from you.
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what we're saying
images of strength
Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.
how to
Bending (Nails, Horseshoes)
Easily one of the most rewarding ways to train.
Clubs & Maces
A great way to get a top workout in, without wasting time.
Grippers
I love training with grippers. Beautiful things.
Kettlebells
Fantastic.
Ropes (Climbing/Dragging, Battling Ropes)
Have you got what it takes?
Sandbags
If you're ready to take your conditioning workouts up a notch, grab one of these.
Suspension Training
Perfect for outdoor sessions.
recommended
It'll come as no surprise that we've reviewed many, many products over the years. Everything from books, magazines and DVDs to racks, benches and complete home gyms.
To give you an idea :
- Carlson Labs Fish Oil
- Get Extreme With Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite
- Review : Fixing Elbow Pain
- Gettin' Swole, Part 2
- Gettin' Swole
- You Need More Drugs
- Isopure Protein Powder - My Review
Looking for a full list of the various equipment and services we use and recommend? No problem - it's all here.
join the discussion
The Gymchats are weekly discussions on a range of strength-training topics. Quite apart from being fascinating discussions in their own right, they're a lot of fun.
This week :
Gymchat 203 - Fat Loss (with Vic Magary)
We hold these every Wednesday, starting at 9pm Eastern. If you're in a different timezone, here's the quickest way to see when that is.
NB : if you'd like to be interviewed in an upcoming discussion, I'd love to hear from you. It's great to hear how other people train.
the team
There are some superb writers here, looking at the world of strength training from a number of angles. The regulars :
Scott Bird (@scottbird)
Writer and Fitness enthusiast
Conor Doherty (@sfactoryfitness)
Educator and Personal Trainer
'Captain' Kirk Fontaine (@fitnewbie)
Personal Trainer and Host of the Gymchats
Derek 'D-Rock' Peruo (@DerekPeruoCSCS)
Personal Trainer and Creator of the Renaissance Fitness Supplement Kits
Jedd
'Napalm' Johnson (@jeddjohnson)
Grip champion and Strongman
'Unbreakable'
Adam T Glass (@adamtglass)
Bending freak and Strongman
Kat
'The Mighty Kat' Ricker
Bodybuilder and Writer
NB : It's a big team - full list here.
In addition, articles are submitted from across the globe. Got a piece you'd like to share? Let us know.
elsewhere
This is a fantastic book. If you've ever considered learning this
incredible strength feat, the Card
Tearing eBook (review)
is the perfect place to start. Love it.
In addition to the articles on this site are a number I've written elsewhere. Including :
- Paleo Diet : Increased Mental Clarity
- The Art of Working Out Alone
- The Ultimate Guide to Freezing Food (part II)
- Rock the Kitchen: Plan for Diet Success
- 10 Challenging Bodyweight Exercises
- Buying Your First Kettlebell
- Switching to Biphasic Sleeping? Start here.
reading
If you're new to the world of nail bending, this is the perfect book to get. It'll show you the exact techniques you'll need to get started right away. Written by world-class bender Jedd Johnson.
The Diesel Crew's Card Tearing eBook
This is a fantastic book. If you've ever considered learning this incredible strength feat, the Card Tearing eBook is the perfect place to start. Love it.
If you ever wake up with that 'just run over by a truck' feeling, you need a copy of Tim Hull's Functional Correction Manual. Not only will it help you to locate and repair the problem, it'll help prevent it happening in the future.
When it comes to body transformation - whether that's an increase in strength, packing on a bit of muscle or losing a bit of excess fat - this is the perfect place to start. Dr Berardi's Precision Nutrition.
This is a fantastic book. As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train. Love it.
101 Fitness Myths [Kindle Edition]
A superb combination of fitness mythbusting and no-nonsense advice. If you're not quite sure where to start, grab this.
The Art of Expressing the Human Body
If you've ever watched a Bruce Lee film and marveled at his strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility or muscularity, this book should take pride of place in your collection. Unlike many other writings covering everything from Lee's training methods to nutrition, this book is based not on the recollections of people around him; but on Lee's own notes. Brilliant.
For a full list of what we're reading and watching at the moment, just head over to the Recommended Books & DVDs page. See you there.