Straight to the Bar Archives : From the Archives

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The Best of the Best.

From the Archives : A Return to Outdoor and Unconventional Workouts

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

Serious outdoor training. Image from Get Gorilla.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Hanging Core Variations

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, grip

A gem from the archives.

From the Archives : The Benefits of Using a Foam Roller

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : injury prevention, recovery

Rory Hickman using a Foam Roller.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Ready for a Virtual Meet?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : powerlifting

Would you consider doing a powerlifting or weightlifting meet if it came to you? Start considering. Virtual meets are ready for you.

From the Archives : The Importance of Perfect Reps

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Chuck Halbakken.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Progressions for Unbraced Short Steel Bending

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : beginner, bending, Old-Time Strength

Once you've started, how do you progress?

From the Archives : Is Your Shoulder Complete?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

The Shoulder Joint. Image via Wikimedia Commons.Keeping your shoulders in good shape can actually improve your lifts. Here's a look at 4 great exercises for doing just that.

From the Archives : 10 Reasons to Start Deadlifting

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : deadlift

Screaming optional.Photo by Cronfeld.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Give Your Workout a Name!

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning

Do you assign names to your workouts? The Fight Geek looks at the benefits of doing this, and offers some great suggestions in the process. And yes, Mr T is involved.

From the Archives : Eliminating the Lug Nuts

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Dollar and Muscle.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Women and Weight

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : coffee, shrugs

Kelly Mills.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : 29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : squat

Modified Lumberjack Squat.Have you been looking for a way to attract some attention in the gym, or some new tricks to slip up your sleeve? Here are a few twists on some old moves using 1 or 2 barbells against a wall.

From the Archives : DIY Hanging Handles

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : DIY

Fantastic piece of DIY equipment.

From the Archives : The Investments

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : deadlift

Bob 'Mr Deadlift' Peoples pulling 680 in about 1949.Ready to acquire some absolutely brutal strength? This is the first article in a superb series which brings old-time strongman training to the masses. Excellent.

From the Archives : Building a Neck of Steel

posted by Scott Andrew Bird

Insane neck strength.Why is neck training essential? Over to Mike. Superb.

From the Archives : The Power of Hindsight

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : basketball

Hindsight.I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around June 8). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the archives : Straight to the Grip Contest

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : grip

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. Straight to the Grip Contest When it comes to grip training, Jedd Johnson's a goldmine of...

From the archives : Card Tearing Anyone?

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : balance, injury prevention, Old-Time Strength, posture, tearing

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. Card Tearing Anyone? I don't care if you tear a stack of paper, a deck of...

»» Continue reading »».

From the archives : The demise of monkey bars

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : chin-up, injury prevention

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. The demise of monkey bars 'Hey hey, we're the Monkeys, and people say we monkey around'...

From the Archives : The Zercher Squat

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, deadlift, home gym, lunge, neck, Old-Time Strength, plate, squat, thick bar, zercher squat

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. The Zercher Squat This is the first in a series of Timeless Exercises; a collaboration with...

From the Archives : 29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : balance, beginner, deadlift, dumbbell, front squat, grip, handstand, push-ups, shrugs, squat

Time to get creative.

From the Archives : The Hack Squat

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, deadlift, grip, Old-Time Strength, squat, stretching, thick bar

Wonderful exercise.

From the Archives : 10 Questions with Strongman Mike Gill

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, conditioning, counting calories, deadlift, diet, Farmers Walk, recovery, squat, stone lifting, weight gain

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives.

From the Archives : Nails - Converting Imperial to Metric

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bending, grip, measurement, Old-Time Strength

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. Nails : Converting imperial to metric Yesterday I finally had time to head over to a...

From the archives : Row, row, row

posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding, grip

I'm travelling for a couple of weeks (back around March 15). In the meantime, here are a few hidden gems from the archives. Enjoy. Row, row, row This is just a quick look at several of the popular - as...

NB : if you're looking for something specific, use the search box (top of the page) or drop us a line. And if you're happily browsing around, here's a list of all the categories and tags we use on the site :

Cheers.

The Gymchats with Josh Hewett. Talking about strength, every week.

If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.

This week :

Gymchat 277 - Barefoot Running - Believe the Hype! (Steven Sashen)

Fantastic discussion.

NB : if you'd like to be interviewed on an upcoming show (or know someone who should be), drop us a line. It's great to find out how other people train. And if you'd like to add your comments and suggestions on the Gymchats in general, we'd love to hear them. Cheers.

just joined us? try these

There are some incredible writers on the team here. To give you an idea, check out these posts :

DIY: How to Build an Olympic Weightlifting Platform
Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker
Building A Neck Of Steel
Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
Straight to the Grip Contest
Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
Scott Andrew Bird
29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner
Jason Kirby
Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength
Josh Hewett
Small Victories
Josh Hanagarne

If you enjoyed the articles above, check out the complete 'Best Of Straight to the Bar' list. And if you'd like to do some fitness writing yourself and submit your own piece, get in touch.

ready to get in shape?

'Do It With Hewett.'

A dose of Online Personal Training is ideal. Your place, their experience.

As you'd expect, I work with a number of Fitness Professionals myself - including the wonderful Josh Hewett. If you're about to begin your own strength-training journey, swing by his site at :

top-form-fitness.com/online-coaching

Highly recommended. If you're looking to get serious about 'getting in shape', book some time with Josh. Fantastic guy.

what we're saying

And if you'd like to see the comments as soon as they arrive, you can grab the RSS feed here.

setting up a home gym?

If you're getting ready to put together a solid Home Gym (fantastic thing), here's how.

And for more, swing by the full guide. Absolutely free.

images of strength

Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.

gift buying guide

When your spouse/sibling/friend is ready to 'get in shape' (or they already are), what do you get them?

No matter what sort of training they're in to, we've got a few suggestions. And if you're looking for something specific, we'll help you find out where to get it. Just leave a comment on any of the posts listed below.

There are a number of articles that may help you in your quest. Specifically :

And there's also the full list of the fitness-focused books and DVDs we've looked at over the years : Reading

NB : if you're still not sure what to get, there's always the option of buying them a gift card. There are certainly plenty of options; Amazon's still my favourite. Now it's your turn. Let us know how you get on, and feel free to share any photographs of what you bought or how it's being used. Look forward to hearing from you.

strength calendar

Looking for an upcoming competition, or know of one in your area? Why not add it to the spreadsheet.

reading : Ferocious Fitness (Phil Ross, Marty Gallagher)

Ferocious Fitness.

Remember this? Great book. Ferocious Fitness : A Fighter's Proven Action Plan to Develop Blazing Power, Animalistic Strength and Killer Conditioning is a distillation of Phil Ross' training wisdom, in the form of a superbly comprehensive book. We took a look at the digital version recently, and you'll be pleased to know that the paperback version is now available. Definitely worthy of a place on the fitness shelf. Phil Ross' Ferocious Fitness.

community

talking about If you tweet a lot about fitness and would love to be on this list, let me know.

giving

Straight to the Bar Team on Kiva.

If you've been training for a while, gradually cleaning up your diet, no doubt you've experienced the amazing power of transformation. It's a tremendous feeling. If you're ready to give someone else a hand to transform their own lives - through education, sharing equipment, financial help - take a look at the full list of organisations on the Giving page. Cheers.

love your grip work?

Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.

want to help out?

Sign in here. Photo by Robert Bejil ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/robnas/ ).

As you've doubtless noticed, in addition to the main site is a Community on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Wherever you are, a daily dose of strength isn't all that far away.

To help run all of these sites, we're on the lookout for several additional Moderators. To welcome new community members, bring up new items to discuss and generally keep the conversations on track.

If you're already spending a bit of time at any of the above sites, and would like to offer your services as a Moderator, just drop us a line. And thanks for that, it really is appreciated.

in the wild

It’s always great to see how other people train.

If you’d like to send in a photo of yourself in action (wearing one of the Straight to the Bar Shirts of course - the latest design is here), just upload it somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.

the future of fitness

Over the years we’ve looked at the fitness industry from a number of angles - discussing the history, present approaches and potential future trends involved. Fascinating areas.

When it comes to the last part - discussing potential future trends - things get a little, well, unusual. If it’s an interest you share, or you just want to find out the types of things we think are likely, check out the posts tagged ‘Futurism’. And of course, Gymchat 224 (Roundtable) - The Future of Fitness. Superb discussion.

leave it in the ground

On Straight to the Bar we talk a lot about air pollution, primarily from a gym-owner's perspective. In the 'Leave it in the Ground' newsletter we look at the topic far more broadly - the gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels. Daily, and free.

elsewhere

On the Lookout As you can see, we love talking about training. In addition to the conversations on here, in the Google+ Community, Twitter and so on are discussions on several other great fitness-focussed sites.

Check out :

Josh Hewett : Basic Home Workout for Beginners
Al Kavadlo : The Benefits of Cold Exposure
Diesel Crew : This Weeek in Grip – Episodes 24, 25, and 26
Year of the Bear : 6 Week Program Wrap-Up & Looking Ahead
Gains & Aesthetics : What The Greek God Fitness Program Is All About

Of course, we're always on the lookout for new additions to this list. If you'd like to suggest a site you've come across personally (or perhaps one that you run), drop us a line.

checking out

The Immortal Strength Harness and Water-Fillable Club

The Immortal Strength Harness and Water-Fillable Club.

This is a superb combination.

Ideal for hiking/biking/training expeditions, the harness is designed to hang on to the club on the way there. As for the club itself - fill it up with water/sand/lead shot (up to 70lb worth) and get to work. Perfect.

The Immortal Strength Harness and Water-Fillable Club.

Read on »»

The Diesel Crew Bending eBook

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.

Powerful Peacemaker

This is a superb resource. With a focus on law enforcement personnel, it takes the form of a Facebook Group as well as one on one coaching sessions. Created by the incredible Jeff Wilson.

Rings of Power

Mike Gillette explains the various ways to put the gymnastic rings to work - progressively - in Rings of Power. With clear emphases on both strength and rehabilitation, it's an ideal place to start.

Particularly those of us in the 'over 40' crowd.

Precision Nutrition

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.

Strength Training Anatomy

This is a fantastic book. As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train. Love it.

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 at the moment (training-related and otherwise), join us on Goodreads. And for a cut-down list showing only the ones we recommend, swing by the Recommended Books & DVDs page. See you there.

Just Joined Us? Try These.

DIY: How to Build an Olympic Weightlifting Platform
Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker
Building A Neck Of Steel
Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
Straight to the Grip Contest
Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
Scott Andrew Bird
29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner
Jason Kirby
Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength
Josh Hewett
Small Victories
Josh Hanagarne

If you enjoyed these, check out the complete 'Best Of Straight to the Bar' list. Fantastic.

Converters and Calculators.

Before you start your fitness journey, it's important to measure a few things.

Here's how.

Wherever You Are, We Are.

In addition to the main site, you can share your strength-training passion with a like-minded community on :

Wherever you like to hang out, get your regular dose of strength. Straight to the Bar.

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