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Looking At : Week Ending Mar 4, 2012

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Weekly summary
Tags : links, photography, quantified self

During the past week we've discussed a number of great links; on Google+, Twitter, the Forums and so on. Here are a few of my favourites.

• Maik Wiedenbach interview : Maik is the World Physique 'Personal Trainer of the Month' for March 2012. You can see the full piece here.
• 'Know Your Own Skin' iPhone app : we noted several very interesting applications for both Android and iOS, including the 'Know Your Own Skin' app (iPhone only for now). Anyone here tried it?
• Fitocracy : Although the site's been around for a while, the addition of various Red Bull challenges has really given it a push. Good stuff.
• Larry Smarr article : this piece in MIT's Technology Review neatly describes why I'm a huge fan of the 'Quantified Self' movement. Very inspiring story.
• Pivothead Video glasses : stumbled across these the other day. Anyone here used them for something like snowboarding or skateboarding videos?
• Ekso selling first exoskeleton : we first saw this a while ago, at a TED conference. Absolutely incredible. Now Ekso (formerly called Berkeley Bionics, if you don't recognise the name) is starting to sell these fantastic devices.
• The 'Truth About Exercise' documentary : I noted this one briefly in the recent discussion on Mike Mentzer. It combines HIT-style training with a new battery of tests and observations; fascinating ideas overall. Would love to hear what you think.

NB : to see all of these as they appear (and to share your own thoughts on things), the simplest way is to follow me on Google+. You'll see these, and a whole lot more.

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Swole.Me

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet

Interesting idea for a site - enter the calories you wish to consume on a given day, it'll produce a set of suggested meals that meet that goal. Swole.me.

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CJS Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : boxing, conditioning

Pop over and say hi to CJ Swaby, the Strength and Conditioning Trainer and Boxing Coach behind CJS Fitness - Effective Strength & Conditioning. Nice one.

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Dan's Muay Thai MMA

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Fight Geek : love a dose of Muay Thai? So does Dan. Nice one.

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Connect the Goddamned Dots

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : DIY, grip

Pop over and say hi to grip and DIY equipment enthusiast - and I suspect, Ministry fan - the enigmatic flagmonkey.

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Matt Brouse

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Strongman Matt Brouse definitely has his own way of looking at the world. For starters, check out his review of the Michigan Grip Championships '09. Good stuff.

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Sniper Performance

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

For a solid dose of Strongman training, check out the team at Sniper Performance. Good stuff.

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Back to Form Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Laree notes the superb Back to Form Fitness, Keith Scott's online home. A great read.

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VeloCity : Plan Your Cycling Trips

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : elsewhere
Tags : cycling

Via TubaDuba : this is where my fitness and computer geek sides meet - the VeloCity Cycle Route Guide.

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Origin of Energy

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight

What do you get when you mix a clear passion for fitness with outdoor workouts overlooking Sydney's beautiful Bondi Beach? Origin of Energy.

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Light Entertainment : Wrestling, Blood & Fluorescent Tubes

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : wrestling

Just stumbled across a very unusual sport via Oddity Central - a combination of wrestling, blood and fluorescent lights. Very, very strange.

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Speed Bag Resources

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : boxing, conditioning

Via the Diesel Crew : Jedd's Speed Bag Resources blog is off and running with an instructional clip on linking punches. Nice one.

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Transformetrics

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : plate

Recently I've been trying out the Warrior Push-Up Ts we saw a while ago (great things incidentally); which led me to John Peterson's hub on isometric training, Transformetrics. Superb site.

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Nutrition Data

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Whilst I'm not obsessive about food, I like to know a little about the things I eat. This is definitely my kind of site.

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UltiTraining

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hi to Matt Ellsworth, taking a regular look at strength training for Ultimate Frisbee. Nice one.

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Society for Barefoot Living

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : parkour

Via @tferriss : love a bit of barefoot training? Pop over to the Society for Barefoot Living and find out what barefoot hiking is all about. Not as crazy as it sounds.

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Fizzycal Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Street Workout : Fizzycal Fitness. Unusual bodyweight exercises (with great names) - including the 'Chirpees' above. Good stuff.

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Monster Circus

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

Now here's my kind of circus - blending '70s/80s/90s rock with a range of human circus acts and freakshows. Perfect.

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MMA Fighting

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Looking for a solid dose of news from the world of MMA? Head over to MMA Fighting.

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Find MMA Gyms

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Here's a site that does exactly what the name implies - helps you to find a local MMA gym. This one's US-only; anyone know of a similar resource for gyms elsewhere in the world?

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Sarah Outen

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

The Adventure Blog notes the blog of Sarah Outen, who plans to become the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Sounds great.

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Better Human

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Fitness with a definite combat focus - Better Human. Good stuff.

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3-2-1...Go!

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hi to CrossFit trainer Patrick Haskell, who lives online at 3-2-1...Go! A great read.

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Girevoy Sport After 40

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Here's a site that'll be personally relevant a little sooner than I'd like to admit : Girevoy Sport After 40. Nice one.

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No Limits

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

If you saw the soda can crush video yesterday, it won't come as a surprise to know that Jeff Wilson enjoys his fair share of grip work. Swing by his blog and see what else he gets up to. Good stuff.

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Feats of Strength and Power

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

Via Walk The Road Less Travelled : there are some fantastic hand-strength projects coming out this year, including a joint offering by 'Unbreakable' Adam Glass and Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson - Feats of Strength and Power. Should be great.

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South East Idaho Strongman

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Swing by the online home of Scott Edwards and Matt Anderson, South East Idaho Strongman. Good stuff.

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Turbulence Training Fat Loss

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Via Zach Even-Esh (on Twitter) : Craig Ballantyne's latest site, Turbulence Training Fat Loss. Looks good.

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The Martial Archive

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Low Tech Combat on Twitter : a collaboration between martial artists and writers Steve Rowe and Gavin King - The Martial Archive. A great read.

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Throw Farther

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

One of the great sites I came across via Erik Blekeberg is Throw Farther, a site dedicated to throwing the Discus, Javelin, Hammer and many other fun things. Good stuff.

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Feats of Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : Old-Time Strength

Thanks for all the positive feedback to the Feats of Strength compilation I mentioned in this week's newsletter, it's greatly appreciated. (Incidentally, if you're not already getting the newsletter, you can sign up here).

For those who haven't see it yet, here's a look at a number of strength feats that have been performed by various strongmen over the years. In addition to the demonstrations themselves are links to a number of articles which explain the exact training techniques involved.

After all, you can never be too strong.

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The Quarry

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : stone lifting

Love stone lifting? So does Erik Blekeberg. Head over to The Quarry.

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Mike Hanley

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Long-term readers may remember the work of bodybuilder, powerlifter and kettlebell instructor Mike Hanley. For more, swing by his blog. A great read.

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Cooper's Guns

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Muscle and Brawn : easily one of the best exercise encyclopaedias (complete with videos demonstrating each technique) - Cooper's Guns.

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Lifespotlight

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Mark's Daily Apple : Mike O'Donnell and Scott Kustes have joined forces. Check out Lifespotlight.

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Brad Rants

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Adam just pointed me to kettlebell instructor Brad Nelson's site Brad Rants. His latest project - the Million Inch Challenge - is certainly ambitious. Love it.

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Wendy Booker : Mountains, Marathons and Ice

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Get Outdoors : at 54, Wendy Booker has completed a number of marathons and is close to completing the 7 Summits (only one remaining - Everest). Oh, and Wendy has MS.

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Fitness Chick

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via USA Jungle Gym : Kelly Swindell (aka Fitness Chick) enjoys everything from light cardio to the odd stone workout. Pop over and say hi.

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Natural Athletics

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Via Conditioning Research : online home of traceur Rafe Kelley - Natural Athletics. Good stuff.

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East Coast / West Coast Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Mark Konen pointed me to the home of strength athletes Cameron Gardner and Scott Brengel - East Coast / West Coast Strength. Definitely one to check out.

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The Fit Technologist

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The Pound : home of Neal Rodriguez, aka The Fit Technologist. Great site.

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Stretch Sport

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : stretch

Via Anta's Fitness and Self Defense : ready to find out more about the many varieties of stretching? Head over to Stretch Sport.

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Shred Or Die

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via 5ones : Tony Hawk's Shred or Die. Great site.

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The Weight of the World

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hi to Rise Above's Doug Fioranelli at The Weight of the World. Nice one.

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Fortissimus

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Fortissimus - the Louis Cyr World Strength Challenge. Some great names on there.

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Strong 101

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hi to Mike Rojas at Strong 101. Great blog.

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Gym Junkies

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Fight Geek just pointed me to the site of the Gym Junkies - some great articles, exercise videos and other good stuff. Enjoy.

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Grip World Magazine

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip, whey

Adam just pointed me to one of Mobster's great grip sites - Grip World Magazine. Nice one.

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Way of Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Walk The Road Less Travelled : the comments led me to Dustin Rippetoe's excellent site, Way of Strength. A great read.

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JCD Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet

A healthy diet doesn't need to be complicated. JC explains.

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Leangains

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : intermittent fasting

Check out Leangains - the blog of nutrition consultant and personal trainer Martin Berkhan. Nice one.

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The Girl With No Name

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Thanks to the Fight Geek : obsessed with fitness? So's the Girlwith Noname. Nice one.

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Playspace Finder

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Move Well : looking for a new spot for your next outdoor workout? Playspace Finder will help you track down - and rate - playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields, and even ice rinks. Nice one.

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New Hamspshire Ice Climbing

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Freddie Wilkinson just pointed me to Kevin Mahoney's newly rejuventated online home, New Hamspshire Ice Climbing. The blog is definitely one to bookmark; also well worth a look are the ice-climbing photos. Superb.

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Drew Baye

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Chris just pointed me to Drew Baye's blog - some great reading in there.

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The Progressive Athlete

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hi to Seattle-based personal trainer Adriana Allison - co-creator of The Progressive Athlete. The workouts page will give you an idea of her CrossFit-style approach. Nice one.

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The Convocation of Combat Arts

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts

A social network for Martial Artists - The Convocation of Combat Arts. Nice one.

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Slosh Pipe Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : slosh pipe

Circus performer Matt Roben demonstrates some training with a 42lb Slosh Pipe. Good stuff.

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Theory to Practice

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over to Theory to Practice and say Happy Birthday to Keith Norris - demonstrating that 3 decades of training certainly pays off. A great site.

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Snow List

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The Adventure Blog : getting ready to hit the slopes? Check out the Snow List.

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GoSwim TV

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : swimming

Via SCAQ : ready to improve your performance in the pool? Check out GoSwim.

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Patrick Ward

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just stumbled across the blog of Optimum Sports Performance's Patrick Ward. A great read.

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Arizona Grip Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Home of the Arizona Cactus Grip Showdown (next comp : Feb 9th, 2009), Aaron Corcorran's Arizona Grip Strength. Good stuff.

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Gavin Rulon

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

As soon as you hear the words 'student of Dennis Rogers and Pat Povilaitis' you know you're in for a treat. Pop over and say hi to Gavin Rulon.

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MC Mighty Stefan

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

What do you get when you mix hip-hop with an old-time Strongman? MC Mighty Stefan.

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Low Tech Combat

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Keeping an eye on the world of combat athletics, Low Tech Combat. A good read.

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Body by Long

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Ready for another dose of grip training? Pop over and say hi to Bill Long.

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1-Rep Gym

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

More from the world of isometric bench presses - the 1-Rep Gym.

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House of Pain Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just noticed two new blogs over at House of Pain : covering lifting (run by SeanZilla) and MMA (run by Scott Newell). Good stuff.

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Chris Rider

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and check out the blog of Professional Strongman Chris Rider. Nice one.

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Bacon Today

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Hungry? Welcome to the world of sweet, sweet bacon. Bacon Today.

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Summit For Someone 2009

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : charity, climbing

Via The Adventure Blog : where climbing meets fundraising - Summit for Someone.

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Don Stevenson

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Octogen's Don Stevenson has joined the blog world. Nice one.

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Taekwondo Resource Center

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Love your Tae Kwon Do? Check out the Taekwondo Resource Center. Good stuff.

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Wanna Get Fast?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

Looking for inspiration? There are some great exercise variations over at Wanna Get Fast. Nice one.

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Alena Hilbert

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning, Olympic Weightlifting

Pop over and say hi to CrossFit Sydney trainer Alena Hilbert, whose training log shows just how varied the CrossFit approach is. Everything from surfing to Olympic Weightlifting. Love it.

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Rochester Parkour

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : parkour

Via Charles Moreland : check out the new online home of the Rochester Parkour community. Nice one.

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Great Britain Powerlifting Federation

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Via Powerlifting Watch : the GB Powerlifting Federation launches their new site. Definitely worth checking out.

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Daily Reasons to Walk

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

A shoe company with plans to get people moving? Great start.

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MotionBased

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Whether you're in to running, cycling, paddling or any other outdoor activity, MotionBased helps you keep track of things. Love it.

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Flash MAVI

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Flash MAVI : Flash animations of various strength-training exercises, covering everything from Martial Arts to Powerlifting. Nice one.

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Ironbell Athletics

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Love your kettlebells? So does Jim. Pop over to Ironbell Athletics and say hi.

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Straight to the Bar Facebook Group

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

I love discovering new training approaches, exercise techniques and generally how other people are doing things in their workouts.

Rory Hickman has just made this process somewhat easier, establishing the Straight to the Bar Facebook group; which contains discussions on a number of things mentioned briefly on this site. Pop over, sign up (free) and say hi.

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Clear Sense

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : quantified self

Via MedGadget : in the growing online health world, this looks particularly promising. Clear Sense.

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MapMyWalk

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : walking

Going for a walk? Map it.

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Virtual Swim

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : swimming

Via SCAQ : Virtual Swim - animations of various swimming strokes. Very interesting idea.

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Pamela MacElree

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, conditioning, grip, leverage

Check out Pamela MacElree's blog - a great blend of strength and conditioning work. Nice one.

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MMA Training Ground

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Punch Kick Choke : enjoy the occasional Flash game? Check out MMA Training Ground. Good fun.

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Workout Muse

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via the Precision Nutrition forums : soundtracks for interval training workouts - Workout Muse. There's a sample workout available on the PN forum.

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Spikes

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

If you're like me, you're just settling in for a bit of Olympic Track and Field action. In one of those rare moments away from the television, check out Spikes. Love it.

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USGrip

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Via Napalm's Corner : if grip training's your thing, make sure you add the new USGrip site to your daily reads. It's a great idea.

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Planet Fear

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Looking for adventure? Head over to Planet Fear.

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Pickleball

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Looking for a new sport? Try Pickleball - a mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong.

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Lift Kettlebells

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

If you've just started your kettlebell journey, swing by Jeff Waters' site Lift Kettlebells and check out some of the free tutorial videos. Superb.

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What's in Your Fridge?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This site is strangely appealing; particularly if you're always curious to see what other people are eating. Fridgewatcher.

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MMA Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Videos, news and a general dose of MMA goodness. MMATraining.com.

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The Pound : Mongrel Fitness for Strays

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, conditioning, grip, leverage

Ready for some conditioning work Fight Geek-style? Head over to The Pound. A great mix.

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Suki MMA

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Fanhouse : what's happening in the Japanese MMA world? Just ask Suki.

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ZoneCALC

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via WorldFitness : ZoneCALC - a training zone calculator for endurance athletes.

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Finger Yoga

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : yoga

Finger Yoga. Hatha Yoga for your hands.

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Ride The City

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

What's the safest cycle route between any two points in New York? Find out with Ride The City. Just think of it as a custom version of MapQuest, which excludes roads which aren't meant for bikes.

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Diesel Crew Forums

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

The Diesel Forums are now live. Superb.

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Pressing the Limits

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

Seen strongman Jon Bruney in action? Superb.

And if you're looking for more video of Jon's performances, head over to the Pressing the Limits site. Enjoy.

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Roads to Beijing

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The Final Sprint : with only 47 days to go until the Games begin, the Roads to Beijing site takes a look at the preparations of the many adidas-sponsored competitors likely to be going. Some good photos on there.

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100 Push-ups

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via On the Way : can you knock out 100 Push-ups (not across multiple sets, but consecutively)? Time to increase that a little.

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Livestrong

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : cycling

What's Lance Armstrong up to these days (apart from opening bike shops, that is)? For starters, Livestrong.com . Good stuff.

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MapMyRide

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Her Active Life : cyclists who felt a little left out when sites like RunningMap and MapMyRun appeared, rejoice. Check out MapMyRide.

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Combat Sports Conditioning

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

There's a great collection of training articles over at Combat Sports Conditioning. Enjoy.

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StrongerGrip Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

With a little help from Adam, StrongerGrip has entered the blog world. Excellent.

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Warrior Pages

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

There's a great collection of martial arts articles, tips and discussion over at Warrior Pages. Enjoy.

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Learn Kettlebell Juggling

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : juggling, kettlebells

Ever been tempted to learn the art of kettlebell juggling? Logan Christopher explains how.

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60 in 3

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Mark : the online home of Gal Josefsberg, 60 in 3. Great site.

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Active.com

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Ripped Corner : looking for fitness events in your area? Try Active.com.

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Evfit

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Chris just noted the return of a very interesting site - Evfit. Health and fitness in an evolutionary context.

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Where's Karl?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :

Via The Adventure Blog : ultra-runner Karl Meltzer, that is. His mission? To run the entire 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail in less than 47 days (that's more than 46 miles per day). Insane.

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The Crag

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Planning your next climb? Make sure you swing by The Crag first. Good stuff.

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Made in England by Gentlemen

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Get Outdoors : this is a great blog - especially if hiking's your thing. Follow Cookie and Paul over at Made in England by Gentlemen. Nice one.

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Hungry?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

Whilst checking out the latest record for the World's Longest Pizza, I stumbled across this collection of fastastic food feats. Junk Food World Records.

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The IF Life

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : intermittent fasting

Curious about Intermittent Fasting? Pop over and say hello to Mike O'Donnell at The IF Life.

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IAAF Fantasy Athletics 2008

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Remember last year's IAAF Fantasy Athletics? It's on again. Good fun.

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The Iron Edge

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : weight vest

Julia Ladewski's other half Matt has joined the blogging world over at The Iron Edge. A great starting point - 45 Things to do with a weight vest.

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Caestus

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Just stumbled on Caestus: The Extreme Girevoy Sport Records Blog. A 150kg kettlebell?

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Heavy Athletics

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

I love seeing stuff like this. Kat points to Heavy Athletics, a group designed to change lives 'one rep at a time'.

What are they all about, and how are they doing this? From the site :

Heavy Athletics volunteer coaches work with incarcerated kids and at-risk youth on probation, six days a week here in Lane County, Oregon, coaching Olympic Weightlifting. Coaches in all settings around the world often make choices to identify and select the most promising and committed athletes to train as lifters. Our setting is a bit more unusual than most. We have found that Olympic style weightlifting, which requires timing, coordination and courage, is about a lot more than just how much weight we can get a kid to lift; it's about what a kid becomes as a result of lifting that weight.

If you've ever experienced the life-changing aspects of strength training, you'll understand just how great this group is. Love it.

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Ted DiBiase Jr

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just noticed the new blog of wrestler Ted Dibiase Jr. Should be a good read.

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MarksTraining

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

A comment yesterday led me to the online home of UK martial artist, Marks. Great place to start - the article 'How to Sprawl for Fighting and Training'. Good stuff.

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Sack Up Sports

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

No matter what the weather's like, if you're into Snowboarding, Skiing, Climbing or Cycling - head over to Sack Up Sports. With trail maps, photos and a great community it's definitely one to keep an eye on.

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CrossFit NorthEastEngland

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells, parkour

A comment yesterday from kettlebell and CrossFit coach Leon (pictured on the right, here) drew me to the excellent blog of the guys at CrossFit NorthEastEngland. To get a feeling for the workouts themselves, just check out some of the team's videos. Good stuff.

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The Macebell Maniac Network

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, grip, leverage

Obsessed by your Macebell? Head over to the Macebell Maniac Network. Love it.

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Lost Art of Handbalancing

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

One of John's recent newsletters reminded me of the feats of acrobat Glenn Marlin (including the walk down the stairs of the Washington Monument - on his hands), and inadvertently led me to the Lost Art of Handbalancing Blog. Superb.

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PhysicalFitnet

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Sheryl Azaroff just pointed to a vast collection of exercise videos (currently over 800), workout guides and training materials over at PhysicalFitnet. Definitely worth a look.

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Qtrait : Genetic Testing for Performance

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Qtrait performs the usual array of genetic testing - looking for allergy sources, diseases and so on. However, one variety stands out : genetic testing for performance. Very interesting idea.

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World of Armwrestling

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Love your armwrestling? Same here.

Head over to World of Armwrestling.

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Gary 'Walkingman' Hause

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The Adventure Blog : remember Jean Béliveau? Exhibiting the same determination is The Walking Man, Gary Hause. Inspirational.

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The Angry Runner

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : slosh pipe

I love this site - The Angry Runner (shown here enjoying a little Slosh Pipe work). Definitely one to check out.

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Extreme Sports on Alltop

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

The day when Guy Kawasaki doesn't launch or invest in a new business is a rare one indeed. His latest venture; Alltop - a look at the greatest sites in a number of fields - is definitely up there.

Particularly the Extreme Sports category (thanks for the link Guy). Looks like I've got some reading to do.

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Wellsphere

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Long-term readers of this site will know that I'm a bit of a Bruce Lee fan. Recently Larisa drew my attention to the Wellsphere site, particularly the 'Bruce Lee Workouts' page. Good stuff.

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HIIT Discussion Forums

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : interval training

Via HIIT Source : are you a HIIT fan? Love it or hate it, the HIIT Source Forums are open for business. Well worth checking out.

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HIM Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : podcasts
Tags : endurance

Via Triathlon Training Notes : a free hour-long presentation on long-course triathlon training, courtesy the guys at Endurance Nation. Good stuff.

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Podpro Ski and Snowboard Guides

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The Adventure Blog : ski and snowboard trail maps for the iPod and iPhone. Yes, it's getting colder here.

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Sean Schniederjan

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Via Gabi : the blog of girevik Sean Schniederjan.

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Stronger Grip Enterprises

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Adam emailed me about the site of Ryan Pitts, which features a number of superb grip tools. Definitely one to check out.

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My Pypeline

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : quantified self

Via Web Fugitive : My Pypeline is an interesting blend of several online fitness services and social networks. With demonstration videos, virtual training services and a number of tracking tools; this is definitely one to check out.

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Health Ranker

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

What would Digg be like if it focused on healthy news? Israel's Health Ranker, of course. Great site.

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Oz Chicks with Altitude

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : climbing

Mother and daughter pair Cheryl and Nikki Bart have been working their way steadily through the 7 summits (the highest mountains in each of the 7 continents); culminating with an attempt at Everest next month.

There are already several videos and discussions ranging from the gear used, to the climb itself; though my favourite part of the site is perhaps the live Everest Route Map. Good fun.

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4gymnasts.com

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

Via Gymnastics Coaching : as you may have ascertained from the name, 4gymnasts.com is a site dedicated to, well, gymnasts. A good place to start is in the videos section (the clip above - Takashi Ono at the 1956 Olympics - is one of many there). Enjoy.

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Gymnast Tube

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Gymnastics Coaching : Yet another video-sharing site - Gymnast Tube.

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Shah Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : calistenics

Via Home Calisthenics : Parth Shah's Shah Training. A very interesting fitness community.

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Bouldr

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

A friend of mine just pointed me to a great site for the vertically inclined - Bouldr. Think of Google Maps devoted to climbers, and you're almost there. Good stuff.

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Five Ounces of Pain

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

What's going on in MMA? Head over to Five Ounces of Pain to find out. Good stuff.

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Urban Golf

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via LIFT : Urban Golf. The worse you play, the more fun you have.

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Boxing Performance

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : boxing

Rob Pilger's site Boxing Performance is now live. Enjoy.

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Strongman.tv

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via IronMind : very much looking forward to this. Strongman.tv.

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MyMuayThai

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Another great combat site I came across this afternoon (via Fight Geek from memory) - Mai's MyMuayThai. Pop over and say hi.

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Walk the Road Less Travelled

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bending, Old-Time Strength

Ready for some serious bending? Pop over and say hi to Adam at Walk the Road Less Travelled. Good stuff.

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SkateSpotter

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via sublimited : if you enjoy skating, you'll love this site. SkateSpotter.

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DirtBike School

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Ready to do a little riding off-road? Swing by DirtBike School.

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Must See Strongman

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

It's alive - Must See Strongman.

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Be Fit and Strong

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Looking to Be Fit and Strong? Curtis has a few ideas.

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Xercise Factor

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just when it looked as though we'd seen the last of the many fitness video sites, I came across another. Xercise Factor.

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Basketball Conditioning

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : basketball, conditioning

Just came across the blog of Basketball Conditioning and Strength Training Coach Dave LeManczyk. Definitely worth a read.

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MX Conditioning

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

When was the last time you came across a fitness site squarely aimed at Motorcross enthusiasts? What's that, you haven't?

Take a wander over to MX Conditioning - the online home of performance expert Steven Bubel. Not bad at all.

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Must See Strongman

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This looks interesting - MustSeeStrongman.com. Looking forward to Dec 1st.

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New from the Diesel Crew - the Spray Series

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : basketball, conditioning

Check out the latest offering from the Diesel Crew - the Spray Series. What is it?

It is an online community for coaches and athletes of all ages and levels to come and find information and advice on all aspects of Speed, Strength, and Conditioning. With some of the top strength coaches from across the country contributing valuable training insight it is our desire that the Spray Series become one of the leading resources for the sharing of knowledge and ideas for the benefit of your athletes and training programs so that they may be taken to new levels.

- Jason Spray MS, CSCS, SCCC, USAW

Ask Team Spray a question about strength and conditioning for football, basketball or any other sport - and get your question answered on the site. For a taste of just what's on offer, swing by the Youtube channel. There's some intense strength-training footage on there.

Team Spray

This is a top-quality team, comprising :

Jason Spray

Jason serves as the director of Strength and Conditioning at Middle Tennessee State University for the Men's basketball program.

EJ Leverette

E.J. is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Men's Basketball and Football teams.

Drew Shea

Drew is a Certified Athletic Trainer responsible for Middle Tennessee State University's Men's basketball team.

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Triathlon Training Frenzy

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : basketball

Keep up with Ace's passions for Cooking, Basketball and, of course, Triathlons. Triathlon Training Frenzy.

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Fight Geek

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

In the mood for a fight? Head over to Fight Geek. Good site.

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What's Your Favourite Strength-Training Forum?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning, DIY, kettlebells

This month's collaboration with Run to Win's Blaine Moore - great sources of training information - kicks off with a look at one of my favourites : forums. Strength-training forums to be precise.

I'm always on the looking for new sources of strength-training information. One of my favourites is the humble forum - a quick way to join in conversations with a number of people; or simply to see what's happening in the world.

A few of the ones already on my regular reading list :

Ross Training Message Boards

These cover a range of strength and conditioning topics, including an excellent section on DIY training equipment.

CrossFit

I love the approach taken by CrossFit - it's a great mix. The forums reflect this, and talk about anything to do with their routines; and their philosophy of 'a little bit of everything'.

Dragon Door

Although they're best known for kettlebells, the Dragon Door forum looks at a great range of strength-training approaches. Good stuff.

John Stone Fitness

John Stone has made an amazing physical transformation over the years, and the forums take a detailed look at the many ways in which you can do the same.

IronOnline

This is from Dave Draper's superb site, and shows just how little things have changed over the years. The information here is always top-notch.

Sherdog

Sherdog is easily my favourite of the MMA forums, and looks at all manner of strength training and condition relating to this excellent sport.

GoHeavy

As the name implies, this forum is focused on the heavier side of strength training. Whether you're a Strongman, Powerlifter or just someone who loves throwing iron around; you'll love this one.

Of course there are many others. Which ones would you add?

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Sideshow World

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Looking for something just a little bit different? Head over to Sideshow World. Superb.

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Martial Arts Events

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : seminar

Looking for a martial arts seminar, school or contest in Australia? Head over to Martial Arts Events. Perfect.

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StrongTube

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Yet another video-sharing strength site - StrongTube.

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Lift 'til ya die

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

O Wow - Olympic Weightlifting on the Web. A great resource.

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Stuntman training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Interested in trying a bit of stuntman training? Learn everything from agility to wire work over at Hollywood Stunts. Looks great.

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I Beat Weight Loss

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

I Beat Weight Loss - Mike Maloney's excellent powerlifting blog. Swing by and check it out.

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Gymnastics on Demand

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Gymnastics Coaching points to a site with a great idea - Gymnastics on Demand. Online training videos, monthly subscription.

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Legendary Strength Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

This one looks promising - the Legendary Strength Blog. From the site :

... Various workouts and execises. New feats of strength and my efforts at the classic old ones. Many tips and training of strongmen from the past and now.

Sounds great. Pop over and say hi.

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The Fitness Conduit

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

MarkFu points to the blog of Crossfit's Coach Rutherford (aka 'Coach Dumbbell') - The Fitness Conduit. A great read.

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Conditioning Research

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning, diet

The comments on this site lead to some very interesting discoveries. Chris' site Conditioning Research points to some great studies on various aspects of physical fitness and performance. Take a wander - a great starting point is the recent post on plyometric training.

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The Human Marvels

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This is an incredible site. Taking a detailed look at the thousands of carnival performers once labeled as 'freaks', The Human Marvels is a goldmine of information on this fascinating field. Superb.

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Platoon Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Rif's Blog : Platoon Fitness. Looks like a great mix.

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Art of Javelin

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

When it comes to fitness blogs, here's one covering an area that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves - Art of Javelin. A good read.

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Pitching clips

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

The next time you find yourself watching baseball and discussing pitching mechanics, head over to Pitching Clips. There's some great stuff on there.

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What do other people look like at your weight?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Elastic Waist : Cockeyed is putting together a very interesting table showing exactly what people look like at a given weight/height. Good stuff.

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Gmaps Pedometer

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : quantified self

Gmaps Pedometer. Just one of the great Google Map mashups Mark points to over at The Daily Apple.

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Lifting the Dinnie Stones

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : HoS
Tags : bodybuilding, stone lifting, strongman

Jedd points to an excellent page on the history of successful Dinnie Stone lifts, which contains some superb photos of Strongmen over the past century or so. A great find.

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Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts

Looking for more info on Okinawan Karate? Head over to the Okinawa Karate & Kobudo Blog. Some great ideas on there.

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iStats Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via The KnightKnetwork : iStats Fitness. Currently in beta, but the concept (workout tracking) looks interesting. Definitely one to watch.

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Silat Video Demonstrations

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts

There are a couple of great Silat Seni Gayong demonstration videos by Blaise Loong over on silatsenigayong.com. Photo via Physical Strategies.

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Shredded TV

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Gymrat : hundreds of bodybuilding titles available via streaming video? Sounds great. Shredded.tv.

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Portable Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This looks promising. Portable Fitness.

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Furious M

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

What do you get when fitness advice meets a touch of humour? Furious M. The 12 oz. curls look great.

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The Shoulder Doc

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

When it comes to shoulder and elbow health, this site is at the top of the list - The Shoulder Doc. For a great place to start, check out the 'Diagnose your Shoulder' section. Superb.

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RunningMap.com

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via everwas : Ever get home from a run and wonder just how far that was? Head over to Running Map and find out.

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Slouppi

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This is a great site. With articles, photos and a multilingual forum (though the majority is Finnish); Slouppi takes a look at all the fun of climbing and bouldering in Finland. Love it.

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Take Fit

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

This site looks promising (they're still in the process of clearing away the 'opening soon' signs). Take Fit (RSS).

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Todd Pigram

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Getting back in to kettlebell, Martials Arts and free-weight training - it's all good. Pop over and say hi to Todd Pigram (RSS).

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MMA HQ

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Want to know what's happening in the world of MMA? Talk to Dr J over at MMA HQ (RSS). Excellent.

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The Painted Place

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : cycling, fat loss

Via the Former Fat Guy Blog : What do you get when you combine a racing cyclist with training, weight loss and competition? The Painted Place (RSS). Pop over and say hi.

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Cheap Ass Food

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Diet and Nutrition

If there were a Dave Tate School of Nutrition, this site would be a major sponsor. Man, I'm hungry.

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Madcow training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Physical Strategies : Mad Cow Training. A great site.

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Target-Focus Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Tim Larkin definitely knows a thing or two about self defense. His blog - Target-Focus Training - demonstrates that beautifully.

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Athlinks

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : endurance, running

Carol at Tri-Blog points to a very interesting site : Athlinks; a race-results database. If you regularly compete in endurance events, there's a good chance that they know what you've been up to.

On the track, that is.

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Practical Programming and Starting Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : books

Via Crossfit Barbarian : A great blog from the authors of Practical Programming and Starting Strength. Definitely one to add to your daily reading list.

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The Swing of Things

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

The Swing of Things - turning your life around with the help of a little kettlebell training. As you can see, she's off to a great start.

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Mark's Daily Apple

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Primal

Combining my health, fitness and environmental interests - Mark's Daily Apple. Superb.

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Crossfit Barbarian

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

I love the Crossfit training approach - a superb blend of training modalities and hard science. Mark Fu is another convert; his blog, Crossfit Barbarian, is a great read.

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Half a Soulja

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

Via the Complete Running Network : I love seeing stories like this. Half a Soulja is a documentary about Bryan Breeze (aka 'Soulja'), who just completed the New York City Triathlon. Quite a challenge for anyone; for Bryan - who has no legs and only partly-formed arms - this is truly incredible.

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Cindini

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : stone lifting, strongman

Cynthia Morrison (aka 'Cyndini') is an escapologist, Strongwoman and all-around strength athlete. Her site gives you an idea of her interest in all things heavy - including the infamous Basque cylinder (pictured).

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Lifting Again

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

After a layoff of 15 years, Frick is Lifting Again. Love it.

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Someday is Now

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Someday is Now is the online home and workout diary of life enthusiast (and avid reader - 4 books per week isn't bad at all) Marla. As you'll see from her home gym setup, lifting is anything but a passing interest. Love it.

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IronSports

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

There are some superb lifting and fitness articles over on personal trainer Bryce Lane's IronSports.tv. Definitely worth a read.

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It Doesn't Have to be Fun to be Fun

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning, running

'It doesn't have to be fun to be fun' is personal trainer Alison Bojarski's record of her training for the next NYC Marathon. As you'll soon see, this is an excellent mix of traditional weight-training, CrossFit daily workouts and running. Love it.

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Kettlebell Painting

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : DIY, kettlebells

Charley Allen has a new online home - several, really - including Kettlebell Lifting (the centre of it all) and Kettlebell Painting (exactly what it says). Definitely time to update the reader.

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Tim Anderson's Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight, kettlebells

As Tim points out, everyone can learn how to become healthier and fitter than they are. His blog - Life is Movement - shows how effective a simple kettlebell and bodyweight regime can be.

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Fish Oil Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet, supplements

Although I've greatly limited my vitamin supplementation, fish oil capsules are still on the list. The Fish Oil Blog explains why.

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Tour de France Live Audio

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : cycling

Via Netsweat : Yahoo!'s EuroSport page has streaming live audio of the Tour de France. Enjoy.

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D'Holmikers

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Gymnastics Coaching : check out the Swiss parallel bars comedy act D'Holmikers. As you can see from their videos (under 'Top Stories' on the site), these guys are very, very strange.

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introPLAY

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Anil Doshi just put me on to a new workout-logging site - introPLAY. I'm still playing with it (parts of it are not quite Mac-friendly, which makes it a little tricky), but it's essentially an area for logging your workouts with several community benefits.

An interesting idea, and well worth checking out.

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Eat Wild

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Diet and Nutrition

Looking for grass-fed beef in your state (North America only)? Head over to the Eat Wild site.

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Texas Tom Healy

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : clubs & maces, grip, kettlebells, leverage

Charley Allen points to a new kettlebell training blog - the training diary of Texas Tom Healy. A great read.

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Powerlifting Radio

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

I'm definitely looking forward to the launch of Dave DePew's site Powerlifting Radio. Should be great.

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The Science of Sport

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Somewhere between academia and the playing field sits The Science of Sport. A very interesting blog.

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In the Gym

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

In the Gym : reviews of energy bars, protein shakes and workout gear. All of the things that are just there.

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Lift News

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Lift News - a regular look at health and fitness from producer, photographer and health club owner Tanya Ryno. A great read.

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Kid in a Candy Store

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts

Tom Furman points to an excellent resource over on the Ross Training Forums. If combat's your thing, you'll love this (the Judo animations are superb).

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How 2 Skate

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

How2Skate - tips, plans and more skate videos than you can poke a stick at. Beautiful.

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Chasing Kaz

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : strongman

Chasing Kaz is the Strongman site you've been waiting for. Run by amateur Strongmen Mike Gill and Ben Hanson, the site features detailed contest reports, articles and a great forum. Superb.

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FitFiend

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Training often and training hard. The FitFiend.

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Real Muscle Online

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodybuilding

Real Muscle Online is a great bodybuilding blog; looking at various aspects of fitness, health and making sure you're the biggest person in the gym. Definitely one to add.

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Southern California Aquatics

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : swimming

Southern California Aquatics is the blog of swimmer Tony Austin, who competes for the SCAQ Swim Club. Very interesting indeed.

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Gear Trade

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Via Rock Climbing for Life : The pleasure of training outdoors knows no bounds. If you're planning to keep your conditioning up this summer with a bit of hiking, climbing or mountain biking; head over to Gear Trade. They've got some great stuff (pre-loved, of course).

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Warrior Fitness World

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Warrior Fitness World is the site of trainer and fitness model Akanke Birmingham. As you can see from the latest video on the site - How to prepare my oatmeal pancakes - there's a great dose of nutritional advice on there. Mmmmm.

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DogenTricks videos

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : conditioning, tricking

There are some great videos of various gymnastic tricks over on the DogenTricks forums. Enjoy.

NB : For a look at the importance of conditioning to tricking, try this one [.wmv, 25.08mb].

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Dynamic Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : running

Dynamic Fitness is the training journal of writer, speaker, personal trainer and triathlete Andrew Heffernan. Definitely a keeper.

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2 New Training Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight, boxing, kettlebells

Mike points to a couple of new arrivals on the training blog scene, both of which are very promising indeed.

Sliding Sideways

This is Jen's look at both kettlebell and bodyweight training, as well as a bit of nutrition. It's all good.

The Left Hook

As you've probably guessed from the title, this is training from a professional boxer's (Neal's) perspective. Looks great.

Definitely two to add to you reading list. Pop over and say hello.

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Comrades Marathon Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : endurance, running

At 89km, South Africa's Comrades Marathon is not for the faint of heart. The Comrades Marathon blog tracks the progress of runner Andrew Smit; currently in training for this amazing event. Definitely one to add to your daily reading list.

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I Love Handstands

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight

Via Gymnastics Coaching : I love handstands is just one of several interesting handstand groups on Facebook (Jim Bathurst is behind this one, which shouldn't come as a surprise). Rick also mentions the excellent Random Handstands Club - featuring photos of handstands performed in beautiful locations around the world.

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Taikei

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Looking for more kettlebell action? Head over to Taikei's blog (first seen via Fawn's site) and see what three years of solid kettlebell training can do for you.

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AthleticTube

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : boxing

AthleticTube is a video sharing site with an emphasis on the bodybuilding and fitness world, rather than the usual mix of dancing cats and inane acts that seems to gradually creep into other services. As a Lori Braun project there's a healthy dose of female bodybuilding and wrestling in there; as well as a growing collection of boxing and martial arts clips.

Definitely one to keep an eye on.

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Fight in the Dog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Just came across an interesting blog via Mike's Anvil or Hammer (no Mickey Spillane jokes, please) - Fight in the Dog. A great look at women's lightweight rowing.

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Team Ruthless

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : conditioning

Check out the blog of elite conditioning and combatives group Team Ruthless. As you can see from the writings of Lady Hardbody (a dedicated follower of the Team Ruthless training philosophy), the daily workouts are more than enough to get you breathing hard. 250 burpees in half an hour? Just warming up.

For a taste of the action, head over to the Team Ruthless videos page. Enjoy.

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Eliminating Excuses

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Martin's mission is a straightforward one - to help you become a fitter, healthier person. A noble goal.

Head over to his blog Eliminating Excuses and say hello.

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My Weight Loss Journal

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet, fat loss

Kirk's, that is. I've never been overweight (since I started school, anyway - I was carrying a bit extra as a toddler); so I'm always incredibly impressed by those who have been and have managed to shed a few pounds.

In Kirk's case that's around 100 - through a great mix of diet, cardio and the all-important lifting of heavy stuff. Superb.

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Rock Climbing for Life

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : climbing

If rock climbing's your thing, this is definitely the site for you - Ryan Coisson's Rock Climbing for Life.

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Britt Lift

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Britt Lift is an online training diary from Powerlifter and Olympic Weightlifter (now kettlebell enthusiast) Britt Buckingham. Pop over there and say hello.

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Fight Indooritis

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : fitness marketing

Fight Indooritis. Marketing with a twist of lemon.

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John Evans, headbalancer

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

John Evans certainly has an unusual talent - the ability to balance large, obscenely heavy (such as a car) objects on his head. Head over to his site and discover exactly what makes this multiple record-holder tick.

NB : for video action of a car lift, head over to CNN.

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Yoganator

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

I'm trying really hard to avoid all of the usual Arnold Schwarzenegger jokes.

**Fawn Friday** is a personal trainer, yoga enthusiast and newly-minted kettlebell instructor. Her blog, Yoganator, is a superb insight into these three things. Not to mention a great training diary.

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Two New Training Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bending, Old-Time Strength

Two more sites for your daily reading pleasure :

The Iron Chronicles is the training diary of a lifter who enjoys lifting anything that's heavy. Now, that's a sentiment I can definitely identify with.

Howz Training tracks the training of Personal Trainer, martial arts student and kettlebell afficionado Howie. Enjoy.

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Ed Sanderson

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via StrongLifts.com : Mehdi points to the blog of accupuncturist Ed Sanderson, who has some great articles on a number of aspects of health and nutrition. Well worth checking out.

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Boxing for the Street

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : boxing

Via Napalm's Corner : if you're just starting your journey into the wonderful world of boxing, head over to Boxing for the Street and check out their video tutorials. For a taster, have a look at the speed bag instruction [streaming, 7.7mb .flv download].

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Capital Jiu Jitsu

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

CJJ - Capital Jiu Jitsu. If you're a fan of BJJ, Muay Thai and MMA; this site's for you.

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Vicki O'Brien

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Meet Melbourne-based powerlifter Vicky O'Brien, currently in training for the CAPO National Powerlifting Titles to be held in August this year. Pop over and say hello.

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Beyond Strong

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Via Grip Training Obsession : a new project from stuntman, director and strongman Nick McKinless - Beyond Strong. Head over there and take a look; you won't be disappointed.

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Terry Duty

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

Via Chasing Strength : the online home of strongman Terry Duty. There's some great grip info on there.

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16 Weeks

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

When I started lifting weights a few years ago (free weights, that is - I tried a few machines at a commercial gym about 10 years ago), my thinking was that I'd push myself hard for the first few months. After that, with a bit of luck I'd enjoy it enough to keep going at a similar pace.

I'm still lifting them a little over three years later, so I guess it worked.

Cody has given himself 16 weeks to perform his own transformation. As you'll see on his blog, he's right at the start of what should be an amazing journey. Pop over and say hello.

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Coop Diesel Powerlifting

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Pop over and say hello to the guys from Coop Diesel - Chris Cooper and David Robinson. Definite strength fans.

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Countdown to Ecstacy

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Training diary featuring kettlebells, free weights and other fun things.

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Eric's nail bending page

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bending, Old-Time Strength, tearing

Eric 'Bender' Godfrey has amassed a wealth of information on bending, tearing and sledgehammer training over the years. Enjoy.

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Mamma Health

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

When I'm searching for something online I nearly always jump straight to Google (and I'm certainly not the only one). However, for dynamically generated sites - especially the various medical and health sites - it isn't quite as effective as it could be.

Just came across Mamma Health - a search engine specifically for these sites. If you're like me and have a strange obsession with medical journals, it may just be your new best friend.

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Get Body Smart

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

I love this site - this is a great way to find out how your body works. Get Body Smart.

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Andrey Kuzmin

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Head over to Girevoy Sport, online home of Russian kettlebell afficionado Andrey Kuzmin. There's a wealth of great information on all aspects of kettlebell training; particularly in the forum. Enjoy.

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Catherine Imes

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : clubs & maces, grip, kettlebells, leverage

The American Kettlebell Club blog points to the site of kettlebell coach Catherine Imes, who was recently declared a Master of the Sport (officially); completing an incredible 192 reps in the Snatch [streaming, 9.3mb .flv download]. Congrats.

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Keyboard Vagaries

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Keyboard Vaguaries is the training blog of John from Palmdale; with plenty of kettlebell action. Pop over and say hello.

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Marathon Training and Nutrition

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : running

Although Billy Milton didn't get into the demanding sport of marathon running until his mid 40s, he has quickly picked up some great resources on marathon training and nutrition. His blog - filled with these ideas - is a great read.

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Street Combat Conditioning

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight, clubs & maces, conditioning, grip, kettlebells, leverage

Check out the blog of Rudy Friederich's Street Combat Conditioning. Kettlebells, clubbells, bodyweight exercises and other fun stuff.

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Stretch to Win

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : stretch

Via Styles Develops : Scott points to a great book (and accompanying podcast) on stretching - Stretch to Win. The site has a couple of sample chapters; the entire book is for sale via Amazon. Based on the sample, it looks like a great read.

Scott - as a long-time fan of Thomas Kurz's Stretching Scientifically I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on this book. Let me know when you've had a chance to really put it through its paces.

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e-Strength Band

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

e-Strength Band is the blog of Pennsylvania's Randy Hauer, both coach and competitor with passions for Olympic weightlifting and kettlebell training.

His latest piece - Medvedev, Weightlifting and Kettlebells: Part 1 - clearly demonstrates both of those passions. Superb.

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Gary Zeolla

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across the site of long-time powerlifter Gary Zeolla. Well worth checking out.

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Styles Develops

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : grip, kettlebells

Via Training Syndicate : If you've come across Scott Styles via forums such as The Gripfaq, you'll know just how serious his grip training can be. His new blog blends grip training with kettlebell work; a great combination.

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Training Syndicate

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : brain

Training Syndicate - the brainchild of Mike Amos - is a feed aggregator containing the output of the ever-growing list of lifting blogs. Superb.

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Coach Mike's Corner

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Coach Mike's Corner is the blog of personal trainer Mike Demeter. Well worth checking out.

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Industrial Strength London

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

The training blog of Jonathon Lewis' Industrial Strength London shows just how simple and effective outdoor training can be. Bodyweight exercises, kettlebells, rope work and other fun things.

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Map My Run

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Run to Win : the beta of Map My Run - a free site for recording training details for runners - is up. Looks good.

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Make your own gear

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : DIY

Via the RossTraining forums : If, like me, you can never have too much DIY fun when it comes to equipping the home gym, head over to Make Your Own Gear. Great stuff.

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Omaha Strength Sports

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Omaha Strength Sports. Great to see.

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Strength and flexibility

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

Natalia Vasylyuk. Just one of the many incredible contortionists at softbody.net. Superb.

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Warrior Yoga

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts, yoga

Warrior Yoga. Yoga for the martial athlete.

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Trekking poles

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video

I'm not sure that this video [streaming, 5.7mb .flv download] would convince me to rush out and buy a couple of trekking poles, but the idea is interesting. Does anyone here use them? They seem to be far more common in Europe than either here or the US.

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Lift Like a Girl

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Training blog of current PA State Female Deadlift record holder, Christine Petty. Good stuff.

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Ski Gimp

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Ski-related injuries have always sounded impressive; certainly moreso than 'I fell down the stairs' or 'I just landed awkwardly'. To keep up with actor Yuval David as he recovers from his own collection of knee traumas, head over to Ski Gimp.

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Cardiac Athletes

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : recovery

If you're in the unfortunate/fortunate (depending on how you look at it) position of recovery from a heart operation, now considering your training options, this site is for you. Cardiac Athletes is a great resource for people who are hoping to return to some measure of their former exercise intensity, and wondering just how quickly to do things; and, of course, what to do.

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Tree climbing

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Tree climbing. Indulge your inner child.

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Peak Performance Newsletter

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

If you haven't yet been exposed to the delights of the Peak Performance newsletter, here's your chance - Issue 243 is now available for free. A great read.

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Extreme Conditioning and Fitness

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells, powerlifting

Check out the blog of personal trainer, powerlifter and kettlebell enthusiast Scott Shetler. A great blend.

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Mike Amos

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip, kettlebells

Mike Amos started training in high school but made the same mistake many college students make, thinking that since sports where behind him, so was training. After a seven year absence from the weightroom he decided it was time to return. This time not for wrestling or football but for life and for fun. In the three years since his return he has made a remarkable number of mistakes and corrected a few of them.

Mike currently lives and trains in Baltimore, Maryland at a variety of locations. He is afforded the opportunity to train with a variety of people, equipment and techniques. He has trained and experimented with bodybuilding, powerbuilding, powerlifting, strongman, girevoy and dinosaur training. He has settled on none of them. Currently he strives to lose weight and get stronger and prefers sandbags and kettlebells to the gym. Mike has competed in strongman and the tactical strength challenge.

In 2005 Mike started a blog on gripboard.com which has since been moved to Anvil or Hammer.

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Linnavuori Courage Corner

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : video
Tags : conditioning, kettlebells

Via Kettlebell Rob : Finnish kettlebell training, some interesting conditioning ideas (keep your eyes on the background) and great music. Enjoy.

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Pat Povilaitis' blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : horseshoe bending

Just came across the blog of 'The Human Vise', Pat Povilaitis. The picture at left - Pat reshaping a horseshoe - says it all.

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Jawbone Journal and the Low Budget Warrior

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Check out the fitness blog of writer John E Fike, aka the Low Budget Warrior. A great mix of bodyweight, kettlebell and conditioning work.

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Kettlebell Rob

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Take a wander over to the training blog of Kettlebell Rob - as the name implies, it's full of kettlebell action. Beautiful.

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Martial Arts Product Reviews

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : martial arts

When I'm buying a new book or CD I generally begin by looking at a few reviews on Amazon. However, with training gear it's a little more difficult. If you're considering purchasing a new item for your martial arts training, Martial Arts Product Reviews is a great place to start.

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Rachel Cosgrove - Triathlete

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across Rachel Cosgrove's triathlon training blog. Great to see.

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The Primal Voice

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Rocannon is an ex-Marine, a Vietnam veteran and loves to experiment with kettlebells, heavy ropes and sledgehammers. There's some very interesting stuff on here (start with the blog).

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Berserker Kettlebell

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Somewhere between kettlebell training, CrossFit-style mixes and Olympic lifting lies Berserker Kettlebell. Looks promising.

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Uberjava

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

Uberjava-ism : Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kettlebell training. Sounds like a great combination.

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What would Jacob do?

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet, running

Via Diet Blog : shedding a bit of weight whilst training for a marathon isn't exactly front page news. Jacob, however, is training seriously [streaming video, 7.12mb .flv download] for the Boston Marathon this April. His starting weight? A little over 400lb.

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Wiki

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Mike recently suggested that a wiki would be a great way to share - and update - the equipment information that appeared here recently (both the original glossary and the bars, plates, hooks and collars post). Excellent idea : you'll find it at straighttothebar.wikispaces.com. I've copied across the glossary items to get it started, but I'm sure there are plenty of things to add.

If you've never used a wiki before, just think of it as a site which anyone can edit. Wikipedia is perhaps the best known example of how effective these can be.

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MMA DVD reviews

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Via Vale Tudo : MMA product reviews aren't exactly commonplace. For some authentic thoughts from existing customers (satisfied or otherwise), head over to Lockflow.com.

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An Assortment of Training Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip, kettlebells

A few more training blogs have been added to my bookmarks over the past few days, including :

• Steve Cotter's Full Kontact Kettlebells (kettlebells)
• Kkuhomen's Training Log (kayaking)
• Jedd Johnson's (The Diesel Crew's) Napalm's Corner (grip, powerlifting)
• Carol's Triathlon Training Blog (triathlon)
• Eric Hörst's Climbing and Training Blog (climbing)

Enjoy.

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Ken's Kettlebell Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Can't get enough kettlebell action? Head over to Ken's Kettlebell Blog - a great mix of kettlebell and free-weight training.

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Tracy Reifkind

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Whilst you may be familiar with Mark Reifkind's kettlebell training blog, you may not yet have come across Tracy's. In much the same vein, Tracy details her kettlebell workouts - as well as a bit of yoga. Not bad at all.

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Kool Kettlebells

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Take a wander over to Kool Kettlebells, the workout blog of kettlebell instructor Joe Pavel. Makes it look easy.

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Grip Training Obsession

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip

As the title suggests, these guys really enjoy grip training. Superb.

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Fire in the Ice

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bodyweight

Say hello to the enigmatic Ben over at Fire in the Ice. Looks like a great training journal, encompassing a Crossfit-style mix of bodyweight and weighted workouts.

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Steakbellie

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : competitive eating

The world of competitive eating's a strange one indeed. Take a look at it through the eyes of Steakbellie, who mixes kettlebell training and gluttony in a very entertaining way. Odd is an understatement.

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Phil Pfister

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :

Strongman Phil Pfister hit the headlines a couple of months ago when he took the title of World's Strongest Man; the first American to do so in over 20 years. This morning I stumbled across his site (via the Diesel Crew's Jedd Johnson), which contains some great photographs of the big guy.

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Joachim Bartoll

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across the great online home of Swedish writer, nutritionist and strength coach Joachim Bartoll. His blog also contains some very interesting stuff.

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20 of the Best : Fitness Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Favourites
Tags : conditioning, grip, kettlebells, Old-Time Strength, recovery

Quite a few fitness and strength blogs have passed this way over the past couple of years; here's a quick look at 20 of the best. Enjoy.

1. Under the Bar
   Although I've been building web sites for the past 9 years, it wasn't until I came across Kris Lindqvist's Under the Bar that I realised a fitness blog could be such a wonderful resource. Featuring over 3 years worth of workout logs, photos, videos and superb writing - as well as a beautiful outdoor gym - this is the definitive workout blog. If you haven't already seen it, head over there now.
   Grab the feed.


2. Rif's Blog
   Kettlebells, conditioning and martial arts. A good one.
   Grab the feed.


3. The Other Side of Strength
   Kettlebells, grip work, strongman training, powerlifting - a great mix.
   Grab the feed.


4. Muscle Ventures
   Muscle Ventures is a project started by Bud Gibson and Nancy Arnold, which is following their bodybuilding progress through various training regimes and competitions.
   

   Subscription (free) is available either from the site or within iTunes (a quick search for 'muscle' will track them down).
   
   Grab the feed.





5. Strength News
   
   Strength News is the online strength home of Iowa's Chris Dorr, photographer, budding strongman and regular podcaster. Well worth checking out.
   
   Grab the feed.




6. Lean and Hungry Fitness
   
   Jim Biancolo is a fitness enthusiast in every sense of the word. The title of one of his posts last year, Low-Tech, High-Effect (a link to a Ross Enamait video which itself is well worth downloading), neatly summarises his training philosphy.

   Definitely worth a read.
   
   Grab the feed.





7. Physical Strategies
   
   An eclectic fitness and health mix, courtesy Tom Furman. Very interesting.
   
   Grab the feed.




8. Diesel Crew blog
   
   If you're into strongman feats, amazing grip strength and great articles you're probably already familiar with the Diesel Crew. Take a wander over to their blog, pull up a chair and make yourself at home.
   
   Grab the feed.




9. Functional Path Training
   
   Take a wander over to Functional Path Training, the blog of renowned sports and conditioning coach Vern Gambetta. There's some fascinating stuff on there.
   
   Grab the feed.




10. Tales from the Milk Drinker
    
    Fredericton's Sam Arsenault is defenitely a powerlifter and strongman to keep an eye on. Although originally scheduled to be a helper at a recent Strongman contest in the nearby Acadian Festival, he was quickly inspired to try out a few of the events and enter the contest himself. That's enthusiasm.
    
    Grab the feed.




11. Run to Win
    
    If you enjoy running, you'll love this. Blaine Moore discusses everything from training to injury recovery. A great read.
    
    Grab the feed.




12. Stinn's workout blog
    
    This is a great workout journal, detailing Canadian powerlifter Ryan Stinn's increasing strength over the past 2 years. Videos and competition notes round out the picture. A very good read.
    Grab the feed




13. Blood and sweat
    
    This is very much a 'from the trenches' workout blog. Superb.
    
    Grab the feed.




14. Iron Sport
    
    The Iron Sport Gym is the home-away-from-home of Steve and Joe Pulcinella, as well as a number of local weightlifters and powerlifters. The blog - as well as the gym itself - is definitely worth a look.
    
    Grab the feed.




15. Ultimate Health and Conditioning
    
    As he says on the site:

    This site is about functional strength, balance, agility, endurance, nutrition and general health. I'm not following a specific agenda. I'm not anti-supplement, or anti-weights, or anti-anything. I don't give a shit how you get healthy and fit, just that you get there.

    Superb stuff. Well worth checking out.

    
    Grab the feed





16. Golf Fitness Boot Camp
    
    For those integrating golf and fitness, Brian's site BKS Golf is an excellent start. His blog, which follows the progress of the BKS Golf fitness bootcamps, is also a great read.
    
    Grab the feed




17. Neil McTeggart
    
    Check out the blog of Belfast personal trainer Neil McTeggart. As you can see from his training notes (bp:155kg sq: 180kg dl: 220kg) he knows what he's doing.
    
    Grab the feed




18. Harrow Drive
    
    Before the Australian cricket team makes amends for last season's less-than-inspiring performance, check out the blog of cricket coach David Hinchliffe - Harrow Drive. Whilst a Harrow Drive (also known as a French Cut, particularly in this part of the world) is something you usually want to avoid, the site isn't. Great stuff.
    Grab the feed




19. Powerlifting Watch
    
    Jon trawls the numerous powerlifting and bodybuilding forums so you don't have to. Powerlifting Watch presents the threads that contain references to current events in the powerlifting world, questions on all things related to training or competition, and a splash of humour. A great site.
    
    Grab the feed




20. MyoQuip blog
    
    MyoQuip are makers of the superb ScrumTruk. If you've ever watched a game of Rugby, you'll see how closely this replicates the action of a Scrum. If you've tried one of these, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Looks like a great bit of gear.

    
    Grab the feed

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Speedlinking

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : News

As I work to sort out a rapidly failing hard drive, take a look at a few of these :

• Webber still in front at half-way point of Challenge
• The HFT Handbook - Chad Waterbury
• Swings and Snatches - a kettlebell blog from Japan
• Anthony DiLuglio has fun with a sledgehammer [video - .wmv, 3.3mb]
• Nutrition and well-being - Eric Talmant

---

Just Another Bloggy Sunday

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, grip, leverage

A few of this week's blog finds :

Serious Ultimate

The world of Ultimate is a strange one indeed. High on the list are Chicago-based competitors Mr Serious and Mr Ultimate, who manage to blend sports results with their unique humorous outporings.

Very odd.

Grab the feed.

Iron Club
Via Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker comes a great site from Juan Lancaster - Iron Club. Here you'll find articles, videos and plans for incredibly solid racks and bars (sample video [.avi, 3.3mb] of a 251kg farmers walk with the dead bar). Superb.

The Iron Pit
The Iron Pit is UK powerlifter and strongman Martin Smith's online training log. Replete with photos, routines and reviews; this is a great resource.

Dragons List
This collection of all things for the world of Martial Arts includes some very interesting blogs. To get you started, check out Hazmat's home-made Medicine Ball on a Rope. Looks like fun.

Incidentally, if you've just made one and you're wondering what to do with it, Paul Chek has a few suggestions.

Grab the feed.

The Exercise Police
The Exercise Police is a great blog, run by Iron Maven Tracey Fober. Tracy is a physical therapist and baseball enthusiast. A great read.

Grab the feed.

Why not grab all the feeds as a single juicy opml file.

---

Applied Strength

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Applied Strength is the online home of personal trainer and fitness enthusiast Brett Jones. On both his personal and professional sites you'll find interesting writings on kettlebell, bodyweight and free-weight training.

To get you started, a couple of pieces that are definitely worth a read :

• What is Old (School) is New
  A brief introduction to the world of kettlebell training - beginning with the disarmingly simple (though highly effective) kettlebell swing. Brett offers a few tips for improving the swing here.
• Programming for the Deadlift
  The creation of a simple program with a beautiful goal - increasing your deadlift.

Enjoy.

---

Sunday Bloggy Sunday

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, conditioning, grip, kettlebells, leverage

A few of this week's blog finds :

Dar Kush
Dar Kush is the online home of novelist and martial artist Steven Barnes. A mix of clubbells, kettlebells and politics. An interesting read.

Grab the feed

Strengthopedia
A recent comment from bdckr put me on to this one. Dale Harder is a former world-record holder, Highland Games participant and lover of the more unusual strength disciplines. His newsletter looks great, not to mention the photos scattered throughout his site. Pull up a chair and get comfortable.

Journey into Krav Maga
Here you'll find Firewalker's opinions on the Krav Maga fighting system - looks promising.

Grab the feed

Ultimate Health and Conditioning
As he says on the site:

This site is about functional strength, balance, agility, endurance, nutrition and general health. I'm not following a specific agenda. I'm not anti-supplement, or anti-weights, or anti-anything. I don't give a shit how you get healthy and fit, just that you get there.

Superb stuff. Well worth checking out.

Grab the feed

Golf Fitness Boot Camp
For those integrating golf and fitness, Brian's site BKS Golf is an excellent start. His blog, which follows the progress of the BKS Golf fitness bootcamps, is also a great read.

Grab the feed

Why not grab all the feeds as a single juicy opml file.

---

Gambetta

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

Hungry for more blog action? Take a wander over to Functional Path Training (xml feed), the blog of renowned sports and conditioning coach Vern Gambetta. There's some fascinating stuff on there.

---

Fresh Blogs, Get Your Fresh Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning

A few new blogs appeared here recently, including the following:


Dustin Silveri.

Dustin switched to kettlebell training exclusively following knee surgery, and the blog details his workouts during rehabilitation and follow-up phases.

Grab the feed

Vladimir Rakic.

Vlad is currently training for a powerlifting meet just north of Sydney next month. Although he's holding the current training notes close to his chest, recent figures of 160kg, 170kg and 175kg (for the bench) at a bodyweight of 125kg give you a pretty good idea.

Grab the feed

3-to-1 Bodybuilding.

3-to-1 Bodybuilding documents the body transformation quest of Virginia's Sgt. D. Sounds promising.

Grab the feed

Anta's Fitness and Self-defence.

Martial arts, kettlebell training and general conditioning. Good stuff.

Grab the feed

Vale Tudo.

ValeTudo.com (the name comes from the portuguese for 'anything goes') showcases videos, training notes and provides reviews from the exciting world of MMA.

Grab the feed

Coach K's Speed Blog.

With a background including competitive powerlifting, personal training and track & field coaching, Tim Kauppinen (aka 'Coach K') knows his stuff when it comes to running fast. This blog contains regularly updated information on speed, strength and goal setting - a great combination.

Grab the feed

Why not grab all the feeds as a single juicy opml file.

---

Neil McTeggart

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Check out the blog of Belfast personal trainer Neil McTeggart. As you can see from his training notes (bp:155kg sq: 180kg dl: 220kg) he knows what he's doing.

---

Tales From the Milk Drinker

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting, strongman

Fredericton's Sam Arsenault is defenitely a powerlifter and strongman to keep an eye on. Although originally scheduled to be a helper at a recent Strongman contest in the nearby Acadian Festival, he was quickly inspired to try out a few of the events and enter the contest himself. That's enthusiasm.

---

Snowdaddy Powerlifting

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

With 20 years of weight training beneath his belt (pun intended), Winnipeg's Snowdaddy has come to the simple conclusion :

Lift big or don't bother lifting.

Perfect.

---

Bench Press Setup with Iron Woody Strength Bands

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : bands

GetStrength's Steve Thompson discusses one of the simplest - and most effective - ways to set up bands for bench training. He's chosen to use Iron Woody bands, but there really isn't a lot of difference between brands.

Having tried various setups in the rack, I have to admit that I'm more than a little keen to get the bench out (there just isn't space in the current home gym) and try something like this - looks great.


Incidentally, the NZ Bench Press recordholder Reuben Simanu (mentioned in the article) is throwing some serious weight around. Take a look at his training log.

---

Operation Hulkout

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Sticking with the hunger theme, take a look at Operation Hulkout ('You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry'), the powerlifting training log of the enigmatic 'O'. Looking at the earlier weights, that's definitely a year of solid progress.

---

The Condiment Packet Museum

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet

It really doesn't take much to make me hungry.

Just noticed The Condiment Packet Museum (a collection of sachets from fast food outlets) over on Diet Blog. And I thought my own collection of sugar sachets was a bit odd.

---

Physical Strategies and DC Training

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across a couple of interesting blogs :

Physical Strategies - Tom Furman. A fairly eclectic fitness and health mix.

All about Doggcrapp and DC Training - Doggcrapp. The title says it all.

---

Explosivelyfit

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

The Explosivelyfit blog contains the regular writings of Washington fitness coach Danny O'Dell. For more of his articles head over to the main Explosivelyfit site.

---

Mission Surf Powerlifting

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Making the switch back to powerlifting after more than a decade isn't exactly easy - but it's a great ride. Drop in and see Mission Surf Powerlifting.

---

A Handful of Kettlebell Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : conditioning, grip, kettlebells

If you've been wondering what kettlebell training looks like, take a look at the following sites. Whilst they're not exclusively kettlebells, the bells certainly feature heavily.

Rif's Blog (Mark Reifkind)
Kettlebells, conditioning and martial arts. A good one.

The Other Side of Strength (Ken Black - pictured)
Kettlebells, grip work, strongman training, powerlifting - a great mix.

The Dymmel
Kettlebells and rugby. Another superb combination.

New RKC Instructor (Pete Diaz)
Kettlebell workouts from a recently certified instructor.

Training to Evolve (Tom Shook)
Home to another certified kettlebell instructor.

Joe's Workout Blog
Kettlebells, conditioning and free weights. Another great blend.

Franz's blog (Franz Sniderman)
Kettlebells and conditioning.

Kettlebell Queen (Lauren Brooks)
You may recall Chris coming across Lauren's main site last week. This is her personal site - and whilst it doesn't yet contain a training diary, you may stumble across some interesting links on there. Definitely worth a read is The Need To Train Like A Man, Especially if You Are A Woman.

---

Chemical Insanity

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : powerlifting

Matthew Perryman is a self confessed 'student of weight training'. His powerlifting blog is well worth a read.

---

Birthday Challenge

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : still got it

My next birthday isn't for several months yet, but here's a site to keep in mind : The Birthday Challenge. Usually in the form of n whatever on your nth birthday (40 handstand push-ups on your 40th, for example), it could be an inventive way to demonstrate your fitness to all and sundry.

Anyone got a birthday coming up?

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Lean and Hungry

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

As it states on every page of his site, Jim Biancolo is not a doctor or fitness professional - just someone who keeps themselves in pretty good shape. The title of one of his posts last year, Low-Tech, High-Effect (a link to a Ross Enamait video which itself is well worth downloading), neatly summarises his training philosphy.

His blog, Lean and Hungry Fitness, is definitely worth a read.

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RealAge

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : diet

If you're curious to see just how much benefit you're getting from your weight-training, healthy-diet lifestyle, try the RealAge test. For the record, I'm currently 31.

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Elena Seiple

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : strongman

Meet Elena Seiple : strongwoman, elite powerlifter and bodybuilder. Very impressive.

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TasGirevik

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in :
Tags : kettlebells

For another example of someone who's definitely become enamoured with kettlebells, check out Paul Tucker's site.

Kettlebell training in Tasmania - sounds perfect.

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Iron Sport Forum

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

The next time you take a wander over to the Iron Sport site, check out the new forum. Favourite thread so far : condiment phobias. Yes, you read that right. Condiments.

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Old Ladyfish

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : swimming

With it currently getting colder here (although winter in Sydney isn't particularly cold), the backyard pool isn't exactly getting a lot of attention. Perhaps that's why I'm intrigued to read the blog of someone who's determined to compete in the swimming leg of this year's London Triathlon.

Welcome Old Ladyfish.

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Diesel Crew Blog

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across a blog that's well worth checking out, from the Diesel Crew. Some great stuff on there.

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Maxalding

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : Old-Time Strength

An interesting look at the Maxalding (formerly Maxaldo) bodybuilding offerings that covered a large part of the 20th century.

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Grip and KB Training Videos

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : grip, kettlebells

I just came across several videos demonstrating various kettlebell and grip training exercises over at the London Kettlebells site. Enjoy.

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Paul Makepeace

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : kettlebells

Covering a blend of kettlebell and more conventional gym training (not to mention a bit of cycling), Paul Makepeace's training diary is definitely another one to bookmark.

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Mostly Trivial

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Just came across Mostly Trivial - a site devoted to Ken's Kettlebell and Martial Art training.

Definitely worth a look.

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Sandow and the Golden Age of Iron Men

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Everything you wanted to know about old-time lifting - Sandow Plus.

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The Bodyweight Guys

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Favourites
Tags : boxing, clubs & maces, conditioning, grappling, grip, leverage

Updated 28/09/2009 : although I wrote this article more than 3 years ago, surprisingly little has changed - these guys are all still very much at the top of their game. Good stuff.

In that time, however, I've worked with a number of other trainers and coaches who combine various bodyweight and resistance training approaches. Chief among these - and the only one I would add to this list - is Adam Steer. Extremely creative, and well worth tracking down.

To get an idea of his current bodyweight training approach, check out the brilliant Bodyweight Blueprint. Love it.

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If you've ever been tempted to incorporate a few bodyweight exercises into your training, you may like to look through a few of these sites for ideas.

Mike Mahler

www.mikemahler.com

Considered by many to be the foremost kettlebell instructor in the US, Mike Mahler brings a combined weighted/bodyweight approach - not to mention over a decade of experience as a Strength Trainer - to an ever-hungry audience.

He is the first to admit that a mixed approach is usually the best - he favours a blend of bodyweight, kettlebell, clubbell and traditional free weights in his routines. My thoughts exactly.

Matt Furey

www.mattfurey.com

Matt Furey has a wrestling background, switching from a successful career as a wrestler to one as a trainer in 1987. In 1990 he began studying various martial arts and gradually combined this knowldge with wrestling - writing his first book, The Martial Art of Wrestling, in 1996.

Also beginning in 1996, Furey won 3 national titles for the Chinese art of Shuai-Chiao - the oldest fom of Kung Fu - before winning the world title in 1997.

In 1999 Furey moved to Tampa, Florida, in order to commence training under Karl Gotch. Several books followed, including the infamous Combat Conditioning.

Scott Sonnon

www.clubbell.tv

Having a solid grounding in the Russian grappling art of Sambo, Scott Sonnon gradually formed a series of techniques all centred about the principle of 'dynamic flexibility' or 'flexibility in motion'.
These were based around CST - or Circular Strength Training - and made strong use of traditional items such as Clubbells. Clubbells in particular help to strengthen the joints through their entire range of motion.

Sonnon has written two key books on the subject of CST. The first, Body Flow, establishes the theory behind CST and provides a good range of exercises to demonstrate this. The second, Softwork, shatters the notion that there are fundamental differences between conventional fitness training and martial arts. CST walks - and blurs - the line between them.

Pavel Tsatsouline
www.powerbypavel.com

Pavel Tsatsouline (aka the 'Evil Russian') cut his teeth training members of the Spetsnaz (an elite Soviet special-forces unit) for a number of years before duplicating his successes with American agencies. Although perhaps most widely known for his Kettlebell skills and knowledge, Pavel trains people using a wide variety of both bodyweight and weighted techniques.

His thinking encompasses a concept rarely considered by many bodybuilders. Rather than increasing strength by adding muscle, he teaches methods of contracting existing muscle much harder. Naturally, both approaches have value; however it is far more common to see people 'building' than 'enhancing'.

Scrapper

http://www.trainforstrength.com/

The man now known as 'Scrapper' certainly has the credentials to train others in bodyweight exercises. Having spent over 10 years as a Navy diver (4 years of which was supporting Navy SEALs), he trained with World Jiu-Jitsu Champion and Super Brawl Champion Egan Inoue for 3 years; going on to win Future Brawl 6 in 1996 and his debut professional fighting match in 1999.

He has also worked for a number of years training various military personnel using his particular brand of physical fitness. This has proved to be astonishingly successful, with those who had previously failed PRTs finding themselves passing after his training. His Basic Training by Fish program has also enjoyed a 100% success rate in preparing candidates for SAR training.

Brooks Kubik

www.brookskubik.com

Realising that nearly 40 years of traditional weight training was beginning to take a toll (the usual nagging injuries gradually became more frequent, and more severe), Brooks Kubik completely redesigned his training regimen - based on a combination of bodyweight exercises and a few items more commonly associated with strongman and grip training.

This new training style quickly became the basis for Dinosaur Training, and a swag of books and DVDs soon followed. I have to say, it works.

But wait, there's more

If you need some more motivation, check out Alwyn Cosgrove's latest piece on EliteFTS. It may just change your thinking on the value of bodyweight training.

Update: Mich pointed me in the direction of Ross Enamait (of rossboxing.com fame), outlined below. A great find.

Ross Enamait

www.warriorforce.com

Ross Enamait has been involved in competitive athletics for over 20 years - baseball, soccer, US football, wrestling and most notably boxing. Unfortunately, the boxing resulted in injuries (fractured hands and damaged ligaments), which steered him toward the helping of others.

In addition to his formal education (Enamait is a certified trainer with the International Sports Sciences Association), he has trained with world champion Marlon Starling, title contender John Scully, Olympian Lawrence Clay-bey, and many other world-class athletes.

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Diamonds are Forever

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Whilst doing a little research this morning I stumbled across an old (well, October 2004) post by Kris - 'The forgotten lifts'. Appropriately - though perhaps unfortunately - I'd forgotten about the sites mentioned, all of which are worthy of a look whenever you get tired of the same lifts. Plenty of 'oldies but goodies' amongst these gems.

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Kubik Blogging

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Another blog I stumbled across this afternoon is one written by none other than Brooks Kubik (think 'Dinosaur Training' if you're not sure who this is). Some great tips in there.

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Iron Sport

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites
Tags : clubs & maces, grip, leverage

This afternoon I came across another site worthy of a visit or three - the online home of Iron Sport Gym. Founded by Steve and Joe Pulcinella, this gym is the very antithesis of the 'health clubs' Kris mentioned recently.

Excellent articles, meet results, regular updates. Take a look.

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Furey Starts Blogging

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : News
Tags : bodyweight, wrestling

Matt Furey, perhaps best known for taking ancient bodyweight exercises and making money from them, has switched from sending regular emails to blogging. The questions from his 'followers' are often more informative than the answers - the site's worth checking out for entertainment value alone.

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Arizona Iron Mine

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : News

My attention was drawn this afternoon (thanks Jimbo) to The Arizona Iron Mine, an MSN group devoted to sharing information on garage gyms. This looks set to become an invaluable resource for anyone considering constructing their own perfect dungeon at home - and relegating the cars to the street where they belong.

A few pieces which may also be of interest :

Toffe's Gym (Kris' outdoor gym - complete with spectacular scenery)

John Stone Fitness

How to kick ass in a one car garage (Jim Wendler)

40something's Home Gym Project

My previous home gym

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Workout Blogs

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

Throwing a bit of iron around is one thing, writing it down for the world to see is quite another. Today's find:

Workout Journal for a guy in Iowa!
workingoutforheatlh.blogspot.com
Exactly what it says on the tin.

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RSS Feeds

by Scott Andrew Bird
Filed in : Sites

I've been using an RSS reader/news aggregator (RSSReader is my current favourite) for some time now to keep track of most of my regular reads. As the number of weight-training weblogs seems to be increasing exponentially of late, this certainly streamlines things.

Links to several of these sites are in the sidebar, as well as a link to 'sites of interest' which has a far more comprehensive list. RSS feeds for these blogs may be found as links beside each blog link, or as an xml file which contains all of them.

The RSS feeds for this blog are also in the sidebar, currently comprising the following formats :

• Atom
• RSD
• RSS 1.0
• RSS 2.0

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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.
  

»» Want more? They're all here. »»

 

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

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.

Functional Correction Manual

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.

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.

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.

Straight to the Bar copyright ©2004-2013 | Scott Andrew Bird

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