Recently in Tips
Various Recovery Methods (Including a Brief Review of the NormaTec System)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : massage, recovery, sleep
Plenty of options available when it comes to muscular recovery.
How To Develop A V-Taper
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bodybuilding
Very interesting area.
The Ultimate Bent Over Row Guide (Brian Alsruhe)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Training Concepts & Strategies
Great information.
How to Perform Push-Ups
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : tutorial
Nice one.
Beginners Guide to Snatching
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Olympic Weightlifting, tutorial
Nice one Meg.
Belt Squat Thoughts
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : squat
A few thoughts on a piece of equipment not seen often enough - a belt squat machine.
Weightlifting 101 - The Basics
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Olympic Weightlifting
The first part of a very promising series.
Squat School | Hip Structure and Squat Technique
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : squat, technique
Extremely thorough explanation.
Fixing the 'Knees cave in when squatting' Problem
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bands, squat
Nice one guys.
Shoulder Rehab Work
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bands, chin-up, rehab
Bodybuilding, Workout & Nutrition Tips for TALL Guys
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Training Concepts & Strategies
Rock Climbing - Transitioning from the Gym to the Crag (Meagan Martin)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : climbing
A few thoughts.
Back Angle on The Rower
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : conditioning, CrossFit, rowing
Great information.
The Perfect Pull-Up
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : tutorial
Wonderful tutorial.
Brooke Wells & Friends Squatting @ Super Training
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : equipment, squat
Great tips.
The Hook Grip
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : deadlift, Olympic Weightlifting, tutorial
What, why and how.
How to Hang Clean with a Kettlebell (NO WRIST BANGING!)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : kettlebell, tutorial
Great tutorial.
Overcoming Mental Barriers
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : sports psychology
Navy SEALs and the 40% Rule.
How to INSTANTLY Lift More Weight
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : powerlifting
Fine-tuning your thinking.
Blueprint to Cut (Arnold Schwarzenegger)
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Training Concepts & Strategies
Fascinating insight.
The Pendulum Swing
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Training Concepts & Strategies
Which aspect do you focus on?
Tip of the Week: Why Warm Up?
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : warming up
You know you should, but why?
Tip of the Week : Bending Steel = Increased Strength Endurance
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : bending, Old-Time Strength
Nice one.
Quick Tip : Lateral Sled Work
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : gymchats, sled dragging, Training Concepts & Strategies
How?
Quick Tip : Finding a Personal Trainer
posted by Scott Andrew Bird
Tags : Training Concepts & Strategies
How to identify the 'right' one.
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Cheers.
If you love talking about training, make sure you check out the Gymchats. There's a full list of previous shows here.
This week :
Gymchat 277 - Barefoot Running - Believe the Hype! (Steven Sashen)
Fantastic discussion.
NB : if you'd like to be interviewed on an upcoming show (or know someone who should be), drop us a line. It's great to find out how other people train. And if you'd like to add your comments and suggestions on the Gymchats in general, we'd love to hear them. Cheers.
just joined us? try these
There are some incredible writers on the team here. To give you an idea, check out these posts :
DIY: How to Build an Olympic Weightlifting Platform
Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker
Building A Neck Of Steel
Mike 'The Machine' Bruce
Straight to the Grip Contest
Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson
A Little Yoke Work : 10 Exercises for a Bigger Neck
Scott Andrew Bird
29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner
Jason Kirby
Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength
Josh Hewett
Small Victories
Josh Hanagarne
If you enjoyed the articles above, check out the complete 'Best Of Straight to the Bar' list. And if you'd like to do some fitness writing yourself and submit your own piece, get in touch.
ready to get in shape?
A dose of Online Personal Training is ideal. Your place, their experience.
As you'd expect, I work with a number of Fitness Professionals myself - including the wonderful Josh Hewett. If you're about to begin your own strength-training journey, swing by his site at :
top-form-fitness.com/online-coaching
Highly recommended. If you're looking to get serious about 'getting in shape', book some time with Josh. Fantastic guy.
what we're saying
And if you'd like to see the comments as soon as they arrive, you can grab the RSS feed here.
setting up a home gym?
If you're getting ready to put together a solid Home Gym (fantastic thing), here's how.
And for more, swing by the full guide. Absolutely free.
images of strength
Want to see (and learn) more Feats of Strength like this? Dive in.
gift buying guide
When your spouse/sibling/friend is ready to 'get in shape' (or they already are), what do you get them?
No matter what sort of training they're in to, we've got a few suggestions. And if you're looking for something specific, we'll help you find out where to get it. Just leave a comment on any of the posts listed below.
There are a number of articles that may help you in your quest. Specifically :
- Grrl's Valentine's Day Wishlist (Kat 'The Mighty Kat' Ricker)
- The Bodyweight Aficionado's Guide to Gear (Jason Kirby)
- Recommended Books and DVDs on Strength-Training & Nutrition (The Straight to the Bar Authors)
And there's also the full list of the fitness-focused books and DVDs we've looked at over the years : Reading
NB : if you're still not sure what to get, there's always the option of buying them a gift card. There are certainly plenty of options; Amazon
's still my favourite.
Now it's your turn. Let us know how you get on, and feel free to share any photographs of what you bought or how it's being used.
Look forward to hearing from you.
strength calendar
Looking for an upcoming competition, or know of one in your area? Why not add it to the spreadsheet.
reading : Ferocious Fitness (Phil Ross, Marty Gallagher)
Remember this? Great book. Ferocious Fitness : A Fighter's Proven Action Plan to Develop Blazing Power, Animalistic Strength and Killer Conditioning is a distillation of Phil Ross' training wisdom, in the form of a superbly comprehensive book. We took a look at the digital version recently, and you'll be pleased to know that the paperback version is now available. Definitely worthy of a place on the fitness shelf. Phil Ross' Ferocious Fitness.
community
talking about If you tweet a lot about fitness and would love to be on this list, let me know.
giving
If you've been training for a while, gradually cleaning up your diet, no doubt you've experienced the amazing power of transformation. It's a tremendous feeling. If you're ready to give someone else a hand to transform their own lives - through education, sharing equipment, financial help - take a look at the full list of organisations on the Giving page. Cheers.
love your grip work?
Check out The Grip Authority. Fantastic site.
want to help out?
As you've doubtless noticed, in addition to the main site is a Community on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Wherever you are, a daily dose of strength isn't all that far away.
To help run all of these sites, we're on the lookout for several additional Moderators. To welcome new community members, bring up new items to discuss and generally keep the conversations on track.
If you're already spending a bit of time at any of the above sites, and would like to offer your services as a Moderator, just drop us a line. And thanks for that, it really is appreciated.
in the wild
It’s always great to see how other people train.
If you’d like to send in a photo of yourself in action (wearing one of the Straight to the Bar Shirts of course - the latest design is here), just upload it somewhere and send us a link. Cheers.
the future of fitness
Over the years we’ve looked at the fitness industry from a number of angles - discussing the history, present approaches and potential future trends involved. Fascinating areas.
When it comes to the last part - discussing potential future trends - things get a little, well, unusual. If it’s an interest you share, or you just want to find out the types of things we think are likely, check out the posts tagged ‘Futurism’. And of course, Gymchat 224 (Roundtable) - The Future of Fitness. Superb discussion.
leave it in the ground
On Straight to the Bar we talk a lot about air pollution, primarily from a gym-owner's perspective. In the 'Leave it in the Ground' newsletter we look at the topic far more broadly - the gradual move away from the use of fossil fuels. Daily, and free.
elsewhere
As you can see, we love talking about training. In addition to the conversations on here, in the Google+ Community, Twitter and so on are discussions on several other great fitness-focussed sites.
Check out :
- Josh Hewett : DrawBacks of a Low Carb Diet
- Al Kavadlo : Learning to Tear a Deck of Cards in Half
- Diesel Crew : Summer’s Here – It’s Time to Start Cheating
- Year of the Bear : One Week To Go! / Looking Ahead
- Gains & Aesthetics : All You Need to Know about Carbs and Why You Actually Need Them
Of course, we're always on the lookout for new additions to this list. If you'd like to suggest a site you've come across personally (or perhaps one that you run), drop us a line.
checking out
The MeCam NeoMe (Wearable Video Camera)This looks like a great way to record your workouts - in the gym, or in the great outdoors. Particularly with the various mounts available.
To give you a general idea of what's on offer, here's a spot of video :
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.
This is a superb resource. With a focus on law enforcement personnel, it takes the form of a Facebook Group as well as one on one coaching sessions. Created by the incredible Jeff Wilson.
Mike Gillette explains the various ways to put the gymnastic rings to work - progressively - in Rings of Power. With clear emphases on both strength and rehabilitation, it's an ideal place to start.
Particularly those of us in the 'over 40' crowd.
When it comes to body transformation - whether that's an increase in strength, packing on a bit of muscle or losing a bit of excess fat - this is the perfect place to start. Dr Berardi's Precision Nutrition.
This is a fantastic book. As Josh explains, it superbly shows what's going on while you train. Love it.
The Art of Expressing the Human Body
If you've ever watched a Bruce Lee film and marveled at his strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility or muscularity, this book should take pride of place in your collection. Unlike many other writings covering everything from Lee's training methods to nutrition, this book is based not on the recollections of people around him; but on Lee's own notes. Brilliant.
For a full list of what we're reading at the moment (training-related and otherwise), join us on Goodreads. And for a cut-down list showing only the ones we recommend, swing by the Recommended Books & DVDs page. See you there.