
Welcome to Straight to the Bar
If you’ve just joined us, welcome. Here you’ll find everything that grunts, groans and ticks in the world of strength training. In short, this site is the home of all things strength.
Incidentally, this site’s been helping people become fitter, healthier and stronger since January 2004. If you’ve just joined us, I highly recommend subscribing to the weekly Strength & Fitness Newsletter (part of the Strength Kit), which contains details of new posts on the site, freshly-minted video demonstrations & tutorials, details of upcoming Gymchats and a whole lot more.
And yes, it’s absolutely free.
To help get you started, here are a few of our most recent posts. And if you want to dive in to a particular area. check out the ‘Start Here‘ page above. Enjoy.

Looking At : Feb 16 2025
This Week On Straight To The Bar…

Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘Born to Walk : The Broken Promises of the Running Boom, and How to Slow Down and Get Healthy—One Step at a Time’ (by Mark Sisson & Brad Kearns)
Mark Sisson & Brad Kearns’ ‘Born to Walk : The Broken Promises of the Running Boom, and How to Slow Down and Get Healthy—One Step at a Time’ takes a wonderfully thorough look at the value of ‘mainly walking, with the occasional run‘ rather than the other way around. For marked increases in health, and often for a reduction in injuries.
Enjoy.

AEKE K1 (Smart Home Gym)
Interesting.
The AEKE K1 is a fairly comprehensive smart home gym setup, an ever-growing category. Looks ideal for those favouring the ‘hands off’ approach.

Exercise Scientist Critiques A Former GIANT of Bodybuilding (Renaissance Periodization)
Dr Mike vs Marcus Ruhl. Nice one.

Looking At : Feb 9 2025
This Week On Straight To The Bar…

Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘How Bad Do You Want It? (Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle)’ (by Matt Fitzgerald)
Matt Fitzgerald’s ‘How Bad Do You Want It? (Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle)’ dives in to the fascinating world of sports psychology. Enjoy.

Pulsetto (Vagus Nerve Stimulator)
The Pulsetto is a fairly powerful tVNS (external Vagus Nerve Stimulator) device. A ring worn around the neck.

How Diet & Exercise Changes Your Bones (Institute of Human Anatomy)
Wonderfully thorough explanation. Love it.

Looking At : Feb 2 2025
This Week On Straight To The Bar…

Fitness Reading/Listening For The Week : ‘Hack your Body, Heal your Mind’ (by Kimberley Wilson)
Kimberley Wilson’s ‘Hack your Body, Heal your Mind’ takes a wonderful look at the two-way relationship between physical and mental health, and a number of ways to improve the pair.
Enjoy.