The Westside Barbell club run by Louie Simmons, is one of the current institutions of the iron game. Known for producing champion powerlifters and even effective machines such as the Reverse Hyper Extension, there is little doubting the club's importance for lifters, whether or not they adhere to powerlifting itself. In today's short post, we're … Continue reading Forgotten Exercises: The JM Press
One point that always fascinates me about training is the sheer diversity one finds when it comes to training systems, exercises and training philosophies. What works for one trainee can prove pointless to another. No matter how good the programme, it often has to be tailored towards the individual, and indeed, we often find that … Continue reading Bob Gajda’s Peripheral Heart Action (PHA) Training
Unless you own a home gym, the issue of whether or not you train to music is usually decided for you. Nowadays the gym stereo is a much a part of the gym floor as the weights themselves. Depending on your gym, the decision to leave your headphones at home results in anything from pop … Continue reading Should you Workout to Music? Old School Approaches
It seems like every time we write a piece on the history of a certain exercise we start with a mention that history is murky business. Well, once again dear readers, this history is murky. After scouring the amazing world of the internet and digging into a handful of books, here's what we came up … Continue reading “Bring Sally Up, Bring Sally Down.” The History of the Push Up
It would be quite simple to dive into notions of theology and state that Satan rose from hell, implemented the burpee, and then returned to his fire kingdom to fall asleep every night to the thumps of human bodies slamming on the ground above accompanied by the sweet serenity of exerted pain and profanities. However, … Continue reading “Fall flat to the floor and get back up again!” The Origin of the Burpee.
One of the most maligned exercises of recent decades has been the military press done behind the neck. Owing it is said to the undue stress this exercise places on the shoulder joints, lifters have been advised to avoid this technique at all costs. I, for many years, was one of those lifters. Not only … Continue reading The Bradford Press
How bodybuilding champions train is an area of intense interest for muscle fanatics the world over. How many sets, how many reps and how intensely? What makes them great? Seeking to satisfy demands, muscle magazines often publish polished workout routines written by the Champions. Yet nothing compares to the first article, making today's post on … Continue reading Steve Michalik’s Training Diary from 1968
