In case you didn't see it, my new article "Working Smart or Working Hard" is up at MMA Weekly. Check it out.
LINK
Wiggy
PS - Don't forget the deal I'm running - get Working Class Fitness - The Programs for ONLY $10! Just go to www.paypal.com and send $10 (USD) to sales@workingclassfitness.com
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Ok, I'll Just Post It...$10
If you get my Working Class Fitness Newsletter (the link to subscribe is over on the right side of the page), you know about the deal I've been offering on Working Class Fitness - The Programs. You can get it for $10. Yep - that's right. TEN BUCKS. That's almost 75% off.
The response via the Newsletter has been AMAZING so far. I want to tell even more folks about it, so I figured "What the hell - I'll just post the deal on the blog."
So here is what I sent out in the newsletter...
**********************
Well, let's get into the deal I have for you. Trust me when I say this is probably the best deal I've ever offered.
You know how above, I was talking about Instinctive Training, and how sometimes you have to go with that "gut feeling?" There might not be a rhyme or reason to it, but you just know that you're supposed to do something?
Well, for the past few days, I've had a gut feeling about a few things - and doing this is one of them. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to do this, but I just am - so, I'm going to.
I've been extremely fortunate in areas of my life as of late, and I want to "spread the wealth" (for lack of a better term). So, that's why I'm offering up my best-selling "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" at a HUGE discount.
Normally, "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" goes for $39 - and it sells like hot-cakes...as it should - that's a helluva deal. But I won't get into all that - you can read my ad copy on www.workingclassfitness.com for that.
Here is what I'm going to do - I'm not going to offer it for 25% off. Not for 30%. Not even for 50% off. How about ALMOST 75% OFF!!!!
Yeah, you read it right - ALMOST 75% OFF!!
For a limited time (and I don't know how limited) you can get "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" for $10.
Yeah, you read that right, too - only TEN BUCKS.
Like I said, though - the offer is going to be limited. I'm not sure how limited, though. It could only be a day, it could be until this weekend, it could be a week - I just don't know. So you'd better jump on this one RIGHT NOW!!
Why am I doing this? Again, because something in my gut is telling me to. I want EVERYBODY to be able to get into great shape. My programs can help them. And at $10, there's no reason not to. If you say you can't afford the $10, then it's *you* who is choosing not to do it.
As great of a deal as this is, you *do* have to do a little work for it. I don't have any sort of fancy order page, or specialized form for this deal. If you want the deal of a lifetime, all you have to do is go to www.paypal.com, and send $10 (USD) to sales@workingclassfitness.com
This is for Working Class Fitness Newsletter subscribers only though, so when you make the payment, make sure you put "Newsletter Special" in the little comments section.
This deal is only available through PayPal - if you don't have a PayPal account, or don't want to use PayPal, then I'm sorry. I guess you're outta luck. But for the PHENOMENAL DEAL you're getting, isn't it worth getting over yourself just for a few minutes?
Like I say, go to www.paypal.com, and send $10 to sales@workingclassfitness.com
You'll spend more than $10 on a lot less usefull things - and probably today. Why not get something that will help you get into the best shape of your life?
**********************
So that's the deal. PayPal $10 to sales@workingclassfitness.com and you'll get Working Class Fitness - The Programs.
But don't mess around - I probably ain't gonna be doing this much longer...
Wiggy
The response via the Newsletter has been AMAZING so far. I want to tell even more folks about it, so I figured "What the hell - I'll just post the deal on the blog."
So here is what I sent out in the newsletter...
**********************
Well, let's get into the deal I have for you. Trust me when I say this is probably the best deal I've ever offered.
You know how above, I was talking about Instinctive Training, and how sometimes you have to go with that "gut feeling?" There might not be a rhyme or reason to it, but you just know that you're supposed to do something?
Well, for the past few days, I've had a gut feeling about a few things - and doing this is one of them. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to do this, but I just am - so, I'm going to.
I've been extremely fortunate in areas of my life as of late, and I want to "spread the wealth" (for lack of a better term). So, that's why I'm offering up my best-selling "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" at a HUGE discount.
Normally, "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" goes for $39 - and it sells like hot-cakes...as it should - that's a helluva deal. But I won't get into all that - you can read my ad copy on www.workingclassfitness.com for that.
Here is what I'm going to do - I'm not going to offer it for 25% off. Not for 30%. Not even for 50% off. How about ALMOST 75% OFF!!!!
Yeah, you read it right - ALMOST 75% OFF!!
For a limited time (and I don't know how limited) you can get "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" for $10.
Yeah, you read that right, too - only TEN BUCKS.
Like I said, though - the offer is going to be limited. I'm not sure how limited, though. It could only be a day, it could be until this weekend, it could be a week - I just don't know. So you'd better jump on this one RIGHT NOW!!
Why am I doing this? Again, because something in my gut is telling me to. I want EVERYBODY to be able to get into great shape. My programs can help them. And at $10, there's no reason not to. If you say you can't afford the $10, then it's *you* who is choosing not to do it.
As great of a deal as this is, you *do* have to do a little work for it. I don't have any sort of fancy order page, or specialized form for this deal. If you want the deal of a lifetime, all you have to do is go to www.paypal.com, and send $10 (USD) to sales@workingclassfitness.com
This is for Working Class Fitness Newsletter subscribers only though, so when you make the payment, make sure you put "Newsletter Special" in the little comments section.
This deal is only available through PayPal - if you don't have a PayPal account, or don't want to use PayPal, then I'm sorry. I guess you're outta luck. But for the PHENOMENAL DEAL you're getting, isn't it worth getting over yourself just for a few minutes?
Like I say, go to www.paypal.com, and send $10 to sales@workingclassfitness.com
You'll spend more than $10 on a lot less usefull things - and probably today. Why not get something that will help you get into the best shape of your life?
**********************
So that's the deal. PayPal $10 to sales@workingclassfitness.com and you'll get Working Class Fitness - The Programs.
But don't mess around - I probably ain't gonna be doing this much longer...
Wiggy
Last Night's Workout - "Get Stupid"
Every now and then I decide to just have a real kick-ass workout, and just get kinda crazy. These workouts usually just kick my tail up, down, left, right, and everywhere in between. When I do these workouts, I calling them "getting stupid."
Well, last night, I decided to "get stupid." :-)
I wanted to do some bodyweight/circuit type stuff before some conditioning, so here is what I did.
-Burpees Plus* x 50 (not sure how many sets - 6 total, I think - rest was no more than 30-40 secs between sets)
*What I'm calling "Burpees Plus" are probably called other names around the internet. Each rep started standing holding a pair of 35 lb. DBs. Squat down, put DBs on floor, and kick feet back into wide stance. Do a pushup holding onto DBs. Then Renegade Row each DB once. Kick feet back forward to outside of DBs. Thrusting with the hips, clean both DBs to shoulders. Lower DBs to waist. This all = 1 rep.
After resting a couple minutes, I some conditioning:
-MFD on elliptical trainer x 20 mins
I'm not sure how fast I was going in terms of MPH or anything along those lines. I just put the resistance level on "4" (not overly hard, but not easy either - kinda like running in sand a couple inches deep) and kept RPM at 75+.
By the end I was beat, but felt great. Today I'm not sore, but have that kinda "tingly" feeling all over - I know I worked every muscle last night. :-)
Tonight it'll be strength work followed some more conditioning.
Wiggy
PS - I'm thinking of switching up my workouts a little to a slightly modified version of Program #6 from Working Class Fitness - The Programs. What's Working Class Fitness - The Programs? Just the most kick-ass workout programs you're ever gonna find. Want to master your bodyweight? This is the way. Go to www.workingclassfitness.com to find out more.
Well, last night, I decided to "get stupid." :-)
I wanted to do some bodyweight/circuit type stuff before some conditioning, so here is what I did.
-Burpees Plus* x 50 (not sure how many sets - 6 total, I think - rest was no more than 30-40 secs between sets)
*What I'm calling "Burpees Plus" are probably called other names around the internet. Each rep started standing holding a pair of 35 lb. DBs. Squat down, put DBs on floor, and kick feet back into wide stance. Do a pushup holding onto DBs. Then Renegade Row each DB once. Kick feet back forward to outside of DBs. Thrusting with the hips, clean both DBs to shoulders. Lower DBs to waist. This all = 1 rep.
After resting a couple minutes, I some conditioning:
-MFD on elliptical trainer x 20 mins
I'm not sure how fast I was going in terms of MPH or anything along those lines. I just put the resistance level on "4" (not overly hard, but not easy either - kinda like running in sand a couple inches deep) and kept RPM at 75+.
By the end I was beat, but felt great. Today I'm not sore, but have that kinda "tingly" feeling all over - I know I worked every muscle last night. :-)
Tonight it'll be strength work followed some more conditioning.
Wiggy
PS - I'm thinking of switching up my workouts a little to a slightly modified version of Program #6 from Working Class Fitness - The Programs. What's Working Class Fitness - The Programs? Just the most kick-ass workout programs you're ever gonna find. Want to master your bodyweight? This is the way. Go to www.workingclassfitness.com to find out more.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
New Edition of "Working Class Fitness Newsletter"
I just sent out the new edition of the "Working Class Fitness Newsletter." In this issue, I discuss Instinctive Training, why Sunflower Seeds can be a great diet snack, and how to get almost 75% OFF of Working Class Fitness - The Programs.
Yeah, I said almost 75% off. No catch. It's just what I "had to do." Better hurry, though, if you want to take advantage.
Not a subscriber? Sign up link is just to the right. I'll make sure you get a copy ASAP.
Wiggy
Yeah, I said almost 75% off. No catch. It's just what I "had to do." Better hurry, though, if you want to take advantage.
Not a subscriber? Sign up link is just to the right. I'll make sure you get a copy ASAP.
Wiggy
Is Strength Overrated?
About a week or so ago, there was a thread over at the mma.tv S&C forum where somebody asked what a good strength-training program would be for wrestlers.
Another forum member then posted the following:
I've recently been told that "limit strength", aka the amount one can lift for 1-3 reps, is vastly overrated for grappling/fighting. From what these guys say, Metcon workouts, i.e., Javorek complexes, kettlebell workouts, and Crossfit-type workouts are more beneficial for developing the energy sytems and strength used in wrestling/grapppling/fighting.
Here was my response:
"I've recently been told that "limit strength", aka the amount one can lift for 1-3 reps, is vastly overrated for grappling/fighting."
I'm SOOOOOOO tired of hearing this.
Yes, conditioning (as is overall conditioning - cardiovascular/cardiorespiratory, muscular, strenth/power-endurance, etc) is more beneficial than limit strength.
HOWEVER, if your limit strength levels are way under par - i.e. you simply aren't strong enough to compete, then you'd better do some strength work. I'm not saying it's all you should do, but the trend/tendency I'm seeing is to shy away from limit strength work altogether - which is just as foolish as doing nothing but limit strength work.
Two different forum members later posted:
Wiggy, I'm just as tired about people talking about how much they bench. The vast majority of guys ignore the conditioning part of S&C, that's why there is so much talk about how limit strength is overrated.
[Edit: I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just venting]
and
A nice article, and it applies just as well to MMA. The skill portion trumps all. Both strength and cardio are only necessary at the minimum levels. There's no point in spending ,ore time on conditioning and strength than you absolutely need, when your skills are so critical. Just look at Rich Franklin vs Anderson Silva....
http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/speedtraining.html
Now the rest of this article might seem to contradict what I'm about to say but I'm gonna say it anyway. I know a lot of people reading this are gonna be football players who want to get faster and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm gonna talk about getting fast. Yet before I begin, I want to say that I believe a lot of people would be better off paying more attention to their game instead of obsessing so much about their "40 times" and all these other "measures" of athletic ability. If you want to be a football player then be a football player. Learn the ins and outs of the game of football and learn to play your position with technique. There are 2 speeds in the game of football. Fast enough and too slow. Either you're fast enough to play or you aren't. Same goes for size and height. Either you're big and tall enough to play at a certain level or you're not. At each level the minimum requirements increase. Yet as long as you meet the minimums for speed, height, and weight, the rest is about football.
There are damn good running backs in the NFL like Priest Holmes who ran 4.75 over 40 yards and other guys that ran 4.2s. That's a pretty wide range. There are "smallish" all pro cornerbacks running "slow" 4.65s. Any improvements you can make in your football playing technique and knowledge will improve your game speed just as much if not more then improving your straight ahead sprinters speed will.
Double post, but basically you only realy need to depend on strength training if you're being overpowered. Basic lifts work just fine. In Rippletoe's programming book, he makes the point that very few athletes need super specialized programs. After all, most of them don't focus on strength training year round.
Super specialized kettlebell/olympic specialization/reverse wave cycling periodization/whatever super advanced technique mainly returns the most to the professional athlete who gets paid enough that the investment is worth it financially...
To which I replied:
Todd,
I agree with you, but it just seems to be one extreme or the other. People go from "how much can you bench?" to "you don't need to do strength work." It's neither one - you actually *need* to do both.
I guess it kinda goes back to an article I had published not too long ago at MMA Weekly about "fanboys" - I'm tired of people jumping on a bandwagon, and thinking that all they have to do is "this" or "that" or they never have to do "this" or "that." It just kinda grinds my gears...
manfromyard,
I agree with what you're saying, but unfortunately, football ability isn't the only factor(s) considered when getting into the NFL, or these days, a good college/university scholarship. Guys can go to the combine, score really well on test that really don't have much (if any) bearing on how they play the game of football, and it can (in the case of the pros) make them millions of dollars. That is why there is so much emphasis on many of these things as it relates to football - not b/c it can make you a better player, but it can make you money (either pro or in the form of a scholarship).
You do bring up a good point though - many coaches discuss speed (I see this with a few EliteFTS coaches) as the ability to run fast. That, IMO, is only one component of speed. Take a boxer - you can't sprint/run fast, as there isn't anywhere to run to! But you can be quick to avoid getting hit, and hitting your opponent. Now, I realize that a lot of this might be reaction time (as opposed to power induced speed), but if you can't move your body, you can see something coming all day long - you still won't get out of the way.
*shrug*
To boil it all down - you can't depend on just strength, just endurance, just cardiovascular conditioning, or "just" anything else. You need to be complete in order to compete.
Wiggy
PS - If you wanna be "complete" then be sure to check out the workout programs that will help you master bodyweight like you never thought you could...
Another forum member then posted the following:
I've recently been told that "limit strength", aka the amount one can lift for 1-3 reps, is vastly overrated for grappling/fighting. From what these guys say, Metcon workouts, i.e., Javorek complexes, kettlebell workouts, and Crossfit-type workouts are more beneficial for developing the energy sytems and strength used in wrestling/grapppling/fighting.
Here was my response:
"I've recently been told that "limit strength", aka the amount one can lift for 1-3 reps, is vastly overrated for grappling/fighting."
I'm SOOOOOOO tired of hearing this.
Yes, conditioning (as is overall conditioning - cardiovascular/cardiorespiratory, muscular, strenth/power-endurance, etc) is more beneficial than limit strength.
HOWEVER, if your limit strength levels are way under par - i.e. you simply aren't strong enough to compete, then you'd better do some strength work. I'm not saying it's all you should do, but the trend/tendency I'm seeing is to shy away from limit strength work altogether - which is just as foolish as doing nothing but limit strength work.
Two different forum members later posted:
Wiggy, I'm just as tired about people talking about how much they bench. The vast majority of guys ignore the conditioning part of S&C, that's why there is so much talk about how limit strength is overrated.
[Edit: I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just venting]
and
A nice article, and it applies just as well to MMA. The skill portion trumps all. Both strength and cardio are only necessary at the minimum levels. There's no point in spending ,ore time on conditioning and strength than you absolutely need, when your skills are so critical. Just look at Rich Franklin vs Anderson Silva....
http://www.higher-faster-sports.com/speedtraining.html
Now the rest of this article might seem to contradict what I'm about to say but I'm gonna say it anyway. I know a lot of people reading this are gonna be football players who want to get faster and there's nothing wrong with that. I'm gonna talk about getting fast. Yet before I begin, I want to say that I believe a lot of people would be better off paying more attention to their game instead of obsessing so much about their "40 times" and all these other "measures" of athletic ability. If you want to be a football player then be a football player. Learn the ins and outs of the game of football and learn to play your position with technique. There are 2 speeds in the game of football. Fast enough and too slow. Either you're fast enough to play or you aren't. Same goes for size and height. Either you're big and tall enough to play at a certain level or you're not. At each level the minimum requirements increase. Yet as long as you meet the minimums for speed, height, and weight, the rest is about football.
There are damn good running backs in the NFL like Priest Holmes who ran 4.75 over 40 yards and other guys that ran 4.2s. That's a pretty wide range. There are "smallish" all pro cornerbacks running "slow" 4.65s. Any improvements you can make in your football playing technique and knowledge will improve your game speed just as much if not more then improving your straight ahead sprinters speed will.
Double post, but basically you only realy need to depend on strength training if you're being overpowered. Basic lifts work just fine. In Rippletoe's programming book, he makes the point that very few athletes need super specialized programs. After all, most of them don't focus on strength training year round.
Super specialized kettlebell/olympic specialization/reverse wave cycling periodization/whatever super advanced technique mainly returns the most to the professional athlete who gets paid enough that the investment is worth it financially...
To which I replied:
Todd,
I agree with you, but it just seems to be one extreme or the other. People go from "how much can you bench?" to "you don't need to do strength work." It's neither one - you actually *need* to do both.
I guess it kinda goes back to an article I had published not too long ago at MMA Weekly about "fanboys" - I'm tired of people jumping on a bandwagon, and thinking that all they have to do is "this" or "that" or they never have to do "this" or "that." It just kinda grinds my gears...
manfromyard,
I agree with what you're saying, but unfortunately, football ability isn't the only factor(s) considered when getting into the NFL, or these days, a good college/university scholarship. Guys can go to the combine, score really well on test that really don't have much (if any) bearing on how they play the game of football, and it can (in the case of the pros) make them millions of dollars. That is why there is so much emphasis on many of these things as it relates to football - not b/c it can make you a better player, but it can make you money (either pro or in the form of a scholarship).
You do bring up a good point though - many coaches discuss speed (I see this with a few EliteFTS coaches) as the ability to run fast. That, IMO, is only one component of speed. Take a boxer - you can't sprint/run fast, as there isn't anywhere to run to! But you can be quick to avoid getting hit, and hitting your opponent. Now, I realize that a lot of this might be reaction time (as opposed to power induced speed), but if you can't move your body, you can see something coming all day long - you still won't get out of the way.
*shrug*
To boil it all down - you can't depend on just strength, just endurance, just cardiovascular conditioning, or "just" anything else. You need to be complete in order to compete.
Wiggy
PS - If you wanna be "complete" then be sure to check out the workout programs that will help you master bodyweight like you never thought you could...
Last Night's Workout + Thoughts on Program Design
Had a KICK-ASS workout last night:
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - in this case 3)
-Bent Rows x 25 reps (2 sets - REALLY strong tonight)
-DB Snatch x 15 reps (2 sets)
-Tuck Jumps over a bench x 10 reps (1 set)
-DB Curls x 20 reps (3 sets)
Conditioning:
-MFD on Elliptical x 20 mins
***************************
These simple, yet hard workouts are going great. I'm currently using a 2-day split. Day 1 is Strength + Conditioning, as in the above. Day 2 is Circuits/Complexes + Conditioning in the form either MFD again or intervals.
I'm using the 2-day split basically b/c work is so hectic and erratic. I never know when I might have to work OT, and seeing as how I'm working 12 hours (don't leave the office until 7:30-8:00 pm EVERYDAY) as it is, OT = late. And if we get IDF in the middle of the night and have to go to the bunker, well, that means little sleep.
A 2-day split is good b/c I just keep going until I need a day off. And if I can't get to the gym or a day or three, then I'm never getting "behind." Rather, if I was working on let's say a 4-day rotation, I might be constantly getting behind, doing workouts when they're not scheduled, etc.
For example, if you take a look at the Sprinting Program in Working Class Fitness - The Programs, the lower-body strength work was designed to be done so many days after the sprint work. This is for maximum recovery for both.
Well, in my case, I can't always stick to a certain program like that. So, the 2-day split I have put together lets me never really get "behind." There are more effective ways to train, but this is going great for me in the circumstances I'm in.
And as far as choosing how to put the program together, I sort of merged principles of Programs #5 and #6.
Wiggy
PS - If you want Workout Programs that make what I'm doing look like crap, then be sure to hit up my site and see what Working Class Fitness - The Programs is all about, and why people all over the WORLD are mastering their bodyweight like they never thougth possible!
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - in this case 3)
-Bent Rows x 25 reps (2 sets - REALLY strong tonight)
-DB Snatch x 15 reps (2 sets)
-Tuck Jumps over a bench x 10 reps (1 set)
-DB Curls x 20 reps (3 sets)
Conditioning:
-MFD on Elliptical x 20 mins
***************************
These simple, yet hard workouts are going great. I'm currently using a 2-day split. Day 1 is Strength + Conditioning, as in the above. Day 2 is Circuits/Complexes + Conditioning in the form either MFD again or intervals.
I'm using the 2-day split basically b/c work is so hectic and erratic. I never know when I might have to work OT, and seeing as how I'm working 12 hours (don't leave the office until 7:30-8:00 pm EVERYDAY) as it is, OT = late. And if we get IDF in the middle of the night and have to go to the bunker, well, that means little sleep.
A 2-day split is good b/c I just keep going until I need a day off. And if I can't get to the gym or a day or three, then I'm never getting "behind." Rather, if I was working on let's say a 4-day rotation, I might be constantly getting behind, doing workouts when they're not scheduled, etc.
For example, if you take a look at the Sprinting Program in Working Class Fitness - The Programs, the lower-body strength work was designed to be done so many days after the sprint work. This is for maximum recovery for both.
Well, in my case, I can't always stick to a certain program like that. So, the 2-day split I have put together lets me never really get "behind." There are more effective ways to train, but this is going great for me in the circumstances I'm in.
And as far as choosing how to put the program together, I sort of merged principles of Programs #5 and #6.
Wiggy
PS - If you want Workout Programs that make what I'm doing look like crap, then be sure to hit up my site and see what Working Class Fitness - The Programs is all about, and why people all over the WORLD are mastering their bodyweight like they never thougth possible!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Last Night's Workout
Didn't really feel like working out last night (haven't been sleeping well as of late), but knew I had to get *some* work in, so I went in to just do some easy conditioning. After I got started/warmed up, I ended up feeling pretty good. Just goes to show that you have to really pay attention to yourself - there is a big difference between needing a day off, and just being lazy. Had I really needed the day off (which I knew I didn't), I've been training enough to know that soon after getting started, my body would've told me "Nope - this is a no-no. Take it easy today." And it didn't tell me that.
Conditioning on Treadmill
-5 min easy warmup
-Intervals: 40 secs sprint, 20 secs rest
*Repeat 10x
-5 min cool down
Then I did 3 rounds of a workout called "The Magic 50" from Ross Enamait:
-Burpees x 10
-DB Snatch x 5 (each side)
-DB Swing x 5 (each side)
*Repeat 3x
Ended up having a great workout!
Wiggy
Conditioning on Treadmill
-5 min easy warmup
-Intervals: 40 secs sprint, 20 secs rest
*Repeat 10x
-5 min cool down
Then I did 3 rounds of a workout called "The Magic 50" from Ross Enamait:
-Burpees x 10
-DB Snatch x 5 (each side)
-DB Swing x 5 (each side)
*Repeat 3x
Ended up having a great workout!
Wiggy
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Life Imitates Art? + Last Night's Workout
You know how when a movie is made, and then something in real-life happens that is very similar, they say that "life is imitating art?" Well, that sorta happened to me yesterday.
You know how I'm always saying that for us "regular folk," you never know when physical challenges might arise, and you have to be in shape to meet them? Well, I like to not to only be able to meet them, but crust them like an ant, but that's another story... ;-)
Well, yesterday (and I won't bore you with the long story as to why/how), I ended up on "sandbag detail" here in Iraq. Basically, we're hauling and stacking sandbags for Force Protection reasons. Now, these sandbags aren't heavy (probably between 10-15 and 35-40 lbs. each, depending on how much sand was put into a bag.
The way it worked was simple, there would be a pallet of sandbags, and we'd line up, handing them from one person to another assembly-line style, until it got to the end of the line, who did the stacking. The work wasn't "hard", but it was hot out, and it was fairly consistent. Keep the bags moving, keep the bags moving...
If you weren't in shape (and there were a few guys out there who weren't!), you'd get winded pretty quick, and tire easily. Not me though - I felt great. I look at this sort of stuff as a workout - and always try to outwork everybody there. In fact, I started "talking trash" to the other guys to see who could keep up!
We only ended up being out there for an hour, but some of the guys were toast. I've seen one or two today, and they're tired and sore. Not me though - I felt great and was "itching" for more! In fact, it seemed to tune me up for the night's workout!
A couple hours later, here is what I did:
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - 3 sets)
-DB Snatches x 25 reps each side (4 sets)
-DB Curls x 20 reps each side (4 sets)
Conditioning:
-MFD on Elliptical Trainer x 25 min
Prehab:
-Band Cuban Presses: 2 sets x 12 reps
Got done, took a shower, and felt AWESOME! I'll be back out there loading sandbags today - can't wait! ;-)
Wiggy
You know how I'm always saying that for us "regular folk," you never know when physical challenges might arise, and you have to be in shape to meet them? Well, I like to not to only be able to meet them, but crust them like an ant, but that's another story... ;-)
Well, yesterday (and I won't bore you with the long story as to why/how), I ended up on "sandbag detail" here in Iraq. Basically, we're hauling and stacking sandbags for Force Protection reasons. Now, these sandbags aren't heavy (probably between 10-15 and 35-40 lbs. each, depending on how much sand was put into a bag.
The way it worked was simple, there would be a pallet of sandbags, and we'd line up, handing them from one person to another assembly-line style, until it got to the end of the line, who did the stacking. The work wasn't "hard", but it was hot out, and it was fairly consistent. Keep the bags moving, keep the bags moving...
If you weren't in shape (and there were a few guys out there who weren't!), you'd get winded pretty quick, and tire easily. Not me though - I felt great. I look at this sort of stuff as a workout - and always try to outwork everybody there. In fact, I started "talking trash" to the other guys to see who could keep up!
We only ended up being out there for an hour, but some of the guys were toast. I've seen one or two today, and they're tired and sore. Not me though - I felt great and was "itching" for more! In fact, it seemed to tune me up for the night's workout!
A couple hours later, here is what I did:
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - 3 sets)
-DB Snatches x 25 reps each side (4 sets)
-DB Curls x 20 reps each side (4 sets)
Conditioning:
-MFD on Elliptical Trainer x 25 min
Prehab:
-Band Cuban Presses: 2 sets x 12 reps
Got done, took a shower, and felt AWESOME! I'll be back out there loading sandbags today - can't wait! ;-)
Wiggy
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Personlized Programs
I'm thinking of taking a couple of online personal training clients.
If you'd be interested in having my personally designing your fitness program, let me know. Send me an email - wiggy [at] workingclassfitness.com
Price and how many clients I'll take on is TBD, depending on how much interest there is.
Wiggy
If you'd be interested in having my personally designing your fitness program, let me know. Send me an email - wiggy [at] workingclassfitness.com
Price and how many clients I'll take on is TBD, depending on how much interest there is.
Wiggy
Last Two Workouts
Here's my last two workouts:
Monday - 03-Sept-07
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - in this case 4 sets)
-DB Rows x 25 reps each side (4 sets)
-Snatch Grip DL x 25 reps (5 sets)
Complex (a DB version of John Davies' Bear Complex):
-1 DB Snatch/Front Squat: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
-1 DB Snatch/Front Squat: 3 x 2/1 (each side)
-2 DB Front Squat/PushPress: 3 x 1/2
-2 DB Front Squat/PushPress: 3 x 2/1
-1 DB Snatch/PushPress: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
-1 DB Snatch/PushPress: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
Conditioning Finisher:
-Elliptical x 10 min @ *easy* pace
Tuesday - 04-Sept-07
Conditioning on Elliptical Trainer:
-5 min warmup
-1 min VERY hard pace
-4 min medium pace
* Repeat 5x
-5 min cooldown
This will be the type of workout program I'll be on the for the next few months - probably until I come home for R&R just before Christmas. Basing it on my Program #1 from "Working Class Fitness - The Programs", I like the 2-day split, as it gets a lot done quick, is easy to focus on, and if I have to skip a day here or there for whatever reason (you can never totally depend on any schedule out here), then I'm not "behind" or out of order - I just pick up where I left off.
Like I said in my last post, I'll be doing some traveling soon, and am not sure of whether or not I'll be able to hit the gym while doing so, so I'll be hitting this hard until I leave.
Wiggy
Monday - 03-Sept-07
Strength Work:
-Weighted Dips x 25 reps (as many sets as needed - in this case 4 sets)
-DB Rows x 25 reps each side (4 sets)
-Snatch Grip DL x 25 reps (5 sets)
Complex (a DB version of John Davies' Bear Complex):
-1 DB Snatch/Front Squat: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
-1 DB Snatch/Front Squat: 3 x 2/1 (each side)
-2 DB Front Squat/PushPress: 3 x 1/2
-2 DB Front Squat/PushPress: 3 x 2/1
-1 DB Snatch/PushPress: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
-1 DB Snatch/PushPress: 3 x 1/2 (each side)
Conditioning Finisher:
-Elliptical x 10 min @ *easy* pace
Tuesday - 04-Sept-07
Conditioning on Elliptical Trainer:
-5 min warmup
-1 min VERY hard pace
-4 min medium pace
* Repeat 5x
-5 min cooldown
This will be the type of workout program I'll be on the for the next few months - probably until I come home for R&R just before Christmas. Basing it on my Program #1 from "Working Class Fitness - The Programs", I like the 2-day split, as it gets a lot done quick, is easy to focus on, and if I have to skip a day here or there for whatever reason (you can never totally depend on any schedule out here), then I'm not "behind" or out of order - I just pick up where I left off.
Like I said in my last post, I'll be doing some traveling soon, and am not sure of whether or not I'll be able to hit the gym while doing so, so I'll be hitting this hard until I leave.
Wiggy
Updates
Man, what a week or so. First I was supposed to travel for some short-term work to another site. After roughly 36 hours of last-minute plans, changes, updates, and hurrying, I was right back at my desk at my current site - gone nowhwere and got nothing done. ;-) My trip has actually been re-schuduled, so I'll be traveling soon to work a few days at another site.
Then I tweaked the @#$% out of my lower back, and had a hard time even walking for about 4 days. I'm not sure what I even did - I just woke up one day and I was twisted up like a pretzel. I'm not much on taking medicine if I don't have to, but I gotta say, I was eating motrin like peanuts, lol!
Well, now I'm better, and got back to working out a couple days ago. Check my next entry (which will actually be above this one) for my last couple workouts. As I probably won't be able to workout while I'm traveling (at least I won't be able to hit the gym, I'll crank out some basic squats, pushups, and such in I have some space in wherever living quarter they set me up in), I'll be hitting the workouts really hard the next few days.
I was sorry to hear that Arthur Jones recently passed away. I don't necessarily agree with everything that Jones espoused, but I give the guy credit for the guts to buck the status quo, and drive forward with what he believed in. And the guy made a bunch of coin in the process.
106 more days before I'm back in the States for R&R. It's still a little way off, but the end is in sight... ;-)
Wiggy
Then I tweaked the @#$% out of my lower back, and had a hard time even walking for about 4 days. I'm not sure what I even did - I just woke up one day and I was twisted up like a pretzel. I'm not much on taking medicine if I don't have to, but I gotta say, I was eating motrin like peanuts, lol!
Well, now I'm better, and got back to working out a couple days ago. Check my next entry (which will actually be above this one) for my last couple workouts. As I probably won't be able to workout while I'm traveling (at least I won't be able to hit the gym, I'll crank out some basic squats, pushups, and such in I have some space in wherever living quarter they set me up in), I'll be hitting the workouts really hard the next few days.
I was sorry to hear that Arthur Jones recently passed away. I don't necessarily agree with everything that Jones espoused, but I give the guy credit for the guts to buck the status quo, and drive forward with what he believed in. And the guy made a bunch of coin in the process.
106 more days before I'm back in the States for R&R. It's still a little way off, but the end is in sight... ;-)
Wiggy
Friday, August 24, 2007
*This* is Mastering Bodyweight...
I've been out of the loop since leaving the States for the Middle East, so I'm just now finding out about this.
Y'all know I'm a big "Ninja Warrior" fan on G4. Well, I guess G4 is sponsoring a contest to send somebody from America to Japan to compete in "Sasuke" (as "Ninja Warrior" is known in Japan).
Here is an entry video from Bryant P. of Waipahu, HI.
I've talked about "Mastering Bodyweight" a number of times - this is a PERFECT example.
Enjoy!
Wiggy
Y'all know I'm a big "Ninja Warrior" fan on G4. Well, I guess G4 is sponsoring a contest to send somebody from America to Japan to compete in "Sasuke" (as "Ninja Warrior" is known in Japan).
Here is an entry video from Bryant P. of Waipahu, HI.
I've talked about "Mastering Bodyweight" a number of times - this is a PERFECT example.
Enjoy!
Wiggy
Thursday, August 23, 2007
New Edition of "Working Class Fitness Newsletter"
I've just sent out a new edition of my "Working Class Fitness Newsletter" entitled "Are You A Hero?"
If you're not on my newsletter list, click on the newsletter link at the right, and I'll make sure you get a copy ASAP.
Wiggy
If you're not on my newsletter list, click on the newsletter link at the right, and I'll make sure you get a copy ASAP.
Wiggy
Last Night's Workout - 22-Aug-07
Last night's workout was a combination of strength training and "Tonnage Training." Here is how it looked:
Strength Work:
-Bench Press: 8 sets x 1 rep
-DB Rows: 8 x 1 (each side)
*alternate sets of each exercise
Tonnage Training:
-Behind Neck Press (Snatch Barbell into position, and then press) x 10
-Curls x 10
-Hang Clean x 10
-DB Triceps Extensions x 10 (each side)
-Sumo Deadlift High Pulls x 10
-Tuck Jumps x 10
*Rest 30-45 secs between exercises. Entire circuit was performed 5x. Tuck Jumps were done with just bodyweight (no external resistance). DB Triceps Extensions done with 30 lb. dumbbell. All other exercises done with 105 lb. barbell. Each rep done as explosively as possible on the exertion part of the rep, w/controlled negative. Figuring a resistance of roughly 60% of bodyweight on Tuck Jumps (don't want to get liberal and over-estimate), Total Tonnage moved = 31,400 lbs.
Conditioning:
-15 minutes @ medium pace on elliptical trainer
Wiggy
Strength Work:
-Bench Press: 8 sets x 1 rep
-DB Rows: 8 x 1 (each side)
*alternate sets of each exercise
Tonnage Training:
-Behind Neck Press (Snatch Barbell into position, and then press) x 10
-Curls x 10
-Hang Clean x 10
-DB Triceps Extensions x 10 (each side)
-Sumo Deadlift High Pulls x 10
-Tuck Jumps x 10
*Rest 30-45 secs between exercises. Entire circuit was performed 5x. Tuck Jumps were done with just bodyweight (no external resistance). DB Triceps Extensions done with 30 lb. dumbbell. All other exercises done with 105 lb. barbell. Each rep done as explosively as possible on the exertion part of the rep, w/controlled negative. Figuring a resistance of roughly 60% of bodyweight on Tuck Jumps (don't want to get liberal and over-estimate), Total Tonnage moved = 31,400 lbs.
Conditioning:
-15 minutes @ medium pace on elliptical trainer
Wiggy
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Last Night's Workout - 15 August 2007
Here was last night's workout:
-Barbell Bench Press: 5 sets x 1 rep, 1 set x 10 reps
-DB Rows: 5 x 1, 1 x 10 (each side)
*alternate sets of Bench Presses w/sets of Rows, resting ~30 secs between sets
-Rear Delt Work: 3 x 8
-EZ-Bar Curls: 3 x 8
-Body Tricep Extensions: 3 x 8
*alternate sets of each exercise
Complex:
-Double DB Swing x 6
-1-Arm DB Snatch x 6 (each side)
-Squat Press x 6
-Bent Raise/Rows x 6
-Jump Squats x 6
*Repeat x 3
-Finished up with 15 decently paced mins. on the elliptical.
Wiggy
-Barbell Bench Press: 5 sets x 1 rep, 1 set x 10 reps
-DB Rows: 5 x 1, 1 x 10 (each side)
*alternate sets of Bench Presses w/sets of Rows, resting ~30 secs between sets
-Rear Delt Work: 3 x 8
-EZ-Bar Curls: 3 x 8
-Body Tricep Extensions: 3 x 8
*alternate sets of each exercise
Complex:
-Double DB Swing x 6
-1-Arm DB Snatch x 6 (each side)
-Squat Press x 6
-Bent Raise/Rows x 6
-Jump Squats x 6
*Repeat x 3
-Finished up with 15 decently paced mins. on the elliptical.
Wiggy
More Thoughts on Conditioning...
In keeping with my recent trend in cross-posting thing I've posted at other forums, here are some thoughts I recently posted on conditioning, how it applies to MMA, and the differences between "conditioning" and "cardio."
"I've said this before, and maybe it's just a semantics game, but I don't feel that "cardio" and "endurance" (or "conditioning" for that matter) are the same thing.
To me, "cardio" refers to the ability of your heart to pump blood thorought your body, and you lungs to take in enough oxygen - esp while under duress and/or over the long term. "Endurance" (or "conditioning" as I usually call it) is about the ability to perform over the long term. This entails not just cardio, but also muscular conditioning, as well as strength/power-endurance.
To try to illustrate, here is an example I like to use for beginners:
Let's say you're a sedentary person and decide to start jogging 1 mile 3x/week. When you first start, you're pretty out of shape, and you're breathing so hard after your first 1/4 mile or so, that you have to stop and walk some, b/c you can't get enough air. This would be a deficiency in cardio.
But then, after a few weeks, you've brought your cardio up so that you can run much further without having to stop for air. However, you're now stopping to walk around the 1/2 mile mark, not b/c you can't get air, but b/c your legs are burning so bad that you need to give them a slight rest. This would be a deficiency in muscular conditioning.
In MMA, it is "conditioning" that is king - not cardio. All the cardio in the world won't do you any good if you're still not quick (and therefore powerful) at the end of your fight, or if your muscles hurt too much to hold onto a sub attempt.
One of the things that I feel "conditioning" work has going for it is that when you do "conditioning," you'll improve "cardio." However (depending on how you train), when you do "cardio," you won't necessarily improve "conditioning."
Of course, much of this *could* be explained by the mental toughness that was discussed above. LSD - esp long LSD - builds a mental toughness that most other forms of exercise don't. Not only to get through the LSD, but to actually get out and get started. It can be pretty daunting to know that you're going for a 3-5 mile run, and won't get to stop for the next 20-50 minutes (depending on how far/fast you run). While sprints can be much harder, you also get to rest, which can be easier on the psyche. *shrug*
I also think that each person is different. For myself, I've gone plenty of LSD, plenty of interval training, and plenty of complex/circuit training in my day. For fat loss (though it's against much of what we read), LSD has always worked best for me. However, I usually feel slower. If I'm crossing the street, and a car is coming, I can't just quickly dart out of the way - I feel like I have to get moving, and *then* I can run out of the way. Complex/circuit training, on the other hand, takes my conditioning (and work capacity) *and* my cardio, and shoots it through the roof. But it's done little for me in the way of fat loss in the past. However, what I've found to be a good combination is to do complex/circuit training for a few weeks to bolster conditioning and cardio, and THEN focus on LSD (b/c I can go longer due to the previous complex/circuit training) for fat loss. I went through a period last year where I was alternating days of some basic strength work and hard complex training, with days of LSD on a Complex 2 Rower and/or Treadmill. But this is just one example, and is just me.
The two things I think we need to remember in all of this are that:
1. Like we always say, build well-rounded program. Just like we wouldn't tell somebody to do only striking or only grappling, don't do only cardio or only strength training.
2. Like the old saying goes, some things work for all people, and all things work for some people, but not all things work for all people. Just b/c a fighter does a certain kind of training and is successful, that doesn't mean you'll be successful if you do it. It *also* doesn't mean that, as mentioned, the whole "they succeed in spite of - not b/c of - their training" is in effect, either. If Rocky Marciano, Tito Ortiz, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Matt Hughes, Sean Sherk, etc. all did LSD in their training, and were all fairly dominating champs in their own rights/times, then they must have been doing *something* that worked for them. Try to learn why others are successful before you tell them how much better they could be if they knew what you knew.
As usual, just my two cents...
Wiggy - MMA Training"
"I've said this before, and maybe it's just a semantics game, but I don't feel that "cardio" and "endurance" (or "conditioning" for that matter) are the same thing.
To me, "cardio" refers to the ability of your heart to pump blood thorought your body, and you lungs to take in enough oxygen - esp while under duress and/or over the long term. "Endurance" (or "conditioning" as I usually call it) is about the ability to perform over the long term. This entails not just cardio, but also muscular conditioning, as well as strength/power-endurance.
To try to illustrate, here is an example I like to use for beginners:
Let's say you're a sedentary person and decide to start jogging 1 mile 3x/week. When you first start, you're pretty out of shape, and you're breathing so hard after your first 1/4 mile or so, that you have to stop and walk some, b/c you can't get enough air. This would be a deficiency in cardio.
But then, after a few weeks, you've brought your cardio up so that you can run much further without having to stop for air. However, you're now stopping to walk around the 1/2 mile mark, not b/c you can't get air, but b/c your legs are burning so bad that you need to give them a slight rest. This would be a deficiency in muscular conditioning.
In MMA, it is "conditioning" that is king - not cardio. All the cardio in the world won't do you any good if you're still not quick (and therefore powerful) at the end of your fight, or if your muscles hurt too much to hold onto a sub attempt.
One of the things that I feel "conditioning" work has going for it is that when you do "conditioning," you'll improve "cardio." However (depending on how you train), when you do "cardio," you won't necessarily improve "conditioning."
Of course, much of this *could* be explained by the mental toughness that was discussed above. LSD - esp long LSD - builds a mental toughness that most other forms of exercise don't. Not only to get through the LSD, but to actually get out and get started. It can be pretty daunting to know that you're going for a 3-5 mile run, and won't get to stop for the next 20-50 minutes (depending on how far/fast you run). While sprints can be much harder, you also get to rest, which can be easier on the psyche. *shrug*
I also think that each person is different. For myself, I've gone plenty of LSD, plenty of interval training, and plenty of complex/circuit training in my day. For fat loss (though it's against much of what we read), LSD has always worked best for me. However, I usually feel slower. If I'm crossing the street, and a car is coming, I can't just quickly dart out of the way - I feel like I have to get moving, and *then* I can run out of the way. Complex/circuit training, on the other hand, takes my conditioning (and work capacity) *and* my cardio, and shoots it through the roof. But it's done little for me in the way of fat loss in the past. However, what I've found to be a good combination is to do complex/circuit training for a few weeks to bolster conditioning and cardio, and THEN focus on LSD (b/c I can go longer due to the previous complex/circuit training) for fat loss. I went through a period last year where I was alternating days of some basic strength work and hard complex training, with days of LSD on a Complex 2 Rower and/or Treadmill. But this is just one example, and is just me.
The two things I think we need to remember in all of this are that:
1. Like we always say, build well-rounded program. Just like we wouldn't tell somebody to do only striking or only grappling, don't do only cardio or only strength training.
2. Like the old saying goes, some things work for all people, and all things work for some people, but not all things work for all people. Just b/c a fighter does a certain kind of training and is successful, that doesn't mean you'll be successful if you do it. It *also* doesn't mean that, as mentioned, the whole "they succeed in spite of - not b/c of - their training" is in effect, either. If Rocky Marciano, Tito Ortiz, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Matt Hughes, Sean Sherk, etc. all did LSD in their training, and were all fairly dominating champs in their own rights/times, then they must have been doing *something* that worked for them. Try to learn why others are successful before you tell them how much better they could be if they knew what you knew.
As usual, just my two cents...
Wiggy - MMA Training"
Friday, August 10, 2007
Nothing But Deadlifts?
Well, since I've been cross-posting so much from what I post over at mma.tv, I might as well keep on, right? Just this morning, I saw a post where somebody said they were going to ditch all their weight training, and do nothing but deadlifts for the next six weeks.
Here was my response.
If you're just going to go with one exercise, I would go with Clean & Press or Clean & Jerk instead.
You obviously won't be using as heavy of weights as you might with a deadlift routine, but since you'll be pulling much faster, you'll be generating as much - if not more - power (it would all depend on how much weight you're using in each exercise and how fast you perform each one).
The Clean portion will thoroughly tax your posterior chain as deadlifts would, however, with the Press (and lesser extent Jerk) you are now also working the entire shoulder girdle as well - something pretty much avoided when doing strictly deadlifts (DLs will tax your traps and rear delts, but emphasis on your medial/frontal delts, pecs, and triceps is minimal). If you add a Front Squat or do Squat Cleans, you're now also getting all the leg work you'll need.
Plus, C&P - when done for reps - involves a *serious* conditioning component, much akin to the complexes mentioned above. For even more conditioning, do Dumbbell C&P instead, one arm at a time.
Just my two cents...
Wiggy - MMA Training
In looking back over it, another suggestion - if you weren't that good at the "catch" portion of the Clean - could be to do two exercises. First, do heavy High Pulls from the floor. Then follow it up with Presses or Jerks out of the rack. That would give you about everything you need. Toss in some Chins and some Jump Squats (with Dips now and then), and you'd be even better.
Wiggy
Here was my response.
If you're just going to go with one exercise, I would go with Clean & Press or Clean & Jerk instead.
You obviously won't be using as heavy of weights as you might with a deadlift routine, but since you'll be pulling much faster, you'll be generating as much - if not more - power (it would all depend on how much weight you're using in each exercise and how fast you perform each one).
The Clean portion will thoroughly tax your posterior chain as deadlifts would, however, with the Press (and lesser extent Jerk) you are now also working the entire shoulder girdle as well - something pretty much avoided when doing strictly deadlifts (DLs will tax your traps and rear delts, but emphasis on your medial/frontal delts, pecs, and triceps is minimal). If you add a Front Squat or do Squat Cleans, you're now also getting all the leg work you'll need.
Plus, C&P - when done for reps - involves a *serious* conditioning component, much akin to the complexes mentioned above. For even more conditioning, do Dumbbell C&P instead, one arm at a time.
Just my two cents...
Wiggy - MMA Training
In looking back over it, another suggestion - if you weren't that good at the "catch" portion of the Clean - could be to do two exercises. First, do heavy High Pulls from the floor. Then follow it up with Presses or Jerks out of the rack. That would give you about everything you need. Toss in some Chins and some Jump Squats (with Dips now and then), and you'd be even better.
Wiggy
Thursday, August 09, 2007
To Bench or Not to Bench...
A few days ago, a thread was started over at mma.tv about Bench Pressing. The basic question (and I'm paraphrasing) the poster had was that he had seen a lot of people that claim the Bench Press was a good strength-building exercise, but he had also seen a lot of people in the fight game trash the Bench, and wanted to know if it was really a good exercise or not.
Here is what I posted:
My thoughts:
-Benching (w/a barbell) in and of itself is not a bad exercise. It is not necessarily the most "useful" exercise, as the chest doesn't (necessarily) play a large role in striking/grappling.
-Benching is not exclusively a chest exercise. Depending on your grip width and your Range of Motion, it also GREATLY bring the frontal deltoids and the triceps into play.
-Benching can wreak havoc on your rotator cuff if done too much, too heavy, and/or too long. However, you can say this about many exercises - not just Bench. You also need to make sure that you do rotator cuff prehab, and keep it strong (something a vast majority DON'T do). Also, elbow positioning can take much of the stress off the rotator cuff.
-People who say that Benching will make you inflexible are just plain mistaken. While it may not necessarily not have the greatest/longest Range of Motion, it is not responsible for you losing flexibility. Overworking the Bench, without equal amounts of work on the back's horizontal pulling muscles can result in lack of flexibility. And a lack of stretching/flexibility training is an even bigger cause of a lack of flexibility.
-Also, people who say that they lost a lot of endurance b/c they started to Bench are also mistaken. They may have lost endurance when they started Benching, but the Benching itself more than likely wasn't the reason. It was *how* (i.e. - set/rep scheme) the Benched that resulted in a lack of endurance.
-Too many people think the Bench is the measure of all that makes you a man - how good of a fighter you are, how strong you are, how well you can score with chicks, etc. And this is just plain wrong. However, as in vouge as it is in many circles to want to praise the Bench, it is just as in vouge in other circles to criticize the Bench and those who do it. It's kind of like Bodybuilding - people are either for it or against it, but either way, they're completely over the top about it.
-Benching is LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. It can be a good and integral part of an OVERALL strength, conditioning, and flexibility program. It just isn't the entire program.
Wiggy - MMA Training
My next article for MMA Weekly will discuss exercises/methods - such as the Bench Press - that are "popular" to trash or look down upon. This happens not necessarily because the exercises/methods are that bad (they might not be optimal, but they're not useless), but because it's "cool" to trash them. Examples other than the Bench Press would include curls/biceps training, certain isolation movements, and bodybuiding training.
Got anything else that you think should be on that list? Leave a comment.
Wiggy
Here is what I posted:
My thoughts:
-Benching (w/a barbell) in and of itself is not a bad exercise. It is not necessarily the most "useful" exercise, as the chest doesn't (necessarily) play a large role in striking/grappling.
-Benching is not exclusively a chest exercise. Depending on your grip width and your Range of Motion, it also GREATLY bring the frontal deltoids and the triceps into play.
-Benching can wreak havoc on your rotator cuff if done too much, too heavy, and/or too long. However, you can say this about many exercises - not just Bench. You also need to make sure that you do rotator cuff prehab, and keep it strong (something a vast majority DON'T do). Also, elbow positioning can take much of the stress off the rotator cuff.
-People who say that Benching will make you inflexible are just plain mistaken. While it may not necessarily not have the greatest/longest Range of Motion, it is not responsible for you losing flexibility. Overworking the Bench, without equal amounts of work on the back's horizontal pulling muscles can result in lack of flexibility. And a lack of stretching/flexibility training is an even bigger cause of a lack of flexibility.
-Also, people who say that they lost a lot of endurance b/c they started to Bench are also mistaken. They may have lost endurance when they started Benching, but the Benching itself more than likely wasn't the reason. It was *how* (i.e. - set/rep scheme) the Benched that resulted in a lack of endurance.
-Too many people think the Bench is the measure of all that makes you a man - how good of a fighter you are, how strong you are, how well you can score with chicks, etc. And this is just plain wrong. However, as in vouge as it is in many circles to want to praise the Bench, it is just as in vouge in other circles to criticize the Bench and those who do it. It's kind of like Bodybuilding - people are either for it or against it, but either way, they're completely over the top about it.
-Benching is LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. It can be a good and integral part of an OVERALL strength, conditioning, and flexibility program. It just isn't the entire program.
Wiggy - MMA Training
My next article for MMA Weekly will discuss exercises/methods - such as the Bench Press - that are "popular" to trash or look down upon. This happens not necessarily because the exercises/methods are that bad (they might not be optimal, but they're not useless), but because it's "cool" to trash them. Examples other than the Bench Press would include curls/biceps training, certain isolation movements, and bodybuiding training.
Got anything else that you think should be on that list? Leave a comment.
Wiggy
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