One of the most dangerous principles behind modern bodybuilding in particular, and the training world in general, is the strategy of trying to build a physique as a collection of many small individual parts, not just specific body parts, but specific aspects of each part.
The “lots of pieces” approach does work for the small minority of people who have very responsive bodies and unusually robust joints, but it does not work for the great majority of trainees. Very young adults may appear to be able to perform many hostile exercises without apparent damage, but the joint trauma accumulates and in time will take its toll.
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Get a grip
You’re only as strong as your weakest link. And if that link is your grip, you’ll never lift the bigger weights essential to building an awe-inspiring physique. Need more incentive? A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that, among healthy 45 to 68-year-old men, hand-grip strength was “highly predictive of functional limitations and disability 25 years later”. Power up your handshake to lift bigger and stay healthy for longer with these moves.
Bottoms up
During normal kettlebell work, the bell will usually rest on the outside of the forearm with the wrist cocked and held close to the body. For this move you balance the bell above the fist and contract the musculature on that side of the body to prevent the bell from falling. “A few overhead presses and you’ll soon discover what grip work is all about.” Read the rest of this entry »
Perform the following routine prior to every upper body workout. The movements will activate the muscles in your shoulders, back, chest, and arms, which helps you lift more weight and prevent injury. The exercises should take no more than 10 minutes.
Pushup Circuit
Complete one set of 5 to 10 reps of each pushup version listed below. After each set rest 10 to 20 seconds and then continue on to the next exercise. Use the higher number of reps if you’ve been resistance training for more at least 1 to 2 years.
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Posted in Fitness
Ever wondered if it’s possible to have that Action Man physique, along with workhorse cardio? Well, the answer is yes. The two can even be complimentary – good aerobic fitness can enhance your recovery time by promoting blood-flow and oxygen to your muscles, which is essential for muscle growth.
Being stacked and having a good aerobic capacity is especially important for people who play contact sports such as rugby as they need to have the weight to take the contact and the lung-power to last the full length of the game. There are three key areas you must get right; weight training, cardio training and nutrition. Read the rest of this entry »