I didn’t have time to post last week so this is actually “good reads for the fortnight.” Lots of great stuff out lately. Amazing podcasts, great articles, videos, and blogposts. Keep up the great work fitness community!
Bret Contreras Articles
2. Here’s Part I of a S & C Coaches Roundtable that I did with Jim Kielbaso on his Ultimate Strength& Conditioning site. This was a great roundtable! The best part is that it included expertise from actual strength coaches (not just posers like me). For the entire article, you can sign up for a free 7-day trial on the site and access the entire roundtable by clicking here. There’s a lot of great information on this site for strength coaches. I’ve spoken to Jim on the phone and find him to be extremely intelligent and well-versed. I highly recommend that you check out this site.
3. This is a guest-blog I did for Tony Gentilcore – I might have gone a bit overboard 🙂 I just don’t like when people dis on certain exercises, especially the mighty squat! Here’s part I and here is part II.
4. Here’s a free PDF of a Men’s Health article that I (along with many other great coaches) was featured in. Check out the single leg hip thrust on page 154 and mention of my name on page 155. This is the first time my name has appeared in Men’s Health so I’m pretty excited about it.
New Blogs
Article of the Week
1. Smitty – Hamstring Training. Smitty re-engineers the glute ham developer to give the exercise constant tension on the hammies. If you don’t realize how great of an idea this is then you are a silly jackass! Smitty just made a great exercise much better, which requires innovation. Seriously, I’ve been doing both variations all week long and there is just no comparison. The constant tension glute ham raise rocks! Manufacturers take notes.
Honorable Mentions
1. Frontal Plane Instability by Jeff Cubos – Jeff does a great job of discussing research behind Valgus Collapse, and describes the trends employed over the years. I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic lately and have some of the same thoughts as Jeff.
2. Martin Berkhan Throws Down Some Serious Knowledge in this Myth-Busting Article
3. Goldilocks Variables by Mike Young. This is a Great Read!
4. Nick Tumminello shows the Push-Back Push-Up Exercise
5. Free Video by Mike Robertson on Single Leg Training
6. Awesome Craig Liebenson article – Can Speed be Trained?
Video of the Week
1. Chinese Gymnastics – Simply Amazing!
Podcasts
1. StrengthCoach Podcast With Dr. Mark Cheng
2. Fitcast: JFassBiceps.com – Fitcast is Always Fun and Informative!!! Sometimes I feel like Kevin, Jonathan, and Leigh are my siblings, and that Kevin, Leigh, and I just don’t have the heart to tell Jon that he was adopted and isn’t our real brother.
3. Stop Chasing Pain Podcast with Dewey Nielsen
4. More Fitcast – Great stuff as usual!
5. Awesome Strength Coach Podcast with Ben Shear and Jeff Banaszak!
6. Stop Chasing Pain with Eric Cressey
7. Superhuman Radio with Joe Dowdell
8. Superhuman Radio with Brooks Kubik (author of one of my favorite strength training books of all time – Dinosaur Training)
9. Superhuman Radio with Mike Mahler
10. Yet another Fitcast – this one with Nick Tumminello. This is a Great Listen! Nick, Kev, JFass, and Leigh kick around some serious knowledge on this one
11. Superhuman Radio – Peter Rouse on the Core
12. In the Trenches Fitness with Lee Taft
Events
1. World Massage Conference Nov. 15
2. NSCA Southwest Regional Clinic (Patrick “P-Dub” Ward is presenting on Stress)
3. Pavel Tsatsouline KB Workshop in La Jolla Jan. 11
4. NSCA Coaches Conference in Dallas Jan. 7-8
5. Juan Carlos Santana Webinar Nov. 17 on Metabolic Training
6. Accelerated Strength Seminar Nov. 13 in New Hampshire
More Good Reads/Views
1. The Paleo Diet – Fad, Religion, or Solution by Leigh Peele
2. Weighted Carries by Craig Weller (Wannabebig Article)
4. Six concussion myths by Men’s Health
5. Lee Taft on What We’ll Look Like in 40 Years
6. Carl Valle offers training templates through his Valencia Project
7. Types of Muscle Contractions by Rob Orr
8. Awesome Gray Cook video on Chapter 2 of his new book Movement
9. Great Lyle McDonald article on Hypertrophy (Categories of Weight Training part III)
10. Breathe Better by Core Performance
11. Good article on Cholesterol by Jonny Bowden
12. Vern Gambetta on Highlight Play Syndrome
13. Nia Shanks wants some videos of beautiful badasses (women training hard). Send in some clips if you’ve got the juevos!
14. Core Performance Exercise of the Day – Knee Hug to Forward Lunge – Elbow to Instep
15. Chris Beardsley on Anaerobic Respiration (Energy Systems Part II)
16. Mark Young Learns 24 Things in 34 Years (he’s actually serious…in thirty-four years my friend Mark Young has only learned 24 things…he’s kinda dumb!
17. Great Article/Slideshow by Core Performance – 7 Foods to Stop Freaking Out About
18. Nick Winkleman: Train Movements, Not Muscles
19. Chris Beardsley – Book Review – Scrawny to Brawny
20. Hilarious as usual Tony Gentilcore blogpost on Deadlifting
21. Dewey Nielsen Showing the Sandbell Single Leg Squat
22. I stumbled upon this Youtube video with Bas Ruten. Years ago my friend lent me the actual Lethal Street Fighting DVD that Bas made and it was amazing. I freakin’ love Bas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3K-mrlYG7Y&feature=player_embedded
23. Recent Mike Reinhold Newsletter. Sign up Mike always puts out great stuff!
24. Bodybuilder Cedric McMillan trains his chest
25. Seven Steps to Youth Programming by Brian Grasso on Eric Cressey’s Site
26. Carl Valle on Heavy Sleds
27. Mike Reinold gives us a new stretch for the Pec Minor
28. Cressey Performance gets a new mascot – Tank!
29. Rear-Foot Elevated “Speed Skater” Squats by Ben Bruno
30. Be Strong and Be Real by Aaron Schwenzfeier
31. The Right Way, The Wrong Way, and The Best Way by John Izzo
32. Plank with Arm Lift by Core Performance
33. Top Ten Lyle McDonald Articles by Chris Beardsley
34. Six Muscle Building Exercises
35. Random Thoughts by Leigh Peele
36. TRX Lower Body Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdgBgsI14A4&feature=player_embedded#!
37. Vern Gambetta on Quick Fixes and Crash Programs
38. Great Links from Chris Beardsley
39. Burpees with Push Up by Core Performance
40. Aaron Schwenzfeier on Pogo-Hops
41. Metabolic Overcompensation by Mike Roussell
42. Great Read by Tracy Fober on the Shoulder
43. Mike Mahler on Why We Make Mistakes
44. JCD on Counting Calories
45. How to Stop Procrastinating by Leigh Peele
46. Don’t Forget to Breathe by Peter Baker
48. Spilling the “Beans” by Marco Sanchez
49. How Kevin Carr Increased His Vert
50. Rethinking Core Training by Jason Shea
51. Dan John imparting wisdom in a T-Nation article
52. Greatest “Fail” ever….I put fail in quotations because this is a “Win” in my book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk8KWmWePRs&feature=player_embedded
53. Best Abs Workout from Men’s Health (cool little video with Joe Dowdell and Adam Bornstein)
54. Perfect Butt Workout? Sorry Zuzana, I think you’re beautiful, sincere, and you have a sexy accent, but The Glute Guy rates this butt workout a 6. I like that you’re using sandbags but I could create a much better workout with just bodyweight and sandbags. It’s still fun watching you train!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfkqgweIm_4
55. Free Functional Movement Screen (FMS) PDF
56. Strong and Balanced Arms by Charles Poliquin
57. Charlie Weingroff gives a Joint-by-Joint Quiz
58. Eric Cressey shows a Bulgarian Split Squat from a Deficit
59. Eric Cressey talks about the Importance of Manual Therapy for the Adductors
61. Five Things Mike Reinhold wished he’d Done Earlier in his Career Part I and Part II
62. Charlie Weingroff discusses pain in the Shoulder Mobility Screen
63. Ben Bruno Provides 18 Great Youtube videos for your Viewing Pleasure
64. Charlie Weingroff discusses the FMS to Valgus Collapse
65. Charlie Weingroff discusses Snapping Hip Scenario
66. Arnold Secrets to Success Part I and II
67. This is cool, Leigh Peele renovates her workout room into a dance room. I hear that John Fass is currently doing the same thing to his bedroom.
68. Random stuff with Kevin Carr
69. Eric Moss on Combining Kettlebell Exercises
70. Great read by Bryan Krahn on the Essential Six
72. Common Sense is not too Common by Dewey Nielsen
73. Is it Safe to Heat Food in Plastic?
74. USA Today article shows bootcamps and strength training as top fitness trends
75. Ben Bruno – Weighted Feet Elevated One Arm Inverted Rows
76. Charlie Weingroff – It’s the Victim that Complains (shin splints, etc.)
77. Great Tony Gentilcore article on how to not be a sucky trainer
78. Brad Pilon on Intermittent Fasting on Jason Ferruggia’s Site
79. Mike Robertson on Developing Your Foundation
80. Great Read by Tony Gentilcore on Whether or Not you Should Wear Orthotics
81. Cool Video of Guys Working Out at a Gym in Congo, Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y20ZlWrHO4A&feature=player_embedded#!
82. Two Great Videos By Joel Jamieson on Explosive Power. Here’s Video One and here is Video Two.
83. Bryan Krahn on Bulking
84. Ben Bruno – Reverse Lunges from a Deficit
85. Bryan Krahn on Sleep (guest blog for Tony Gentilcore)
86. Coach Kevin Carr workout of the week
87. Eric Cressey on Unstable Ankles and High-Tops
88. Exercising in the Heat may improve Performance in cool and hot conditions (Science Daily)
89. Cool Feldenkrais Video – This looks strikingly similar to a lot of stuff the PT’s advocate these days.
90. Five Minute Shoulder Mobility Warm up by Diesel Crew
91. Great Article by Leigh Peele on How to Hire a Personal Trainer
92. Matt Perryman on Whether or Not we Should be “Keeping it Real”
93. Some Strong Ass Glutes!
94. Do “Power Balance Bracelets” Work? Hell No Says Chris Stankovich. Also Check out this Pubmed Abstract. And this Jeff Cubos Blog.
95. Random Thoughts by Justin Levine
96. Bunny Ears
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSjGjzLapgA&feature=player_embedded
97. Random Thoughts by Ben Bruno
98. Valerie Waters Interviews Joe Dowdell
99. What Limits Performance?
100. Charlie Weingroff reviews the book “Movement”
102. Marcin Dolega
103. How to Develop Killer Speed by Dean Somerset
104. Motivational Story from Ben Bruno
105. Random Thoughts from Eric Cressey
106. How to Improve Your Push Up by Mike Robertson
107. The No Excuses Guide to Getting Things Done by Roger Law
108. Christmas Give-Aways from Mark Young
109. Awesome Blog by My Main-Man Keats Snideman on Training the Master’s Sprinter. I Love When Coaches Put Up Videos of Their Clients’ Workouts. Shows They’re the Real-Deal.
110. Great Blog by Jason Ferruggia on Minimalism
111. Ten Things to Work on by Jeremy Frisch – Great Read
112. PDF of ACSM’s Current Comments on Explosive Exercise
113. Seven Single Leg Squat Variations by Ben Bruno on Diesel Crew Site
114. Dewey Nielsen Shows the Sandbell Bodysaw
115. Vern Gambetta Throws Down Some Knowledge
116. Five Ways to Promote Behavior Changes in Your Clients by Kevin Carr
117. Great Wannabebig Article by Mark Young on Unilateral Hip Dominant Exercise (this is Part 2…Part I was on Unilateral Knee Dominant Exercise)
118. Great Tip from Mike Boyle on Converting VHS Tapes
119. Good Shoulder Workout Tips from Adam Bornstein
120. Metabolic Flexibility by Mike T. Nelson
121. A Monstrous Back by John Meadows (TNation)
122. Twenty Things Gary Arndt Has Learned From His Travels on Timothy Ferris’ Site (this is a good read!)
123. PJ Striet gives a “Kitchen Sink” Template
124. Great Short Blog by Aaron Schwenzfeier on “Coaching Assumptions”
125. Dr. John Berardi Interview: Food and Mood
126. Carl Valle Provides a Good Tip on How to Make Camera Stabilizers
127. Chris Beardsley on Skeletal Adaptations to Training (this is a great series by Chris)
128. Martin Rooney Travels the World to Show Us Cool Training Tips – This One’s on Explosive Kettlebell Slams
129. Carl Valle on Corrective Interventions
130. Peter Baker discusses Biofeedback Training
131. Mladen Jovanovic on Sport Form
132. Hilarious Video – Massage Therapist for Models
133. Hamstrings, Suboccipitals, and Running Speed by Carson Boddicker
134. Great Vern Gambetta blog on Growing and Learning
135. Amazing Article by Jim Wendler on 5/3/1
136. Tim Eagerton posts a Video on the Front Squat
137. Dean Somerset Interviews Tony Gentilcore
138. Tom Venuto on the See-Food, Reach-Food Diet
139. JRod Heavy TRX Row
140. Awesome Video of Kevin Neeld on the Skating Treadmill
141. Men’s Health – Is Your Office Chair Killing You?
142. Badass Exercise – The One Arm Floor Press with Martin Rooney (from Denmark)
143. Educainment from Mike Scott
144. Top Ten Diesel Crew Articles by Chris Beardsley
145. Sweet Spot in Sprinting by Carl Valle
146. Fundamental Disconnect by Vern Gambetta
147. Random Thoughts by Kevin Neeld
148. Guy Hornsby – the Sport-Scientist Relationship
149. Sean Skahan on the TRX Lateral Line
150. Great blog by Kevin Larrabee on Bodyweight Exercises that will Humble You
151. Workout Stuff from Ben Bruno
152. Survival of the Sexiest by Eric Moss
154. Mediterranean Diet Great for Cholesterol
155. Stuff to Read by Tony Gentilcore
156. Awesome Eric Cressey Blog About Finding Your Niche
157. Charlie Weingroff Addresses Sports Hernia Rehab
158. Chinese Lifters at the 2008 Arnold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_jxTc2ITA8&feature=player_embedded#!
159. The 25-Rep Rule by Sean Hyson
161. Medball Rotational Throws by Stack Magazine
162. Consequences of Adult Inactivity by John Izzo
163. Great Links from Chris Beardsley
164. A Day with Tom Myers by Mike Reinhold
165. Trail Leg Development by Carl Valle
166. Can We Starve Cancer? Great Vid on Robbie Bourke’s Site
167. Stretch Out with Mark Reifkind
168. Anatomy Trains Introduction
169. Rock Solid Abs by Men’s Health
170. Athlete-Centered Training by Vern Gambetta
171. Six Exercise Machines to Avoid by Men’s Health
172. Master the Overhead Squat by Core Performance
173. Half Truths and Lies by Vern Gambetta
174. Master the Kettlebell Swing by Men’s Health
175. Motor Learning and Practice Part I and II by Mike Scott
176. Educainment by Mike Scott
177. Carl Valle on Medballs
178. Zach Even-Esh Gives an Arnold Video
179. Trainers Who Actually Train People by John Izzo
180. Mike Reinold on Soft-Tissue Adhesions
181. The Hard Work vs. Talent Revelation in Training by Martin Rooney
182. The Power of Influence with Zach Even-Esh
183. Lee Boyce on Quick Fixes for Problem Muscles
184. The Texas Method with Mark Rippetoe
185. Are Some Calories More Fattening than Others?
186. PJ Striet on Tabata and HIIT
187. Tighter Glutes by Bill Hartmann in Men’s Health
189. Good Read from Mike Scott on Rest
190. Vern Gambetta on the Yin and Yang of Training
191. MSNBC – Marathon Runners – Avoid Hitting a Wall
192. Great Tony Gentilcore Blog on Bulking
193. Ben Bruno – Vids for Your Viewing Pleasure – These are Great!
194. Minimalism Part II by Jason Ferruggia – I always love Jason’s stuff
195. Shoulder-Savers/Alternative Movements by JCD
196. Citadel Track & Field Strength Training
197. TC Luoma – Nutsack-Rated Nutrition (hilarious)
198. Build Muscle & Lose Fat Simultaneously by Kelly Baggett
199. Interview with Patrick Ward on Swimming Science
200. Postural Analysis and Program Design by Dana Cavalea
201. Olympic Lifting Considerations by Trey Potter
202. Chaotic Sled Dragging by Smitty
203. Jim Kielbaso Combine Training (Great Vid!!!)
204. Great Read on StrengthCoach.com (pay site) on Trying Something before Formulating an Opinion
205. Heavy Deadlifting!
206. Random Thoughts by Ben Bruno
207. Are You Too Committed by Tony Gentilcore
208. Random Stuff by Kevin Carr
209. The Momentum of Perspective by Gray Cook
210. Good Q & A on Mike Scott’s Site
211. Joe Dowdell Trains Vitor Shaolin
212. Awesome Motivational Video on Mike T. Nelson’s Site. Definitely Worth Watching!
213. Reasons to Go Deep by Ben Bruno
214. How Amanda Latona Gets her Heavenly Glutes
Research
1. Cool New Study on Exercise-Induced Increases in hGH and Testosterone and Their Impact on Hypertrophy
2. Why it’s Okay to Take Fish Oil with Protein Shake
3. Dr. Ralph Carpinelli Challenges the ACSM Position-Stand on Resistance Training
4. What’s New in Orthopaedic Research? I don’t understand most of this but it looks very intriguing!
5. Anabolic Edge by Dr. Jose Antonio
7. Thirty-Thousand Year-Old Evidence of Plant Food Processing
8. Response to Weight Training is Very Genetic. Click Here and Here.
Encyclopedia Bretannica.
I like that!
Man, did I miss this last week! Thanks again and love the guest blog on Tony G. No, I don’t think you went overboard! She pissed me off too!
Take care,
Jackson
Thank you Jackson!
Bret–you are the man. I get so busy sometimes I can’t keep up on the latest and greatest—thanks man!
Great reads for sure!
Mike
I appreciate that Mike!
#54. boooooooo…. she will kick jamieeason.com’s ass everyday and twice on Sunday!
TR – Don’t’ get me wrong, Zuzana trains very hard and is in great shape! It’s just that she obviously doesn’t know how to put together the best glute-shaping program. I’d pay money to watch her fight Jamie! Sorry – I got creepy there for a second.
Hey Bret
I’m a big fan of the blog, you do some great work!
I was wondering if you could recommend any books on the topic of biomechanics? I would like to expand my knowledge of this area, and wondered what sources you recommend?
Thanks for the help
Paddy, I have around five different Biomechanics textbooks and they’re all lacking in certain areas. I think the best for beginners would be Basic Biomechanics by Hall.
Bas Rutten knows how to fight, but his philosophy needs a counter-view.
Can I recommend people have a look at Tim Larkin. He argues that there are two types of violence – antisocial violence (someone is eager to fight or humiliate you) and asocial violence (someone is committed to killing you).
1. Always avoid the former – people get killed hitting their heads on the floor, etc. fighting for stupid reasons (see Bas’s example of someone insulting his wife). It’s also an easy way to end up in jail where you may well encounter asocial violence.
2. Always go all the way in the latter (otherwise you will be killed).
Bret, I realize probably not the best place to ask but where would you put weighted barbell hip thrusts for a person following 5-3-1? Thanks, Jeff.
PS. Lot of great reads here, appreciate your dedication for passing the knowledge along.
Jeff, just consider them an auxiliary lift and plug them in where Jim recommends doing them. So work them in on either your squat or deadlift day for medium to high reps.
Thanks for the post Bret. That must have taken you hours to prepare! Appreciate the time.
Jon Kawamoto from StrongerRunner.com
Thanks for the mention, buddy!
You’re very welcome Carson! Keep putting out the good stuff.