Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. Last week was very busy as I had to give a practical presentation on Wednesday to the Master’s students on squatting, deadlifting, and corrective exercise. Then on Thursday I spoke about posterior chain strength to the SPRINZ Conference attendees. On Friday I spoke to the professional Cricket coaches about rotary training and groin injury prevention. The SPRINZ Conference is a world class event and I would love to get something of its caliber going in the United States. I can’t even begin to tell you how high-quality the information was and how intriguing some of the speakers were. Simply amazing.
Horizontal Loading
It was very nice to see so many sport and track & field strength coaches utilizing more horizontal loading in their routines. One highly successful coach showed a picture of a hip thrust variation I’d never seen (eccentric accentuated – I’ll get a video clip of this shortly) and one spoke of interesting case studies that showed dramatic results from a focus on horizontal hip strengthening. I met some very intelligent coaches, some of whom have published landmark articles that I’ve read in the past. It was nice to get a chance to speak to these guys and introduce myself. I was surprised to find that many of them read my blog. I’ve done so much reading in the past year that I could carry on very informed conversations with these folks, and I instantly hit it off with many of them – but not everyone.
Ten Months of Heavy Research has Served me Well
It’s funny how polarized some coaches can be…one expert does no strength training with his sprinters as he doesn’t believe in it. Others swear by it. I’ve never met a coach that exclusively programmed strength training and failed to incorporate sprints, sled work, plyos/ballistics, and sprint drills. I just don’t see how a coach can justify omitting strength work completely with all the available research.
Upcoming Speaking Arrangements
This weekend I’ll be speaking at Get NZ Active, and the following weekend in Australia for the FMA Conference.
Posting Videos and Audio Recordings on WordPress
I recorded my talk at the SPRINZ Conference and would like to embed it on my blog but it’s around 30 minutes long. I also have a 2-hour audio recording I’d like to embed into my blog.
I suppose I can pay extra money to be able to embed large videos and audio recordings, right? Anyone have any expertise with this?
Summer in New Zealand
While all my American friends were enjoying the summer, I was dealing with a cold and rainy winter here in Auckland. Now the weather is getting really nice. I went for a stroll on the beach the other day and snapped a pic. This is the beach that’s not even a mile away from my apartment.
This is right down the street from my place in Takapuna
America Here I Come
I’m very excited to be returning home in mid-December to mid-January to visit my family during the holidays. Being away sure makes you miss the strangest things. For example, I can’t wait to come home and pig out on Mexican food. Losbetos here I come!
This is what I'm talkin' bout right here!
How to Write a Sprint Program
Jimson Lee gives a good ten-minute presentation here on how to write a sprint program for track & field athletes.
Back-Friendly Tips for Setting Up Your Gym
Here’s Nick Tumminello giving some good advice as to how to set up your gym in a back-friendly manner.
Last Saturday’s UFC: Hendo vs. Shogun
Two words: Holy shit!
Best fight in MMA History. Okay I added five more words. These guys are ultimate warriors. The following day I was reminiscing about the fight and I couldn’t help but get a smile on my face. I suspected this fight was going to be one for the history books.
What Speed Training Really Means
This was a great article by John Gilmer on speed training.
Sports Specific Training
Here is SAPT’s take on sports-specific training. I agree with their opinion.
Serious Glute Control
This lady has some serious motor control of the gluteals. She’s got several videos, so you can surf around after this one plays. See how I provide my male readers with some eye candy under the guise of sports science? Do you think my Girls Gone Strong can do this? If not they need to start workin’ on it haha!
Kai Greene has Good Glute Control Too
I’ve written about Kai in the past but watch again as he trains his glutes. Though not quite as fun to watch as the last video, notice the posterior pelvic tilting and focus on targeting the glutes?
The Pull Through
I haven’t seen many good pull-through vids on the internet. Here’s Coach Sam Leahey showing very good hip hinging and good end range glute activation with one of his athletes.
Okay folks, that’s it for now. Hope you all have a great week! – BC
mate, that glute control video was unreal!! you just opened my eyes to a whole new world. i ended up watching booty shake vids on you tube for half an hour. ha ha.. gotta say i didn’t know if i was impressed or shocked by the Kai Greene video. i see what you are saying with the focus on the glutes but that was hypertrophy gone wild. Also was great to see Kai using the leg extension to work the glutes like that. i thought i was the only one that did that a i felt a bit stupid in the gym doing it.
I did the same!
Hi Bret, u alright buddy?
I would be interested in what you learnt from the cricket meeting. I am a fast bowler, so would like to know. I have found in the past that cricket coaches (at least in the UK) are totally behind on the strength training scene. Most will still believe that it will make you too bulky and slow. So I ended up getting most of my info from javelin coaches.
Thanks,
Jay
Hi Jay, I agree – these guys were totally behind the curve, but a great group of guys with great outlooks, eager to learn, and sincere about their athletes. So I’m sure they’ll take home a lot of what I showed them and continue to improve each year. I spent a lot of time explaining to them how groin problems aren’t just cured by strengthening or stretching the groin, and detailing a comprehensive plan of attack to increase rotary mobility, stability, and strength. Cheers!
Use Vimeo to upload your videos. You can pay a flat fee and upload big videos (up to 5 GB), plus it can come in handy for any future digital products you’re looking to release or updates to your glute guide.
Thanks Dean! Great to hear from you.
Those glutes can shake a can of paint.
If you’re uploading a 30 minute video then it’s possible to do so through Youtube: http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=71673
Crap, I’m unable to post as my videos are blocked in some countries due to the songs I use.
Bret, You live in Auckland it is not cold in Auckland at any time. If you want come cold come down to Dunedin during the winter. How can you call `15 degrees cold, and that is a minimum. Now you get to see a NZ summer though. Enjoy the swim in Takapuna beach every day while it is summer.
Keith – I’m from Phoenix, Arizona! I get cold in 15 degrees Celsius haha. Seriously back home we’ve gotten to 54 degrees Celcius (124 Farenheit) twice in my lifetime. Crazy hot in Phx in the summer. But our winters are a lot like Auckland’s. Yes, I’m enjoying summer in Takapuna. Cheers.
Hey Bret! We at SAPT appreciate the shout-out on the sport specific training; glad to hear you liked it and thanks for linking it.
Thanks Stevo! Anytime my friend.
LOL – Bet you’d love to see if the Girl’s Gone Strong can make their booties dance like that 😉 That was impressive stuff … Given how my Salsa dancing went, I’m not sure I’d have the rhythm she’s got going on HA!
My mind is still on that picture of the Mexican food!
Hope you have a great Thanks Giving in NZ 🙂