functional fitness Archives - Page 2 of 16

Examining The Kettlebell Clean

June 25, 2019
Brandon
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The original publishing date of this article was back on May 21, 2015.

I felt the kettlebell clean movement needed some attention and today’s article will shed some light on it. The bottom line is that you can’t perform most kettlebell lifts until you master the kettlebell clean.

This movement is a critical prerequisite to most every other lift so you want to get it right. A good set up equates to a good execution. Make sure you read and apply this to your own training.

The kettlebell clean is one of the first movements you can perform with the iron bell. This is because it is a prerequisite point of position for many other movements. I mean if you’re going to lift the kettlebell from the ground to start then you’ve got to be able to perform the clean. The thing is that there are many aspects to this lift that are missed. This results in it commonly being done wrong with many lifters.

Top 5 Fitness Movements You Should Be Doing If You’re Over 40

June 20, 2019
Brandon
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Are you over 40 years of age and looking to keep a sharp fit body?
Do you want to learn about some functional movements to give your training and health longevity?
Are you interested in building fitness and strength for the long haul?
Do you want to learn about what fitness movements will allow you to outperform most people half your age?

I often surprise people when I tell them that I’m 42 years old. I surprise them even more when they see the type of fitness movements I use for myself. This is not me trying to pat myself on the back. No, that is neither my intention, or my goal here. The point is that I know what works. I have a system that has been field tested and proven time and time again for a near 20 year career now. So for today’s article I will shed a bit of light onto this to help you.

3 Ways To Make Your Plank Exercise Effective To Avoid Bleeding Strength

June 18, 2019
Brandon
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The original publishing date of today’s article was back on July 31, 2018.

I realize this article isn’t that old, but I’ve also recently noticed a lot of people online misusing and abusing the plank exercise. The key to building strength is producing tension.

When you produce tension you create force and force is the element needed for you to produce power. The plank exercise is commonly used in your Saturday morning bootcamps, but I rarely see it done the way it should be done. Read and apply this strategy to your workouts! Make sure to share this article with friends, family, and neighbors that attend those Saturday morning bootcamps so they are aware of what they’re missing.

Do you perform the plank exercise on a regular basis?
So when performing the plank exercise do you focus on the length of time to gauge intensity?
Is your plank variation causing you to bleed power during the movement?

If you regularly include the plank exercise into your training then today I want to offer a different perspective on how you can shift your focus when utilizing this movement for strength. So one common issue with many people when performing certain strength movements is the inability to stabilize the core during certain points of physical exertion. If you’re unable to properly activate your core center then you’re going to bleed power. Thus your strength will suffer as you go to exert yourself for various movements and activities. This is why the plank exercise can be of great value. So today I want to point to three ways you can use the plank to make sure you don’t bleed strength.

6 Kettlebell Exercises You Should Be Doing

June 17, 2019
Brandon
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Are you leveraging the power of kettlebells in your fitness program?
Do you want to build a body that is functional, strong, and lean with little equipment and time?
Are you interested in learning how to develop the agility of a cat and the metabolism of a superhero?

I’m always looking forward to cycling in a day of kettlebell exercises because of the efficiency. If you think about it life is too short to waste and one thing that is certain is that efficient kettlebell movements will not waste your time. The key to optimal fitness is being able to move both frequently and efficiently. There are kettlebell exercises that will reinforce this and I want to include 6 here today you can start working to add into your training for this very reason.

Single Limb Training: Moving With Fluidity And Symmetry

June 11, 2019
Brandon
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The original publishing date of today’s article was back on March 3, 2016.

Single limb training serves a crucial role in my training programs. The key to building strength is making sure you are capable of moving uninhibited. One way to eliminate inhibition is to make sure that your training focuses on symmetry.

Single limb training plays a huge role here in helping you to develop significant symmetry enabling you to move with greater fluidity. Read and apply!

Do you taper your workouts by prioritizing the execution of bigger movements to smaller movements?
Are you regularly incorporating single limb training into your workouts?
Do you focus on developing symmetry and balance in your training?

Over the years I have always approached strength development by tapering down a day’s workout by beginning with the most demanding movements and transitioning down to performing smaller accessory work. The idea here is to build absolute strength right out of the gate…and then move on to optimally developing movement and symmetry next. In today’s article I want to shift the focus to the latter as single limb training is one great way to build that symmetry and movement.