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Interview With Mike Robertson
Originally Posted On www.elitefitnesssystems.com EFS: How about the Cliff Notes version of your evolution as a strength and conditioning coach? Mike Robertson: Well, I got my Masters in Sports Biomechanics from the Human Performance Lab at Ball State University. When I was at Ball State I began powerlifting and learned the basics. I spent three […]
Continue ReadingFun With Your (Med) Balls
Originally posted on www.elitefitnesssystems.com Introduction If you’ve been training long enough, chances are that just about everything you do is routine. Possibly the worst part of having a routine is monotony and boredom, especially when it comes to warming-up; you know it’s important, but damn if it isn’t downright boring! The med ball warm-ups enclosed […]
Continue ReadingTouring Toronto: The SWIS Report
Originally posted on www.elitefitnesssystems.com Introduction – Ken Kinakin The 2005 SWIS Symposium was held at the Delta Meadowvale Hotel & Conference Center in Mississaugo, Ontario. The SWIS began on a nostalgic note with a review of some of the more colorful speakers of the past. Despite the solid lineup, year after year, the SWIS symposium […]
Continue ReadingBreaking Into The Industry
Originally Posted at www.figureathlete.com Hi, my name is Mike, and I’m an addict. I’m absolutely addicted to learning more about the human body and helping people achieve their goals. If I wasn’t, why would I spend 13 or 14 hours on any given day training people? So you think you want to get into the […]
Continue ReadingVixen Liftin’: The Comprehensive Program
Originally Posted at www.figureathlete.com I’m asked all the time about a solid training program for women. What does it look like? Should women train differently than their grunting, crotch-scratchin’ counterparts? The fact of the matter is that women don’t need to train all that differently from men with regards to sets, reps, etc. Generally, women […]
Continue ReadingThe Five Reasons You’re Not Succeeding
Originally Posted on www.figureathlete.com What’s the most important reason you hit the gym? Is it to get stronger? To shed some unwanted bodyfat? Or is it simply to look and feel great? Regardless of what your goals are, the worst thing is when you don’t see any progress. After all, the top reasons people completely […]
Continue ReadingMake the Posterior Chain Your Strongest Link
Originally Posted on www.figureathlete.com Well-developed glutes and hamstrings are a focal point for most women’s bodies. Whether the goal is to win a figure competition, to look great in a bikini, or to make the other girls at the gym jealous, a solid program will get you there faster and more effectively. And, believe it […]
Continue ReadingSexy Core Training
Originally poste at www.figureathlete.com Let’s be honest ladies, everyone reading this probably wants a sexy midsection. But are you going about it the right way? Do you know if your core stability is up to snuff? Do you really know the exercises you should, and more importantly, shouldn’t be performing? Very few people understand core […]
Continue ReadingMan With a Plan: Part I
First published at www.johnberardi.com, Oct 6 2003. Introduction I’m sure you’ve read all the headlines in the magazines before: The ULTIMATE shoulder training routine, Put 50 pounds on your bench press in 8 weeks, etc. I would also be willing to guess that many of you have tried these programs before and followed them day-by-day, […]
Continue ReadingMan with a plan: Part II
First published at www.johnberardi.com, Oct 20 2003. The Program Hopefully, after the first article, you have taken the time to thoroughly evaluate your training or physique status. I hope you have also taken the steps to determine your weaknesses, goals, and an action plan to help you achieve your goals. Now is the time to […]
Continue ReadingMan With a Plan: Part III
First published at www.johnberardi.com, Nov 3 2003. Making a Good Program Better In the second installment of our series, you should have gotten a fairly good idea of how to set-up a training program with your specific goals in mind. However, it’s very hard to explain all the different possibilities. You will notice that while […]
Continue ReadingMan With a Plan: Training Template
Training Template In part I, part II and part III of the Man with a Plan series, Mike walks you through the training program design process. Here he provides a simple but effective template that you can use to structure your own programs. Option 1: Antagonist Muscle Pairing (Same Day) Exercise Sets/Reps Rest (sec) Weight […]
Continue ReadingHow to Improve the Wide Stance Squat
Squatting…like it or not, you just have to do it if you are serious about getting strong! There are two main ways of squatting today; one being the high bar, narrow stance squat (Olympic squat), and the other being a wide-stance, low bar squat (Powerlifting or Power squat). While they are in essence the same […]
Continue ReadingHow to Improve the Sumo Deadlift
There is a common phrase in powerlifting circles that states, The meet doesn’t start until the bar hits the floor. I’m not sure if that’s entirely true, but I do know that the deadlift is your last chance to move up in the standings. There are two major forms of the deadlift used in competition: […]
Continue ReadingBiomechanics and the Bench Press
How many times since you’ve been going to the gym have you heard, “Dude, how much can you BENCH?” If you’ve been training for a while, I would venture to guess quite a few. Big bench pressers are always highly revered, especially because someone with a massive bench can inspire everyone, not just powerlifters. To […]
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