Posts categorized in:
Coaching
5 Lessons to Teach Young Athletes
The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, as I’ve been on the floor a bunch and coaching some really fun athletes. As a result, I’ve also been reflecting on some of the lessons I’ve tried to teach my young athletes along the way. Each and every kid is a little bit different, and […]
Continue ReadingLats: Friend or Foe?
The lats are an often revered muscle group. Most guys are all about getting that “V-taper” and looking jacked. For women, there’s something incredibly empowering about being about to move their own bodyweight. As such, we have tons of women coming into IFAST who have a goal to do a chin-up. But are the lats […]
Continue ReadingStop Missing Lifts!
Spring 2001 Ball State University Powerlifting Practice One of my favorite guys on the powerlifting team is having a rough go at it. He’s in what he calls a “squatting slump” and he’s bound and determined to work his way out of it. We’re less than 1 month out from Collegiate Nationals; now is not […]
Continue ReadingDo You NEED Corrective Exercises?
Note from MR: Dean Somerset is a guy I truly respect. Not only is he a great writer, but he knows corrective exercise as well as anyone I know. Dean is getting ready to launch his Post Rehab Essentials 2.0, and I thought you’d like to hear his thoughts on corrective exercise in this short […]
Continue ReadingAdding Corrective Exercise to Your Large Group Personal Training Program
Note from MR: Steve Long and Jared Woolever are two guys I have mentored for years in the fitness industry. Not only are they great guys, but they are doing amazing things for people who work in large group settings. If you work in a large group setting, or have considered doing it in the […]
Continue Reading5 Factors for Success
The other day, Eric Oetter and I sat down for coffee. He had been touring Europe for the previous two weeks, so it was great to get caught up on what was going in life. Towards the end, we got on the topic of continuing education, and what we were reading right now to get […]
Continue ReadingSexy Shoulder Function
(Photo courtesy of A. Blight) I get at least 8-10 e-mails per month that go something like this: “I jacked up my shoulders – what exercises can I do to keep training while working to fix the underlying issue?” The end goal for guys and gals like this is simple: Get back to hard and […]
Continue ReadingArching versus Bracing
What is a superior cue to the strength coach or trainer? “Arch” or “Brace”? After discussing this via e-mail with my good friend Wil Fleming last week, I felt it was finally time to sit down and put this blog together. A cue that we’ve all used in the past when teaching someone how to […]
Continue ReadingDeadlifts vs. Clean Pulls
How Picking Stuff Up Can Be Totally Different (Note from MR: This is a guest post from my good friend Wil Fleming. Wil is a very sharp guy and knows his stuff when it comes to O-lifting and power development, and I think you’re really going to enjoy this post!) For a long time in […]
Continue ReadingIn Pursuit of Great Coaching
(Photo Credit: Al Behrman/Associated Press) Growing up in Indiana, basketball was my first love. Whether it was watching Larry Bird highlights, shooting hoops in my gravel driveway, or find the nearest pick-up game, I loved the game and thought that someday I would grow up to be a “coach.” I was incredibly lucky in the […]
Continue ReadingThe Myth of Neutral Spine
Neutral spine is a myth. Or at least, the way we currently have this concept burned into our brains is at least a little flawed. Let me explain… When you set someone up to squat or deadlift effectively, there is most definitely a “neutral” position you want them in. I believe this is the optimal […]
Continue ReadingFloor Press
The floor press has been used by powerlifters for 20 years to build Herculean strength in the upper body. And if your goal is to bench press ridiculous weights, the floor press can be used as a supplementary lift to your bench to all new levels. In this article, we’re going to cover every facet […]
Continue ReadingRound Back Deadlifts
(Photo Courtesy of Steve Gabrielsen) The arguments for and against round back deadlifting have been around for ages. Recently, however, it seems as though the back-and-forth banter has reached epic proportions. As a result, we’re left with numerous questions: Should the average fitness enthusiast perform round back deadlifts? Are we stronger this way? Are round […]
Continue Reading4 Steps to Effectively Coaching Exercises
One of the most important things we do at IFAST is teach. It goes further than just teaching our clients; we’re convinced that teaching our interns and starting them on the path to becoming a great coach is part of what makes us great at what we do. A few weeks back, I was grilling […]
Continue ReadingSupreme Stability Training
As an industry, we love ourselves some mobility. It’s like we can’t get enough – foam rolling, static stretching, mobility drills and exercises, Yoga, Pilates, the list goes on and on. And don’t get me wrong – I fully respect the need for mobility. In fact, I’ve championed the need for mobility since at least […]
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