Skip to content

Blog

No Excuses – Leg Brace Doesn’t Slow Brady Down

“Excuses are like rear ends … everyone has one and they are all full of …”

 

Brady Crabtree performing a single leg kettlebell deadlift with leg braceThat was the sign above the locker room door in my college basketball locker room. Nice huh, but it did make a point. We often tell others:

people have one of two things in life: stories or results.

Like anyone else, I hate being injured, but I also look forward to the challenge and opportunity to improve something I may not have concentrated on if I wasn’t injured. After my toe surgery in the summer of 2010, my bench press strength became stronger than it had been in 10 years. (See the video below.) Our bodies have so much wisdom to share, that is, if we are patient enough to truly listen, especially when we are sick or injured. I write this post less than 2 weeks out from yet another toe surgery, one that will keep me from doing any lower body leg training for close to 3 months. What shall a guy like me do, you ask? I plan to hit my core harder than ever, improve my flexibility, balance my shoulder strength and hop in the pool with Kay Lynne to work on my lap swimming. All of these things will improve my overall athleticism (and health), and are all things I probably would not have focused on as much if I had not opted for this surgery. (Especially the swimming part, as Kay Lynne so doesn’t believe a word of the lap swimming part.)

No Excuses Training – A Tough But Great Lesson To Learn

This summer, I had the opportunity to work with a young (very) talented hockey player named Brady who has a bright future in the college (and possibly beyond) ranks … he went to a summer camp for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Team who drafted him in the spring only to be taken out in a pretty dirty play that left him with a chipped bone above his knee. This resulted in a total leg brace that ran from his ankle to his upper thigh … so what was his response to this?

That’s right, he got home from camp and we hit it that much harder the next week … here are a few videos of his No Excuses training in the weeks following his injury. He has since been released to play and due to his positive attitude, continuing work ethic and ability to see far beyond this  minor road block, will hit the ice again soon, bigger and stronger than ever, without skipping a beat.

Single Leg Dead Lift – research actually shows that strengthening the healthy arm or leg, when the other is injured and braced, benefits both limbs, due to what they call a “contra-lateral” neuromuscular effect, or some fancy sounding phrase like that. Brady mastered this move, improving his strength and balance, and immediately began performing this on both legs when he was allowed to go without the brace.

Read More »No Excuses – Leg Brace Doesn’t Slow Brady Down

Repetition vs. Repetitions: Training Youth Athletes (Re-Post)

Scott and Dave hitting some kettlebell loaded get up sit ups
Turkish get ups and similar patterns are excellent examples of prioritizing repetition over repetitions.

This (re-)post is for the Fitness & Performance Coaches in the room, especially if you work with youth athletes, though everyone benefits from repetition. Read and consider, as we should be discussing with our clients the ideas of self-mastery, not perfection, but challenging ourselves and our clients to improve abilities and skills. It’s not about back barbell squatting your body weight in pounds, but instead, doing a body weight squat perfectly to a 12″ box, first and foremost, and most cannot do this. Consider the difference, in that it therefore isn’t about doing 3 sets of 12 reps, but rather, doing enough repetition of the movement and appropriate corrective strategies until the skill and movement pattern is improved.

 
We work with so many people to un-learn faulty movement patterns they have developed over the decades, that any time we, as professionals have a chance to work with the youth, we are obligated to do everything we can to promote a durable, functionally balanced athlete for their current sport and future well being. This, by the way, is the inspiration behind James Harris and I creating a Core & Durability SOLUTIONS for Youth Hockey Athletes DVD (coming out soon.)
 
 I had to repost this below as I agree with the premise 100%. Let me know what you think below … it was posted originally on Mike Boyle’s StrengthCoach.com. But I digress … Read More »Repetition vs. Repetitions: Training Youth Athletes (Re-Post)

Chin Up – Kettlebell Swing (Metabolic Video of the Week)

Try this only if you want burn some serious calories in a very short amount of time …

This is a popular circuit in the metabolic-strength training circles … so I thought I would high light it here … (if you have not attempted a Rubber Band Assisted Chin Up yet, ask your coach … everyone likes ’em after they try them.)

“Supersetting” two exercises is one of the most effective modes of improving strength and burning calories … the idea is to do one exercise immediately followed by another, rest 30-90 sec, and repeat 2-5+ times. The combinations of exercises usually look something like this:

  • Upper Body (push up, chin, cable row) followed by a Lower Body (squat or lunge)
  • Pressing Exercise (push up, dumbbell press, triceps press down) followed by a Pulling Exercise (chin up, cable pull down, biceps curl)
  • Total Body Strength followed by a Core Exercise (plank hold)
  • Upper Body Strength followed by a Total Body Press or Pull (as in the example below:

In the videos below, you can see examples of Scott and Becky doing a wicked superset including:

  • Kettlebell Swing – hitting the entire body, notably the core, glutes and hamstrings
  • Chin Up – hitting the abs, biceps and upper back

Note that the entire body is being blasted here in a short amount of time, and the cardiovascular benefits are incredible, as this is the perfect combination of strength and endurance training. Read More »Chin Up – Kettlebell Swing (Metabolic Video of the Week)

Javelin Press Complex – Shoulders, Core and More!

It’s All About Efficiency Baby!

Dave Reddy recommends the Javelin Press for grip strength, shoulder stability and a rock solid core … weight management … athletic performance … living with intention.

These three things all go hand in hand, they are inseparable. Train like an athlete and you will increase your chances of managing your weight (you don’t see too many overweight athletes walking around, right?) Train with purpose, that is, live and train with specific intent. Athletes need to spend most of their time improving their sport’s skills, so they must be efficient in the weight room, performing the most functionally sound, bang for your buck exercises they can. Athletes do not change things up every other day simply to prevent boredom. Instead, they stick to and master the basics.

Just as in weight management, our training is not the means to the end, it is the complement to our nutrition and the catalyst for developing a stronger, more energetic body that is meant for so much more than remaining on a diet forever. People, we gots things to do in life, so in similar fashion to an athlete, set your goals, define your purpose, write down your plan, and then get after it!

When developing your training routine, whether for weight loss or athletic performance, choose exercises where you are producing strength and power with the entire body. This burns the most calories, and creates the biggest hormonal response resulting in increased fat loss. The Javelin Press Routines below are perfect for just that!Read More »Javelin Press Complex – Shoulders, Core and More!

Mayfield To NY Islanders in NHL 2nd Round Draft (Training Pics & More)

Scott Mayfield ripping out a mean set of dumbbell pressesIn the fall of 2008, Webster Groves Hockey Coach Dave Garth asked me to work with his team. One thing I really enjoy as a strength coach working with a team is early on having no idea how any of the athletes perform on the  playing field. I only know them in the weight room, and I prefer it that way. I go into the job knowing I can coach them to become stronger and better athletes, regardless of where that athleticism will translate into performance on the basketball court, soccer field, or in this case, the ice rink. I walk into the weight room and give my initial talk to the team, and then wait to see which athletes really grasp the idea and work ethic required in the off-season to make real improvements entering each new season.

I remember coming home one night after a team workout and saying to Tara, “hun, I have no idea how good of a hockey player this Scott kid is, but man he is fun to work with. He just gets it, he asks the best questions, and really wants to get better at every skill and challenge I throw at him.”

Turns out, at the time, Scott was maybe the 2nd, if not the 3rd or 4th most talented player on the team, but that was before his sophomore year in high school. By year’s end he was receiving national recognition. After continuallly improving, and taking advantage of every opportunity he had in the following years, it all culminated when he was picked 34th (2nd round) in the National Hockey League draft a few weeks ago on June 25th.Read More »Mayfield To NY Islanders in NHL 2nd Round Draft (Training Pics & More)