There is a big difference between swinging a kettlebell around and executing a powerful kettlebell swing. The first is common with kettlebell beginners who often start by mimicking what they think they are supposed to do. But learning where and how to focus their efforts, and what that power feels like, well, it leads to …
Two Swing Cues to Unlock your Power, Posture, and Athleticism Read More »
A press is like an iceberg—there’s a lot going on underneath the surface. What can you learn from failure? A lot. Especially when it comes to dialing in a heavy press. Used wisely, failure helps you focus on improving your skill by looking at all the parts that feed success. One man shares seven pressing …
7 Tips to Improve your Heavy Press (Learned from my Failure) Read More »
Dr. Stu McGill joins the show for a second time to talk about breathing and when to use what kind of breathing. Dr. McGill also talks to your host Craig Marker about picking up odd objects, wedging, and getting strong with power breathing.
Want to forge an iron grip that lasts (which can be one of the quickest ways to improve your deadlift, pull-ups, and snatches)? Improve your press and squat groove? Challenge your midsection? Train pesky and often cranky shoulder stabilizers? Then bottoms-up work could be the movement prescription that your training program needs. The kettlebell is …
Regardless of their sport, high-level athletes have an astonishing ‘gift’ of making the most complex moves look easy. How? With years of practice. Learning how to balance and coordinate internal forces to deliver, or access, the power, strength, agility, and quickness they need at the exact right moment for ultimate performance. And that comes from …
StrongFirst Podcast Episode #20 Summary Professor Carmen Bott is a strength and conditioning coach from Vancouver, British Columbia who specializes in physical preparation for combative and collision sports athletes. Show Notes 00:56 – Coach Bott talks about her history and how she got into the sports science space. 02:41 – Coach Bott’s thesis on …
How do you go from pressing 28kg to 48kg? At under 80kg bodyweight? With a technique-solidifying, base-building, high-volume press plan followed by a strategic peaking effort. But to develop a successful strength program, you need to understand programming fundamentals and your individual training parameters. Here’s how Myren Fu, StrongFirst Certified Team Leader and StrongFirst Elite, …
My Journey to the Beast: Pressing a 48kg Kettlebell Read More »
StrongFirst Podcast Episode #19 Summary StrongFirst Master Instructor Peter Lakatos from Budapest, Hungary talks with your host Dr. Craig Marker about training that relates to hormesis. He discusses training related to Buteyko breathing, blood flow restriction, HRV training, fasting, and red light therapy. Show Notes 01:35 — Peter talks about handball and his background in …
Why does exercise make us healthier? One of the most important linkages may be due to improving our mitochondrial functioning. Healthier mitochondria may be the route to living better, healthier lives, while also being better in our sport or work. This article is the first in a series breaking down current research and how you …
Research Breakdown: Why Does Exercise Make us Healthier? Read More »
StrongFirst Podcast Episode #18 Summary Dr. Jimmy Yuan is a chiropractor balancing the world between medical rehabilitation and sports training. Dr. Yuan trains professional golfers, MLB, NFL, NBA, and college athletes. In addition to being a StrongFirst Team Leader, he is a Titleist Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and FMS Instructor. In this episode, Dr. Yuan …