There's no need to go out and buy a ton of equipment when a simple sledge hammer can get the job done! Okay. I'm not saying that conventional weight training equipment has no value. Of course it does, but there's something to be said for this type of training as well! Sledge hammer training has been adapted from Macebell training. That's an acient form of training by Indian wrestlers and athletes. It works amazingly well. In the old days Macebells were made of a concrete ball with a wooden handle, but nowadays they can be bought all steel. However, they…
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SLEDGE HAMMER TRAINING
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USE YOUR TRAMPOLINE LIKE THIS!
Many people own a trampoline, but might not know the best way to use it. In ttoday's video, I'll go over exactly how to do that. The first thing to know is that there are two primary ways to use the trampoline. One is by jumping for height and the other is by staying at apporximately the same height and trying to push your feet through the surface of the trampoline. The second method will actually give you a better workout, but both methods have value and both should be incorporated. I should also mention that trampoline jumping is my…
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MARTIAL FITNESS CIRCUIT
This is a circuit workout I did that trains strength, fitness, endurance, as well as some martial arts specific movements. It can be done at home or at a gym or even outdoors at a playground. The only equipment needed is either a chinup bar or something you can hang onto. Even two chairs with a broomstick across can work. A ton of equipment is not needed to get a good workout. Effort is all that's needed! GIve this workout a try. And if you need to modify anything, just send me a message and I'll help you out!
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KEYS TO BUILDING MUSCLE MASS
Building muscle mass is something that often eludes people. With so much information out there online, from friends, etc. it's very difficult to know what to do. I guess it's times like these that I'm glad I grew up and started training long before the existence of the internet. Back in the 80s when I was a teenager starting to workout, it was really very simple. You read magazines, books, or you had a coach. Luckily I had all three. And at that time, people writing books or magazines were trusted authorities who knew their stuff. Some of the garbage…
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HIIT CIRCUIT WORKOUT
Many people talk about HIIT training nowadays and for good reason. Not only is it super effective for both Cardio and Strength Training, but your body remains in fat burning mode for an extended period of time due to what's commonly referred to as the Afterburn Effect. Here's a HIIT workout for you combining weights with bodyweight only exercises. The only equipment needed for this workout is dumbbells. I used a kettlebell for one of the exercises but that can be done with dumbbells as well. Do each exercise with as little rest between as possible and a total of two…
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DON'T BOUNCE IT, PAUSE IT!
One common problem people have when training with weights or even bodyweight exercises, is they tend to bounce the weight or somehow use momentum in the exercise. It may feel good for the ego to lift more weight, but you're not doing much to stimulate quality muscle growth. And on top of that, you're risking injury. One of the most important things I learned from Powerlifting was that you need to control the weight properly at all times. Judging is very strict at Powerlifting meets and any kind of bouncing or lack of control is grounds for a red light.…
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MY PERSONAL WORKOUT PROGRAM
I've been asked recently by several people what my personal strength and conditioning workout routine is, so that's what we're going to cover today. Although I post a lot of videos and it may seem like I workout every day, I don't. I often film several videos in one day and then post them over different days. Having recovery time is important as well as maintaining balance in your life. Working out is a part of your life, but you can't let it control your life. You are the one in charge. If you don't feel like it on a…
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WOODEN DUMMY FOOTWORK
Everything in the martial arts starts with the feet. It's your foundation. Whether it's movement to get you out of the way of a punch or to add power to your own strikes, it's essential. In the Wing Chun system, the Wooden Dummy trains all the key principles, techniques, and concepts of the system. So obviously, proper training of the footwork is essential. That's the whole point of the video today. Let's take a look at it!
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IS CARDIO BOXING USELESS?
Sometimes I get asked my opinion on Cardio Boxing so I figured I'd just write about it. Short answer is NO. I don't think it's useless. I'll admit that there was a time when I thought it was, but that was at a time when I was more immature and I failed to ask one of the most important questions in fitness? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? I mean not everyone is willing to get punched and kicked for real? It hurts and isn't the most pleasant experience. Believe me, I've been punched and kicked countless times. That being said, it…
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CYCLING INTENSITY AND WHY YOU SHOULD DO IT!
Working out can be an addiction. We love the way it makes us feel. We love the way it makes us look. We love the increase in strength, speed, flexibility, etc. But unfortunately like any addiction, we can often push too hard for too long a period of time. And doing this can lead to burnout and overtraining, the complete opposite of why you started! One thing I'll always be grateful for is the training I had in Powerlifting. In Powerlifting we understand that you can't train all out all the time. That's why we train in cycles. Typically these are…
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TRIPLE THREAT WORKOUT
This is a workout I call Triple Threat! Take three exercises, do each one for three reps, and do it three times. All this counts as one set. Repeat for as many sets as desired. It's tough but effective as always! For this example I'm doing Squats, Pushups, and Chin Ups. But you can pick any exercises you wish! Here's a link for the video. https://youtu.be/vPj8o5nXT-A
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LET'S TRAIN THE WING CHUN STAFF!
The weapon is an extension of the person who wields it. This is an extremely important concept in the martial arts. After all, hand to hand fighting systems have their origins in weapons. You can take straight punches, hook punches, and uppercut punches, and you can see all of them in the staff. The key difference is that with weapons, everything is larger. Steps are larger, body rotation is larger, etc. But when we switch to hand to hand fighting, things become much tighter and closer. This is why we sometimes like to say "TRAIN BIG, FIGHT SMALL". Take a look…
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REAL WORLD STRENGTH - THE ONE THAT MATTERS!
"Real World Strength" is a term that Chinese martial arts icon Bruce Lee used. He didn't believe in simply building up the body to look a certain way or to only lift weight in a specific way. He believed in training in a way to build your strength and fitness that would translate to real applicable situations. Machines have their place of course, but nothing can truly replace free weights, bodyweight exercises, and functional movements. That's the purpose of this video is to cover some ways to develop this. For this exercise, I'm taking a punching bag and doing squats and…
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ARE SMOOTHIES FOR YOU?
Personally I love smoothies. From a very young age, I've always associated smoothies and various shakes with vibrant health. You can mix it up in so many ways, there's just no limit to the possibilities. In fact, it's possible to replace some of your meals with smoothies. A good protein powder mixed in with plenty of fruits and vegetables is tasty, nutritious, and it will prevent you from giving in to hunger and going for junk food. There have been many times when I knew I wouldn't have time to sit down for a meal, so I just drank a good…
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TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
You know the old expression "Too much of a good thing"? Unfortunately it also applies to health and fitness. I've heard it countless times over the years. "I love the way working out makes me feel. I want to do it every day". There's also "I just need to workout every day. My day just isn't complete without it". And of course we have "It's been months since I ate any junk food. I love the way healthy eating makes me feel. I don't ever want it again". At first glance, someone might ask "What's the problem?". Let's look at these…
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CARDIO DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BORING!
When most people think of cardio, the first image that comes to mind is someone walking on a treadmill day in, day out, every day. To be honest, if I had to do that I think I'd go insane. It may sound hard to believe, but in all these years (actually decades) of working out I've never done that. There are so many better options, why would I? First, what is cardio and what is the purpose of it? It's really quite simple. It's a workout for your heart and circulatory system. By raising your heart rate for a sustained period…
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WHAT YOU NEED FOR A HOME GYM
Setting up a good home gym can be one of the most rewarding things you can do. No longer do you have to worry about driving to the gym, changing into your gym clothes, working out in a crowded gym only to change back into your street clothes and drive back home. No longer do you have to worry about when the gym is open. Your home gym is always open no matter what time of day you choose to workout. But what do you need for a good home gym? Of course it's possible to get a great workout…
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THE I GO, YOU GO WORKOUT!
The I GO, YOU GO WORKOUT is a great partner workout you can do. The specific exercises you do aren't important. It's all about the workout structure. Each of you will take turns doing sets of 10 reps for either 4 or 5 sets. The catch is that the only rest you get is the time it takes your partner to do their set! It's a fast paced workout for sure, but it definitely works. I've got 2 examples below. One is with bodyweight and one is with weights. BODYWEIGHT Punisher Squats Pushups Wideouts (pop squats) Kickouts (the exercise I'm doing in the photo) Close Grip…
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BACK TO SCHOOL WORKOUT
It's been a great summer, but now it's time to get back to working out! Today's workout is 5 exercises and each one is done for 5 sets of 10 reps. The key here is the rest time. Limit it to only about 30 to 40 seconds and then go again. It's a fast paced tough workout, but it's definitely effective. Here are the exercises. Seated Cable Rows Dumbbell Bench Press Lateral Raises Front Barbell Squats Hanging Leg Raise Watch the video to see what it's all about and for information about personal training, click here
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CHEST EXPANDER EXERCISES FOR STRENGTH
I find these to be excellent for shoulder and arm exercises. Check out the video to see three of my favourite moves to do with them. There are different types of chest expanders available. Some have metal springs and some are rubber. I find the rubber ones to be much better both for safety and also for feel. I bought mine from Lifeline USA. However any type will do. As with all resistance band exercises, you must maintain tension at all times and not let it go slack. This will allow you to get the most benefit from it. Anyway here's…
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