I shouldn't get into fights on the internet. Or in real life for that matter. But I just can't help myself sometimes, especially on trivial stuff. Every time I leave the sanctity of my home gym, I seem to drift into unwanted fitness territory. I stumble over an influencer's tripod, gasp at some inane exercise… Continue reading How Strict Should Your Form Be?
The history of health clubs is a fascinating reflection of humanity's evolving relationship with physical fitness and well-being. From the early gymnasiums of ancient civilizations to the high-tech, multi-functional fitness centers of today, the journey of health clubs is one of cultural shifts, technological advancements, and changing societal norms. This evolution has been shaped by… Continue reading Guest Post: The Evolution of Health Clubs: From Ancient Gymnasiums to Modern Fitness Centers
Under this heading, I would include the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and similar substances. In my opinion, alcohol is a nerve poison that is not assimilated and requires a great expenditure of energy for its excretion. Furthermore, it decreases energy and deadens certain inner forces, which, although we may be unconscious of them, could… Continue reading George Hackenschmidt, ‘Hindrances to the Acquisition of Strength.’
Pre-competition anxiety is a common experience for athletes of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. This anxiety can manifest in various ways, including physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweaty palms, and tense muscles, as well as psychological symptoms such as negative self-talk, lack of concentration, and overwhelming worry. However, managing this anxiety is… Continue reading Guest Post: Effective Strategies to Overcome Pre-Competition Anxiety
So much has been written of the great old timers, that I will barely touch upon their deeds and confine most of this article to the strongest men of the present. If all the great strong men of the past, many of whom have gone from this earth, could meet in a contest, what a… Continue reading Bob Hoffman, ‘The World’s Strongest Man: Past & Present,’ Strength & Health, 5, no. 10 (1937), 32-34 & 42-45.
Given the current vogue for Mike Mentzer and high-intensity training, I thought it would be cool to look at John Little's 2008 interview with Iron Man magazine. Little is a Mentzer expert, and has written several books on his training methods. Here we get a unique insight into Mentzer as a person, and as a… Continue reading John Little, Heavy Duty: The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer, Iron Man, August (2008), 267-269.
In many ways my home gym has ruined me. I no longer stress about how and where to workout. I have completely missed the influx of influencers and tripods on the gym floor and, owing to family/work commitments, my training schedule has fluctuated wildly (hello 10 pm deadlifts!). As I lose touch with my fellow… Continue reading Who Invented the Deadlift Bar?
I grew up on the internet memes of the 2000s and nothing was more pervasive than 'friends don't let friends skip leg day' or some variaton thereof. What was innocent for the time was a rallying call for trainees to actually train their legs and not just focus on the upperbody. Despite the recency bias… Continue reading Why Strong Legs Are Important!
In today's digital age, the internet has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we approach health and fitness. It serves as a vast repository of knowledge and resources, offering unprecedented access to tools that can enhance our well-being. This article delves into the myriad ways in which the internet can be leveraged… Continue reading Guest Post: Harnessing the Power of the Internet for Health and Fitness
Why did the first era of bodybuilders have flat chests? Two common explanations I see online are that lifters in the 1890s and early 1900s considered large chests to be feminine and thus wanted to avoid it or that lifters modelled their own physiques on Ancient Greek statues and, thus, wanted to build their physiques… Continue reading Why Did Bronze Era Lifters Have Flat Chest? A Serious Answer to a Stupid Question
