Slow it Down for Big Gains

One simple way to increase the intensity of your workout is is to slow the movements down and get the most out of each rep. Sometimes what happens is that over the course of several workouts, the struggle to get "just one more rep" leads to a little bit of cheating here and there.

I dont necessarily think cheating is a bad thing, it actually can be used productively in some situations but theres a reason why the skinny kid at your gym
who does nothing but "bellytoss" benchpresses and cheat curls with a 25 lb. dumbbell ever gets any bigger.

You see, the goal of a workout is to put a certain kind of stress on your muscles. Your muscles then adapt to this stress and grow stronger.

If you "cheat" in certain movements, it creates either momentum, (which takes the stress off the muscles) or an adjustment in form (which allows for greater
weight to be used, albeit without a corresponding increase in strength)

In either case, muscle growth will not occur, or if it does, not in an appreciable degree.

Often times the purpose of increasing bar speed is taught because it gets the bar through the sticking point into amore favorable leverage position.

Now, Im not saying you have to move at a snail's pace here either, just an extra count or two will be fine, and you would be very surprised at what a difference
this can make.

This technique works especially well for hand grippers since the strength curve of the spring resistance is so steep.

Take a gripper that you think is pretty easy, and I suggest erring on the lighter side (Even if you can close a #3 like me, grab a #1) Heck, even the Guide or Sport will do.

Then, using your normal form, squeeeeeze as needed, but take at least a good second longer than usual and get a good overcrush when the handles touch. Then let the handles out slowly and repeat.

If you work up to closing a #3 like this, you'll be one scary person.

You'll find that even with an easy gripper, this is quite a challenge, and the soreness that you will experience the next day will let youknow youre on the right track.

Like I said, this technique can be used with a number of exercises, -- get the most out of every rep.

Train hard,
John Wood

Not Just Another Monday

Welcome to Monday - not just any Monday -- but the busiest Monday of the entire year. Oh, did I mention we had a blizzard yesterday. Yeah, a foot of snow fell in roughly 12 hours day before last.

It's been a while since we've had that kind of weather and it has been intense.

Driving around yesterday I helped two random strangers get their cars unstuck from snowdrifts - and just before I got back home my truck promptly got stuck in a snowbank - and two other random strangers gave me a hand.

That's good stuff.

Much thanks to those guys out there wherever they are.

Anyhow, with all sorts of holiday madness we will be in the office all day today packing up recent orders.

Priority number one is getting recent orders in the mail and Bill, Chris, Shelby and Flash the dog will be in the office tonight until 6pm to make sure everything gets out on time.

You can count on us to get the job done.

Anyhow, so what makes me so crazy is that I am going to release a brand new product right now.-- yes, right now, on the busiest day of the year.

It's a piece of equipment that goes back thousands of years, but still works just as good today. Something that would be perfect for every athlete, men, women, children - doesn't matter, all will benefit tremendously...

Check em out for yourself here:

Indian Clubs Page