The kneeling glute mobilization is one of my favorite hip mobility drills. It helps athletes improve hip internal rotation, which is crucial to get deep in the squat or change direction on the field. Plus, it’s so simple you can perform it almost anywhere. However, like many exercises, you have to tweak the technique a …
Technique Tuesday: Troubleshooting the Kneeling Glute Mobilization Read More »
I’ll be blunt: the pistol squat is not one of my favorite exercises. I’ve even gone so far as to say they’re overrated. But in hindsight, I realized those feelings were mostly because I suck at them, and as is often the case, the exercise you suck at is probably the one you need the most. …
I love the landmine press for the baseball players I train as well as for general strength training if someone isn’t a great candidate for the overhead press. But just because it’s a more shoulder-friendly option doesn’t mean it’s cut-and-dry from a technique perspective. Like any compound barbell exercise, technique is crucial. This week’s Technique …
Technique Tuesday: Do’s and Don’ts of the Landmine Press Read More »
When it comes to pain during squats, most people think knees, hips and lower back. But what if back squats bug your shoulders and elbows? Traditional low-bar back squatting can make these joints pretty cranky over time, especially if you’re not particularly mobile. This week’s Technique Tuesday covers three super simple tips to make squats …
Technique Tuesday: Making Squats More Joint Friendly Read More »
I cover sumo deadlifts in part two of this Technique Tuesday series on how to lower the bar back to the floor. Sumo is tricky for several reasons, and getting back into the right position for each successive rep takes lots of practice. You need the right combination of hip and torso positioning, but most of all, you …
Technique Tuesday: Lowering the Bar During the Sumo Deadlift Read More »
I had an online client email me the other day and ask, “How should I put the bar back down after each rep of my deadlifts?” I stared at the screen blankly for a second, thinking, “Isn’t it obvious?” Then I realized, it isn’t so obvious. And shame on me for not taking the time …
Technique Tuesday: Lowering the Bar during the Conventional Deadlift Read More »
“Where the head goes, the body will follow.” This holds true for almost any exercise that requires proper spinal alignment (aka EVERY exercise). If your head is in the wrong position, the rest of your body will be too. So as coaches we often talk to athletes about the importance of “packing the neck,” which doesn’t make …
Technique Tuesday: Coaching Cues for Packing the Neck Read More »
The deficit deadlift makes for some “strong medicine” as Greg Robins likes to say. It’s a high risk, high reward exercise that, if executed properly, can add quick pounds to your deadlift. However, it’s not a great fit for everyone. This week’s Technique Tuesday covers the deficit deadlift and three common mistakes I see lifters …
Many coaches preach a vertical shin angle during lunges, which isn’t inherently wrong. For example, a vertical shin during reverse lunges makes sense; keep the focus on the glutes and hamstrings while minimizing stress on the knees. But what about forward lunges? Or walking lunges? This week’s Technique Tuesday explains why you can’t use the …
Face pulls get lumped into the “shoulder health” category, but when you really break it down, the rotator cuff doesn’t get a ton of stimulus if you perform the exercise the traditional way. Usually it just turns into a glorified row or lat pulldown. That’s fine for upper back strength, but if it’s cuff strength …
Technique Tuesday: Face Pulls for Shoulder Health Read More »
