As I always say to you elite hockey players at this time of year, summer is winding down in a hurry. OK, if you just played in the Memorial Cup, or the RBC cup, you're the rare individual that's off the hook.
Unfortunately, if you have just wrapped up, you will never get back the lost training time, and are so burned out, it will be a tough task to come back strong next year. This happened to a local team at the Jr.A level. They went to the RBC Cup, and by the time the boys found their way back to my gym, it was June, and just in time to get back on the ice in July. The following year was not great at all.
But these are extreme circumstances, and for most competitive players, you guys/girls have been done for almost two months. You should be in full, off- season mode. Your learning curve should be gone, and you should be piling on the resistance and getting stronger.
You should have your routine in order, and hitting the gym hard, yes hard, for 60 minutes, 2-3 times a week.
Anyone listening? Or have you signed up for summer hockey?
Can you actually say that you have given off- ice training your full attention?
Have you joined a running club, or are playing soccer because you feel that is the way to get into shape?
I know lots of you have. I know lifting is tough. It hurts. But don't be fooled into thinking that you will get the results without getting strong.
If anyone needs help, email me. Time is running out quickly.
Oh yeah. Anyone watch the final game last night? See who won? The team that was sitting for 2 months.
They weren't overtrained. I'm not crazy, it's all there right in front of you.
NO SUMMER HOCKEY. GET TO THE GYM. TIME IS TICKING.
Monday, 28 May 2012
Friday, 25 May 2012
New York Must GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that the NHL playoffs are about 6 weeks in, is everyone as tired of seeing that face as I am?
John Tortorella. If I spelled it wrong, I don't even care.
Although I don't have a favourite team, I usually gravitate to the Original Six. But I just can't do it. I know that I shouldn't penalize a whole team becauses of one person.
But I can't help it.
I would like to meet this guy to actually see if the whole thing is a show, or if he truly is the worlds biggest idiot.
Please, Jersey. Save me, and a bunch of others that I have talked to. Put them down.
John Tortorella. If I spelled it wrong, I don't even care.
Although I don't have a favourite team, I usually gravitate to the Original Six. But I just can't do it. I know that I shouldn't penalize a whole team becauses of one person.
But I can't help it.
I would like to meet this guy to actually see if the whole thing is a show, or if he truly is the worlds biggest idiot.
Please, Jersey. Save me, and a bunch of others that I have talked to. Put them down.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Be careful parents !!!!
Had a great talk yesterday with a much younger co-worker. He is a great young man, who used to be a regular at my family's sporting goods store. I will never forget the day 10 years ago when I was talking to him about lacrosse. I asked him which style he liked better, box or field?
This 13-year-old kid looked me in the eye, and said, "Field, because the field is bigger, and I can get away from the coaches screaming at me".
Then there were two 16-year-olds, who were great kids, but unfortunately happened to be good athletes. No, that's right. I did say unfortunately. They would come to my gym in the basement of my sports store with their OHL manual in hand. The 3-hour, 5 days a week workout routine was just too much for their brains. I still, to this day, remember letting them just sit downstairs. Their parents thought that they were working out, but it was really just an us time. We would talk about everything but hockey.
These kids nearly had nervous breakdowns. And because I couldn't give these programs an ounce of support or credibility, I did, yes, lie to these and many other parents. It was always our "little secret".
Parents of young kids, I have a check for you to do. The next time a neighbour, friend, or sporting goods retailer asks your child how their sporting career is going, let your child answer. Please hear me, let your child answer.
Half the time, the kids don't even know what day it is. They are so burned out, dragged out, and hating life in general, that they can't or don't want to answer.
Or maybe they feel like they can't. You know why? They love you so much, that they don't want to disappoint you. But the other part of them is scared because they feel that they will get into trouble if they quit. Dont't have your kids resent you as they grow older. I've seen it so many times.
It's now summer, and no doubt there are a lot of kids out there that have been given training manuals. Please be sure that he/she really wants to be there, and it's not just you that wants it. All kids are gifted in some way. Just remember that, and don't force something that isn't there. It will surely backfire on you.
My co-worker? He now is in his early 20's, and studies music. He is now becoming fulfilled, and understands that you can be your own person. He really never wanted to be that "sports guy", but unfortunately, just happened to be good.
Remember, your child is gifted. Even if he/she doesn't want to play pro sports.
This 13-year-old kid looked me in the eye, and said, "Field, because the field is bigger, and I can get away from the coaches screaming at me".
Then there were two 16-year-olds, who were great kids, but unfortunately happened to be good athletes. No, that's right. I did say unfortunately. They would come to my gym in the basement of my sports store with their OHL manual in hand. The 3-hour, 5 days a week workout routine was just too much for their brains. I still, to this day, remember letting them just sit downstairs. Their parents thought that they were working out, but it was really just an us time. We would talk about everything but hockey.
These kids nearly had nervous breakdowns. And because I couldn't give these programs an ounce of support or credibility, I did, yes, lie to these and many other parents. It was always our "little secret".
Parents of young kids, I have a check for you to do. The next time a neighbour, friend, or sporting goods retailer asks your child how their sporting career is going, let your child answer. Please hear me, let your child answer.
Half the time, the kids don't even know what day it is. They are so burned out, dragged out, and hating life in general, that they can't or don't want to answer.
Or maybe they feel like they can't. You know why? They love you so much, that they don't want to disappoint you. But the other part of them is scared because they feel that they will get into trouble if they quit. Dont't have your kids resent you as they grow older. I've seen it so many times.
It's now summer, and no doubt there are a lot of kids out there that have been given training manuals. Please be sure that he/she really wants to be there, and it's not just you that wants it. All kids are gifted in some way. Just remember that, and don't force something that isn't there. It will surely backfire on you.
My co-worker? He now is in his early 20's, and studies music. He is now becoming fulfilled, and understands that you can be your own person. He really never wanted to be that "sports guy", but unfortunately, just happened to be good.
Remember, your child is gifted. Even if he/she doesn't want to play pro sports.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Crazy Slider Board Stuff
Quite often I was asked the same sort of "Athletic" question. "I'm a university football player. How do I increase my squat and deadlift for testing"? "I'm a hockey player. How do I become more stable on the ice, and avoid injury"?
When my members would ask me these questions, I would quite often turn and point to the slider boards. Funny thing is, myself and a small group of female members (my wife included) represented about 90% of the slider board usage. That's OK. A few of my talented, open-minded athletes, along with my 408 lb. bench press guy represented the other 10%. Good enough for me.
These exercises are very different, and there will be a huge learning curve. Watch the video, and try to at least start some of these movements. As I said many times throughout the video, you don't need to spend $1,000 on a slider board like I did.
As you start to get stronger, your line will get better, giving you a better all-round feel. The slider leg curl is just that. A leg curl. I'm just showing you a different apparatus. The adductor/abductor work I would group into my unstable movements, and do them at the start of your workout. The shuffle can be an aerobic workout, or anaerobic, depending on your intensity level. Oh yes, I never once said that you can't put dumbells in your hands to add resistance, did I?
But when you watch the video, remember that I have put years into the boards, and this type of training. There will be a huge learning curve. Do the movements correctly, and get used to the angles, and all other characteristics of these movements. When doing your leg curls, letting your butt drop 2 inches will ruin the set. If you don't drop those 2 inches, you will wake up the next morning, feeling sore from calf to glute. Same as the abductors. Keep that moving leg straight wnen you drop it in behind you. That will be the difference.
Don't give up right away if you are not getting a great feel. Unfortunately, it is YOU. I have seen many a person, myself included, completely gassed in my gym from a few sets of offset slider lunges, one foot slider leg curls, and finishing with offset abductor work.
What do I mean by the "offset" and the "one foot" terms? If I get a few people asking, I will gladly do another video.
Watch this video, open up your mind, and try some new moves. These are great ways to supplement your brutally taxing weighted movements like your squat and deadlift. (Did you think that I had forgotten about them? You were just probably hoping that I wouldn't keep mentioning them.) Watch your strength and stability increase dramatically.
Until next time.
When my members would ask me these questions, I would quite often turn and point to the slider boards. Funny thing is, myself and a small group of female members (my wife included) represented about 90% of the slider board usage. That's OK. A few of my talented, open-minded athletes, along with my 408 lb. bench press guy represented the other 10%. Good enough for me.
These exercises are very different, and there will be a huge learning curve. Watch the video, and try to at least start some of these movements. As I said many times throughout the video, you don't need to spend $1,000 on a slider board like I did.
As you start to get stronger, your line will get better, giving you a better all-round feel. The slider leg curl is just that. A leg curl. I'm just showing you a different apparatus. The adductor/abductor work I would group into my unstable movements, and do them at the start of your workout. The shuffle can be an aerobic workout, or anaerobic, depending on your intensity level. Oh yes, I never once said that you can't put dumbells in your hands to add resistance, did I?
But when you watch the video, remember that I have put years into the boards, and this type of training. There will be a huge learning curve. Do the movements correctly, and get used to the angles, and all other characteristics of these movements. When doing your leg curls, letting your butt drop 2 inches will ruin the set. If you don't drop those 2 inches, you will wake up the next morning, feeling sore from calf to glute. Same as the abductors. Keep that moving leg straight wnen you drop it in behind you. That will be the difference.
Don't give up right away if you are not getting a great feel. Unfortunately, it is YOU. I have seen many a person, myself included, completely gassed in my gym from a few sets of offset slider lunges, one foot slider leg curls, and finishing with offset abductor work.
What do I mean by the "offset" and the "one foot" terms? If I get a few people asking, I will gladly do another video.
Watch this video, open up your mind, and try some new moves. These are great ways to supplement your brutally taxing weighted movements like your squat and deadlift. (Did you think that I had forgotten about them? You were just probably hoping that I wouldn't keep mentioning them.) Watch your strength and stability increase dramatically.
Until next time.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Innovative, crazy push-up ideas
I was comparing ideas with a buddy of mine the other day, and I figured that I would try to stump him. But he is that 1 in 1000, and I could only get him half way.
The question?
How can you do a flye, a rear lateral, and a regular push-up, by staying in one place only, on the ground?
Watch the video and find out. But this takes understanding and vision. This is an innovative idea, that can rattle you in a very brief amount of time.
The rotational push-ups are more for core, and rotator cuff stability, rather than a real pecs/delts/triceps hit. But this is a silly little variation that you golfers, swimmers, throwers especially, may want to incorporate into your workout. My limited ability when I open up with my rotation, is from years of sports injuries, and a few wrong moves in the gym when I was young.
The push-up row, again, is a silly little movement that is more for core and rotator cuff stability. The narrower that your support base becomes (closer feet together), the tougher it is not to roll and cave in. The idea is to stay tight through the whole movement. Try not to drop your hips and roll. This one is very challenging, and in the beginning, keep your feet spread very wide. This will stabilize you. As you get stronger, try to bring your feet closer together.
If I had done these two movements a bit more when I was younger, I probably would be in a far better rotator cuff position now. Instead I opted to be one of the guys who thought that exercises like these were soft and not useful. No, my brain was not being useful.
The slider board stuff is very risky and advanced. If you try some of these moves, make sure that you are warmed up, and alert. Nothing says that you can't start off doing the flye/push-up combo from your knees. It's a great option. And remember, you don't need an actual slider board. A piece of hardwood or laminate floor, along with something that will slide, is all you will need. Or as my buddy did, go buy some furniture movers. That's innovative. Good job BM.
Wath the video, and try to get your head around the fact that you don't have to join a gym with hundreds of machines. You don't need to spend money to have someone scream at you to "motivate" you. You don't need to be in a group and run through obstacle courses on a field, and climb ropes to jump over walls because it seems trendy. You need to educate yourself, visualize things, and have an open mind.
Lots more slider board stuff coming soon. Stay tuned.
The question?
How can you do a flye, a rear lateral, and a regular push-up, by staying in one place only, on the ground?
Watch the video and find out. But this takes understanding and vision. This is an innovative idea, that can rattle you in a very brief amount of time.
The rotational push-ups are more for core, and rotator cuff stability, rather than a real pecs/delts/triceps hit. But this is a silly little variation that you golfers, swimmers, throwers especially, may want to incorporate into your workout. My limited ability when I open up with my rotation, is from years of sports injuries, and a few wrong moves in the gym when I was young.
The push-up row, again, is a silly little movement that is more for core and rotator cuff stability. The narrower that your support base becomes (closer feet together), the tougher it is not to roll and cave in. The idea is to stay tight through the whole movement. Try not to drop your hips and roll. This one is very challenging, and in the beginning, keep your feet spread very wide. This will stabilize you. As you get stronger, try to bring your feet closer together.
If I had done these two movements a bit more when I was younger, I probably would be in a far better rotator cuff position now. Instead I opted to be one of the guys who thought that exercises like these were soft and not useful. No, my brain was not being useful.
The slider board stuff is very risky and advanced. If you try some of these moves, make sure that you are warmed up, and alert. Nothing says that you can't start off doing the flye/push-up combo from your knees. It's a great option. And remember, you don't need an actual slider board. A piece of hardwood or laminate floor, along with something that will slide, is all you will need. Or as my buddy did, go buy some furniture movers. That's innovative. Good job BM.
Wath the video, and try to get your head around the fact that you don't have to join a gym with hundreds of machines. You don't need to spend money to have someone scream at you to "motivate" you. You don't need to be in a group and run through obstacle courses on a field, and climb ropes to jump over walls because it seems trendy. You need to educate yourself, visualize things, and have an open mind.
Lots more slider board stuff coming soon. Stay tuned.
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