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The Dangers of Circumducitur Cervicalis Syndrome and How to Prevent It
Circumducitur cervicalis syndrome is also known as rotating cervical syndrome. Do neither of those names sound familiar to you? Well, this not very well known condition is actually quite prevalent in...
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A Lesson on Leadership, Social Media, and “Teachable Moments”
“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.”—Erik Qualman As someone old enough to remember when there wasn’t an internet and there wasn’t a thing called...
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Group Exercise Class: A Template for Successful Kettlebell Training
Classes can be a fantastic opportunity for professional coaches to help more “regular” people and earn more money in the most time-efficient way. Let’s be honest, we love what we do, but we still need...
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Solid: In-Between Simple & Sinister
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”—St. Francis of Assisi. If somebody had told me that one day I would be able to comfortably swing...
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Using SFG Principles and the Maffetone Method to Improve Client Results
When my wife, Nikki, and I began kettlebell training back in 2008, we were introduced to high intensity interval training. We walked out of each class covered in sweat but loving every minute of it....
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Your Journey to a Handstand Push-up: Part 1
Headstands are great place to begin your journey to a handstand push-up (HSPU). They allow you to get comfortable upside down while building your balance. Headstands might be the end goal for some or a...
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10 Things I Learned in 10 Years as a Kettlebell Instructor
On September 17, 2006, I attended my first kettlebell certification course. At the time, kettlebell training wasn’t as widely embraced as it is now and certs were only offered in St. Paul, Minnesota....
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Lessons from the Hockey Life: Remembering Gordie Howe
Earlier this year, millions of Canadians and hockey fans worldwide were saddened when Gordie Howe, “Mr. Hockey,” passed away at the age of 88. Gordie was a Saskatchewan farm boy who rose to the top of...
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If It Flies Right, It Looks Right: My Journey to a Bodybuilding Competition
At StrongFirst, we believe strength is the master quality, and we teach people how to become stronger. This doesn’t mean that we undervalue other physical qualities, but simply that we know strength is...
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A Science-Based Plan to Prepare You for the SFG Level I and SFG Level II
This article is meant to provide an alternative to Brett Jones’ excellent SFG I prep guide and for building strength and endurance for the SFG II. Brett’s plan has worked for many people, but...
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The 2 Most Common Errors in Kettlebell Swing Set-up
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”—John Wooden There is an old proverb about the devil being in the details. I usually tell my students that not only is the...
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How to Build the Hard Style Powerlifter
Powerlifting is a brutally simple sport—he or she with the most plates on the bar wins. Of course, as strength athletes, we know there is more to it than that. The rise of raw powerlifting has brought...
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The Triple Progression System Explained
I’ve been asked numerous times to formally outline my triple progression system. In reality, it’s not mine—it’s as old as the hills. Bodybuilders have been using this approach for decades as a simple...
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Your Journey to a Handstand Push-up: Part 2
With any new skill, it is important to first focus on building a solid foundation and then advance slowly through each progression. In part one of Your Journey to a Handstand Push-up, we began by...
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The Language of Strength Is Universal
It was Saturday afternoon in Budapest, Hungary. I sat down for what is one of my favorite parts of an SFG Level I Certification: “What is the SFG?” I watched and listened as SFG Team Leader Jozsef...
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Looking Back to Move Forward: New Planning for the New Year
“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower It is that time of the year, again—time to consider our New Year’s resolutions and our hopes and dreams for the coming year. But...
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No Plan B: Make the Decision to Be Strong
Recently, a fellow trainer decided to seek my help. He’s a knowledgeable trainer; however, barbell work isn’t the focus of his training. Rather, he’s a marathoner who is smart enough know that strength...
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The Pursuit of Mastery: Setting the Right Goal Can Be the Key
As students of strength, it’s safe to say we’re all chasing some performance-related goal. Whether that’s becoming a StrongFirst Certified Instructor, hitting your one-arm one-leg push-up, or pulling...
View ArticleYour Journey to a Handstand Push-up: Part 3
You are one step closer on your journey to a handstand push-up (HSPU). If you spent time on the bent-arm strength progression I outlined in part one of this series, and then advanced to working on the...
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The Roll to Elbow: How to Build the Foundation for a Beautiful Get-up
If I had to choose one exercise to practice the rest of my life, it would be the get-up. Kalos sthenos or “beautiful strength” is the most apt description I’ve ever heard of for this exercise. There...
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