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Real World Strength Training

July 22, 2020 by Oldskool

What you need to know.

  • The term “functional training” has been abused. Training with a purpose is what we are after;
  • Trap bar deadlifts give all of the benefit of the deadlift plus add the ability to alter levers and improve form to generally be safer for the lower back;
  • Bear crawls recruit motor patterns we use when sprinting plus  also challenging our  core, shoulders, plus hips;
  • Single-leg training gives greater muscle development and better muscle strength as it works more muscle; and
  • The farmer’s walk is now a staple exercise for core training to deal with real force in motion.

realworldstrength
Purposeful Training, Not Functional

1. Trap Bar Deadlifts

The basic deadlift is a common favorite, but often  physical restrictions stop people from carrying it out effectively.

The trap bar deadlift provides all of the benefits of the deadlift along with the ability to change levers and alter form to utilize the lift effectively, without the associated risks and issued of the regular deadlift.

The trap bar deadlift is a key part of training with purpose, permitting us the maximum benefit of the deadlift without the risk.

This isn’t weak and doesn’t slow you down. It extends your training ability and longevity.
2. Bear Crawls

Bear crawls permit us to practice motor patterns we use while sprinting plus also challenging the core, shoulders and hips to stabilize our body.

Try doing 3 x 20 yards. Try them with dumbbells in both hands. it goes without saying – increase the weight as you can.

3. Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat

Single-leg training fosters more muscle-growth and greater muscle strength as it works more muscles. It doesn’t just work prime movers, but stabilizers and neutralizers, as well.
Regardless of all that, if you run, play sports, or move recreationally, then it’s important that you jump on one leg and start getting improving.

4. Press-Ups

If you want to maintain your shoulder health in the long term, it makes no sense to focus only on the barbell. A barbell is harsher on the joints than press-ups, regardless of the weight.

Like chin-ups, press-ups done with weight permit for normal movement of your shoulder joint and scapula while still challenging your chest. As an added extra you’re working your core to get stronger at the same time.

Prior to barbells there were press-ups. It’s the exercise that has stood the test of time. Stick it into the routine and reap the benefits.
Do 3 sets of 12, using a weighted vest, weights on your back or resitance bands.

5. Farmer’s Walk

The farmer’s walk is now a staple exercise for core training to deal with real force in motion

An  exercise with huge bang for buck, farmer’s walks give an overload to the traps, core, hips, and grip strength, as well as the cardio system.

See how much you can carry for max distance… x2.

Why Men Exist – The Scientific Reason

July 22, 2020 by Oldskool

The existence of men has long baffled some scientists. Sexual reproduction is not efficient but the vast majority of species use this method of reproduction. So why do men exist? Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UAE) believe they may have cracked it, postulating that the force known as ‘sexual selection’ carries out a primary role in improving health and protecting a species against extinction.sperm

The study was published in the journal Nature and focussed on Tribolium flour beetles to determine why multicellular organisms rely on physical sex to reproduce. Using controlled conditions, researchers looked at generations of beetles and studied the impact of sexual selection. Sexual selection is the process where males compete to reproduce and females choose which male to reproduce with.

Almost all multicellular species on earth reproduce using sex, but its existence isn’t easy to explain because sex carries big burdens, the most obvious of which is that only half of your offspring—daughters—will actually produce offspring. Why should any species waste all that effort on sons? We wanted to understand how Darwinian selection can allow this widespread and seemingly wasteful reproductive system to persist, when a system where all individuals produce offspring without sex—as in all-female asexual populations—would be a far more effective route to reproduce greater numbers of offspring.

The research found when sexual selection was taken away and beetles were paired up without choice into couples, the population’s health declined quickly and the beetles were gone out by the 10th generation. Wheras beetles that had influence on sexual selection, where intense competition were more resilient to extinction.

“To be good at out-competing rivals and attracting partners in the struggle to reproduce, an individual has to be good at most things, so sexual selection provides an important and effective filter to maintain and improve population genetic health,” said Gage. “Our findings provide direct support for the idea that sex persists as a dominant mode of reproduction because it allows sexual selection to provide these important genetic benefits.”

This study indicates that sexual selection plays a primary role in weeding out dangerous genetic mutations, as the competition means females are unlikely to choose a genetically inferior mate. Even following 20 generations of in-breeding, this study found that the beetles that were strongly focussed towards sexual selection had a higher fitness.

The ‘Dad Bod’ Trend Is Giving Normal Men Some Hope

May 22, 2020 by Oldskool

A short time ago I had no absolutely idea what a  ‘dad bod’ was.  The ‘dad bod’ is a new infatuation with bodies that state, “I workout in the gym fromtime to time, but I also drink a lot and like to eat ten pieces of pizza at a time.”

It all began with Clemson University’s The Odyssey, via Mackenzie Pearson‘s piece “Why Girls Love The Dad Bod.” The basic premise is a “physique characterized by undefined muscles beneath a light layer of flab, usually topped off with a beer belly.” That effectively means anyone who played sport in school then started eating pizzas for lunch  – within reason – and has some chance with girls who like this kind of thing.

dadbod

The reasons Pearson provided for her attraction to the dad bod were:

It doesn’t intimidate us.
This is always positive, and we’ll take what we can get .

We like being the pretty one.
I  haven’t been called pretty…ever. And we’re OK if that don’t change.

“Better cuddling.”

Well Yep…

You know what you’re getting.

Well ok – BUT – guy with dad bods will pack weight on down the line and maybe hit the morbidly obese benchmark. It’s all relative.
It’s interesting to see this online and  see a bunch of females (and a large percentage of the net) appreciating this reality of life.

Tall Men Shoes – Deals

March 2, 2020 by Oldskool

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The Not So Humble Crotch Rocket

February 13, 2020 by Oldskool

motorcycleWe all know them: those guys on the Japanese motorcycles, usually garishly-colored, and usually speeding down the road. They are lovingly-referred to as crotch rockets. These motorcycles elicit a wide range of reactions, ranging from “Damn, what a schmuck” to “Seriously nice ride.” So here are a couple of arguments for the opposing sides following.

The case for manly: Cars are the epitome of masculinity. Big engines, ignition, rubber and metal…it’s all present. Men have worked on making their vehicles quicker, sleeker, and basically, cooler, since the invention of the car. The crotch rocket is continuation of this never ending pursuit for speed, and it’s one of the manliest around.

Crotch rockets are the Lamborghini of motorcycles–sleek and fast. There’s nothing unmanly about the Lamborghini  so why would this not transfer over to crotch rockets?

The case for not manly: Riding a motorcycle, in and of itself, is definitely manly, if not safe. When a guy chooses to ride something other than some classic bike, like for example a Triumph or Indian is where the issue lies for some. Now, not everyone can pay for or locate such awesome pieces of machinery. The focus is that if you’re embracing your masculine wish to work on a machine that will go fast and get you oily, try to focus it on something less fast and more poppy. There are a large number of affordable motorcycles out there that fit this category.

Crotch rockets are the Jägermeister to a Harley Davidson’s 12 year old scotch. They have the same end, but the former is for your indulgence, the latter is for real passion.

Improve Your Gin and Tonic

February 13, 2020 by Oldskool

A Simple, Easy (but not necessarily cheap) Trick to Improve the humble Gin and Tonic

gin-and-tonic-feature-1-manmade_large

For many years, I didn’t think I liked the humble gin and tonic. For quite a while, I thought it was the gin that I detested, but some smarter friends helped me with some really amazing gin-focused cocktails, and I very quickly moved away from the staple of vodka in favor of gin’s truly special aromatic qualities. At that point I figured I just didn’t care for standard tonic water.

The results of this investigation? One, I really like gin. Two, I like tonic. And three, I do like them together. So what was the issue with all those early drinks that sent me into disgust?

gin-and-tonic-tonic-2

It wasn’t the brand of gin, but actually…the type of tonic water. The syrup-sweetened (and commonly available) Schweppe’s  just doesn’t hit it for me. It’s far too sweet, almost like lemonade.

So, if you wish to instantly improve the gin and tonics, invest in superior tonic water. Or at the very least, try a few brands to determine which you prefer, rather than just go with what you can find at the store. Some tonics to look for: Q Tonic and Fever Tree. Or, if you’re feeling specially ambitious, you could make your own tonic syrup and mix it with plain soda. There are recipes online.

Make Your Own Tonic Water

The point being, a gin and tonic is a truly basic drink with two distinctive elements, So, don’t skimp on the tonic.

 

gin-and-tonic-3

To finish the article….I do still find most tonics overly sweet, even the better brands. Try my trick of cutting the tonic with soda water. I like to do equal club soda and tonic and bulk up the aromatics with two dashes of orange or lemon bitters.

Favorite Summertime Gin and Tonic:

  • 2 oz. London dry gin
  • 2 oz. Fever Tree Mediterranean-style tonic water
  • 2 oz. club soda
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers orange bitters
  • Garnish: lime wedge or cucumber slice

Best Film Car Chases Ever

January 10, 2020 by Oldskool

blue_beatup_car

 

The famous chase scene The Bourne Identity is instantly memorable as one of the handful of occasions a little Cooper  dominates in a  chase (see: An Italian Guy , Job (1969), a film which would  show on this list, were it longer). Matt Damon and Franka Potente, using the streets (and pathways and paths) of Paris, evading their pursuers at each and every turn, causing mayhem and destruction in their wake.

The main  element is using the Mini’s advantageous small size in the narrow Parisian streets; in addition to  the short wheelbase and low center of gravity, enabling impressive handbrake turns and quick maneuvering. This scene is really a memorable clip in a memorable movie.

 

 

 

How not to be a jerk online

October 13, 2019 by Oldskool

JerkThere’s something about those inter-webs  that spins a relatively mild-mannered guy into a ranting moron. In a place where openly sharing your opinions is so straightforward, many guys these days massively “over-share”, usually via the political rant, ongoing sports commentary, or everyday updates about life. We all know about the breakfast intagram.

To me, the most annoying occurrence of oversharing on the internet is the political rant. I like a decent political debate just as much as anyone else, but unfortunately there isn’t much actual debate going on, and most of it is mindless zombie-like blathering. Sure, there are certain crannies and nooks on the net where intelligent debate thrives, but for the most part it’s idiots voicing their views and opinions as facts with one underlying theme: “if anyone disagrees, they are wrong.” Here’s how to not be a jerk if talking politics on the web:

1. Don’t say a thing. Maybe sharing a provocative URL is all you need to do. Leave your own commentary off and let your link speak for itself.

2. Accept opposing views, and thank the person for providing them. “Great. Thanks for your feedback Uncle Bob!” While you might be seething internally, just accept that others see things in different lights and move fofrward.

3. Engage with your dissenters, but engage with their ideas, not with them personally. When you start to label your opponent  you’re going into dangerous territory, and this is where internet debates always go astray.

4. Exchange places. Consider, “If what they’re saying is correct, what ramifications would there be?” If you place yourself in their shoes, you might realize they have a decent point…or maybe they don’t.

5. Use correct grammar. Once you start TYPING IN UPPER CAPS AND BOLDING WITHOUT REASON, people cease reading. Nothing makes you look like a moron faster than engaging caps lock.

6. Keep it minimal. No one really wants to read your 20 links a day about African children. Yes, it’s really sad, but consider about how much information you disregard on the net every day. Why? Because it’s commonly from a source that showers you with data that you don’t really want. The people who Tweet, Facebook, or share the least that you should probably pay the most attention to.

7. Joke. Jokes are perfect teaching methods. If you can condense a tough concern into a funny joke (like political cartoonists do), you are adding value to the information and people appreciate this.

Remember that you are interacting with a real person not the computer; if you wouldn’t say it to their face, you probably shouldn’t type it online (this generally works for most people). There’s no need to let fly with every thought that runs through your consciousness.

 

Natural Supplements that Actually Work

September 24, 2019 by Oldskool

SupplementPillDuring the never ending search for health in a pill America generally comes up short. Usually I ignore this type of thing and simply try to eat a reasonably healthy diet. Mostly whole foods, minimize sugar and processed, not too much beer and so on.

So when a colleague was enthusiastically touting these mainstream medically endorsed supplements I was not that interested. But he explained that his diet was TERRIBLE and that was why he supplemented with some of them.

So for those of you with a good diet – don’t feel too much need to consider them. But if your diet sucks as well, you may want to think about it. Here are the deals…

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Survival during uncertain times.

September 17, 2019 by Oldskool

While I’m not a full fledged ‘prepper’ I do believe in being ready for catastrophic events. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that necessity ruthlessly to the population of New Orleans.

It was the most expensive natural disaster in US history, as well as accounting for almost 2,000 lives.

Hurricane clouds on Earth

It demonstrated that the Government (Federal , State and Local) are unable to help you in these situations and that you need to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

To that end I’m in the process of stocking up my cabin with supplies. I shopped around a little and in terms of taste, quality, convenience and price The Ready Store was my preferred source.

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