It’s that time again. It’s been a good couple weeks after a bout of traveling. I was able to get out a week or so ago and put down a boulder I’ve been working on for the season. Apparently the deadlifts, swings and hangboard work have been paying off, because this boulder felt easy. That same day, I made some progress on some other blocs in the field, so hopefully I’m going to get back out there soon and continue to get after it. I’m heading to the Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas this upcoming weekend for the first time, so it’ll be sweet to check out a new boulderfield!

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Let’s get into the bullet points.

The Bullet Points

• ICYMI: The Readiness Manifesto

Last week, I posted an article that morphed from what was going to be a quick write up on some readiness concepts into a glance into my philosophy concerning training. I believe you should be able to get after it and do some moderately strenuous work with little to no warmup. If you can’t, you need to start investing in some time to build your readiness. Here’s how.

• A Year of Hangboard Training-Steve Bechtel

I really respect people who approach training with a patient and practical approach. Steve is one of those guys. This was a great piece detailing some of his philosophy behind finger strength training that also contains some actionable information to utilize immediately in your training. That means it’s well worth the read. So do it.

• Do Foam Rollers Really Work? A Review of the Evidence- Sonja Ristevski

Foam rollers are loved. Foam rollers are hated. They work. They don’t work. Whether you love them or not, they’re here. I personally use foam rollers for some light warmup work and to turn the volume down on some muscle tone, if that’s what I feel needs to happen for a productive session. Some proponents claim foam rollers can do pretty outrageous things. This was a cool article that reviewed research concerning the various claims the foam roller camp makes. Go get ya some science.

• The Two Most Common Military Press Mistakes (and how to fix them)-Mark Reifkind

A strong overhead press can be a game changer for shoulder health, even for athletes who only pull downwards (ahem…you know who you are). It needs to be done correctly though. This article breaks down some common flaws when pressing and some ways to clean it up. It goes into detail about the tall kneeling position, which I love for a lot of movements. Putting heavy shit over your head is awesome. Make sure you do it right.

The Brew

Raspberry Halo, Cigar City Brewing

When it comes to stouts, Cigar City has some good ones. Marshal Zhukov’s, Hunahpu’s and other stouts they brew are some of the most sought after and well reviewed beers in that style. Because of that, I’m quick to grab any stout of theirs that pops up on the shelves. It pours black with a light brown head. It’s got a nose full of roasted malt and faint raspberry, which becomes more prominent on the back end. Flavor is heavy roasted malt and your standard rich chocolaty big stout flavor. A very subtle raspberry is present if you look for it, and just like the aroma, it becomes more prominent on the back end. It’s kind of nice! A lot of raspberry beers are heavy handed and come off as artificially sweet and not well balanced. This one is subtle and shows a touch of restraint. I dig it.

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What’s Happening

Facebook Page

I finally got around to creating an official Facebook page. It’s in its infancy, but hopefully some cool things come out of it. I’d appreciate if you went there and clicked the ole “like” button.

Tactical Strength Challenge

We are hosting the Tactical Strength Challenge again at Scenic City Strength and Fitness! It will be held April 8th all around the world. Six weeks out! The three skills tested are a max powerlifting-style deadlift, strict pull-ups or flexed arm hangs depending on your division, and a 5 minute snatch test. It’s an awesome event and a lot of fun to push your limits and cheer on everyone else. If you’re interested, reach out to me ASAP so we can answer your questions and get your registered! You can register here.

Nutrition, Performance, and Strength Coaching

If you’re interested in coaching, I can help. I offer strength training, Functional Movement Screen consulting, performance training, or some combination of these programs. You can find more information here.

Mailing List

I’m playing around with a newsletter. It will contain article alerts, special content promotions, and offers exclusive to subscribers. You can sign up here if you’d like. It’s completely free.

I’m teaching two kettlebell classes at Scenic City Strength and Fitness.

An entry-level class that emphasizes the foundations of safe and effective kettlebell training is held Tuesdays at 6:15 pm. It’s only 10 bucks and spots will be limited to ensure a great experience. If you are in the Chattanooga area and have always been curious about trying out kettlebells, it’ll be tough to find a better opportunity.

I also teach a class for folks who are more familiar with kettlebells on Thursdays at the same time. We will dive into some more advanced kettlebell movements and concepts, and push the intensity up a bit more than Tuesday.

You can check out the calendar and register online for any of these classes here. Each class is 10$. Hurry, because the spots fill up fast.