7 KEYS YOUTH ACCELERATION AND SPEED DEVELOPMENT TRAINING By Travis Hansen / Author of The Speed Training Encyclopedia Note from Zach: Many of you know I work with high school athletes primarily, and I am also against fads and gimmicks. Travis gives GREAT insight into what it takes to get athletes FAST as hell with OUT the fads and gimmicks. If you're a Coach, athlete or parent, this is a solid read on what it takes to get FAST during the younger years and even for adults. Travis is a resource … [Read more...]
3 Speed Training Fallacies To Avoid
3 Speed Training Fallacies to Avoid By Travis Hansen / Author, The Speed Training Encyclopedia In this article we will explore and identify three of the most common speed training myths on the market today. It’s quite possible to perhaps argue the three that I’m going to select, however, these three are, in my opinion, are the most common of all the potential myths out there. … [Read more...]
Squats: The KING Of Lifts – 7 Squat Tips From Chad Wesley Smith
Guest Post by Chad Wesley Smith The squat is the best! Plain and simple. If you want to run faster, jump higher, tackle harder or just be stronger and hence, more awesome, the squat is your best ticket. The squat is the ultimate developer of quad, hamstring, glute and hip strength and these are the muscles most responsible for sprinting and jumping ability. So whether your goal is powerlifting dominance, weightlifting supremacy or improved physique and athletic performance, you need to squat … [Read more...]
Learning The Olympic Lifts
Years and years ago Coach Reeve told me how he would train his Football players while also playing videos on TVs of The IronMind Olympic Lifting Training Halls. I snatched up those highlight DVDs immediately and the footage blew me away! I couldn't believe how damn STRONG these dudes were! Not only were they hitting the olympic lifts with heavy weights AND fast, but they were also powerlifting with extreme poundages using NO support gear. About a year ago I decided I would start learning the … [Read more...]
Inside The Underground Strength Gym | Training Like a Wrestler, Even If You Don’t Wrestle!
"When you finally decide how successful you really want to be, you’ve got to set priorities. Then, each and every day, you’ve got to take care of the top ones. The lower ones may fall behind, but you can’t let the top ones slip. You don’t forget about the lower ones though because they can add up to hurt you. Just take care of the top ones first. In 25 years as a head coach and assistant, I think I might have missed one practice. Why? Because practice is my top priority. A day doesn’t go by … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Develop Speed & Explosive POWER
Wanna be explosive, athletic, agile, mobile and hostile? Step 1: Get STRONG as Hell. Strength is your foundation, you hear this all the time, and I would say this is almost entirely true. I have seen lots of guys, strong as hell, but also have little speed. So what gives? Power is a blend of strength and athleticism. It's the OPTIMAL blend, because nothing is perfect and everything is flawed, you are trying to get the best balance possible. Only chasing greater strength will not help you reach … [Read more...]
Kettlebell Training & Jump Training for Size, Speed & Strength
Strength is of critical importance for any athlete / adult, regardless of age. Speed is the next gear that takes strength to the next level. When I hear Coaches go on and on about strength and say nothing of speed I know they are missing the boat and vice versa. We then have Coaches who act as if strength is a bad thing. There is NO such thing as weak and successful. Not everyone who is strong is fast. And speed is not simply running around cones or ladders. Where is the force … [Read more...]
2 Bodyweight Jump Training Exercises for Explosive Power
Jump training is one of the best and easiest ways to develop explosive power. Jumps also hype the nervous system and a great 'Kick Start" prior to engaging in HEAVY lifting, as you're about to see below :) If you want someone to be explosive, make no mistake about it, being weak and performing jump training won't help much. Like the athletes in my video above, they started off with the basics to get strong. This meant a TON of bodyweight training. In fact, even with them squatting 475 and … [Read more...]
Episode # 85: The DeFranco’s Log Throwing Contest
On the 2nd day of 'The Lost Secrets of Strength Development' seminar at Joe DeFranco's Gym, I arrived slightly early and Joe D was rolling up slower than me. The entire crew was waiting out back and my eye was caught by a stone and a log. To ensure I was not to be arrested I went for the log and announced a log throwing contest. I screwed the rules up b/c I allowed the distance to include the rolling of the log. I figured on cement it would be tough to get a clear and accurate pinpoint of … [Read more...]