The Hammer Cast

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Oh, so you think Calisthenics is just a backup plan for when you have no access to weights? THINK AGAIN, PAL.  If this episode doesn't convince you, nothing will.

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com If you've ever wanted to jack your military pressing strength through the roof (and I know you have) then you owe it to yourself to learn the one-arm/one-leg pushup. 

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I'm joined on this episode by my friend Tim Anderson, where we dive deep into the mission and philosophy behind his new book, Be Naked, available on Amazon starting April 1st. Pre-order or go get your copy here:  https://www.amazon.com/Be-Naked-Tim-Anderson-ebook/dp/B0BYJSV3LD?ref_=ast_author_mpb On that...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com      

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Beach season is right around the corner, and that can only mean one thing. Well, two things. The first is that you're going to be scantily clad. And the second is that you're going to want to look good while barely dressed. Strength coach Dan John has jokingly remarked that people who say they want to l...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   I'm joined on this fine episode by my one-time colleague and long-time Hammer Head (i.e. follower of my training philosophy) Mark Reinke: a high-level trainer in a chain of gyms based out of the East Coast who has since transitioned into a job in the corporate world. On this episode we talk about how th...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Without a doubt, when it comes to kettlebell training, a heavy military press is the peak of achievement for most people.  It signals that you are a serious trainee, that you have put in a lot of effort, and that you deserve all those jealous stares you're getting from strangers as they watch you hoist...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   I'm joined on this episode once more by the great and powerful John Brookfield - creator of the Battling Ropes system, trainer to high-performing athletes and regular folks alike, and all-around fitness industry innovator.  On this episode we talk about one of his best-kept secrets: the Wall System.  A...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   At some point or another, we all have to ask the tough questions in life. Mountains or Beach? Boxers or Briefs? The Rolling Stones or the Beatles? Some of these are conundrums with no easy answer (except for the Stones vs. Beatles. The Stones win hands down any dayum day of the week). Other questions ar...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   There comes a time when we all must ask tough questions: Where do we come from and where are we going? What is the meaning of life? Who are you and how did you get into my house? For some questions, there are no easy answers. Others, however, are a tad easier to answer. One that gets asked more and more...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   One of the criticisms I often hear about calisthenics training is "you can't strengthen your legs with your bodyweight only". To be fair, I'll say the criticism is half true. Ultimately I think that you DO need added weight to build your legs up to their full strength potential, BUT you can absolutely g...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   " Are high reps any good for strength training?" A mighty fine question indeed. The short answer is "hell yes". They're actually a must, in my correct opinion. This is for a variety of reasons, which - surprise of surprises - I actually cover in depth in this episode. Listen, enjoy, and apply. 

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Calisthenics training for serious strength is really not much different than language learning. That may sound strange, but consider this: A language has a structure, a grammar, formal and informal styles, a vocabulary, common words and phrases, etc. Calisthenics training has principles, practices, cert...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   There's a saying I like that goes a little something like this: "Don't let your mouth write checks that your fists can't cash" In other words, mind your Ps and Qs and don't start trouble with people whose tush you can't whoop. The same goes for your body:  don't write checks that your body can't cash! I...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   There are a great many questions out there that can help expand your mind: Who are we and where do we come from? What is the meaning of life? What makes Teflon stick to the pan? For some questions there are no easy answers. For others, things are markedly easier. Here's a good question I get asked not i...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   When it comes to strength training, one of the common rallying cries against calisthenics is that you can't use it to strengthen your legs (no one questions bodyweight training's ability to build epic upper body strength, however). The reality is that that is only partially true. You absolutely CAN make...

One of my favorite drills for happier knees and heavier squats is what I like to call the heels-elevated hip thrust (or hip bridge, whatever you wanna call it). Basically, it works like this: you lay on the floor near some sort of an elevation (a couch works great), and provided you first have your spouse's permission, you put your feet up on the couch and then bridge your hips toward the sky. It...

On to the million dollar question: Is creating your own program a waste of time? My answer is not a hard "yes" or "no", but "probably", and this is why:

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Oh yes indeed, it is that most wonderful time of the year again - CALentine's day! Here are a few tips on how to boost your strength with calisthenics the simple and ALMOST easy way. 

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   I'm a big believer in sticking to the basics in your programming — a push, a pull, a hinge, a squat, a gait-pattern movement, and a few other in-between moves like twisting and lunging. This will always come in handy and together all these moves are about all you need to get as strong as you want. There...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Getting strong is important. A lot of people like to focus on "general fitness" (whatever that means) in their training, without realizing that fitness simply means the ability to complete a task. As you have probably figured out by now, just about any task you can think of is a lot easier to complete w...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   Let's be clear: if you're going out of town for, like, a day or two, no need to worry about missing a workout. But what if you're going to be out of town for a week, two weeks, or even a month or so?  AND, what do you do if the regular equipment you'd otherwise have access to may be tough to come by? Do...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   The title says it all. The episode says the rest. Now go and listen to it!

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   I'm joined on this fine episode by none other than the legendary Tom Morrison - mobility and flexibility expert and all-around Irish gent.   On this jam-packed episode we talked about: * His 'origin story', and how he went from a sedentary chap with an insulting nickname given to him by his friends to t...

Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here:  http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com   In much the same way that some of the best things in life are free, some of the best bodyweight moves are the ones that everyone ignores because they don't look "sexy". However, if you're looking to do more pullups, more dips, heavier military presses, reduce low-back discomfort, or what have you, the m...