"Get on the bar, and come to a dead hang!" the drill instructor screamed at me when I was in boot camp. And then this became the annual call of every unit I have ever served with when we performed our yearly physical fitness tests for the USMC.

The anxiety and anticipation still gives me butterflies to this day.

In the Marine Corps, I have produced thousands of pull-ups over the last two decades. Since 1999, I have been performing pull-ups, teaching pull-ups, counting pull-ups, and helping people be able to perform their first pull-ups or adding to their maximum number of pull-ups.

When I first started helping people do pull-ups, I just assisted them by giving a lifted assist or giving them a resistance band to help propel them upward until they no longer needed my assistance, and could do it on their own.

I quickly realized that this can lead to injuries if they don't build the proper mind, muscle, and movement awareness.

Most people that can't do pull-ups or do very few,...

If you haven't combined the power of these two "unconventional" tools, you are missing out.

The kettlebell is a world-renowned strength and stability creator, and the battle rope is a world-renowned finisher...but the concepts that these two tools are known for, is only telling a fraction of the story.

With the right coaching and programming these two tools can fill entire libraries of effective and efficient programs that build strength, coordination, efficiency, mobility, endurance, power, and cognitive focus.

Check out our growing libraries of workouts and programming here: Trainer Resources

Don't get caught in the trap that kettlebells are only for strength, and battle ropes are only for cardio.

This will lead you into a corner, that will hurt your training effectiveness.

The key is to learn the principles and concepts behind each of the tools, so that you can build more effective...

• Prepares the musculoskeletal tissues for movement, and then maximizes the output potential.¹
• Prepares the Nervous System for movement, and then maximizes the output potential.²
• The static/isometric safely prepares the joints and kinetic chain for the movement pattern.³
• The dynamic movement patterns explores and reinforces the range of motion your joints and kinetic chain have control of.⁴
• An effective way to add volume to your programming.⁵
• Single arm forces the vertical core to integrate for more stability in all three planes of motion.⁶
• Single arm forces the vertical core to create more output through all three planes of motion.⁶
• Works on ipsilateral patterning and contralateral patterning.⁷

Written By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRAs, FRCms

Living.Fit Education Director and Master Coach

Action.

There is no substitute. One cannot wish or hope their way to doing.

In consulting and coaching, I hear a lot of people express the action they are going to take in poor ways.

It will have a lot of “try,” “should,” and “hope.”

I also read and hear a lot of ambiguous and general language.

It is almost as if the person is giving themselves an escape.

Unfortunately, this ambiguity does not inspire, ensure, or create any actions.

In order for action to be taken, there must be concrete terms and clarity.

“I will run every morning for ten minutes for the next week, in order to develop strength, endurance, and improve my health.”

That is concrete, clear, and calls out the action step.

How can you adjust your language to bring forth action?

By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRCms, FRAs

Education Director and Master Coach

What is Circuit Training?

Circuit training is the high intensity interval training of yesteryear.

Whereas the average group training and exercise class is filled with high intensity interval training, we used to call this circuit training.

Most people think of machines or tiny dumbbells when they conjure pictures of circuit training, but that does have to be the case.

Is circuit training high intensity?

It can be, depending upon the results you are working for, or the way in which you design the program.

Is circuit training, interval training?

It is, dependent upon the goals, and the way you design the program.

Is circuit training effective in building strength and endurance?

As stated in research by Alcaraz, Sánchez-Lorente, and Blazevich, "Heavy Resistance Circuits may be an effective training strategy for the promotion of both strength and cardiovascular adaptations."¹  It has...

1. Too much ballistic work with not enough weight
2. Too many circuits that burn too many calories
3. That’s not the goal for most

By: Aaron Guyett, M.A., B.S., CSCS, FRCms, FRAs

Education Director and Master Coach 

So many people are talking about flow, and there is an equal amount of people that have zero clue what these flow-people are doing.

Turns out, many of the flow-people are just using yet another term that has been watered down and turned into whatever feels good at the time.

Person 1 - "Check out this flow that I am doing with the kettlebell." (performs cool sequence of fluid and dynamic movements with a kettlebell)

Person 2 - "I am so flowing right now." (Really into a video game)

Person 3 - "I am flowing." (Gives dog a treat...)

Let's break down what flow state is, and then we can begin to see how flow workouts began to exist in the fitness industry and the Gram (as in Instagram).

Flow State is a heightened state of arousal and focus, also know as being in the "zone."

If you have played sports or even been really into a creative craft or competition...you may have experienced flow state.

Let's...

Abs versus core gets broken down by our Education Director and Master Coach Aaron Guyett. He then gives you a workout with ab and core exercises, and goes on to explain how to set-up this effective workout within a program.

In the first part of the video, Aaron Guyett demonstrates a few exercises to include in your next AB & CORE WORKOUT with some super sweet music.

The next portion,  break down the difference between "ab" workouts and "core" workouts.

I also break down a very thorough and effective way to train both abs and core at the same time with battle ropes.

After breaking down the workout, I then talk through how I would put this workout into a program, and how I would set it up for progress (or improved adaptation).

If you are looking for some incredible follow-along workouts click here: Battle Ropes Level 2

If you want to learn more about programming and workout development click here: Battle Ropes Advanced Course