Few things cause as much angst for functional fitness folks than the prospect of bodybuilding. Since it’s inception there has been a natural tension between these two different tribes of gym bro’s. On one hand, bodybuilders couldn’t care less how functional they are as long as someone’s mirin’ on their instagram. Where as functional athletes spend the majority of their time talking about metcons, paleo diets, and rolling their ass’s on pieces of foam. You might think that these two groups have very little in common, but you’d be wrong. This article will cover recent research on increasing muscular size, hypertrophy, and how this applies to us, because lets face it guys, secretly we want to be jacked and functional.
Jake
Periodization for the Tactical Shooter
Tactical shooting has been a topic of much debate and considerable argument. There are many different schools of thought, training methodologies, and best practices depending on your point of view. What is lacking, in all of these various approaches, is a rigorous application of training principles, more specifically, periodization. Periodization is a systematic training plan for physical performance that is broken down into large training cycles, mid sized, all the way down to daily workouts. This article will transpose this successful method from the sporting arena and show you how to use it to improve your shooting skills.
Neuroscience, Expert Gunfighters, and the Quiet Eye
Watching an expert shooter is like watching an artist. You may not be able to do it, but you can recognize art when you see it. Thanks to the internet we have an abundance of examples of very good shooters both in the tactical world and on the competition stage, but what defines their expertise? Are they more athletic than us? Do they have better genes? Or is it their $9000 dollar custom guns. The answer is NO, NO and give me their gun so I can find out. The real difference between experts in almost any high skill athletic field is their quiet eye. What’s the quiet eye you say? Keep reading to find out.
Gunfights: How Not to Get Shot
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember you don’t want to get shot in a gunfight. Getting shot statistically leads to dying, and … Read more
On Police Reform
Recently there have been numerous calls for police reform throughout the country. We have seen controversial incidents from Ferguson, to Baltimore. In fact, these very examples have been a catalyst, forming the black lives matter movement, gaining massive media coverage. If you listen to these groups, you might think that we are living in a totalitarian state where police powers are unchecked, that we the police are little more than jack booted thugs. Well, I have yet to be issued any jack boots and it is really hampering my ability to be part of the regime. All kidding aside, this article will delve into the legitimate concerns on both sides, bringing some much need common sense to the conversation.
A Fat Loss Plan for Functional Fitness Athletes
The reason you aren’t losing weight isn’t because you can’t, it’s because you won’t. The science behind weight loss is straight forward and it is well known to anyone who knows how to operate google. You must create a caloric deficit to lose weight. So what’s stopping us? We are. We find it easier to keep doing what we are doing, vainly hoping for an easier way to lose weight, a magic pill, a new exercise routine, anything. We do this because we know that dieting is hard, and even harder to do consistently. This article will cover recent research on weight loss, it’s implications for functional fitness and strength athletes, and methods to increase adherence to a simple weight loss plan.
Physiological Factors Affecting Functional Fitness
Functional Fitness has become immensely popular in the last 5 years, with several million participants. The exercise science and research community has been slow to respond to this trend and is just now starting to publish research that examines what factors are related to functional fitness training. In this article, we will look at which factors the exercise science community has traditionally associated with fitness, and what factors matter most for those excelling in functional fitness.
3 Scientifically Proven Methods to Improve Pistol Shooting
Shooting a pistol is the most difficult form of shooting. This is true for a variety of reasons. Pistols have a short site radius, no ability to brace the weapon against your torso, and comparatively high recoil forces which drastically affect follow on shots. To compound this difficulty, the pistol is the type of firearm most often carried and consequently most likely to be used in a life or death situation. This article will show you practical methods to improve your pistol shooting ability based upon scientific research.
I Can Kick Your Ass Here’s How
Fighting and MMA culture have become wildly popular over the last ten years. What initially started out as little more than a mix between professional wrestling and a street fight, is now a multi-billion dollar industry. This in turn, has attracted thousands of amateurs into MMA gyms in the hopes of learning techniques to help them feel confident, and able to handle themselves in a fight. It also makes them mistakenly think they can wear very douchy clothes, but that is besides the point.
While I am a fan of anything that gets people off their asses, I believe that these folks are missing out on the number one, most important factor that will allow them to win in any fight,
Lies, Damn Lies, and the Fitness Industry
You’ve been lied to and the fitness industry did it. That sounds outrageous and harsh but let me explain. They have insidiously ruined your expectations, your self confidence, and your self image. I’m not talking about the myriad supplement companies, peddling their powders, or the newest fad workout programs from isometrics and Charles Atlas to BOSU balls. No those lies are relatively harmless, only costing you time and money. The worst lie, the lie that they don’t even speak, is one shown on nearly every magazine cover, instagram account, and motivational meme.
