[Zerocrew1984]

some more info on assistance exercises

http://www.fitnessforoneandall.com/p...assistance.htm

[rwebernick]

Smashius, I've been reading around on the forums about kettlebells, and seems like a lot of bashing of people bringing up questions. I think you do a good job of explaining the pros and cons of kettlebells here in the faq.

I think one thing worth mentioning when someone posts about how awesome the kettlebell workout was, is that its not just the type of weight that you lift that makes the workout. Most of the kettlebell workouts people are talking about are structured very differently than what people are used to, usually leaning towards higher reps with full body explosive movements. I think people may not get that you can duplicate most of these moves with a dumbell or barbell.

[Klotz]

Another thing to note about kettlebells is that many of the kettlebell ravers haven't worked out with regular weights before, so pretty much anything they do will yield good results.

[Kamala Shango]

I've been reading these pages for the last two nights. Turns out, I'm a curl monkey and I didn't even know it. Before, I would have thought that being a curl monkey was a good thing; like it meant getting in shape. Vanity really does have a larger part in it, though.

The stuff I'm reading here makes sense to me, so I'm going to try it out. I'm a little iffy on proper deadlift/ squat form, so I'm going to look like a big weakling when I practice with one plate on each side. But whatever. It's not a fashion contest.

I'm glad I started reading from this forum. I wonder why this info isn't more well known.

[SmashiusClay]

Kamala - Glad to be able to help, make sure you take things at your own pace, deadlifting is something that can easily develop bad habits, read the articles by Tate on proper form and watch as many videos as you can (youtube is a blessing in this regard) better to start off light and get the idea down before pushing yourself.

Any other questions feel free to ask or start another thread on them.

And the reason people don't know this stuff is they don't bother to look and often don't bother to think. I've been watching the world's strongest man competition since I was about 7, still didn't realise that copying those kind of movements would get me there faster than endless curls.

[Kamala Shango]

Originally Posted by SmashiusClay

Kamala - Glad to be able to help, make sure you take things at your own pace, deadlifting is something that can easily develop bad habits, read the articles by Tate on proper form and watch as many videos as you can (youtube is a blessing in this regard) better to start off light and get the idea down before pushing yourself.

Any other questions feel free to ask or start another thread on them.

And the reason people don't know this stuff is they don't bother to look and often don't bother to think. I've been watching the world's strongest man competition since I was about 7, still didn't realise that copying those kind of movements would get me there faster than endless curls.

Yeah, I checked out youtube a little. I was looking for slo-mo, step by step instructional stuff, but maybe I should go back and watch the pros do it over and over. My problem with the instructional videos is not knowing who to believe: the chorus of comments below are almost always contradictory. My best bet, I think, might be to compare notes I make from articles cited here (Ive read the Tate) with the instructional vids; that way I can weed out the dangerous instruction. I would by a book, but I'm a visual learner with these things.

Thanks for the advice.

[SmashiusClay]

Listening to youtube comments is like slamming yourslef in the forehead with a sledgehammer - you get a headache, don't learn anything and end up stupider.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls9EygRn_3c - Oli Thompson deadlifting, former Britain's strongest man, right up until he tears his bicep this is a rather good video. Focus on head up, spine stays in neutral, drive with the legs then once they go straight lean back and straighten up.

[MatterOverMind]

What is he sniffing before the 300 and 400 attempts?

[SmashiusClay]

Originally Posted by MatterOverMind

What is he sniffing before the 300 and 400 attempts?

Ammonia based smelling salts, there's a discussion on this topic over in my thread, can't be bothered to repost the whole thing.

[MatterOverMind]

thanx.