Learn to Train & Succeed with Bodyweight Training

20 08 2012

Pistol Squat

Bodyweight Training workshop
8/9/12 – Tramore Kettlebell Fitness

Due to popular demand I’ll be running a Bodyweight Training workshop.
This will be held at my friend Gan Power’s gym, Tramore Kettlebell Fitness.

You may have noticed over the last while I’ve been training almost exclusively with bodyweight exercises (read my training log here). Now while there’s been a massive emphasis on high rep squats, but there’s a lot of other exercises and drills I’ve been using that you may not have heard of.
It is also worth noting that most of my guys, even my strongest BJJ lads, are often humbled by some of the bodyweight drills I give them. In my opinion the use of bodyweight exercise is more useful to an athlete as they need to control their body moving through space. Sitting still and lifting an external weight may offer greater load, but it offers less proprioceptive feedback and requires much less intramuscular coordination.
Big words I know, but come along on the day and all will be explained.

Book your place today click here

Martial Arts inspired training methods for building genuine strength & power, not just “gym strength”

Over the course of the day I will share over 20 years of training experience from my roots in traditional martial arts, the physical training methods found in Karate, Aikido, Goshin Jitsu (Ju-Jitsu). The training I learned from the strength & conditioning coach at my school who looked after a top 15 schoolboy rowing team.
We’ll look at bodyweight training methods from Chinese martial arts, some of which were taught to me by top coach Steve Cotter.
We’ll show how to work the entire body in a balanced fashion with zero equipment. We’ll look at the best exercises for building strength, endurance, work capacity.
We’ll look at various methods for programming the exercises to suit various wants and needs. Are you a fighter? A fitness enthusiast? Do you need power or endurance? Are you looking for metabolic conditioning?

All avenues will be discussed. Including, and probably most importantly, how I integrate bodyweight training into a multi modality training program. How I combine external loading and bodyweight loading to create incredible results for my athletes.
an considering my athletes are nearly all involved in contact sports, be it martial arts or team sports, they can’t afford to have second rate fitness levels.

The workshop will cover (but not limited to):

Real explosive power

-Push Up variations to work every aspect of the body
-Squat variations
-Unilateral training
-Martial Arts strength training secrets
-Integrated core training
-Total body conditioners
-Agility
-Bodyweight for explosive power
-Mobility
-Much, much moreDate: Sept 8th,
Times: 1000 – 1600
Location: Tramore Kettlebell Fitness,
unit1,1 riverstown, business pk
Tramore, Ireland

Cost: €50

For booking:
email info@wildgeesema.com with Bodyweight Workshop in the subject line





Bodyweight & Kettlebell Workshop dates announced:

11 06 2012

The next few Wild Geese workshop dates have just been confirmed:

Due to popular demand I’ll be running a Bodyweight Training workshop.
This will be held at my friend Gan Power’s gym: Tramore Kettlebell Fitness

The workshop will cover (but not limited to):

  • Push Up variations to work every aspect of the body
  • Squat variations
  • Unilateral training
  • Martial Arts strength training secrets
  • Integrated core training
  • Total body conditioners
  • Agility
  • Bodyweight for explosive power
  • Mobility

Why bodyweight?
Why not? Using your own body to move and become strong is the most fundamental yet most often overlooked aspect of today’s fitness training.
No other training modality will give the coordination, balance and body awareness  epitomised by Martial Artists, Gymnasts and Wild Animals.
Time to get beck to natural movement, No Equipment, No Excuses!

Date:  Sept 8th,
Times: 1000 – 1600
Location: Tramore Kettlebell Fitness,
unit1,1 riverstown, business pk
Tramore, Ireland

Cost: €50

Click Here to book

The next Kettlebell Workshops will be the Levels 1 & 2.

Instead of me trying to sell you, have a read of these:

It was really great, very detailed and no beating around the bush. You gave clear, precise pointers on the different moves which were easy to follow and implement. 

I feel that what I learned I will remember easily and can put into practice at home.

You welcomed plenty of questions if we had any and you were very clear that your way wasn’t the only way and that the more you practice the better you get. 

Thanks again and see you in April,

Maeve

Hi Dave,

Many thanks for sending on the docs so quickly. I had a quick look at them and it looks like they are really easy to follow guides. Perfect for practicing the exercises at home. I actually can’t wait to get a couple of kettlebells for myself now and get started.

The workshops were absolutely brilliant and very inspirational, too. I think everything was very well explained and demonstrated. Time just flew by and I could have gone on and on.  I think I really learned a lot during that relatively short period of time, and also realised how much there is still to learn. I’ll definitely be back for the level 3 workshop and will also try out your beginner’s kettlebell class very soon!

Anyway, thanks again for the brilliant workshops!

Regards,

Rabea

Level 1 and 2 will be run on the 14th October.
Level 1 starts at 10am till 12pm
Level 2 runs 12.30pm to 4pm
Both cost €35 each or €60 for both.
Pdf manuals will be emailed out on completion of the course.

Click Here to book

Regards

Dave
www.wg-fit.com





Watch Your Back

1 07 2009

The large majority of gym bunnies have a tendency to ignore their back.
Women tend to jump around in silly aerobics sessions and the Adductor machines, Men spend too much time on pressing movements and “mirror workouts”.

We all spend too much time slumped over a desk/on the sofa/in the car.

The result:
Overly loose back muscles that can no longer hold us up in the upright posture that separates man from beast.
This then can lead to an array of problems, most common is the bad back, rounded shoulders and shoulder pain, neck pain and headaches.

Yet the back is relatively easy to train, even with No Equipment.

There are a variety of drills available that will hit all the various muscles that make up the back. Even some press up variations will hit the back as one of the functions of the upper back is to stabilise the shoulder joint.

I was recently asked by a client who has just torn ligaments in his ankle how he can keep training. I suggested the following:
Press ups (and variations)
Handstands
Towel Rows
Doorway Pullups.

All done with little or no equipment, and allow him to get great upper body work while allowing the ankle to recover.

If he was able to support weight on the foot I’d have also added in supine bridges, and seeing as he’s recently took up Muay Thai, the wrestlers bridge for strengthening the neck. Vital for good clinch work and protecting against knockout.

Here’s a clip of the Towel Row:

Regards
Dave
www.wildgeesema.com / noequipment.blogspot.com
info@wildgeesema.com
+353 087 672 6090
subscribe to our newsletter simply send a blank email to:
newsletter-subscribe@wildgeesema.com





Arhtritis? No Excuse

22 06 2009

One of my female clients, Nicola, just achieved her bodyweight goals, despite a severe case of arthritis in her knees and spondylosis (arthritis in the spine).

A little while ago she told me that she’d like to be able to do a single leg squat, a pull up and a push up. Despite having been a competitive triathlete and having had several coaches in the past who had used Olympic lifting, isometrics, bodybuilding and various other methods she’d never been able to do the simplest lift of all.

Lifting herself.

Bodyweight training gives you mastery of your own body, this in turn will benefit you in every other athletic pursuit, hence the reason even the worlds strongest will often include bodyweight drills into their training protocols.

I gave Nicola a simple 3 day per week program that took 15 minutes to complete (not including warm up and cool down).
Each day was dedicated to one lift, so mondays were squats, wed – pushups and fripullups.
The workout was simple, set the countdown timer for 15 minutes and perform as many sets of 3 reps as possible, never hitting failure. Eventually during the time you’d have to drop to 2′s and 1′s, over the weeks you’d gradually finish more sets. At this point you could decrease rest periods. The goal, beat last weeks total.
For the pushup, we used an elevation, around knee height was right in this case.
Pull ups were done as negatives, only the lowering phase was trained with the palms turned in (chin up grip)
Single leg squats were also done from an elevation, attempting to get deeper each week.
After 8 weeks we tested her progress.

The result:
1 full range single leg squat from an elevation on each leg, and it looked easy! We’ll start on the Pistol proper in the next rotation!
1 full chest to the floor pushup. For a triathlete who admits to having little upper body strength, this was a feat!

The pull up wasn’t a total success but with minimal assistance from me she made it to the bar!

All this while refusing to give in to a case of arthritis that would fell a lesser person. Nicola refuses to give into it and continues to train with no excuses.

If she can, can you?





Bigger arms from bodyweight training

12 06 2009

Can you build arms like a gymnast with a No Equipment, No Excuses style workout?

It just so happens that we can.
Two of the best arm building drills available are mere bodyweight drills. No need for bar and dumbells, benches and all the other paraphernalia the average bodybuilder needs to do an arm workout.

All we need is something to hang from to do pull up and chin up variations and something to dip from.

At home you can grab a couple of chairs and blast you triceps into submission with dips. You can wedge a door open and demolish your biceps with pull ups.

Other variations:
Triceps

  • Push ups, especially one armers
  • Handstands, hold for time, build to handstand pushups
  • Tiger bend push ups, a brutal tricep isolation. Imagine doing a skull crusher with about 70% of your bodyweight!

Biceps

  • Chins
  • Overhand pull ups
  • Rope climbs
  • Towel rows
  • Inverted rows
  • Bicep curls using bodyweight. You’ll need something to hang off.

You’ll notice most of these drills are big compound movements. Not only will you’re arms grow but you’ll also build real strength. Your shoulders and back will fill out, your core strength will increase and all your bodybuilding mates will be sick with envy.

However if getting huge is your main goal, you will have to add external resistance at some point, but don’t change the drills. A weighted vest is ideal, but for the real budget or travel option, simply strap on your backpack and away you go.

Let me know how you get on.

Regards
Dave
www.wildgeesema.com / noequipment.blogspot.com
info@wildgeesema.com
+353 087 672 6090
subscribe to our newsletter simply send a blank email to:
newsletter-subscribe@wildgeesema.com





Race For Life, Raising Money for Cancer Research

11 06 2009

The following is a message from Kez Hedges.
She will be taking part in the Race For Life event to raise money for Cancer Research.
I ask you to support her, here’s what she has to say:

——————————————————————————————
Hello,
Thank you very much for visiting this important page – you are already a star for coming here. If you sponsor me then you are officially an angel.
My friend Liz challenged me to enter the Race for Life event with her and I just couldn’t say no. I am not the fittest person in the world and have entered late but will be doing my best to get healthier before the event. I will even give up chocolate a week beforehand!!

  1. I am taking part in Race for Life for four reasons:
    In memory of my Uncle who lost his battle to Prostate Cancer last Christmas and I miss him.
  2. For my cousin who has had cancer and currently has the all clear. I would love to think that a cure could be found when it eventually returns, which sadly it will.
  3. To raise money for more and more research into cancer.
  4. To become healthier than I am now.

I know times are tough but please dig deep and sponsor me to make a fool of myself – I even promise to wear something pink and fluffy!! Every penny you give will go directly to Cancer Research UK and help with their life saving work.

Oh, and don’t forget that if you are a UK taxpayer please tick the Gift Aid box when you donate. Do this and the charity gets even more money – an extra 25%.

So please sponsor me and help make a real difference
Thanks for you support – it means a lot :0)
——————————————————————————————

As she is my sister, and she’s running on behalf of my Uncle and Cousin, I’d like to donate 50% of each sale of the eBook, No Equipment, No Excuses, to her chosen charity.

So either click on this link to sponsor her directly, or this one to buy the book and automatically donate €7.50 to her cause.

So there’s two ways you can support her.

Regards

Dave
www.wildgeesema.com / noequipment.blogspot.comi
nfo@wildgeesema.com

+353 087 672 6090
subscribe to our newsletter simply send a blank email to:
newsletter-subscribe@wildgeesema.com





Short Sharp Shock

6 06 2009

Sorry Paulie, I’ve nicked your favorite expression!
But here is no better way of describing effective, fat burning, strength & conditioning work. So Short, Sharp Shock it is.

Today’s Saturday session took place on the football (that’s soccer to the rest of the world) pitch down beside the beach. And today is a complete contrast to last week!
Last Saturday was brilliant sunshine, people out enjoying the weather and just slight cooling breeze.
Today it’s blowing the rain horizontally in from the see, you could almost surf of the Balbriggan coast today (don’t, the rocks are like razors!)

But that didn’t stop this ole man. He needed something to clear his head after a horrible long week. We all get em from time to time, an a session like today can just be the antidote you need.

I left the house and took a quick jog down, past the pitch and down to look at the sea. I’ve never failed to be impressed by nature in it’s glory and standing in the wind and rain watching the waves crash over the rocks as if saying “Come an ‘av a go if you think you’re ‘ard enough!”
A few minutes watching this got me pumped and ready to go. I want to be as powerful and enduring as the sea, able to crush rocks into sand, never ever tiring.

So I jogged back to the field and down to the halfway line.

From here I made my plan.

  1. Spiderman crawl from the Goal box to goal line
  2. 5 Pull ups from the cross bar
  3. 10 deck squats
  4. Sprint to half way line
  5. recover as I walk back to edge of goal area to repeat

I set the countdown timer for 20 minutes and got to work.

20 mins later the alarm went off and i turned and jogged home. My shoulders on fire and the legs not functioning properly.

I’ve always enjoyed getting out and pitting myself against the elements, a set off pull ups is a set of pull ups, but when there’s a wind trying to pry you off the bar that’s already soaked with the rain, it just gets a little more fun. Today’s sprints felt a whole lot different from last weeks as i was running into the wind and fighting for grip on the wet grass.
These are variables that you just don’t get in the nice air conditioned, hermetically sealed “health” clubs.

Thats all for today folks

Regards
Dave
http://www.wildgeesema.com/ / noequipment.blogspot.com
info@wildgeesema.com
+353 087 672 6090
subscribe to our newsletter simply send a blank email to:
newsletter-subscribe@wildgeesema.com
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When there’s no excuses, there are no limits

31 05 2009

It’s bank holiday Sunday, the sun is shining, I’ve no appointments to keep, what should I do?

Well chillin out is the first choice but the weathers too good to waste, so…….

Here’s today’s impromptu No Equipment workout:

· Out the front door and fast 20 min run to and along the beach. Great warm up, plus agility work as the beach has some seriously big rocks to jump over.
· Down to the seafront on the rocks. Find a couple that looked about right for 10 Hindu Pushups, immediately followed by 10 Divebombers.
· Jump across to a flat bit and 25 Hindu squats facing one way, followed by 25 facing the other (ground wasn’t completely flat so I turned around after the first 25 for the sake of evenness)
· Spotted two big rocks spaced just right to do a couple of 1arm/1leg pushups per side
· Jumped over to the flat section for a couple of pistol squats per side

Then I remembered the soccer pitch just up the hill so away I went and did 5 sets of:
· 50m sprint to the goal post
· 5 “maxercist” burpees (a Hindu push up followed by a jump to the crossbar for a pull up)

Then I jogged slowly home. Very slowly.

Door to door in 50 minutes.

I was tired going out, but feel refreshed and powerful now. Tiredness is not an excuse.

Regards

Dave
www.wildgeesema.com / noequipment.blogspot.cominfo@wildgeesema.com
+353 087 672 6090
subscribe to our newsletter simply send a blank email to: newsletter-subscribe@wildgeesema.com
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Honeymoon sale ends tomorrow.

31 05 2009

I just realised it’s the 1st june tomorrow.

The day I said my honeymoon sale will end.That gives you till the end of tomorrow if you wish to recieve a 50% discount on the eBook, No Equiment, No Excuses or on my Online Personal Training Service

Till tomorrow then….

Dave Hedges
Author: No Equipment, No Excuses – Bodyweight training for the Home, Office or on the Road
info@wildgeesema.com
+353 87 672 6090
Facebook / Twitter





Honeymoon sale ends tomorrow.

31 05 2009

I just realised it’s the 1st june tomorrow.
The day I said my honeymoon sale will end.

That gives you till the end of tomorrow if you wish to recieve a 50% discount on the eBook, No Equiment, No Excuses or on my Online Personal Training Service

Till tomorrow then….

Dave Hedges
Author: No Equipment, No Excuses – Bodyweight training for the Home, Office or on the Road
info@wildgeesema.com
+353 87 672 6090
Facebook / Twitter








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