I came across this short clip of some squat-jump stair work over at the Straight to the Bar site. This is a pretty good approximation of the types of dual-leg hops I like to perform in my stadium workouts. Personally, though, I’d go through the motions much more quickly — especially the landing/launch transition of each hop. I like to imagine each step being griddle hot, therefore making a fast fast transition paramount. This is the same idea behind lessening the ground contact time in the sprint. The goal is to maximize the power output generated with each foot-strike via an elastic explosion. The backwards bear crawl is an interesting idea; analogous to my ballistic decline pushups. Gotta love that killer, down-under accent, as well.
And then there’s Craig Ballantyne’s Turbulence Training; a few questions and answers via Rusty Moore’s Fitness Black Book. Call it HIT, call it Turbulence Training, call it CrossFit, call it Track and Field sprint, jumps or throws training — call it what you will, but the underlying precepts, the physiology behind why this type of training is so thoroughly effective are the same.
Now, I tend to pick and choose across and between all these types of methodologies to cobble my version — the TTP version — of physical culture. Knowing your goals, and recognizing your limitations and obstacles, continually re-calibrating, reassessing — are my actions still in support of my goals? Have I properly addressed any new limitations and/or obstacles? — these things, in my opinion, are paramount to reaching your ultimate, long-term, fitness success. Only you can establish, and continually re-evaluate, your goals.
And, too, only you can truly assess your limitations and obstacles. Only you can actually put forth the effort to get it done right. But that’s what I love — and I hope that you love — about health and physical culture; it cannot be bought. Yachts can be bought, but if you aim to look damn fine on the yacht, you’ve got to pay — with sweat and effort — your dues. Sweat and effort are the only currency of import in this endeavor; and I have to say that I derive great satisfaction from knowing that truth.
Yeah, Monday, the tenth, is my 44th. I plan on taking and posting a picture then — I think it’s a good opportunity to visually chronicle the benefits the Paleo lifestyle. I don’t do this picture-posting thing for self flattery, I do it because I really want folks to see that a fit body can be had and maintained even at middle-age, and even while mostly occupied by a time-demanding desk job — and all that surrounds living a real life. We’ll see how it turns out.
Great stuff Keith. Thanks for pointing out the turbulence training stuff. Although main stream I am a big fan of Ballantyne’s stuff his works are short and effective and he seems to be a fan of a “low grain diet” eating 90% paleo, worth watching his twitter….. And Happy Birthday for tomorrow its awesome to see someone living the Paleo/EF lifestyle with such vigor, I am sure you look many years younger than 44!
Cheers for the link Keith – great site. Just taking a look around now.
btw, happy birthday for tomorrow. Have a good one.
Thanks for the B-day nods, guys. I can’t believe I’m going to be 44 — I’m not going to get dragged down to middle age-ville without a hell of a fight, though!
Scott — I’ve enjoyed the wide array of exercises you feature on your site. I’ve copped some really good ideas from the things you’ve found.
Chris — yeah, I like Craig’s stuff, too. I might not totally agree with his exercise selection, per se (hey, to each his own — his goals are a bit different than mine), but I do appreciate and agree with his methods.