Within the video below, I demonstrate how to create a handle for loop style resistance bands (Ex. Iron Woody Fitness bands).

The handle consists of two 5 1/2 inch pipe nipples, two 1 1/2 inch pipe nipples, and three 90 degree connectors.  I have also wrapped the handle with tape.  The smooth tape was added as a preventive measure to avoid damage to the bands.  All points that make contact with the bands are now smooth.

Later in the video, a piece of pipe is used to demonstrate additional exercises (ex. a seated row, a tricep exercise, and a band slam).

+++++

For more homemade equipment ideas, please refer to the link below.

Homemade Exercise Equipment Archives

Below is a video of man who is approaching age 70.  He was featured on this blog once before.

In the video that follows, you will see how he progresses towards a slow muscle up.

While his physical display is clearly impressive, it is his quest to continually improve that captivates me the most.  Here is a man who has obviously taken care of himself throughout life.  Gymnastic training is still new to him but he spent many years as an active rower and climber.

Yet after all these years, he still finds new ways to challenge himself.  He isn’t content to maintain what he already has.  Instead, he methodically plans one progression to the next until he has achieved his goals.  His work highlights the potential of a consistent and intelligent effort.

I regularly see and hear from athletes who have previously jumped from one program to the next.  It is their lack of consistency that prevents them from achieving anything worthwhile.  More often than not, to excel at a given event or task requires a consistent effort.  Only so much will be achieved if you haphazardly jump from one idea to the next.  Consistency is important as the body needs time to adapt and grow stronger.

The man highlighted above has performed many impressive feats within his Youtube channel.  His success does not come by accident.  Yes, he has worked hard physically, but he has also done his homework in that he patiently works up one step at a time.

A rushed approach is more likely to cause injury and less likely to produce results.  If a 70-year-old who performs slow muscle ups does not prove the importance of consistency, I don’t know what does…

Below is a brief update to the previous suspension trainer tutorial that I posted in February.  Since posting the original, I’ve had several questions come through about straps that were slipping through the cam-buckles.  If you have dealt with a similar problem, you will find what is often a simple solution.

+++++

In case you are not familiar with the original tutorial, you can check it out here:

+++++

For more homemade equipment ideas, please refer to the link below.

Homemade Exercise Equipment Archives

Below is a recent Roy Jones compilation that was created by Gorilla Productions. GP consistently puts together the best boxing videos on Youtube (please note the music is filled with foul language however).

Whether you are a Roy Jones fan or not, it is impossible to dismiss his tremendous athletic ability and talent. Many younger boxing fans do not realize how talented Roy was in his prime. They only remember the more recent version which was really just a shell of his former self.

As a youngster, I vividly remember watching Roy Jones in 1988 as an amateur on the US Olympic team. It was that year’s Olympics that sparked my passion for the sport of boxing. I recorded all of the fights and still have the old VHS tapes. Roy Jones Jr. was the one fighter who stood out to me.

Years later, I was fortunate to visit Roy’s father in Pensacola where he was still training amateur fighters in his driveway.  It was the same driveway that Roy trained on as a youngster.  It was an amazing experience to talk boxing with Roy Sr. while watching him train his fighters.

Roy’s father has developed 4 world champions from scratch (meaning these fighters started with him). Many trainers today gain credit for working with fighters who are already tremendous athletes. Roy Sr. is the opposite.  He has molded multiple world champions at a small home based gym in Pensacola.  His knowledge is undeniable.

Roy Jones Jr. is perhaps the greatest example of that…

The video below demonstrates how to suspend a wrist roller overhead without a power rack.  The original idea comes from this video.  It was emailed to me by someone interested in building a smaller version to fit inside a door entrance.

Upon building the smaller version, I’ve come across a few design tips that I believe will be useful to anyone interested in taking on this project.  The suspended roller works quite well and is actually more difficult than the the axle mounted version that I’ve demonstrated before (see here).

+++++

For more homemade equipment ideas, please refer to the link below.

Homemade Exercise Equipment Archives

Anthony Robles was featured on this blog in early 2009.  If you are not familiar with his story, you may wish to start with by reviewing the original entry.   The abbreviated version is that he is a collegiate wrestler who competes despite having just one leg.

In the two years since he was mentioned here, he’s been wrestling all along.  Last night, Anthony Robles won the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships.  In addition to his dominant championship performance, Anthony was also named the outstanding wrestler of the entire tournament.  The award is a fitting conclusion to an outstanding year.  Anthony remained unbeaten with a remarkable 36-0 record.

Below is a quick recap of his championship:

You can also hear from him in more detail through the following press conference footage.

+++++

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

I’ve posted several Mike Tyson videos in the past, but below are two compilations that have not been featured.  The first contains footage of Tyson training as an amateur and pro.  You will see Tyson in his prime as a young fighter.  These clips were filmed long before he ran into problems later in his career.

As you will see throughout, Tyson did not train in a state of the art facility.  The majority of his work is actually quite basic.  He spent a considerable amount of time training the sport itself.  He sparred regularly, hit the bags, hit the mitts, and worked with his trainers on specific tactics.  He also performed traditional activities such as running, rope work, and calisthenics.  Tyson didn’t become Tyson because he was training with an exercise or routine that no one else knew.  He’s yet another example of a fighter who thrived on the basics (like this).

+++++

To conclude this entry, you will find an entertaining Tyson tribute.  This video is different from the previous Gorilla Productions tribute that was featured before.  You will see footage throughout his career, both the good and the bad.

I have created a video tutorial below to discuss different ways to use resistance bands as a means to progress with bodyweight movements such as pull-ups, dips, and pushups.  I first demonstrate the traditional band assisted pull-up, and then discuss a horizontal variation that isn’t as common.

You will also see how bands can intensify the pull-up and allow for a limited impact explosive pushup variation.

Update – This prior entry has been revised with a new video link

As you will see below, Terence Haynes has a story to tell. Anyone who has ever struggled with weight problems should set aside 10 minutes to watch the entire video.

Here is a man who lost over 200 pounds in a year. During this time, he’s also gone back to school and competed as a collegiate wrestler. I like this story for many reasons. Haynes has shown that we all have the ability to reinvent our lives, rather than falling victim to past mistakes.

Critics may argue that he should have never allowed himself to reach 430 pounds, but such critics forget that we’ve all made mistakes. If you are reading this entry, you are human, which means that you too have made mistakes. It’s part of life.

Unfortunately, many who’ve made mistakes are still lost in the past. They honestly believe that it is impossible to change. They relate changing their life to a battle that cannot be won. Haynes has shown that the opposite is true. Making such a rapid and dramatic change at age 45 is truly incredible.

I’m sure there are others in his position who have already given up. Hopefully they can find inspiration from those such as Terence Haynes. They will realize that change isn’t exclusive to anyone. The only secret to change is diligence, perseverance, and consistency. If you want to change, get up and make it happen. There are no secrets or quick fixes. Get up, get busy, and stay busy. And if you don’t have time, make time. It’s there, you just need to look a little harder. We are all working with a 24 hour day. Busy people aren’t blessed with 36 hour days. From the standpoint of time, we all operate on a level playing field.

Haynes lost all of this weight while maintaining a busy schedule. He wasn’t training 24 hours a day. He was active with school and family, yet still found time to dramatically alter (and improve) his life.

Being busy isn’t an excuse to let your life slip away. Being busy simply means that you are just like the rest of us.

Below is a recent video of a woman who I have blogged about before.   As stated previously, this woman did not begin exercising until her late 50′s.  As you’ll soon see, she is now a powerlifting record holder for her age and weight class.  She is still going strong with no signs of letting up.

When I first read about Gayle, I was amazed at her ability to progress so quickly despite such a late start in life.   Let me remind you that she’s in her mid-60′s and did not begin lifting until 2003.  Her story certainly gives hope to those who believe it is too late to start something new.  Perhaps even more importantly, she reminds us that we can continue to compete at almost any age.

I see many former athletes who have lost motivation to train as they believe their chance to compete has expired.  The reality however is that there are still competitive outlets for athletes of any age.  It is incredible for me to see a woman in her 60′s who has just recently started to compete as a powerlifter.

Gayle has approximately 30 years on me.  To think that I have three decades before I reach the point where she has really just begun is mind boggling.  I personally don’t have any interest in powerlifting, but it is nice to be reminded that I can always seek new challenges later in life.

The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” – Benjamin Mays