Author: Karen Smith
Karen Smith is a StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor, and the fourth woman to claim the Iron Maiden title. She has been personal training students of all fitness levels from beginners to elite US military forces since 2000. Karen specializes in kettlebell and bodyweight strength training. She is a certified SFG, SFB, FMS, and Battling Ropes instructor.
Karen currently resides in Dallas where she is available for private and group sessions. She is also available worldwide for distance coaching and program design. She travels regularly instructing workshops and StrongFirst Courses and Certifications.
She can be reached at karensmithmsfg@gmail.com or at her blog, Coach Karen Smith.
Here are some highly effective progressions for those of you working toward your first pull-up. But do not skip this article because you CAN do pull-ups. These same progressions can strengthen and even advance your current performance.
Before we can achieve a heavy weighted pull-up like that required for the Iron Maiden or Beast Tamer, we need to be able to do one perfect pull-up—and that’s what I’m going to teach you today.
Done correctly, the push-up will give you great strength gains and can be done anywhere at any time. But first, we need to make sure you can do one great repetition.
More than one SFB attendee has stated that had they attended the SFB prior to SFG I or II they would have done better and been stronger for their pressing.
All too often, we see exercises being done with poor technique—the pistol, in particular. The key to developing excellent movement is the continual application of assessment and correction.
The bodyweight pistol and its progressions are great for grease the groove training as they can be done anywhere at any time. But, you first need to be able to perform a perfect rep.
Proper bodyweight training doesn’t require equipment. But it does require an expert approach. Let's start by using holds to prepare ourselves for good movement.
I have a mission to help other women see they can be strong. Here are some of the answers to what defines a strong woman, plus a beginning strength program.