Category: Articles
October 15, 2018
We often blame our feet last for performance problems or tension leaks. But as our main connection to the ground, they are the foundation to all movement and the vessels through which we generate power and express our strength. Neglecting them is not an option. Learn four drills by Master StrongFirst Instructor Karen Smith to […]
September 18, 2018
“We shape our tools and afterwards our tools shape us.” —Marshall McLuhan Our “tools” could be looked at as our implement (a kettlebell, for example), the exercise we select, our program, or how we use the tool to mold us. Multipurpose tools have become a mainstay in our lives. We “shaped” the multipurpose tool to […]
August 21, 2018
With August upon us, members of the StrongFirst community from the New York City area and elsewhere have already begun their preparations for the 2018 New York City Marathon. Wait a minute. That can’t be right! Marathon training inevitably cannibalizes muscle and leads to a loss of strength. I’m not entirely sure, but I think […]
July 23, 2018
Professional “Learners” We were all professional “learners” at some point. Think about it. Your “job” for the first 18 years or so was to learn. First to learn how to move and walk, and then how to learn in school. This may have continued in sports (learning more movement) or onto advanced degrees (learning more […]
July 11, 2018
We are extremely pleased to launch a new way to GET StrongFirst: our official StrongFirst Podcast, with hosts Craig Marker and Scott Iardella. StrongFirst Podcast Episode – 01 Summary: Introducing the StrongFirst Podcast. In this first episode, Craig and Scott discuss StrongFirst Principles and what you can expect from the new StrongFirst Podcast. Show Notes: 01:05 […]
October 9, 2018
How do you strengthen sport required qualities in the gym and practice the skills it requires in sports-specific sessions when your chosen sport is a 3000 mile ocean row? No, not by rowing machines, ultra marathon runs or sit ups. By training your slow-twitch muscle fiber strength with barbell back squats and seated cable rows. Here’s […]
September 4, 2018
Dead Swing. Power Swing. Hike-Swing-Park. “Rif” Swing. Whatever you choose to call it, this single repetition kettlebell swing should be in your training toolbox. It’s equally fantastic as a corrective drill, a teaching tool for a great KB swing start, a method to develop max power for each rep of a swing, and an evil […]
August 7, 2018
I recently attended a conference and watched a presentation by a highly respected clinician and researcher who specializes in chiropractic and neuro physiology. He works very hard to show the link between movement of the joints and what happens at the brain level. His research dives deep into pain and inflammation, along with keeping joints […]
July 11, 2018
StrongFirst Podcast Episode – 02 Summary: In this 2nd episode of “StrongFirst,” the official podcast of the StrongFirst School of Strength, hosts Craig Marker and Scott Iardella interview Brett Jones, Chief SFG Instructor and Director of Education at StrongFirst. Brett has been teaching kettlebells for over 15 years. He discusses the principles of strength, and […]
June 14, 2018
My friend Jamie Crowder introduced me to the important distinction between “dilemma” and “problem” as it relates to martial arts strategy. A dilemma is defined as “a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.” This means that unlike a “problem” which has one […]