A Philosophy of Strength and Health

I bought this little Sony sometime back in 2003 to take still pictures and video for lifting analysis. My journey into the whole video thing started with this little camera. It is great because it takes MPEG video that is limited only by the memory stick and it also takes sequence shots. Pop the memory stick into the laptop, edit, upload and go. At nine years old, the camera is showing it's age. The push up video I posted Friday is grainy and not in HD because it was taken with this camera. I am reluctant to get a new one because this camera has been such a big part of my professional and personal journey. But alas, it is time to retire it and get something newer to take better video and still images. Right now I am a jumble of video and pictures between iPod Touches, phones and iPads--not very organized. Using the mini-dv cameras is a pain; to download the video via firewire or USB to the laptop takes time. I may set up the tripods and cameras at some point, but only for sp...

I love push ups. I can remember doing push ups in front of the little black and white TV in my very cool basement bedroom during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Before basketball practice in high school, we all had to do 20 push ups, 20 sit ups and then run 10 high laps--about a mile in the "new gym". Ugh. Hated the running, but the push ups didn't phase me. At this point in my career I'm stunned at the number of high school kids, particularly boys, who cannot do a solid push up. I'm pretty sure it borders on a national disgrace in the US. The saggy backs, droopy heads and severely-winging scapulae are almost unbearable to watch. The lack of depth in the movement is just plain sad. Then I hear about how push ups are used by sport team coaches as punishment and I have to sigh. Nothing is accomplished when kids are forced to do movements that they are under-prepared to do. We are simply reinforcing dysfunctional movement patterns. With tall, skinny guys and most g...

My "clinic" needs some more artwork and I need to get a couple of white boards. The stall bars (Gladiator Wall) are very new and I look forward to developing some neat new mobility and strength work for everyone here.

It got a little punchy yesterday, but in all seriousness, the Indian Club should be an integral part of any overhead athlete's foundational work. And why aren't all physical therapy and athletic training programs teaching their students how to implement these fantastic movement patterns? Brothers and sisters let us break free from the purgatory of Theraband and the Thrower's 10! We must prepare the athletic shoulder to move and groove as it does in sport! In the "See Just How Far We've Fallen" department, check out this footage from a 1904 PE class in Kansas City, MO. Now we have cup stacking competitions. We have such a rich history of physical culture. Let's hope we can regain the lost appreciation of movement skills as the foundation of school-based physical education.