Upper-Body Power - 2 Exercises to Increase Upper-Body Explosive Power!

When I talk about developing upper-body explosive power I would do it much in the same way as I would with developing lower-body explosive power. The following exercises are two great practices to implement into your personal program to achieve maximum hand speed, pushing force, and core resiliency.

Exercise 1: (Medicine Ball Punch) This is a great upper body plymetric exercise to perform with a partner. Depending on your level of ability simply take a 15 to 25 lb soft medicine ball gripping the outer edges and execute an aggressive chest pass to your partner. You want to always absorb the ball with your arms outstretched into your chest when receiving it and always pass it from the chest when getting rid of it. Every pass should be caught and thrown in rapid succession between you and your partner for ultimate results. This is a great plyometric arm and chest exercise.

Exercise 2: (Plyometric Push-Up) This is a tremendously high intensity exercise drill for developing optimal fitness and a hard and fast reacting upper-body. To complete this drill you simply get into a normal upright push-up position. From here all you do is execute a normal push-up with one slight, but intense difference. When you are at the bottom of the push-up phase coming up you want to generate enough upward force to elevate your hands off of the ground. Your hands stay the same width apart throughout every repetition. Just make sure every rep is done in rapid succession with a full range of motion.

These drills should be practiced flawlessly. Make the most of your workouts and include these drills if you really want to take your program to the next level!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com. To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html. I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Real Men Train With Kettlebells!

Ok, I am tired of running into guys that complain about not losing weight or being able to pack on lean muscle mass. For you guys I have the solution. I want to introduce to you the kettlebell. This is the ultimate strength and conditioning device that has been field tested for over three centuries by the WORLD'S greatest strongmen and athletes. The true Greek Gods of physical fitness and bodybuilding use kettlebells. If you are tired of a lack of results then stop whining and pick up a kettlebell.

Forging your body into something that resembles a Greek God takes commitment, drive, skill, and intelligence. I just rambled off characteristics of what many would consider to be a superman! This is how you benefit from kettlebell training. I'm talking about packing true hard lean muscle that stays with you. Not the fake bloated balloon look that you get with the assistance of some chemical created in some lab. Real men train with kettlebells and it shows. Kettlebell training is not elitist, but it will only work with the guys that are willing to learn how to tame the iron monster. The truly fit and dedicated will be the next ones to set at the thrones of the Greek God culture. Don't waste your time trying to execute 9 sets of bicep curls. This is a waste of time. Man up and forge your body into mountain of real muscle.

Take your training to new levels. I'll even make it a bit easier for you. All you have to do is access the rest of my articles here on kettlebells. They are free and plentiful so you have no excuses. Train hard and enjoy my friend!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Real Strength - 2 Drills For the Paraplegic Athlete to Develop a Herculean Upper-Body!

I have to say that I recently was blown away by a special that I saw on the Science channel. During this special on technology I happened to catch a preview of what appeared to be a serious wheelchair racing league with a bit of the X games mixed into it. I saw wheelchair racers flying down ramps and turning back flips through the air! These guys were doing things that I have never seen done in a wheelchair, let alone any other sport. Lately I have been influenced to devote more ideas to training with paraplegics who are interested in getting competitive and back into shape again. The thing is that if you happen to be one of these guys or girls who is serious about fitness then you have to break away from the same old "bodybuilding" mindset on training. Here are 2 drills to help kick your rear back into shape.

1. Seesaw Kettlebell Presses: I understand that there are varying degrees of muscular function in paraplegics. Depending on yours you need to evaluate how you will need to execute the following drill. The less back support for this drill the better. This will force you to activate more of your trunk, therefore further strengthening your core. To begin, you will need the availability of 2 kettlebells of light to moderate resistance and equal weight. The objective here is about endurance, not power so don't worry about throwing around something like the beast. At least not yet! You must be familiar with how to properly hold the bells in a clean position at your chest level. With the kettlebells at the proper resting point and clean position at your chest press one kettlebell above your head. Make sure that you lock out both the elbow and shoulder at the top. The next step is very important. As you lower the first bell immediately start pressing the other kettlebell. This will create a pressing consistency with continuous movement. Hence the name seesaw press. Execute this lift for 30 seconds. If you aren't breathing hard afterwards you did wrong or you need to kick up the weight!

2. Medicine Ball Throws: For this drill you will need a medicine ball between 8 and 10 pounds, an open flat area, and a brick wall. Make sure it is the hard type ball and not the pillow soft type. It must be able to bounce. Next, you want to allow for about a distance of 8 to 10 feet between you and the wall. Hold the ball overhead and throw it against the wall. Perform an overhead throw and don't favor one arm as you throw it. The objective is to catch the ball on a single bounce and immediately throw it again. You will learn 2 things from this drill. You will learn muscular control and muscular power. Give it a try.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Developing Upper Body Strength in the Paraplegic Athlete!

If you are a paraplegic looking to develop upper-body strength and power then listen up. Its time for you to kick your training into high gear. If you are looking to develop upper body strength and power then you have to train just like any other athlete, only harder! The fact is that irregardless of your personal capability, if you have the full use of your arms, chest, and upper body you can gain supreme power.

If you have read my other material then you know that the very essence of strength comes from the practice of muscular tension. Tension equals force and force is strength! To do this you have to work on two very distinct type of movements. The first type involves more strength endurance related movements. This is where you execute a single task over and over for total volume. A good example of this may be something like traditional chest presses, shoulder presses, and medicine ball throws.

The second type of movement is what is referred to as slow tension or grinding. This is where you don't concern yourself with repetitions, but rather the exertion and tension of the movement. An example of this would be something like pressing a dumbell or kettlebell overhead and simply holding it for time. Once again tension equals force. If you have a competent training program you will force your body to innervate more neuromuscular activity, therefore creating a superior level of strength.

This is the key to any successful strength and fitness program. If you don't believe in building strength then you aren't training! Train hard my friend and give it a try.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Specificity of Training For Baseball!

In order to be great at the game of baseball you must be properly trained athletically in order to succeed at the sport. Notice that I didn't say that you should train in terms of sport specific, but rather train to be a better athlete. So what exactly is the difference.

In order to determine the difference in how you should train to be athletically specific to your sport lets take a look at the sport in terms of what demands need to be met within the sport itself. So what do we know about the sport of baseball? Well, it takes hand and eye coordination, speed, power, agility, and strength. This is the answer to our question. Each one of these mentioned traits are all necessary for a baseball player to be a successful player in their sport.

The specificity of training for baseball should include a strength program that consists of focusing on the development of coordination, speed, power, agility, and strength. The smart baseball player should incorporate lifting and training techniques that include the overall development of strength, power, and speed. Training such as olympic lifting and kettlebell training for baseball are extremely beneficial. This is how the athlete can make the better player.

In order for your next baseball season to be a success you must incorporate the proper specificity of training to make it happen. Take your training through the proper channels. Work to achieve the necessary athletic skills that I mentioned in this article and I promise your season will be an all-star season!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Hulk Up With the Ancient Kettlebell!

If you are looking to Hulk up with kettlebells then you have arrived at the right place. Kettlebell training is just what you should be including into your personal fitness and strength program if you are wanting to achieve superior physical power! Not only do you develop a significant level of lean muscle mass with kettlebell training, but you obtain the function and performance of your body in the process.

True fitness is about more than just looking pretty. True fitness contains both elements of human appearance and an optimal level of human performance! This is the key to physical success. With kettlebells you train and practice your body into not only being fit, but you also boost the quality of your body's use by keeping it sharp. Hulking up with muscles that are big are one thing, but Hulking up with muscle that is resilient, explosive, and powerful puts you into league of your own!

This is also the difference in your quality of life. When packing on an extra 10 or 15lbs of kettlebell muscle it could be the difference in you sitting in a rocking chair at 60 years of age or hitting the ski slopes instead! Take your pick. If you want to achieve a true level of fitness and not disappoint the real Incredible Hulk then start training with kettlebells!

Remember that there are many ways to build muscle and get fit, however there are those that look fit and there are those that look fit and strong. Which one are you?

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

The Importance of Speed and Power in Baseball!

Today's baseball player is a lot different than yesteryear's player! The best baseball players today are built like football players. This is a testament to the world of strength and conditioning. Speed and power are essential traits for a baseball player to succeed in today's game.

In order to build speed and power you have to know the skills it takes to do so. You see in the past speed and power were traits accepted by the baseball community to be something that you either had or didn't have. The truth is that some guys do naturally have more of these traits than other guys, but everyone can develop these characteristics to a certain point. The importance of speed and power are seen more and more with today's players. Home runs and stolen bases occur in just about every game at an eye popping rate.

Successful athletes and athletic programs understand the REAL reason behind their efforts and it doesn't predominately have anything to do with the improvement of their specific sport skills. The smart players are making themselves better athletes which in turn makes them better players! That is the key difference. The most successful baseball players are finding that they can maintain their specific sport skills (like hitting,catching, or throwing), but by spending their time hitting the weights and mastering the skills of athletic performance and kettlebell training they get better at those specific sport skills! There has obviously been a shift in priorities of these more dominant baseball players.

If you want to join the Elite then please feel free to access the rest of my articles here on kettlebell and strength training. Keep training hard and enjoy!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!