Nugent Coaching Systems

January 2010:

Here’s the scenario:

You want to get in shape.  You’ve been told the gym is the place to do it.  Everyone is ranting about kettlebells, TRX, olympic lifts and forearm curls (not really), you have none of this equipment.  The gym is either too far away, too inconvenient (trying to find day care or a babysitter is out) or you just hate the idea of being locked up inside.

There’s a better option.  Body weight training.

Before you stop me and bring up a story about your elementary gym coach making you do jumping jacks, push-ups and sit-ups (which are all great exercises) hear me out.

We’ve seen people that can do one arm push-ups, what about:

A one-arm pull-up?

It gets crazier.  How about a one arm handstand?

Or crazier yet:  a one-arm handstand push-up?

There’s a man who has outlined the training progressions to do exactly these things.  Coach Paul Wade, author of  “Convict Conditioning”.

I purchased this book a few weeks ago.  As a coach who trains a lot of folks outdoors and has a love/hate relationship with training equipment, I was curious what Wade would promote for bodyweight style training.  I should know right?  Well I learned more than I anticipated.  The one-arm push-up progression is great.  It will take someone who can barely do knee push-ups and outline a path to a level of uncommon strength where one can do multiple sets of one-arm push-ups.   In the 3 weeks I’ve had this book, I’ve noticed a positive affect on general body strength.  It can only be a good thing.

Positives:

• 6 exercises, 10 progressions
• Training plans on developing strength
• Precautions on progressing slowly(joints before muscular adaptation)
• Straightforward approach

Negatives:

• May be skewed toward a male-how-can-I-survive-prison demographic
• Progression charts take some eye-adjustment(hard to read), otherwise very useful

It’s not a comprehensive training approach.  It’s just training focused on developing significant strength with using only your body weight.  Some items that will come in handy:

• A pull-up bar
• A small ball (used in a couple instances like offset push-ups and roll-outs)

Would I recommend this book?  Absolutely.  It’s title is bound to create questions and if you leave it out on your coffee table, someone is going to ask you do a one-arm push-up.  If you have the book, train with it, THEN leave it out on your coffee table.  Or just ask someone to ask you do a one-arm push-up.  Either way, you’re bound to benefit from the info.

As for me, I plan on implementing the principles and retesting myself for each of the bodyweight targets listed in the book.  I’ll be posting follow-up videos of the progress.   Right now I can do handstand push-ups, one-arm negatives, and L-sit pull-ups.  I am no where near a one-arm pull-up though, or a one-arm handstand push-up.  Stuff to work on!  Stay tuned!

Progress:
March 2010:

In order to increase your ability to perform more work (burn more calories, go farther faster, etc) you need strength. The best way I have found to develop this strength is first by determining your one rep max, either by estimating or by an actual attempt or series of attempts. Once you have this, you are armed with knowledge in which you can start applying a variety of training options.

My favorite strength training protocol is found in Pavel’s PTP book. In one cycle I was able to add 38 pounds to my deadlift PR.

The book is definitely worth checking out, and for the information on technique alone, worth the purchase if you don’t have access to a trainer. I recommend video taping yourself and having someone around to help cue you on form if possible.

Inside thinking about going out?  Not going out?

Grab your heaviest bell and do the following:

2 rounds:

• 20 swings
• 1:00 rest
• 20 Sumo deadlift high-pulls
• 1:00 rest
• 20 Bottom-up front squats

Have fun!

A variant of the CrossFit Fight-Gone-Bad workout (www.crossfit.com) this one has the same timing and rep counting focus as the original, and with all the gut-wrenching fun left in.

Fight Gone Push:  3, 5-minute rounds separated by 1 minute rest.  1 minute at each station

• Thrusters
• Push-ups
• Double-unders
• KB Swing
• Lunges

Results:

Five B’s Of 500 Feet

Life doesn’t show up as a set of bicep curls.  Sometimes you need to get something overhead.  It might be a boat, it might be a box of holiday lights to go into the attic…  You guys are putting away those decorations right?

This week the theme is core development and putting stuff over our heads (safely).  Remember that the body acts as a connected system.  This week we went over recommended ways to get something overhead safely and efficiently.  You might even sweat a little… probably a lot.

5 stations: Barbells, Bags, Balls, Bells, Bumpers.  Carry each item overhead 500 feet.  Repeat.  If partnered up or unable to use station do air squats, count reps.

• Barbell (PVC, GV Pipe – 15#, Oly bar – 38#)
• Bags (15#, 30#)
• Balls (12#, 20#)
• Bells (clubbell 10#, kettlebell 15#, 26#)
• Bumpers (25#, 45#, or partner TRX-carry-a-bumper option)

Results: