The Benefits of Unilateral Strength Training

EarlyBarbell

Unilateral strength training involves the use of one limb at a time and for this dumbbells, kettlebells and bodyweight movements are the primary implements. I have found out that it is one thing to do a barbell lift but it is an entirely different proposition to do the same lift with dumbells. If you don’t train much with dumbells, expect to have your strength imbalances and weaknesses exposed as I have found out, much to my dismay. Glaring weaknesses. I would benefit greatly by doing an entire cycle of just doing unilateral training. Mixing in DB cleans, snatches, push presses, bench presses, in short, most of the things I do with a barbell. for good measure, adding in some plyometric and bodyweight exercises would increase the “fun factor”.

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Training Log, Week Ending 6/14/09

Monday, 6/8/09

Jogged a mile and it sucked.

1 H Kettlebell Swings, 24 kg: 20/20/20/20.

Kettlebell Snatches, 24 kg: 20/20/10/10/20/.

Tuesday, 6/9/09

Sandbag Clean

Sandbag Clean

Trained with Jon Curry

Snatch, x 3: 45/45/65/70/75/80/85/85/. Singles: 90/95/100/.

Sandbag Medley, 3 x 6:

  • Bent Over Rows
  • Power Cleans
  • Zercher Squats
  • Push Presses
  • Back Squats
  • Good Mornings

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Training Log, Week Ending 6/7/09

Ted Swings the Sledge

Ted Swings the Sledge

Monday, 6/1/09

Back Squat: 225×3/235×3/5×5: 5 245.

Push Press, 5×5: 5×135.

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Pushing It Overhead

One way to do the military press!

One way to do the military press!

Pull it, carry it or put it over your head. Those are the basic lifting movements. Deadlifting, one of the most, if not the most useful overall exercise is a pulling movement and there are many other variations and exercises that pull, like rows.

The flip side to that coin are pushing exercises, like military presses, push presses and jerks.

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Training Log, Week Ending 1/25/09

Monday, 1/19/09

Sledgehammer to Tire Swings:
5 rounds,
2:00 on, :30 rest, then,
5 rounds,
1:00 on, 1:00 rest.

Prowler Sled Pushes w/90#. 3 sets.
I was at failure on the 4th and sixth legs, (the returns). Completed gassed! Oh yeah!

Tuesday, 1/20/09

Inauguration Day was also a rest day!

Wednesday, 1/21/09

Push Presses: 95×5/95×5/115×5/135×5/155×5/165×5/175×5/155×5.

Thursday, 1/22/09

Back Squat DE: 45×15/45×10/135×8/185×5

5 x 2 @ 185#
5 x 2 @ 210#
2 x 2 @ 245#

Good Mornings: 95 x 3/95 x 3/115 x 3/125 x 3/135 x 3/ 145 x 3/155 x 3/165 x 3.

Friday-Sunday.

No training for three days. None. Nada. Taking a break!

Training Log, Week Ending 6/29/08

Monday, 6/23/08

Back Squat:135×5/185×5/225×3
85% (255#) x back 3 x 5
My neglected1RM back squat is down about 15#
Clean Deadlift: 115% (215#) x 2 x 3
Push Press: 83% (145#) x 4 x 5
Chins, band assisted: 10/10/11
GHD Sit-ups: 3 x 15
65# Sandbag Power Cleans: 10
65# Sandbag Squat Cleans: 10
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Tuesday, 6/24/08
Muscle Snatch + Snatch Balance, Heaviest Muscle Snatch x 1 + 2
45/65/75/88/88/95/100/105.
MId-hang Snatch @ 65% x 2  x 4, (70#).
8 rounds,
5 kipping pull-ups (assisted) + 5 clapping push-ups.
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Wednesday, 6/26/08
Rest Day
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Thursday, 6/27/08
Went to the Santa Monica Stairs and did three laps of the 189 steps with a 65# sandbag; alternating shoulders and back. Brutal.
Next,
4×10 sandbag squat cleans
2×10 sandbag cleans and press
2×10 sandbag snatch
200 meter shoulder carry
That lit me up and left me smoldering, especially the stairs.
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Friday, 6/28/08
Rest Day
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Saturday, 6/28/08
The Four “P”s…all pulling. 9 reps each
Power Cleans, 125
High Pulls, 155
Deadlifts, 300
Stiff Legged Deadlift, 175
Rows, 125
Pull-ups, single red band assisted, 2×5
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Sunday, 6/29/08
Kettlebell Workout in the Park
Steve Belanger and Marc, both RKC instructors held a training in the park for experienced and beginner kettlebellers.
For the workout portion, I used a 53 then a 70# KB for ladder swings both two hand and single hand. In there were a few sets of snatches, 3 rounds of kettlebell Bear Crawls and 5 x 50′ rope pulls with an 88# KB at the end. Did a set of push ups after each. The rest of the time was spent socializing and playing with the bells.

The Fu Fiddy Two

In anticipation of  51 giving way to 52, MarkFu set the stage for continuing the workouts like they have been most of ‘06 and all of ‘07 and improving on them. Crossfit has the the “Filthy Fifty” and now I have the Fu Fifty Two. I invite you all try it regardless of your age. You’ll like it, especially if you are in a hot, sweaty gym! Go ahead and beat my time of 30:29; I know you can. Post to comments!

For my birthday tomorrow, I will continue the festivities by doing the Marty Gallagher pulling routine which I have dubbed “Pulldawg”

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