Single-leg strength is a highly-coveted physical quality when it comes to advancing your health, fitness, and performance. It’s important to build durability in single-leg exercises so that your lower body can be strong enough to withstand the demands of playing sports, going for a run, and lifting weights. We are going to break down single-leg strength with respect to the deadlift (hip hinge) pattern …
Matthew Ibrahim
Building Single-Leg Strength from the Ground Up: Part 1
Being strong and durable on one leg bodes well for all aspects of health and performance. Whether you’re an endurance athlete who runs a lot, an athlete in a field or court-based sport, or just looking to get stronger on one leg in the gym, this information is for you. In part 1, the focus will be on building single-leg strength with respect to the single-leg squat pattern. Then, we will tackle the …
Programming Strategies: Eccentrics, Isometrics, and Tempo
Coach: “Hey, [insert athlete’s name], let’s slow those down a bit.” Athlete: “I am going slow, Coach.” Coach: “Your training program calls for a five-second eccentric. You’re doing more of a two-second eccentric.” As a coach, I bet you’ve been here before. I bet there’ve been times, too, when you’ve questioned the why behind using eccentrics, isometrics, and tempo in your training programs. Let’s be …
Career Path Advice for the Up-and-Coming Coach
Every up-and-coming strength coach or personal trainer I come in contact with seems to be in a rush. Why? I can never understand this. They want to go to every course and seminar offered, obtain every certification, and achieve instant success. Nothing is wrong with wanting to educate yourself and improve. But there’s no need to rush it. I hate to burst your bubble, but success is neither instant nor easily …
5 Communication Skills to Improve Your Coaching
Unfortunately, academia hasn’t caught up with the human element in coaching yet. Coaches are simply not going to learn ideal communication skills on their way through the typical school curriculum. As a consequence, you’re going to need something more than what’s found in the classroom to help you fill out your coaching toolbox when it comes to communicating with your athletes. To that end, here is a …
Future Lessons for Fit Pros
You can learn from anyone, from anything, and at any time. This is true now more than ever. Consider this: We’ve had to step out of our comfort zone as in-person strength coaches, personal trainers, and fitness professionals. No more high-fives, fist bumps, or congratulatory pats on the back with our athletes and clients. No more being able to spontaneously chat, interact, and catch up. This is all …