By: Matt Cooper MS, USAW National Coach at Pursuit Nutrition & Training Center “He/she doesn’t look that strong”. This is a common sentiment I hear from those outside the weightlifting/competitive strength world. This has not only been said about athletes I coach, but about myself as well. The general public typically associates physical strength with massive men with traps up to their e…Read More
What is your secret crutch? Your go-to comfort food? That one thing that you absolutely crave; midnight ice cream, street tacos for breakfast, or an entire pizza because your stressed? Tempt me with a jar of peanut butter and a tub of moose tracks ice cream and it is game over. I'm a goner. That gooey peanut butter mixed with the sweet ice cream and perfect swirls of chocolate fudge.That right the…Read More
It is a well known fact the the Olympic lifts, when executed correctly, are some of the quickest movements in all of sports. Speed in the extension and transition under the bar are very necessary attributes for a successful lift. While we can all agree that speed is an essential element of the snatch and clean & jerk, I feel there is a lot of confusion on how to correctly generate speed in the…Read More
Clinical research suggests that men with Metabolic Syndrome suffer from lower testosterone levels. Although the main role of stored fat is energy and insulation, fat tissues also produce hormones such as leptin, estrogen, resisten and the cytokine TNFα. There is an inverse relationship between estrogen and testosterone. Chronically elevated estrogen levels, lead to suppressed testosterone level…Read More
Stronger is better. Period. Regardless of your fitness goals, becoming stronger will always help performance. Whether you want to increase performance in a field sport, weightlifting, powerlifting, or you just want to be able to move better as you age, increasing your ability to efficiently generate and apply force (strength) will help you reach those goals. So how does this happen? Why do our bod…Read More
Hey MF-er, are you mobilizing and foam rolling? Mobility and myofascial release are two things commonly left out of everyone’s exercise routine. We are more concerned about the workout itself and less worried about the prep and recovery. Overlooking this process can take a toll on our bodies as well as our workouts. Preparation and recovery are two essential parts of a workout regimen. Preparati…Read More
Why is Youth Sports Performance so important? What are the benefits to the child? These are the two million dollar questions that I get asked daily. When a child gets to feel successful at a young age, they will begin to build confidence. Not only do I get to see this newfound confidence as a coach, but their family and peers see it too. There is a constant reminder in today's society about:…Read More
One of my all time favorite variations of the Olympic lifts is to perform the lift by starting from the high hang or power position (Figure 1). The power position is your “launch point” during your pull. This is where the transition from first pull to the explosive second pull ends. When an athlete is picking the bar off the floor to perform a snatch or clean, the bar speed steadily accelerate…Read More
“I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” -Michael Phelps I could talk to you all about science, anatomy, sports performance, or nutrition stuff and I most likely will. But, today, that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. Today, we will talk about something a little fluffier (it’s my Psychology minor showing up). F…Read More
