AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE

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ISSUE 29 - 7/16/2004

1. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Always take problems to someone who gets paid enough to care.”
- Andy Stromburg

Often when people have a problem with another they talk to every person imaginable about the problem except the person that is the source. In addition to the fact that it is cowardly to say things behind someone’s back that you would not say to his or her face, it is simply not effective. If I have a problem with my landlord, will talking to my friends about it help? Perhaps due to the possibility that you might get some good advice. However, you are not taking the problem to the source. If I break my hand, I am not going to make an appointment with a gynecologist to fix the problem. If you have a problem with another take the time to address it. Otherwise, the stress of not doing so will affect negatively other areas of your life.

Live Life Aggressively!

Mike Mahler

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2. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING ARTICLE

Increase Strength With Isometric Holds

At my Level 2 KB workshop this past Sunday in Santa Monica I had my students apply an isometric hold with a bell that they cannot press before pressing a lighter weight. For example, I had a student that cannot press a 70lb bell clean and hold a 70lb kettlebell at the starting position for five second. I told him to crush grip the handle, flex the lat, flex the legs, stomach etc. I told them to avoid trying to press it. I just wanted them to get comfortable with a heavier weight and to learn how to get super tight when pressing heavier weights. I had each person do three isometric holds and then I told them to immediately clean a lighter kettlebell and press it. Everyone noticed that the lighter kettlebell felt much lighter than normal and they were able to press with better technique.

Often people that can press a 70lb bell 6+ times fail to press the 88lb bell bell do to due to lack of confidence. In other words, they clean the bell it feels heavy and they automatically tell themself that they will not be able to press it and sure enough they cannot. They have the strength, but mentally they are not ready. Also, when you lift a lighter bell you do not have to use strict technique. You can get away with not flexing the lat and staying super tight. However, when you try to press an 88lb bell that is not the case.

Doing an isometric hold allows you to work on technique in the starting position, which is often where people screw up. To lift a heavy weight, you have to have proper technique without thinking about it. If you have to clean a bell and then think about what to do, you will most likely fail or use crappy form. Imagine a powerlifter that is about to bench press 700lbs. He gets a lift off and then before lowering the weight to his chest, he thinks about getting tight and technique. His chances of pressing the weight just went down dramatically. He should know exactly what to do before he ever gets to the bench.

Try doing some isometric holds with a bell that you cannot press before you next workout. Do three five-second holds and focus on flexing everything as hard as possible. Then move into your Mil press workout and let me know what happens.

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5. NEW AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

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6. THE AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH SOLUTION FOR THE ROAD WARRIOR

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7. KETTLEBELL TRAINING INFORMATION PAGE (NEW)

http://www.mikemahler.com/kettlebell_info.html

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8. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

http://www.mikemahler.com/newsletter

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9. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH ARTICLES

http://www.mikemahler.com/articles.html

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10. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING JOURNAL

http://www.mikemahler.com/journal.html

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11. RECOMMENDED READING LIST

http://www.mikemahler.com/reading.html

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Until next time.

Live Life Aggressively!

Feel free to email me with your comments and feedback at mahler25@yahoo.com

Mike Mahler

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