For years I’ve been calling Chris daily. A lot of our conversations are dumb–mainly because I’m a 14 year old in a 27 year old’s body. Many times, though, I call Chris to pester him for information–he knows a lot of things that I don’t. Most of those obnoxious, pestering dials are concerning MMA conditioning....Read More

Hey guys and gals, Chris here… it’s going to be a crazy few weeks for me.  I’ve got the “Modern Therapeutic Techniques” seminar this weekend with Todd and Dr. Rabinowitz at New York Chiropractic College.  A few days after that I fly out to Winnipeg to help Dustin Pague with his final weight cut for UFC...Read More

A few weeks ago I had a high school junior message me through Facebook to ask if I would take some time to answer a few questions on going to college for exercise science.  OF COURSE I said yes…  And my answers were some things I wish that I had heard before starting college as...Read More

Yesterday on T-Nation they publushed my article “The Magic of Cluster Sets.” I didn’t name it that–I actually sent it in without a title–but it’s cool that they called clusters magic. It makes me feel like a wizard–or at least like a dude that knows card tricks. I don’t know any card tricks. What I...Read More

Do your intentions match your actions? It’s a matter of congruency. My guess is no. I’m not saying that you, in part from everyone else,  have anything wrong with you–it’s just a numbers game. Most people intend to do more–training, living, growing–but fail to act accordingly by what they envision. It’s like playing a movie in...Read More

As many of you know, my gym is adjacent to a mixed martial arts school. So, you would think that there’s a constant flow of fighters strolling through the doors. And while there are some, it’s not nearly as many as you think…  You see, there’s a common term thrown around in the MMA game:...Read More

Earlier this week Chris asked us a question, have you progressed? Hopefully you took some time to think objectively on the question. Have you written a good movement history, or does it need a greater effort of penmanship? Are you learning? Do you have a support system? I thought about Chris’ questions a lot over...Read More

When I was growing up I kind of got in trouble- a lot.  Not big trouble, but I definitely pushed the envelope quite often.  For instance, in the first grade I got in trouble in class for something I don’t even remember.  But, I do remember that the punishment was to take a letter from my...Read More

Last week Chris talked about about the construction of BSP NOVA, One Piece At a Time. His analogy for training progress is perfect–our bodies, and our goals, change as we manipulate one variable at a time. What’s frustrating, though, is this isn’t how we think. We envision the whole rather than the thousand meaningful parts that...Read More

I have a favorite client. She’s not an Olympian, nor is she a professional athlete. A few years back she learned how to read and she’s now on her way to mastering long division. She’s my neice, Kendra. That’s her nailing the is0-lunge hold a few months back. Since then she’s been introduced to a...Read More

If I were a rapper my stage name would be Hot Red Nasty. I’d be like a white Trinidad James–or maybe I’d be a black Eminem. My first album, Sunburnt But Flexin, would sell two million copies the first week. It would be a concept album telling the story of how we roll in New...Read More

I’m a strength coach and a manual therapy student; so when I get the opportunity I like to take my lessons from massage school and apply them at the gym. It’s kind of like how I combine man’s best friend with exercise equipment. (Seriously, get yourself a Fit Bull.) It’s common for strength coaches to...Read More

Unfortunately, the fitness/strength and conditioning/social media industry is a bit skewed–a lot of great coaches don’t get the attention they deserve while others undeservingly bask in praise of relentless fandom. It’s not often that I start a post off with such a digression–especially one with such a distinct topic–but ironically, it’s necessary. The previous paragraph’s digression...Read More

I’m sticking with the theme of short posts with a video included. Check out the video to see how I teach lat tension to those learning to deadlift. Get Stronger, Todd (2643) ShareRead More

Training at a small gym that isn’t wealthy in equipment requires a little creativity to get things done. When barbells aren’t abundant we make due. Enter the band landmine This exercise is great for core stability (anti-rotation and anti-lateral flexion) but it’s also great for shoulder mobility and stability. The band adds an element of...Read More