Tag: continuing education

Hockey-Specific Grip Strength

I remember a conversation I had with Michael Boyle last Summer about grip strength. To paraphrase, he was joking about how ridiculous it is for hockey players to spend so much time doing wrist curls when they’re legs are so weak they’ll never get to a puck anyway.

The take home message is that you’re likely to get all the grip strength you need from other exercises. As an example, let’s look at Mike. Although he’s withered away to a measly 205, he’s kept his deadlift around 600 lbs. He’s doing a high rack pull in this video. Think he needs to do wrist curls?

[quicktime]http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/Mike-Rack%20Pull%20675.mov[/quicktime]

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Another Great Core Exercise

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to post more videos recently. I love videos. If pictures are worth a thousand words, videos are worth one hundred BILLION words. I’ve read entire articles with detailed exercise descriptions that made no sense to me. Then I’ll watch the 30s of accompanying video and it all becomes clear.

If you’re like me and would rather watch a movie then read the book, you’ll love MyFitTube.com. It’s a membership site where some of the most respected experts in the industry post exercises, exercise progressions, and teaching descriptions. It’s a great investment.

This is another exercise training core control in an anti-rotation pattern while also strengthening your back. You should be squeezing your butt hard on your back leg. Notice that you’re co-contracting your butt and opposite side latissimus dorsi (read: lat), just as you would in sprinting or skating.

[quicktime]http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/Half-Kneeling%201-Arm%20Row.mov[/quicktime]

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Adding Core Strength to Dynamic Movement

Building off the exercise I posted the other day, this is another dynamic movement that trains core control. The idea is that you minimize the rotation of your trunk while catching the ball. You can progress this exercise by having your partner throw the ball slightly further away from your shoulder. You could also make the throws back to your partner more explosive, but the exercise is designed to teach core control and anti-rotation, not explosive power. There are plenty of other exercises for that!

[quicktime]http://www.kevinneeld.com/videos/Reverse%20Lunge%20MB%20Catch.mov[/quicktime]

Kevin Neeld

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Becoming a MASTER of Science

After over 18 consecutive years of schooling, I’m happy to say that I recently finished my Master’s degree in Kinesiology at UMass Amherst. I’ve been fortunate over the last several years to learn from some of the smartest students and faculty members in the country, and to have the opportunity to teach myself.

Students with an interest in pursuing strength and conditioning, physical therapy, or other movement/fitness related careers often ask me how I’ve learned what I know now. They’re often disappointed to here that the majority of my application-based knowledge didn’t come from the classroom. I was fortunate to have come across good advice at a young age. I was watching Michael Boyle’s Functional Strength Coach DVD set, which I think is a must-have for any athlete or coach. At the end of it, he recommended a number of books that he thought people should be familiar with. I immediately bought all of them and got to work.

Take a look at the collection I’ve put together in the last four years.

Book Collection

 

Other than the stack of books on the left, which I use as references, I’ve read every page of every book and article in this picture. Piling this on top of my coursework over the last four years has been exceptionally difficult, but worth it. I laugh on the inside when students ask what they should read. The best answer is probably “EVERYTHING!”. The truth is that this isn’t even close to everything I’ve read in the last few years. I have countless articles and audio programs saved on my computer that I’ve also worked my way through.

Some may say I have an unhealthy addiction with human movement. I wouldn’t disagree. The majority of my birthday and Christmas presents over the last several years have been physical therapy textbooks or books on personal development. I think it’d be more appropriate to say I have an unhealthy addiction to learning. Stagnancy (mental or physical) is my worst enemy.

I’m lucky to work in an industry that I’m passionate about. I think that’s key to living a truly happy life. For all the students out there with questions about how to be successful, I have two recommendations:

1) Pursue a career that you love

2) Never stop learning

Following these rules has been good to me. Hopefully you’ll find the same.

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The Secret to Accidental Fitness

This week I’ve shared with you two blog posts in which Dr John Berardi talks about losing body weight (and body fat).

The first one talks about how important incentives are for changing your body.  And it goes on to incentivize you with a

whopping $10,000.

Could The Chance To Win $10,000 Help You Get In Shape?

>>http://precisionnutrition.com/cmd.php?pageid=721284&u=20k

The second one shows you how to coerce yourself into sticking to the plan, even when the motivation wanes.

Enter “the best kept secret in weight loss.”

>>http://precisionnutrition.com/cmd.php?pageid=721284&u=bm

Finally, today, I have one last post to share.  In this one, Dr Berardi talks about something called “accidental success.”

For most people fitness is a struggle.  Others, however, seem to sail through life; they’re lean, fit, and strong, and they

seem to do it effortlessly.  Almost…by accident.

No, it’s not genetics.  It’s something else.  Something you too can use to get into the best shape of your life.

Learn the secret to accidental fitness

>>http://precisionnutrition.com/cmd.php?pageid=721284&u=ss

 

-Kevin Neeld

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