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The other day I posted about some of the latest research related stuff I’m reading so I figured it would only be fitting today to throw down a FREE annual subscription to my friend Shawn Thistle’s Fitness Research Review Service.

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If you’re a busy strength coach, trainer, or fitness enthusiast and you like to be up on the most recent research so your methods stay on the cutting edge then this is a great way to do just that.  With bright minds like some of my friends Patrick Ward, Carson Boddicker, and Kevin Neeld on the review team you can bet that the reviews are solid.  If you don’t have the time or inclination to read the research for yourself, this service can make it simple to stay ahead of the masses.

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All you have to do is check out the Research Review Service and let me know in the comments that you want a free subscription for the next year and I’ll do a draw on Monday to award the membership to the winner.

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On your mark, get set, get it!

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PS: Since next week is the last week before Christmas I’ll be giving away Nick Tumminello’s Strength Training for Fat Loss DVD, a copy of Mike Robertson’s Single Leg Solution, AND a copy of Mike Robertson, Eric Cressey, and Bill Hartman’s Assess and Correct. 

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PPS: Make sure you come back often so you don’t miss out!

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This week there was a great discussion on StrengthCoach.com on pre and post workout nutrition between myself and some other very bright minds (note that I’m suggesting they’re bright and I’m just…well…me).  This just highlighted for me, as I’ve mentioned before, that if you’re not on the StrengthCoach.com forums you’re truly missing out.  Here are my top 5 reasons why I love SC.com.

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1 – The forums are top notch

You’ll get to interact with people who are veterans and the brightest young minds in this industry including Mike Boyle, Alwyn Cosgrove, Mike Robertson, Nick Tumminello, Bret Contreras, Patrick Ward, Carson Boddicker, Jeff Cubos, and so many more that they’ll probably kick my ass for leaving them out (sorry guys and gals).  In many cases, these guys and gals have been there and done that and they’re more than happy to take the time out to help young coaches and trainers.  This alone is worth the cost (which is small by the way).

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2 – Charlie Weingroff.

If you don’t know.  You will.  The guy is seriously a brain with legs…really strong ass legs.

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3 – Web traffic

If you’re struggling to get traffic to your site, go here, join in the discussion, and if you’re not a total tool your site will get hits because people will want to hear more of what you have to say.  That is not to say that you should go here and spam with your blog info (you’d probably be deleted anyway), but if you network with the best you’re bound to get traffic as a side benefit.

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4 – Smart people know who you are.

I can’t say how cool it is to have one thread with my videos as a “sticky” in the “Best of the Forums” section.  When Mike Boyle knows who you are, then you’re a badass.  That is an official rule.   (Note: It is my blog so I make the rules)

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5 – If you don’t belong to SC.com then you will be forever stuck in mediocracy.

Just kidding…sorta.

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(In the interest of full disclosure, the link to the StrengthCoach.com above IS an affiliate link.  I will get a couple quarters if you sign up through me that I’ll put into my daughter’s college fund.  If you’d prefer to sign up directly through the site you can do that too.  Whether I make a dime or not I still think it is worth it.)

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If you’re a member of SC.com and want to add to the list feel free to do so in the comments section below.  If you’re not a member…get ‘er done.  Hope to see you there.

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This week I was going to post another Friday Awesomeness blogs, but what could be more awesome than an interview with me?

I know what you’re thinking.  Not much.

Or else you’re thinking I’m an arrogant bastard.

Hopefully the first one though.

In any case, check out my interview on my friend Carson Boddicker’s blog where I discuss what I think makes good science, where most fitness professionals are dead wrong, and how to use the Functional Movement Screen to determine if someone would make a good spouse.  Okay…maybe not the last one.

Check it out HERE.

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A few weeks ago the following two videos showed up on an interesting guest blog by Perry Nickelston on my friend Carson Boddicker’s site HERE.

I don’t think you’ll get much argument that the “inner core” is made up primarily of the TVA, multifidi, pelvic floor, and diaphragm.  I would also agree that if the inner core is not working reflexively that you’ll develop a high threshold strategy to stabilize the core resulting in inefficient movement and even pain.  This is why strengthening the TVA and multifidi doesn’t work for eliminating back pain.  It is because reflexive timing and not strength is the issue.

However, what I’m not sure I get is how this test measures the function of the inner core.  Granted, it is certainly a lot harder than I expected (try it if you don’t believe me), and the rolling patterns left my intercostals in pain for a couple days.  But I think that stating that this test can measure the function of the inner core and that it can be corrected by repeating the various rolling patterns might be a little heavy on the speculation.  I’m not sure that there is any EMG to suggest that this might be the case.  You’ll definitely learn a new movement pattern, but whether it is related to inner core function is something I’m not totally sure about. 

Since the chop and lift patterns are often suggested in relation to these exercises, I’d be inclined to think they have something to do with rotation/anti-rotation patterns.  I’m interested to hear what you all think.

Give the test and drills a try and let me know your thoughts.

Recently there has been a lot of discussion in the fitness industry about barefoot running due to the popular book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.  To be honest, I never did read the book because it had so much hype and I find that hype often amounts to disappointment on my end.  Besides, I’m not personally very interested in distance running.

However, the discussion in the industry lead me to wonder more about whether we should limit the use of shoes and whether things like Vibrams and other deconstructed shoes like Nike Frees had any merit.  Around this time I mentioned to my friend Carson Boddicker that he should do a blog comparing barefoot and shod running and he certainly didn’t disappoint. 

In the end Carson put together the most comprehensive series of blog posts I’ve ever seen on this subject.  But before you dive in, be forewarned that Carson is crazy smart and he doesn’t hold back on his biomechanical understanding for the sake of the lay reader.

If you’re looking for a cake walk and someone to say “shoes are bad, feet are good” you’re not going to find it here.  But if you’re looking for an in depth, research based series on shod versus unshod running then you need to read each and every piece below.

(Despite looking like a ton of reading, each blog in itself is relatively short and certainly worth the effort)

Barefoot Running: Anatomy

Barefoot vs Shod Running

Running Economy and Barefoot vs Shod Footstrike

Normal Gait Mechanics

The Big Toe and Windlass Mechanism

Mobilizing the Big Toe

Afferent Control and Running

Irradiation, Concurrent Activation Potentiation, and the Feet

Shoelessness and Injuries

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome.