Building the Engine is an 8-week customized conditioning program that will get you in the best shape of your life. Over the last 10 years, Mike has been working with some of the best combat athletes in New England. His e-book, Building the Engine, is the culmination of that work. In this episode of the … Read More
Coaching
The Beast Tamer and Iron Maiden Challenge
This episode is all about the Beast Tamer and Iron Maiden challenge. If you are not familiar with this challenge, here’s a link to StrongFirst to learn more. The three events are a strict military press, a strict tactical pullup, and a pistol. Men lift a 48kg kettlebell to become Beast Tamers. Women earn their Iron Maiden … Read More
Where’s the cardio? Iron Cardio Explained.
This episode is all about Iron Cardio. Brett and Mike dig deep into this style of training and cover topics including: Physiological adaptations of iron cardio Physiological adaptations of traditional cardiovascular exercise The difference between iron cardio and traditional cardiovascular exercise Programming options Pros and potential cons How to categorize upper body, lower body and/or … Read More
Real Life Tips for Stress Management
Stress Management is a hot topic these days. We still talk about training in this episode, but we’re focused more on the impact of training and less on a specific type of training. Eustress is defined as positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being. Strength Training is … Read More
How to Manage Tweaks, Twinges and Injuries
You’ve probably had to figure out how to manage injuries from time to time. Tweaks, twinges and injuries happen. Unfortunately, they’re a part of life. If you’re an athlete, you may get injured while training or competing, but you also might just tweak something in your day-to-day activities. While we can’t prevent tweaks, twinges or … Read More
A Deeper Look into Minimalistic Training
This episode is all about minimalistic training. The MED team discusses various topics around minimalistic training such as: Program design The beauty of simplicity Time management Lifestyle and recreational activities How to integrate barbell, kettlebell and and bodyweight training into your training regimen As always, there are movie quotes, shenanigans and plenty of laughs and … Read More
Your Hips, Your Movement
Your individual hip architecture impacts your movement. Your hips, your movement! Today’s episode is all about the hips and pelvis. We discuss various topics including: Hip function Shape and orientation of the pelvis Various shapes of the femoral head The acetabulum Posterior and anterior pelvic tilts and how these can impact movement, such as hip … Read More
100 Reps a Day: A Simple Strategy to Rehabilitate Strained Muscles
I’ve helped plenty of clients rehabilitate strained muscles over the last 20 years and finally have a simple strategy that helps improve compliance and outcomes in nearly all cases. I messed up plenty of times in the last 20 years so you don’t have to! I’ve been fortunate enough to work with pretty much every type … Read More
Programming Options
There is no shortage of programming options in the world of strength and conditioning. Some program options we go over in this episode include: Linear Periodization Wave Loading Auto-Regulation Reps in Reserve (RIR) Perceived Rate of Exertion (PRE) …and so much more! This episode is all about program design. Brett and Mike discuss various types … Read More
You Don’t Know Squat
You don’t know squat! But you will soon… In this episode of the Minimum Effective Dose, we’re talking all about squatting. We go over the squat as an exercise, the movement of squatting and the key differences between the two. Mike and Brett discuss several aspects of the squat including: Progressions Movement competency and prerequisites Coaching … Read More