Jan 9, 2012

Today I learned something new, a new way of using the pvc pipe to improve your technique. I usually use the pvc pipe to warmup with some basic mobility drills, and I have seen people start their warmup set with the pvc pipe if the barbell constitutes a moderate load. But I had not heard of using a pvc pipe to help teach a proper back position until I read this article from EliteFTS. This article does a great job of describing how to cue a tight, properly positioned, back by placing the pipe (or broomstick) against the back of someone who needs help finding the right position.

It’s a pretty simple technique that works by helping the trainee to feel what a good back position is. The ability to know where you body is and what it is doing during sport is a crucial skill for all athletes. Knowledge of body position is also a skill that many non athletes lack. The more athletic experience someone has, the more likely they are to understand what their body is doing. Sports like gymnastics done at an early age tend to produce athletes that are the most aware of body position. These types of athletes will learn new movements faster than others. This pvc pipe teaching method is great for those trainees who don’t have a large athletic background and therefore need a little help to find the right back position.

Jan 8, 2012

The Washington Post reported that Nurcan Taylan, a female Turkish Weightlifter lifting in the 48kg class, has failed a drug test. Both of the samples she submitted failed the test, and therefore she will likely be banned from the 2012 Olympics in London.

Taylan was both a gold medalist in the Athens olympics and a world record holder as of the last world championships.

This news, and the reported failure of a Malaysian weightlifter are likely the first of many such events as athletes come under scrutiny prior to the 2012 Olympics.

Jan 6, 2012

The president of the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation made a public statement that the MWF would stand behind an unnamed weightlifter who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

The MWF has petitioned to have the secondary sample to be tested before the results of the test were made public. In order to defend their lifter, the MWF has not released the name of the lifter who tested positive. The organization intends to release the name of the lifter in the event of a second positive test.

The MWF president assured the public that his lifter has personally assured him that he was not using performance enhancing substances.

This story was originally reported by nst.com.

Jan 6, 2012

I recently replaced my old gym bag with the King Kong bag (available at thekingkongbag.com). The overall benefit of this bag is it’s ability to keep your gear organized. The bag has two ventilated sections to keep shoes separated from the main contents of the bag. On one of the long sides of the bag there are three pockets for miscellaneous items like tape, lacrosse ball for mobility, ipods, cellphone/wallet/keys. There is also a mesh pocket for water bottles, or whatever gear you need to be easily accessible.

I found this bag to be a vast improvement over other gym bags that I have used. The pockets and dividers keep all of my gear nice and organized. I have found that I always have easy access to the things I need during a workout. The bag is simple, but incredibly effective at what it does. The ability to have gear so nicely organized is a great asset. I finally feel like I have a bag that was made for a weightlifter (or crossfitter). The bag is big enough to travel with if you pack efficiently, making it a great choice to take to a meet or short overnight trip.

Now to the downsides of the bag. I found the material to be good, but not great. It’s made out of a canvas fabric, not vinyl like lower quality bags. The canvas felt sturdy but not like it was a top quality fabric. Which brings me to my second problem, the price. With shipping it comes out to just under $100. The way the bag organizes my stuff is great, but would prefer a higher quality material for the price.

I would recommend this bag to anyone with a need to keep gear organized and some extra money laying around. If you’re on a budget, I would avoid this bag; if it were $50 or $60 I would recommend it for everyone. I don’t feel that the overall quality of the product is worth such a large price.

I’m sure that this type of bag is one of the first of it’s kind. If you have the money and want to gain some organization for your gym bag then go for it, it will absolutely work for you. Otherwise, you can wait it out and hope that someone will come out with something similar to solve the same problem (and maybe it will fit into your budget).