Archive for November, 2009

GIVE BACK

November 30th, 2009

The holiday season is now in full swing. With Christmas around the corner, the annual hustle and bustle has begun. However, with all the “to dos” the holidays bring, let us not forget the true reason and spirit of celebration, a time of giving. All too often we get caught up in the commercial side of the holidays and forget the true essence. We have put blinders on and, sadly, care more about ourselves than others. Yet, during these challenging economic times, more individuals need assistance than before. Whether your gift be financial or a donation of service, give something that will make a difference in the lives of others. It only takes a moment but the gift of kindness last forever.

Let us remember the spirit of the season.

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Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

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Drive

November 30th, 2009

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The “spokes” of the wheel, alongside a thorough understanding of the “Renegade Concepts of Training™” entail the cornerstone to Renegade Training™. Returning to the “Renegade Wheel of Conditioning™”, each attribute can be summarized briefly, although what comes into play concerning all additional spokes is the ability to overcome adversity. Stand up and provide honour and passion for what you believe in and pick yourself up from the canvas when knocked down.

“• Drive, Determination & Dedication; at the center of the Wheel is a hub for which all else revolves around and without success will be limited” Sessions

Without passion, there is no success. Without determination, the notion of “hard work” becomes futile. None of the physical attributes in the world can replace the inner desire to succeed, the relentless passion to make the best of every situation and never accept failure. The perception of failure dissipates from the mind, becoming a figment of the past. What lies ahead is only success, only the ability to achieve greatness.

Jordan Collins
RT professional (Kettlebell specialist)
DMC™ Auburn: Tiger Splashers

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You Will Be Better Tomorrow

November 24th, 2009

You will be better tomorrow at what you do today. I often think of this line, Renegade founder, John Davies said at one of the conferences I attended this year. While this holds true in most areas of life, I think this phase serves as a source of motivation when applied toward exercise. As many individuals have experienced, exercise is challenging especially in the beginning phases. Yet the body is amazing and can quickly learn to master movements. I have a client who could barely touch his toes during our first Yoga session, yet in only a couple months time, he is now able to put his palms on the floor. Another of my clients, with minimal strength several months ago, can now snatch the Olympic bar over head. I marvel at the body’s ability to adapt and the improvements gained through perseverance.

When you find yourself struggling through a workout or unable to master new exercises remember, “You will be better tomorrow at what you do today.”

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Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
www.hordonhealth.com

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Balance of Attributes

November 24th, 2009

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Within a training program design, the concept of a balanced approach is indispensable in order to gain the maximal benefit from a program. Emphasis on certain “spokes”, or attributes, will only cause imbalance within training in the long term. For maximal benefit, make sure workouts are balanced and attack each spoke with equal intensity and focus.

“Unfortunately the limitation of the diagram is that the “wheel” is erroneously displayed as a two dimensional equation in which each “spoke” operates autonomously to each other. In fact each spoke operates in unison with each other akin to the organic structure of nature. While typically the error of most training is focusing on one aspect success will only be had by those that understand the “one thing is the whole thing”, meaning all attributes of training needs to be developed equally in order to achieve maximal success” Sessions.

The genesis of Renegade Training, as emphasized by John Davies, represents a unique configuration focusing upon the beauty of natural movement and organic, free flowing thought. A construct of the past, a time when focus was spent upon on the field dominance instead of the “importance” of combine numbers, concentrates on the equal development of basic skills suited to prepare athletes for the field and the exercise enthusiast to live their life happy and pain free.

Jordan Collins
RT professional (Kettlebell specialist)
DMC™ Auburn: Tiger Splashers

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WHY RENEGADE

November 23rd, 2009

Unfortunately, anyone can become a personal trainer. The field does not require a degree but rather the purchase of a text book and multiple-choice test to receive national certification. Sadly, these mediocre standards have resulted in nothing more than a field teeming with lackluster individuals devoid of professionalism. A man with hypertrophy or a woman with a nice figure does not warrant a career in personal training nor does it provide the qualifications necessary to be a fitness professional. Often the same haphazard methods utilized in these trainers own workouts are employed to train all clients because that is the extent of their knowledge within the field. Yet this is not the way to enhanced functionality, performance, or health. Many of these individuals, lacking basic common sense, do not realize there are serious consequences to improper weight lifting technique.

Renegade trainers, on the other hand, are held to completely different and far superior standards of excellence than any other trainers in the industry. An effortless payment and purchase of a book is not the manner in which one becomes a Renegade trainer. It is an elite group of individuals that not only requires recommendation by a current trainer but also requires a certain caliber of individual. Once certified the trainer must actively pursue avenues that will continually enhance their knowledge within the field through seminars, articles, books, videos and more. Most importantly, the founder, John Davies, does not hide behind a large corporation with a staff of customer service agents fielding questions but is always available via phone or email, serving as a mentor to all that fall under his wing.

Mr. Davies’ does not only insist on high educational standards but in addition requires absolute professionalism, morality, honor and excellence. These are the marks of distinction separating Renegade Fitness Professionals from all others.

If you’re ready to train with a fitness PROFESSIONAL, contact a Renegade Trainer in your area and experience the difference.

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Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
www.hordonhealth.com

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“No wacky bumps!”

November 23rd, 2009

Those who follow Renegade Training know all about the “Renegade Concepts of Training.”  For those just learning about Renegade Training, the “Renegade Concepts of Training” are a set of fundamental concepts that provide structure and focus to our training and lives.  These basic guidelines are ingrained into our mindset and once understood will often leave the follower questioning the effectiveness of many exercise routines promoted by so called “professionals.” As a Certified Renegade Kettlebell Professional I have trained both clients who have never touched a kettlebell before, and those trained by so called “certified kettlebell trainers.” Within this latter group of clients, I have often been left scratching my head as these clients explain or demonstrate their exercise routines to date. That is not to say everyone I have trained or trained within this latter group falls into this category, the key word I used was “often.”  However, more and more frequently I am seeing what I can only label as “bar tricks” from these demonstrations.  Now these “bar tricks” may look great on video, or for showing off to your friends, but you have to remember that is all it is, a trick.  Like the “bar trick” their exercise routines too look good on the computer screen, but often lack even the most basic of fundamentals.  It is not a question of “if” but “when” an injury will occur as a result of improper training.
As I work with these clients in correcting their routines, and curiously peruse online communities, I am always reminded of my first Professional Wrestling Instructor who had his own version of training concepts. First on his list, and repeated at least once during every training session, was “No Wacky Bumps!” You were under his tutelage solely to develop a solid foundation of basic, effective, and proven wrestling moves along with match psychology.  You were not there to learn the latest “move of the week” or some “trick” seen on television or YouTube the night before.
The incorporation of this instructor’s concept; “No Wacky Bumps!”, in addition to common sense and basic fundamentals, have helped keep me in the wrestling ring, in the gym, and in the active lifestyle I am accustomed to, long after I would dare say eighty to ninety percent of my peers were forced into retirement due to injury.  The same concept can and should be applied to kettlebell training, and training in general.  All you need to do is substitute the word “bumps” with “lifts” and add that to your own concepts of training.  Training does not have to be “wacky” to be challenging, or effective.

Please contact me, J.Johnston aka "JJ", Delaware’s Renegade Kettlebell Professional at jjcrewguy@aol.com

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Kettlebell Swings for a tight low back?

November 23rd, 2009

KB swings are a great movement to increase your dynamic flexiblity in your low back and hips as well as warm up the area and get it ready for the chaos that is a renegade workout. If you don’t know how to do these – contact your local Renegade KB specialist to schedule a time to learn! I am in the Eastern Iowa Technology Corridor – email me at renegadeiowa@southslope.net

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Wheel of Conditioning

November 23rd, 2009

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Athletic development will take on a balanced approach such that the individual possesses power, speed, strength, grace in which skill development can rest upon. In practical purposes, this is best
considered as the “Renegade Wheel of Conditioning™”. Akin to the spokes of a wheel, each attribute (spoke) must possess equal strength or the athlete (the wheel) will operate fluid and efficiently.

These attributes are:
-Drive, Determination
-Sport Specific Skill
-Work Threshold / GPP
-Range of Motion, Static
-Range of Motion, Dynamic
-Agility
-Linear Speed
-Strength
The MMA Warrior

Whilst many training components are not “pretty” or “fun”, consider spokes of a wheel. As certain pressure positions upon specific spokes, an unbalanced approach will commence. An athlete with great strength but lacking range of motion will not be able to properly speed and agility on to the field of play. In addition, as generalized work capacity is lacking, sports specific skills will become futile and maximal benefit will not occur.

Within the modern exercise game, a fundamental flaw has been disregarded…a balanced approach of training. Many a time, focus is spent directly in the weight room to advance “strength” and “combine numbers”, while on the other hand, nothing replaces the sensible approach of focus upon each “spoke” of your “wheel” (i.e. athletic development). When a lone attribute becomes out of sync, the other attributes will lack a basic ability to function properly and perform at the level necessary for success.

Jordan Collins
RT professional (Kettlebell specialist)
DMC™ Auburn: Tiger Splashers

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No Longer A Treat

November 20th, 2009

Centuries ago, sugar was once referred to as “white gold.” An expensive item that was not readily available to the common man. Treats as the term denotes were just that. The opposite is true today with sugar readily available and added to a multitude of products. Yet today it is not just table sugar we must be concerned with but a much worse chemical additive that contaminates most manufactured products, high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup, first invented in the 1950’s and refined by the Japanese in the 1970’s, has become a popular alternative to cane sugar. Its popularity is due impart to cost as it is inexpensive alternative to cane sugar. Additionally, it is easier to blend and transport and increases a products shelf life making it the number one preference of food manufacturers today.

For the uneducated consumer this can be dangerous as many are not aware of the popularity and addition of this additive to most food products. This reacts the way sugar does in the body spiking blood sugar levels and with excessive consumption can lead to host of diseases and obesity. While many believe they are purchasing healthy items, they are not. Upon close inspection of the label you will find many of these seemingly harmless products contain high fructose corn syrup and other chemical additives. As consumers we must not take product claims at face value. Food manufacturers are only out to make money trying to lure you in with false claims and eye-catching packaging. Before purchasing any product, make sure the first thing you do is read the label. If high fructose corn syrup is listed, put it back and look for another brand that does not contain this chemical ingredient.

For more nutrition tips and information contact
Jennifer Calderone – www.hordonhealth.com

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Performance Training

November 20th, 2009

rick_pushpullA wise man (he shall remain nameless) once told me that I should always be training for performance. At first I really didn’t understand this comment, because like a majority of the population I envisioned a group of athletes training hard in the off-season for their upcoming sport.

Well that was then, and this is now. Training for performance is training for life. Life is full of unpredictable situations and we must be prepared mentally and physically for what we may encounter.

Making use of the kettlebell in your training is a great way to enhance the performance aspect of your training by acting as an extension of your body during movements.

This photo is of my client Rick performing single-arm kettlebell presses (with a 40lb bell) and pull-ups with a 20lb X-vest. If this isn’t an example of functional performance training then I’m not sure I know what does.

Shawn Moody
the “burgh’s” kettlebell specialist
moody01db@yahoo.com

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