Renegade

Success in sports require solid fitness levels including cardiovascular conditioning, core, lower and upper body strength, flexibility, body kinetic awareness, power, speed and agility. These attributes are only the first set of skills necessary to achieve greatness within sport. To become a stellar athlete sport specific skills must also be acquired and mastered. Yet for many present day athletes, basic fitness levels have plummeted and the aforementioned attributes simply do not exist amongst players. This is due to training regimes and programs that are too narrow in focus when, in fact, the approach should be far broader. To achieve these attributes training does not only require exercises that use weight but a variety of others that are only found within the Renegade program.

As a Renegade Trainer and avid follower of the Renegade methodologies for over a year, I personally have experienced a level of fitness that previously did not exist. Physical improvements in strength, flexibility, body communication, speed and power allow me to perform physical activities far better than before.

Increase your fitness abilities today. Contact a Renegade trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

Signs of spring are all around. Tiny buds of green have surprisingly began to appear from the earth offering the promise of warm sunny days and mild nights. Bright yellow forsythia and soft pink weeping cherries will soon begin their marvelous show as spring blooms. Along with the rebirth of vegetation, another spring time event has reappeared– baseball. Presently enthusiastic fans, all across the country, are making their way to the playing fields for opening day as another season, of bats cracking in the warm summer night wind, gets underway.

At some point the majority of young American boys are taught how to play this beloved game. However, the techniques taught, be it by a coach or parent, are flawed. Players are taught to utilize the arm and heave the ball. These erroneous training methods are not only incorrect but detrimental to the health of the player. Throwing the ball by employing only the arm is why countless young players suffer extensive injuries particularly from overuse. As a participant in the first Renegade baseball clinic, I experienced how the Renegade training methodology directly relates to baseball and translates into a healthy and an extraordinary player.

Renegade training stresses posterior chain development. When moving a weight it is always lifted using the force and power generated from the lower body versus the arms. This same methodology holds true when throwing a ball or swinging a bat as the engagement of these large muscles are crucial to producing power and speed on the mound. Therefore, a player should not throw the ball with their arm, as typically taught, but with their legs. This is not the latest circus trick but should be interrupted to mean the lower half generates the energy which is then transferred to the arm. The arm essentially serves only as a slingshot transferring the energy from the lower body.

The same methodology is applied when hitting. The player begins in an athletic position, engaging the hamstrings, and then swings the bat as the hamstrings and hips generate energy enabling the batter to hit the ball with force, power and speed.

While this may seem difficult for many to grasp and some may blatantly disagree, we must acknowledge there are a bevy of youngsters being injured and experiencing pain when playing that no child should encounter. To pack some heat on the mound and reduce injury, training should employ techniques necessary to build a strong lower body.

Check out Boston Baseball Institute or Renegade Baseball on Facebook. For more information, contact Hordon Health at www.hordonhealth.com

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

Our youth are unfit, unhealthy and obese. However, this is not only due to lack of exercise but also poor eating habits as children are no longer consuming fruits and vegetables. Instead manufactured foods, in arrays of abnormal colors, now replace a diet of natural foods. These manufactured foods are poisoning our children and will have disastrous consequences on their health, including early death, if eating habits are not immediately rectified.

Children’s eating habits are so horrendous, they at not only at high risk for a myriad of obesity related diseases but are also suffering from a host of other issues including hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. While I am not a medical doctor, I firmly believe the varieties of chemicals our children are ingesting are largely contributing to these disorders and a host of others. While medication has become the typical solution as of late, eliminating the consumption of processed foods altogether is a far healthier alternative. As a result, our children would have more energy, perform better in school, and be physically fit. Proper diet has tremendous effects on children’s health and should never be underestimated!

For more on this topic don’t miss my article and other valuable contributions from team members in the April edition of DMC ezine.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
www.hordonhealth.com

Moving forward, resistance training is, without a doubt, the most popularized method of “exercise”, especially within the United States region. Whilst the majority in the fitness and sports performance industry work under the self proclaimed ‘guru” category, only a small percentage of this performance group truly understand the unique demands of a resistance training program.

Constantly trying to make the obvious something complex, resistance training is quite simple when broken down into simplistic movements.

Per John Davies, “Lets also stress that this is isn’t difficult or complicated because in essence all weight room work is simply pushing, pulling, squatting or pressing (with of course actions such lunging, reaching and extending).. While this may be difficult to understand, even though the weight is in your hands the explosion of the movement comes first from powerful leg drive”.

Marketing ploys demoralize an already abysmal training market with the “secret to success” and “magic elixir”. Much to the chagrin of the masses, there is no secret or magic except brutally hard work and a well-balanced program design, attacking each resistance movement equally.

As a reader notices the simplicity of weight room work, the primary concern within resistance training is utilizing full body lifts, such that the body works in a single, harmonious fashion. A common trend in weight room work is to isolate muscles by the use of single joint lifts and machine based training.

Seeing that isolation exercises have been steadily implemented throughout mainstream fitness over time, the capability to move the body as one unit has been diminished greatly. Looking back, can a sprinter isolate the lower and upper body from moving in succinct patterns during a max effort sprint? Also, a golfer cannot isolate their core musculature and rotational movement from their limbs whilst driving a golf ball, can they? The point being made is that, whilst there is a notion of sequential (segments are moved one at a time called Proximal to Distal Sequencing (P-D)) vs. simultaneous (all segments move at the same time, in the same direction) sequencing, it is utterly impossible to isolate and break down movements into specific areas of the body during functional activity.

Furthermore, implementation of machine-based training has caused an extensive amount of compensation and misalignment issues. The nature of machines has been used to help the masses, but in the end has hindered more so than helped. Being that machine based training is a primary use, the ability to stabilize properly with the posterior chain and core musculature is nearly impossible. Machines cause a set range of motion per movement and take away the ability to recruit finite stabilizers that play a large role in everyday activity.

Though most of the resistance-training world has emphasized isolation and machine based training, take a step back and focus upon movements. Equally, weight room work is broken down; a clear-cut grouping of movements is to be emphasised on a daily basis.

To start implementing a completely balanced resistance training program, order the Complex Training Program and follow along with the Mad Science 4-DVD Set.

Jordan Collins
RT professional (Kettlebell specialist) DMC™ Auburn

Today average levels of fitness have plummeted. Basic body weight exercises are presently “too advanced” for most of the population. The average person cannot even jump rope for more than a few seconds without becoming winded. Many individuals also lack the hand eye coordination and body control necessary to skip rope. The reason for this and the appalling decline in our nation’s overall health is due to a decline of exercise and general activity.

Our nation’s poor physical condition and health is shocking but must not be ignored. We must employ the necessary tactics to get our nation’s health back. One simple and inexpensive way to begin is with a jump rope. Although there are vast arrays of fancy fitness products available, the basic jump rope is a far superior item than others for cardiovascular conditioning and will have remarkable effects on improving overall fitness.

In addition to increasing cardiovascular efficiency, skipping rope also offers gains in foot and hand speed, increased work capacity, improved motor skills and will aid in the reduction of body fat. It also adds fun and provides a new challenge to a tired workout regime.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

Our nation’s health is deplorable. We are more obese than ever. At the same time, we have more technology available that should help simplify our lives and provide us with more free time. One might think we’d be more fit with additional hours available to exercise as a result of these modern day technological conveniences. Yet this is simply not the case. In fact, advancements in technology have proved counterproductive to our health as we spend endless hours sedentary while utilizing these gadgets. At work, individuals are “strapped” to their desks much of the day as most tasks are completed with the aid of the computer. Even simple communication amongst coworkers occurs with just a few simple key strikes and a click of the mouse.

Sadly, our children are severely paying the price. Today they are moving far less than ever before. As children, I know many of us fondly recall times spent outside playing baseball, basketball, hockey, riding bikes or simply running around. Not only were friendships formed but overall health and wellness remained high. Today this is not the case. Our children are less active and more obese than ever before. This sets the stage for a life time of bad habits and unmanageable obesity rates. Therefore, it is crucial to make health and exercise a priority early on. Turn off the video games, computers, and other technology and get our youth onto the playing fields exercising and having fun.

For more on this topic, don’t miss this month’s issue of DMC.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

In the classic fable the tortoise and the hare, we learn a valuable lesson that persistence results in triumphant. No matter how talented an individual may be, without the presence of a sound work ethic they will not succeed. Today, most individuals lack basic patience and the drive to work hard. When instant gratification is not granted, frustration sets in and the next matter that offers the promise of immediate success takes precedence. However, anything of value is worth the hard work it will take to achieve. Similar to the tortoise, the individual that will not accept failure is the one that will reign victorious.

Whatever the obstacle, face it head on and don’t give up. If others are smarter or more talented, don’t give in and don’t lose confidence. Continue with unwavering determination because dedication, hard work, a sound work ethic, strong mind and a resilient will are the ultimate equation for victory.

Build an unyielding mind and body that can conquer all that comes its way. Contact a Renegade Trainer today.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Nutfit @ Dedham Strength & Fitness

As many have learned over the years, speed has been broken down into stride length x stride frequency/rate. “This is very important to understand because while stride length will need to be developed in a variety of conditions, stride rate provides key information on understanding an athlete’s potential” (John Davies)

There are a number of factors to consider within this subject such as range of motion of both dynamic and static nature, strength, movement generation and fundamental motor development per individual.

Whilst stride frequency is sometimes taxing to improve upon, picture perfect sprint form is the quickest method to improvement. As the origins of speed development are considered, stride length is the primarily determinant of speed enhancement. In order to improve stride length, varieties of aspects come into play whilst development progresses systematically.

Firstly, swift action must be taken in order to stabilize the core musculature. Moreover, an assortment of issues shall emphasize development, ranging from dynamic hurdle movements and tumbling to a post workout static flexibility routine. Far too often, athletes will leap into speed development without a proper foundation, thus causing less than optimal improvement, weaknesses, or perhaps injury.

As the discussion on speed increases, focus upon shoring up the core musculature and increasing range of motion in order to survive the daily rigors of training.

In the meantime, purchase Speed: Parts 1-3 in order to destroy competition and improve speed through a variety of methods.

Jordan Collins
RT professional (Kettlebell specialist)
DMC™ Auburn

Many women feel extreme pressure to look beautiful because of the relentless images of “perfection” we are bombarded with daily. As a result of these unachievable standards, one’s self image and self worth slowly begin to erode. As a result, many women feel plastic surgery is the only solution. This is a brutal measure that all too often comes at an extreme cost – life. Is this so called “beauty” really worth the risk of death or severe disfigurement? An acquaintance of mine recently mentioned the popularity of plastic surgery amongst her friends and noted her sister, who almost died from a tummy tuck, now bears the brutality of a surgery gone terribly wrong.

Plastic surgery is nothing more than plastic confidence, a cheap imitation for the real thing. If a woman does not have self confidence before surgery, she will not have it afterwards. Confidence and self worth do not stem from our outward appearance although we are deluded into believing so. Instead, confidence comes from achievements and success stemming from hard work and feeling good on the inside. Plastic surgery is simply not the answer.

For a real confidence builder try working out. The internal transformation will be as amazing as the external one.

Jennifer Calderone
Boston, MA
Hordon Health
Nutfit @ Dedham Strength & Fitness

After performing the same exercises for a period of time the body adapts and the exercises become easy making them less effective. It is pertinent at this point to change the exercises in some way by increasing the weight or by doing different exercises. I witness this everyday as I see the same individuals performing the same machine based exercises or partaking in the same group classes and note they are not experiencing results. While I certainly don’t want to discourage individuals from exercising, in order to get results, exercise should be varied. Not only does this offer more benefit but a lot more fun.

Yet, teaching an old dog new tricks” has proven to be my greatest challenge as of late. It seems some individuals are content with the same routine because of the ease with which they can perform the exercises and the fact they don’t work up a sweat. They simply do not want to work hard or push themselves out of their comfort zone. Why even waste the time slowly grazing on the treadmill reading or putting only minimal effort into an exercise? If there are no physical obstacles holding one back then there is no reason why the effort put fourth is not 100%. Don’t settle for the same old routine, break free, and achieve results.

Contact jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Nutfit @ Dedham Strength & Fitness