Power to the People!
Transcription
Power to the People!
News From The Publisher July 7, 2005 • St. Paul, MN Women becoming the major users of kettlebells Y ou wouldn’t know it yet from visiting the dragondoor.com Strength and Conditioning forum, which is still heavily dominated by men, but there is a seismic shift occurring in the kettlebell world: Many of our most active RKCs are reporting that anywhere up to eighty percent of their trainees are now women, predominantly in the age range of 35–60. Moreover, the RKCs are reporting that by and large these women are outperforming their male counterparts, when it comes to endurance, conditioning and sheer physical grit… Interesting that an exercise tool that was originally slated as the winners’-weapon-ofchoice by elite athletes and Special Forces hardmen, has now been embraced by a new breed of powerful women. What’s going on? It’s clear that women have gravitated to kettlebells because they simply give you more bang for the back, way faster than any other exercise modality on the planet. This issue really highlights the rising power of the women’s kettlebell movement. I am sure you didn’t miss Amber Dornfeld’s amazingly ripped figure on our front cover — and the photos of her in Brad Nelson’s article on Pages 14—16. That’s the fat-burning, muscle-toning impact of kettlebells at its finest! The there’s former Russian swimming standout Svetlana Writtle, another amazing body honed by kettlebells. When I interviewed Svetlana (Pages 68-69) at the April 2005 RKC, she made a quip that didn’t make it into the official interview but bears repeating in this context… I had asked Svetlana why she thought kettlebells are so popular with women. What I won’t forget in her response went something like this: “Well, if a woman doesn’t have a butt, kettlebells will give her the kind of butt she’s been wanting. And if her butt is too big, kettlebells will tone it down to a firmer, smaller size.” 2 It’s no secret that women’s biggest problem areas are the butt and thighs. Not anymore, if they use kettlebells. But I would be doing women a huge disservice if I made you think they’re only into kettlebells for a cuter shape. The teenage phenom Samantha Young (see her interview on Pages 20-21) is a case in point. Here’s a young woman who is using kettlebells to bust state diving records and to prepare herself for an Olympic Gold Medal bid. And her performances at the Las Vegas Convention had to be seen to be believed! On a professional level, Dr. Wendy Schauer gives us a highly inspiring piece (Pages 70-71) on how kettlebells helped her recover from an injury that was seriously affecting her chiropractic performance — and on kettlebells have helped numerous of her clients also recover from injury. Then check out Lisa Shaffer’s terrific new kettlebell manual, Get Into The Best Shape of Your Life (Pages 22-23) which is a superb and highly practical complement to Pavel’s kettlebell books. Lisa used kettlebells during and after her third pregnancy — and by the look of her it’s hard to believe she ever went through pregnancy even once! I strongly recommend her manual to anyone at any level of kettlebell proficiency. Announcing two new kettlebell sizes Many of you, particularly women, have asked us for an intermediate weight between the 4kg and 8kg. Well, here it is, the 6kg! Check it out on Page 17. I saw a tee at the last Arnold that cracked me up. The front said: “No, I’m not on steroids.” And the back said: “But thanks for asking.” So for those of you mutant creatures out there who rip your shirts if you inhale too quickly… We have uncaged THE BEAST, a very nasty 48kg (106lb) monster that has our liability insurance agent cowering in terror. Can you tame THE BEAST? We know you’re out there… we’ve heard the rumors. Dragon Door Publications presents Vitalics www.vitalics.com www.dragondoor.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief John Du Cane Editorial Training Editor Pavel Tsatsouline Editorial Assistant Dennis Armstrong Contributors Ori Hofmekler, Al Sears, Brad Nelson, Nate Morrison, Wendy Schauer Art Direction & Design Derek Brigham www.drigham.com Internet Architect James McConnell, webmaster@dragondoor.com Dragon Door Corporate Customer Service Dennis Armstrong, Tammy Drury, call 651-487-2180, support@dragondoor.com Orders & Customer Service on Orders: call 1-800-899-5111 Dragon Door Publications corporate address: Dragon Door Publications 5 East County Rd B, #3 Little Canada, MN 55117 To qualify as a fully-fledged BEAST-TAMER, you need to be able to Press, Pistol and Pullup the thing. This is more of a Hard-Style than Vitalics thing but I can’t resist slipping out the news (and the challenge to you mutants out there.) All the Best, John Du Cane Publisher “Loaded Stretching can provide everyone an edge.. Pavel leads you thru a series of stretching techniques that can immediately increase stamina. As one approaches their limits, little strength secrets can make the difference between winning and losing. Loaded Stretching is that, secrets.” —LOUIE SIMMONS, Westside Barbell Instantly Amplify Your Power and Strength! an you easily and instantly turn yourself into a coiled steel spring — ready to burst into action and leap past your previous athletic best? Or are you more like an overstretched rubber band — no longer capable of suddenly generating performance-busting power? Now, for the first time in the West, Russian strength master Pavel reveals the Soviet secret of Loaded Stretching — guaranteed within MINUTES of its application to have you: PULLING HEAVIER SQUATTING MORE JUMPING HIGHER KICKING AND PUNCHING THROWING FARTHER PRESSING BIGGER! HARDER In the glory days of the Soviet empire a team of researchers lead by weightlifting world champion and scientist A. Vorobyev devised a special instant strength technique. Immediately after its application experienced lifters pulled their barbells more than two inches higher! Further research determined that the unique Loaded Stretching (LS) technique — unlike any other type of stretching you have seen — not only increased immediate performance but also delivered long term strength gains. Finally, you too can take advantage of this powerful technique — and watch your athletic performance soar to new heights. Take the Loaded Stretching challenge today: perform the exact LS technique Pavel specifies for your chosen strength-skill — and see immediate, measurable gains… be it deadlift, squat, vertical jump, kicks, throws or presses. “Each of the exercises is explained succinctly, but with attention to the small details that make huge differences in the effects I felt. If you judge fighters pound-for-pound, then minute-byminute, Loaded Stretching is one of the most cost-effective products Pavel has produced.” — KEN HARPER, RKC, Portland, OR “The high end concept of controlled strain, when applied to various movements, have demonstrated ability to improve sport performance in the short and long run and can be used by everyone. The loaded hip stretch using a box, the loaded Russian twist, the loaded RKC clean stretch, and the KB loaded triceps stretch Loaded Stretching are very powerful tools that I have put in my bag of tricks. The loaded RKC clean stretch has been a real blessing to my football and powerlifting ravaged shoulders. There is a lot more here too for every athlete.” —JACK REAPE, Armed Forces Powerlifting Champion The Russian Technique for Instant Extra Strength with Pavel “A well structured program that has you receiving solutions before you finish a question. As for applying the exercises - they DO load the muscles up like tightly wound springs and I felt instant results with such controlled, powerful release unleashed on my workout. A high quality look complements a fine work of teaching.” —DEAN JOLLY, New Zealand DVD Running time: 20 minutes “It’s not about flexibility. It’s about STRENGTH!” #DV023 $24.95 “It is interesting that we have all these great minds in America, and a tremendous amount of info from the Easter Bloc, but never really entered that special door of duplicating elite performance. It took someone from the Eastern Bloc, to show where the door was. Now he has given the key to that all-important first door to creating elite performance. Pavel’s Loaded Stretching DVD is that key. Thank You Pavel!” —JAY SCHROEDER, arpprogram.com 3 BUILD A STRONG HEART: GET MORE FOR LESS M any experts falsely believe that to strengthen your heart you must spend hours in the gym each week, pounding out the miles on the treadmill or spinning your wheels on an exercise bike. This classic cardiovascular exercise prescription doesn’t work to strengthen your heart, and it causes other problems. You can transform your heart health following a different approach that takes as little as 10 minutes a day. Hundreds of patients at my Center for Health and Wellness have helped develop this uniquely effective fitness program while building their heart capacity and functional strength. If they can do it, you can, too. And in a few short weeks, you’ll begin to see and feel the results. PACE for Cardiovascular Fitness Progressively Accelerating Cardiopulmonary Exertion or PACE – will gradually challenge your heart, lungs, and blood vessels to build their strength. (“Cardio” means heart and “pulmonary” means lungs.) To accomplish this, you will do a series of short bursts of exercise with periods of rest in between. As you get used to these brief challenges you will gradually increase their intensity. Here are several key concepts to keep in mind as you proceed: To live longer, PACE yourself… Low-intensity exercise is also not the most effective way of living longer. A study in May 2003 of almost 2,000 British men looked at the relationship between death and low-level endurance. The researchers found this type of low-intensity exercise did nothing to reduce the participants’ risk of premature death due to heart problems. In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers followed 644 patients with heart failure over a 10-year period. They found that the heart’s peak ventilatory oxygen uptake (VO2) (meaning the heart’s exercise capacity) was the most important criteria in predicting chronic heart failure. Exercise capacity was more important than the duration of time 1 exercised in extending life. PROGRESSIVELY Progressively means doing a little bit more this week than you did the week before. Pushing just a little bit harder with each exercise session causes your level of fitness to improve over time. You can add resistance or pick up the pace. Gradually increasing the magnitude of the challenge (rather than the length of the challenge) 4 By Al Sears, M.D. will coach your body into building greater heart and lung capacity to meet any unexpected challenges you may encounter. ACCELERATING Accelerating refers to training your body to respond to exercise faster. When you are out of condition, it takes several minutes to get your breathing and heart rates up. As your physical condition improves your body gears up for exercise more easily. As your body gets better adapted, you make use of this faster gearing up capacity by increasing the challenge quicker. You will train your body to respond more quickly by increasing the pace of exercise sooner in each progressive workout. Don’t start at full throttle, but over time, train your body to respond to the exercise load more quickly. Your body adapts to the increasing quickness of the demands of your exercise by improving the quickness of your response. Why do this? This is the natural state of exercise. Whether predator or prey, in the wild creatures must be able to accelerate to 100 percent capacity in a single heartbeat. Humans have lost this ability to accelerate somewhat recently. More to the point, this is also the very best way to be prepared for and avoid disaster from the sudden increases in cardiac demand that cause heart attacks. INTENSITY Intensity simply refers to how hard you exercise. Intensity is what you should be monitoring and changing as you become fit. Remember, for any exercise program to continue to work over time, you must change something. If you perform the same exercise in the same way for more than a couple of weeks, your body has already adapted to the increased demands. You will cease to make any progress unless you challenge yourself further. Many people increase the duration of exercise as they become more capable of exercising longer believing that they are building a stronger heart, but think about it. Your heart already has the ultimate endurance challenge –- it must beat all the time, even when you’re sleeping. Instead of working longer, strive to make your heart learn to pump more blood faster and harder for a short period of time. You can use this principle safely as long as you increase the intensity in a controlled and gradual way. As your cardiac capacity increases, you can do more work without feeling any additional strain. If you walk or jog on a treadmill, about once a week you should pick up the pace a little or increase the slope by a little. If you’re pedaling a bicycle, you need to pedal a little faster or add a little resistance. DURATION You can also increase the challenge of your working by changing the duration of your exercise, but in the opposite direction of most exercisers. As your level of fitness improves, you need to decrease the duration of your workout. In other words, you cover the same distance in shorter and shorter times. You will find that by gradually shortening your intervals, it gets easier to increase the intensity with each session, and increasing intensity will continue to increase your capacity. During your rest periods, don’t stop entirely but keep moving at a gentle pace as you recover. Light activity keeps your blood circulating to replenish your muscles’ depleted energy stores and removes accumulated lactic acid wastes. Studies show that your muscles recover faster with light activity than with complete immobility. For instance, if you sprint during your interval, you will keep moving at a walk or gentle trot for your rest period. You have a natural inclination to do this. If you listen to your body, you will want to keep moving after a sprint to “walk it off.” As you begin your PACE Program, work out just 10 to 20 minutes every other day. If you are getting in 20 minutes of exercise, you will want to divide your 20minute workout into two 10-minute intervals. As you get into better shape, cut your exercise sessions down to 9 minutes; rest for three minutes, then workout another 9 minutes. Next, progress to three six-minute intervals with two minutes of rest in between each interval. Again, the principle is to cut the exercise length gradually as you gradually pick up the challenge. Use Your Heart Rate to Measure Intensity You can use your pulse rate, or the number of heartbeats per minute, as a speedometer of your heart. It tells you how fast you’re going, and whether you need to speed up or slow down to exercise in your optimal conditioning zone. Al Sears, M.D. You can effectively challenge your heart by coaching it to beat at a pace that is 70 to 85 percent of its maximum safe rate. Your maximum heart rate is roughly equal to 220 minus your age. “Heart-Health Guru” reveals surprising, clinically-proven and above all easy strategies… opens you to a surging rush of potent new energy, power and vitality… With a weak heart, you’re like a car with a dying battery… Only worse! With your car, you can change your battery and be off to the races again, no problem. But not so with your heart – your own body’s final source for life-giving power and energy! When your heart-battery sputters out suddenly, it can mean a terminal heart attack, or a shattering stroke. If you don’t die outright, you’ll most likely eak out the rest of your life, wheelchair-bound and helplessly dependent on others. At best, you’ll most likely be a pathetic shadow of your former self, dragging yourself l around… as if an energy-vampire had sucked the very lifeblood out of you. Well, the shocking truth is that – despite all the supposed advances in heart-health advice, despite all the latest advice of a slew of diet “experts” – over 950,000 Americans are expected to die of heart-disease related problems in this coming year! And these are people just like you, men and women in the prime of their life, successful, motivated, powerful —yet about to be lethally struck down by stroke or heart attack! Could you be unwittingly next in line? And the sad thing is that most of these 950,000 Americans wouldn’t have to die this year… if only they followed the correct guidelines for heart-healthy exercise and diet! Fortunately there is finally a clinically-proven program of diet and exercise that takes all the guesswork out of staying alive and high-energy… A clinically-proven program that’s helped over 15,000 patients-in-the-trenches successfully reverse heart disease and restore vigor and vitality to even the most debilitated of cases! In his tell-all The Doctor’s Heart Cure, Al Sears, MD gives away all the diet and exercise secrets he’s used to blow the socks off traditional heart-health programs — and reward his grateful clients with radiant, new, longterm vigor and vitality. Now imagine, you, at any age, running down a beach with a young child happily bouncing on your shoulders… knowing you could run like this it seems for ever, with your powerful, strong resilient heart supporting you all the way… Imagine, you, at any age, sailing through life, gliding it feels, with a sense of physical confidence and near-invulnerability to stress and the inevitable shocks of daily living… What would it feel like, to live like this, to experience life like this, all the time? When you feel ready to take action on this, to own and feel this kind of confidence in your own heart-health…to possess the secret to a life of endless energy call 1-800-899-5111 to get your copy of The Doctor’s Heart Cure. And the news about Dr. Al Sears’ amazing diet and exercise program is all so good: Would you like to save yourself the indignity, inconvenience and foul taste of modern diet fads? You got it! End the confusion and pain today with The Doctor’s Heart Cure. Enjoy your food more than ever… while continuing to build greater and greater energy and heart health. Are you sick and tired of frittering away your money on heart medications that leave you feeling more wretched than ever? You got it! Dr. Al Sears has personally helped literally thousands of patients get off those crippling heart medications and get back to being happy, vigorous, successful people! Do you spend frequent, precious hours jogging or pounding away at the gym? And despite all of this effort, are you still fatter and weaker than you want to be? Well, finally, you can escape feeling like a rat who’s been tricked on to a treadmill… when Dr. Al Sears shows you how to develop tremendous heart-strength, conditioning and fantastic energy in just fifteen minutes or less a day! I am sure you’re a person who insists on operating at full tilt, being on top of your game. I’m sure you don’t like to mess around with half-truths and wacky nonsense that simply doesn’t work. Well, we are so confident of the tremendous impact The Doctor’s Heart Cure will have on your energy and health (perhaps even save your life), we’re: Awarding you ONE FULL YEAR to watch your strength, energy and vitality explode — and if you are not 100% satisfied, you get an unconditional, 100% refund on your purchase (shipping excepted). The Doctor’s Heart Cure How to Build an Impregnable Heart Today— Without Unnatural Diets, Dangerous Drugs And Time-Wasting Aerobics By Dr. Al Sears Paperback 320 pages 6” x 9” #B30 $24.00 “I very much enjoyed The Doctor’s Heart Cure and very much agree with all of Dr. Al Sears’ points and techniques. Dr. Al Sears’ work presents an eye opening account of the problem of heart disease and an even more eye-opening plan for its prevention or treatment. Most importantly what Dr. Al Sears does and advocates is backed by science and is infinitely more easily done and sustainable than the drugs and hours of injurious aerobics currently in vogue.”—William Wong, N.D., PhD., author, The Best Natural Sports Medicine Book Ever “Dr. Al Sears really gets it — he's right on virtually every topic. What a refreshing breath of fresh air — a physician who really understands nutrition and isn't afraid to speak out and bust the myths! The Doctor's Heart Cure is my new favorite book!”—Jonny Bowden, author, Living the Low Carb Life: Choosing the Diet that's Right for You from Atkins to Zone 5 The Doctor’s Heart Cure Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Why heart disease continues to be America’s biggest killer…why the conventional approach to heart disease fails…the three key principles for building heart health…why cholesterol does not cause heart disease…the new paradigm for healing heart disease and achieving heart health…how to use this book. STEP ONE: How Mainstream Medicine Missed the Boat CHAPTER 1 Modern Nutrition and the Diet Disaster How we created the modern epidemic of heart disease…how to rediscover your natural diet… what our ancestors really ate…what we are genetically equipped to consume…the link between heart attacks and other health problem…how the low-fat “solution” set the stage for a dietary disaster …why obesity levels have skyrocketed. How AGEs accelerate the aging of the heart…how to interrupt the pattern of your cravings…dangers to your vital organs…going beyond the Atkins Diet… returning to a natural diet. CHAPTER 2 Sidestep the “Cardio” Exercise Myth Why long-duration exercise is a waste of your time, and can actually cause other health problems….the vital importance of reserve capacity…the vulnerabilities of “downsizing” you heart…the PACE™ program to strengthen your heart and build reserve capacity. How to increase peak stroke volume – your heart’s horsepower…improving your cholesterol ratios… maintaining healthy testosterone levels…the heart attack risks from long-distance running…how to shed more fat with interval exercise…why endurance exercise encourages fat production. Why PACE™ may help you live longer…the most important predictor for chronic heart failure…how to challenge your capacity…how to build muscle mass with effective interval workouts. CHAPTER 3 Cholesterol: The Great Red Herring Why cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease…a personal story…the tragic consequences of the cholesterol drug campaign…recognizing the difference between risk factors and causes…why cholesterol levels generally do not predict heart attacks…the health benefits of higher cholesterol for the elderly…cholesterol explained. How to remove plaque from your arteries…the truth about cholesterol drug research and the incidence of heart disease…the many health dangers of statins – and the healthier, cheaper alternatives…why low serum cholesterol levels are dangerous to your health. 6 CHAPTER 4 America’s Heart Drug Problem Why heart medications can make your symptoms worse…the safer alternatives…politics, pills, and profits…the warning signs you need to know… biased drug research that could be hurting your health – and their safer, cheaper, better but ignored alternatives…a warning about diuretics. Why you should say “no” to nitrate-based cardiac drugs, if you can…the safe, natural alternatives… why you need to beware of beta blockers… medication risks for the elderly. CHAPTER 5 Measure Your Real Heart Health How to assess your heart health…how to protect yourself from the “sinister killer” homocysteine… the link between high homocysteine levels and heart attack and stroke…major causes of elevated homocysteine levels. Why you should test for C-reactive protein (CRP) yearly…why you need CoQ10…monitoring insulin to prevent heart disease…effective ways to manage insulin levels…insulin’s link to other health problems…the crucial VAP cholesterol test…how Lp(a) tests can predict heart attacks…identifying LDL pattern size…recognizing the dangers of Metabolic Syndrome…identifying lipid remnants to avoid plaque buildup. Detecting heart disease early with scans…three ways to measure body composition to check for risk of heart disease…determining the ratio of fat to lean tissues…how the hip-to-waist ratio indicates heart attack risk…finding the right doctor. STEP TWO: Your Action Plan for Heart Health CHAPTER 6 Enjoy Real Food Again The Doctor’s Heart Cure philosophy of eating…the real food groups…focusing on macronutrients …effects of different macronutrients on the metabolism… three easy principles for healthy eating… the seven major benefits from eating The Doctor’s Heart Cure way. Why you should eat protein at every meal…what proteins to choose and what proteins to avoid…how to protect yourself from mad cow disease…under-standing what the “organic” labels really mean. What seafood to eat and what to avoid…why being a vegetarian could be threatening to your heart health…why you should consume dairy products… the health-power of nuts…why protein is good for your bones. Limiting your carbohydrate intake…what carbohydrates to choose…the low-glycemic preference… the link between processed starches and heart attack…the starch level as a glycemic indicator… how fat can lower the glycemic index… what to especially avoid. Understanding the health benefits of natural fats…best sources and kinds of natural fats…the correct balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 and how to find it in your foods…why choosing organic meat becomes so important for your heart health…why you need to avoid trans fats…the dangers of processed low-fat foods…the real problem with fast food…why you need to say “no” to genetically altered foods. Health benefits for moderate drinkers of different alcohols -– and an important warning…the truth about your drinking water…the health dangers of distilled water…avoiding plastics…why you shouldn’t overcook your proteins…a protective supplement…how to eat well on a budget…why you should turn the USDA pyramid on its head…The Doctor’s Heart Cure food pyramid for a healthy heart. CHAPTER 7 Build a Strong Heart: Get More For Less How to re-condition your heart and lungs…why the classic cardiovascular exercise prescription doesn’t work to strengthen your heart…the key concepts of PACE™ for cardiovascular fitness. Progressively challenging your heart and lungs… accelerating your heart and body’s adaptation and response times…monitoring and changing exercise intensity levels…adjusting exercise duration for optimal physical development …using your heart rate to measure intensity…target pulse ranges. most common nutrient deficiencies…why you do need supplements and what to consider…the healthy heart super-nutrients for greater protection. L-carnitine for greater energy and fat burning capability…L-arginine for better blood circulation, a stronger heart and stronger muscles…tocopherols and toco-trienols to lower your heart risks…the many other proven health benefits of tocopherols and tocotrienols… the many benefits of Vitamin C…why you need to take extra antioxidants More heart-smart antioxidants…ALA for energy… Carnosine as an anti-gly-cation agent and muscle protector…carotenoids for eyes and immunity…L-Glutamine for musclebuilding growth hormone... Lutein to prevent free radical damage and protect the eyes…Lycopene to help the heart, blood vessels, and eyes…Omega-3 to prevent heart disease and cancer…Vitamin A for the eyes and as an antioxidant. What to ask your doctor before you begin your PACE™ program…choosing the exercise activity that’s best for you…sample week-by-week outline of the PACE™ plan…8-week plan at-a-glance …implementing the full tilt program…a sample, 10minute workout plan. Training your heart and blood vessels to deliver more oxygen faster…personalizing your plan… cycling and the risk of impotency. The relationship between muscle size and strength…resistance training…the best exercises for functional strength… common sense calisthenics… how to strengthen your foundation by exercising your legs and lower body…strengthening your core with exercises for your abdomen and lower back…strengthening your upper body…designing your workout action plan. CHAPTER 8 Energize Your Heart: The Miracle of CoQ10 How and why CoQ10 works to strengthen the heart…the remarkable benefits of CoQ10…patient evidence from the Center for Health and Wellness …the nature and functions of CoQ10. CHAPTER 10 Control the Fire in Your Heart How to defend yourself against atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries”...the link between inflammation and heart disease…the roles of homocysteine and CRP for control and early detection. How arterial plaque causes heart attacks…how to easily reduce homocysteine – the McCully discovery …the simple, cheap vitamins that help the body break down homocysteine…how to measure inflammation with CRP. Why dental hygiene gives you a healthier heart… how to prevent or reverse gum disease…the gumprotective power of antioxidants and other key supplements…your inflammation control action plan. Denouncing widely accepted principles in favor of lifestyle changes especially tailored for optimum heart health, The Doctor's Heart Cure offers a refreshing counter-point view and is especially recommended for those with a heart at risk seeking to gather all the information they can on their own in addition to consulting with a physician in person. —Midwest Book Review CHAPTER 12 Heart Health Now: An 8 Week Program How thousands of patients have reversed their heart disease, regained their vitality, and changed their lives – and you can too…why your genetic inheritance need not dictate your future health…taking effective action today…what to do, how to do it, and when to do it…designing your own plan…the author’s favorite workout plan…using a daily log to enhance your heart health success. How to address the underlying conditions behind heart disease…simple and effective measures to prevent or reverse high blood pressure…your action plan for lowering high blood pressure naturally. How to improve your cholesterol profile – the best foods, herbs and supple-ments. How Will, a middle-aged African-American man (and thousands like him) reversed his diabetes and high blood pressure at the Center for Health and Wellness…what to eat and take to beat diabetes. How CoQ10 helps lower blood pressure…reversing congestive heart failure… helps ease angina pectoris …helps you recover from heart surgery… protecting your brain with CoQ10…strengthening your immune system… recommended doses and sources for different conditions…helping with Parkinson’s disease…your CoQ10 action plan. Why it’s important to keep or build your muscle…training tips for building muscle…your action plan for building muscle. Feeding the heart the nutrients it needs…the five The Doctor's Heart Cure is a groundbreaking challenge to "conventional wisdom" concerning what is good and bad for the heart. Chapters claim that starches, not fat, are what fuel heart disease; warn against the health risks of a vegetarian lifestyle (vitamin B12 deficiency is a problem that can only be remedied with supplements, and other important nutrients are much less likely to be consumed in a vegetarian lifestyle); and recommend interval-exercise and weight training for improved heart health rather than long-duration cardiovascular exercise. CHAPTER 11 Individualize Your Heart Cure Pumping up your mitochondria for high energy production…the Krebs cycle and ATP…the health dangers of CoQ10 deficiency…a special warning to vegans…the heart health research on CoQ10. CHAPTER 9 Give Your Heart the Four Nutrients It Needs A groundbreaking challenge to “conventional wisdom” How to lose weight easily and naturally…the key to effective weight loss… evaluating your individual protein needs for effective weight loss…the truth about carbs and weight loss…a little-known fatblasting secret...how the glycemic index affects your weight…fat loss for a longer life…five simple weight loss tips…your action plan for losing weight. 7 Action! Meet Your Senior RKC™ Instructors Steve Cotter, CSCS is a U.S. Full Contact Kung Fu Champion and the author of Full Kontact Kettlebells video. FullKOntactKettlebells.com, California Andrea Du Cane, a star of Pavel’s From Russia With Tough Love program, has a background in classical ballet, kung fu, and qigong. FromRussiaWithToughLove.com, Minnesota Brett Jones Rob Lawrence Brett Jones, MS, CSCS is a strength coach who specializes in athletic enhancement routines for the competitive athlete and weekend warrior. breakingstrength@yahoo.com, California Rob Lawrence, MA strictly presses an 88lb kettlebell at 5’ 11” and 160 lbs and emphasizes exacting technique, mental concentration, and the development of wiry strength. PhiladelphiaKettlebellClub.net, Pennsylvania Steve Cotter Mike Mahler is a strength coach to MMA fighters and Ironman Japan kettlebell columnist, and the author of many articles in iron game magazines such as Ironman. MikeMahler.com, California Steve Maxwell Andrea Du Cane Jeff Martone is a defensive tactics, firearms, and special response team instructor, providing low-profile operational development training to a federal agency. He is the author of Handto-Hand Kettlebell Drills: Xplosive Strength and Stamina for the Combat Athlete video. www.tacticalathlete.com, Tennessee Mike Mahler Steve Maxwell, MS is one of three American Black Belts to hold a world title in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Steve is the author of Steve Maxwell’s Cruel and Unusual Kettlebell Exercises for Real Men video and the owner of the first kettlebell gym in the US. maxercise.com, Pennsylvania SSgt. Nate Morrison is the combatives course project manager for the USAF Pararescue. He has taken his kettlebells on a ‘world tour’ with his elite unit and converted countless special operators into our way of training. www.milfitmag.com, Arizona 8 SSgt. Nate Morrison Jeff Martone Comrade, you are in luck! The senior RKCs are available for seminars, private training, and correspondence coaching. Look WAY YOUNGER than Your Age Have a LEAN, GRACEFUL, Athletic-Looking Body Feel AMAZING, Feel VIGOROUS, Feel BEAUTIFUL Have MORE Energy and MORE Strength to Get MORE Done in Your Day In Russia, kettlebells have long been revered as the fitness-tool of choice for Olympic athletes, elite special forces and martial artists. The kettlebell’s ballistic movement challenges the body to achieve an unparalleled level of physical conditioning and overall strength. But until now, the astonishing benefits of the Russian kettlebell have been unavailable to all but a few women. Kettlebells have mostly been the sacred preserve of the male professional athlete, the military and other hardcore types. That’s about to change, as Russian fitness expert and best selling author PAVEL, delivers the first-ever kettlebell program for women. It’s wild, but women really CAN have it all when they access the magical power of Russian kettlebells. Pavel’s uncompromising workouts give across-the-board, simultaneous, spectacular and immediate results for all aspects of physical fitness: strength, speed, endurance, fat-burning, you name it. Kettlebells deliver any and everything a woman could want—if she wants to be in the best-shape-ever of her life. Penélope Cruz Trains with Kettlebells “ To build core strength, Penélope uses kettlebells… For a total body workout her trainer Gunnar Peterson suggests swinging one like a pendulum… Swing the bell down low as you lower into the squat; lift as you rise up.” —Fitness Magazine, September, 2004 And one handy, super-simple tool—finally available in woman-friendly sizes—does it all. No bulky, expensive machines. No complicated gizmos. No time-devouring trips to the gym. Into sports? Jump higher. Leap further. Kick faster. Hit harder. Throw harder. Run with newfound speed. Swim with greater power. Endure longer. Wow! Working hard? Handle stress with ridiculous ease. Blaze thru tasks in half the time. Radiate confidence. Knock ‘em dead with your energy and enthusiasm. Just some of what From Russia with Tough Love reveals: • How the Snatch eliminates cellulite, firms your butt, and gives you the cardio-ride of a lifetime • How to get as strong as you want, without bulking up • How the Swing melts your fat and blasts your hips ‘n thighs • How to supercharge your heart and lungs without aerobics • How to shrink your waist with the Power Breathing Crunch • The real secret to great muscle tone • How the Deck Squat makes you super flexible • An incredible exercise to tone your arms and shoulders • The Clean-and-Press—for a magnificent upper body • The Overhead Squat for explosive leg strength • Cool combination exercises that deliver an unbelievable muscular and cardiovascular workout in zero time From Russia with Tough Love Pavel’s Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale Book By Pavel Tsatsouline Paperback 184 pages 8.5” x 11” #B22 $34.95 9 From Russia with Tough Love Highlights • How to strip away stubborn flab and morph into graceful strength. • How Russian Kettlebells let you have it all: strength, speed, endurance, and flexibility. • How Soviet science discovered kettlebell lifting to be one of the best tools for all-around physical development. • Kettlebells for shoulder and hip flexibility—and as a highly effective tool for strengthening the connective tissues, especially in the back. • How kettlebells set your fat on fire like no other form of exercise. • Extra benefits: cheap, indestructible and easy to store. • How only K-bells deliver strength, explosiveness, flexibility, endurance, and fat loss in one tight package. What Makes The Kettlebell Workout Unique? • How KBs strengthen and recruit the deeper, harder-to-work, stabilizing and supporting muscles. • Gaining greater daily functional strength. • Why KBs are better at burning off body fat. • Gives you better muscle definition… stronger tendons and ligaments. Fast-Track Training Secrets • How to avoid injuries while gaining strength faster. • The vital process of synaptic facilitation…how to get more juice of your muscles. • Succeeding with daily submaximal training…the powerful Russian concept of continuity of the training process. • Your speed lane to fat loss. • How to get rid of unwanted soreness. • The delayed training effect…the power of the adaptation lag. • Intelligent short-term overtraining. How To Get Very Strong Yet Stay Slender • Why the mind-muscle link is your real key to strength. • The structural approach to strength training vs. the functional approach. • Conscious practice vs. the mindless workout. • How to rev up recruitment and firing 10 rate to build strength without adding muscle. • Developing the skill of staying tight for greater safety and performance. • The real secret to great muscle tone. about lessons and practice. • Treating your kettlebell practice as “iron yoga.” • Focusing on the mind, muscle, and breathing connection. Advanced Weight Lifting Secrets Workouts for the Perfect Female Form • External and internal resistance training. • The impracticality of isolation exercises. • How to optimize full-body tension for your primary muscles. • How to make heavy metal your best friend. • How to master the secret of intraabdominal pressure for greater and safer lifting power…the miraculous effects of Virtual Power Breathing. • Molding hard obliques… the unexpected benefits of low reps. • When controlled overtraining or overreaching beats out total recovery training. • Building up your adaptation reserves for greater gains. • Little-known secrets that help you grade-out higher on the press. • How to optimize strength by manipulating the extensor reflex. • Why locking out your joints is A-Okay. • Unlock the power of your hips with the BOX SQUAT. • How to improve squatting depth, flexibility, technique, and power. • Stretch and strengthen your glutes and hamstrings with the GOOD MORNING STRETCH. • Blast your glutes, hams, inner and outer thighs —and even abs! —with the ONE LEGGED DEADLIFT. • Strengthen and harden your whole body—and especially your obliques— with the ONE ARM DEADLIFT. • Firm and shrink your waist, boost your overall strength, and protect your back with the POWER BREATHING CRUNCH. • Why the conventional crunch is a waste of time and effort…how to avoid neck problems. • The foolishness of high-rep ab training. • How to perform Power Breathing for harder abs and a slimmer waist. • Controlled striking to generate stronger tension. • Get super flexible and work your hips and thighs even harder with the DECKSQUAT. • Melt fat and blast your hips and inner thighs with the SWING. • Get cool and slim with the CLEAN. • Add power and definition to your hips, thighs, and even abs with the FRONT SQUAT. • Strengthen and firm your arms and shoulders with the MILITARY PRESS. • What if I want to work my pecs more?— The unique kettlebell floor press. • The cardio and fat-burning powers of the clean-and-press. • Strengthen your legs and open your shoulders with the OVERHEAD SQUAT. • Mold a graceful and athletic body with the TURKISH GETUP. • Shed cellulite, get a hard butt, and enjoy the cardio workout of a lifetime with the SNATCH. • How to concoct cool combination exercises that deliver an unbelievable muscular and cardiovascular workout in a very short period. Get Younger And Healthier With Kettlebells • Success stories: curing a host of maladies with KBs. • Rehabilitating hopeless back injuries…from wheelchair to national ranking. • KBs for better joint health. Anti-Isolation For Power And Safety • Why isolation as a key cause of injury in the gym. • How to take advantage of irradiation for greater strength. • Maximizing tension with the secret of bracing. • Using Starling’s law and the obtyazhka maneuver to get stronger in your press. Think And Be Strong • The power of thought to make you firmer. • The Russian sports science concept of skill strength. • The dating game, iron-style: why’s it all From Russia with Tough Love Pavel’s Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale Book By Pavel Tsatsouline Paperback 184 pages 8.5” x 11” #B22 $34.95 • The WINDMILL—an unreal drill for a powerful and flexible waist, back, and hip. • Forge iron wrists and grip and firm up your waist with the BOTTOMS-UP CLEAN-AND-PRESS. • Get an even harder stomach and tie your upper and lower body into a strong unit with the ROLLING SITUP. • Cut up your legs and burn calories with the DRAGON WALK—the evil alternative to the lunge. Freestyle Kettlebell Training • The tremendous versatility of KBs— fitting your ideal practice schedule. • Why KB’s are NOT for brainless, senseless sissies. • The first commandment of kettlebell training. • Fragmentation of training volume for more effective strength adaptation. • The secret power of multiple minisessions. • Why fresh and frequent rules. • Variation cycling for quicker progress. • When best to practice what. • Circuit training and the phenomenon of fatigue specificity. • Two great alternatives to straight sets: Interval training and the ladder, a Russian Special Forces favorite. “Download this tape into your eager cells and watch in stunned disbelief as your body reconstitutes itself, almost overnight” From Russia with Tough Love Pavel’s Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale With Pavel Tsatsouline Running Time: 1hr 12 minutes VIDEO #V110 $29.95 DVD #DV002 $29.95 NOW ON DVD! The Sure-Fire Secret to Looking Younger, Leaner and Stronger AND Having More Energy to Get a Whole Lot More Done in the Day What you’ll discover when “Tough” explodes on your monitor: Spanking graphics, a kick-ass opening, “Kettlebells are without a doubt the smooth-as-silk camera work, Pavel at his most effective strength/endurance absolute dynamic best, two awesome femme conditioning tool out there. I wish I fatales, and a slew of fantastic KB exercises, had known about them 15 years ago!” —Santiago, Orlando, FL many of which were not included on the original Russian Kettlebell Challenge video. • The Snatch—to eliminate cellulite, firm your butt, and give you the cardioworkout of a lifetime • The Swing— to fry your fat and slenderize hips ‘n thighs • The Power Breathing Crunch— to shrink your waist • The Deck Squat— for strength and super-flexiblity • An incredible exercise to tone your arms and shoulders • The Clean-and-Press— for a magnificent upper body • The Overhead Squat— for explosive leg strength • The queen of situps— for a flat, flat stomach • Combination exercises that wallop you with an unbelievable muscular and cardio workout “I know now that I will never walk into a gym again - who would? It is absolutely amazing how much individual accomplishment can be attained using a kettlebell. Simply fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone at any fitness level, in any “In six weeks of kettlebell work, I lost an sport. —William Hevener, inch off my waist and dropped my heart rate North Cape May, NJ 6 beats per minute, while staying the same weight. I was already working out when I “It is the most effective training tool started using kettlebells, so I’m not a novice. There are few ways to lose fat, gain muscle, I have ever used. I have increased both and improve your cardio fitness all at the my speed and endurance, with extra same time; I’ve never seen a better one than power to boot. It wasn’t even a priority, but I lost some bodyfat, which this.” —Steven Justus, Westminster, CO was nice. However, increased athletic performance was my main goal, and “I have practiced Kettlebell training for a this is where the program really year and a half. I now have an anatomy chart shines.” —Tyler Hass, Walla Walla, WA back and have gotten MUCH stronger.” —Samantha Mendelson, Coral Gables, FL At one hour and twenty minutes of rocksolid, cutting-edge information, this video is value-beyond-belief. I challenge any woman worth her salt not to be able to completely transform herself physically with this one tape. 11 THE RUSSIAN KETTLEBELL IS THE ANSWER! By Brad Nelson, RKC E verywhere you look in the United States, whether at the local health club or the newsstand, you will see the stronghold of a “bodybuilding” mentality that has permeated our society for decades. Until September 2003 I had fallen victim to that type of thinking and did not know any better until I stumbled upon Pavel. He took America by storm with his simple yet effective training methods that have been used extensively in Eastern Bloc countries for years. Now I state: Russian kettlebells are THE ANSWER to American health issues! Have you ever had a friend throw their back out by tying his/her shoe or by picking up a box or a child? Everyone one of us have either experienced that ourselves or vicariously through a friend or relative. Could you have ‘trained’ to prevent that particular injury? I don’t necessarily have the answer to that specific question, but as general rule I have found it to be true with trainees in the kettlebell world including friends, clients, colleagues and also myself. The problem is, we LIVE in a three-dimensional world but most traditional fitness methods have everyone training in ONE plane of movement. We transfer groceries from the store to car to counter to cupboards all while bending, twisting and leaning and doing it subconsciously. We pick up and hold our kids usually on our dominant side. We mow and rake the lawn, dig the hole for the new tree, move furniture and perform thousands of other daily activities that we never actually “train” for. If that is the case, then why would we stick a bunch of people on some gadget machines that have a predetermined range of motion and have them perform mindless exercise in ONE plane of movement? 12 of the massive marketing (or propaganda) dollars, right? When will Americans realize that every time we attempt to achieve the “perfect look” we contradict “functional development” which is the essential component needed to perform daily tasks? The ideal development would be to blend strength, cardiovascular, and mobility/flexibility in such a way that we could MOVE through daily life with ease. A kind of ‘condensed training’ with a ‘dynamic feel’ that translates to PURE movement. Add mental concentration, remove weak links and past injuries that hinder our movement, become more durable in the process and you have found exercise in its intended form. Kettlebells defy almost every ‘rule’ of traditional “fitness” culture where the focus is training the MUSCLE. Common rules in traditional weight training include: 1) Don’t use more weight, your form will suffer. 2) Don’t ever squat below parallel at the knee joint. 3) Use a weight belt to protect your back. 4) Wear high-top boots or shoes for ankle stability. (They go great with green sweat pants.) 5) Never drop the weights. 6) Always watch yourself in the mirror for correct form. (Or to flex your biceps.) 7) Break down your body into muscle groups to achieve the ‘perfect look’. 8) Always perform ‘Beach Muscle exercises’, such as bicep curls as much as possible. Our society has been wrongfully programmed through all mediums to go after the ever-elusive BODY IMAGE instead of searching out FUNCTION. Society has willed us into a continual mission to achieve the “perfect look” vs. “functional development.” Let me define the difference between the two. Anyone who has spent even a couple of days at the gym can vouch for these unspoken rules of the fitness world. The “perfect look” is the model in the magazine that has perfect genetics, perfect tan, perfect hair, perfect eyes, etc. Now enter plastic surgery, airbrushing and a few THOUSAND dollars. That is what the average American is striving to become all in the name 1) The more weight you use, the better your form. Kettlebells force you to do it right. 2) With kettlebell Front Squats you are encouraged to squat rock bottom thus developing a full range of motion. Conversely, kettlebells teach the body MOVEMENT by default. Let’s examine the rules of the kettlebell world: 3) Discarding the weight belt will force your body to strengthen your core naturally. 4) When working with kettlebells you want to ‘feel’ the ground for maximum effect. Proper footwear includes flat-soled shoes (i.e. indoor soccer shoes, Converse Chuck Taylors, etc.) or just plain bare-foot will do. 5) The ideal training spot with kettlebells is outdoors on some type of surface that you don’t mind damaging— grass, sand, and dirt all work well—because you are encouraged to drop them or forced to drop them (enter the first session of hand-to-hand juggling drills). That way you don’t have to apologize to your spouse for putting a kettlebell-sized imprint on your living room floor or in the concrete in your garage. 6) Kettlebells never require the use of mirrors during a workout. The main reason is because you will be more worried about the ‘feel’ of the movement instead of how ‘pumped up’ you are. 7) Kettlebell exercises are rarely performed for a compartmentalized body part. Rather, they exploit movements that require several muscle groups and also multiple energy systems to work simultaneously, and therefore, reign superior as the exercise of choice. As you can see, kettlebells successfully disobey traditional American fitness culture, but let’s explore them a step further. Kettlebells also employ your brain—challenging for some of you—for a couple of reasons. One reason is that you are slinging an off-balance weight through the air, which demands your full attention at all times. The second reason is the weight is moving through different planes of movement simultaneously requiring your ENTIRE body to command communication and awareness. Let me give you a contrasting example. In the common bench press you are using a few muscles—chest, shoulders and triceps being the main ones. I know there are others for those of you who have been correctly influenced by ‘the Party’, but bear with me. Now let’s take the kettlebell snatch. Name one muscle that has not been affected with this movement. You probably can’t. If you can, you haven’t tried kettlebells. “Name one muscle that has not been affected with the kettlebell snatch. You probably can’t. If you can, you haven’t tried kettlebells. Brad Nelson RKC/Combat Applications Specialist, CSCS is a St. Paul, MN based strength coach. Contact him by brad@mtxe conditioning.com Brad Nelson’s Circuit Training Session Day 1 Joint Mobility warm-up Double Military Press Double Snatch Renegade Rows Double Front Squats Turkish Get Ups Day 2 Joint Mobility warm-up Pistols Alternating Military Press Double Swings Windmills Bear Crawls x5 x5 x5 x5 x3 l,r x5 l,r x5 x5 x5 x10 yards Day 3 Joint Mobility warm-up Turkish Get-Ups Dead Hang Snatch Walking Lunge – each leg Overhead Lockout Position Double High Pulls Double Seated Military Press x3 l,r x5 l,r x5 steps x5 x5 This workout was based on the ‘same but different’ philosophy. Each day is done circuit style. The length of the circuit and the length of the rest periods will be determined by your individual goals. Goal: Size & Strength. Perform this workout as a circuit. Do 5 reps of the first exercise, rest, perform 5 reps of the next exercise and so on. Rest 50 seconds between exercises and 50 seconds between sets. Progression: When you can complete 5 rounds of all 5 exercises with only 50 seconds rest, drop the rest intervals to 40 seconds. Repeat until you can do rest intervals of 30 seconds between exercises and circuits, then increase the weight and start back at 50second rest intervals. Goal: Weight Loss & Conditioning. Do the same as the size and strength workout. However, keep the rest intervals to 30 seconds between exercises and also between circuits. Repeat the circuit 4-8 times depending on your level. Progression: When you can complete 5 rounds with 30-second rest intervals, add at least one complete circuit. When you can do all 8 circuits with 30-second rest intervals, start over at 5 circuits with 20 second rest intervals. Start this new program by easing into it. It may take a training session or two in order for you to decide what weight is best for you. 13 Amber Dornfeld RKC/Combat Applications Specialist is a St. Paul, MN based strength coach. Contact her by dornfeldamber @yahoo.com Amber Dornfeld’s Kettlebell Class Workout • • • • • • • • • • • • • Joint Mobility Warm-Up 20 DARC Swings 14 Swing and Squats 20 Bodyweight Squats 4 High Pulls—4 Snatches—4 Cleans (Repeat 2x each arm) 2 Cleans—2 Push Press—4 Windmills (Repeat 2x each arm) 14 Swing and Squats 20 Snatch Right— DARC Swing—Snatch Left (you will end up doing 10 snatches each arm) Last Snatch keep the KB in the Overhead lockout position…20 alternating Front Snap kicks Repeat snatch—DARC swing—snatch—ending with the other arm overhead and continuing the kicks 14 Swing and Squats 20 Bodyweight Squats One hand on the kettlebell/one hand on the floor: 8 pushups then switch hands on top of the bell and do 8 more pushups One hand on the ground or on a step in the renegade row position (but with only one bell): 8 rows right and 8 rows left Repeat this sequence of pushups and rows 3 times Rest as needed. REPEAT the Entire sequence from top to bottom as desired. When you can complete this workout two times through with minimal rest grab a heavier kettlebell. 14 Your body must be CONNECTED from finger to toe in order to avoid dropping the weight on your head and also control a pendulum-driven weight dynamically swinging through the air. This is not only re-programming muscles but also the nervous system. Our nerves are responsible for our body’s balance, awareness and operating the coordination of our muscles. A good analogy would be a fish in the water vs. out. A fish blends into water, its natural environment, and ebbs and flows with the current and its surroundings. If we catch the fish and bring it on land it flops around mindlessly until it dies. Translate that to humans and movement. If you study toddlers between the ages of one to three years old, they are not afraid to fall. However, fairly early on in life kids are constantly being programmed “Watch yourself, don’t fall” and “Be careful.” Our bodies want to mold and adapt to our environment. The American way is to avoid hurting ourselves in what ‘they’ think is protection when it’s exactly the opposite of training your body to handle the bumps and bruises of ‘life.’ Look at the geriatric population and tell me if they move the way the two yearold does. They do in the eastern world because they’ve discovered BREATH AND MOVEMENT prolongs life. Big muscle bodybuilding collection of body-parts type of training shortens life. Kettlebells are not the ‘end-all’ exercise answer. However, they address more than any other single exercise tool on the market and they won’t become the traditional American coat rack for two reasons. One reason is they are too close to the floor and you don’t want your coat on the floor. And the second reason is they are ADDICTING! Once you pick one up and understand the principles you will be hard-pressed to end your workouts. Go ahead, purchase one. You won’t be disappointed. Now it’s your turn to experience the Kettlebell Revolution. Brad Nelson and Amber Dornfeld both teach classes, workshops, and individual lessons at Victory Fitness in Woodbury, MN. For more information visit www.mtxeconditioning.com How to Dominate Your Competition, Boost Your Income and Attract More Customers with Kettlebells—The Nation’s #1 Tool for Strength, Conditioning and Resilience Pavel’s Russian Kettlebell Challenge Certification Workshop Gives You A Crash Course in Advanced Strength Skills… Ignites New Business Opportunities… And Propels You Into The Front Ranks of Physical Excellence “My income has nearly doubled since taking my RKC cert, all without any extra investment in time” —Jason C. Brown, RKC, Roslyn PA S ince Pavel Tsatsouline and Dragon Door introduced America to kettlebells five years ago, this amazing “gym in one hand” has been redefining our nation’s strength and conditioning landscape. Now, personal trainers who incorporate kettlebells into their programs have watched their client base explode. Previous clients have flocked back, attracted by undeniable gains in strength—and loss of body fat! Kettlebells have opened up whole new vistas of training success for personal trainers and their clients alike. In fact, professionals of all kinds have been rushing to take advantage of the kettlebells’ almost magical ability to strip off unwanted fat and turn wretched physiques into the envy of the neighborhood… Chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, physicians, sports coaches, you name it, have also eagerly embraced the kettlebells uncanny ability to snap back from injuries—in particular, back and shoulder injuries. And, of course, athletic coaches at the school and professional level have been falling over themselves to ensure they and their athletes gain the competitive advantage almost guaranteed by proper kettlebell training. Then, the police and military—whose very lives can depend on their physical strength and conditioning levels—have jumped on kettlebells as the quick and very handy answer to fast and lasting strength and cardio gains. With the kettlebells growing popularity as the exercise tool “that does it all”—be it for the professional athlete or simply average fitness-Joe looking for a more effective workout—there’s a rising demand for highly skilled and competent kettlebell instructors. And there’s ONLY ONE KETTLEBELL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM in the United States that delivers the depth and breadth of core competencies critical to successful kettlebell instruction…Pavel’s Russian Kettlebell Challenge Certification… The business rewards and personal results from attending Pavel’s Russian Kettlebell Certification have often been spectacular: “I have been a personal trainer since 1987, and frankly, I’ve never seen anything like the excitement generated by Russian kettlebells. This age-old art has infused my business with a new level of passion I’ve never seen before, and it’s spreading like wildfire. Let’s start with the financial benefits. I’ve more than doubled my personal training income since becoming Russian kettlebell certified, which has enriched my career as well as my personal life. This past Thanksgiving I was actually able to leave the gym behind and whisk my wife away on a rugged 2-week trip to Costa Rica, something that simply would not have been feasible before. December 2004 was one of my busiest months ever. Business was up, and clients were in a generous mood. My wife couldn’t help but note the huge increase in holiday tips I received, which nearly covered the cost of our Costa Rican adventure! “What do you attribute it to,” she asked. “The economy isn’t that great.” I immediately summed it up in one word: “KETTLEBELLS!” The bottom line is, my clients were feeling generous because they were grateful for what they’d gained (and lost!) over the past year! I’ve had incredible results across the board with all my clients, male and female, since kettlebells entered the picture. One of my longtime clients lost 26 pounds in six weeks. His sister and her husband, visiting from Ireland over the holidays, were totally amazed at both his fitness level and this odd “new” form of training. A newer client lost three dress sizes and really toned up in the span of two months that she had to prepare for her wedding. A masseuse called me to inquire about kettlebell training because she couldn’t help but notice the change in muscle tone our mutual client had achieved. Success stories like these--and there are many--made for a lot of very happy and fit clients with a renewed interest and commitment to training. Needless to say, these kinds of results also brought a lot of new business my way last year. I now have a physical therapist sending me clients because of the improvements he’s seen in his patients’ strength and mobility after sending them my way. “Beyond the professional gains, Russian kettlebells have really benefited me on a personal level as an athlete…” I am 46 years old and have pursued a very rugged and adventurous outdoor lifestyle for as long as I can remember. As a result, there were a few old injuries that had really started to dog me in the past couple of years. Since becoming RKC certified, however, things have changed. I have made amazing strength gains, but perhaps more importantly in terms of improving my quality of life, I have increased the flexibility and joint mobility in my hips and shoulders tremendously. Both have been invaluable in terms of increasing my enjoyment of rock climbing, skiing, and hiking, not to mention improving my performance exponentially! My endurance, strength-to-weight ratio, core strength, static strength, grip strength, and flexibility are all markedly greater than before I started training with kettlebells and incorporating Pavel’s other techniques. Pavel has a way of cutting through the B.S., and he gave me the essential information and techniques that work, both for my clients and for me personally. No question about it, becoming a Russian Kettlebell Certified Instructor is the best move I have made in 18 years as a trainer.” —Gus Petersen, RKC, Denver, CO Pavel’s next Russian Kettlebell Challenge Certification Program will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sept. 30—0ct. 2, 2005. For more information visit our website at: http://www.dragondoor.com/wpkb14.html To register today call: 1-800-899-5111 15 RUSSIAN KETTLEBELLS 16 The World’s #1 Handheld Gym For Extreme Fitness Use Kettlebells to: • Accelerate your all-purpose strength—so you can readily handle the toughest demands • Hack away your fat—without the dishonor of dieting and aerobics • Boost your physical resilience—to repel the hardest hits • Build your staying power—to endure and conquer, whatever the distance • Create a potent mix of strength-withflexibility—to always reach your target • Forge a fighter’s physique—so form matches function • Be independent—world’s #1 portable gym makes you as strong as you want to be, anywhere, anytime Kettlebells Fly Air Force One! “There’s a competitive reason behind the appearance of kettlebells at the back doors and tent flaps of military personnel. When Russian and US Special Forces started competing against each other after the Soviet Union broke up, the Americans made a disturbing discovery. “We’d be totally exhausted and the Russians wouldn’t even be catching their breath,” says… [a] Secret Service agent… “It turned out they were all working with kettlebells.” Now, half the Secret Service is snatching kettlebells and a set sometimes travels with the President’s detail on Air Force One.”—Christian Science Monitor Pavel’s Kettlebell FAQ What is a ‘kettlebell’? A ‘kettlebell’ or girya (Russ.) is a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. The ultimate tool for extreme all-round fitness. The kettlebell goes way back – it first appeared in a Russian dictionary in 1704 (Cherkikh, 1994). So popular were kettlebells in Tsarist Russia that any strongman or weightlifter was referred to as a girevik, or ‘a kettlebell man’. “Not a single sport develops our muscular strength and bodies as well as kettlebell athletics,” reported Russian magazine Hercules in 1913. “Kettlebells—Hot Weight of the Year”—Rolling Stone Why train with kettlebells? Because they deliver extreme all-round fitness. And no single other tool does it better. Here is a short list of hardware the Russian kettlebell replaces: barbells, dumbbells, belts for weighted pullups and dips, thick bars, lever bars, medicine balls, grip devices, and cardio equipment. Vinogradov & Lukyanov (1986) found a very high correlation between the results posted in a kettlebell lifting competition and a great range of dissimilar tests: strength, measured with the three powerlifts and grip strength; strength endurance, measured with pullups and parallel bar dips; general endurance, determined by a 1000 meter run; work capacity and balance, measured with special tests. Voropayev (1983) tested two groups of subjects in pullups, a standing broad jump, a 100m sprint, and a 1k run. He put the control group on a program that emphasized the above tests; the experimental group lifted kettlebells. In spite of the lack of practice on the tested exercises, the kettlebell group scored better in every one of them! This is what we call “the what the hell effect”. Kettlebells melt fat without the dishonor of dieting or aerobics. If you are overweight, you will lean out. If you are skinny, you will get built up. According to Voropayev (1997) who studied top Russian gireviks, 21.2% increased their bodyweight since taking up kettlebelling and 21.2% (the exact same percentage, not a typo), mostly heavyweights, decreased it. The Russian kettlebell is a powerful tool for fixing your body comp, whichever way it needs fixing. Kettlebells forge doers’ physiques along the lines of antique statues: broad shoulders with just a hint of pecs, back muscles standing out in bold relief, wiry arms, rugged forearms, a cut-up midsection, and strong legs without a hint of squatter’s chafing. Liberating and aggressive as medieval swordplay, kettlebell training is highly addictive. What other piece of exercise equipment can boast that its owners name it? Paint it? Get tattoos of it? Our Russian kettlebell is the Harley-Davidson of strength hardware. “Kettlebells—A Workout with Balls”—Men’s Journal Who trains with kettlebells? Hard comrades of all persuasions. Soviet weightlifting legends such as Vlasov, Zhabotinskiy, and Alexeyev started their Olympic careers with old-fashioned kettlebells. Yuri Vlasov once interrupted an interview he was giving to a Western journalist and proceeded to press a pair of kettlebells. “A wonderful exercise,” commented the world champion. “…It is hard to find an exercise better suited for developing strength and flexibility simultaneously.” The Russian Special Forces personnel owe much of their wiry strength, explosive agility, and never-quitting stamina to kettlebells. Soldier, Be Strong!, the official Soviet armed forces strength training manual pronounced kettlebell drills to be “one of the most effective means of strength development” representing “a new era in the development of human strength-potential”. The elite of the US military and law enforcement instantly recognized the power of the Russian kettlebell, ruggedly simple and deadly effective as an AK-47. You can find Pavel’s certified RKC instructors among Force Recon Marines, Department of Energy nuclear security teams, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, the Secret Service Counter Assault Team, etc. Once the Russian kettlebell became a hit among those whose life depends on their strength and conditioning, it took off among hard people from all walks of life: martial artists, athletes, regular hard comrades. “I can’t think of a more practical way of special operations training… I was extremely skeptical about kettlebell training and now wish that I had known about it fifteen years ago…” —Name withheld, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team Am I kettlebell material? Kettlebell training is extreme but not elitist. At the 1995 Russian Championship the youngest contestant was 16, the oldest 53! And we are talking elite competition here; the range is even wider if you are training for yourself rather than for the gold. Dr. Krayevskiy, the father of the kettlebell sport, took up training at the age of forty-one and twenty years later he was said to look fresher and healthier than at forty. Only 8.8% of top Russian gireviks, members of the Russian National Team and regional teams, reported injuries in training or competition (Voropayev, 1997). A remarkably low number, especially if you consider that these are elite athletes who push their bodies over the edge. Many hard men with high mileage have overcome debilitating injuries with kettlebell training (get your doctor’s approval). Acrobat Valentin Dikul fell and broke his back at seventeen. Today, in his mid-sixties, he juggles 180-pound balls and breaks powerlifting records! RUBBER CASED Announcing: “… kettlebells are a unique conditioning tool and a powerful one as well that you should add to your arsenal of strength... my experience with them has been part of what’s led me to a modification in my thoughts on strength and bodyweight exercises… I’m having a blast training with them and I think you will as well.” TWO NEW SIZES! —Bud Jeffries, the author of How to Squat 900lbs. without Drugs, Powersuits, or Kneewraps How do I learn to use the kettlebell? From Pavel’s books and videos: The Russian Kettlebell Challenge or From Russia with Tough Love for comrades ladies. From an RKC certified instructor; find one in your area on RussianKettlebell.com. Kettlebell technique can be learned in one or two sessions and you can start intense training during the second or even first week (Dvorkin, 2001). “…I felt rejuvenated and ready to conquer the world. I was sold on the kettlebells, as the exercises were fun and challenging, and demanded coordination, explosion, balance, and power… I am now on my way to being a better, fitter, and more explosive grappler, and doing things I haven’t done in years!” —Kid Peligro, Grappling magazine What is the right kettlebell size for me? Kettlebells come in ‘poods'. A pood is an old Russian measure of weight, which equals 16kg, or roughly 35 lbs. An average man should start with a 35pounder. It does not sound like a lot but believe it; it feels a lot heavier than it should! Most men will eventually progress to a 53-pounder, the standard issue size in the Russian military. Although available in most units, 70pounders are used only by a few advanced guys and in elite competitions. 88pounders are for mutants. An average woman should start with an 18-pounder. A strong woman can go for a 26-pounder. Some women will advance to a 35-pounder. A few hard women will go beyond. “Kettlebells are like weightlifting times ten.” “Kettlebells are like weightlifting times ten. …If I could’ve met Pavel in the early ‘80s, I might’ve won two gold medals. I’m serious.” —Dennis Koslowski, D.C., RKC, Olympic Silver Medalist in Greco-Roman Wrestling STEEL HANDLE & CORE/RUBBER CASING #P10D 4kg (approx. 9lb) —.25 poods #P10K 6kg (approx. 13lb) — .50 poods #P10E 8kg (approx. 18lb) — .50 poods Price $89.95 $97.95 $99.95 Many of you have asked for an intermediate kettlebell between the 4kg and 8kg. So here it is… the 6kg (13lb), which like its sisters has a steel handle and core with rubber casing. Great for weighted joint mobility drills! And then, we’ve uncaged “THE BEAST”, a monstrous 48kg (106lb) of solid iron, for the ultimate in hardcore training. Swing it, clean it, snatch it —and, if you dare, try pistols, pullups and presses! Are you man (or woman) enough to tame THE BEAST — or will THE BEAST tame you? MAIN USA S/H $11.00 S/H $14.00 S/H $17.00 AK&HI $49.00 $56.00 $65.00 CAN $27.00 $32.00 $38.00 S/H $21.00 S/H $27.00 S/H $32.00 S/H $36.00 S/H $38.00 S/H $43.00 S/H $57.00 S/H $67.00 $79.00 $94.00 $109.00 $125.00 $142.00 $158.00 $190.00 $223.00 $47.00 $58.00 $70.00 $81.00 $90.00 $99.00 $124.00 $158.00 CLASSIC KETTLEBELLS (SOLID CAST IRON) CLASSIC STYLE #P10G #P10A #P10H #P10B #P10J #P10C #P10F #P10L 12kg (approx. 26lb) — .75 poods 16kg (approx. 35lb) — 1 pood 20kg (approx. 44lb) — 1.25 poods 24kg (approx. 53lb) — 1.5 poods 28kg (approx. 62lb) — 1.75 poods 32kg (approx. 70lb) — 2 poods 40kg (approx. 88lb) — 2.5 poods 48kg (approx. 106lb) — 3 poods $82.95 $89.95 $99.95 $109.95 $129.95 $139.95 $179.95 $247.95 SAVE! ORDER A SET OF CLASSIC KETTLEBELLS & SAVE $17.00 #SP10 Classic Set (one each of 16, 24 & 32kg) $322.85 S/H $106.00 $377.00 $238.00 ALASKA/HAWAII KETTLEBELL ORDERING Dragon Door now ships to all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, via UPS Ground. include customs clearance, duties, taxes or other non-routine customs brokerage charges, which are the responsibility of the customer. CANADIAN KETTLEBELL ORDERING Dragon Door now accepts online, phone and mail orders for Kettlebells to Canada, using UPS Standard service. UPS Standard to Canada service is guaranteed, fully tracked ground delivery, available to every address in all of Canada’s ten provinces. Delivery time can vary between 3 to 10 days. • KETTLEBELLS ARE SHIPPED VIA UPS GROUND SERVICE, UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED. • KETTLEBELLS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 4KG TO 24KG CAN BE SHIPPED TO P.O. BOXES OR MILITARY ADDDRESSES VIA THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, BUT WE REQUIRE PHYSICAL ADDDRESSES FOR UPS DELIVERIES FOR THE 32KG AND 40KG KETTLEBELLS. • NO RUSH ORDERS ON KETTLEBELLS! IMPORTANT — International shipping quotes & orders do not 17 Party Members Share AMAZING SUCCESS STORIES Of Stunning FAT LOSS, Maximal STRENGTH GAINS And Huge Strides in Conditioning From Using—And Loving—Their Russian Kettlebells Fantastic Fat Loss with Magical KB’s “I have been training with the KB’s and DB’s for about 2 months or so. To date, I have lost about 33 pounds of fat, and put on 5 pounds of muscle. Give it all you have comrade, the weight will fall off.” From: ZenTrainer Date/Time 2001-06-20 13:06:13 I added forty pounds to my deadlift in one month “About a month ago I suspended my Westside Barbell method powerlifting workout and went for a month of straight KB workout. I just did the max effort on reg. deadlift and get this folks. I just added forty pounds to my PR on 1RM. My 1RM deadlift went up from 325lb to 365lb. My deadlift technique got a lot more snap in it and more explosive. I noticed the same thing on my squat technique.” From: Craig, Date/Time 2001-10-29 09:47:25 I lost 16 lbs in the last four weeks since I started the KB lifts “I love KB's! I have lost 16 lbs in the last four weeks since I started the KB lifts.” From: Gediminai, Date/Time 2001-10-05 16:58:42 Incredible gains in energy, strength, explosiveness, power, speed, overall coordination, balance, flexibility “After 6 months, at age 68, I have experienced incredible gains in energy, strength, explosiveness, power, speed, overall coordination, balance, flexibility, joint mobility, restoration of all ranges of motion, ability to do difficult body weight exercises, dramatic increase in overall endurance, posture, correction of lower back weakness, completion of the repair of a very serious shoulder injury from 6 years ago and far better muscle definition than ever in my entire life.” From: Andy68 Date/Time 2001-1120 10:25:53 No more back pain “Since I received my KB’s, I have no lower back pain when I deadlift. My arthritis is also much more manageable. Power to the Party!!!!” From: Comrade Logan, Date/Time 2001-11-26 10:52:29 “She was at a weight she hadn't been at for 15 years” “For almost 3 years I have done PT with a woman who has achieved average results. 2 months ago I started her on PT and worked in cycles of RKC last month. She was literally firming up and slimming down before my eyes. She called the other day bubbling and gushing over the phone that she was at a weight she hadn't been at for 15 years and wearing clothes she could only fit into before she had her teenage daughter!” From: Jcannon Date/Time 2001-12-23 11:38:37 “Kettlebells are the best method of increasing strength, cardio and endurance” “I have studied TKD/HKD (both art and sport versions) for over 15 years. Kettlebells are the best method of increasing strength, cardio and endurance.” From: ichiban, Date/Time 2001-11-08 11:00:00 “I've lost an average of 1% body fat per week” “I’ve lost an average of 1% body fat per week, from about 20 to about 16. Love handles gone.” From: sebarnes Date/Time 2001-06-20 12:11:11 “My biceps grew faster and better …from doing KB snatches than they ever did with curls. Just another of the MANY benefits of doing KB’s.” From: BigNate Date/Time 2001-11-16 14:20:11 Kettlebells Rule for Muay Thai Conditioning “I have been only doing the KB’s for two weeks. Already, in my sparring class, I tapped out a guy who's been regularly kicking my butt in the year that I’ve been training at the dojo. I certainly didn't expect to get this far this fast!” From: Ari Date/Time 2001-06-02 20:48:10 “I am a Muay Thai boxer and have recently purchased my first kettlebell (3 wks ago). I’ve been using it every day for about half an hour. I can't get enough of it. Benefits so far have been 1. Extremely shortened recovery times for all types of martial art exercises (I'm talkin' amazingly short); 2. Impressive muscle growth, especially in the shoulders, back and legs (finally, functional strength!!).” From: mtaibrad Date/Time 2001-09-13 03:05:17 KB’s made me even stronger, after 20 years of Olympic lifting “I don’t want anybody else knowing about KB’s” “I've been an Olympic lifter for over twenty years...it has kept me strong, athletic and young! Now, I have been turned on to kettlebells, and I am having a ball with them. It has made my body even stronger after twenty years of OL. Do yourself a favor and get a kettlebell or two.” From: Sbadsaint Date/Time 2001-06-09 05:20:23 “I’d rather that no one else knows about KBs and Pavel's other programs except for those who already know. Why? I want that edge. I want to be the one who can outrun, outlift, outjump, and outlast everyone else. I want it to be my secret weapon!” From: WarpedMind Date/Time 2001-12-08 01:27:00 In 3 weeks of KB’s the changes in my wife’s appearance are staggering No more back pain... KB’s improved my sparring “My wife started on KB’s three weeks ago along with my 12 year old sons, the changes in my wife’s appearance are staggering to say the least. She has now dropped her gym membership and will be working out entirely with the KB's. Encourage your wife to try this form of exercise, it will deliver results the spandex and Lycra brigade could never hope to match.” From: nickel Date/Time 2001-12-03 07:31:10 “I’ve been doing KB's for about 1 1/2 months now. My back is finally pain free after about a year of on-and-off pain. I can't wait to see where my future training goes with the KB's.” From: X-celsior Date/Time 2001-11-02 13:32:23 This is a small sample from the deluge of similar stories you will find posted on the www.dragondoor.com Discussion Site 18 An Excerpt from Beyond Bodybuilding by Pavel SOLUTIONS FOR A TIGHT BACK Question: My back gets really tight after I lift. Do you have any good stretches to loosen it up? P rovided it is not a medical condition, the following complex will do the job and then some. Three out of the five exercises are recommended by Valentin Dikul, a man as famous as Arnold Schwarzenegger in the countries of the former Soviet Union. 1 A circus acrobat, Valentin took a bad fall and broke his back when he was seventeen. Dikul said no to the wheelchair and painstakingly rehabilitated himself. But he did not stop there. He proceeded to become a great circus strongman juggling 176lb. balls and later – in his sixties! – a record shattering powerlifter. More importantly, Valentin has helped many people to reclaim their healthy backs. 1. Hang on to a pullup bar, palms over, and rotate your torso as far as possible clockwise and counterclockwise. – 3 sets x 8 reps. I prefer doing this drill on parallel bars rather than a pullup bar. “I've been lifting weights since I was 12. As a Martial Artist and Ex USAF PARARESCUE SPECIALIST I have seen all kinds of products and gimmicks through the years. I'm 45 now and what I have read and learned in this book changed my outlook on lifting weights and saved my back forever. In just 3 days of working with a few techniques explained in SOLUTIONS FOR A TIGHT BACK I eliminated my lower and upper back pain that I have lived with for many years. —MASTER DAVID COGSWELL, SHOREACRES, TEXAS 2 2. Hang on to a pullup bar, palms over, and raise your legs, the feet together, side-to-side. No swinging! – 3x8. Incidentally, Frank Zane used to do this exercise to cut up his midsection. 3 3. Hang on to a pullup bar, palms over, tilt your head back and maximally arch your back. – 3x8. Superset this exercise with the next one. 4. Hanging leg or knee raises. – 3x8. Russian powerlifting coaches believe that hanging leg raises following heavy lifting are not only beneficial to the spine but help normalize the intra-abdominal pressure. 4 5 5. Hang on to a pullup bar, palms over, and move your straight legs like scissors back and forth. – 3x8. This drill is recommended by Russian coach Mark Tartakovsky. When you are done your back will feel alive. Guaranteed. 19 17 How a Seventeen-Year Old Olympic Hopeful is Using Kettlebells To Pursue Her Dream of a Gold Medal WE INTERVIEWED SAMANTHA YOUNG AT THE APRIL 2005 RUSSIAN KETTLEBELL CHALLENGE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Dragon Door: Let’s start by talking about your athletic achievements. bodywork. What kind of shape were you in when you got it? Samantha Young: I’m a national-level diver, and my goal is the Olympics in 2008. This year I hope to go to the World Championships in Washington State. And in Washington last year, I won the Woman’s Lightweight Kettlebell Championship. Since kettlebells and diving go together, I’d like to continue competing with kettlebells. S.Y.: I was definitely athletic, but I was a little pudgy, not much muscle mass. I’ve been in athletics since I was pretty young, but I guess I didn’t have a lot of muscle mass or strength. So I began getting Rolfed by Michael Reams. It started with my little sister, because she was a hardcore gymnast and was constantly getting hurt. D.D.: Didn’t you win a state record for your diving? S.Y.: I started training with kettlebells just before my sophomore year, and then I won the Washington State High School Diving Championships my sophomore and junior years. This last year, when I was a junior, I set a new state record, breaking the record that stood for 30 years. I’m planning to break my own state record this coming November. I’m listed 3 times in the top 25 all-time best diving scores for Washington. I have also been invited to train my diving at the Olympic Training Center in Indianapolis. D.D.: I heard that you’ve gone through a lot physically in the past few years, starting back when you were 15. What happened to you? Samantha Young, RKC performs a drill at the Kettlebells for Combat Applications workshop 20 S.Y.: I’ve gone through a lot of physical changes in the last few years. It all started when I got Rolfed for some training injuries. D.D.: Rolfing’s a pretty intense form of So she and I went and got Rolfed. Michael started talking about weightlifting, noticing my body type and that I wanted to go further as a diver. Then, even in his office, he started giving me books and had me do all of this reading. And to tell you the truth, I wasn’t really into reading. [Laughter] It’s hard for me to sit down and read things. But he showed me more and more about strength training and had me look at some of the outcomes of other people. It really inspired me. D.D.: The outcomes of other divers? S.Y.: Actually no. In diving, we usually do a lot of cardio and that’s cut down quite a bit. When I was focusing more on diving, I didn’t have that much of a workout. So Michael started me with Olympic lifting and strength training. He had already looked into all of the kettlebell stuff and was a weightlifter himself. He started training me with weightlifting at first and then kettlebells came into it. I work out at the gym in his house. There’s a lot of variety in the workouts; nothing like just a gym. It’s more like a cycle of sets, so it isn’t boring for me at all. I love it. Not knowing a lot about weightlifting or kettlebells, I thought they were pretty much the same thing. I didn’t know that they were two different training techniques. So putting those together, we made some pretty crazy workouts [laughter] and that was a lot of fun. It’s pretty addictive. I always take a week off before my competitions, but it’s hard to not work out at all for an entire week, you know? It used to be that I had to force myself into the idea of working out. But now I love it. D.D.: How have kettlebells contributed to your diving? What sort of improvements have you seen? S.Y.: In powerdiving, there is a ton of pressure when your body hits the water, especially from a 10-meter platform, so a lot of divers collapse when they hit the water. I was having trouble with this. I’d get bruises all over my hands and my arms because every time my hands would hit the water, my arms would collapse and I’d hit my head. You can’t do a high DD (degree of difficulty) dive when you can barely get through the water, you know? [Laughter] Exercises like the "hot potato" trained my body for the shock. Both the Rolfing and the kettlebell training have almost eliminated the injuries for my sister and me. For over a year now my training has been 80 to 90% kettlebells. Weightlifting is very helpful, but the kettlebells are better for training the strength, range of motion and the speed I need in the world of diving. It’s mainly about connecting your shoulders and rooting your strength. I was doing a lot of Box Jumps with kettlebells in my hands, and it really increased my power off the board. Tons of people noticed. D.D.: Good jump and springy-ness. And a lot of extra hip movement, too. Right? S.Y.: Yeah. The hip drive was helping my height, and my ability to extend and snap out of my flips and twists. D.D.: And it probably helped you maintain your posture attention, too. S.Y.: Yeah. It just cleaned it all up. In diving, impressing the judges is pretty much everything. You have to make them think that yours is the best dive there is. Every little progression helped me out tons. D.D.: You did incredibly well at the convention; you were the only female to manage a perfect pull up with a 12kg kettlebell, and you performed 243 reps of a 12kg Snatch in ten minutes. That’s impressive! You’ve got a lot of training already. How’s it been going through a full RKC certification? S.Y.: It’s been pretty exiting. I just love it and I love working with people. I was a little timid at first, because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I like to have notice ahead of time, but I’ve been trying to work on that because in competition… D.D.: You don’t know. S.Y.: You don’t know. So it’s been good practice for that. [Laughter] S.Y.: Real good. I’ve definitely learned a lot and I just have to write it all down, because, you know.… D.D.: I know. It’s a lot of info to take in at once. Did anything jump out at you as particularly valuable? S.Y.: I’d say I need to focus on Swings. They’re very basic, but they’re the root of all moves. When I get home I’m going to work on that and the hip drive. D.D.: diving? You can see that helping your S.Y.: Definitely, and I want to work toward higher points in the competitions. I’m hoping that the hip drive will help me, because my arms get worn out. I need to make the hips do the work instead. Samantha Young, RKC Combat Applications specialist is a resident of Seattle, WA D.D.: How’s the instruction been for you here? 21 Praise for Lisa Shaffer’s GET IN THE BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE! — A Complete Guide to Kettlebell Exercises and Kettlebell Training Lisa Shaffer’s workbook is a valuable companion to the Russian Kettlebell. You will enjoy the variety of exercises and the author’s “can do” attitude. Com. Lisa has done a great job!" —Pavel Tsatsouline, Chief Instructor, Russian Kettlebell Challenge “You did a tremendous job, and I will recommend your book. You really put your own stamp on the KB programs that you prescribe and your workbook sets the standard for readability, creativity and usability. You are also a tremendous role model, even more so for women with children. You are proof that having children is not the end of a fit and healthy body for mothers. All men should buy a copy of Get in the Best Shape of Your Life! for their wives or girlfriends. Congratulations” —Steve Cotter, Sr. RKC and author of “Full K.O.ntact Kettlebells: The Martial Art of Strength Training” “I had the opportunity to preview Lisa's manual while flying to the last RKC. She did an excellent job! It's very well organized, user friendly with lots of pictures and very well researched. It takes in consideration the special needs of women. Lisa's new book will make a nice contribution to your kettlebell resource library.” —Jeff Martone, Sr. RKC and author of “H2H Kettlebells” kettlebell exercise how-to, the workbook is truly outstanding. Shaffer has a knack for taking each exercise and teaching it in a clear, concise manner with incredibly detailed photos. I have to say that my clients love this book. I ordered copies when it first came out and am about sold out. My clients buy it to have a reference for when they travel and want to continue their workout on the road. Clients who don't live close enough to Iron Core to come three days a week for classes, buy it to train at home after we have given them some instruction. Our local police department just bought it for a reference to train with their unit. Everyone has commented about its ease of use and detailed, colorful photos. Excellent resource, buy it!” —Sarah Lurie, RKC and Founder of Iron Core, Certified Kettlebell Fitness Studio, La Jolla, Ca. “Wow, Wow, Wow. Lisa, your workbook ROCKS! “Best kettlebell manual on the market! Lisa clearly put a great deal of work into her manual/book and has raised the bar very high. Flawless product with tons of great info! Very comprehensive manual, excellent photos, instruction, and tons of programs. Must have for all women who train with kettlebells and also a great manual for anyone that wants to maximize the benefits of KB training. Great job Lisa!” —Mike Mahler, Sr. RKC and author of “Kettlebell Solution for Size and Strength” "Lisa Shaffer's kettlebell workbook is a must for any level kettlebell enthusiast- from the beginner to the advanced. As a 22 I just got this today and can say without a doubt if you are a trainer working with clients in kettlebells you want them to have this book. Or at least have access to it. Great organization, very user friendly and such a great amount of information and DETAIL! Photos and diagrams clear concise points of interest are excellent! Very visual and very well done. For those training without RKC instruction this would also be a great thing to have as a reference tool. Mine will get tons of use. Well done Lisa, congratulations on a superior product.” —Mark Reifkind, RKC “For me, kettlebells have greatly improved my functional strength, endurance and helped change my body composition. My kettlebell workouts helped me stay in shape during my third pregnancy and helped me recover in record time. The exercises covered in this book are challenging and fun. The information and articles in this book will help do for you what it did for me, Get in the Best Shape of Your Life!” —Lisa Shaffer, RKC Highlights: Kettlebell Basics • Over a dozen kettlebell basic moves and positions for getting your KB training off to the right start or just brushing up on your form. Perfection is in the details. Get your form perfect with these complete kettlebell basic descriptions and photos! Over 50 Kettlebell Exercises • Exercises are organized into Pulls, Pushes, Core, and Leg exercises for easy reference and easy workout structure. All exercises are rated for difficulty and cross referenced in the table of contents for easy program design. An encyclopedia of kettlebell exercises, from Beginner to Advanced! Full descriptions with step by step instruction and accompanying photos. Over 300 hundred full color photographs outlining all the basics and little known RKC tips. • No longer will you be stuck thinking of exercises to include in your workout. With these 50 exercises, the workout possibilities are endless! Your workouts will never get stale! Included are six brand new exercises, not seen anywhere! • Notes section included on every exercise page for detailing your own personal observations and notes. Bonus: Over 20 Pages of Articles Giving You Highly Practical Tips on How to Fully Benefit from Kettlebells • “The Dreaded Snatch” – No more banging up your forearms. Complete two page article supplement to the Snatch exercise page. Master this highly effective kettlebell drill and make it a staple of your workouts! A Complete Guide to Kettlebell Exercises and Kettlebell Training • Kettlebell Workout Structure – Learn how to structure your kettlebell workouts for achieving your specific goals, whether they are increasing strength or burning fat, this article will show you how! Workout structure for beginners to advanced lifters. by Lisa Shaffer, RKC Spiralbound 104 pages 8.5” x 11” • Beginner’s Plan – A flexible 4-8 week plan on how to learn the basic kettlebell drills and incorporate them into a kettlebell program for reaching your goals. Flexible enough for all fitness levels! #MB001 $47.95 • Combination Workout and Walking Workout – Tired of the same old routine? These kettlebell workouts and all their derivations will take your training into high gear and snap your body into shape! The handy spiral bound workbook format makes this kettlebell book functional, just like the Kettlebell itself! Take it with you to wherever you work out, take notes, plan goals, and make it YOUR personal kettlebell Workbook! • Kettlebell Training During Pregnancy – Learn from my experience of kettlebell training during my entire third pregnancy. Feel great and alive during pregnancy with these guidelines, workout strategies, and sample programs. Zoom in detail and RKC “Tip Boxes” for teaching you every detail of every exercise. Learn these details compiled from years of experience and hundreds of trained clients. Get in the Best Shape of Your Life! • Kettlebells, A Sure Fire Way to Get Back in Shape After Pregnancy – No longer does pregnancy mean the end of a tight, youthful figure! With KB and this article, you will be back in your pre-pregnancy clothes and looking great in no time! • What Do I Do if my Kettlebell is too Light? – Tons of tips for making your Kettlebell exercises more challenging. You will never again say, “My Kettlebell is too light.” No Excuses! – Do you need motivation? Do you sometimes need a kick start to get going on a new cycle or finish up on an old one? Read this article for a shot of motivation and get goin’! And More! 23 PHILLIP SMITH won First Prize for his Desissification Essay at the National Kettlebell Convention… From Zero to Hero : High School Wuss Flunks Phys. Ed Class… Yet at Age 57, Snatches 53 Lbs Kettlebell 133 Times in Ten Minutes — Under the Burning Vegas Sky! The Life and Times Story of the Desissification of Phillip Smith E arly in the movie Pulp Fiction there’s a scene where a boxer is being lectured in the back of a bar by a modern day gangster on how he wants to throw a fight –and he has just passed a big wad of cash to the boxer to buy the fix. He gives the boxer some advice: ‘Night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting, That’s pride (messing) with you. (Screw) Pride! Pride only hurts. It never helps. You fight thru that (stuff).’ To honestly talk about one’s foibles, you gotta put pride away and come Clean. Fighting thru that stuff, one can’t cover up those acts of sissification, regardless of the sting. Pride can’t be allowed to get in the way of talking about these things. I have discovered becoming a member of the Kettlebell Nation will give one the foundation of confidence and clarity required to take on the world. Having the mental and physical strength required to walk squarely thru each and every situational door. With new confidence, with new drive, with powerful mental and intellectual strength, with exploding creativity. But, first, a necessary look back, a coming clean if you will. I grew up in the hillbilly country of Eastern Tennessee. Sports, tough guys, athletic abilities, swinging chains, smoking cigarettes, these were the basis for being ‘good’ in that environment. I was good at none of these. I was always chosen last. 24 Instead I had a fair talent at a young age for learning and playing piano. I ended up becoming the country church’s pianist at age 12 and, later, their first organist. I wasn’t blending at all. I received my only ‘F’ on any report card in my first term as a high school freshman. I’ll never forget it. Coach West, his name was, teaching my 4th hour gym class to do tumbling exercises, like flipping heels over head until you landed perfectly erect. Problem was, I couldn’t do it. Didn’t compute. What an embarrassment. After the military, where I was a lousy example of a fit officer, I began a professional business career in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’ve been fortunate to get to do interesting and challenging assignments. Later, in the midst of working out of a problem I hired a guy by the name of Ronald Morris to take care of a detail for me. I found him through a referral, met with him, we organized a plan to solve the problem. His card said he was a personal trainer – He certainly looked the part, but I thought it might just be a sideline. I failed. Couldn’t lift the bar off the bench. So I asked him, and in fact he had a full time practice in strength training, and I opted in. We met at a gym, and he gave me a small test with a few moves and, shades of freshman gym class, I failed. Couldn’t lift the bar off the bench. But with his drive and determination, I stayed and worked and listened and, like half of the success I’ve witnessed in business, I succeeded partially just by showing up. Some years later Ron comes in all excited about a new technique for training called Kettlebells. God, here we go again, I thought, as Ron always keeps pushing the envelope even when there wasn’t an envelope. We buy a set of Kettlebells and set off to learn the techniques and the moves. Ron gets certified as a Kettlebell trainer and our intensity level moves up dramatically. All this time, though, something is happening. Different from anything I had ever experienced. Phillip Smith, right after completing 133 24kg kettlebell snatches in ten minutes under the hot sun of Las Vegas I had now developed a foundation of strength. But the Kettlebell training! Nothing matched what it began to do for me. There’s something mystical about this unique combination of strength training and the cardiovascular requirement that causes a remarkable transformation in attitude and motivation. The sense of accomplishment one can achieve with these moves supersedes any other. And the core strength, something never-here-to-before held by me, suddenly appeared. A semiconductor chip in a satellite is protected by a shield to block radiation and is termed ‘rad hard’ for ‘radiation hardened protection.’ For humans a strong core seems The prized bubbas of my youth have grown up to have big bellies and bad habits. Soft hands and soft backbones. I on the other hand have a hard core. And getting harder. A strong grip and getting stronger. A curious mind, and exploring more. . . a realization that I can go further, much further. I have become desissified. essential for durability and strength, too, and I would term the Kettlebell trained athlete ‘core hard,’ protecting the body just like its namesake in the semiconductor world. Can one ever give proper justice to the positive mental advantages coming from the ability to swing 24kg weights over the head multiple times or jerking 24kg pairs into a press time after time? In this higher plane of fitness I realize the quiet superiority that comes with Kettlebell therapy. It is not in anyway a form of conceit of the activity or condescension to others. It is a sense of elevated self that comes from confidence that pure strength gives. The prized bubbas of my youth have grown up to have big bellies and bad habits. Soft hands and soft backbones. I on the other hand have a hard core. And getting harder. A strong grip and getting stronger. A curious mind, and exploring more. . . a realization that I can go further, much further. I have become desissified. And now as a 57 year old male with a body and strength better than men 25 years my junior, I am a competitor in the 10 Minute Secret Service 24kg Challenge at the First Ever Kettlebell Convention in Vegas. Any participant in that gut wrenching test who has the fortitude to train for and enter the event and stand before God and Pavel and do this thing, by definition has successfully cast off any demons of sissification. Those ghosts are gone, forever relegated to the towel basket in the high school gymnasium. The circle is complete. Just a different level, a different mindset, a Kettlebell attitude. A Kettlebell life. Note: Phillip Smith went on to snatch the 24kg kettlebell a total of 133 times in ten minutes. One hell of an accomplishment for any man — and truly outstanding for a 57-year old businessman with no previous athletic achievements to his credit. Congratulations, Phillip! 25 Here’s what you’ll discover, when you possess your own copy of Pavel Tsatsouline’s Relax Into Stretch: Stretching is NOT the best way to become flexible Why Americans lose flexibility as they grow older • the dangers of physically stretching muscles and ligaments • the role of antagonist passive insufficiency • the nature and function of the stretch reflex • how to master muscular tension • how to inhibit the stretch reflex • intensive and extensive learning methods. Why you should not stretch your ligaments— and how you can tell if you are Yoga postures and stretches to avoid at all costs • the function and limitations of your ligaments. Stretching when injured Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation • what happens when a muscle gets injured • contracting and releasing the injury • why stretching won’t help a bad back and what to do instead. Waiting out the Tension— relaxed stretching as it should be Just relax—when and when not to use the technique of Waiting out the Tension • Victor Popenko’s key to mobility • the importance of visualization • why fear and anxiety reduce your flexibility • maximizing perceived safety in the stretch. Extreme flexibility through Contrast Breathing How to breathe your way to greater flexibility • effective visualizations for the tension/release sequence • avoiding the dangers of hyperventilation. Forced Relaxation— the Russian spirit of stretching How to turn the contract-relax approach into a thermonuclear stretching weapon • determining correct duration • tips for the correct release of tension. The final frontier: why Clasp Knife stretches will work when everything else fails How to cancel out the stretch reflex • taking advantage of the inverse stretch reflex • the last line of defense against injuries • shutdown threshold isometrics • mastering the Golgi tendon reflex. 26 How much flexibility do you really need? Why excessive flexibility can be detrimental to athletic performance • why old school strongmen instinctively avoided stretching • what stretches powerlifters and weightlifters do and don’t need • warning examples from sprinting, boxing and kickboxing. When flexibility is hard to come by, build strength Plateau-busting strategies for the chronically inflexible • high total time under tension. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation How Kabat’s PNF fools your stretch reflex • the function of the Renshaw cell • why it works to pretense a stretched muscle. Isometric stretching rules! Why contract-relax stretching is 267% more effective than conventional relaxed stretching • what the ‘frozen shoulder’ has to teach us • the lifestyle problem of ‘tight weakness’‚ • why isometrics is more practical than weights. 20. The Karate Stance Hip Flexor Stretch Page 82 21. The Karate Stance Groin Stretch . . . .Page 84 22. The Seated Groin Stretch . . . . . . . . . .Page 86 23. The Calf Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 89 24. The Shin and Instep Stretch . . . . . . . .Page 91 The demographics of stretching Why your age and sex should determine your stretches • the best—and worst—stretches for young girls, boys and adolescents • a warning for pregnant women • what’s best for older folks. The details, the schedule Isometric stretches—when to do them and how often • how to know if you are doing too much • Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace’s hardcore stretching schedule • correct order and choice of stretch • why isometric stretching should be the last exercise you do in your day. The Relax into Stretch drills— 1. The Souped Up Toe Touch . . . . . . . . .Page 49 2. The Spine Decompression Hang . . . . .Page 51 3. The Improved Cobra . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 54 4. The Side Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 57 5. The Spine Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 60 6. The Lateral Neck and Trap Stretch . .Page 61 7. The Headache Buster . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 62 8. The Anti-Slouch Neck Stretch . . . . . . .Page 63 9. The Head Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 64 10. The Chest Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 65 11. The Overhead Reach . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 67 12. The Biceps and Shoulder Stretch . . . .Page 68 13. The Shoulder Blade and Lat Stretch .Page 69 14. The Upper Back Loosener . . . . . . . . .Page 71 15. The Wrist Flexion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 73 16. The Wrist Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 74 17. The Good Morning Hamstring Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 75 a) standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 75 b) seated on a chair . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 76 c) seated on the floor . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 77 18. The Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch . . . .Page 78 19. TheLunge Hip Flexor Stretch . . . . . . .Page 80 Two more plateau busting strategies from the iron world Popenko’s flexibility data • the reminiscence effect • the dynamic stereotype • How to exceed your old limits with the stepwise progression. Advanced Russian Drills for Extreme Flexibility 25. The Side Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 100 26. The Cossack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 102 27. The Reverse Cossack . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 104 28. The Hip and Side Stretch . . . . . . . . .Page 106 29. The Crawling Lizard . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 108 30. Hamstring Stretches . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 109 31. Hip Flexor/Quad Stretches . . . . . . . .Page 114 32. The Lower Calf Stretch . . . . . . . . . . .Page 117 33. The Front Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 118 34. The Bent Press Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 123 35. The Modified Reverse Triangle . . . . .Page 126 36. The Roadkill Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 128 37. The Side Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 131 Relax into Stretch delivers instant flexibility! Be as FLEXIBLE as You Want to Be— FASTER, SAFER and SOONER “I can’t say I’ve read many books on flexibility with the wit and clearheaded wisdom I found in Pavel Tsatsouline’s Relax Into Stretch. Tsatsouline delivers the how-and-why of progressive techniques for achieving suppleness, from simple yoga stretching to advance neuromuscular facilitation, without burying the reader in hocus-pocus or scientific jargon. Tsatsouline’s Relax Into Stretch provides an alternative: straightforward and practical techniques that don’t require a lifetime to master”. —Fernando Pages Ruiz, Contributing Editor Yoga Journal “I tell you truly that Relax Into Stretch is superb. Stretching has always been associated with any serious fitness effort and Tsatsouline’s approach to this old discipline is fresh and unique and thought provoking. Best of all, this book combines philosophic insight with in-your-face reality as Pavel shares with the reader ‘drills’ that turn you into what this former Russian Spetznaz instructor calls ‘ a flexibility mutant'. This book supplies both the road map and the methodology. Don’t ask to borrow my copy.” —Marty Gallagher, Columnist, WashingtonPost.com “Pavel Tsatsouline’s Relax Into Stretch: Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension is a superbly illustrated, step-by-step guide to achieve physical flexibility of muscle groups and sinews. Relax Into Stretch is very effective and very highly recommended reading for men and women of all ages and physical conditions seeking to enhance their mobility and flexibility as part of an overall exercise regimen.” —Midwest Book Review • Own an illustrated guide to the thirty-six most effective techniques for super-flexibility • How the secret of mastering your emotions can add immediate inches to your stretch • How to wait out your tension— the surprising key to greater mobility and a better stretch • How to fool your reflexes into giving you all the stretch you want • Why contract-relax stretching is 267% more effective than conventional relaxed stretching • How to breathe your way to greater flexibility • Using the Russian technique of Forced Relaxation as your ultimate stretching weapon • How to stretch when injured— faster, safer ways to heal • Young, old, male, female—learn what stretches are best for you and what stretches to avoid • Why excessive flexibility can be detrimental to athletic performance—and how to determine your real flexibility needs • Plateau-busting strategies for the chronically inflexible. SAVE 15% See Order Insert Relax into Stretch Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension By Pavel Tsatsouline Running time: 37 minutes Video #V104 $29.95 DVD #DV006 $29.95 Forced Relaxation Advanced Russian Drills for Extreme Flexibility By Pavel Tsatsouline Running time: 21 minutes Video #V105 $24.95 DVD #DV007 $24.95 Relax into Stretch Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension Book By Pavel Tsatsouline Paperback 150 pages 8.5” x 11” Over 100 photos and illustrations #B14 $34.95 COMPANION DVDS give you dynamic detail on how to exactly master every technique in Pavel’s Relax book Relax Videoor DVD Set: Relax into Stretch & Forced Relaxation Video set #VS7 $49.95 DVD set #DVS002 $49.95 Relax Book and Video Set: Relax into Stretch book and Relax into Stretch/ Forced Relaxation videos #VBS1 $79.95 27 Don’t Just Take Our Word For It! Here’s Another Sample of Our Web-Customer Reviews of Pavel’s DVDs, Resilient, Super Joints and Relax into Stretch* “The Wall Walk alone makes this DVD worth the price” “Resilient is yet another no-nonsense presentation from Pavel of things I've never heard of before that work for me like nothing else. The Wall Walk, which is now my replacement for the McKenzie exercise I used to do every day for my bad back, makes this DVD worth the price all by itself. I could never perform a back bridge without jamming my spine – I now Wall Walk my way into a bridge almost every day. The shoulder opening exercise fixed, in a few seconds, things that have been tight for years. And the list goes on and on – my neck has never felt better. Pavel is a master teacher and watching Resilient is like having him in your living room, teaching you all that you need to know and nothing that you don't. I train harder, with fewer aches and pains, since I started practicing the drills on Resilient – what more could anyone ask for?” —Steve Freides - Ridgewood, NJ “Great way to recover from and prevent injuries to joints” “My copy of Resilient arrived earlier this week. I watched it that night, and did the parts I could remember the next two mornings. It struck me several times through the day how good I felt. Same feeling as when I first tried Relax into Stretch and the first time with Super Joints. Because I keep getting the improvement from each new product, I conclude that they complement each other, each one giving me something the others don't quite cover. 28 Biggest revelation from the DVD was realizing how tight my shoulders are. Though I'm not a great flexibility guy, I thought I was doing pretty well. Ha. Guess I'll be getting the work I need there. Pain is good, as Pavel says. Finally, my take on how the three programs fit together: Relax into Stretch is about a safer and saner approach to the stretching work that is common in high school sports and martial arts. It teaches the body to go farther than it thought it could by learning that the muscles aren't really going to tear as you stretch out. Super Joints is about moving the joints through full range of motion. From my own experience and watching friends and relatives, range of motion is one of those “use it or lose it” things. I'm using it. Resilient is about recovering from and preventing injury by strengthening the supporting and stabilizing muscles around joints that commonly get abused.” —SteveA, South East US “More than worth the price” “After more than 15 years of powerlifting and going on 2 years of Kettlebells, I have had my share of aches and pains. Pinched shoulders, tight hips, knotted up back, aching elbows, sore...I doubt there wasn't a joint on my body not crying for relief. Fortunately deliverance came in the form of both Resilient and Super Joints DVDs. After the first viewing and trying just a few of the exercises recommended in Resilient I began to experience immediate relief! I have since combined exercises from both DVDs and have improved both range of motion and a total cessation of pain in certain joints. I am always skeptical to claims of "pain ending" solutions and supplements but I can't say enough about Pavel's knowledge and expertise when it comes to subjects such as strength and recovery programs! I don't know how Pavel does it, but with every new book or DVD he comes out with, it is filled with new and useful information all strength athletes (or any one for that matter) can use and benefit from.” —Patrick (phil) Workman, RKC Mansfield, TX “Excellent information!” “At a certain point stretching, joint mobility, and kettlebell training all converge and can be combined into special drills that make the body tougher and more injury-resistant. I had found this point in my training some time ago and started combining principles from the Russian Kettlebell Challenge, Super Joints, and Relax into Stretch in my morning recharge routine. Thought I was pretty original. Wrong. Pavel has been doing the same stuff all along and now he's put out a DVD about it. Oh well, if I wasn't being original, at least I was on the right track. Nice work Pavel.” —Rob Lawrence - Collingswood, NJ * To review Dragon Door products on our website: Simply go to the appropriate product page on our site, find the review function and follow the simple procedure. Our Promise: we believe in and stand behind all of our products. While most of our customer product reviews are highly positive, we do not remove or edit customer reviews on the basis of a low rating. All valid reviews are kept. At our discretion reviews are removed only on the basis of offensive language, personal attacks or the use of reviews to promote non-Dragon Door products. “Discover How to Reinforce Your Body—and Snap Back from the Toughest Challenge with Deceptive Ease and Strength” L ife has a habit of body-slamming us when we least expect it. And the more active we are, the more likely we’re gonna be wrenched, tossed, torn, torqued, twisted, scrunched, hammered and generally whacked around. Hit your forties—let alone fifties—and you can be reduced to a tangled mess of injuries and performance-crimping tensions. You get sidelined! You can’t do what you want to do anymore. People don’t want you on their team anymore. You can’t compete anymore. You’re... let’s face it…washed up, as a card-carrying member of the active elite. Sometimes all it takes is one sudden injury to that one weak spot you neglected to strengthen and defend….and you’re history. As a former Spetsnaz physical training instructor and as a current subject-matter expert to elite members of the U.S. military, Pavel knows what it takes—personally and professionally—to remove flaws and weaknesses from your body armor—so you can bounce back, time and time again, from the toughest challenge. So, in this specialized program, Pavel’s put together 19 of his favorite drills for restoring and reinforcing your body’s “rebound strength.” Pavel’s concentrated on the weak links—the knees, the elbows, the shoulders, the spine, the neck—and shows you how to change a liability-waiting-tohappen into a strength-weapon-of-choice. Discover what it really means to be RESILIENT. Add years of wiry, tensile, pliant strength back into your life—and hurt a whole lot less while you’re doing it. Pavel’s Resilient program: • Develops a more flexible, yet stronger neck • Helps you move like liquid metal Resilient • Helps release your tight hip flexors—which act like parking brakes to cripple your kicking, punching, running and lifting Advanced Kettlebell Drills and Insider Secrets for Playing Harder & Hurting Less • Develops a stronger, more sinuous back with Pavel • Loosens up your spine while teaching you powerful body mechanics • Stretches your spine—for extra “activitymileage” #DV017 • Rewards you with the ultimate in squatting flexibility—a must for military and law enforcement • Injury-proofs your back with a littleknownl drill from Russian contact sports • Restores crucial elbow strength and mobility • Develops spectacular shoulder girdle and upper back flexibility • Boosts performance for girevoy sport, weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman events, gymnastics, yoga • Conditions your knees in a little-known plane that can spell the difference between true resilience and dangerous weakness $59.95 DVD Running time: 36 minutes Customer reviews from Dragon Door’s website “Worth every penny! This DVD is probably the best I have ever viewed. The moves for the shoulders are excellent, the RKC arm bar, the triceps extension, and the one that really surprised me the most was the hack shoulder stretch was the best and made an immediate impact on my shoulders. Keep up the good work.” —Donnie, West Hamlin, WV “Concise and truly beneficial. Pavel breaks these drills down wonderfully: first demonstrating, then focusing on finer points and offering visualizations for safety, power, and keeping form. As a member of a special reaction team, our training requires performance in any condition. Pavel's products and drills like these help keep me mobile and ready. A great DVD!” —Michael Ottaway, FE Warren AFB, WY “Ever get beat up? I had one of those months. Between wrestling, brazilian jiu-jitsu, training for the Washington State Kettlebell Championships and the June 2004 RKC, I was run down and hurting. Just lots of hard training, plus getting bounced off the mat 100 times a day in my takedown class I felt like everything hurt. So I took a month, and all I did was Resilient exercises with my 26 lb kettlebell, Super Joints, and a little juggling with my 26 lb kettlebell. All my joints feel SOOOOO GOOD. Coming back I feel stronger and more solid everywhere. Now I'm still doing the Resilient exercises as preventive medicine. The neck stuff is REALLY good for my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.” —Joshua Hillis RKC, NASM-CPT - Denver, CO “If as a male, you thought 8kg or 12kg KB were for women only? I strongly suggest you think again. With this product, Pavel shows, yet again the information you need to "re-install & repair" your joints. Nothing's a patch on Pavel. In fact, I wonder if I went to the Australian Government & asked for my HECS fees back, if they'd agree. I spent four years at Uni with a double major in Physical Education, yet this information was not provided!” —Pete Rogers, Hobart, Tasmania 29 “I used the strength building secrets from Power to the People for one week and my max deadlift went up 18%.” —Larry Scott, 1st Mr. Olympia, author of Loaded Guns Power to the People! Russian Strength Secrets for Every American Book By Pavel Tsatsouline “I learned a lot from Pavel’s books and plan to use many of his ideas in my own workouts. Power to the People! is an eye-opener. It will give you new— and valuable—perspectives on strength training. You will find plenty of ideas here to make your training more productive.” —CLARENCE BASS, author of Ripped 1, 2 &3. Paperback 124 pages 8.5” x 11” #B10 $34.95 “I have gained 25 lbs. in my bench and 40 lbs. in my deadlift in six weeks. All this improvement and I would spend only 20 minutes a day in the weight room and not one day was I ever sore. If you are serious about strength, you are not doing everything you can if you don’t purchase this book.”—ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Redondo Beach, Ca ★ ★ ★ “I’ve been lifting for eight years, and Power to the People! is the most functional strength training system that I have ever tried. In four short months, I went from being able to deadlift 165 for five reps to being able to dead 405 for a single. All without putting on a pound of weight, but by making my nervous system more effective. Though, to be honest... I seem to have replaced some of my fat with muscle…. My ex-girlfriend told me: “You’re so buff now.... I hate you.” My new girlfriend told me: “They should make a statue out of you.” The difference? Pavel.” —DAN MCVICKER, Boulder, CO ★ ★ ★ “I started using the PTP program about 6 weeks ago, and the results for me have been phenomenal….50 lbs. on the deadlift and 35 lbs. on the bench press.” —WYLDMAN, Kansas City, KS ★ ★ ★ “A good book for the athlete looking for a routine that will increase strength without building muscle mass. Good source of variation for anyone who’s tired of doing standard exercises.” —JONATHAN LAWSON, IronMan Magazine ★ ★ ★ 30 ★ ★ ★ “This is the best of the best, and you owe it yourself to try it. You will experience a surge of strength you never thought possible. My personal experience has been a two-fold increase in my pulling strength and a 70% increase in my presses. Unlike my previous experiences with weight training, these gains were functional. I now run faster, jump higher, and hit harder.” —TYLER HASS, Pullman, WA ★ ★ ★ “I’ve been a student of the martial arts for over 15 years… I’ve added 30 pounds to my bench press with only 6 training sessions in 1 month. My deadlift has also gone up 100 pounds too. All of this without gaining additional bodyweight. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is serious about their Martial Arts training.” —ICHIBAN, Columbus, OH ★ ★ ★ “I have increased my deadlift by 150% and have doubled my snatch and power clean. My workouts now take less than half the time they did before. And now I’m strong! Best of all, I’ve regained the strength in my leg that I had lost after a botched knee surgery. Power to the People! will teach you how to gain true real-world strength to move your couch, heavy boxes, your piano, etc. in a 15-20 minute workout you can do at home. It also explains why most popular American workouts are useless or dangerous or both. I can’t recommend PTP enough.” —DAVID COOKE, Atlanta, GA ★ ★ ★ “I have been a training athlete for over 30 years. I played NCAA basketball in college, kick boxed as a pro for two years, made it to the NFL as a free agent in 1982, powerlifted through my 20’s and do Olympic lifting now at 42. I have also coached swimming and strength athletes for over 20 years.I have never read a book more useful than Power to the People! I have seen my strength explode like I was in my 20’s again—and my joints are no longer hurting.”—CARTER STAMM, New Orleans, LA ★ ★ ★ “I personally added 120 pounds to my deadlift following Power to the People! principles -going from 300 lbs. to 420 lbs. in a little over six months -at a bodyweight of 160 pounds. This book is worth its weight in gold.” —JOHN QUIGLEY, Hazleton, PA ★ ★ ★ “I have been following a regimen I got from Power to the People! for about seven weeks now. I have lost about 17lbs and have lost three inches in my waist. My deadlift has gone from a meager 180lbs to 255 lbs in that short time as well.” —LAWRENCE J. KOCHERT ★ ★ ★ “I had very little previous experience with deadlifting (or much of any type of lifting for that matter) when I purchased Power to the People!. I found the information to be most interesting, and well written. The book is now tattered, coffeestained, and beat up from usage a year later, and my deadlift max is 100lbs higher than when I began. The techniques and cycles are simple to understand and undeniably effective. PTP is a must-read for the individual looking to truly get stronger.” —JIM WISSING, dragondoor.com review ★ ★ ★ “I finally broke the double bodyweight DL barrier, 1 year ago I damaged my back to the point of not being able to move let alone bend over with out being in major pain and today I pulled over 2xBW destroying my previous PR by about 50lbs. So much here from dragondoor has been immensely helpful, from the material to the people this place is a huge resource. Next up is the RKC in less than a week and I can't wait.” —KEVIN PERRONE, dragondoor.com forum Decoding the “Russian Mystery” I n his classic article in Powerlifting USA Marty Gallagher ponders why the Russians excel in the sport, in spite of horrible food and scarcity of training equipment. Porridge and potatoes supplemented with soy animal feed for extra protein are not exactly ‘the breakfast of champions’. The equipment is equally Spartan; post-Soviet strength athletes rarely have access to more than just a basic barbell and a lot of plates. “You are not training if you are not training with Pavel!” —Dr. Fred Clary, National Powerlifting Champion and World Record Holder. The former Coach for Powerlifting Team USA concludes that the ‘purposefully primitive’ approach to training is an asset, not a liability. It affords no distractions from the only thing that matters – raw power. A $150 barbell, an attitude, and a copy Power to the People! are all you need to become STRONG. Power to the People! Russian Strength Secrets for Every American By Pavel Tsatsouline Paperback 124 pages 8.5” x 11” #B10 $34.95 The Power Points — what you’ll get with Pavel’s Power to the People!: • How to get super strong without putting on an ounce of weight • OR how to build massive muscles with a classified Soviet Special Forces workout • Why high rep training to the ‘burn’ is like a form of rigor mortis — and what it really takes to make your muscles stand out in bold relief “Pavel and his book are the best imports from Russia since Siberian Ginseng!” —Fairfax Hackley, Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Martial Arts Seminar Director: • Why it’s safer to use free weights than machines • How to design a world class body in your basement — with $150 worth of basic weights and in twenty minutes a day • How to instantly up your strength with Pavel’s High-Tension Techniques™ • How to become super strong and live to tell about it • How to dramatically amplify your power with the proprietary Power Breathing™ techniques (and why everything you know about breathing when lifting is wrong!) • How to feel energized and fantastic after your strength workout — rather than dragging and fatigued • How to get brutally strong all over — with only two old-school exercises 31 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Power to the People! IS ABSOLUTE DYNAMITE. If there was only one book I could recommend to help you reach your ultimate physical potential, this would be it.” —Jim Wright, Ph.D., Science Editor, Flex Magazine, Weider Group H The Five Keys to Being Stronger than 99% of Our Species: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A barbell. An attitude. 20 minutes a day. A good steak. A dog-eared copy of Power to the People! ow often do you grab a read and discover you’ve just landed one of those “IF-I-COULD-ONLY-TAKE-FIVE-BOOKS-TO-A-DESERT-ISLAND” blockbusters? The kind of book that shakes the molecules in your brain and has your synapses firing like popcorn? The kind of book that has you leaping out of the bath tub, pumping your fist and screaming “FINALLY!’ to the startled masses? Or how about a book that gets you so worked up, your friends start reaching for the Ritalin? If you’re about maximizing your potential, if you’re about cutting-to-thechase, if you’re about “just-give-me-what-works”, then Pavel’s Power to the People! is everything you ever dreamed about—and then some. Power to the People! is a strength training classic that reveals the hoarded secrets of the iron elite. It’s no longer the case…you don’t have to be a 300pound strongman to be awesomely strong…and discover the fast road to superior strength. As Senior Science Editor for Joe Weider’s Flex magazine, Jim Wright is recognized as one of the world’s premier authorities on strength training. Here’s more of what he had to say: “Whether you’re young or old, a beginner or an elite athlete, training in your room or in the most high tech facility, if there was only one book I could recommend to help you reach your ultimate physical potential, this would be it. Simple, concise and truly reader friendly, this amazing book contains it all— everything you need to know—what exercises (only two!), how to do them (unique detailed information you’ll find nowhere else), and why. Follow its advice and, believe it or not, you’ll be stronger and more injuryresistant immediately. I guar-antee it. I only wish I’d had a book like this when I first began training.” 32 How to Develop a “POWER PRESENCE” Turn on Pavel’s Power to the People! video and watch in amazement as you rapidly increase your strength by 20, 30, even 50 percent! Do you have a “power presence”? The quiet strength of a man with whom, as Russians say, ‘you would go on a recon mission’. The bearing of an old warhorse who does not need his campaign ribbons to show that he has been around. That look of a hand-to-hand combat expert whose efficiency in violence is advertised, rather than hidden, by his serene composure. You can’t fake it! You can’t fake it with a tough grimace from a cheesy action flick or vain flexing of virtual muscles pumped up with Barbie weights. It must be earned. The look comes from cultivated power So stop being a mirror-gazing sissy and get strong. And strength has never been so quick to achieve. Just pop in your copy of Power to the People!: Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American and hit ‘Play’! Start deadlifting! The deadlift separates the serious students of strength from the wannabes. Any weenie can answer the question, “How much can you bench?” Ask the poser how much he deadlifts and he will run for cover. No other exercise will work more muscles in five reps of concentrated agony. Your back will fill with strength and vitality. Your legs will harden into powerful pistons. Have you seen photos of strongmen in the presquat days? No chafing, just wiry power. Your forearms will demand an outlet for their new, claw-like power. No other exercise will give you more functional strength. ‘Functional’ implies ‘a function’. Does your life require balancing on rubber balls and performing weird circus tricks? I didn’t think so. Do you have to lift things? I rest my case. Start side pressing! Learn the barbell Side Press, a classic exercise from the days when broad shoulders rather than breast-like pecs were it. This lift will fill your lats, shoulders, and arms with power and give you that awesome V-look. Due to the unique nature of this exercise, your obliques will be smoked. Back to the old-time strongmen. One-arm overhead lifts like the Side Press is the cause of their gladiator midsections. What else? — ‘Instant strength techniques.’ Power to the People! Russian Strength Secrets for Every American Video With Pavel Tsatsouline Running Time 47 Min Video #V102 $29.95 DVD #DV004 $29.95 It is not just the exercises themselves but how you do them. Power to the People! teaches Pavel’s patented Power Breathing™ and High-Tension Techniques™. These secrets make an amazing, often instant difference in strength. Once Pavel had a Marine deadlift 70 pounds over his previous best in just an hour. Such gains aren’t exactly typical, but you get the idea. Did Pavel invent the ‘instant strength techniques’? — No. All top strength athletes use them, some consciously, others not. These elite specimens figured these things out after years of practice. But for one reason or another they generally choose to keep it to themselves. When Pavel mentioned one of these obscure moves to a world champion powerlifter, the latter thought for a moment and said, “I already do that.” Now, you don’t have to be an elite lifter with decades of experience to take advantage of these incredibly powerful ways of aligning your body for maximum power. Hit ‘Play’! Power to you! Whatever your current workout program, just download Pavel’s strength techniques for an immediate improvement in your results. 33 Here’s what you’ll discover, when you possess your own copy of Pavel Tsatsouline’s Power to the People!: Wired for power: superstrength without bulk How to install a ‘muscle software’ upgrade into your nervous system and improve your strength and muscle tone….Why the fascination with bodybuilding has led to a decline in effective strength training…. Futuristic techniques which enable you to squeeze more horsepower out of your body-engine. Tension! What force is made of How tension generates force…..How to maximize muscular tension for traffic-stopping muscular definition…The five keys to high tension training…The inverse relationship between velocity and strength….Flexing to maximize tension…The function of the mechanoreceptors in regulating strength….Using Henneman’s size principle to maximize muscular recruitment....Why high values of fatigue and tension are mutually exclusive. Training to failure–or to success? Why the strongest men and women in the world have never trained to failure….Why intensity is the single most important factor in strength training….The fallacy of ‘pushing to the limit’…The only scientific definition of weight training intensity….. Pushing the limits of weight/tension, not reps/exhaustion…..Why training to muscle failure is counterproductive… Greasing the neural groove using the Hebbian rule. Don’t water down your strength with reps and fatigue! How to minimize various types of fatigue and get the most out of your strength training…How to ensure high energy after your workout….Why performing more than five reps per set hinders strength development….Why you need to increase the rest intervals between sets….Why it’s best to do only two sets….Why you need to pause and relax between reps…How to build greater ligament strength by “locking and loading”….Surprising advice on how often to practice a lift for optimal gains. More low rep advantages Three reasons why heavy low rep training is the safest way to lift…. Why the stabilizing muscles are prematurely fatigued during high-rep sets…. Why most serious injuries occur during fatigued states….Why bodybuilders suffer from more pec tears than powerlifters….the significance of concentration for injury prevention…Low reps for a better quality of life…Why heavy low reps can have a tonic, energizing effect on the nervous system. Rigor mortis, or why high reps failed to tone you up Why going for the ‘burn’ doesn’t work….What is ‘real’ muscle tone and how do you get it?…..building muscular tension from neurological activity, not energy exhaustion….Increasing muscle tone through a more alert nervous system…Why strength and tone training is the same thing….why deadlifts work best for steel glutes…How to get maximum definition in your triceps…Why training heavy is the best way to get ripped. “But I don’t want to bulk up!” Why lifting heavy doesn’t have to translate into bulking up….What makes a biceps grow?…. How to get stronger and harder without getting bigger…minimizing muscular tear-down and reconstruction…. Increasing your muscles’ packing density….Why a denser muscle is a harder muscle. “Machines are the wusses’ way out” Why it’s safer to use free weights than machines…..And why using the strength built on an exercise machine is like shooting a cannon from a canoe….How machines create micro-trauma, pattern overload and eventual injury….Why the Soviet Olympic teams considered free weights their best chance for winning a Gold. Isolation exercises, Frankenstein’s choice The dangers of isolation exercises….Paying attention to the kinetic chain for optimal performance…The importance of building intermuscular coordination for functional strength….Why deadlifts can help you run faster and jump higher. Irradiation: the science hard with only two exercises of getting strong and The Sherrington Law of Irradiation……The neural ‘turn on’…. How a hard-working muscle can cheerlead its neighbors into amplifying their strength….Why compound exercises are more effective strength builders than isolation moves…Designing a superior efficiency 34 strength workout…. Starting a chain reaction and bringing every muscle in your body into play…..portrait of the deadlifter as supreme muscleman…Why the deadlift is THE exercise of choice for everyone, from computer geek to Olympic athlete…..Why the deadlift is more effective than the squat…. How the deadlift strengthens the lower back, traps, scapulae retractors, lats, forearms, and hamstrings…. Why the deadlift may be the best abdominal exercise, bar none…..How to develop your pressing prowess….How to correctly perform the side press. How to emphasize your problem areas without adding exercises How to shape your body with only two exercises….Why you cannot reshape an individual muscle….Why genetics makes a difference…. Tweaking the basic drill to shift a lion’s share of the load to your problem area…Specializing on your weakness while working the rest of your muscles adequately—without adding exercises. How to become a bear: a Soviet commando’s muscle building secret If you want massive muscles and awesome strength….How a Russian trooper was able to sport sixteen inch arms-of-steel in just two months of training—and go on to lift 40-50 tons every workout…How compression of rest intervals promotes growth hormone production and maximizes testosterone. Last three pieces of the big biceps puzzle How to build huge muscles on a program of deadlifts and presses only….What, how and when to eat for maximum gains….The importance of rest….Why you need to reduce stress to protect your gains—and how to do it best. Virtual masculinity, or “Can I get built up with a very light weight by pumping my muscles up?” ‘Muscle spinning’, ‘fake’ muscle growth and the Potemkin village phenomenon….The two types of muscle growth—which one maximizes strength and makes you rock hard. On variety, soreness, and keeping things in focus How the rebound phenomenon affects your strength program….Mastering the magic of effective exercise variation…. The danger of switching routines….The importance of focused superhuman effort….How to remain relatively free of muscle soreness…..The benefits of simplicity over complexity. Cycling: the Russian breakthrough for continuous improvement (and an excuse to work hard part time) The fallacy of the Milo myth…..The pitfalls of over-prolonged training….Making improvements through reduction….Periodization or cycling—a revolutionary approach to strength training…..How to make gains year after year….Why ‘softening up’ can reward you with new strength breakthroughs…The ultimate formula for strength…..How to gain beyond your wildest dreams—with less chance of injury….How to avoid burnout….How to perform the Linear Cycle for new personal records….. Wave cycling and dealing with gaps in your training….The Flexible Wave Cycle….. The Structured Wave Cycle…. The Step Cycle. Hyperirradiation: how to boost your strength and safety at the same time How to hack into nature’s neural software to maximize strength training effectiveness and efficiency….The reflex arc for easier, safer deadlifts….How to milk irradiation for all its strength amplifying worth.…..Hyperirradiation—the high intensity, immediate gratification technique for massive strength gains…How to increase your bench press by ten pounds overnight… Three ‘Anti-isolation’ techniques for added strength and greater workout safety….How Japanese sanchin techniques can add power and stability to your training….The importance of full tension….How to avoid dissipating your strength…The three greatest benefits of hyperirradiation. Hard abs + strong hands = powerful body Stimulating the forearm musculature for enhanced lifting ability….The importance of grip strength….. Avoiding ligament damage and carpal tunnel syndrome…..Abs—the weak link limiting everyone’s performance…How flexing the abs amplifies the power of your lift. Power breathing: the karate secret of superstrength How to elevate intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure for additional power….The pneumo-muscular reflex……How to potentiate ‘muscle excitability’ for further strength gains….How to safely hold your breath for greater lifting power—and when the Valsalva maneuver may be contraindicated…..Why you shouldn’t wear a lifting belt…..The best-ever ab exercise?…..Avoiding back injuries and hernias…..Increasing your overall strength with the pneumo-muscular reflex….Rectal sphincter contraction for amplifying strength…. The eight most effective breathing habits for lifting weights. Slow and steady wins the race How to simultaneously maximize training effect, safety, and performance….The benefits of slowness.…Why gymnasts have the most spectacular muscular definition…Why ballistic cheating is a loser’s game….Straining and grinding for maximum lifts….How the firing rate burst can turn you into a lifting crash-and-burn victim….How gunning the weight can kill your lift….Super slow for massive go…..Teaching your nervous system how not to give up. Feed-forward tension—how to acquire the strength of the mentally deranged Frantz’s Third Commandment of Powerlifting…How to trick your feed-back loop and surge to new strength gains….Pulling the brake from under your gas pedal… Disinhibition training, the hottest new direction in strength training…Employing feed-forward tension to maximum advantage…. How ‘virtual lifting’ builds strength…..How to successfully ignore reality….Using internalization as a secret weapon in strength training. Pre-tension for max power and safety Maximal flexing of the muscles for greater strength and safety…. The three types of contraction and which gives the highest values of tension….The secret that separates elite athletes from ‘also-rans'. Successive induction: how to get a strong biceps by contracting your triceps Why antagonist pre-tensing, or successive induction, contributes lasting changes to your strength...Successive induction for superior joint stabilization and reduced joint stress. On shoes, gloves and mirrors Less strength, more injuries—why it’s better not to wear shoes when you lift—and what to wear if you have to…. Achieving a power boost with the positive support reaction…Sensitizing the extensor reflex receptors for heavier lifts…Why wearing gloves weakens your presses… Why mirror-gazing can be the difference between mediocrity and greatness….Blindfolded lifting for developing superior ‘muscle-joint sense’ and better body awareness. Power stretching Becoming super strong and living to tell about it….Speeding recovery and reducing injury with power stretching….Increasing muscle growth 334%—with progressively more intense stretching…. 9.4% strength increases using Loaded Passive Stretches between sets…Why Eastern European sports scientists consider stretching a form of strength training…The importance of Shutdown Threshold Isometrics and Fascial Stretching. The drills Forging your body into an off-planet rock….The only equipment you need…..Loading correctly…..Performing a deadlift correctly….Grip, posture, breathing….How to lower the weight….The five keys to an impeccable deadlift….. The Sumo Deadlift for steel glutes….The Modified Romanian Deadlift for stronger hamstrings and granite calves…. The Duck Deadlift off a Platform for eye-popping quads…. The Snatch Pull for rock hard lats and upper back…..The Clean Pull for exceptional hand and forearm strength….The Deadlift Lockout for midsection, traps, and grip emphasis…. The Side Press—seven reasons to make it the press of choice…. The Floor Press for pec emphasis…. The Curl Grip Floor Press for biceps and lateral triceps emphasis—and for fixing wrecked shoulders….. The Barbell Curl— for those who insist. The Power to the People! Manifesto Getting back to the basics—the Holy Grail of true power and strength…..Power to the People!, a ‘simplex’ approach to strength training…The no frills power formula for everyone….On brutally effective essentials—Bruce Lee’s final word. Kettlebells and Chiropractic — A Winning Combination! By Wendy M. Schauer, D.C., R.K.C., After 14 years as a successful chiropractor I have finally discovered what I believe to be the very best tool for improving the backstrength and overall health of my patients. That tool is the kettlebell – something I had never heard of until two years ago. I have to admit that initially they intimidated me… until I needed them for my own injury. The Doctor Becomes a Patient Growing up I was extremely athletic. I lettered in volleyball, softball, and basketball, and I became a Doctor of Chiropractic because I knew firsthand how important a strong and well-aligned body is for physical activity. As an athlete and a doctor I never experienced any problems with back pain – until about 5 years ago. I was adjusting a very large male patient (6’3”, 300lbs), something I never had a problem with in the past because of my use of proper techniques. Somehow this time was different. When I applied my force into this patient’s body to adjust his hips nothing moved. I felt like I had just attempted to pass my hands through a pillar of marble. The resulting wave of resistance immediately reverberated through my entire spine. At that moment I knew I was injured. I did everything I tell my injured patients to do. I stretched, iced, went for massage, received chiropractic care, physical therapy, and acupuncture treatments. Being in the healthcare profession, the treatment I received was the best available. At times I was in the offices of other providers 5-6 times per week. Frustration with Traditional Methods The treatments kept my back functioning so that I could do my job but the repair and healing of my body did not progress. If I sneezed it would throw my back into spasms. If I slept wrong I would have to wear a back support for a week. This was more than pain and inconvenience – my very livelihood was at stake! Nobody wants to put their trust in a chiropractor who clearly has a bad back herself. So I did everything I could to hide and mask my pain from my patients. Two years into this constant pain I knew I had to try something different. I hired a personal trainer (a former N.F.L. player) who I hoped would whip me into shape. After 6 months, although I gained arm and leg strength, my body did not tone up the way I expected and my back pain did not improve. In fact it got worse. There would be times when I would spend half an hour on the treadmill in the evening and not be able to get out of bed the next morning. Impressing A Skeptic About this time I came across a book titled Beyond Stretching by Pavel Tsatsouline. There was something different here. There were stretches in this book that I had never seen before. Even my physical therapy associates were impressed with this new and cutting-edge material. I had a feeling that Pavel could help me with my back, and hoped this might be the answer to restore my health and the future of my practice. Fortunately I live close to Seattle because at that time Pavel was visiting the city twice each year. I took his stretching, strength and abdominal classes. I was impressed – not something easily accomplished because I do body work myself, but also because I had experienced so many disappointments. After attending Pavel’s classes my stretching improved and my pain was decreasing. In fact, I was so impressed that I encouraged all of my patients and colleagues to attend Pavel’s seminars. I had patients drive 70-80 miles one-way to attend Pavel’s seminars, and I would bring no fewer than 10 people with me each time. I always made sure to bring my most acute patients – the ones I knew would experience the most benefit by attending. When Pavel witnessed my third trek to Seattle with patients in tow, he was impressed with my commitment and suggested that I train with kettlebells – round cast-iron weights, like cannonballs with handles. He even implied that I should become certified as a kettlebell trainer to assist my patients. Well, I was more than slightly intimidated – in my mind there was no way I could throw around this big piece of iron without inflicting further injury. But everything Pavel had showed me so far was helping, and I was intrigued. I ended up purchasing a kettlebell, but picked it up maybe five times before it began to gather dust at home. I was so out of shape that I would get winded swinging the kettlebell only twenty times. Being an athlete, I think it hurt my ego more than anything else! continued next page... 35 One Demonstration Makes All the Difference Then in October 2004 I was fortunate enough to attend another one of Pavel’s seminars that included a quick k e t t l e b e l l demonstration. One of the people who spoke was Dave Warner, RKC. He related his experience with severe lower back pain, nerve damage in his leg, and using a cane to walk. I couldn’t believe it – this man had recovered and looked like an Olympic athlete! Right then I knew I had to give kettlebells another chance. I not only needed to try them for myself, but for the benefit of all my patients that were in the same predicament as me. I hired Dave to show me what to do, and one month into my training I sneezed — and had NO PAIN!! For almost five years I had been in pain from the slightest movement, and after one month of training with kettlebells I was able to sneeze and not have pain. That may not seem like much to you, but for me it was a miracle. I started training harder and signed up for the April 2005 RKC. People must have thought I was crazy because I hadn’t exercised in well over a year due to my pain and now I wanted to go and subject myself to three days of Russian boot camp! The more I trained in preparation for the RKC the more my fitness improved, and my back pain quickly became a thing of the past. I made it to the RKC and survived — believe me, I had lots of sore muscles, but never a twinge in my lower back. I had been given my life back! Sharing the Secret When I returned from the training I soon began working with one of my worst back injury patients. The type of patient I see has extreme back pain and most of them have such poor body mechanics and muscle tone that they can't even do a squat correctly. They’re afraid to move their body, believing they can prevent spasms by not moving, so I start them out slowly. This particular patient had constant pain and couldn’t do even simple household chores such as vacuuming or cleaning dishes. I started her out with the 9lb. kettlebell, doing squats and swings in 5 sets of 5 reps each. If you’ve ever lifted the 9lb. bell, it weighs almost nothing, but it was heavy enough for her body and started 36 improving her strength. We continued her chiropractic adjustments twice per week to control her pain and prevent spasms. After three weeks I introduced an 18-pounder for one of the five sets, and her spine was starting to hold so I reduced her office visits to once per week. I have been training her now for five weeks and she has only minimal pain. She recently vacuumed her whole house without assistance — something she had not done in three years. You’ve never seen someone so excited about being able to vacuum the floor! It’s now been almost two weeks since she needed an adjustment and I’ve added the figure eight drill with the 18lb. bell to expand her range of motion. It’s important for those with chronic back pain to expand their abilities so they don’t give in to the fear of triggering a back spasm. Kettlebells allow this incremental increase, and it builds confidence in patients like nothing I’ve seen before. My My favorite favorite workout workout is is aa circuit. circuit. II do 10 double clean and jerks with do 10 double clean and jerks with 22 12kg 12kg kbs, kbs, jump jump rope rope 50 50 times, times, then times with with aa 20kg 20kg then swing swing 10 10 times kb. Then I do 9 clean and jerks, kb. Then I do 9 clean and jerks, jump jump rope rope 50 50 times, times, then then swing swing 99 times. times. II continue continue this this 8, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1. Two days a week I just do 3, 2, 1. Two days a week I just do swings swings and and snatches. snatches. II will will usually usually use use the the 20kg 20kg and and 24kg 24kg swings and the 16kg for snatches. swings and the 16kg for snatches. Kettlebells — the Missing Ingredient? I’ve seen the kettlebell workout help one of my associates with his asthma. Another eliminated her wrist and knee pain after 6 weeks of doing kettlebells. Like me, she was very worried about her career as a chiropractor because her wrists kept giving out. Now she is stronger and more confident that she can do her job for years to come. I’m still amazed at the improvement in back stability that comes with kettlebell training. I feel like a kid again! I can honestly say I am in the best shape of my life — after only 8 months! I now work a full day in my practice and then train people with kettlebells one-on-one and in groups 4-5 nights a week. I now believe kettlebells to be the single most important tool that can be added to a recovery training schedule. There are too many people out there who cannot enjoy life, who are merely existing because of their back pain. Their abdominals and back muscles are so weak from repeated spasms that they fall apart with any activity. I believe all of them can be helped with kettlebells. It’s important to start slowly, primarily because of the weakness and lost muscle tone that develops from repeated muscle spasms, but also because of the mental block created by the fear of pain. Kettlebells allow you to do this. I know, because I’ve been there. But at 39 years old I now feel better than I did in my twenty’s, and I can’t wait to see how I will be a year from now. Thank you Pavel for giving me my life back! Information within this article is for educational purposes only. Statements about any of the products in this article and their efficacy have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or any other government agency. Any product found or mentioned in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult with your physician or qualified alternative health care practitioner or therapist before starting any exercise program. Dr. Wendy M. Schauer, D.C., R.K.C., is the President of Community Chiropractic, PS and Co-Founder of Abundant Health Center, LLC in Olympia, Washington. She is certified in pediatrics as well as working with women during their pregnancies. She is also trained in the cutting-edge sports therapy of A.R.T. active release technique. Dr. Schauer resides in Olympia with her husband Gary E. Moon II, C.M., a Clinical Microscopist and nutritional therapist. Dr. Wendy teaches her KB classes Monday through Friday. Her contact phone number is 360.556.6633. Her website is www.AbundantFitnessCenter.com and her e-mail address is DrWendy@AbundantFitnessCenter.com. “Strength Stretching is a virtual must for the powerlifter, novice or advanced. Our bodies change as our body mass increases, mostly unnoticed until lack of mobility and flexibility causes reduced performance, or worse injury. Pavel has addressed these issues with time proven methods from the former USSR. Strength Stretching has helped Westside Barbell enormously and I know it will help everyone who is in powerlifting at any stage of the game.—LOUIE SIMMONS, Westside Barbell Are Rigid Muscles Robbing You of Your Strength? Traditional stretching programs weaken you — but stop stretching altogether and you’ll doom yourself to injuries and mediocrity! Discover the world’s only stretching protocol specifically and uniquely designed to increase — not reduce — a powerlifter’s strength. Skyrocket your strength now — and reduce the wear and tear on your joints — by mastering the secrets of Strength Stretching! The iron elite knows that ‘being tight’ is critical to making that big lift. At the same time you can’t put up a big squat, bench press, or deadlift without having just the right amount of flexibility and only in the right places. A paradox. Ignore stretching altogether and lose power to the joints that ‘don’t bend easy’. Do stretches designed for fighters or other athletes and toss away strength by the bucket… because you’ll lose your crucial ‘tightness’. Either way, a dead end. Not any more. Enter Strength Stretching by Pavel, the only flexibility program custom designed to up your squat, up your bench, up your dead! “Pavel is a fitness visionary. He has been teaching people about whole body functional training when sports scientists and exercise leaders were emphasizing aerobics and muscle isolation bodybuilding techniques. He formulated his methods by combining training principles developed by Soviet and eastern European coaches and scientists, worldwide sports medicine research, and personal experience. His books and DVDs will help athletes increase power, functional flexibility, and neuromuscular control, while minimizing the risk of injury. Coaches, athletes, and sports scientists will benefit from his unique training courses.” —DR. THOMAS FAHEY, Exercise Physiology Lab, Dept of Kinesiology Track and Field Team , California State University, Chico "Pavel's stretching ability is unbelievable. As World Class as it comes!"—BRAD GILLINGHAM, 2 times World Superheavyweight Powerlifting Champion “Pavel takes us through the Big Three of Powerlifting and shows simple movements with Olympic Bars, racks, and benches on how to set up the body to lift more. The section on Wall Squats (hard to explain...easy to understand when you watch) is the single best explanation of squatting I have ever seen. That section is worth the investment for anybody still struggling with figuring out the squat. One thing I really liked about the DVD is the clarity provided by not only Pavel's explanations but the simple graphics that accompanied the points. I kept having that "Oh" moment where you are convinced you know something, realize that you don't, then say out loud, "Oh." The DVD is filled with these and I am a bit humbled today by the realization that I thought I understood a lot of things about flexibility and lifting and realize that I knew little. I loved the DVD. A viewer might discover that they may already be doing several of the Strength Stretches but might quickly discover, as I did, that one additional idea or factor can turn that stretch into a game changer. Good Stuff!”—DAN JOHN, National Masters Champion in Discus and Olympic Lifting, Salt Lake City, UT “When I consume a teaching resource, I look for two things; first does it have something I can use immediately, and second does it mention something that I have been playing with in the gym. Strength Stretching hits both points several times. Things I used immediately are the Wall Squat, the Wedge, the RKC hip flexor stretch, and the GHR back stretch. The Wall Squat has become my squat warmup drill, the wedge changed my dl start routine, the hip flexor stretch and when to use it are now part of my training and meet bag of tricks, and the use of the GHR for learning to arch is ingenious. The press behind the neck stretch and "prying" are two drills that I have been playing with and have enhanced through the DVD. The Wall Squat portion itself would have made the DVD worth it, but the rest of the material is superb and clearly presented. Graphics are concise. Great for both new and more experienced PLers. Very few things have my full endorsement, but this does.” —JACK REAPE, Armed Forces Powerlifting Champion Strength Stretching For a Bigger Squat, Bench & Deadlift with Pavel #DV024 $39.95 DVD Running time: 38 minutes • Gain up to 15% on your pulling strength — by learning how to properly arch your back • How to arch higher — and bench more — without killing your back • Master the Kettlebell Depth Squat — the Russian powerlifting secret for teaching perfect squat and pull form and developing championship flexibility • Discover how to release the hidden brakes that are silently sabotaging your deadlift • How to relax your turtle traps — and up your dead • How to squat with the big boys — without killing your shoulders and elbows 37 RECOVERY MEALS THE KEY FOR MAXIMIZING MUSCLE GAIN By Ori Hofmekler P ART T WO The importance of recovery meals is often overlooked, or unfortunately misunderstood. The purpose of this article is to show the principles and the science of applying proper recovery meals for maximizing muscle mass and strength gain. Practical applications — How to design recovery meals with maximum capacity to promote muscle gain R ecovery meals should be specially designed to enhance immediate and long lasting anabolic effects. Immediate anabolic effects To actually help promote an immediate anabolic effect, a recovery meal should take full advantage of the relative short time of the post exercise peak potential to grow. Therefore it should be ingested during the first 30 minutes, right after resistance exercise. Any delay in the timing may well attenuate the full anabolic effect of a post exercise meal. A post exercise recovery meal should provide fast releasing nutrients as well as slow releasing nutrients required for effectively supporting and maintaining short term and long-term post exercise muscle hypertrophy, respectively. Consequently, a good post exercise recovery meal should provide the following nutrients: • Protein with maximum biological value containing a blend of fast and slow releasing proteins such as whey combined with casein or milk protein. Amount per serving should be between 13-25g (depending on training intensity and volume). The fast releasing proteins will help boost an immediate post exercise protein synthesis, whereas the slow releasing proteins will help maintain and continue the already established anabolic state in the muscle tissue. 38 • Carbohydrates consisting of a blend of fast and slow releasing carbs, for inducing an instant insulin spike, followed by a steady slow carb release required for stabilizing insulin levels as well as maintaining an optimum level of blood sugar. As noted, insulin sensitivity increases after resistance training and therefore a post exercise recovery meal would be the best tine to take advantage of carbs-insulin anabolic and anticatabolic effects. Post exercise fast releasing carbs (simple carbs) should immediately inhibit muscle protein breakdown. Then the slow releasing carbs (complex carbs) will help maintain this anti-catabolic activity in the muscle tissue for a longer period of time (depends on amount of carbs ingested). On top of all the above, post exercise carb ingestion helps promote IGF1 actions in the muscles. As noted, post exercise increased levels of muscle IGF1 is believed to be the most immediate influential element in muscle hypertrophy. The amount of post exercise carbs should be between 25g50g. Most of the carbs should come from a low glycemic (complex fibrous carb) source to avoid an “over” insulin spike and undesirable blood sugar fluctuations. However, a small amount of simple carbs (fructose free) may help induce an immediate short-term insulin spike required to facilitate an initial swift post exercise anti-catabolic effect. 5-10g of simple carbs in the form of rice syrup or maple syrup will do the job. • Food containing IGF1 As mentioned, increased IGF1 levels in the muscle tissue is one of the most influential determinates in muscle hypertrophy. Therefore, having food naturally high in IGF1 derived from dairy sources such as whey or Colostrum (highest in IGF1) may be exactly what the body needs to induce maximum anabolic actions right after a workout. Some individuals may be sensitive to bovine dairy, due to high levels of certain proteins (betalactoglobulins). In that case, it may be worth trying fresh dairy products from other sources such as goat, sheep or buffalo. Whole goat or buffalo Ricotta cheeses could be great sources of protein and IGF1. Food rich in IGF1 provides additional benefits. Both whey protein and Colostrum help enhance recovery by virtue of their highly potent immuno supporting globulins. These proteins help protect against vulnerability to disease or infection (often associated with prolonged strenuous exercise or over training.) • Good Fat To support immediate and long-term anabolic actions, a recovery meal requires good fat. However, only certain kinds of fat could be truly beneficial. The best post exercise oils are: EFAs (in particular the anti-inflammatory n-3), saturated oils such as milk fat (natural ingredient in whole dairy) and mono unsaturated oils (abundant in olive oil, nuts and seeds). While EFAs help promote recovery, both saturated and mono unsaturated oil help enhance post exercise steroid hormones anabolic actions. On top of all that, fat slows the release of protein and carbs, thereby helping maintain steady levels of post exercise nutrient absorption required for short and long term anabolic effects. There are also special functional oils, such as MCT (medium chain triglyceride) and lecithin, which help promote liver functions as well as support the body’s increased metabolic demand for energy with minimum conversion into body fat. Note: stay away from rancid or hydrogenated oils, which may suppress recovery and cause fat gain. Post exercise recovery meal sum up: Have a recovery meal within 30 minutes right after your workout, to grant immediate post exercise anabolic and anti-catabolic effects. Recovery meals should ideally contain a blend of fast and slow releasing proteins and carbs, as well as good fat to support immediate and long-term anabolic actions. Post exercise recovery meals should be practical, handy and readily available right after the workout (in the locker room). They should provide the right amount of protein and carbs to support immediate anabolic and anti-catabolic effects, without wasting proteins or causing blood sugar fluctuation. To further promote an immediate anabolic impact, the protein component of the meal should be naturally rich in IGF1 (i.e. whole milk products, whey and Colostrum). Finally, recovery meals could be made from either fresh foods or from specially designed protein products (i.e. shakes or bars) The following are examples of good post-exercise recovery meals: 1. Banana and yogurt (8-16oz) 2. Small bowl of oatmeal with a couple of eggs (with 1 yolk) 3. Fresh mozzarella cheese (30g) with tomato and olive oil on top of whole wheat bread 4. Combine 1 teaspoon of Colostrum with 46 teaspoons of protein shake (containing fast and slow releasing proteins) naturally sweetened with 5-8 grams of fructose free sugar (i.e. rice syrup or maple syrup) 5. A protein bar containing a blend of fast and slow releasing proteins (such as whey and casein) as well as fast and slow releasing carbs (such as rice syrup, oat bran and rice bran respectively). It should ideally contain good fat with minimum capacity to convert into body fat (such as MCT oil or lecithin). Note that protein bars and shakes could be very useful and handy as post exercise recovery meals, provided that they are free of chemicals, sugar alcohol sweeteners, hydrogenated oils or toxins that may adversely suppress recovery, recuperation and growth. Long-term anabolic effect — For maximum mass gain To support and help continue the anabolic effect of resistance training, it is highly recommended to incorporate small recovery meals every 2-3 hours following the initial post exercise recovery meal. These small recovery meals are critically important, in particular for those who workout early in the morning. Nevertheless, in order to avoid undesirable fat gain, reduce the carb component of the meals, starting with the second recovery meal. For instance, those who workout in the morning should have a recovery meal (with carbs) right after the workout to induce an immediate anti-catabolic effect (via insulin activity). Following that initial post exercise recovery meal (shake or bar), it is advisable to incorporate small protein meals (8-15g of protein with minimum carbs), such as plain yogurt, cheese, eggs or low carb protein shake, every few hours to keep maintaining protein synthesis in the muscle tissues without fat gain. That way, one will be able to maintain high insulin sensitivity towards the end of the day and enjoy eating big nightly meals while taking advantage of insulin’s anabolic effect with a minimum risk of fat gain. If you do everything “by the book” and still fail to gain muscle mass and strength, a good recovery meal could be your missing link. Nightly meals have the potential to be the most growth promoting meals providing the extra calories and protein required for a long-term anabolic effect. It has been established that high calorie intake increases protein net utilization as well as effectively enhances steroid hormone actions. These meals should consist of all food groups (with no chronic restrictions of carbs or fat). Nevertheless, certain food combinations work better than others. To minimize the risk of fat gain, simple carbs should not be combined with grains or fat, but only with protein foods. Finally, a recovery meal is a functional meal. For a Warrior, every meal is a recovery meal providing the body with nutrients that are required for enhancing an already stimulated anabolic state triggered by either nutritional stress (undereating) or physical stress (exercise). Knowing how, and in particular when to incorporate meals can make the difference between a plateau and progress. If you do everything “by the book” and still fail to gain muscle mass and strength, a good recovery meal could be your missing link. Ori Hofmekler is the author of the books The Warrior Diet and Maximum Muscle Minimum Fat, by Dragon Door Publications. For more information Ori Hofmekler’s Warrior Diet Certification and Controlled Fatigue Training Seminars, Ori can be reached at ori@warriordiet.com, by phone at 1-866-WAR-DIET or on the Internet at http://www.warriordiet.com. For personal consultations with Ori Hofmekler, E-Mail Ori at: ori@warriordiet.com or call toll free at: 1-866-WARDIET (927-3438) 39 Acclaim for The Warrior Diet “For those individuals who like to think outside of the box, The Warrior Diet represents an innovative approach to fitness and weight loss. No questions, it’s worked for Ori Hofmekler, so why not give it a shot?” —Men’s Exercise, Aug 2003 “In a startling reversal of recent dietary advice fitness expert Ori shows how you can indeed have your cake and eat it too—staying slim and trim while indulging yourself with many of your favorite foods. Not just another diet book, The Warrior Diet presents a brilliant synthesis of modern scientific research and ancient time-tested secrets for reducing body fat, gaining energy and looking younger.” —Women’s Health and Fitness, June 2003 “In my quest for a lean, muscular body, I have seen practically every diet and suffered through most of them. It is also my business to help others with their fat loss programs. I am supremely skeptical of any eating plan or “diet” book that can’t tell me how and why it works in simple language. Ori Hofmekler’s The Warrior Diet does just this, with a logical, readable approach that provides grounding for his claims and never asks the reader to take a leap of faith. The Warrior Diet can be a very valuable weapon in the personal arsenal of any woman.” —DC MAXWELL, 2-time Women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Co-Owner, Maxercise Sports/Fitness Training Center and Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy East “The information in The Warrior Diet will help you achieve the next level in training for the 21st century. It is the physical training along with the diet that will make a lasting impact on your life. I am deeply grateful for Ori’s advice and the friendship we have established over the years.” —SIFU JOHN R. SALGADO, World Champion, Chinese Wrestling and Taiji Push Hands “The Warrior Diet certainly defies so-called modern nutritional and training dogmas. 40 Having met Ori on several occasions, I can certainly attest that he is the living proof that his system works. He maintains a ripped muscular body year round despite juggling extreme workloads and family life. His take on supplementation is refreshing as he promotes an integrated and timed approach. The Warrior Diet is a must read for the nutrition and training enthusiast who wishes to expand his horizons.” —CHARLES POLIQUIN, author of The Poliquin Principles and Modern Trends in Strength Training, Three-Time Olympic Strength Coach “Despite its name, The Warrior Diet isn’t about leading a Spartan lifestyle, although it is about improving quality of life. With a uniquely compelling approach, the book guides you towards the body you want by reawakening primal instinct and biofeedback— the things that have allowed us to evolve this far. Ironically, in a comfortable world of overindulgence, your survival may still be determined by natural selection. If this is the case, The Warrior Diet will be the only tool you’ll need.” —BRIAN BATCHELDOR, Science writer/researcher, National Coach, British Powerlifting Team “I am an ex-Royal Marine , a martial artist and freerunner. Using my experiences of training in the military and from using this site as a resource I have never felt better or been stronger or faster. I also gravitated naturally towards The Warrior Diet, but reading Ori 's stuff has also helped a great deal. As well as the physical benefits that The Warrior Diet has delivered, I have also and much more importantly obtained great spiritual benefit.”—LEAPINGCAT, dragondoor.com nutrition forum “Ori Hofmekler has his finger on a deep, ancient and very visceral pulse—one that too many of us have all but forgotten. Part warrior-athlete, part philosopher-romantic, Ori not only reminds us what this innate, instinctive rhythm is all about, he also shows us how to detect and rekindle it in our own bodies. His program challenges and guides each of us to fully reclaim for ourselves the strength, sinew, energy and spirit that humans have always been meant to possess.” —PILAR GERASIMO, Editor in Chief, Experience Life Magazine "I refuse to graze all day, I have better things to do. I choose The Warrior Diet." —PAVEL TSATSOULINE, author of Power to the People! and The Russian Kettlebell Challenge “I think of myself as a modern-day warrior; businessman, family man and competitive athlete. In the 2 years that I have been following The Warrior Diet, I have enjoyed the predators’ advantage of freedom from the necessity of frequent feedings. I also benefit from the competitive edge of being a fat burning machine. My 12-year-old son, who is also a competitive athlete, has naturally gravitated towards The Warrior Diet. He is growing up lean, strong and healthy, unlike many of his peers, many of whom, even in this land of plenty, are overweight and frequently sick. Thank you, Ori, for writing The Warrior Diet.”—STEPHEN MAXWELL, Ms., 2time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, CoOwner, Maxercise Sports/Fitness Training Center and Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy East "My body continues to get tighter and more toned in all of the right places...and people marvel at my eating practices. Read The Warrior Diet with an open mind. Digest the information at your own pace. Assimilate the knowledge to make it fit into your current lifestyle. You will be amazed at how much more productive and energetic you will be. Be a warrior in your own right. Your body will thank you for it." —LAURA MOORE, Science writer, Penthouse Magazine, IronMan Magazine, Body of the Month for IronMan, Sept 2001, Radio Talk Show Host The Health Nuts, author of Sex Heals Get RAW, Get POTENT, Get POWERFUL— WHEN YOU UNLEASH THE POWER OF INSTINCTUAL EATING Eat like an emperor—and have a gladiator’s body Are you still confused about what, how and when to eat? Despite the diet books you have read and the programs you have tried, do you still find yourself lacking in energy, carrying excess body fat, and feeling physically rundown? Sexually, do you feel a shadow of your former self? The problem, according to Ori Hofmekler, is that we have lost touch with the natural wisdom of our instinctual drives. We have become the slaves of our own creature comforts—scavenger/victims rather than predator/victors. When to comes to informedchoice, we lack any real sense of personal freedom. The result: ill-advised eating and lifestyle habits that leave us vulnerable to all manner of disease—not to mention obesity and sub-par performance. The Warrior Diet presents a brilliant and far-reaching solution to our nutritional woes, based on a return to the primal power of our natural instincts. The first step is to break the chains of our current eating habits. Drawing on a combination of ancient history and modern science, The Warrior Diet proves that humans are at their energetic, physical, mental and passionate best when they “undereat” during the day and “overeat” at night. Once you master this essential eating cycle, a new life of explosive vigor and vitality will be yours for the taking. Unlike so many dietary gurus, Ori Hofmekler has personally followed his diet for over twenty-five years and is a perfect model of the Warrior Diet’s success—the man is a human dynamo. Not just a diet, but a whole way of life, the Warrior Diet encourages us to seize back the pleasures of being alive—from the most refined to the wild and raw. The Warrior Diet is practical, tested, and based in commonsense. Expect results! The Warrior Diet covers all the bases. As an added bonus, discover delicious Warrior Recipes, a special Warrior Workout, and a line of Warrior Supplements—designed to give you every advantage in the transformation of your life from average to exceptional. Ori Hofmekler is a modern Renaissance man whose life has been driven by two passions: art and sports. Hofmekler’s formative experience as a young man with the Israeli Special Forces, prompted a lifetime’s interest in diets and fitness regimes that would optimize his physical and mental performance. After the army, Ori attended the Bezalel Academy of Art and the Hebrew University, where he studied art and philosophy and received a degree in Human Sciences. A world-renowned painter, best known for his controversial political satire, Ori’s work has been featured in magazines worldwide, including Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, People, The New Republic as well as Penthouse where he was a monthly columnist for 17 years and Health Editor from 1998–2000. Ori has published two books of political art, Hofmekler’s People, and Hofmekler’s Gallery. As founder, Editor-In-Chief, and Publisher of Mind & Muscle Power, a national men’s health and fitness magazine, Ori introduced his Warrior Diet to the public in a monthly column—to immediate acclaim from readers and professionals in the health industry alike. Switch On Your Biological Powerhouse—For Explosive Strength, High Energy and a Leaner, Harder Body By Ori Hofmekler With Diana Holtzberg #B23 $24.00 SAVE About Ori Hofmekler The Warrior Diet 15% Paperback 420 pages 6” x 9” #B17 $26.95 Hardcover 420 pages 5 3/8” x 8 3/8” Over 150 photographs and illustrations See Order Insert “I believe The Warrior Diet will create a revolution in people’s lives— a renaissance of the spirit of raw living. It covers all aspects of life… with a clearly defined diet that I find to be as effective for women as it is for men.” —Harvey Diamond, author of world bestseller Fit For Life “Rare in books about foods, there is wisdom in the pages of The Warrior Diet ...Ori knows the techniques, but he shows you a possibility—a platform for living your life as well…The Warrior Diet is a book that talks to all of you— the whole person hidden inside.” —Udo Erasmus, author of Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill 41 • The high-protein, low- or no-carbohydrates diets. Warrior Diet HIGHLIGHTS Chapter One: The Warrior Instinct • Developing the “Warrior Instinct” for higher energy and optimal performance. • Becoming the hunter, not the prey—to own the edge in the game of life. • Moving from diet-scavenger to diet-predator— for greater health and well being. Chapter Two: The Warrior Cycle • Understanding the Cycle of Materialism and Dematerialism—how to turn material into energy. • How undereating can jump-start healing. • Mastering the art of controlled fasting for a high-yield metabolism. Chapter Three: The Undereating Phase • The holistic diets. Chapter Nine: Lessons from History • Why 135 lb. Latin warriors were able to conquer the world. • The golden rules of overeating…the secret to instinctively eating the right amount, and knowing when to stop eating—every time. Chapter Six: The Main Meal: Food Preparations For the Overeating Phase • The health advantages of eating cooked, warm food. • How to make vegetables both delicious and nutritious. • Why soups and stews are your often-ignored nutritional powerpacks • The Greco-Roman Warrior Cycle—extremes of deprivation and compensation. • The functional applications of the Warrior Diet. can safeguard against • Carbs, the tax-free fuel—and muscle-saving, secret angel. • Why in-shape, superactive, ancient warriors needed their carbs. • Recognizing your individual carbo-needs. Chapter Ten: The Warrior Diet Idea • The ancient—and best—way to prepare beef, fish, and fowl. • The nature and benefits of controlled fasting. • How to avoid protein allergies. • Alternating between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System for maximum metabolic efficiency. • How to feed your brain. • The true skinny on oil and fat use. • How to avoid sudden weight gain. • How to accelerate fat loss. • Discover nature’s natural fat-smasher… • How to increase growth hormone (GH) for powerful fat burning. • Why endurance athletes love to stretch their glycogen. • How to lose weight with nuts and seeds. • How to move from a “materialistic metabolism” to an “energetic metabolism.” • Peanuts—the good, the bad, and the ugly news. • Manipulating your hormones maximum metabolic efficiency. • When to eat carbs for optimal fat loss. to reach • Why wheat is the least desirable grain. • When it’s safe to indulge in a sweet dessert. Chapter Four: What To Consume During the Undereating Phase • How to eliminate yeast infections. • The vital importance of raw foods—and the best fruits and vegetables to eat. • Understanding the secret pitfalls of the glycemic index. • The very real dangers of salt restriction—and the best salts to consume. • Enzyme-loading for anti-aging. • The essential function of probiotics. important • The most allergenic foods—how to avoid sensitivities and allergies. • The best vitamins, antioxidants, herbs, and brain boosters. • What is not allowed on the Warrior Diet…what absolutely does not work, never has, and never will. • Why minerals supplements. are the most • The principles of proper protein utilization . • Creating the correct power-cocktail maximum vitality and strength. for • How not to suffer from allergies, inflammation, water retention, gas, and other digestive disorders. • Why protein powders can be superfoods—or a nutritional gun to your head. • The role of carbohydrates during the Undereating Phase—what you can and can’t eat. • The dangerous myth of fat storage—why any bulge is a bad bulge. • The real secret of accelerating muscle growth without gaining fat. • How to raise the bar of personal freedom using the principles of the Warrior Diet—moving from self-imposed misery to self-directed pleasure. • Accelerating the effect of controlled-fatigue training. • How the Warrior Workout helps trigger your Warrior Instinct. • Tips for best results when exercising on an empty stomach. • Women’s different priorities. needs and different • Building strong, lean, and functional legs without using weights. Chapter Thirteen: Warrior Meals and Recipes • Meat Dishes—combining pleasure with health. • Meat dishes for rapid weight loss. • Natural supplements to help alleviate prostate enlargement related symptoms. • How to avoid the sugar-rush and still feel satisfied. Chapter Eleven: Q & A Chapter Fourteen: Sex Drive, Potency and Animal Magnetism • The Warrior Diet for young adults. • How to handle social and business meals while on the Warrior Diet. • Sex, power, and instincts—sex drive and potency as indicators of health and power. • Potency and diet—the correlation between diet, exercise, and hormonal balance. • What to do with all this new energy? • Common medications that can impotency—if not coma and death. • The best enzymes to take—and when. • Natural methods to enhance potency. cause • Which diets, drugs and life-factors affect testosterone production, sex drive and libido. • The best liver detoxifiers. • Discover the amazing African herb that’s simultaneously an aphrodisiac, a potency weapon and a fat burner. • How to gain real functional strength. • How to consume all the food you want— without gaining a smidgen of body fat. Chapter Eight: The Warrior Diet Versus Other Diets • Prioritizing back and joint strength—for essential survival. • The Overeating Principles and the three rules of eating. • The Warrior Diet versus the perils of frequentfeeding. • How to accelerate your anabolism for tissue repair and building muscles. • Top-selling diets, and how they differ from the Warrior Diet. • The science of controlled overeating—exploring the advantages of overeating. • The All-American (Junk Food) Diet, or ultimate “scavenger diet.” • The best and most efficient methods to boost your metabolism and burn fat. • How to make bingeing your happy slave. • The American “Health Food” diets. • When it’s safe to eat carbs if you want to drop fat. • The high-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-protein diets. • Gaining the power to endure and conquer extended stress. • The crucial importance of subtle taste—how to beat the craving for fast-food meals. • The Zone (40/30/30). 42 • The three factors that affect aerobics. • The great alternatives to sugar-loaded, high-fat, commercial “treats.” • What causes stubborn fat. Chapter Five: The Overeating Phase • Why you need to do aerobics before resistance training. • The Warrior Diet as first defense against prostate-related problems. Chapter Twelve: The Warrior Workout • Going from deep-cleanse detox to a fat-burning army-of-one. • The Warrior aerobic goals and the Warrior aerobic principles. • Soups—as appetizers and as the basis for a whole meal. • The three major problems of stubborn fat. • Why the liver is a key organ in the battle against stubborn fat. • Clean and Press—the single exercise-of-choice for an effective full-body workout. • The first and best defense against radioactive, environmental toxins. • How to wean kids off sweets and fast food. • Effective natural stubborn fat busters • When and how to incorporate high-velocity exercises. • Eggs—as high-protein or high-carbohydrate meals. Chapter Seven: Stubborn Fat • The six things you can do now to avoid stubborn fat. • How to avoid tendon injuries. • The Aggressive Instinct—the positive side of aggression. • Does exercise influence when and how much you eat? • The empty-stomach factor for natural brain boosting. • Legs—activating the joints and maximizing the three factors of strength. • Maximizing waist and back strength. • What you can and can’t eat during the day—for true health. • Knowing your carbs—optimal preparation strategies. • The best way to work the obliques. • Carbs as brain-fuel, as magnificent stressblocker and anti-aging fuel. • The Warrior Diet as a way of life—the different ways of cycling the Warrior Diet. • Three awesome properties of the Undereating Phase. • The prime function of the abdominals— triggering maximum contraction. • Dead Lifts—how to best activate the most important compound muscle groups and tendons. • The “gladiator” protein—that’s also a potent aphrodisiac. • The “greatest nut” (and secret cancer-killer) • Proper breathing to reduce acid-stress, muscle fatigue, stiffness, and exhaustion. • How to live like a warrior in the twenty-first century—and perform at your best physically and mentally. • The sexual advantage you get from meat, poultry, and fish. • How vegetarians deficiency dangers. • Preworkout and recovery meals to minimize catabolism, replenish muscles, and accelerate anabolism. • How to be lean ‘n’ mean your whole life, with short, sharp, intense workouts. • The real factors that determine strength. • High-velocity exercises—forcing a high-yield partnership between body and instinct. • How to be tougher than you ever imagined. • Maintaining the “kick ass” mindset. • The art of peaking your hormones. • The Warrior Diet’s “instinctual program” for improving potency. living • The best natural aphrodisiacs and how they can help. Chapter Fifteen: Women on The Warrior Diet • How and why The Warrior Diet can work as well for women as men. • The modern conspiracy against women’s bodies. • Detoxification for rejuvenating all body tissues. • The power of positive bingeing. • How The Warrior Diet may help with female stubborn fat. “World Champion Strongmen Credit Ori Hofmekler and WARRIOR DIET for Gaining The Winner’s Edge in New World Record” John Brookfield is an internationally know strongman famous for his feats of strength and balance. He has been seen on TV shows such as Regis and Kathie Lee, The Today Show, Vicki Lawrence, and Good Morning America. He has held many world records and has been listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not and the Guinness Book of World Records. John has authored four books including the popular Mastery of Hand Strength. experienced very little fatigue and no muscle soreness the following day. John states that even though he is 46 years old he is looking forward to even greater accomplishments in the future due to Ori's CFT training program. For the last couple of years John has set his sights on goals and records that require great physical stamina and endurance. Several months ago John met Ori Hofmekler and was intrigued by his concepts on exercise and diet. Ori introduced John and trained him on his CFT program. “I have enjoyed Dragon Door's products. They have enhanced my training. Ori Hofmekler's Warrior Diet and Controlled Fatigue Training have been essential in reaching my strength goals. I have been working on some material that applies the Controlled Fatigue Training concept to kettlebells. The routines are awesome. John and I are planning on really plugging Dragon Door's kettlebells. Thanks for all you do.” Several weeks later John and Jon Bruney set a world record by pulling a semi truck for one mile. Using Ori's CFT principles they greatly improved their time on the pull. They were also amazed that they Jon Bruney is a motivational speaker, strongman, and pastor. He has been on the Today show and is listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not. Jon wrote us this note after his world record truck pull: John Brookfield and Jon Bruney beat the World Record by pulling a 20,000 lb semi truck one mile in one hour 13 minutes. FIRST FOR WOMEN Magazine Votes THE WARRIOR DIET Their “#ONE Slim-Down Miracle of 2002—Our Pick for Best of the Best.” “Nothing tugs at your purse strings like the promise of a fat-burning miracle, but let’s face it: the weight-loss industry is $35 billion fat, and sometimes it seems that the only thing getting thinner is our wallets. Well, we’ve had it. We’ve spent the entire year searching, researching, tasting and testing so you don’t have to waste precious time or money. We’re so convinced that we’ve found 2002’s 25 best (the fastest, easiest, cheapest and most effective) get-fit solutions, that we are awarding them a prize…FIRST’S first annual Slimmys for weight-loss excellence. When it comes to diets, we weed the godsends from the gimmicks and give you the very best every issue. But our pick for best of the best? The Slimmy goes to…The Warrior Diet.” — First For Women Magazine, December, 2002 “An original, distinctive, and highly satisfying diet plan, The Warrior Diet is meant especially for those who pursue an active lifestyle.”— Midwest Book Review “Outsmart your metabolism! Stuff yourself slim! On the Warrior Diet, you can eat all you want for dinner and still lose five pounds a week. The secret? An age-old body bait and switch”— First For Women Magazine, July, 2002 “Women everywhere are raving about the super-effective “warrior” diet— eating lightly during the day, feasting after dark and losing weight at record speeds.”— Woman’s World, November, 2002 43 H IGHLIGHTS: WHAT YOU GAIN WITH MAXIMUM M USCLE M INIMUM FAT Now, for the first time, you can unlock your true physical potential—by understanding the fundamental biological principles of physical transformation. Once you own this wisdom, you will be the master of your body. Introduction: A Revolutionary Way of Looking at Maximum Muscle and Minimum Fat Part I: The Biological Switches That Trigger Muscle Gain and Fat Loss Chapter 1—Turning On the Anabolic Switch A Revolutionary Dietary Cycle That Triggers Maximum Anabolic Impact …How to Realize Maximum Growth Potential…How to Turn Growth Potential Into Muscle Gain…The Great Pump—The Day After Competition. Chapter 2—Muscle Gain and Fat Loss at the Cellular Level The Biological Benefits of Stress and Hunger… cAMP—The Missing Link…Can You Gain Muscle Without Gaining Fat?…cGMP and Potency… The Combustion Engine Principle. Part II: Muscle Gain Growth: The Product of Opposing Forces Chapter 3—Steroid Hormones Unique Steroidal Actions…Converting Cholesterol Into Steroid Hormones…Undereating and Exercise Stimulate Steroid Hormone Synthesis… High Mitochondrial Capacity for Proper Steroidal Impact…Dietary Fat and Cholesterol Level Effect on Steroid Hormones…How to Take Advantage of Steroid Hormone’s Anabolic Actions…Testosterone and DHT for Maximum Anabolic Impact …Aromatizing—The Bodybuilding Nightmare …The Cocktail Hormone Impact…How to Take Advantage of the Cortisol Wave…Reach Maximum Anabolic Potential During Exercise…Aldosterone for Survival and Muscle Toning. Chapter 4—Using Dietary Fats for Maximum Growth Anabolic Actions of Fatty Acids…Good Fats, Bad Fats…Food for Sex and Muscles…Fat and Survival…Arachidonic Acid’s Stimulating Effect on Steroid Hormones…EFA Balance for Maximum Performance…EFA Ratios for Reducing Inflammation, Sensitizing Insulin, and Gaining Muscle… “Bad” Fats Can Help Build Muscle… Arachidonic Acid’s Profound Growth Impact. Chapter 5—Growth Hormone Growth Hormone and the Sleep-Wake Cycle… Regulation of Growth 44 Hormone Secretion…GHRH-Dopamine for Potency and Growth… Deep Sleep, Naps, and Growth Hormone…Feeding Cycles and Growth Hormone…Neuropeptide Y and Galanin—Neuropeptides That Induce Hunger and Growth. Chapter 6—InsulinLike Growth Factor1 IGF1 and Muscular Development…IGF1 and Muscular Differentiation… Natural Methods to Enhance IGF1. Chapter 7—The Anabolic Cycle: Timing Is Everything The Amount of Time Required for Muscle Gain …Short and Long Anabolic Impacts… Manipulating The Anabolic Cycle…Why People Fail to Gain Muscle…How to Take Advantage of the Anabolic Cycle…Eat to Grow. Chapter 8—Super Muscle How to Develop Muscle with Superior Biological Capabilities…Size and Power…Developing Super Muscles…Muscle Wiring…How to Develop Super Muscle Fiber… Shifting: Improving Body Proportion …Gain versus Muscle Waste…Let Your Body Redesign Itself…Muscle Shifting…Postexercise Recovery Meals…Practical Tips…Carb Loading for Strength, Fat Loading for Endurance. Part III: Fat Loss Chapter 9—The Biological Principles of Fat Loss Carb and Calorie Restrictions…Eliminating Fat’s Reasons to Exist…Biological Principle 1: Increased Fat Utilization…Biological Principle 2: Increased Energy Turnover…Biological Principle 3: Increased Overall Detoxification…Regulation of Body Fat…Stress and Stubborn Fat…Lipolysis: The Chemistry of Fat Burning…Low-Carb Ketogenic Diets…Fat-Burning Hormones…Eliminating Fat’s Reasons to Exist—Practical Tips. Part IV: Muscle Gain and Fat Loss Conclusions Chapter 10—Insulin’s Essential Role In Muscle Gain and Fat Loss Chapter 11—The Single Biological Principle of Muscle Gain and Fat Loss How to Maximize Muscle Functions While Minimizing Fat Functions THINK AND G ROW STRONG! What you think—you become. Knowledge is power. When it comes to changing your body, do you really know what to think? Cutting through the confusion of claims, beliefs and pseudo-science that bedevils modern bodybuilding, bestselling fitness author, Ori Hofmekler, reveals the untold secrets behind guaranteed muscle gain—and guaranteed fat loss. Now, for the first time, you can unlock your true physical potential—by understanding the fundamental biological principles of physical transformation. Once you own this wisdom, you will be the master of your body. Discover: • How to turn on your anabolic switch—and optimize muscle growth • The cellular science behind muscle gain and fat loss • How to use your own fat to build more muscle—and other surprising secrets of modern bio-science • What you really need to know to harness the full power of human growth and steroid hormones • How to develop "super muscle"—a muscle packed with unprecedented power and strength • "Muscle shifting"—a potent new way to redesign your body • How to make insulin your friend—in the race for more muscle and less fat • The scientific support behind the ancient wisdom of controlled undereating and overeating—releasing your "inner beast" to become a metabolic powerhouse Maximum Muscle Minimum Fat The Science of Physical Perfection By Ori Hofmekler With Marc Salzman #B27 $34.95 Paperback 180 pages 8.5" x 11" Dramatic new research reveals how you can: • Engage three secret "metabolic wizards"—to banish stubborn fat forever • Reengineer your body at the cellular level—and design a dream physique • Take charge of your hormones naturally—for rapid muscle gain and faster fat loss • Master the art of "anabolic cycling"—for greater strength and enhanced libido • "Release the beast"—and trigger your inner survival power • Take advantage of hunger—to stimulate growth and boost your brain power • Shatter training plateaus—and experience a quantum leap in your physical development 45 PRAISE FOR MAXIMUM MUSCLE MINIMUM FAT Challenging, fascinating, informative book! “This book shows first and foremost one thing: The body is a MIRACULOUS engine, exquisitely balanced for maximum efficiency. As you read about how hormones, enzymes, cellular factors and nutrients work together to keep the body functioning, you can’t help but be amazed at the wonder of the human body, and the beauty of “Mother Nature.” I asked Ori for the top 5 things that he wanted readers to walk away with, and he said “Five is too many. There is only one: It’s not what you eat and how you exercise, it’s when and how often. If you follow a proper feeding cycle and exercise correctly, you will take advantage of your own instinct and hunger to accelerate exercise-related fat burning and growth effects, and naturally select the proper foods you need for maximum satisfaction and health. You will follow your biological destiny.” And like Occam’s Razor teaches us, the simplest, most practical solution is usually the right one. The Warrior Diet lifestyle plan, as described in Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat, cuts to the chase; it is simple, yet elegant. I won’t say it’s an easy lifestyle to get used to – it takes time, patience, discipline, as do any changes we make in our lives – but it is worthwhile. As a follower of this lifestyle plan for 18 months, it works for me, and can work for you too. In fact, it’s now working for many of my friends, colleagues and students, too, because you can adapt the plan to your needs — it’s user friendly! If you’re serious about gaining muscle, losing fat, and re-shaping your body, this no-nonsense guide will show you how, using a recommended feeding cycle and exercise, you can achieve it plus optimum health and satisfaction.” —LIZ KENNEDY, New York, NY 46 Instinctive Eating With Immediate Benefits This new book from Ori jumps right into the science behind the ‘Warrior Diet’. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their health, those sick of feeding the mainstream way, and doubters of the beneficial effects of under eating and over eating. Not only will you learn how to trigger instant and long lasting growth in your body, you’ll uncover methods for developing ‘super muscle’. A must read for those willing to look beyond today’s ‘standard’ eating styles.”—PIETRO PUZZUOLI, Brampton, ON Canada Excellent Resource for nutrition “This is Ori's manifesto, the total expansion and science of The Warrior Diet. Excellent resource that I highly recommend to anyone in pursuit of greater knowledge of information on any of the following topics: -body chemistry -muscle gain -fat loss -hormone behavior Couple this with RKC or Mike Mahler's MMA DVD and a kettlebell, and you have an unstoppable arsenal for achieving your physical goals!”—BROCTON QUIETT, dragondoor.com review Read This Book or Suffer Forever “If you are remotely serious about achieving a life of complete health, vitality, strength and beauty, do yourself a favor and read this book. If you are a fitness professional this is a must read in my opinion. It is a no frills guide to human physiology, endocrinology, and how it relates exactly to improving health, melting the flab off of your body and enhancing physical performance. It will help you educate your clients about the truth behind permanent fat loss and muscularity. For you science oriented folk, you will find this book intoxicating and providing you with multiple "ah ha" moments. If you are a proponent of the SAD US Food Pyramid, it will be a slap in the face for you but if you are open minded enough to try the protocol it will be a pleasant one. If you are already too far gone and buried in your high carb acedemia, then may the permanent flab and major health problems be with you.” —DEEKS03, dragondoor.com review Feeling Run Down…Low Energy… Out-of-Sorts? — The Problem is Probably in Your Gut! World’s Most Potent Probiotic Attacks Source of Your Hidden Health Crisis… Quickly Rejuvenates… Restores Energy and Well-Being Highest Potency… Highest Health Advantage! POWERBIOTIC provides a proven, scientificallydeveloped blend of the most critical "resident" as well as "transient" microorganisms—which all contribute to maintaining and promoting a super-healthy GI tract. PLUS, this unique formulation offers you one of the highest potencies, 17 billion plus units per capsule. Recharge, Refresh, Rejuvenate Now! Like nothing else, PowerBiotic will help you re-establish and fortify the balance of "friendly-fighter" microorganisms in your GI tract and help reverse the gut imbalances that contribute to chronic health conditions. Once you start using PowerBiotic for 3 months or more, you will recharge, refresh, and rejuvenate your digestion and that, in turn, will energize your immune system and your entire body. The latest scientific probiotic research on human health and longevity reveals that once you help promote the growth of "friendly" gut flora, truly remarkable health changes can come to you. What makes PowerBiotic superior to every other acidophilus product you've seen in a store, on the web or advertised in the mail? Most acidophilus capsules contain less than 3 billion viable cells per capsule and generally only 3 different cultures. PowerBiotic is something very different and is light years ahead of anything you can buy off the shelf. IT CONTAINS 17.5 BILLION CELLS PER CAPSULE and contains 8 strains of the most effective and clinicallyresearched beneficial microorganisms required by a healthy human gut. PowerBiotic contains Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lacto- bacilus casei, Lactobilus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus Salivariius. 1,3/1,6 Beta Glucan 17 billion plus viable cells per capsule. Let 8 powerful friends fight for your lifelong health In order to bring our bodies into healthy balance, the "friendly" bacteria need to outnumber the "unfriendly" bacteria by about 85% to 15%, but for most of us, those numbers are REVERSED. And guess what, all of our visits to doctors complaining about digestive problems prove it. BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE AND THE GOOD GUYS WILL SOON START WINNING. How? By using the unique, super-potent blend of "friendly-fighter" bacteria found in PowerBiotic When "friendly-fighter" bacteria are not at healthy levels, and when "unfriendly" bacteria move in, health problems take root. But when you use PowerBiotic, you can do much more than destroy the homes of unfriendly bacteria, you can enjoy powerful, energizing benefits for life. If you're tired of digestive disorders draining your energy and vitality... If you want to overcome health challenges that traditional medical doctors can't solve... 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Call 1-800-899-5111 NOW! 47 Discover how The Probiotic Solution may help you to beat Cancer… Heart Disease… Obesity… Autism… Diabetes… Digestive Disorders… Fatigue… Irritable Bowel Syndrome…and much, much more… Table of Contents — Highlights Chapter 1: How Probiotics Can Help Solve the Cancer Problem What is cancer?…what happens when normal cells become cancerous…different cancers…what causes cancer?…risk factors and protective factors…the role of diet in the development and prevention of cancer…the dangers of ionizing radiation…the dangers of Hormone Replacement Therapy and DES…the perils of chemotherapy and radiotherapy…what is the Probiotic Solution?…DNA and mutations… probiotics as detoxifiers…as a physical barrier to bacteria…the internal politics of the intestines—the toxic battlefield…the species of probiotics in the normal GI tract. Chapter 2: Coronary Heart Disease What is coronary heart disease?…the number-one killer of both men and women…controllable and uncontrollable risk factors for CHD…what causes coronary heart disease?…how the heart works…angina…atherosclerosis… what is cholesterol… the crux of the problem...warning signs…how is coronary heart disease treated?… lifestyle changes…the dangers of statins…the advantage of Red Rice Yeast…surgery— not a cure…what is the Probiotic Solution?…the connection between probiotics and low cholesterol…how LDL clogs and HDL cleans…the most effective strains for cholesterol reduction…how the LR probiotic has decreased total cholesterol by 38 percent…the one-to-two rule…how to lower your risk of CHD by 76 percent…a special warning to women. Chapter 3: Why Probiotic Therapy Offers New Hope for Autism What is autism?…how prevalent is autism?…classical autism—the three types of symptoms…autism spectrum disorders...what causes autism?...genetic predis-position… disruption of early fetal brain development...environmental factors… childhood vaccination…the role of diet...how is autism treated?...the lack of a current cure for autism…the prevailing nutritional therapies…the molecular and cellular mechanisms related to autism…the link between autism and immune and inflammatory responses...what is the Probiotic Solution?...the exorphin theory of autism…how probiotics can help repair a leaky gut and repair the GI tract…the relationship between probiotics and enzymes…the therapeutic potential of genomeceuticals…. the role of galactose as a fuel source of beneficial microflora …new research…the Brudnak method of pulsing and rotating probiotics…doses needed to achieve clinical significance…the use of probiotics to reduce ammonia in the blood…detoxifying the body…chelating agents…combating mercury…why probiotics may be the answer…the role of the mer genes in detoxifying mercury…creating casein and gluten free probiotics…different testing systems. Chapter 4: Alzheimer’s Disease What is Alzheimer’s disease?…what causes Alzheimer’s disease…the amyloid cascade hypothesis...heavy metal toxicity...the lock-and-key hypothesis of enzyme functionality ...the killer advent of cytoxic plaques...how is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed and treated?...neuropsychological testing... imaging tests...medications... what is the probiotic solution?...the prophylactic and therapeutic benefits of phosphatidyl serine…reducing the accumulation of plaques…mitochondrial dysfunction...probiotics as a calcium stabilizer…the benefits of isoflavones. Chapter 5: How Probiotics Can Help Counteract the Effects of Lactose Intolerance What is lactose intolerance?…common symptoms…who is most likely to be lactose intolerant?…what causes lactose intolerance?…Congenital-type lactose intolerance… adult-type lactose intolerance...what is lactose?…the role of lactase…diagnosis of lactose intolerance…the lactose tolerance test…the hydrogen breath test…cautions for infants…how is lactose intolerance treated?…good alternatives to straight dairy…hidden sources of lactose…what is the Probiotic Solution?…the function of the beta-gal 48 enzyme…fresh yogurt…survival rates…the importance of mixing probiotic strains…why resistant strains are not the best answer…optimal delivery systems…when to take probiotics…combining enzymes and probiotics. Chapter 6: The Probiotics Potential for Diabetes and for Effective Weight Control What is diabetes?…the two types of diabetes…type II…the intimate relationship between diabetes and weight control…what causes diabetes?…genetic and lifestyle factors…the role of insulin…the hormone leptin for appetite control… how is diabetes treated?… what is the Probiotic Solution?…the three basic strategies for treating diabetes…reducing glucose absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract…why probiotics prefer glucose…the relationship to glycogen…the dangers of yeast and E. coli supplementation…excess stored energy and weight gain…accelerating the metabolism of glucose with probiotics. Chapter 7: Yeast Infections What are yeast infections?…the fungus Candida....the symptoms...what causes yeast infections?…the impact of lowered immunity… how are yeast infections treated?… overthe-counter products...side-effects—a cost/benefit analysis…what is the probiotic solution?…correcting imbalances in the urogenital system…lowering the pH of the UGS…producing hydrogen peroxide…the role of carbohydrates… controlling sugar in the body…sugar surplus and pathogenic infection…the limitations of yogurt…the “attachment” value of cranberry. Chapter 8: Why Probiotics Promise Relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?…diagnosing IBS…what causes irritable bowel syndrome?…how is irritable bowel syndrome treated?…diet…stress management …medications…nutritional supplements…what is the Probiotic Solution?…the gastrointestinal tract and pathogenic bacteria…the healing crisis... enzymatic insufficiencies…the intestines as “a second brain”…treating inflam-mation… recommended probiotics and prebiotics. Chapter 9: How Probiotics Can Help Alleviate The Symptoms of Down Syndrome What is Down syndrome?…how can a diagnosis of Down syndrome be confirmed?… gastrointestinal abnormalities commonly found in people with Down syndrome…the connection with Alzheimer’s disease…what causes Down syndrome?…understanding the structure and function of the human chromosome… how is Down syndrome treated?…what is the Probiotic Solution?…how the GI tract works….handling pH balances... immune cell influx and inflammation…absorption problems…correcting pancreatic insufficiency in the small intestine…recommended products…the value of yogurt…probiotics as enzyme suppliers...treating celiac disease...pulsing and rotating for optimal results…new hope for people with Down syndrome. Chapter 10: Choosing The Best Probiotic Delivery Systems Why it’s all in the delivery…probiotics—ally in the war against disease and infection …changing the public perception about good bacteria…the traditional probiotic delivery system—fermented dairy products…plusses and minuses…what to look for…alternate probiotic delivery systems…how prebiotics add value to a delivery system…. recommended prebiotics…the Brudnak Method of pulsing and rotating—the hows and whys…defining the “pulse”…the problem of genetic drift…clinical results with autism …recommended probiotic manufacturers and products…choosing the right probiotic for you—what to look for…where to buy probiotic products. Are You Making These Mistakes with Your Diet? Discover how to… • • • • • Repel potentially devastating attacks on your digestive process Restore your immune system to an almost fortress-like strength Ignite unprecedented levels of new energy Reduce unsightly bodyfat Release and safely remove potentially deadly toxins M any have claimed: “Disease begins in the colon.” In The Probiotic Solution, Dr. Mark Brudnak states a greater truth: “Disease begins from an imbalance in the body.” Good health is a dance on the tightrope of balance. Lose your balance for long enough—and you plunge toward crisis—if not death. Find and maintain balance—and you can enjoy the fruits of a happy, healthy life. It’s the law of nature. Whatever causes imbalance, causes ill health—be it cancer, heart disease, autism, diabetes or obesity. We are under constant attack from a host of toxins and “bad guys” —bacteria and viruses threatening to overrun and overwhelm us, drag us down. Make the wrong diet choices, refuse to protect yourself—and suffer the consequences. The Probiotic Solution, shows you how to fight back. Just as firefighters use fire to fight fire, you can use good bacteria to fight bad. Those good bacteria are known as probiotics and exist naturally in the human body. Probiotics are your friend and your weapon, your key to good health and your counter-balance against the destructive forces undermining your health. “As powerful tools in the prevention and treatment of certain conditions, probiotics will play an increasingly important role in human health. The Probiotic Solution highlights one of the most beneficial, science-based nutraceuticals around in a concise, consumer-friendly way. Here's to the "good guys"!” — Rebecca Madley, Editor, Nutraceuticals World While popular fermented products like yogurt do contain probiotics, they are not enough to protect us from the levels of toxins we now endure. It would be like pitting peashooters against tanks. Fortunately, powerful “designer” probiotics have now been created, which give you greater, more powerful protection against specific diseases—while enhancing your energy and well being. But, in this brave new science of probiotics, how do we choose safely, how do we know what to use and when? The Probiotic Solution, gives you the keys to the probiotic kingdom—showing you how best to take advantage of “nature’s best-kept secret for radiant health”—and continue to thrive whatever the challenges you face. Mark A. Brudnak, Ph.D., N.D., is the author of over 40 peer-reviewed scientific and trade journal articles and is recognized worldwide as a leading expert and speaker in the areas of probiotics, enzymes, and functional carbohydrates. A board-certified naturopath, Brudnak has been involved with the natural products industry for over 15 years and has worked with numerous companies and universities in the development of cutting-edge nutritional products. "The Probiotic Solution offers new and exciting perspectives on probiotics and their potential for improving heath. Dr. Brudnak shows an insight into the root causes of many maladies that have largely been ignored by the medical community. The Probiotic Solution explores the symbiotic relationship these friendly bacteria provide in disease prevention and health maintenance." — James Roza C.N., NOW Foods The Probiotic Solution Nature’s Best-Kept Secret for Radiant Health By Dr. Mark A. Brudnak Paperback 200 pages 6” x 9” #B25 $24.00 “The Probiotic Solution is an authoritative guide to the treatment of disease states through probiotics. The book delivers complex information in an easy to read and understandable context. Dr. Brudnak’s use of analogies and explanation of terms puts the reader at ease and makes this an enjoyable read. The vast information contained within The Probiotic Solution is organized in very logical and user-friendly manner. Each chapter is devoted to a disease state, in which implications, etiology, and risk factors are explained. Brudnak thoroughly reviews the conventional treatments and therapies, elucidating the pros and cons of each. Finally, he concludes with the “probiotic solution.” In this section, the mechanisms by which “good bacteria” interact and detoxify potentially harmful materials are thoroughly explained.” —Llori Valenzueka, MS, RD, TOWNSEND LETTER for Doctors and Patients – October 2003 “The Probiotic Solution is an excellent guide for readers who want to expand their knowledge of probiotics and the new findings emerging from current research." —Dallas Clouatre, Ph.D., author of The Prostate Miracle and Anti-Fat Nutrients 49 STEP INTO YOUR POWER WITH THE RUSSIAN KETTLEBELL BY MICHAEL CASTROGIOVANNI, RKC I n the summer of 2001 I reconnected with Mark ‘Rif’ Reifkind, a friend and my old strength coach whom I hadn’t been in contact with since ’98. I had been through quite a bit and my training had taken some interesting turns. We had spoken over the phone a couple of times and he was excited about opening a kettlebell training center in Palo Alto, CA, called Girya.net. After numerous attempts to get the concept of this kettlebell thing through to me, he finally said: “Look, if I told you I had a strength tool that will raise your heart rate over 200bpm, you would want to see it, right?” Now, I’ve known Rif for quite a while and for him to make a blasphemous statement like that was pretty absurd, especially since all my Kinesiology teachers and textbooks clearly stated that a man of my age physiologically is not capable of doing such! Our Our answer answer to to Shaolin: Shaolin: Brother Brother Gabriel, Gabriel, age age 74, 74, practicing practicing kettlebell kettlebell swings. swings. After hearing Mark’s outlandish claim I decided I should pay him a visit to make sure that all those years of powerlifting hadn’t killed too many brain cells. With the intention of proving my old teacher wrong and showing him what a stud I had become, I went to his house. As usual, we headed towards the garage, known to some as ‘Marks’s House of Pain’ and to others as the ‘Rifstonian Institute’. This is where I first set my sights on these large, black, cast iron cannon balls with handles, menacingly taking up space on the floor. I thought to myself: “Cannonballs! This guy has completely lost his marbles.” Despite my initial resistance, I became very interested as soon as Rif began to demonstrate the basic movements. They literally forced my 50 mind to open; I had never seen anything like it nor had I ever been able to conceptualize such a possibility. My experience with explosive movements consisted of the Olympic lifts, which I rarely performed for reps and when I did the reps they certainly were not fluid and continuous. At this point, my interest had peaked but I still felt the skepticism that had been imbedded in my mind by many lectures and late nights of study. After all I was on my way to becoming a “Kinesiologist”! Eventually, my natural child-like curiosity forced my overgrown ego to step down and before I knew it, I found myself swinging these unconventional weights. After Rif felt confident in my ability to perform a safe swing he introduced the clean and the snatch. It took a little while for me to get the movements down, but eventually I got it. The learning process alone elevated my heart rate far beyond what I had expected and my breath was eluding me. I had begun to think that he might be right and science might be wrong. For the love of God, what was I to do? My whole world was about to collapse before me, in a garage, of all places, at the hands of my old strength coach, of all people, and because of a cannon ball, of all things! I accepted the inevitable, stood my ground and attacked the bells as if it was the last showdown. I remember very little of the workout itself. I know we did swings, cleans, and snatches, and that the workout lasted no more than five minutes. One thing that vividly sticks out in my memory was my heart beating so hard that I could feel my pulse pounding in my pelvic floor. My heart rate exceeded 220bpm! Yet the thing that stands out most in my mind was my prideful attempts to refrain from vomiting all over Rif’s garage floor and my feeble attempts to act as though I was unaffected by this short but potent workout. As my knees began to give out underneath me, I’d realized it was time to employ some new training techniques to my workouts. As much as I had been skeptical about the tool, I became a believer. Over the next few years I eliminated numerous movements that I replaced with the far more efficient Kettlebell. Mark was right. While science and my belief in that particular theory was wrong, I had accepted it and realized that it was not so bad to be wrong, because as a result I had gained a new tool, new awareness, outlook and insight into myself and training. I also learned that no matter how much I think I am an expert or an authority there is always an authority out there that is greater, with more wisdom and hopefully less ego who has something to teach me. It then becomes my job to decide if I will let my ego rule my world and remain stagnant or if I will set it aside and empty my cup for the next refill of knowledge. As I spent the next seven hours driving south, feeling the effects of my workout, I knew my life was about to take some interesting turns. As a result of that day in Rif’s garage I have made some very significant changes in the way I approach my physical training and my life. I am not sure that this progression of my life would not have happened without the use of kettlebells, although I am certain that these improvements would not have happened as fast. As my mind opened that day in Rif’s garage, the process continued as I began to delve deeper into the possibilities of training. As I used kettlebells more and more I realized how much I had been limiting myself with the use of traditional weight training and outdated bodybuilding techniques. This caused me to evaluate my life and ask the all-important question: “In what other ways have I been limiting myself?” The kettlebell became a means to explore my inner universe while getting one heck of workout, two things that are of great value to me. I always thought that if I could just make more money, just get a better car, just buy a house, then I could be happy. Then I came to the conclusion that I had been limiting myself by not taking chances and by living like I was ‘supposed’ to rather how I wanted to. I had lived my life unconsciously, influenced by billboards and other marketing media, and had my priorities backwards. I immediately made contact with my friend Wade at the monastery and made arrangements to take a retreat over the next weekend. When I arrived at my retreat room I set my intention to open up to receive the answers to my question of what I was supposed to do and why my priorities had become so backward. In my three day stay at the Hermitage I realized some very important things, one being that I was living a life in Southern California that was not meeting my needs and that I was going through the motions, just like a person at a gym who doesn’t feel like working out. As I sat in my cell as though in paradise tooling around with my kettlebells I understood that I need nothing that does not sustain me; all the rest becomes a fruitless attempt to acquire a false sense of happiness that inevitably leads nowhere. In understanding my lack of true happiness I made quite possibly the most important decision of my life to date. I decided to quit my job, uproot from So Cal, and remove myself from society to join the monastery. The opportunity had presented itself to me in the past to become the personal trainer for the monks and oversee the physical fitness of these deeply spiritual men. I had always declined this opportunity for fear of what it might mean to do so and how difficult it would be to remove myself from my comfort zones and the system I had grown so accustomed to. As I made this blind leap of faith to enter this life of contemplation I knew in the depths of my being that I was making the perfect choice and that all would be peachy. I knew that this would be a great place to get in touch with my truest priorities as well as be the perfect place to dive into the study of kettlebells. Over the next six months I spent my time learning new forms of prayer, meditation and contemplation, and my personal favorite, fun things to do with a kettlebell while contemplatively meditating about prayer. I practiced my new techniques with a discipline that only solitude and silence can offer. I had used kettlebells for almost two years before entering the monastery and I believe that the level of difficulty in the workouts and imagination cultivated through kettlebell training was a major contributing factor to finding the courage needed to make that blind leap of faith. My practice at the hermitage allowed me insight into true understanding of the powerful tool of transformation that the kettle bell has the potential to be. Michael Castrogiovanni, RKC, CSCS introduced Russian kettlebells to the National Strength and Conditioning Association and coauthored the Kettlebell Basics for Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers DVD available at www.dragondoor.com. 51 YES, I WANT MY POWER-PACKED ABS NOW!— No one—but no one—has ever matched Bruce Lee’s ripped-beyond-belief abs. What was his favorite exercise? Here it is. Now you can rip your own abs to eye-popping shreds and reclassify yourself as superhuman. I’m Done Wasting My Time with Slow Burns and HalfBaked Results As a former Soviet Union Special Forces conditioning instructor, Pavel Tsatsouline already knew a thing or two about how to create bullet-stopping abs. Since then, he has combed the world to pry out this select group of primevally powerful ab exercises—guaranteed to yield the fastest, most effective results known to man. According to Pavel, “Crunches belong on the junk pile of history, next to Communism. ‘Feeling the burn’ with high reps is a waste of time!” Save yourself countless hours of unrewarding, if not useless—if not damaging—toil. Get with the program. Make fast gains and achieve blistering, rockhard abs now. Fry your abs without the spine-wrecking, neckjerking stress of traditional crunches—using this radical situp designed by the world’s leading back and muscle function expert, Professor Janda, from Czechoslovakia. “For those of you who are unfamiliar with the full contact twist, you are really missing out. I picked up this little gem in Pavel Tsatsouline’s excellent ab training book, Bullet-Proof Abs. The FCT is one of the few exercises that I can honestly say revolutionized my training. No other exercise has improved my core strength and rotational power to that degree.” —Steven Morris, MILO: A Journal for Serious Strength Athletes When it came to wanting titanium abs yesterday, the Soviet Special Forces didn’t believe in delayed gratification. Pavel gave them what they wanted. If you want abs that’ll put you in the world’s top 1 percent, this cruel and unusual drill does the trick. 52 Russian full contact fighters used this drill to pound their opponents with organ-rupturing power, while turning their own midsections into concrete. “Abs to Die For— SECRETS to Kill For.” Gain a Ripped Powerhouse of Six-Pack Muscle In No Time at All— with Breakthrough Techniques That Blow the Roof Off Traditional Ab Exercises “As a chiropractic physician, I see the deleterious effects of a weak torso on the lower back. Weak abs lead to years of back pain and dysfunction. As a world record holding powerlifter, I know the importance of strong abs on maximum power performance. Beyond Crunches is THE text and authority on ab/trunk stability.” —Dr. Fred Clary, National Powerlifting Champion and World Record Holder Bullet-Proof Abs 2nd Edition of Beyond Crunches Book By Pavel Tsatsouline, Employ These Little-Known Tips from ELITE ATHLETES and Possess Your Own Set of AWESOME ABS • Protect your back and develop exceptional abdominal muscle tone, with a landmark exercise designed for the special needs of Russian ballet dancers and gymnasts. • Employ the secret ab weapon of an old time strongman—famous for his exceptional strength and sinewy, wiry physique. • This insider’s secret from East German research radically empowers the traditional situp. • Russian full contact fighters used this drill to pound their opponents with full contact power, while turning their own midsections into concrete. Unlike anything seen in the US! Paperback 128 pages 119 Photos and 112 Illustrations #B11 $34.95 “I read every book on strength training I can get my hands on. There are three I would highly recommend for any lifter or coach. Two are by Pavel Tsatsouline. BEYOND STRETCHING is a scientific approach to gaining flexibility. This is how one should learn and perform proper stretching. The second is Pavel’s BULLET-PROOF ABS. In this book Pavel discusses and provides pictures of the correct method for ab training. I urge all lifters to read these two books by Pavel. I am sure the benefits will be many.” —Louie Simmons, Powerlifting Coach, Powerlifting USA 53 PRAISE FOR PAVEL TSATSOULINE AND FOR THE FIRST EDITION OF BEYOND CRUNCHES “Thank you for the great job you did in your presentation (on abdominal training) at the Arnold Fitness We received uniformly EXPO Seminar. favorable comments concerning the quality of your instruction and the content of your message. As you know the fitness enthusiasts we attract to our seminars are very knowledgeable individuals. Hence, their supportive feedback concerning you and your presentation is of special significance.” —James J. Lorimer, Schwarzenegger/Lorimer Productions Bullet-Proof Abs 2nd Edition of Beyond Crunches Book By Pavel Tsatsouline, Paperback 128 pages 119 Photos and 112 Illustrations #B11 $34.95 “I have seen many abdominal routines in the last 25 years and the Beyond Crunches program is the best yet.” —Steve Maxwell, M.Sc., Senior World Brazilian Jujitsu Champion See the Ab Pavelizer™ II on page 55 54 “The Pavelizer is the rage among the iron elite.” —Marty Gallagher, World Masters Powerlifting Champion, WashingtonPost.com “I am writing on behalf of the entire Board of Directors of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association to express our sincere gratitude to you for helping with our Conference 2000. We trained 536 officers from 129 agencies. Your portion of the instruction was a huge success. All of the student critiques were very complimentary. As a team leader with the Houston Police Department SWAT team, I am constantly looking for new ways to improve my physical performance. According to the student comments, you have truly introduced a new and revolutionary fitness program to our members. In particular, our members commented on your common sense, practical exercises that utilize a minimum amount of equipment to achieve the very goals that other instructors require thousands of dollars of equipment to achieve. These techniques will help each officer reach new levels of fitness and ultimately improve their ability to protect the communities they serve.It is our mission to provide the very best training available, anywhere. Your efforts helped make that possible.” —M.L. “Sandy” Wall, Training Advisor, TTPOZ “Expect to find some of the most grueling stomachbusters that you have ever experienced—Tsatsouline advocates low-repetition intensity over high-repetition “burn” exercises, and introduces us to the Ab Pavelizer, a machine of his own invention that allows for perfect situps. Beyond Crunches has many new and challenging drills, making this a great manual for anyone who needs some variety in their workout routine. Included is the Flag, Bruce Lee’s favorite abdominal exercise.” —Brendan J. LaSalle, Amazon.com “As a chiropractic physician, I see the deleterious effects of a weak torso on the lower back. Weak abs lead to years of back pain and dysfunction. As a world record holding powerlifter, I know the importance of strong abs on maximum power performance. Beyond Crunches is THE text and authority on ab/trunk stability.” —Dr. Fred Clary, National Powerlifting Champion and World Record Holder “I learned a lot from Pavel’s books and video, and plan to use many of his ideas in my own workouts, especially the nontraditional ab exercises described in Beyond Crunches.”—Clarence Bass, Most Muscular Man, Mr. U.S.A, Past 40, author of Ripped 1, 2 & 3 and Lean for Life “Congratulations on your book Beyond Crunches. I found several of the insights and expressions to be very interesting and thought provoking (The Ab Pavelizer is just one). I will be implementing some of them into my own abdominal workout schedules.” —Dennis B. Weiss, author of Mass!, Raw Muscle & Anabolic Muscle Mass “As someone who has been crippled twice by injuries to my spine and had to rebuild my body from scratch twice, I have two things to say: 1) serious abdominal conditioning is *mandatory* for anyone with back pain and anyone who intends to push their body in sport or martial arts and 2) Pavel’s book is, by far, the best book I’ve seen on this vitally important and neglected subject.” —Ken McCarthy, New York “This book took me from having a back that everyone told me was too weak to ever do heavy lifting and that was in almost constant pain to no back pain and new PR’s in the deadlift and Squat. Pavel’s ab exercises are the stuff champions are made of. Clear, concise directions and radical new ideas make this book well worth the money spent. And it’s for every trainee with a desire to succeed. I’ve heard that you must already be very advanced to begin the exercises in this book, but I recently began training my 50 year old father-in-law using these techniques and after about a month he was doing Janda situps with the best of them. Not to mention he no longer complains of back pain and has better posture. Get this book and throw out all of your others on abs!” —Chris Dudzik, Hollister, CA. “Pavel delivers once again! This book details the mechanics of abdominal and oblique development in an easy to understand, user-friendly format. Learn to either build up your midsection, tone it up, get a prominent sixpack, and/or increase your punching and throwing power by learning to integrate your powerful midsection! There is one particular exercise that I found to be super productive in adding to punching power, and this is the only book that has it... It is extremely simple and easy to understand. Pavel explains how to protect your spine and perform the “perfect” situp. All in all a great book by a great author, definitely a must-have for any fighter and lifter. My punching power and deadlifting strength went up very quickly on this program and I am very pleased.” — Sean Williams, Long Beach, NY “I’ve bought the TV advertised training devices and a bundle of ab books—tried them all. But, doing the routines Pavel Tsatsouline presents in this book is the way I have achieved solid abs! Pavel offers a great deal of knowledge in an easy to digest manner. His writing, while colloquial, is founded in research and deep understanding of physiology and kinesthetics. I highly recommend this book.” — Linda Crawford, Minnesota State Masters Powerlifting Champion and Record Holder, Minneapolis, MN A RIPPED POWERHOUSE OF SIX-PACK MUSCLE IN JUST 5 REPS? – YOU GOT IT! “Unique Ab Pavelizer™ II Smokes Your Abs More INTENSELY, More SAFELY, And More QUICKLY Than Any Abs Machine in the World — Guaranteed!” A nd we are not talking about the wishy-washy, pretend abs sported by those lowly metrosexuals (they call their abs ‘toned’, we believe…Hah!) No, Comrade, we’re talking about the real thing: a wall of muscle ready to handle full contact punishment — or jack out powerlifting poundages at record amounts! The Ab Pavelizer™ II Item # P12 $139.95 10-25 lb Olympic plate required for correct use. (You will need to supply your own plate) One of the secrets of elite martial artists’ and gymnasts’ shredded abs and awesome power is a subtle alignment of the core. Examine any photo of an expert fighter connecting with his unfortunate target — or an elite gymnast performing a difficult feat — and you can’t miss it. The stomach is never sucked in — this is no beauty pageant — but ‘walled’ into armored squares. The glutes are tensed like they are an extension of the abs. The whole works compress like a piston, instantaneously, as he delivers maximum force. The athlete whose body speaks this language always packs power… and a six-pack to match. “My strength comes from the abdomen. It’s the center of gravity and source of real power….Without strong abs you have no business sparring or fighting.” — Bruce Lee FREE BONUS: Comes with a four page detailed instruction guide on how to use and get the most out of your Ab Pavelizer™ II. Includes two incredible methods for massively intensifying your ab workout with Power and Paradox Breathing. Pavel has designed his Ab Pavelizer™ II to force you to fire your waist and hips in this powerful manner. This subtle alignment dramatically amplifies your power in any lift above the waist, any strike, and most extreme bodyweight exercises. And while you are building your power, your six-pack is getting rock hard! full year to take advantage of the Ab Pavelizer™ II‘s abhardening benefits — and if you aren’t astounded by the change in your ab-strength, we will immediately refund you your full purchase price. The Ab Pavelizer™ II literally pushes up against your calves (you'd almost swear it was a human partner) and forces you to recruit your glutes and hamstrings. But that is only the beginning. Pavel is a stickler for perfect technique and the moment you try to cheat, the Ab Pavelizer™ II will let you know, loud and clear! Tensing the glutes and hams is not enough; it must be done in a special pattern. Should you fail to do it just right, your feet will come up or the machine will be dragged towards you. The translation from Russian: “You are cheating, slacker!” The feedback provided by the Ab Pavelizer™ II remarkably accelerates your ability to use your abs just right, in an ab workout, in the ring, or with a kettlebell in your hand. It’s got to be Pavel’s sick sense of humor that is to blame for the innocent appearance of his cruel instrument. It is astonishingly hard to sit up all the way when the new Ab Pavelizer™ II is loaded with enough weight, 25-35 pounds for most comrades. The sticking point half way up seems impossible, and don’t you even dare to cheat through it! Grind, like you grind a max deadlift! No worries if you can’t, you can always start with negative only situps. Even more tension, even quicker gains with fewer reps. Can you learn this powerful alignment without Pavel’s cruel machine? — Yes, after some years of a hard style martial art or gymnastics practice under an expert instructor. Or you can have the Ab Pavelizer™ II teach you this power skill in weeks. But you won’t have to wait weeks for results! Your abdominals will start noticeably hardening up after the first workout. It’s a promise. It’s a guarantee… You have a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ High reps and crunches belong on the junk pile of history. Get your abs Pavelized! 55 Here’s just some of what you’ll discover, when you possess your own copy of Pavel Tsatsouline’s BULLET-PROOF ABS: Part I - How to TRULY ISOLATE Your Abs— for Faster, More EFFECTIVE RESULTS Pavel Tsatsouline The three essentials of a perfect abs exercise….why crunches can’t and don’t work….why the current ab machines fail to deliver on their promise…. the Law of Irradiation…. Professor Janda’s breakthrough discovery….how the Janda situp strengthens and tones your abs in the quickest, most efficient manner…. the Law of Reciprocal Inhibition….how the Ab Pavelizer minimizes irradiation and maximizes abdominal strength….how to optimize your results with a graduated program and achieve the abs of a world class athlete. Part II - Integration: How to Turn Your Abs into Team Players—and SKYROCKET Your ATHLETIC POTENTIAL Part IV - How to Boost Yourself from Wannabe to CHAMPION with POWER BREATHING A two-step program: from training the muscles to training the movement….the Russian Ballet Leg Thrust for a stable spine and corrugated abs….the right way to do situps….how to test if you are ready to do situps…. the dangers of adaptive shortening….Laputin’s highly effective variation of the straight-legged situp…. Scissor Situps—using a martial arts secret for an extra edge in abs strength….how the Swiss Ball Crunch uses extreme stretching to transform the worthless crunch into a thing of pure evil….a brutal love handle muscle workout….hell-on-a-wheel with the jackknife pushup…. Yananis and the killer Spetsnaz special—a one arm-one leg jackknife…. abdominal pushups for core strength and back stability….Bruce Lee’s Dragon Flag. The vital difference between passive and active exhalation…. the pneumo-muscular reflex…. how to pick the optimal breathing pattern…. maximizing intra-abdominal pressure….a simple way to boost your strength by 12.2%…. Vladimir Zatsiorsky’s first choice for armoured abs... Bending the Fire—1,500 year old martial art secret meets Russian science….turbocharge your breath with the Chi Kung secret of the anal lock….get yet another competitive advantage with the Second Focus….and then beyond—extreme intensity contractions with the Elbow Strike Second Focus….and welcome to the Gulag—with the Second Focus/Ab Pavelizer™ Negative Sequence…. clean up the intercostals with the Yogic Vacuum. Part III - How to BRUTALIZE the Obliques and SAVE Your Spine The four crucial functions of the obliques…. the Full Contact Twist—for a tight waist and massive punching power…. the Saxon Side Bend—for sinewy, wiry obliques…. the Suitcase Style One-Arm Deadlift—know what it means to lose to a semi…. power rack deadlifts and neurological carryover. 56 Part V - Questions & Answers The truth about burning, building and toning….how best to counter the Law of Accommodation….why negatives generate up to 1.3 times more muscular tension than positives…. the forcevelocity curve….incorporating isometrics into your abs program….varying exercise tempo for extra strength gains…. canning your concrete abs—for those who want the six-pack look….how often to train your abs….why you shouldn’t warm up before abs exercises….debunking the strange myth of ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ abs….the benefits of relaxing between reps. “An IRON CURTAIN Has Descended Across MY Abs” Possess a maximum impact training tool for the world’s most effective abs, no question. Includes detailed follow-along instructions on how to perform most of the exercises described in the companion book, Bullet-Proof Abs Demonstrates advanced techniques for optimizing results with the Ab Pavelizer. Beyond Crunches Hard Science. Hard Abs. Video With Pavel Tsatsouline Running Time 37 Min #V90 $29.95 Pavel’s Ab-strengthening breath techniques will give you the power to explode a water bottle—but don’t try this trick at home—if the extreme air-pressure whacks back into your lungs, instead of exploding the water bottle—you can end up very dead, which is a bummer for everyone. As a former Soviet Union Special Forces conditioning instructor, Pavel Tsatsouline already knew a thing or two about how to create bullet-stopping abs. Since then, he has combed the world to pry out this select group of primevally powerful ab exercises— guaranteed to yield the fastest, most effective results known to man. • Russian fighters used this drill, The FullContact Twist, to increase their striking power and toughen their midsections against blows. An awesome exercise for iron-clad obliques. • Fry your abs without the spine-wrecking, neck-jerking stress of traditional crunches. • No one—but no one—has ever matched Bruce Lee’s ripped-beyond-belief abs. What was his favorite exercise? Here it is. Now you can rip your own abs to eyepopping shreds and reclassify yourself as superhuman. • Rapidly download extreme intensity into your situps—with explosive breathing secrets from Asian martial arts. • Employ a little-known secret from East German research to radically strengthen your situp. • Do the right thing with “the evil wheel”, hit the afterburners and rocket from halfbaked to fully-fried abs. • “How to smoke your obliques with the Saxon Side Bend. • How to never do more than five reps per set — and replace your soft underbelly with body armor. • A complete workout plan for optimizing your results from the Janda situp and other techniques. Pavel demonstrates the Power Breathing technique Bending the Fire to develop an extra edge in your abs training. SAVE 15% See Order Insert 57 The Fit For Life Solution Contents Part One: How to Reclaim Your Natural Birthright And Experience Daily Radiant Health Chapter One How I Got from "Hey, Fatty" To Slim, Trim and Super-Fit Why I was still fat after trying 47 different diets…How 500,000 people told me they easily lost weight and became pain-free with the Fit for Life solution…the secret negative patterns that sap your eating power… powerless, aberrant, and insane in the land of the yo-yo diet…enter the saving grace of Natural Hygiene…how miracles started happening in my life…suddenly: no more hell, no more pain…how almost overnight, I looked and felt phenomenal…the secret story of how money and drugs declared war against our personal freedom-of-health. Chapter Two The Inner Beauty of the Clean Machine The fundamental secret to vibrant health….the missing link to superior health…energy—the essence of life—and what to do to get more…the ultimate tool for preventing disease and eliminating pain…how to make your inner body a hurt-free zone. Chapter Three The Truth Can Save and Set You Free: What You Absolutely Need to Know To Naturally Remove the Threat of Cancer from Your Life Understanding health—key to cancer safety…how to automatically make cancer an impossibility …why cancer is the easiest malady to prevent… the true nature of cancer…how to figure out cancer…why all cancer is the same…your selfrepairing, self-healing, and self-maintaining body. Chapter Four How to Identify and Escape the Seven Stages of Disease The first stage of disease: enervation…the second stage of disease: toxemia…fever—the classic warning sign of toxemia…third stage of disease: irritation…the fourth stage of disease: inflammation…pain as the body's most effective warning signal…the fifth stage of disease: ulceration…the sixth stage of disease: induration…the seventh stage of disease: cancer…why drugs cane be your worst possible enemy…natural alternatives to drugs. Chapter Five The Greatest Life-Saver on the Planet— Your Own Lymph System Why Mastering This Magnificent Secret of Self-Healing Is The Single Most Important 58 Thing You Can Do to Eliminate Disease and Pain—NOW! Part Two: The CARE Program Why what you don’t clean out, could kill you…why there’s no such thing as an "immune system."…the physiology of the lymph system…why there's nothing to fear from finding a lump somewhere in your body…how to apply CARE—and forever transform your health. Chapter Ten Going to the Heart of CARE How Following Just Three Fail-Safe Principles Can Forever Change the Way You Look and Feel Chapter Six How to Keep Your Breasts and Save Your Beauty Why You Don’t Have to Sign Up As a Disposable Extra On America’s Leading Medical Fright Show Breast cancer—unnecessary fear?…the simple, concrete actions women can take to dramatically reduce their chances of ever developing breast cancer…why prevention, not detection, is the key factor in combating breast cancer…the best ways and best places to find out what is really going on with cancer…why “early detection” is a blind alley…why mammography is a test with the efficiency and accuracy of a coin toss…how traditional medicine has played fast and loose with women's health. Chapter Seven Why Internal Cleaning Is So Vital To Your Health—And What Happens When You Let It Slide Why, when it comes to protecting your health, you are only as safe as your weakest link…the central role of toxemia…why most diseases have the same root cause…typical outcomes of a terrorized lymph system. Chapter Eight Why What You Chose to Eat Will Always Be The Number One Factor Affecting Your Health and Well-Being How I lost 50 pounds of fat, ended my pain and was still able to revel in the joy of eating…the very real dangers of excess animal in your diet…but why vegetarianism is not the only answer for everyone…how saturated fat helps heart disease kill nearly one million Americans per year…the glories of the plant-rich diet…what it takes to neutralize free radicals…how to slash your chances of developing cancer by 50 percent…the China Health Project—revealing secrets of a champion diet…Why American women die 500 percent more often from breast cancer than Chinese women. Chapter Nine The Simple—Yet Vital—Exercise Plan That Could Possibly Save Your Life Are you serious about staying alive?—then at least do this…the best thing—and worst thing—to do when you’re recovering from a heart attack…the 17 major benefits of walking…two more wonderful ways to earn yourself an extra health bonus. Your body’s magnificent power to heal itself…an extraordinary case study in natural healing: how Anne Frahm went from certain death to cancerfree in just five weeks…how to reverse any illness. Chapter Eleven The Single Greatest Key to Vibrant Health The Powerful First Principle: Periodic Monodieting How to practice periodic monodieting for maximum effect…how to liberate your energy and become a daily dynamo of unstoppable vitality… how Dr. Walford’s incredibly simple diet solution doubled the lifespan of mice—why it will work for you too…15 secrets that help you go from average to spectacular…how I was poisoned by Agent Orange and saved my life with monodieting. Chapter Twelve The Second Principle Introducing an Intelligent, Workable, Specific, Simple, Comfortable and Systematic Way to Master Your Consumption of Animal Products Exploding the protein myth…revisiting the case against animal products…how the eating right pyramid was rescued from governmental sabotage… second principle in action: important guidelines for successfully reducing your consumption of animal products…why following the second principle is bound to improve your health. Chapter Thirteen The Third Principle How the Right Use of Your Mental Powers Can Conquer Disease And Even Heal “The Unhealable” The tragically neglected “open secret” for breakthrough healing…how to make positive thinking really work for you…how to ask better questions so you get the answers you really need…finding your power…why emotional selfcare is a crucial ally in your dietary battle against disease and decay…the three CARE principles: your ticket to a life of high spirits, vitality and health. Chapter Fourteen Russian Roulette with Magic Bullets Or A Sensible, Simple, Daily Plan To Control Your Future Health?—The Choice Is Yours How to live in a manner that ensures vibrant health. Discover Discover incredibly incredibly simple simple ways ways to to eliminate eliminate threats threats to to your your well well being being and and enjoy enjoy amazing, amazing, life-long life-long health health • • • • • • Avoid Cancer Live Pain-Free Evade Life-Threatening Conditions Lose Weight and Keep it Off Forever Bounce with New-Found Energy Look and Feel Terrific—All the Time The Fit For Life Solution By Harvey Diamond How to Identify and Successfully EradicateThe Causes of Pain, Fatigue and Disease— NOW! 8 1/2” x 11” Paperback 336 pages over 50 photos and illustrations Item # B19 $24.00 Deluxe Edition of Fit for Life: A New Beginning The ALL-NATURAL, DRUG-FREE WAY to A WONDERFUL LIFE of RADIANT HEALTH “An empowering resource…The Fit For Life Solution really delivers.” —Anthony Robbins “The Fit For Life Solution is a book with answers, a book of real hope…a treasure trove of exciting health information to prevent disease.” —Kenneth M. Kroll, M.D., International College of Surgeons "Bravo! Harvey Diamond has done it again. He clearly reveals how we can take charge of our own health and prevent disease." —Dr. Wayne Dyer, Author of Manifest Your Destiny: The Nine Spiritual Principles for Everything You Want and Your Erroneous Zones "Harvey Diamond gives everyone a powerful tool for the restoration of health. He speaks from a point of view so many of us now want: with an awareness of nature, consciousness and their role in healing. I deeply welcome this book into my own life." —Marianne Williamson, Author of A Return to Love; Woman's Worth; Illuminata Is it possible to enjoy a life without pain? Without disease? Without obesity? With energy to spare? And all-around vibrant health? The answer is a resounding YES! With Harvey Diamond’s revolutionary new book, THE FIT FOR LIFE SOLUTION, a truly healthy life is yours for the taking. Discover the simple but astoundingly effective three-step CARE program to: • • • • • • • Easily lose all the weight you want…forever! Understand and prevent the seven stages of disease Quickly cleanse your lymph system of the toxins that make you sick Avoid all cancers with confidence Always know what’s best to minimize and maximize in your diet Dramatically boost your energy Magically eliminate digestive problems, headaches, and other chronic pain About Harvey Diamond Harvey Diamond is the co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Fit for Life, which has sold over 11 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 32 languages. Internationally known as an author, teacher, and health consultant, he has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV programs including Larry King Live!, Oprah!, Nightline, and Good Morning America. He lives in Sarasota, Florida. 59 “Graham Horwood has created an important and sophisticated work that opens the mysteries of Taiji to the West… I recommend this book to Taiji practitioners of all levels.”—Noah Nunberg, Asian Journal of Martial Arts MARTIAL ARTISTS, HAVE YOU BEEN MISSING THESE ESSENTIAL SECRETS? Discover How to Transform Your Tai Chi from an Empty “Dance” into the World’s Most Effective and Rewarding Martial Art Yes, there are secrets and yes, they have been withheld from you! D espite its reputation as both an astonishingly effective fighting system and a premier path to spiritual enlightenment, have you wondered if Tai Chi is truly that special or deep? Have you been frustrated by less-than-stellar teachers, obscure texts or a Wizard of Oz-like climate of secrecy and wild claims? Is your Tai Chi practice feeling stuck, or, god forbid, stagnant? Are you more than finally ready to taste and touch authentic Tai Chi teachings—and transform your art to a higher level? Then order Graham Horwood’s Tai Chi Chuan and the Code of Life. It’s 100% guaranteed to help you penetrate and take full advantage of those secrets so long withheld from you. Graham Horwood has had the extreme good fortune to study personally since 1977 with Master Chu King Hun, 3rd adopted son of Yang Shou Cheung (the legendary Yang Cheng Fu’s eldest son.) Master Chu King Hun is now considered the world’s leading authority on Family Yang Style Tai Chi. Master Chu told Horwood he was “the first of his students to truly understand the internal principles of Tai Chi.” With an additional background as a Jungian therapist, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and a martial artist with forty years of experience in everything from Judo and Aikido to Hung Gar and Hsing I, Horwood is uniquely qualified to reveal the true inner workings of Tai Chi. Discover how Tai Chi links not only to the I Ching, to Taoism and to Chinese alchemy, but also to the greatest traditions of both Western alchemy and modern science. 60 Learn deeply practical techniques, drawn from the Yang Family’s formerly secret teachings, on how to optimize your energetic and spiritual development. “Popular culture has embraced the image of a Tai Chi class, with its gracefully flowing, synchronized motions, as emblematic of Eastern influence in the West. But Tai Chi is so much more. This book traces the historical and philosophical connections of this ancient Chinese art to Taoism and the I Ching, to Feng Shui, to Jungian psychology, and even to the DNA. It reveals Tai Chi’s deeper mysteries from many angles and perspectives, allowing the reader to delve fully into the study of Tai Chi as more than just a form of exercise. Thoughtful and readable, this book belongs in any aficionado’s library.”— Magical Blend Magazine, November 2002. “Graham Horwood has created an important and sophisticated work that opens the mysteries of Taiji to the West. What is unique in this book is that Horwood uses contemporary findings in DNA research and Jungian psychological techniques in which he is adept to explain in Western terms Taiji’s inner workings. I recommend this book to Taiji practitioners of all levels. For the novice, it provides familiar Western symbolism and modern scientific explanations to the otherwise inscrutable physical and spiritual components of Taiji derived from ancient esoteric Daoist practices. For the advanced practitioner, Horwood provides multi-leveled insights that penetrate the essence of this art form that will enhance his or her practice and understanding of Taiji. Horwood provides all Taiji practitioners with the psychic and physical tools needed to penetrate deeply into and explore the realm of humanity’s collective unconscious from which the art derives.”— Noah Nunberg, Asian Journal of Martial Arts Tai Chi Chuan & the Code of Life Revealing the Deeper Mysteries of China’s Ancient Art for Health and Harmony By Graham Horwood Paperback 8.5” x 11” 180 pages Illustrated #B18 $29.95 Reinvigorate Your Body, Mind and Spirit — by Connecting to the Power, Energy and Strength of Wild Animals T he human animal is the first animal to successfully self-domesticate itself. This self-domestication, for all its apparent benefits in ease of life, has cost us dearly. Our civilized lifestyles often deprive us of the daily exercise and variety of movement crucial to vigor and health. As we age, we become locked in to an increasingly limited range of movement. Our wild vitality is sapped and our responsiveness dulled and diminished. Chinese Qigong masters recognized that one key to breaking out of our selfdomesticated limitations was to identify and absorb the unique “survival powers” of wild animals. The Five Animal Frolics were the result of a major insight by one such Qigong master Hua To — who concluded that the single greatest secret for a healthy life lay in the regular practice of correct movement. Also known as a founding father of Chinese Medicine, Hua To believed that the highest healing skill was to teach others to heal themselves. Hua To set out to create a complete self-healing system that anyone could use to stay healthy or cure themselves of most ailments. Synthesizing and refining a set of exercises based on ancient shamanic and folk healing knowledge, he created The Five Animal Frolics. Practiced individually, the Frolics lend themselves to a quick, five-minute stress-busting session; practiced sequentially, they become an invigorating, if not exhilarating, therapeutic experience. The exercises model movement from the crane, the bear, the monkey, the tiger, and the deer. Each Frolic emphasizes different health benefits and you can choose a specific animal for specific results. Their movements form arcs, spirals, waves and spins, in accord with the Chinese belief that circular movement underlies all mental and subtle energetic activity. To avoid imbalance, the movements are sometimes slow, sometimes fast, and are deliberately designed to alternately strengthen and relax the body. THE CRANE develops balance, lightness, and agility, releases the spine, and relaxes your whole body. It strengthens the heart and lungs. THE BEAR is a great winter exercise. Slow, ponderous, but very strong, it warms the body, strengthens the spleen, and builds vitality. The Bear’s twisting waist movements massage and invigorate the kidneys. The very opposite of the Crane, it is practiced in a low wide stance, building great leg strength. THE MONKEY develops suppleness, agility, and enhances the lungs. The Monkey trains you to remain alert and calm, even as you are outwardly spirited and mobile. THE DEER helps stretch the legs and spine, creating open, expansive movement with very flexible sinews and bones. The Deer embodies grace and relaxation and benefits the liver. THE TIGER, most dynamic of all the animals, builds great strength and power. The Tiger will strengthen your waist, sinews, and digestive system and develop you internally. Five Animal Frolics Qigong “John’s Five Animal Frolics Qigong videos and book combine to present what I consider the most fruitful investment in instructional materials I have ever made.”—Nancy K. Herzberg, Qigong/yoga/stretching instructor, Florence, OR. For High Energy, Vitality and Well Being “Together, the videos and the book put the valuable Five Animal Frolics Qigong in the working knowledge of every martial artist, especially those who don’t have the opportunity to learn them from such a well-qualified instructor as John Du Cane. In short, these videos and book are MUST-HAVES. Get them!”—Steve Condry, Knoxville, TN. Paperback 8.5” x 11” 110 pages 100 photographs By John Du Cane #B12 $29.95 61 Manage Stress, Reduce Pain, Restore Energy, and Heal Yourself with the HIGHLY EFFECTIVE and PLEASURABLE METHODS of Chinese QIGONG "John Du Cane has taken an ancient Chinese system, developed almost 2,000 years ago, and put together a practical and workable Qigong program for today's modern lifestyles. The Five Animals Frolics Qigong system is a series of exercises developed by ancient physicians that combines principles of Chinese medicine with shamanic healing systems. Its goal is to combine a wide range of movement, special breathing patterns, and visualization to awaken the internal power of selfhealing. John Du Cane gives a strong demonstration of The Five Animals Frolics and clear instruction on each of these exercises that is beneficial to those beginning Qigong, as well as to seasoned practitioners." —Rob Bracco, Editorial review for Amazon.com "John Du Cane has created a good tape for learning some basic qigong practices. The instruction is clear and easily understood. The Bliss qigong movements are clearly explained in this tape, and are appropriate for beginners or experienced practitioners. Instructions are given in a logical fashion and at a pace that anyone can follow. His teaching style is gentle and the movements are not difficult to learn. His delivery is even and his manner inspires confidence. Along with teaching the movements, he includes information about qi and how it feels and functions in context of the exercises. There is not a lot of flash and glitter in the presentation, just straightforward instruction as if you were in the room with your teacher. This tape is easily among the best I have seen in the genre, and I would not hesitate to buy more of John Du Cane's works. I find the quality of his instruction to be in the same league as that of Ken Cohen and Chunyi Lin." –Jon Norris, La Grande, OR message, I'm sure most of you are using muscles that don't need to be doing anything. I'm also sure that most of you aren't breathing as deeply as you could be or should be. One thing that I have greatly benefited from over the years is the study of qigong or deep breathing exercises. I have done these exercises while holding still postures and I have done them while moving. It doesn't matter which way you do them, all that matters is that you are moving the energy in your body while staying relaxed and focused. "One of the keys to success in life (as well as combat) is the ability to stay relaxed and focused. Many people struggle with this issue. I have seen people who are great practice athletes, but when competition time arrives, they become their worst nightmare. They get nervous and don't know how to channel this energy. The same is true in almost any endeavor. Recently I watched a NEW set of videotapes, produced by John Du Cane, on what is called "Five Animal Frolics Qigong." I tried to watch the tapes first to get an idea of what was on them, but it didn't take long for me to stop watching and start participating. Watching how gracefully John moved from one position to the next, and how relaxed he was, really got me thinking about how I needed to improve upon this skill as well. I especially liked the set of movements based upon the bear and the monkey. Really awesome. These movements generate POWER, that's for sure. Knowing how to channel nervous energy is a skill, and so is keeping your body relaxed. Even while you're reading this I highly recommend these tapes. Find out how to relax, reduce stress, increase power and energy, eliminate aches and pains, increase circulation and so on." “I want to express my gratitude for the wonderful Qigong DVDs you shared with me. Your work is of a high quality and integrity.” —Master Stephen Co, author, Your Hands Can Heal You See John Du Cane’s Five Animal Frolics Book on Page 61 62 —Matt Furey, author of Combat Conditioning About John Du Cane John began his Qigong and Tai Chi practice in 1975. John has developed and presented national certification training programs for medical qigong. He has presented on qigong at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Martial Arts Fitness Seminar and taught at Northwestern Health Sciences University, the Institute for Renewing Community Leadership, Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Studies, The Open U and Newbridge Wellness Center. “I felt completely CENTERED, FOCUSED, RELAXED and at PEACE, all accompanied by a VIBRANT SENSE OF ENERGY and WELL BEING.” BLISS QIGONG VITALITY QIGONG POWER QIGONG SERENITY QIGONG An instructional guide to Tai Ji Qigong An instructional guide to The Deer Frolics An instructional guide to The Bear/Tiger Frolics An instructional guide to The Crane Frolic 54 minutes DVD #DV008 $29.95 Video #V81 $29.95 43 minutes DVD #DV014 $29.95 Video #V84 $29.95 54 minutes DVD #DV013 $29.95 Video #V83 $29.95 41 minutes DVD #DV012 $29.95 Video #V82 $29.95 Reveals the Yang Family’s personal qigong program, with additional tips on energy accumulation and balancing. The simple movements gently harmonize the qi, promote blood circulation, cultivate vitality, regulate the breath and reduce stress. Discover: • How to use attention to effectively feel and direct qi • How to activate all your major energy centers • How to turn on healing power in your hands • How to clear all the major meridians in your body • How to develop your sensing ability • How to get real results with you standing qigong practice • How to incorporate special internal sounds to deepen your meditation 1. 2. 3. 4. Improve your metabolism, digestion, and elimination—for weight control, more youthful appearance, and higher, longer-lasting energy. Stimulate the lymph system—for a stronger immune system. Be less susceptible to the flu or colds and recover faster if you do get sick. Improve your circulation— alleviating conditions such as arthritis and chronic fatigue. Build stronger, more durable bones. The Monkey develops suppleness, agility, and quick wit, training you to remain alert and calm, even as you are outwardly spirited and mobile. The Deer gives a long stretch to the legs and spine, creating open, expansive movement with very flexible sinews and bones. The Deer embodies grace and relaxation, while regulating the endocrine system. Discover: • How to flood your system with warming qi • How to quickly improve your muscle tone • How to develop strong, mobile joints 5. 6. 7. 8. The Bear is a great winter exercise. Slow, ponderous, but very strong, it warms the body, strengthens the spleen, and builds vitality. The Bear’s twisting waist movements massage and invigorate the kidneys. The Bear is an excellent preventive against osteoporosis, as it is known to fortify the bones. The dynamic Tiger builds great power, strengthening your waist, sinews, and kidneys and developing you internally. Discover: Practice an invigorating mix of dynamic and tranquil postures for self-healing and athletic grace. The Crane develops balance, lightness, and agility, releases the spine, and relaxes your whole body. Discover: • How to absorb qi from the universe for self-healing • How to extend your qi beyond your own body • How to develop balanced leg strength • How to heal your lungs • How to develop power and strength • How to generate coiling energy • How to develop a strong root Give your internal organs an “inner massage”—retarding the aging process by restoring your organs to peak efficiency. Increase oxygen in the tissues— reducing tensions, blocks and stagnant energy. Lubricate the joints—for pain free movement and greater flexibility. Soothe the nervous system—for feelings of contentment and serenity. Order all four of John Du Cane’s DVDs and save $12.00 Qigong Longevity Program: The Bliss, Serenity, Power & Vitality videos Item #DVS004 $107.80 63 Qigong as an Antidote to Download Downtime Angst BY JOHN DU CANE Y esterday, I was downloading some MP3s of teleconferences on how to make your book a #1 bestseller on Amazon. It was near the end of a long day where I had already spent way more time than was good for me staring at the computer screen and punching out endless messages on the keyboard. I found myself getting suddenly impatient at the tedious process of waiting for the darn things to download. Most of them were at least 10 meg files! Okay, so they would only take a few minutes, but I was deep into I Want It When I Want It Which Is NOW mode and was getting quickly tangled up in a mess of irritability and jangled nerves. When in doubt, blame… Hey, wait a second, this is Mr. Qigong! Supposedly sailing along on an endless swell of gentle bliss. What happened? Well, one great thing about regular qigong practice is that you develop a very sensitive early warning device for when you get off kilter. So instead of careening off into rocky rapids, you have the chance to correct yourself and head off into calmer waters. After shaking myself off like a wet dog, I decided to do a short qigong method while I was waiting for each MP3 to download. Easy, I just stood up from my computer hutch, put myself into the initial Crane Breathing posture and performed twelve repetitions of that particular method. I repeated this for the next three downloads... using the next three methods from the Crane Frolic. The result was predictable: I calmed down, relaxed, my tension and irritability disappeared and I had generally reclaimed myself from my imminent Pain Body attack. I wasn’t looking to blame anyone anymore. I felt too good. Easy as that. Of course, the more qigong you’ve done in the past on a regular basis, the faster this calming effect kicks in. Here is a description of the initial Crane Breathing technique. You can find more detail plus photographs on this and other similar 64 methods in my Five Animal Frolics Qigong book or you can learn every nuance and get it totally right, from my Serenity Qigong DVD. Crane Breathing Initial postural alignment: 1. Seek to reduce the impact of gravity on your body to minimize tension and maximize a relaxed flow of energy through your system. 2. Stand with the heels touching and your feet angled out at 45 degrees. 3. Distribute your weight equally across the whole of the foot. 4. Bend the knees slightly. 5. Tuck the hips under. 6. Relax the lower dantien or abdomen area. 7. Relax the upper chest and lower your shoulders. 8. Pull your chin in slightly and extend your head up, elongating and opening up your cervical vertebrae. 9. Place your tongue lightly against the roof of the mouth. 10. Maintain a level gaze with a soft, 180-degree focus. 11. Put the hint of a smile on your face and allow the smile to permeate your whole body. Movement: Place the palms facing up at lower stomach level, just off the body and slightly apart from each other. Move the palms up the front of the chest to the level of the heart region, then back down to the lower stomach. Inhale on the upward movement, exhale on the downward movement. Attention: Move your attention up the spine as the hands rise and move the attention down the spine as the hands descend. This article first appeared as one of John’s weekly Qigong blog entries on the www.dragondoor.com home page. A new entry appears every Monday morning. Visit our site to read all of John’s blog entries and register to receive the blogs automatically by email. “QIGONG WARM-UP PROGRAM JUMP STARTS YOUR DAY…REDUCES STRESS …GIVES YOU RELAXED ENERGY AND PAIN-FREE JOINTS” I magine: you buy a beautiful car—but you never change the oil, never pump the tires, never charge the battery, never fix the wiring, never clean the interior, never change the fluids, never change the air filter and turn the motor over once in a blue moon. In no time, your gorgeous vehicle has become a dysfunctional piece of junk. You’ve inherited a body that deserves and needs an even greater level of maintenance, care and respect. Yet how are you treating your body on a daily basis? • Are your joints supple and well-oiled—for easy, flexible and pain-free movement? • Does the blood pump through your veins with an invigorating, plentiful supply of fresh oxygen—for high performance and long-lasting energy? • Are your bioelectrical circuits at full charge—so you can surge through your day with steady power? • Is your nervous system relaxed, yet primed—to respond to any stress with an easy confidence? • Are you cleansing yourself of life-killing toxins—so you feel refreshed and serene all day long? If not, then John Du Cane’s Qigong Recharge provides you with a fast-start solution—a daily program of qigong and joint techniques to quickly release tension, enhance mobility and improve energy. Qigong Recharge is perfect as a stand-alone practice or as an energizing warm-up before martial arts, qigong or athletic workouts. What You Get with John Du Cane’s Qigong Recharge • Loosen tight muscles—for smoother, cat-like movement • Combat “computer-hunch” by releasing your neck and shoulders • How to activate the lymph system—for healthy, regular, selfcleansing • How to give your vital organs an internal “self-massage” • Discover how to open your energy floodgates • How to use tapping to enliven qi • Achieve greater flexibility through joint mobility exercises • Improve your endurance • Learn how to cultivate and enhance your life energy • Counter the energy-sapping impact of the stress response • Discover how the Wall Squat can create a healing power surge for your body • Build greater leg strength • Restore kidney function—to • How to use spiralic movements to increase energy flow enhance your vitality and mental acuity • How to reduce the tension in your hands and wrists • Master the skill of controlling • How to calm down at a moment’s notice • Discover how to induce • Discover the little-known secret of “qi-hydraulics” energy with your attention spiraling energy in your body • How to slow down your breath for more dynamic health • How to create a rich, free flowing stream of oxygenated blood that cleanses and nourishes every cell in your body • How to stay open and relaxed when you move—a vital skill for athletes and martial artists alike • How to generate coiling energy • Understand and know how to utilize the “gyroscope” principle for central energy generation • Develop strong healing energy in your palms • Discover the secret of “qichurning”—for greater energy and well being • Remove cramps and fatigue after a hard day’s work John Du Cane’s Qigong Recharge A Daily Practice to Release, Relax and Rejuvenate (Includes Whole Body Recharge— The Wall Squat, Endurance Activator, Spiralic Qigong, Coiling Recharge and other classics.) Qigong Recharge manual 8.5 x 11 binder 64 pages 115 photographs #B29 $29.95 Qigong Recharge DVD Running time: 51 minutes #DV018 $34.95 Qigong Recharge Kit (manual plus DVD) #KDVB29 $59.95 65 CONFESSIONS OF A RENEGADE TRAINER HOW A FORMER “BAD-HABIT BOY”, BARE-KNUCKLE BOUNCER AND PRO-WRESTLER WACKED HIS PAST AND RE-ENGINEERED HIS LIFE — WITH ESOTERIC QIGONG AND RUSSIAN KETTLEBELLS A REVEALING CHAT WITH RON MORRIS, RKC, COMBAT APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST Ron Morris: I used to be a musician, when I was a kid. I used to travel the country from the age of 15 to 18. I was a drummer, and I picked up a lot of bad habits. When I was about 21 or 22, I got off the road and I looked like I was 92, from all the partying I did. So I thought, “Well, weights…I’ll lift weights.” This was probably about 1980. I liked weights because nobody thought that you should lift them at the time, if you can imagine. Doctors said don’t lift weights, and everybody said, “You’ll turn to fat! You’ll turn thirty years old and it’s all going to go to fat and you’ll be done.” So that, of course, attracted me immediately! I got real heavily into power lifting. I put on a lot of size, a lot of strength. I became one of the first guys to get into the 500-lb. bench press in Minnesota, had a 740-lb. squat, and shrugged 1000 pounds. And back in that time, those were pretty big numbers. It was a big deal. I met a whole bunch of professional wrestlers, because I was bouncing to make a living, and they sponsored me to go through professional wrestling camp, the Road Warriors. Hog and Animal. Then I went through Brad Rheingans’ camp. He was actually a real wrestler, an Olympic wrestler. Somewhere along the line a couple of things happened. My dad died of 66 heart disease and stress. Looking back, this is all hindsight, but it was due to stress-related anger and the like. So when anybody close to you dies, that’s usually a pretty big wake-up call. I was 32 years old. I said, “That’s it!” It was time to clean up my act and pursue this life of health. And get away from the lifestyle and the environment that I had been in, because it was a pretty heavy-duty environment. D.D.: And being in the wrestling world didn’t take you away from that? R.M: No. You have to remember that the professional wrestlers I was meeting were all…and no specific names here, but everybody was into partying, if you know what I mean. Most of the martial arts badass guys showing me all of my stuff—also involved with that junk. The partying became a big part of it. So I’m getting this fabulous education, but I was in a fog. And you come to a point where you know that it’s time to get on—pick a tack and go for it. I thought, “I want to be healthy. I want to look good when I’m older. I want to wake up feeling that there’s a reason to get out of bed in the morning.” Here’s how it evolved. I started helping a couple of people, acting as a personal trainer. I helped them and they changed. They felt better about themselves and it was just like a lightening bolt. Boom! I get this, this is what I do. I have women in my clientele that are so overweight and embarrassed, you can’t imagine. Six months later they are wearing makeup and biking and they are living their lives again. I can’t tell you how wonderful that makes you feel. I mean, I feel like I’ve got a real purpose. And the next big level was meeting John Du Cane… John is one of two people that have affected my life. One was a pretty heavy-duty gangster about 20 years ago, and I got sucked into that world. He was “the man.” And, unfortunately I learned all the best things from him. [Laughter] So swing the pendulum the other way and boom! You get your priorities right. John Du Cane shows up in my life. And I did this qigong class at the Open University that I’ll never forget. It was great! That was a pivotal day for me. This guy here has changed my life! I mean, you can’t say that about many people you meet. John has got a manner. John’s lived everything that he’s told me. I have no gifts except two. One of them is I can tell who’s genuine and who’s fake. And, you don’t run into very many genuine people. And, the minute I shook his hand, I knew that this guy was for real. It means a lot. He changed my life! How do you repay that? You repay it by showing up and learning everything that this guy’s got to say. Discount nothing, hear everything. In turn, that woke me up to becoming a better trainer with my crew. Nobody knows how to breathe. Everybody wants to do everything else. They want to run the super computer, but they don’t want any guts in it. So enter qigong, enter John, and then kettlebells, suggested to me by John. And since he has all my respect, I said, “Okay. Kettlebells.” When you look at kettlebell training, it seems like a bunch of guys trying to be tough. And I’ve been down that road. More importantly though, I was becoming bored. Weight lifting is boring. Weight gyms are boring. More importantly, the people who are in them suck. They are boring, shallow, insecure people who are writhing with misery and self-loathing and hate. That’s all a bad vibe. It’s become crystal clear in the last six months to me what a good atmosphere is. At John’s class, sometimes we have classes with the right combination of people and it’s just a gas. You don’t want to leave. I’m dog-tired, but I don’t want to go, it just feels so good. You walk into a gym and it’s like, “Yuck!” It’s thick with stupidity. I have no patience for stupidity. Dumbness is one thing. Stupidity is another. Dumb is an accident, stupid is on purpose. If I would have known about kettlebells twenty years ago, I’d be running that show out there. Because I believe in them that much! KBs have changed my whole perspective on how I feel physically. I’m a very physical guy. I’m in shape and I can hammer stuff out. I can still pull fours [400-pound dead lifts]. I only weigh 171 pounds. In palm dead lifts, I use no belt, no wraps, no nothing, benching 320 lbs. But KBs are like, “Wow!” It makes you feel internally different. Much like qigong, especially Iron Shirt qigong, which is what we are studying right now. There’s a density to kettlebell training that manifests itself and makes you want to pursue it more. I know real and I know fake. This is real. The philosophy is real. The concept is real. I proved it on myself first. I train a lot of women ranging from about 35 to about 65. And I introduced the kettlebells to clients right after John introduced them to me. Not teaching anything out of my realm—just the swings. And I’ll tell you what, every one of them can’t wait to come see me, because they think this is just the coolest, most effective thing that they’ve felt. I’ve become a new trainer. Since I met John and now here at the RKC, I feel reborn, because I was really looking for something else. I’d run my course. People were weighing me down. I’m rejuvenated by this. I am excited about it. D.D.: How is qigong affecting your movement? Will you talk about that for a moment? R.M: Yes. I was doing the classic thing that everybody does in holding your breath up high and tightening the body. Bad habits that have created themselves over a period of time. When I met John, I got right back to the basics again. Just learning how to breathe and do calm, slow, movements. Getting that, I guess it’s kind of a spirituality. And I’m not talking about God or anything. I’m talking about the spirit of goodness in breathing, in calming down, and in what I had found after not many sessions at all, because I really got into it quick with him. I stayed away from the heavy bag, because I wanted to dive into his world. One day, I walked by a heavy bag, and I did a side kick, and whoosh: it floated. It was like, “Wow!” It felt the way it should feel. And then being the Einstein that I am, I put two and two together and I wanted to drive even deeper into this. Qigong with John just opened up everything I already knew or I thought I knew. I’m a calmer person. I’m a more patient person. I’m a nicer person. Because there is this expanse out there that is phenomenal. He shows us a thing on oscillations, where we breathe in through one hand and out the other, and then you get this energy going. People hear that and they are like, “Oh, brother! New age crap!” But the first time that it happened to me, it was so malleable. It was so physical. It was like somebody was just touching my hand, and that was it, you know you are over the edge. What is that saying? It’s saying that there’s a vast universe out there that we don’t know a damn thing about. Turn off Oprah. Throw People Magazine away. Get outside and start using your body and your brain again. If you’ve ever stared at dead people, that’s a reality check everyone should get, because they ain’t coming back. All their days are gone, their chance to do anything is gone. People just don’t understand that. You stare at a dead person, and that’s it. The door is shut. And you truly don’t know when it will happen. I’m not saying be morbid about it, but have a sense of urgency about your life. Be here! I could have said, “Oh, yeah, I’ll go to the next RKC.” How much further would I be behind? I’m frustrated that I didn’t meet John and Pavel sooner. I think, “Gee, where would I be?” But that’s irrelevant. I’m here now. Ron Morris, RKC COmbat Applications Specialist runs a personal training studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and incorporates KBs and qigong into his clients’ workouts. This conversation with Ron Morris took place at the October 2004 RKC. Call (651) 329-0450 for more information and visit www.usakettlebells.com 67 Svetlana RUSSIAN NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM SWIMMER AND FORMER DANCER SVETLANA WRITTLE MOVES TO ENGLAND — AND DISCOVERS THE SHAPECHANGING POWER AND STRENGTH- GENERATING BENEFITS OF THE KETTLEBELL Dragon Door: I used to be a musician, when I was a kid. I used to travel the country from the age of 15 to 18. I was a Dragon Door: Tell me how you got into athletics, and what your achievements have been. Svetlana Writtle: It started when I was six years old, in Russia. I tried lots of different sports, but I ended up swimming. I swam for about 16 years. From there I had about three years on the National Junior Team. I mastered the sport of swimming. I did Freestyle and Butterfly, my favorite strokes. I eventually gave up swimming, and because my big passion was dancing, I went into dancing. I did it for more than three years. D.D.: Professionally? S.W..: Sort of. It was a theatre, but it was more like pantomime mixed with modern ballet. Later, I wanted to become an aerobic instructor and teach gym exercises. After swimming, my posture wasn't right; a lot of things weren't right. D.D.: From swimming? S.W.: Yes, from swimming. All swimmers are very slouchy. When I learned dancing skills, I had a very good teacher who helped me to straighten up. Later I began teaching dance to children and I started to teach some aerobics at the same time. I got qualified as an aerobic instructor in Russia. I also have two university degrees: Electrical Engineering and Physical Education. We did a session yesterday and you’re supposed to be exhausted, but for some reason I felt like I was flying. By the age of 23 I left my country and went to Switzerland, to learn the language and teach there. I spent about five years teaching aerobics, doing gym routines, coaching and training swimmers. I did some personal training as well. I worked for a Swiss-American family, and tried to learn some English. Soon after that, I moved to London and within a year I completed the YMCA Personal Trainer Award. It has eight different qualifications including nutrition, sports conditioning, client appraisal and gym training level three. It was very interesting. I did a core stability course as well. I started to work as a personal trainer in London and I have been doing that for the past 4 years. I was self-employed, but recently I found a job in one of the sport clubs in London. I like to train different people, see how they progress, encourage and motivate them. I enjoy building up appropriate programs for each individual. I like to keep my knowledge up to date and get to know new things in the training industry—it’s very important if you want to succeed. I’m getting good experience at Holmes Place, where I now work, and some new knowledge of fitness training. They do put you through some tests, so it’s good to refresh your memory from previous experience. 68 Writtle D.D.: It gives you a base. S.W.: Yes, it does. Then about six months ago, I heard from a friend of mine that such a thing as a Russian kettlebell exists and you can use it as a part of your fitness training. Being Russian myself and a fitness-addicted person, I was very interested, of course. D.D.: So it was through a friend that you learned about kettlebells? S.W.: Yes. This person lived in America for a while and trained with a kettlebell instructor. He was very happy about his achievements, saying that his body shape had changed a lot. He came back with remarkable faith, and his general state of health has improved greatly. This was great and I became very interested. I went back home and searched on the web to find a Russian kettlebell site. I emailed Dragon Door first and Dennis Armstrong replied back to me. D.D.: How do kettlebells compare to the other kinds of strength training and conditioning you’ve done? What is special about them? S.W.: Well first of all, they’re different. Secondly, it doesn't take much space to keep KBs. Thirdly, it’s more fun to work out with the kettlebells than with weights (as you do get bored sometimes), and you see greater results. Dennis [Armstrong] said that you have English RKC instructors. I found their addresses on the Dragon Door website. I found Jonathan Lewis, who was closest to me. I called him and asked to meet him, and we had a talk and he showed me a few things with the kettlebells. I loved it. I think that a big future lies in them, and lots of people would be interested to train with kettlebells. My body shape changed, endurance increased, I gained muscle mass and I like the way I look now. So I am very happy about it. Kettlebells give you an enormous amount of energy. I don't feel tired after training, I feel different. We did a session yesterday and you’re supposed to be exhausted, but for some reason I felt like I was flying. D.D.: Excellent! So what are you hoping to do with this in England? My body shape changed, endurance increased, I gained muscle mass and I like the way I look now. Kettlebells give you an enormous amount of energy. S.W.: Hopefully this will help me to develop as a kettlebell instructor in London. And I definitely want to concentrate on kettlebell training. I think that I can be a role model for Russian kettlebells as I’m Russian myself. Why not? D.D.: As a woman, do you see kettlebellss having anything to offer specifically to females? S.W.: Oh, yeah! Definitely! I think the problem for women normally lies below their stomachs. Stomach, legs and bottom. Exercises with kettlebells cover all these three parts and by doing these exercises myself, I know how quick you can get the results. D.D.: So you get more defined glutes… S.W.: Yes, yes, and then your stomach will go. You don’t have to do special exercises, like crunches, to wear it away. I think that perhaps now I’m stronger than I have ever been. That’s a fantastic thing. D.D.: Great! What’s your experience been here at the RKC certification? S.W.: I was looking forward to it when I was in England. I had such a wonderful feeling that it was going to be great! I am so glad that I flew nine hours to be here. I am happy! [Laughter] Svetlana Writtle, RKC lives in London, England. To arrange to train kettlebells with Svetlana contact her at s.writtle@btopenworld.com 69 “Injuries Flee the Scene of the Crime— When Attacked by Pavel’s Fast-Response, Rescue-Your-Own-Body Super Joints System “For 25 years, I have been totally unable to do any kind of chest press because of an impingement in my left shoulder, which always led to severe pain the day after doing any kind of pressing. 3 weeks of daily practicing of all the shoulder joint mobility drills in Super Joints (along with careful observation of 'healthy shoulder' pressing techniques learned on this forum) ... and I was able to bench 5X5 55 lb dumbbells last week totally pain free! Pain free after 25 years is truly great stuff.”—TOOSTEEP, dragondoor.com forum “When I started at my job a couple of months ago, I had been talking to one of the cooks one night and told her about mobility training. I explained the details of it and, after teaching her how to squat properly, didn't mention it again. But just recently I found out that she's been keeping up with her mobility training and it's worked wonders. She's had such bad knees that she's had to wear knee braces for twenty years and she hasn't had to wear them due to her improved joint health. There are similar stories coming from the servers with bad backs after I taught them about decompression hangs with three plane movements.”—JOSEF, dragondoor.com forum “About 4 years ago at the insistence of our Head Performance Training Coach John Taylor, we changed our warm up to a stand up dynamic routine. Coach Taylor found numerous research articles showing an 8 to 22% decrease in power, with no reduction in injuries using static stretching. Some studies stated that the power deficit can last up to 90 minutes. When I first purchased the book Super Joints 2 years ago, I noticed that the routine is very similar to the one that we use at New Mexico State University, our “Head to Toe” routine takes roughly 8 minutes to complete and all the sports that we work with use it. I keep track of our injuries and in the 4 years that we have used the “Head to Toe” routine our athletes have not encountered a higher rate of injuries than during my first 2 years at NMSU when we used a different one.”—TONY MCCLURE, Assistant Performance Training Coach, New Mexico State University “Three days after I initially fractured my elbow I started doing Super Joints and within two weeks I had full mobility back in my 70 right arm. I was supposed to attend Occupational Therapy, but when I got there they were so shocked and amazed at my progress that they sent me home. I guess they’ve never seen someone regain their mobility so fast.”—TONYA EHLEBRACHT, US Army “Super Joints is excellent. It is also saving me a good deal of money. I’ve had to lay off of heavy squatting and deadlifting because of a back injury. My active release therapist/chiro is amazed at how quickly I am making progress—my alignment doesn’t return to crap after an adjustment. I credit the progress mainly to Super Joints.” From: CHRIS M., 2003-05-18 “I am 58 and need to keep my joints oiled. I have had very good results with Super Joints My knees and elbows don’t ache anymore.” From: SEEAHILL, 2002-11-07 “I already feel “younger.” I’m also noticing an ability to better withstand rolling in Jiu Jitsu class—I don’t have to tap quite as often, even in bad positions. Super Joints is a fantastic, fantastic book. I think that everyone should do Super Joints.” From: DAN MCVICKER, RKC, 2003-05-18 “As the owner of a sixty-four year old body and as the practitioner of a sedentary job, I have lost some range of motion. The movements in this book have helped me in several ways: 1) Improved the range of rotation of my head. 2) Improved the movement and reduced the pain in the right shoulder injured several years ago. 3) Helped alleviate tension in the neck and traps where I tend to carry stress. 4) Improved my posture helping me look less like a wizened old man.” —COMRADE FLOYD, Amazon.com “Super Joints = Super ROM. Get the book and you’ll realize what you’ve been missing by just stretching. It’s more about maintaining the youthful fluidity of the joints which is lost through age and or abuse.” From: LARRY DIBBLE, 2002-05-09 “The Do-It-Now, Fast-Start, Get-Up-and-Go, Jump-into-Action Bible for HIGH PERFORMANCE and LONGER LIFE” You have a choice in life. You can sputter and stumble and creak your way along in a process of painful, slow decline—or you can take charge of your health and become a human dynamo. And there is no better way to insure a long, pain-free life than performing the right daily combination of joint mobility and strength-flexibility exercises. In Super Joints, Russian fitness expert Pavel Tsatsouline shows you exactly how to quickly achieve and maintain peak joint health—and then use it to improve every aspect of your physical performance. Only the foolish would deliberately ignore the life-saving and lifeenhancing advice Pavel offers in Super Joints. Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to a life of increasing pain, degeneration and decrepitude? But for an athlete, a dancer, a martial artist or any serious performer, Super Joints could spell the difference between greatness and mediocrity. Discover: • The twenty-eight most valuable drills for youthful joints and a stronger stretch • How to save your joints and prevent or reduce arthritis • The one-stop care-shop for your inner Tin Man—how to give your nervous system a tune up, your joints a lube-job and your energy a recharge • What it takes to go from cruise control to full throttle: The One Thousand Moves Morning Recharge— Amosov’s “bigger bang” calisthenics complex for achieving heaven-on earth in 25 minutes • How to make your body feel better than you can remember—active flexibility fosporting prowess and fewer injuries • The amazing Pink Panther technique that may add a couple of feet to your stretch the first time you do it Super Joints Russian Longevity Secrets for Pain-Free Movement, Maximum Mobility & Flexible Strength Book By Pavel Tsatsouline Paperback 130 pages 8.5” x 11” Over 100 photos and illustrations #B16 $34.95 COMPANION VIDEO AND DVD give you dynamic detail on how to exactly master every technique in Pavel’s Super Joints book Super Joints Video and DVD With Pavel Tsatsouline Running Time 33 minutes Video #V108 $24.95 DVD #DV003 $24.95 71 What is Joint Mobility Training Going to Do For Me? BY NATHANAEL MORRISON, SENIOR RKC J oint mobility training is a fairly new concept to North Americans. Most people mistakenly equate it with stretching and flexibility. While JM training indeed does improve one’s range of motion, it is only a part of the story. Simply put, joint mobility training is the active pursuit of joint health through movement. It is generally accepted that as we age, the cartilage in our joints degenerates, as does our ability to move them in a full range of motion with ease. In our society arthritis and joint degeneration are simply accepted as the price we pay for aging. Of course many doctors know this is not necessarily the case, but nonetheless most people are in the dark on this matter. Age is not the enemy here. We are! As we age, we tend to slow down for a variety of reasons. In today’s world, with technology being what it is, we as a society are becoming more sedentary. Interestingly enough, we are seeing joint related problems in much younger people these days. Normally the treatment of choice is painkillers and patients are told to take it easy for a while. The problem is, they get worse from inactivity! Minerals get deposited on the joint surfaces, much like rust on an old hinge. Anatomically and physiologically here is what’s going on: The joints that allow movement are lined with cartilage. This waxy looking substance protects the joints and allows for shock absorption during activity. But unlike all other cellular structures in the body, its blood supply is highly limited. The capillaries in cartilage only enter the very edge of any cartilaginous mass. This means that blood does not deliver oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the tissue! Instead, the body secretes a fluid called synovial fluid, which carries oxygen and nutrients to the cartilage and lubricates the joint. As we get older though, the joint become a dumping ground for all sorts of toxins and excess material. This can lead to degenerative joint disease processes and joint infections. Lack of movement and poor nutrition accelerate this dumping ground 72 effect. (One must not be ignorant of what is going on nutritionally in regards to joint health. Make sure to research this subject thoroughly.) Many people think that supplementing with glucosamine, chondriotin, and MSM is all they have to do to have healthy joints. But this is not enough. These compounds can indeed help in certain cases but they also require movement to stimulate the healing process. If you are in a special operations unit or you are an athlete that really takes a pounding, these supplements will certainly help your cartilage remain healthy and prevent erosion. But without movement you may as well take nothing! Movement causes a pumping action in the tissues promoting and speeding circulation. This naturally circulates both oxygen and essential nutrients to the tissues, reverses degeneration and actually assists in the regrowth of cartilage if the right nutrients are in the diet. The joint surfaces are ground smooth again over the course of several months, aided by the release of synovial fluid. This synovial fluid is produced and released into the joint’s potential space in proportion with the amount of movement, hydration, and mineral balance of the blood and tissues. In Russia, these benefits are achieved by moving the synovial joints through their full range of motion daily for a minimum number of repetitions for the person’s age and sometimes exceeding 200 repetitions for joints that have sustained injury to the cartilage surfaces. This method ensures a daily supply of nutrients to prevent any further degeneration. When accompanied by a diet high in saturated fats and soup stocks made from whole bones with connective tissue, recovery time is very short. In many native diets, the natural elements for rebuilding are plentiful and the bioavailability of the nutrients is maximized. It is movement alone that stimulates the release of synovial fluid and it is movement that keeps the cartilage surfaces free of contaminants. Remember the waste that leaks into the joint? Think of it as rust on a hinge. If every day, you open a door all the way, rust will not have the opportunity to build up on the movement surfaces of the hinge. If you have a rusted hinge, you can keep moving it back and forth and soon enough it will work just fine again, especially with a little WD-40. Your joints are no different! They are exactly like the hinges on an old barn door, exposed to the elements day and night. Comrades, do not go quietly into the night! Almost everyone can regain their full range of motion and restore their joint health, no matter how old you are. Of course, some people will have permanent damage and will have to work around that. But most will be able to regain the mobility they had as teenagers. I have seen 70 year-old men move like cats with amazing grace and speed. Most people will see immediate results from just a short daily routine of moving all the joints through their full range of motion. Relieve Chronic Pain with Joint Mobility Movement of the joints is highly effective at breaking the chronic pain cycle characterized by the use of pain medications in people with arthritis and related disorders. Energize with JM Exercises Joint health is not the only benefit of JM training. The entire nervous system is stimulated as the body moves through various drills. The most profound effect is a caffeine-like awakening of the body, which is why many Russians refer to a joint mobility routine as their ‘morning recharge’. Many of us wake in the morning feeling like a truck hit us. Ignoring the root causes of this, doing a joint mobility routine for 10-20 minutes will leave you energized and chomping at the bit. Say goodbye to your morning cup of coffee! I can tell you, it does not have to be morning to get these benefits though. If you need to stay awake during the late hours of the night, joint mobility will help you stay alert. No More Warm-Ups! When joint mobility drills are performed consistently, the muscles and nerves maintain a high state of readiness making it possible to go from a deep sleep to running and fighting instantly. This is of obvious benefit to any military or law enforcement member. Fortunately for us, the body adapts to and remembers everything for a little while. Perhaps you miss a day or two. No problem! Your nervous system will still energize and wake up in anticipation of activity. This phenomenon also keeps the body at a higher state of readiness through the sleeping hours or when you are still for long periods. This is especially useful to soldiers who do not have the luxury of standing up on the battlefield to do a series of drills. Joint mobility will keep his system primed and ready if he suddenly needs to fight or bug out during times of rest. Improve Your Flexibility Increased flexibility is an added side benefit of joint mobility training. Flexibility is directly linked to the mind’s perception of safe movement. If moving a joint through the full range of motion causes pain, the body will automatically try to restrict that movement. But as your body reverses the damage done, the perception changes and you will experience greater flexibility. How convenient! ‘acting up’, simply do one of the drills that targets it. For operators, you can never do enough Squats and Cossack stretches through out the day. If you find yourself on a long flight, there is ample space on the airplane to do some joint mobility drills. The stewardess will understand and you will feel better for it. I try to get up every hour and do something during the flight. You will thank me the next time you find yourself on an 18-hour flight to the Middle East. Comrades, do not go quietly into the night! Fight back and win with joint mobility! The Drills There are many drills you can use in your joint mobility routine. Your two best sources are the book and video Super Joints by Pavel Tsatsouline. They are required reading and viewing! These resources will give you the tools you need to build a dynamite routine to maintain healthy joints. Rehab with JM As Strength Medicine goes, there is perhaps no better system of rehabilitation for any joint injury or preventative medicine for the joints and muscles. We have discussed why JM is great for prevention. In the arena of rehabilitation, JM drills are excellent for everything from cartilage tears to chronic degeneration, inflammation, and general stiffness. Of course following such conditions you have to start slow and small but gradually the range of motion will return. My own mother is a good example. Several years ago she tore her medial meniscus and refused to see a doctor. Northeastern Vermonters are stubborn like that. Instead she simply continued on with life and tested her range of motion all day every day while performing daily activities. In the end, two years later, she had full range of motion and full function back. No supplements, no doctors, and a classic MM tear. Even if you get cut on, JM is your most powerful rehabilitation tool for joint related ailments. My mother’s example notwithstanding, if you intend to use JM for rehab, do it under your doctor’s supervision. Feel Young with Joint Mobility If during the day you feel a particular joint SSgt. Nate Morrison, Sr. RKC is a member of the U.S. Air Force’s elite rescue and recovery unit known as Pararescue. He has participated in every contingency operation in the last decade, including operation Enduring Freedom, and spearheaded the invasion of Iraq. SSgt. Morrison is a nationally certified Paramedic and a graduate of the US Army’s Special Forces Medical Sergeants Course. He specializes in trauma medicine and emergency field surgery as well as long-term health care and preventative medicine in the military environment. Nate helps special operations units to quickly rehabilitate musculo-skeletal and orthopedic injuries, usually recovering a full range of motion and full strength in three weeks or less, even when conventional physical therapy has failed. He also consults M.D.s and P.T.s. Subscribe to Morrison’s online Military Fitness Magazine at www.milfitmag.com. 73 NEW FROM PAVEL! See Page 19 for an exclusive excerpt! “Beyond Bodybuilding is a treasure chest of strength training secrets.” —Larry Scott, first Mr. Olympia “Congratulations ! You have done it again Pavel. Beyond Bodybuilding is a treasure chest of strength training secrets. I love reading your stuff. Your books are never a rehashed... dashed out... serving of the same old thing or even close to it. It's truly ‘arm pit soaking’, exciting stuff. You are a credit to the game Pavel. I am better for having known you.” —LARRY SCOTT, Author of Loaded Guns, former Mr. America, Mr. Universe and the first Mr. Olympia "I thoroughly enjoyed Beyond Bodybuilding. Every few pages, at least, your book reveals another clever kick-ass, air tight, super-intense training modality that I hadn’t even considered in my own investigative research as a muscle writer. Talk about thinking many moves ahead of us other writers, training modality wise! Beyond Bodybuilding builds the physique page by page."—DENNIS B. WEIS, Author of Mass!, Raw Muscle! and Anabolic Muscle Mass, MuscleMag Int'l Columnist “Thanks for you recent contribution to the empire of muscle and might. Very interesting and valuable.”—DAVE DRAPER, Author Brother Iron, Sister Steel, former Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. World If you are serious about physical renovation and want a new approach to progressive resistance training, then purchase Beyond Bodybuilding.”— MARTY GALLAGHER, former washingtonpost.com columnist, five-time world master powerlifting champion, USA co-coach, 1991 world powerlifting team champions Beyond Bodybuilding Muscle and Strength Training Secrets for The Renaissance Man By Pavel 8.5 x 11 Paperback 365 pages • 255 Photographs 38 workout charts #B31 $49.95 74 "When I first received Beyond Bodybuilding, I blocked out an entire day so I'd have enough time and undivided attention to savor its contents... If you think you've already seen everything Pavel has to offer, this book will prove you wrong. Don't make me come over there — get over to dragondoor.com and get your copy today!"—CHARLES STALEY, creator of the Escalating Density Training (EDT) system. “Beyond Bodybuilding covers just about any physical topic you could think of. It’s one of those books that will speed you toward your goals by giving you the knowledge to remove training obstacles that it would take you forever to learn how to do on your own. This is a book I wish I would’ve had when I started training. Pavel is one of those few people who can really deal in the science-meets-real world training area. I would jump on it if I were you. You really need this book.”—BUD JEFFRIES, Author of How to Squat 900lbs. “I wholeheartedly recommend Beyond Bodybuilding: I view it as a summation of the accumulated knowledge Pavel Tsatsouline has gathered to this point in his career. Every body part is covered and a blueprint provided for how to build and strengthen every conceivable muscular target. The detail and description is tremendous. The mix between text and photos is spot on; the clarity of the exercise description leaves nothing to the imagination. “Every aspect of training is covered in Pavel’s Beyond Bodybuilding from flexibility to all types of strength development, U.S.M.C. training, R.K.T. training tips from many of the greatest strength experts around the world, plus a glossary of exercises to fit everyone’s needs. I salute Pavel and Beyond Bodybuilding.”—LOUIE SIMMONS, Westside Barbell “I received my copy of Beyond Bodybuilding a few days ago and have not been able to put it down. I am simply overwhelmed with the amount of great information in this book. This is not coming from some novice trainee either. I have been strength training for thirteen years and I have read a ton of books on training. Some of my favorites include: Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubick, Brawn by Stuart McRobert, The Poliquin Principles, Super Squats, by Randall Strossen and a ton of others. Without any reservation, I state emphatically that Beyond Bodybuilding is the best book that I have ever read on training. Not just bodybuilding, but any form of strength training. Why? No other book contains such a dense combination of training regimens, exercises, training theory, and performance tips.”— MIKE MAHLER, author of The Kettlebell Solution for Size and Strength Discover New Keys to Superior Athletic Achievement I n his strength books Pavel emphasizes the importance of learning to maximally tense the muscles. Because tension IS strength. But strength/ tension is only half of the total performance package. The other half is relaxation. The body of a karate expert will freeze in total tension at the moment of impact, but will remain totally loose before and after. Mastery of relaxation is the hallmark of an elite athlete. Soviet scientists discovered that the higher the athlete’s level, the quicker he can relax his muscles. The Soviets observed an 800% difference between novices and Olympians. Their conclusion: total control of tension = elite performance. If you can master your muscular tension, a new dimension of athletic excellence opens to you. New achievements. New heights of performance. Some genetically-endowed superstars seem to possess this ability from birth. But according to former Soviet Special Forces trainer, Pavel, a SKILL–SET is available that can transform anyone’s current physical limitations. Now, for the first time, Pavel reveals these little known Soviet performance secrets, so you too can become the master of your body — not its victim. From years of research and experience, Pavel has selected these Fast & Loose techniques as the best-of-the-best for practical and quick results. Regular practice of these skills can help remove the false brakes within your body and open you up to a new freedom of movement and vitality. Enjoy the pride and pleasure of being on top of your game, day in, day out when you’re Fast & Loose! “What I really like about Fast & Loose is that it incorporates a lot of dynamic stretching into the routines, which was missing from Relax into Stretch… The relaxation techniques are very good and were unique to me… it's definitely worth owning, and combined with Super Joints and Relax into Stretch makes a great flexibility program. Definitely going to use the relaxation drills during and after kettlebell training.” —Jon Frost, dragondoor.com strength forum • Recover sooner after hard training • Kick higher and faster • Hit harder • Minimize muscle pulls • Stay loose to go the distance • Improve your technique in any sport • Enhance your physical efficiency • Remove your hidden brakes — to run faster and further • Learn Russian commando “instant readiness” drills • Discover a unique breathing technique — for “superrelaxation” Fast & Loose Secrets of the Russian Champions: Dynamic Relaxation Techniques for Elite Performance with Pavel #DV021 $29.95 DVD Running time: 27 minutes “Fast & Loose is another amazing tool from Pavel… Everyone knows that once you really start pushing the envelope on your current abilities, you need those subtle yet all-important tools to move from average to elite performance. They can seem insignificant to the untrained observer, but are better than gold to those who have the faculties to incorporate them. Pavel delivers as always.”—Mark Hanington, Huntington Beach, CA. 75 “If you are seriously interested in improving your strength, here’s compelling evidence that Pavel’s Russian Kettlebell Certification is the best strength training workshop available in the world, whatever your background…” Bud Jeffries, Author, Lakeland, FL Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: Competitive Powerlifter, Strongman, Full Contact Fighter, Highland games competitor & kettlebell lifter. State, regional, national and world records in Powerlifting. Martial arts discipline, shootfighting, jujitsu & tae kwon do. Titles in powerlifting, strongman, highland games and kettlebells “An intense learning period for exercise practice that you can’t get anywhere else with people you probably couldn’t find together in one group if you searched a lifetime. Excellent and thorough knowledge by all instructors, especially Pavel. Scope is probably the broadest I have ever dealt with. Practical use is excellent.” Mario Civalleri, Fitness Consultant, Cantu, Italy Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: Former National Level bodybuilder, 1999 Powerlifting World Champ, Former Paratrooper. “A really complete and well structured course: Theory, practice, review, marketing. Nothing is left! Top quality of information. Full control from instructors (never had it before). Time to go deep in each argument. Extra time to refine skills. Professional teachers & champions: The best source of information.” Pat Cuntrera, Teacher/Trainer, West Paterson, NJ Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: NSCA – CPT, Bronze medal/world record Goodwill Games 1994. “Deeper scope and range of material than anything I have attended before.” Thomas Phillips, Special Education Teacher/ Owner personal training studio, Tinton Falls, NJ Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: 2002 Body-for-Life Grand master Champion. Certified personal trainer, sport specific trainer, certified stretching coach. Motivational speaker for EAS transformation camps. Owner of personal training studio, featured in Muscle Media, 4 times. Outside magazine, various local TV networks, various newspapers. Former basketball, baseball, cross country, boxing and various other sports competitively. “Since I am a gym owner, I have been to a lot of different workshops: this one is by far the best. The quality of instruction and level of attention is second to none. This is the highest quality of instruction I have ever had, and I have been to some excellent workshops. Pavel and the Senior Announcing: RKC instructors are top notch. There is tremendous depth and it is extremely practical for anyone in athletics or just looking to get in shape. This workshop accomplished everything and more that I was hoping for.” Bruce Kelly, Personal Trainer/Strength & Conditioning Coach, Swarthmore, PA Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: Trained athletes & clients for over 14 yrs. Train primarily HS and college athletes. Have CSCS, NSCACPT, USAW Sports performance coach & USATF level II sprints/hurdles coach. Will have MS in exercise science in Dec 2004. Have coached and taught squash for last 4 yrs. Masters All-American Indoors – 60-meter dash. Play senior men’s baseball. “The instructors were as better than any other clinic I’ve been to and that is a lengthy list. I enjoyed the combination of no-nonsense approach with humor and camaraderie. In their various disciplines or exercises the instructors were at the top of the pyramid. They have a way of distilling complex concepts to their simple essence. Great course, ton of info, great instructors, great community of folks from all over the world (literally). Kirsten Cummings, Personal Trainer, San Diego, CA Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: High school & College All American 1st team in Basketball. Professional Basketball player 14 years. 2003 2nd in US Women’s National Championships in Sailing Masters degree in bio Mechanics “RKC training has taken away my frustration with the traditional method of strength training, and has given me a direction of where to go. RKC has given me science, logic, invention, and creativity in strength training. Pavel’s ability to guide a question in order to get an answer is amazing. There is no text book to memorize. Instead, he uses the power of thinking to materialize into understanding and productivity. As a life long athlete, it was extremely hard to retire from professional basketball of 14years because I felt I lost my identity as an athlete. Kettlebells has brought back the athlete in me. Moreover, it has allowed me to go further than where I was. Today, at 41 years old, I’m strong and more flexible then I was at the height of my successful basketball career.” Luc Readinger, Physician, Minneapolis, MN Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: Martial Arts “The RKC was incredible. I learned a ton and it had taken my own personal strength and conditioning training to the next level. An awesome fund of knowledge & insight. They The Power to the People! Team The Raw Deadlift is What We Do AAU Nationals, October 15-16, 2005, Richmond VA Party members are having a grand time deadlifting in their garages and ‘courage corners’. Time to step up to the plate and compete! Enter the Power to the People! Team. Mutants and regular hard comrades alike are welcome to join. The minimum requirements: Men under 198 pounds – a 2.5 bodyweight DL Men over 198 pounds – a 500 pound DL Women – a 1.5 bodyweight DL Qualify for the team by making the above lifts in any PL meet sanctioned by any federation before October. Then e-mail the team captain Brett Jones at breakingstrength@yahoo.com. are doing to kettlebells/strength and conditioning. George Washington Carver did with the peanut.” What Ryan Lee, Fitness Entrepreneur Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: 10 years as a trainer and coach (sports med and HS strength coach) Track and Field sprinter – state champion in college. Specialize in online training and consulting. “Informative and overall a great experience. I think every trainer and coach should be required to take this course! Quality of instruction was top-notch. Sr. Instructors were always available and patient. By far the most challenging and in depth training course I have taken, (and I have taken a lot or courses.)” Zar Horton, Firefighter/Paramedic Special Ops Training Coord. Albuquerque, NM Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: Personal Trainer 10yrs. Competitive soccer (17yrs), track (10yrs), Youth girls soccer coach. DOE certified instructor of intermediate force and ground control for law enforcement. Co-developer of Albuquerque Fire Dept Health/Wellness Program “These 3 days were packed full of essential information on technique, principles, and other components. It was presented in a sequence and method that yielded proficiency in a short period of time. From the beginning, each principle stacked on to the next. I feel I walk away from this with complete confidence I can train people immediately to a high degree of proficiency. It is amazing the level of knowledge that was present on these grounds this weekend!! But more impressively was the ability of the staff to dissect and present that knowledge in an immediately understandable and useable way.” Terrence Thomas, Health, Sports Conditioning, Rehab Consultant, Miami. FL Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty: I have been an athlete all my life. From a nationally ranked sprinter as a youth to HS wrestling and football, to martial arts. “It was the best decision that I have made in many years in regards to advancing my personal fitness levels and career. The course was far beyond what I expected. All of the instructors are top shelf and exude what kettlebell and hard style strength training is all about. To use one word: Outstanding! I’m a strength coach and have studied with some brilliant people and the knowledge of the RKC Instructors are just as or even more knowledgeable as they are. I learned from each and every instructor. The information is practical, universal, and extremely effective. It has been life changing as far as I’m concerned.” AAU Single Lift Raw Deadlift American Records (lbs.) Mens Weight Class Record 114 340 123 407 132 495 148 165 540 650 181 198 660 220 660 242 705 275 838 319 700 733 SHW Rewrite the record tables! Womens Weight Class Record 248 97 105 198 114 300 123 319 132 259 148 325 363 165 181 369 341 198 198+ 391 Power to us! Get an Instant 15% DISCOUNT } On All Dragon Door Products Each and Every Time You Order for a Whole Year When You Join Our PREFERRED CUSTOMER CLUB Do you place frequent or large orders with Dragon Door? Would you love to use our superb nutritional supplements regularly at a bargain-basement price? Then the Dragon Door Preferred Customer Club lets you save and save, day-in, day-out. Do you have your own website? Now you can promote Dragon Door products on your site and start earning money immediately! BECOME A DRAGON DOOR AFFILIATE. 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City State Zip New Products: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life— A Complete Guide to Kettlebell Exercises and Kettlebell Training by Lisa Shaffer,RKC Pages 22-23 Interviews: SAMANTHA YOUNG: How a Seventeen-Year Old Olympic Hopeful is Using Kettlebells To Pursue Her Dream of a Gold Medal Pages 20-21 RON MORRIS: Confessions of a Renegade Trainer Pages 66-67 Two New Kettlebell Sizes— RUBBER CASED 6kg and 48kg! Page 17 CLASSIC STYLE Dragon Door Publications P.O. Box 1097 West Chester, OH 45071 SVETLANA WRITTLE: Russian Trainer Discovers the Shape-Shifting Power of Kettlebells—in England Pages 68-69 Articles: PAVEL: Solutions for a Tight Back Pages 19 DR. AL SEARS: How to Build a Stronger Heart Page 4 ORI HOFMEKLER: How to Maximize Muscle Growth with Recovery Meals Pages 38-39 JOHN DU CANE: Qigong as an Antidote to Download Downtime Angst Pages 64 NATE MORRISON, Senior RKC: What is Joint Mobility Training Going to Do for Me? Pages 72-73 DR. WENDY SCHAUER: Kettlebells and Chiropractic Pages 35-36 BRAD NELSON, RKC: Kettlebells Are THE Answer! Pages 12-14 PHILLIP SMITH: From Zero to Hero, A Prize-Winning Kettlebell Desissification Story Pages 24-25 Presorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID DRAGON DOOR PUBLICATIONS, INC,