...“It is a good lesson - though it may often be a hard one - for a man... to step aside out of the narrow circle in which his claims are recognized, and to find how utterly devoid of significance, beyond that circle, is all that he achieves, and all he aims at.” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter During the first day of lifting in weights class, I reevaluated my life choices. My attempts at performing basic weightlifting exercises - squat and clean - had left me frustrated with my weak body. The bench press was my last hope at convincing myself that taking weights was a wise decision. As I lay on the sweaty bench trying to lower and raise a metal bar, I felt…lost. There I was, far removed from academia, surrounded by cold metal machines and marinating in the odor of sweat. My arms trembled as I fought against the force of gravity acting on a metal bar that hovered dangerously close to my chest. I wondered: what was I doing here?...
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...Mahoney 1 Billie-Marie Mahoney Professor Charles Daniel English 111 October 18, 2012 Explaining a Concept: The Controversy with Crossfit Crossfit has become one of the most popular forms of fitness and exercise that has ever been part of this earth. For most people who have joined, it has also become a way of life. It is the main strength and conditioning program for many police academies and FBI, State Police, military special operations units, martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes all across the world. Crossfit has been developed to assist athletes in achieving a high level of fitness in endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, agility, power, coordination, and accuracy. Therefore; one may ask why it has become so controversial. Greg Glassman developed Crossfit, Inc. in 2000 and since then, the hype about Crossfit has exploded. In 2010, Reebok signed a 10 year deal with Crossfit to come together and try to reinvent the way people around the world achieve fitness. Crossfit, Inc. licenses’ their name “Crossfit” to affiliates around the world for a yearly fee and also puts each trainer through a series of trainings and certifications to certify each owner and trainer. There is a two day training course for beginners and specialty seminars which include gymnastics, Olympic lifting, running, mobility, programs for pregnant woman, kids, and military forces. Once licensed, the affiliate then develops their own...
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...English 101 8 May 2014 Lifting Natural God-given talent can only get an athlete so far. At some point they will need to realize that hard work will take them much further than talent ever could taking them. When an athlete trains during the off-season by lifting weights it helps him or her become physically ready for the season ahead. Without pre- training, showing up on the day of tryouts and hoping to be great and being able to do well is a horrible idea. A weight-lifting program is essential for any athlete to achieve top performance. Weight lifting is important for several reasons. First and foremost it prepares an athlete’s body to endure the rigors of the physical sports. Typically athletes will experience an enhanced ability to perform their sport activities at an elevated level and also maintain a higher level of initial physical output all while being able to sustain those levels for longer periods of time. They will be able to imagine having the physical edge and upper hand on their opponent and thus being able to do whatever is wanted to do to the opponent. That one aspect of the game can completely change the whole game and how it is played. Look at all the great athletes, they all lifted weights. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade are excellent National Basketball Association examples. John Elway, Drew Brees, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith of the National Football League are all perfect examples of weight lifting...
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...greeted by many strongly built guys that truly knew their ways around the gym. The only thing that startled me was how short they were. I was quite taller than many seniors who seemed to be much stronger than me. Most importantly, my good friend Cole had inches on his brother who was 3 years older than him, but Cole had half the muscle. Also, many of these guys sported ice packs all around their body and seemed to be constantly injured. The constant strain of swimming and lifting weights had truly taken it’s toll on these guys, resulting in some worn down swimmers. Weightlifting in teens is risky business. Improper technique or lack of adult supervision can lead to stunted growth, countless injuries, chipped bones, and lower back pain, leading many concerned adults and coaches to avoid this training. Twice in my life already, I witnessed heavy weights being dropped on fingers and splitting them right open. This...
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...Gym workout programs can vary dramatically from bodybuilder to bodybuilder. One gym bodybuilding workout for one bodybuilding enthusiast can deliver outstanding results while another gym workout can be a disappointment for another bodybuilder. After thousands of bodybuilding fitness consulting sessions, and publishing a popular weight training guide, I constantly teach bodybuilders a results proven gym workout routine that builds muscle fast. All you have to do is follow my 8 Gym Workout Bodybuilding Tips and you will soon see your muscle building results double. 8 Gym Bodybuilding Workout Tips 1. Have a clear weight training routine purpose. Upon entering the gym it is imperative to have a clear cut bodybuilding routine plan of action....
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...obsession? Bodybuilding is defined as “the process of developing the musculature of the body through specific types of diet and physical exercise, such as weightlifting, especially for competitive exhibition”. Bodybuilders are people who have dedicated themselves to transforming their bodies into a more muscular and well defined shape. This is done through endless hours at the gym every week, and well thought out, healthy diets that maximize their muscle gains. For someone to be a true bodybuilder, they have to commit themselves to sticking with their workouts and making sure that they are taking all the appropriate steps needed to ensure that their bodies have the ability to optimize its muscle building capabilities. This is done through ensuring that the individual is receiving the proper amount of sleep, eating healthy and not cheating on their diets, not consuming any drugs or alcohol, and by always maintaining a high level of commitment to everything they do. Every single day bodybuilders have a prepared schedule of what foods to eat, what body part they will be working out, and they have to make sure to keep up with this regime every single day to ensure that their body has the proper rest and recovery, and that all body parts are being worked out equally. This shows how intense and demanding it is to be a bodybuilder because they do not take a day off from training, and they have to make sure they are always 100% committed to what they are doing or else they wont get the...
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...Traditional and Contemporary Religions: Religious Features of Weightlifting Introduction Religion has evolved from a belief of a spiritual being. Many aspects of life and activities can be considered a religion depending on the context. Several sports, such as baseball and football, have been analyzed and identified as a religion. However, no research has yet to determine whether weightlifting can correspond as a religion. Through peer reviewed sources, fitness articles, a self case study and qualitative research, it is possible to identify the religiousness of weightlifting. Key Definitions of Religion Gautheir (2004) examined the factors that make a contemporary religion using raving as the subject. Raving focuses on meaning, intensity and community, with the usage of psychedelics a sense of collective euphoria is associated with the sacred experiences ravers feel making it like a religion (Gautheir, 2004). Blazer (2012) correlates sports and religion, stating that sports are considered a religion when the definitions are of: communities, creed, code and cultuses. Similarly, Woodhead (2011) offers a comprehensive definition of religion by breaking it down to five categories: culture, identity, relationship, practice and power. Both sports and religion have concerns, social systems, traditions, symbols and gather communities together (Stuhlsatz, 1994). Blazer's (2012) explanation of communities: as groups of people either formally...
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...cardio respiratory system by using activities that create an increased demand for oxygen over an extended period of time (Gladwin 501). If you want to burn the most fat, a combination of strength training (i.e.; using one’s body weight, free weights, or machines to improve muscular strength) and aerobic exercise will be the best choice. “…Muscle burns more calories than fat. Muscle also takes less space- that’s why a muscular person can weigh more but wear a smaller size” (Reno 88). So, if muscle burns more calories than fat this means strength training combined with cardio will have you burning excess fat faster than either one alone. Throughout time I have heard some fitness related myths: “Strength training will make me look like a bodybuilder” or “Cardio alone will burn off the pounds I have to lose.” From my experience, I can tell you that cardio alone will not burn off the excess fat. When I started working out I started out only doing cardio. I was ecstatic after losing the first 20 pounds, but after the first 20 my body hit a plateau. After doing some research I decided to add strength training to my workout regimen. Once I began to weight train my body shrank and another 10 pounds came off. To my surprise, my body was not...
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...Ethical issues regarding the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports In the history of 20th century sports, specifically in the post World War 2 era, there has been an ever increasing use of performance enhancing drugs in all avenues of sport. Sports have become money making machine for both athletes and big business and the “win at all costs” attitude which has permeated itself into all aspects of professional and college level athletics. Winners make money, losers don’t. The temptation of fame, notoriety and million dollar contracts in all venues of sport is a lure for many athletes. Elite professional athletes are worshiped in today’s society. This paper will elaborate on the use of performance enhancing drugs in the sporting world and the associated sports ethical issues. It is a majority belief in all sporting circles that the “true” spirit of sportsmanship does not allow any aspect of performance enhancing drugs. There are several arguments both in favor and against the use of performance enhancing drugs which will be presented and discussed in this paper. While addressing this ethical issue, we need to define the term ethics. Ethics can be defined as the socially accepted norms and values. These norms and values are varied from society to society and are based on culture and tradition. Ethics also could be defined as the unsaid, un-written and understood laws that prevail in a society. Ethics also cover what is right and what is wrong in society and teaches...
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...The CrossFit Level 1 Training Guide is a collection of CrossFit Journal articles written since 2002 primarily by CrossFit CEO and founder Coach Greg Glassman (“Coach Glassman”) on the foundational movements and methodology of CrossFit. The Level 1 Certificate Course is CrossFit’s cornerstone seminar, which has allowed thousands to begin their careers as CrossFit Trainers. This Guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the Level 1 Course to develop the participant’s knowledge and trainer skills, as well as prepare him or her for the Level 1 test. This is an essential but not an exhaustive resource. Some of the knowledge required to pass the test comes from these articles; the other material comes directly from the two-day course. Some edits to the original articles have been made for the Training Guide to flow as a stand-alone reference, provide context for readers, as well stay current with the course format. All original works are preserved in the CrossFit Journal and hotlinks (noted by their blue color) are provided throughout. Copyright © CrossFit, Inc. All Rights Reserved. CrossFit is a registered trademark ‰ of CrossFit, Inc. V2.2-20150514R4.KW V2.3_ 20150525.KW Table of Contents Methodology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Medicine-Ball Cleans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Understanding CrossFit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
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...Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy Bret Contreras Human Kinetics Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Contreras, Bret, 1976Bodyweight strength training anatomy / Bret Contreras. pages cm 1. Bodybuilding--Training. 2. Muscle strength. I. Title. GV546.5.C655 2013 613.7'13--dc23 2013013580 ISBN-10: 1-4504-2929-7 (print) ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-2929-0 (print) Copyright © 2014 by Bret Contreras All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. This publication is written and published to provide accurate and authoritative information relevant to the subject matter presented. It is published and sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, medical, or other professional services by reason of their authorship or publication of this work. If medical or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Acquisitions Editor: Tom Heine Developmental Editor: Cynthia McEntire Assistant Editor: Elizabeth Evans Copyeditor: Annette Pierce Graphic Designer: Fred Starbird Graphic Artist: Kim McFarland Cover Designer: Keith Blomberg Photographer (for cover and interior illustration...
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...PART A – Plan the project Most athletes know that getting enough rest after exercise is essential to high-level performance, but many still over train and feel guilty when they take a day off. The body repairs and strengthens itself in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes. Rest days are critical to sports performance for a variety of reasons. Some are physiological and some are psychological. Rest is physically necessary so that the muscles can repair, rebuild and strengthen. For recreational athletes, building in rest days can help maintain a better balance between home, work and fitness goals. The main objective of my project of this term is to build up a recovery program for athletes. That is what I am gonna try to study into the basics. Sport is not only about performance, there is a lot of other factors that influence the performance, from the psychological aspect to the physiological condition. The recovery phase and rest is one of the main subject that help to improve athlete s performance. Human is not a machine, we all need rest to restart our body again to reach the performance we want. Rest is not only behind higher performance, recovery periods prevent injuries that are caused by overtraining or a trauma. My project is about recovery program for a specific athlete, and how it can influence his performance. I try to build up a recovery program for him, that is suitable for his possibilities and capacities...
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...STUDENTS’ CONSTRUCTION OF THE BODY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Kinesiology by Laura Azzarito B.S., Universita’ di Scienze Motorie di Torino, Italy, 1994 M.S., University of Maryland, College Park, 2000 December 2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I’m very grateful to all the students and teachers who are the subjects of this work. I greatly appreciate their willingness to participate in this research and the time they dedicated to all of the interviews and member checks. I also thank the principals who gave me permission to conduct this study. I especially acknowledge and thank physical education teachers Celeste Alfred, for welcoming me to her school, and Vickie Braud for her great help in making contacts necessary to complete my data collection. Both Vickie and Celeste were wonderful throughout my research process, helping me to observe classes and arrange student interviews at the schools. I greatly appreciate all the suggestions, insights and comments of my committee members. Thank you to all of them: Dr. Kuttruff, my external committee member, for her interest in following the steps of my dissertation; Dr. Magill, for bringing a very challenging and valuable perspective to my research; Dr. Lee, for her deep knowledge and expertise in the field of physical education;...
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...The Vertical Jump Development Bible I increased my vertical jump by 19 inches- I’m gonna show you how to increase yours too! By: Kelly Baggett Higher-Faster-Sports Copyright 2005 by Higher-Faster-Sports.com - All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without express written permission of Higher-Faster-Sports. Warning: There is always risk of injury when performing exercise with weight. Before beginning any exercise program, consult with your physician to ensure that you are in proper health. This program is not meant to provide medical advice; you should obtain medical advice from your private healthcare practitioner. No liability is assumed by Higher-Faster-Sports for any of the information contained herein. If you want to fly, you’ve got 3 options: 1. Buy a plane ticket 2. Sprout feathers and wings 3. Improve your vertical jump While flying in a plane is nice and all, it’s a bit expensive and way too temporary. Sprouting feathers and wings ain’t gonna happen! So, unless you’ve got money to burn or you really believe in evolution, you’re stuck with improving your vertical jump. A strong vertical jump is at the core of some of the most beautiful and graceful movements known to man – Kobe Bryant dunking on the fast break, Michelle Kwan hitting a triple axle, and Barishnikov seemingly floating in air during the ballet. But don’t get me wrong, the vertical jump is also a measure of pure raw power that is used...
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...TAPESCRIPT Unit 1: The Weekend 2. Let’s Listen 1. A: So how was your weekend, Don? B: Well, I wanted to go dancing with my girlfriend but she was too tired to go out. A: So what did you do? B: We just stayed home and watched TV. 2. A: I had a great weekend. B: What happened? A: I met this really terrific girl and I think she likes me. B: Really? A: Yeah, we’re going out next weekend. B: All right! 3. A: What did you do last weekend? B: Umm, I spent most of the time at the gym. A: How come? B: Well, I plan to enter a bodybuilding competition next month. A: Gee, I didn’t know you were a bodybuilder. B: Yeah. Want to see my muscles? 4. A: So, what was your weekend like? B: Not very good. My brother came over. A: Yeah? » B: Well, he’s got three young boys. I spent all weekend playing computer games with my nephews. Now I’m exhausted. A: I’ll bet! 5. A: Did you have a nice weekend? B: Mmm . Not too bad. A: Did you do anything special? B: Well, I saw a really good movie. A: Who with? B: Oh, I don’t think you know him. It’s this really good-looking guy I just met. 6. A: Did you have a nice weekend, Teresa? B: It was okay. A: So what did you do? B: Well, I met some friends on Saturday and we rented a video. A: How about Sunday? Did you see the World Series on TV? B: The what? A: The baseball game. B: Oh. No, I was too tired. I slept most of the day. A: You’re kidding! You missed a really great game. 3. Let’s Listen 1. A: So...
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