Sports & Fitness: Performance Training, Rules & Recovery

Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.

How to Keep From Swinging When Doing Pull-Ups

A pull-up performed without any swinging is called a dead-hang pull-up. Proponents of dead-hang pull-ups consider swinging to be a style of cheating -- swinging allows you to use momentum to help yourself up.

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How Often Should You Take Time Off From the Gym?

Getting enough exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing diseases. However, exercising too much can negatively impact your health. If you exercise frequently you should plan for regular days off from the gym to allow your body time to repair muscle damage and recover from workouts.

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Shaolin temple

Ancient Shaolin Physical Training Exercises

Shaolin kung fu has always been known for promoting extraordinary skills and abilities through its punishing traditional exercises. These exercises are significantly different than modern athletic training, and most martial arts outside of the Shaolin tradition have nothing in their systems like the Shaolin exercises.

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The Order of Belt Colors in Kung Fu

As most people already know, kung fu schools often award their students colored belts to demonstrate their degree of training, time in rank and dedication to the art. Fewer people know that this is a relatively new part of kung fu training, a facet that became part of the art during the 20th century.

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Two women lifts crossfit slam balls

Can You Exercise Without Losing Your Breasts?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no diet, exercise or pill that controls where you gain or lose weight. According to the American Council on Exercise, weight loss affects all areas of the body that store fat, including breasts.

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Boxers in match

Boxing Peek a Boo Stance Tips

Legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato devised the peek-a-boo boxing style as a way to protect the head and body from unnecessary punishment. D'Amato instructed his fighters to hold their gloves high in front of their faces, offering protection from punches while still allowing them to peek out at their opponents.

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Portrait of american football player holding a ball

Top 10 Reasons to Play Football

American football conjures many conflicting images: school spirit and team brotherhood on the one hand, trash talk and debilitating injuries on the other. This explains why the sport remains controversial despite its widespread popularity.

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Three people working out on row machines

How to Lose Thigh Fat at the Gym

The slang term thunder thighs is used to describe excess weight on the top of the legs. This bodily feature not only causes feelings of self-consciousness but also is unhealthy. Joining a gym is a good strategy to reduce your thigh size, provided you know what approach to take.

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Granola Parfait with yogurt and berries on rustic background

Yogurt and Carbs After a Workout

Working out requires fueling yourself with the right foods and nutrients to achieve optimal performances. What you eat after a workout is just as important as what you take in before and throughout the rest of your day.

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Fitness woman fit girl with measure tape measuring her thigh

Diet & Exercise Plan for Toning Buttocks & Thighs

Getting toned buttocks and thighs is a tough but rewarding goal. Be realistic in your expectations -- any significant change is likely to take at least six months and will require total consistency in your diet and training.

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Woman checking her pulse on treadmill at gym

Is a High Heart Rate During Exercise Good or Bad?

The impact of exercise on your heart rate can be a complex concept to understand. Your heart rate will definitely increase as your activity level rises, but there is a healthy range for your heart rate, and anything outside of that may be an indicator of a heart condition.

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Man sitting on exercise mat, drinking water

What Is the Heart Rate for a 70 Year Old Man When Exercising?

Your heart rate provides a method to monitor your exercise intensity and ensure you gain the most benefits. Your maximum and target heart rates tend to decrease with age. If you're a healthy 70-year-old man, you should aim to reach at least 75 beats per minute during aerobic exercise.

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The Differences Between Pendlay Rows & Barbell Rows

The Pendlay row is named after Glenn Pendlay, an Olympic weightlifting coach. The Pendlay version of the row is very similar to a standard barbell row, but there are some important differences. Your back is more horizontal during a Pendlay row and you set the weight down after each repetition.

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Leg Spasms After Running

A leg spasm, often referred to as a charley horse or leg cramp, is the result of a sudden, often painful, contraction of the muscles. Many athletes, particularly runners, have experienced this phenomenon.

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Young People Spinning in the gym

How to Get Thin Thighs With Bicycle Exercise

Thighs that rub together are one reason for beginning an exercise program. A cycling workout uses fat as fuel to decrease your body weight and reduce the thickness of your thighs. Unfortunately, you cannot tell your body to burn fat from only your thighs.

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Physical Therapy: Patient with backache

Erector Spinae Strengthening Exercises

If your back is aching and tired, weak muscles may be to blame. The erector spinae are muscles that run along the spine and are the primary muscles that help you rise back up when you bend over. With an inactive lifestyle, these muscles become weak, which puts you at risk for back strain.

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Young man doing push ups at a gym

How Many Sets for Pushups & Pullups?

Basic pushups and pullups can be a compliment to any workout routine or practiced on their own. Their benefits may be due in large part to their requirement for you to use your own body weight as resistance in strengthening your muscles.

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What Are the Causes of Shanking Chip Shots?

Golfers strive for the perfect swing, hoping to drive the ball with power and accuracy. However, even the slightest flaw can result in disaster. Failing to make square contact with the ball can result in a shank, which describes a shot that goes wildly to the side, flying away at a sharp angle from the golfer.

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