Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Two quick notes, and then we'll talk training:
1. Knife, Fork, Muscle
Is printed, in stock, and we're shipping all
orders within 24 hours. I'm signing all copies,
and if you want a personal message when I sign
your book, just ask for it -- and tell me who to
sign it to:
http://brookskubik.com/dinosaur_nutrition.html
Of course, you can ask for an autograph
with any book or course. If someone is ordering
a book or course for you for Christmas, be sure
they ask for an autograph and be sure they
give me YOUR name so I can sign it to YOU.
2. The Dinosaur Files quarterly
Is also in stock, and we're shipping it everywhere,
and getting rave reviews. It's a full-size magazine
now, with tons of great training articles. Note that
we are offering the Dinosaur Files on a single issue
basis, not a subscription -- we think that's better for
a quarterly journal. So grab it issue by issue, just as
if it were a new training course:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_quarterly.html
On the training front . . .
I assume you're familiar with Dr. Ken's Log Bar. My
buddy John Wood sells them. Many of you have the
little monster, and use it all the time. I get lots of
good feedback on it. I have one myself, and used
it to rehab a bad shoulder injury 7 or 8 years ago.
The Log Bar is a barbell with parallel handles. You
can use it to perform presses and bench presses
with a parallel grip. It also works great for bent-over
rowing and hammer curls.
Now, you may not think that a parallel grip makes
much of a difference -- but for some trainees,
particularly those with nagging shoulder problems
(which includes most older trainees), it may be
the difference between being able to do presses
and bench presses and NOT being able to do
them.
In other words, the parallel grip is one of those
little things that seems to be too simple to matter --
but makes a BIG difference for some trainees.
And that brings me to a question from a reader.
I got this a year ago when I mentioned the Log
Bar in a post about protecting and preserving
your shoulders.
A reader asked me if John Grimek ever used a
Log Bar.
And that was an interesting question.
I've never seen a picture of Grimek using a Log
Bar, although it certainly may have happened.
It would not have been one of Dr. Ken's Log Bars,
because no one made them back then. (If they
did, I'm not aware of it.)
But Grimek was a highly resourceful man, who
made lots of his own equipment, and actually
designed a few pieces of equipment for his own
personal use.
Grimek liked equipment that had the right "feel."
Thus, for example, he designed a special pulley
for 45 degree rows. It fit his body exactly -- and
that's what he wanted. A tailor-made, perfect
fitting unit. So Grimek clearly understood the
importance of details -- meaning the importance
of little things.
Grimek always did lots of dumbbell presses, and
there are photos showing him doing alternate
dumbbell presses with the bells in a parallel
grip position.
That leads me to suspect that he would have at
least tried the Log Bar if it had been available to
him.
And remember, there are some great photos of
Grimek doing curls with an EZ Curl bar -- which
is sort of the first cousin to a Log Bar.
So the answer to the question is this: I don't
know if Grimek ever used a Log Bar -- but I
bet he would have liked it.
Go here to see photos and read more about the
Log Bar -- and remember, it can be a shoulder
saver:
http://www.functionalhandstrength.com/log_bar.html
As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. I cover other ways to protect and strengthen
your shoulders in the Dinosaur Training Military
Press and Shoulder Power Course and in Gray
Hair and Black Iron:
http://www.brookskubik.com/militarypress_course.html
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses -- and Dinosaur
DVD's, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and hoodies -- are right
here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "In training, as in anything
else, pay attention to the little things. They add up --
and make a big difference in your results." -- Brooks
Kubik
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