Interesting idea.

The Dr Pocket is a Portable TENS Massage device, for a quick dose of pain relief as needed.

Although I'm slightly skeptical about the ability of such a small device, I'm certainly keen to try one out here.

How about you - ever used anything similar (perhaps the first generation of the device)?

A spot of video :

Dr Pocket.

Very interesting area.

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Kipping Pull-ups
  Dean Coulson | Follow @AlKavadlo
  Cheating, or just a different approach?

  
  

• Looking At : Aug 4, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : The Origins of the Food Pyramid ('Today I Found Out')

Very interesting area.

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Facebook etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Adam Klymkiw.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Planche Nugget

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

Beast Skills' Jim Bathurst.

The skill is very simple to describe but hard to do. Here we go:

• Take the ab-wheel.
• Get into a pushup position while holding an ab wheel.
• Now instead of rolling it toward your head, roll it toward your feet and back.

If you can roll the wheel with straight arms down to the point where the wheel will touch your pubis (lower front of hipbone) and bring it back up to the pushup position, you should hurry and take Paul Hamm's spot in the Olympics.

Nice one.

Checking Out : Dr Pocket (Portable TENS Massager)

The Dr Pocket is a Portable TENS Massage device, for a quick dose of pain relief as needed.

Although I'm slightly skeptical about the ability of such a small device, I'm certainly keen to try one out here.

How about you - ever used anything similar (perhaps the first generation of the device)?

A spot of video :

Dr Pocket.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Interesting idea.

The Parásole is a combination sock/shoe hybrid, with a strong focus on the recovery side of things. Whether that's some form of weight training, or just spending a fair bit of time on your feet.

I'm keen to try them out (for deadlifting particularly) - and will share a few thoughts once I've spent some time ith them.

A spot of video :

The Parásole 2.0.

Some great tips for getting some quality shut-eye (still my favourite recovery technique).

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

• Gem From The Vault : Why Conditioning is King
  Dean Coulson | Follow @DeanCoulson
  What exactly is conditioning? Should you be doing some? Over to Dean.

  
  

• Looking At : Jul 28, 2019
  Scott Andrew Bird | Follow @scottbird
  What's been going on this week? Quite a lot actually.

  
  

Over to you. I'd love to hear what you think : leave your comments on the above articles, and share them with your friends/colleagues/clients and so on.

NB : If you're keen to do a little fitness writing and would like to submit your own piece for Straight to the Bar, get in touch.

Video : The Ideal Position for Sleep ('What I've Learned')

Some great tips for getting some quality shut-eye (still my favourite recovery technique).

Gymchat 278 - TBA

We're still finalising the details for this week's discussion. I'll post them on the blog (and Twitter, Facebook etc) shortly.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the previous episodes of the show - (there's an example below, and a full list here). And if you've got any questions or comments on the various topics discussed, we'd love to hear them. Just leave a note below the video.

Matthew Palfrey.

NB : if you'd like to take part in a future episode - either as an interviewee, or as a guest host - just drop us a line. Love hearing how everyone else trains.

Tip of the Week : Overhand Card Tearing

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via Twitter, the blog; and the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

Completed tear.

1. 

   Hold it firmly.
   Hold the deck firmly with your weak hand (right side shown for me) with the deck firmly and horizontal to the floor.
   
2. 

   Pinch the deck.
   Pinch the deck with the strong hand with the thumb and index finger. It's the same grip you use to use a remote control.
   
3. 

   Pull towards your chest.
   Pull your strong hand (pinch side) towards your chest. The index finger splits the deck. You must pinch hard!
   
4. 

   Turn your weak hand towards the floor.
   Continue to pull hand towards your chest, turn your weak hand towards the floor. The deck will rip - not twist - if you have a tight grip. The tear line will be clean.
   
5. 

   Separate the deck.
   Continue to pinch the deck hard and pull back towards your chest until you separate the deck. The line will be a clean cut right through the deck. With this method you can put the cut anywhere you want on the deck.
   

Tearing cards.

It takes pain tolerance and hand strength with this method. Keep practicing. THERE IS NO TRICK. Rub some lip balm on your hands after you tear if the skin is raw.
I can now rip decks of bicycles in less than 3 seconds, and quarter them in a second with this grip. It makes you strong.

NB : it's certainly possible, but by no means easy. If you enjoyed doing that and would like to take it a step further, check out Jedd Johnson's superb Card Tearing eBook. Invaluable resource.

Checking Out : Parásole 2.0 (Recovery Footwear)

The Parásole is a combination sock/shoe hybrid, with a strong focus on the recovery side of things. Whether that's some form of weight training, or just spending a fair bit of time on your feet.

I'm keen to try them out (for deadlifting particularly) - and will share a few thoughts once I've spent some time ith them.

A spot of video :

The Parásole 2.0.

Rather than trying to explain how it works, here it is in action :

Good stuff Bret, looks great.

Ryan with the Death Dealer and Barbarian Sword.

These look great.

It's fair to say that StrongerGrip makes some unusual items from time to time (these loadable 'maces' are great examples). If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind piece of training equipment, Ryan's definitely your man.

And if you're on the hunt for something a little more orthodox, I highly recommend the Epic Sledge. Love it.