Swimmers get astounding results with AOS

I have been working with some of our Fremd high school swimmers. In just 8 weeks the swimmers have seen great improvement with the Art of Strength.

One thing I have noticed with young athletes, especially swimmers. Is their lack of coordination in performing dry land exercises. Some can be graceful in compound movements while others, well it takes more time.

The beauty of the AOS is the simplicity in teaching such movements such as the clean, snatch, clean n jerk, press or squat. Instead of barbells like some train. The kettlebell and Ultimate Sandbag are much safer tools.
Working these whole body movements has taught them the key to being an athlete. Having your body work in unison to perform a task. Whatever sport you are in or in daily life.

The secret ingredient is the ropes. This is where ropes and Tabata training give us the edge. I use a program I developed call Progressive Pyramid Rope Training, PPRT. It uses a 1.5 40 ft, 1.5 45 ft, 1.5 55 ft and a 2 inch 45 ft rope.
 
Coming from a background in lifting I use to use pyramids with weights. So I decided to try it with ropes. Two ways in which I do this.
1. Tabata
2. Reps…high reps at the beginning with the lighter ropes. Then decrease as you increase in length and size.
Example 50 40 30 20. That being said here’s a text I received from one of the parents. They are currently down in Florida at the Junior National swim meet.

“Erica is doing great
she dropped 3 second in the 200 back 2:03.00
She dropped in her 100 free 53.3
She dropped in her 200 free 1:53
Tomorrow she has the 100 back and 500 free
Thanks to you!!!”

It’s great to see results like this. Btw she was in Crossfit for all of last summer with no improvements.

Thanks
Keith Gordon
FLO Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness Center
Palatine, IL

Genie Bailey - 5X50X5 60's the new 40 Workout

Chris Tybor

Chris Tybor shared the story of one of his clients, Chris Ellingson, who first began training with him shortly after leaving the US Marines to care for his ailing mother.  With no time to train, he found himself at his heaviest weight, finding it difficult to complete even a single lunge.  Now after 20 weeks, he has lost an amazing 41 pounds and shed an astounding 15.25 inches!  His last body fat test put him at under 15%, that’s down from over 30% at the beginning.

Mixing traditional forms of exercise with kettlebell training, Tybor set forth basic, realistic goals for Ellingson. As Ellingson recounts, “1 or 2 pound weight loss per week until I reach my goal weight of 165 pounds.”  Ellingson has remained motivated through the entire process because Tybor has constantly been there persistently driving and motivating him throughout the training.

Beyond the gains in confidence and energy, Ellingson says his most important improvement is his quality of life, being able to “live his life to the fullest.”

Everyone here at Art of Strength congratulates Chris Ellingson on all his success and wish him all the best on his continued weight loss.  At times it’s difficult to stay motivated, especially being right in the midst of the holiday season, so it’s nice to see what others have been able to do.  We all have goals that we would like to meet, whether it be losing weight, gaining muscle, snatching a heavier kettlebell or pressing that log over your head.  We all struggle and we all have that feeling that we’ll never reach our goal.  Today, let Chris Ellingson be your inspiration; to stay in the game, to not give up. 

Though Chris has yet to cross his finish line, he now has it in sight, and in the beginning when his marathon started, that couldn’t have been further from the truth.  Each day he committed himself to being better was one day closer to his goal, it was one step closer to his finish line.  Everyone’s marathon starts with a step, a day where we say “today is the day that I commit myself to a better life”.  No more “cheat days”, no more, “I’ll start my diet on Monday”,  today is my D-Day, today I live better.  That first step is the hardest, but they get easier, commit yourself to your self, commit yourself to a better life, finish your race and never give up.  Thank you Chris for showing us what a finish line can look like.  Good luck on your journey…we’re cheering you on.



The Powel Family

This week’s inspiration comes to us from the Powel Family of lands unknown.

Susan Powel writes to us and tells us she first purchased Art of Strength Providence for her husband after years of using kettlebells on their own with little results.  She writes “…I felt compelled to write to you and tell you that your workouts have by far given me the greatest results I have ever seen.” 

She goes on to say, “My husband purchased kettlebells for us and I have to say when I started using them, I honestly couldn’t see myself sticking with this, I felt awkward and found some of the exercises to be difficult to say the least, but my husband would not let me give it up.

We are both, uh lets just say “middle aged” 46 and 47 years old. In the three weeks that we have been doing this workout, 45 minutes, 3 days a week, I have dropped my body fat by 2% and put on 2 lbs of muscle. He has lost 5lbs of fat and gained 1 lb of muscle.  I have seen my body transform in that my ‘trouble areas’ are no longer trouble. This is the best whole body workout I have ever used.”

Fantastic job Powel’s!  Speaking from experience the Providence routine is no easy workout to get through.  We’ve done it many times in the gym and it’s always a killer.  We feel your pain!  Keep it up and as Anthony says “Enjoy the journey”, that is, take your time, don’t rush it and with time everything will fall into place.  

Great job and keep up the good work – keep us posted!