Functional fitness day for female athletes

WillBrink · 08-17-2009, 08:48 AM

I putting together a functional fitness day for all female figure/fitness/bikini/bbers who want to experience working with some of the highly popular ?functional? exercises, such as the Prowler, drag sleds, sandbags, kettle bells, and others. I have been doing this type of training with the tactical Law enforcement (SWAT) I work with, and they love it. Here?s a vid for example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkTzr...e=channel_page

It seems men have generally easy access to this type of training, but I am finding a lot of interest among female athletes, who complain they have no access to try it.

For conditioning, calorie burning, fitness, and functional strength, nothing beats this type of training. I think all athletes, male or female, should be incorporating this type of training into their programs.

You have not experienced a glute, leg burn until you push a Prowler up a hill, and it has few equals for over all conditioning and is much more productive then any stair-stepper type machine you spend so much time on?

My plan currently is to do this with my buddy John Sully - top level trainer and co owner of Excel Sport & Fitness in Waltham MA* ? late Sept, probably Sat the 26th at the Waltham MA location.

I?m looking to keep this very affordable; $20 per person. Here?s your chance to experience true ?functional fitness? training with some of the best trainers in the biz. I?m still figuring out the details and such, but I wanted to gauge the interest level among the figure/fitness/bbing/bikini athletes first who are within driving distance of Waltham MA. If I get enough ?darn right, I would love to try that out and plan to be there!? type responses, I will set it up.

So, please give me your feedback and interest levels for a functional fitness day and I will try and make it happen!

* = http://www.excelstrength.com/

Linds33 · 08-17-2009, 08:10 PM

I would love something like this however I live in Texas.

I am a huge fan of what you call "functional fitness" and practice it myself as much as I can but would love to see how I can incorporate it into becoming a fitness competitor.

I am not a huge fan of just being in the gym doing mindless sets and reps and I find things like sled dragging, hammers and other fun fitness stuff really keeps me on my toes and challenges me in ways that you can't imagine.

**Emma-Leigh** · 08-17-2009, 09:17 PM

Oh, oh!!!! Me, Me!!! I want, I want!!

Any change you will head to Australia?

imperfectly_lou · 08-17-2009, 09:22 PM

Please come to Sydney Will!!!!!!!!! That would be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

WillBrink · 08-18-2009, 05:42 AM

No one from the New England region on this forum??!! Have always wanted to visit Down Under. On my list of things to do before I die. If I could just stand the flight time, would have done it already...

WillBrink · 08-20-2009, 07:29 AM

Bump, no gals from the New England area gonna come try something effective and productive outside their normal routines?!

justass · 08-20-2009, 08:46 AM

would love to compare notes with you at some point. I'm the strength and conditioning coach for a local roller derby league and we do the same sort of work out once or twice per week in addition to our skating practices.

Try getting in touch with your local roller derby or rugby team... even if you have to comp a couple of sessions if you are running them somewhere visable it makes other people curious and want to join in.

If you want info on leagues in your area, PM me.

WillBrink · 08-20-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justass

would love to compare notes with you at some point. I'm the strength and conditioning coach for a local roller derby league and we do the same sort of work out once or twice per week in addition to our skating practices.

Try getting in touch with your local roller derby or rugby team... even if you have to comp a couple of sessions if you are running them somewhere visable it makes other people curious and want to join in.

If you want info on leagues in your area, PM me.

Thanx for the tips. Hadn't thought about roller derby leagues! :-)

**Emma-Leigh** · 08-20-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillBrink

Bump, no gals from the New England area gonna come try something effective and productive outside their normal routines?!

<<< seems there is only one answer.....

Australia....

*sigh* who am I kidding, we can't even get good supplements over here.... are we realllly expecting to get this sort of training....?

trace621 · 08-20-2009, 03:43 PM

HA I am only 30min from waltham!! (I used to work there) but I am only a beginner at fitness so hopefully if you are doing this in another year, I can rock it

WillBrink · 08-20-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trace621

HA I am only 30min from waltham!! (I used to work there) but I am only a beginner at fitness so hopefully if you are doing this in another year, I can rock it

Everyone can work at their own pace, so don't hesitate to come down the 26th.

WillBrink · 08-31-2009, 07:17 AM

Ladies, I need to start getting a head count, so I am using my blog as the official sign up sheet. Please go here:

http://www.brinkzone.com/blog/genera...emale-athlete/

And sign up! Looking forward to a fun and productive day! If we get enough people, John and or myself, will probably throw in a lecture or two on nutrition, training, etc.

Emoore · 08-31-2009, 08:12 AM

Every day is functional fitness day for me. I'm working on getting a climbing rope installed in the back shed.

jbonsall · 08-31-2009, 06:31 PM

I wish they had that up here! I LOVE functional fitness, I mean it just makes sense and it's so not fair that it's more geared towards men. Way to go!!

WillBrink · 09-01-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbonsall

I wish they had that up here! I LOVE functional fitness, I mean it just makes sense and it's so not fair that it's more geared towards men. Way to go!!

Come down from Canada! :-)

sallythatgirl · 09-01-2009, 08:17 AM

this is the wave of the future of training, for us all (I hope)..I am wondering though about the term 'functional' I mean that is what it is...BUT I have noticed that there is a negative conatation(sp?) with this term, I think it conjures up images of tricep kickbacks on a bosu ball;0
I train with bulgarian training bags, www.bulgaiantrainingbags.com (sandbags,) kettlebells and the trx--free weights and barbells are thrown in occasionally!
I am currently making a website and am wondering about another term for this type of training, 'movement-based' 'multiplanar' is all I have got so far, but if anyone can offer any suggestions on terminology for use instead of 'functional training.' I am all ears!
****I train my women (and my men!) like MMA fighters, hockey players, weightlifters-- and lastly I train them so they are able to 'eat cardio bunnies for breakfast.'

Emoore · 09-01-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallythatgirl

BUT I have noticed that there is a negative conatation(sp?) with this term, I think it conjures up images of tricep kickbacks on a bosu ball

Or this guy?

WillBrink · 09-28-2009, 09:52 AM

Here's the vid for the first annual Functional Fitness Day For Female Athletes put on by yours truly and coach John "Sully" Sullivan at Excel Sports and Fitness in Waltham MA. The day was broken down into four circuits, with 3-4 exercises per circuit. Depending on rest periods, loads, and other variables, some circuits stressed less intensity/aerobic capacity, while others stressed higher intensity/power or endurance. The day was designed to give a spectrum of intensities and ?functional? experiences.

Exercises (some covered in the vid, some not...) such as Prowler push sled, grappler press, sledgehammer tire smash, handled medball squat thrusts, sand bag front squats, backward sled drag, downward medball smash, hand over hand thick rope pull, and others, were utilized.

For general conditioning (e.g., GPP), fat loss, improving work capacity, etc, this type of training can?t be beat. It can also be incorporated into a program for specific athletes with specific goals.

This type of training is not just for ?fitness buffs? but very appropriate for power lifters, MMA athletes, sprinters, and others. For example, an excellent article on the importance of General physical preparedness (GPP) for strength athletes by one of the most successful power lifting/S&C coaches on the planet, Louie Simmons:

http://www.deepsquatter.com/strength/archives/ls14.htm

Exactly how this type of training should be utilized depends on the goals, the person, and other variables, and must be specific to the athlete in question. Regardless, be you a general fitness buff looking to shape up, or a world class level athlete in your sport, understanding the value of functional training and GPP, can potentially take you to another level in your quest...

If you would like to be part of the next Functional Fitness Day for Female Athletes, sign up to my blog*, and you will get notified about that, as well as updates to new articles, etc.

See you in the gym!

* http://www.brinkzone.com/blog/

Linds33 · 09-28-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

Every day is functional fitness day for me. I'm working on getting a climbing rope installed in the back shed.

We have been wanting to get a climbing robe for the barn at my BF's parents place. Those bring back memories of gym class when i was in elementary school!

Have you been able to find a good one at a decent price? All of the ones we looked at were a couple hundred.

You need to come down here and do a functional fitness day at one of the gyms in Texas WillBrink. I am a HUGE fan of this type of workout as it is not only effective but fun as hell. I feel that if more people were aware of activities like this, they would much rather workout. Bering stuck i na gym doing your basics can be tiring and unmotivating.

lucatoth · 09-29-2009, 01:51 PM

On the way to Australia, pls pass by Dubai.

I would love to try it for soccer and we have big league of rugby guys and girls down here as well who would be all in for sure.

WillBrink · 09-29-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linds33

We have been wanting to get a climbing robe for the barn at my BF's parents place. Those bring back memories of gym class when i was in elementary school!

Have you been able to find a good one at a decent price? All of the ones we looked at were a couple hundred.

You need to come down here and do a functional fitness day at one of the gyms in Texas WillBrink. I am a HUGE fan of this type of workout as it is not only effective but fun as hell. I feel that if more people were aware of activities like this, they would much rather workout. Bering stuck i na gym doing your basics can be tiring and unmotivating.

You set it up, get enough gals interested (or a mixed crew if you wish) and i will be happy to come to TX...

WillBrink · 09-29-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucatoth

On the way to Australia, pls pass by Dubai.

I would love to try it for soccer and we have big league of rugby guys and girls down here as well who would be all in for sure.

See what I said above! Dubai, here I come! :-)

TeresaMalia · 09-29-2009, 02:07 PM

I want something like this in my town!