workout

Weekend Workout

Become a true weekend warrior and join Elemental Training Tampa for some outdoor group training. The workout will be held near Downtown Tampa and incorporates basic striking techniques with complimentary strength building exercises to help you burn off some of those incessant weekend calories. No experience is required (modifications provided for all fitness levels) and this training session is entirely FREE! Take some time out of your weekend schedule and join ETT because your health is worth it. Check out the event page on Facebook to find out all the details. SEE YOU THERE!

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Homemade Workout

Performing at-home workouts keep me in optimal physical condition and allow me to construct & perfect workouts that I can use with ETT’s personal training clients. As much as I love at-home workouts, the amount of equipment I currently have is somewhat limited, which can be an issue if I want to increase the level of resistance placed on me during the workout. This challenge led to the invention of my homemade weight vest. It’s may just be a book bag with a 30 lb sandbag in it, but anyone who has worn a weight vest knows how it can increase the intensity of simple exercises like jumping rope or pull-ups. The homemade weight vest needs a little tweaking but I anticipate it making its way into ETT’s equipment inventory real soon.

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ETT Exercise of the Week Ep. 3

IT’S BACK! The ETT exercise of the week is back and better than ever. We just purchased a brand new Mac desktop here at the ETT compound to assist in all our video production so expect more ETT videos coming your way on a regular basis. This video is a great ETT exercise, which for all you newcomers combines a striking technique with a body weight exercise. ETT exercises are total body exercises that allow you to perfect your striking techniques while you build strength and burn calories. I love incorporating these exercises into my HIIT workouts and they are an essential part of all ETT group training sessions. If you live or are visiting the Tampa Bay Area, you can attend a FREE ETT group training session next Sunday, April 26th. Check out the ETT group training event page on Facebook for more details.

Cannonball with a handle

My favorite piece of workout equipment has to be the kettlebell. Unlike a dumbbell or barbell, the kettlebell’s center of mass is away from the handle which increases the need for coordination by the user. Also, one kettlebell exercise can work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Even though it is a great piece of workout equipment it can be difficult to master. Check out this article to learn a few tips on how to start training with a kettlebell properly.

Fitness Product Review: DDP Yoga

I really enjoy yoga. Every aspect of it. The holding of poses, the breathing, and dare I say the spirituality of it. The benefits it can provide anyone, even strength athletes, makes it the perfect complement to any workout plan. Yoga and workouts that are centered around yoga can vary in poses, tempo, and even environment (i.e. hot yoga). One variation that I’ve been practicing lately is DDP Yoga, which was created by former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page. Unlike the more “traditional” yoga classes I’ve participated in, DDP yoga incorporates more movement into its workouts. It contains a few explosive exercises like punches and knee strikes, but the majority of the movements are slow and deliberate. Page instructs users to employ “dynamic resistance” which involves contracting certain muscles groups while you perform a specific movement. You are essentially working against the resistance created by your own muscles to complete the workout. I enjoy using DDP yoga on my active rest days because it allows me to improve my flexibility and is a great stress reliever. DDP Yoga exercises will most likely not be new to anyone that has participated in yoga before, but it is a great introduction to anyone who is new to the discipline. The best aspect of DDP Yoga is that Page coaches you through all the workouts. He provides modifications to all the exercises for any fitness level and is a great workout instructor. He is able to motivate you to work hard while simultaneously conveying the importance of adjusting the workout to meet your fitness level. I would definitely recommend DDP Yoga to anyone that is interested in incorporating yoga into their current workout plan or someone who has taken a hiatus from exercise and is looking for a workout routine that will help them regain their physical fitness. Check out what Men’s Journal thought about DDP Yoga and let me know what exercises you’re performing on your active rest days. IMG_0492

There’s Always Enough Time

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your holiday. Shannon and I are hosting her parents for Easter brunch, which means we had to do a lot of prep work yesterday in order to get ready. Shannon took on the cooking responsibilities while I tackled the cleaning. By the time we finished all the grocery shopping Saturday afternoon, it was 5pm before we could get to our respective duties. In addition to our late start, I realized I had yet to complete my daily workout. I decided to employ my multitasking abilities and incorporate my workout into cleaning the house. Here’s how I accomplished both tasks simultaneously:

The Clean Sweep Workout (2mins of cleaning followed by an exercise for specified # of reps; repeat till house is clean)

  • Sweep floors/Knee Strikes (50)
  • Vacuum carpets & rugs/Push-ups (25)
  • Swifter floors/Prisoner Squats (25)
  • Clean bathrooms/Jab+Cross (50)

Even though I stopped every 2 minutes to perform an exercise, I was able to complete my cleaning in less than an hour and a half. I also burned 416 calories in the process! That means a few extra cadbury eggs today for yours truly. Hopefully this post helps you realize that you always have opportunities to burn a few extra calories, you just have to look a little harder to find them. Speaking of looking a little harder, I’ve got some eggs to find. Enjoy your holiday!

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Girl Power

This past Sunday’s ETT group training session was truly memorable. We had perfect weather conditions and four willing & eager participants. Four willing & eager FEMALE participants. I put emphasis on the all female class not only to call out the “men” that decided to sleep in, but also to highlight the importance of women learning basic striking techniques. It’s important to know how to properly punch, kick, and/or knee someone if you ever have to physically defend yourself. However, I believe the confidence and reassurance of knowing how to strike is much more valuable to adult women than to adult men. Recent statistics and advertising campaigns have highlighted the vast problem of physical and/or verbal abuse perpetrated against women worldwide. I am confident that empowering women with knowledge of the striking arts will help them understand that they have the ability (mentally and physically) to defend themselves from victimization. I know that ETT or workout programs similar to it will not solve the issue of abuse against women entirely, but through personal experience I know that it is a step in the right direction. I have been fortunate enough to train with female fighters, train under a female instructor, and am engaged to a woman that has known how to defend herself from a young age. All these women have two things in common: they know how to fight AND they don’t take crap from anyone. 11008522_1621292938104552_4390300908723624768_n

Sunday Funday

This week’s Throwback Thursday pic is from a past ETT group training session. Compared to individual training, evidence suggest that group training helps people stay motivated, provides a support system and is overall more enjoyable. You will receive all of those benefits and more at an ETT group training session. If you are in or around the Tampa Bay Area, come on out to Davis Islands THIS Sunday for the next ETT group training session. The workout is entirely FREE and no experience is required. I promise you won’t leave disappointed. HIT IT!

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