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Hi Raptor,

glad to see you are using the power jumper. Gary, I love jumping and sprinting with bands and find it to be very effective for both (although I don't sprint in the power jumper, I sprint against jump stretch bands for short distances).

I hope the renewed training plan goes well.

Jack

The Kobes are great Nightfly. I always jump high in them.

Hi Guys

I just wanted to here some thoughts on early morning squat and/or deadlifts. I have read a number of well respected trainers say you shouldn't do these lifts heavy in the morning due to overnight spinal de-compression increasing the risk of injury.

Personally I have happily squated and deadlift heavy in the mornings and have done for years without injury or complaint. Admittedly I do plenty of warm up first - skipping, kb swings, and lots of lighter sets before I get really heavy.

So my question is this - aside from interest blogs and so on has anyone ever heard of any actual studies or research that can verify, or at least help validate that heavy early morning squats and deadlifts are bad? Or is this another internet myth that gets spread around because the same coaches (like me  for example} read the same blogs and sites and end up spreading the same bullshit without fully doing their research.

thoughts and comments?

Hi Steven

For me it depends on the surface you are jumping and the type of jumping you are doing. For standing vert any light shoe is great. Track shoes in particular (Andrews Nike Waffles for example). For running jumps on a basketball court I like light low cuts without too much cushioning. Most basketball shoes are a little over cushioned for good jumping.

Last summer I tried doing a bunch of long jumps every Saturday morning. I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to get better each week, as well as training outside which I always love (I am thinking about doing a Darqui and buying a second power rack to drag outside on nice days this year - the one in my gym is heavy duty and is bolted to the floor), and of course it was relatively easier on my knees. For the sort of jumping I just wore light thin soled trainers (track shoes) and they were great.

Cheers

Jack

Hey Jack, where did you get the chains from?  Haven't seen ones like that at Bunnings.

I got them from here

http://www.gymandfitness.com.au/smai-chain-set.html

Cheers

Jack

Wait, you squat 152.5 for 10 reps?

Hi Raptor

Here is the video with my safety bar box squat effort of 150kg (including 65kg of chain weight). You will have to fast forward all the way to the end though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUUM3aBGenU

One thing that the safety bar really teaches with squatting is how to really drive your upper back up into the bar. It is quite noticeable on the later reps.

JW

Sometimes I wonder how certain athletes are even able to compete since they seem to whine about the slightest ailments. I guess sometimes coaches even reinforce that behavior.

I agree on this entirely. And there are definitely times when I see people try and get out of things just because they are a bit soft, but in this case I feel that for everybody I train, their isn't any need for them to deal with the discomfort when I can get the same result or better in an easier way, and ultimately, that is more important.

Also for what it is worth I was showing the harness to a coach I know recently who does have a background in Olympic lifting and does use front squats with his athletes in their programs as one of their primary lifts and he loved it. I know that this is a sample of 1, but I just did a google search and found a few other people with shared experiences.

T-Nation

http://tnation.t-nation.com/free_online_forum/null/getstrength_front_squat_harness

This from the Iron Woody site http://www.ironwoodyfitness.com/accessories.php



Jason Ferrguia - who isn't a massive fan of the front squats in the article

http://jasonferruggia.com/front-squats-n-stuff/

most people find front squats tedious and uncomfortable. If you do them correctly the bar will be resting on your front delts and nearly crushing your throat. They can also be stressful on the wrists and elbows as well, especially if you have big arms. Another problem is that with heavier weights form breaks down on front squats before it does on back squats and not due to the legs being fatigued.

I knew I wasn't the only one!

Haha. Jack can I ask more questions about your apparently useless harness. Does it hit your jewels or inner thighs at depth? Do the sharp corners bother you? And finally does the whole thing move forward or sit unevenly under load requiring you to 'push it off your torso' with your hand etc?

All things I've read on the interweb. Curious if you see any of that occuring.

Hi MJ

The version I have, which is the basic one with the shorter length which doesn't hit anywhere near the jewels. It only goes to about midway down your stomach. If there is any discomfort it is on the harness pressing against your stomach, but as mentioned in my original post, this is minimal.

No. I wasn't even aware of sharp corners, so it isn't bothering me.

With the load being at the front there is a very slight move forward if you start leaning forward. However, and Steven will love this no doubt, if you perform the lift "correctly" and maintain a fairly upright torso it is no problem. It sits nicely on the pins. Also you still need to keep the elbows high like a regular front squat.

The load doesn't really move at all when it is sitting on the pins. I have done quite a few lifts with my elbows up parallel to the floor and my forearms straight up without actually holding onto the bar at all and at no point have I felt like the bar was going to fall off.

 I will eventually do a review for verticaljumping.com of it because I do think it is a beneficial training aid that some people will be interested in (obviously not everybody  ) and you guys can see for yourself how simple it is to use.