The prelude

A warm welcome to anyone who visits my site.

First things first, this site would be mainly on topics which would be more inclined to the strength and fitness enthusiasts out there be it ladies or gentlemen. Of course other topics besides the discussion of how rusty iron smell so good will also be part of this site.

And now for a little introduction on myself. I am one who has the utmost interest in sports and strength training. Well basically I am quite an active person. Gravity defying feats done in the gym are just a part and parcel of my life.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would like to touch on a topic or rather an exercise which I think is the most over-rated and the most over hyped ever in the history of weight training. You probably would have guessed it... its the Bench press. I dont know about you, but which ever gym I go that piece of equipment has never failed to be occupied by hordes of people awaiting its usage. Be it newbies or the "pros" its always the most talked about. Its an ego lift. There are people whom I know benching the over 300 lbs and probably alot more across the globe benching the 400s with the help of youtube videos this can easily be proven.

But what do these guys say... pull up? or squat? or deadlift? Probably a number far off the ratio for their almighty bench. Then why do people just want to have a "bar"(meaning big upper body and toothpick for legs) body? Just so they can flaunt it in the pubs?

I've heard about many cases where there are the few who can incline bench the 400s and when asked to do pull ups they only could hit a measly 4. A huge neglect on that big upperbody exercise a.k.a the pull up/chin up. This is totally not balanced and is absoulutely unacceptable in my books. I will rank the pull up of higher importance than the bench press any day. Overhead presses such as the standing military press is also pretty rare in most gyms. What most people are doing is just bench,bench and more benching. Very imbalanced and its only screaming out for an injury to take place.

Now as for the squat...the ass to grass(ATG)/Full squat is probably something you dont see at all almost everytime you go into any gym. In a commercial gym that I visit frequently in the past has probably a ratio of 1/200 people doing the squat but that is the half/quarter squat. Still no count = ). Why do people evade the squat? The main reason is, it is tough and not for the faint of heart. Besides that point I can list you a never ending spectrum of reasons here sso dont get me started. Most people are deluded into believing the most ridiculous myths on weight training and squatting. But IF I were to tell you that the almight squat will boost your testosterone levels, give you more upperbody strength/mass and boost whatever athletic performance you require be it to a sprinter, rugby player, football player... and the heres the best part...... if I told you that 70% of the muscle mass is below the belt ... would you want to neglect it anymore?

All in all no strength/hypertrophy/sport routine is complete without the quintessential exercises 1-Squats, 2-Pull ups, 3-Bench press(Yes you're reading right.. dont be overly happy and start benching a hundred sets now.. variety and balance is key) 4-military press, 5-Deadlifts

-Clement