Friday, March 28, 2008

Questions & Answers 3-27-08

Question:

Hi, I was wondering when you'd be getting an interview up with Joe Defranco or if you were going to expand on how you implement WS4SB. Thanks, Tom.


Answer:

Tom,
There is going to be a bunch of really good interviews in the near future, hopefully including one with Joe D. I'm going to be seeing him in the beginning of May and hope to have something up on the site no later then the middle of that month. As for the WS4SB Code II, I might put that up next month. I have had a lot of inquiries about this. Thanks for checking out the site. If you have a particular question about how I implement the program with my athletes, let me know. If you have a particular question that you would like to address to Joe DeFranco, let me know as well,

Joe Rossi


A Side Note:

In case you have been living under a rock, Joe DeFranco has a highly anticipated documentary coming out. From what I have heard, it's the "Pumping Iron" of the sports training world. It is good to see great things happen to good people. Take a look:





Another Side Note:


Friday, March 7, 2008

Questions & Answers: 3-7-08

Question:

YESS Training/Joe Rossi,
I'm a little confused. I have read conflicting advise about where to place the thumbs while benching. I noticed in your video you have the thumbs tucked behind the bar. Isn't that dangerous? Which way is better for gripping the bar?
Thanks,
Daniel, Vancouver Canada

Answer:

Daniel,

When I posted that video, I knew some how, some one, would call me out with the grip I used! I should have known better. With that being said, I teach everyone who trains with me to "Lock" the thumbs around the bar and squeeze the living ! @ # $ out of it! This is the only way to properly bench. Very similar with how a fighter would make a fist for a knockout punch. Like a punch, the thumb secures the entire hand enabling the fingers to remain tight. You have a less chance of breaking your hand. When benching, the thumb locks the bar in the hand, decreasing your chances of a broken face! This is the safest and most effective way to bench press. Notice the picture above. You should do the same.


A Side Note:

Most of my benching is performed with submaximal weight using the grip you have seen in the video. This is the only way I can perform the traditional bench press. Quick Story... A few years back, I found myself recovering from what was supposed to be arthroscopic surgery on my right elbow. A "Clean Up" was the exact term. When I woke up, my surgeon informed me that they had to do a little more. Here is a distorted version on how the conversation went:

Dr. Kevorkian: Joe, we did a little more than a "Clean Up", but it went well.

Anesthesia Joe: What does more than a "Clean Up" mean?

Dr. Kevorkian: We had to cut through the entire muscle belly of the elbow, but it went well.

Anesthesia Joe: What does "went well" mean?

Dr. Kevorkian: We were able to locate and retrieve all the calcium deposits that was causing your elbow to lock up.

Anesthesia Joe: Ok, great. It's going to be a relief to have full range of motion in my elbow again!

Dr. Kevorkian: With a surgery like this and cutting through the muscle in the manner we did, the surgery should give you back most of your range of motion.

Anestassia Joe: Most? Why am I feeling like I traded in a used car for another used car?

Dr. Kevorkian: It's imperative that you immediately try to make a fist through the recovery process. If the muscle tissue heals before you gain back a full range of motion, you will never gain back the range of motion you once had.

Anesthesia Joe: Didn't I see you on the news trying to justify the reason why you kill your patients?

Dr. Kevorkian: No no.... We just look alike.

Anesthesia Joe: ............ I think the anesthesia is still working because I see you smiling, looking like Mr. Rogers, hooking me up to something that looks really weird.

Dr. Kevorkian: (Silence)

"You Mean Killing People Is Wrong?" - Dr. Jack Kevorkian



Another Side Note:

Well, Kevorkian never killed me, but my elbow hasn't been the same since. When I tuck my thumbs behind the bar, it's so I can bench without shredding my elbow! After surgery, my wrist and thumbs haven't been the same either. If I had to duck tape the bar to my hands so I could still train, I would...

Mr. Rogers from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood:

Unlike Kevorkian, Mr. Rogers was a good man!

Get Strong,

Joe