Just thought i'd give some of the advanced (or beginner) athletes the heads up on the training manuals i've been using.

This is some serious training, mainly focus on strength and conditioning beyond what you'll find down at your local Fitness First.

The best one i've been training on is Ross Enamait's boxing training books:
http://www.rosstraining.com/products.html
They are the best training manuals i've ever found and they are dirt cheap , i can't speak highly enough about it. The advanced training in it I haven't even progressed to as its just that hard, i'm still 1 year into just the basic stuff still!

The training is so good you don't even need a gym, you just need space!  The good thing about this training is I do most of it outdoors, where I like to be!   Although in Canberra ....brrrr at 6am 

Other stuff I've looked into is Matt Furey's combat conditioning.  Its ok, but Ross' product kicks its arse, and Furey is not worth the money you pay - but I've found value in his Combat Abs stuff.

I've also started to train a bit with some kettlebells -- that mainly Russian Military people invented to get massively strong.  But going to do that later when I get stronger.

My favourite pastime is pull up and dips though.  If you're beginning start off with just those exercises for the upper body - its all you need till you build up strength. Lower body start off with Hindu squats up to 15 minutes of constant reps. 

While i'm not into gadgets i've found a deep and undying love for my ab wheel.    Standing ab roll out I can't even do yet, still doing it from my knees!

But I've also found i've been able to build abs not even focussing on core strength though. Just the act of bodyweight exercises engages the full core anyway, especially pulls up (sometimes I raise up legs on pull up and just hang at the top).   

Another thing that helps get a flat stomach is breathing and squeezing exercises. This is what Matt Furey's combat abs preaches - the stuff does work and it fires you up. I do it first thing in the morning.  The basic premise is to take a deep breath, and while exhaling squeeze your abs tight and make a 'ssssssssss' noise out of your mouth while you exhale the air slowly, squeezing as tight as possible in your core. Do that about 15 times in a row and its more difficult than it sounds trust me! That exercise alone works wonders for anyone at any level.

Happy to help with more advice if people need it, in turn I always appreciate tips myself to expand my knowledge.

Yours in fitness!

That's great advice Jim :-) Bodyweight exercises are definitely where it's at.
Hehe how good is the ol' ab roller! I'm a bit of a closet fan I must say...

OK Hindu Squats are pretty simple, its just a normal squat but its done at a quickish pace and you involve your arms and pay attention to your breathing.

This link shows how its done plus another two exercises that make up a routine called the royal court, this is the main exercise portion of matt furey's combat conditioning

http://cbass.com/Furey.htm

hey guys, i'm wrapped you guys are getting into it. 

These exercises are basically where I started out with my training - they are simple to perform but tough and challening so you can make good progress with them.  They build a very good foundation.

Dragonfly that is fantastic haha - they definitely can bring down the egos of some men 

 

Hey, its a two way street.   After only a couple of days here I have decided to go 100% raw.  I don't think I would have ever made the step without a group like this convincing me it was a good idea. The world out there seems convinced of the idea this is not a good way to go, which is really sad.

I've felt on top of the world this week.   Thanks for sending some good karma my way

I'll try and add a few more tips on training i've been doing or done over the coming days and weeks.  I'm far from being a sage on these matters, but I can only go by what is working for me!!

Hi Jim,

Thank you for sharing these exercises, I am grateful to you, and I really like your attitude too.  Humble, happy and helpful - all great qualities

I've been working more on repetition exercise (treadmill mostly) lately to get rid of excess fat, but I think you've come along at just the right time for me with these.

Wishing you a wonderful Raw journey too.  I've been raw since the end of January and would never go back!

Canberra eh?  Perth is too cold for me right now!!!

Love
May

great stuff. well worth the investment even if you don't get to it straight away.   Just having them in the house will get you going on it one day. Once you start its pretty hard to stop,  much like going raw