Muscle-ups: Just the Beginning of Ring Strength

GymnasticBodies athlete demonstrates how to do hold top support in muscle-up progression.

The muscle-up is often seen as the ultimate test of upper body gymnastics strength in various fitness circles. There is just something about combining a pull-up with a dip that excites many people about the muscle-up, and rightfully so. However, rather than viewing the muscle-up as ending the journey, we should look at this exercise as opening the door

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Top 3 Exercises for Your Lats

GymnasticBodies athlete demonstrates lat strength with a wide-grip pull-up.

Your lats are some of the biggest muscles in your entire body and developing them is extremely important for your success in Gymnastic Strength Training. Without strong lats, more advanced strength exercises would not be possible. In this post, we will go into detail about what the lats do and how you can train them

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Rebuilding the Warrior with Gymnastics Strength Training: The Road to Recovery

Rebuilding the Soldier with Gymnastics Strength Training

By Ashleigh Gass (Certified Clinical Sports Nutritionist and GymnasticBodies Affiliate) As a passionate athlete and trainer, I have spent my life dedicated to the world of exercise physiology, nutrition, fitness and health. I’ve embraced a multi-directional approach to training, both personally and professionally. I am now a proud affiliate of GymnasticBodies™ – creator of Gymnastics

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Foundation Equipment: The Back Strap

Foundation Equipment: The Back Strap 1

When fitness enthusiasts approach our GymnasticBodies courses for the first time, they often ask what GST™ Foundation equipment they will need to start training. Fortunately, one huge benefit to Gymnastics Strength Training™ is its most important piece of equipment. This irreplaceable exercise tool is something that you have with you in all places at all times: your

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Ring-Leader: Train Your Way With This Essential Home Workout Equipment

Christopher Sommer’s female athlete demonstrates a german hang.

Bodyweight training is on the rise, and for good reasons. These types of exercises teach athletes how to build muscle, increase flexibility, and they are the best option for home workouts, requiring minimal costly equipment. When you're leading a busy life and don't have time for a gym workout, we know that it's worthwhile to

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What's the Rush with GST Results?

What's the Rush with GST Results? 2

Coach Christopher Sommer, the founder of GymnasticBodies and former long-time U.S. Junior National Team Coach, likes to tell the story of a young man who had expressed some training concerns to him on the popular GB Forum. Gymnastics Strength Training™ was the single most important activity in this young adult's life, so he said. Unfortunately, he

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What Does It REALLY Take to Achieve the Front Lever?

GymnasticBodies Athlete performs a front lever core exercise on gymnastic rings

Want abs for your summer six pack? Front Lever training has you covered. Want upper body gains for movements like pull-ups and rope climbs? Front Lever training has you covered. Work on your Front Lever progressions, and you will be well on your way with massive and versatile strength carryover and sculpted abs as a

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How to Improve Your Body Levers

Body levers, also known in the calisthenics community as dragon flags, are one of the best exercises around to strengthen your entire core. Done properly, body levers will challenge your abs, lats, lower back, and more. Once you have the hollow body position fully mastered, spending time on body levers will further help prepare your body for

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Wrist Stretches for Muscle-up and Handstand Progress

Typically when someone reaches a plateau in their handstand or muscle-up development, they look for a fancy new drill or exercise in order to continue making progress again. For instance, muscle-ups require a strong false grip, a solid transition, and proficiency in the top support hold. When all of these items are in line, however,

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Mobility for Desk Workers: Table Rocks

A GymnasticBodies desk worker table rocks his way to healthy shoulder extension.

After Tim Ferriss interviewed Coach Christopher Sommer on his podcast, we received an overwhelming response that many people are stiff, tight, and aching from years spent working at a desk. This is no new phenomenon. We know it’s healthy and important to move throughout the day to break up long chunks of computer work. Even

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