As winter winds down and summer starts to kick in, most field-based sports come to an end (with the exception of a few). Meaning it’s time to get stuck in and make some improvements. Too many athletes think the preseason is where all the improvements happen, however it is in your off season where we…
What are you paying for? Gym Membership prices broken down from my point of view (all based on Townsville economy not major metropolitan areas) The classic <$14.95 membership or under – this is a classic of big gym chains. It is designed around the 30% method. Where it is small enough amount that you let…
Whether your goal is to lose body fat, build muscle or become stronger or faster your focus should always be on one thing: improving your overall athletic performance. Athletes train in the weight room and on the field to enhance their talent and skill. Being the best lifter doesn’t necessarily make them a gold medallist,…
As I scroll through my Instagram feed, I see people bragging about their morning sessions with images of smart watches displaying heart rates and calories burned and #smashed #hiit #blahfuckingblah and I feel like it’s time for a post. It is no secret that due to a multitude of factors in modern times we are…
The rise in fitness facilities or gyms promoting ‘STRENGTH’ OR ‘FUNCTIONAL’ classes to build strength and ‘FUNCTIONALITY’ is a contentious issue for strength and conditioning facilities. In this article, Matt Ham (Hammer Athletic director) shares his view from the perspective of a business owner and professional strength and conditioning coach and offers valuable guidelines for…
With the significant rise in popularity of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Matt Ham asks “is the importance of endurance training being neglected?” A while ago I wrote a blog on the rise of CrossFit, 24/7 fitness facilities and places like F45. And as you may already be aware I am not a big fan…
You may hear us preach “consistency is key” and we preach this because consistency both on the gym floor and at home with nutrition is the recipe for success. There are no quick fixes or easy options and as with anything worth doing, achieving any measure of success requires time and effort. However, the problem…
Recovery modalities are highly promoted yet misunderstood by so many “industry professionals”. Here Matt Ham explores the common issues with recovery and what should be advocated following the cessation of training. A lot of boutique training studios for the general public are spruiking cryo chambers, Normatecs and ice baths. It is important to remember that…
