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The Secrets of Strong, Powerful Shoulders Revealed
By: Matt Furey
Best Selling Author of "Combat Conditioning"
In the olden days, whenever you heard
about someone tearing their rotator cuff,
you automatically assumed it must be a
Big Leauge pitcher.
Not anymore. Rotator cuff injuries are very
common in most sports today,as well as in
the weight room.
The reasons:
#1. Reliance on the bench press as a measure of
upper body strength or to build big pecs.
Danger: In building the pecs, the shoulder is
compromised. This unnatural lift leaves many
powerful men crippled as they age. Their
rotator cuff is literally shot - and sometimes on
BOTH shoulders.
#2. Failure to do natural bodyweight movements
that strengthen the shoulders beyond belief.
What "natural" bodyweight movements are these?
Answer: Handstand pushups - along with a variety
of other exercises done from a handstand position.
Handstand work used to be a "staple" in the training
repertoire of all series fitness enthusiasts. Then the
tee-vee arrived and the butt-flop took its place - along
with the bench press. Between the two, sitting on your
"arse" and lying on your back to do bench presses,
we've got a nation of virtual weaklings.
Want real upper body strength? Then train yourself
with handstand pushups and other handstand exercises.
Avoid the bench press like the plague. It's just NOT good
for you.
Now let's take a look at what some of my customers have
to say about "The Secret Power of Handstand Training" -
which Ed Baran and I put together a couple years back:
Matt,
Just want to thank you for writing ... The Secret Power of
Handstand Training. As a lifelong weightlifter, I used to scoff
at calisthenics. Until I tried some of the exercises... At 38 years
of age, I have never been stronger. Those handstand pushups
are incredible and very humbling, but my shoulders have never
felt better. No more rotator cuff problems. Anyway, the point I
want to make is that if I had not read your books I would probably
still be wallowing in my ignorance. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Jim Jensen
U.S. Army
My name is Pablo Cruz. I'm a SGT in the US ARMY and
I am currently in Iraq. I've got to say, man that handstand course is great - Awesome training tool! That and a pull up
bar is the only training tool I have here. I've gained incredible
strength in my upper body with your program. I love it."
Pablo Cruz, SGT
U.S. Army
I have to hand it to you on your course, Secret Power of Handstand
Training. I was excited when I saw it on your web site, but I had no
idea how much it would help. I'm a Corporal in the United States Marine
Corps, and am always looking for the next thing that'll give me an edge
over my comrades.
1. I've gained almost an entire inch on my arms, measuring around my
biceps and triceps, in just under 4 weeks.
2. My delts and traps now actually have size and definition.
3. My lats and all the muscles of my back have grown in size and definition
far more than they ever had even when I was doing over 60 pullups a day.
I can actually feel a layer of muscle on my back. As a side note, all my back pain has vanished -- all of it! And I thought my back was healthy before...
4. My chest and pecs have gotten a great work out, even though I didn't think
I was working them.
5. My wrists and forearms are a lot stronger. When I was a kid, I dreamed
about being "Popeye", and beating the tar out of Bluto and making off with
Olive Oil, and I'm getting the forearms to make my dream come true!
I know you're a busy guy, but I've been so pleased with your handstand
course that I had to tell you. Handstand training truly is a "Secret Power" because if everyone knew what kind of results it delivered, they'd all be
using it. Thanks for putting this product on the market, it's changed the
way I build strength."
James Oliver Buhls, Cpl, USMC
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Radio Battalion
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
M.F.: Thank you men. One final comment. This program is NOT for the faint of heart or for the raw beginner. Nor is it for people in
tremendous pain right now. If you have a lot of shoulder pain right now I would recommend training with the chest expanders put out by Lifeline USA.
Copyright, Gold Medal Publications, Inc 2004
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Editor's Note:
To find out more about Matt and start taking advantage of his fitness advice, go to www.mattfurey.com
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