60 Second Interview: Mark Twight (Gym Jones)

 60 Second Interview: Mark Twight (Gym Jones)

Who are you?

Mark Twight.  Founder of Gym Jones.  A searcher, I want to learn how to do things.  I put everything into climbing, the gym and now road biking.

What is fitness to you?

The ability to do a task.  The task has to be defined.  Personally, right now it is the economy and efficiency of working between 20 minutes and 10 hours.

What are your goals?

To learn and to improve.

What is one of your main concerns in relation to public health?

Obesity.  An unwillingness to work hard.   This is across the board.  Not just in health but everywhere.  People want the result without the work.  There has to be some work for any outcome.

What is your favourite meal?
 

Spinach salad.

What is your favourite exercise/activity?
 

Riding my bike (it's also my least favourite activity).

Blog/Website: 
 

www.gymjones.com

www.marktwight.com

 

 

60 Second Interview: Rob 'Maximus' MacDonald (GymJones)

 60 Second Interview: Rob 'Maximus' MacDonald (Gym Jones)

Who are you?

Rob MacDonald (Maximus).  A person who has been fortunate enough to turn something they love into a career. 

What is fitness to you?

Fitness is not only the ability to do a task.  But also much more than this - it is about discipline, a way of life, almost a religion.

What are your goals?

To inspire and spread what we do to as many people as possible.

What is one of your main concerns in relation to public health?

A lack of accountability.  It is ok to be unfit.  This is the key reason why so many people are overweight and suffer from poor health.  I mean you can even get a flat elevator (travelator) at the airport - because walking on a flat ground requires too much effort.

What is your favourite meal?
 

A medium-rare, rib-eye steak with mozzarella cheese, spinach, tomato and balsamic vinegar, olive oil dressing.

What is your favourite exercise/activity?
 

Playing with my child.  I learn more about human movement through him than anything else.

Blog/Website: 

www.gymjones.com

www.ultimatemaximus.com

 

Workout: Deadlifts for Strength

Warmup: 

• 30 Press-Ups
• 30 Air Squats
• 30 Back Extensions 

Workout: 

• Deadlifts: 5 sets of 3 Reps
• Take a 3-5 minute rest between each set, to ensure full recovery.

Finisher: 

• 100 Double Unders

More about deadlifts: 

60 Seconds with the DEADLIFT

The DEADLIFT

Fear of the Deadlift:

Many people fear the deadlift.  Maybe it’s the name - DEADlift?  

I have been told this used to be called the 'Healthlift' but I am not so sure about that being the original name.  A deadlift simply means you are lifting a dead-weight, the dictionary definition (the unrelieved weight of a heavy, motionless mass).  In simple terms the weight is not moving and is fully supported by the ground before being lifted.

Functional:

I've been asked many times when doing a deadlift "Is that a safe exercise?"

People are concerned that it is not safe for the lower back.  On the contrary the Deadlift is probably the best exercise for overall back strength. It teaches you how to keep the lower back strong under load and is a very functional movement.  In fact what could be more functional?  It is just picking something heavy off the floor.  

You may feel the deadlift is purely the preserve of weightlifters with a barbell only.  Don't.  You can use a sandbag, log, rock, backpack, in fact whatever is convenient.  In an emergency you may even need to lift a person using this technique - so it's practical too.

Safety:

Like any activity deadlifts can cause injury if not performed safely without due care and attention.  Please refer to the video for good technique and seek additional advice from a specialist coach or personal trainer if tuition is required.

A few tips: 

• Keep weighty and solid on the heels;
• Keep load close to the body throughout movement;
• Maintain stability in the mid-section throughout;
• Start off with shoulders slightly in front of the load;
• Maintain a neutral spine position (avoid back rounding) throughout the movement;
• Keep the load moving in a straight vertical line.

Good Deadlifting Technique:

Primal Lifting (including a deadlift using a concrete breeze block):