In reading through
all these circuits, I did find a few standouts.
I'm a big fan of sandbag training and the
hill circuit, using the sandbag, is something
I'm definitely going to use. I also quite
liked the bench circuit...there are some really
good exercises in that one, especially the
Dynamic Incline Push-Up (where you pop yourself
up from having your hands on the floor to
up the bench on each rep - great explosive
training for the upper body).
One of the
other things I really liked about this book
is how many of the exercises also have links
to online video demos (on YouTube) where you
can watch the exercises being performed. From
my own experience, I know that some exercises
really NEED this type of instruction. It's
nice to see this option included.
Many of the
exercises are easy to "get" just
from the pictures and description but video
helps a lot with the more complex movements.
If you're an intermediate or advanced trainer,
you'll probably recognize most of the exercises
in this book, but there are a few unique ones
in here as well.
When you get
the section on Fitness and Strength tests,
you'll see the famous "300" workout...the
actual one performed by the actors in the
movie "300" (imagine that!). This
is a VERY challenging circuit, and if you've
never seen it or tried it before, you're going
to be in for some fun! This was a nice inclusion
for a hardcore circuit training book, for
sure.
The section
on One Rep Max testing, however, could use
a little improvement...not because 1RM testing
is necessarily bad, but because of some of
the exercise selection recommended for testing
and the suitability of 1RM testing to this
circuit style of training.
For example,
deadlift and bench press...absolutely good
for 1RM testing. But leg extensions and rear
delt flyes? Not so much.
Those exercises
just aren't useful for that purpose. Leg extensions
with near maximal weight can damage your knees
and rear delt laterals are a "feel"
exercise that shouldn't be done for low reps
with heavy weight - it pretty much guarantees
your form will be compromised. Squats would
have been a better option to include for 1RM
testing.
Also, 1RM testing
for strength, while using circuit training
programs such as are found in this book isn't
really specific to the demands of the training,
therefore not all that applicable. Since the
circuits in the book aren't really designed
to increase maximal strength, a better gauge
of progress for this type of training is to
measure changes in your day-to-day training
weights, not a 1RM test necessarily. It's
not wrong, but it could be more right.
That being said,
overall this book has some good, solid circuit
training info, along with programs and exercises
that will definitely get you results, especially
if your goals are more targeted to overall
fitness and health. It's good info, if you're
looking for time-effective workouts that give
you the option to train just about anywhere!
If
you're interested in picking up
a copy of this book, click here.
