Three Legends of Sport Create the Perfect Storm

LEFT TO RIGHT:  COACH GREG ROBINSON (NFL:  NY JETS, BRONCOS...)
RICKY BERENS (OLYMPIC SWIMMER FROM UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND GOLD MEDAL WINNER
MARCUS ROGAN (2 TIME AUSTRIAN OLYMPIC MEDALIST)

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Berens won the gold medal in the men's 4x200 m freestyle relay with Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, and Peter Vanderkaay, setting a new world record of 6:58.56. Berens swam the third leg in a time of 1:46.29

MARCUS ROGAN (2 TIME OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST)
LEE BRANDON, CSCS (TRAINED THE GUYS AT JOE'S GYM IN WEST LA)
RICKY BERENS (USA OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST)

NY TIMES, 1990.  (Right to left)
Greg Robinson and Lee Brandon

Santa Monica, California:   Last week we had the honor of having 3 LEGENDS take over the gym.

"It is not often that the universe allows us to feel the 'PERFECT STORM' in its EYE!  Having Coach Robinson (who coached at University of Texas,  University of Syracuse, UCLA, NY Jets, Denver Broncos...), Ricky Berens (US Olympic Gold Medalist who swam with Phelps helping him win his final gold), and the great Marcus Rogan from Austria was such an honor."

Brandon continues, "In life, there are these perfect moments.  When they strike, you pray your present to appreciate them!  I was standing in the middle of this perfect powerful swirling moment of power.  I feel so blesssed to be training Olympians and professionals after 30 years in the fitness industry.  How amazing is it that Coach Robinson and I worked together with the NY JETS 21 over years ago.  To have him standing there seeing the Olympic Training we were doing was inspiring and breathtaking!  It was truly a PERFECT STORM of power and intensity, and I was in its eye!"

Coach Robinson  looked on and smiled, "If one could have taken the pulse at the gym, the vibration was off the chart!  Everyone stopped to watch Lee kick those boys into shape!  Truly amazing!  London 2012 is going to be amazing."

ARE YOU SELECTING THE RIGHT EXERCISES FOR YOUR JOB?

Santa Monica, California:

The photo was taken at the entrance to Katlian Bay at the end of the road in Sitka, Alaska. 

The whale is coming up to scoop up a mouthful of herring (see the fish just below the surface).The kayaker is a local Sitka Dentist. He apparently didn't sustain any injuries from the terrifying experience.The whale was just around the corner from the ferry terminal.

 "Looks like this man's lights were on..." says Lee Brandon, CSCS. "Core training comes in many shapes and sizes.  I often recommend trying Kayaking if you have a job that keeps you standing on your feet all day (like the dentist pictured here).  Cardiovascular training and core training go hand in hand with performance.  The AB-Inforcer(R) uses lights to let you know if you're training with the correct core muscles turned on in the right posture."

Lee reminds us, "Remember, practice makes permanent...not Perfect!   Choosing the ideal protocols that fit your lifestyle is critical in long term wellness and motivation."

Japan Olympian and Austrian Legend Blow Away the Gym with Olympic Intensity

Santa Monica, California:

LEE BRANDON, CSCS, (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Olympic Strength Coach), tore down the gym last Friday.

"Hidemasa Sano (Japan Olympian) and Marcus Rogan (Austrian Olympian) are two of the greatest swimmers in the world, and show through their hard work ethic, and close attention to form why they are constantly performing at a high level!"

"I have trained many genetic mutants in my 30 years as a strength coach" states Brandon, "it never gets old watching greatness perform right in front of your eyes.  So many up and coming athletes want to skip the hard work part of being great!  No one's ever drowned in a puddle of sweat, and watching these two athletes bring their Olympic spirit of intensity to the gym, challenges everyone in the space to elevate and push to another level!  They are great for a reason....it's not just a genetic gift.  They work hard to duplicate greatness.  Anyone can win once...but can you remain the top of your game for years?  Is it possible to duplicate greatness?  These two gentlemen prove duplication of great performances is possible!!!"

 Keep your eye out for these two in London 2012 Olympics.

In This Photo: Hidemasa Sano

Hidemasa Sano swims the Freestyle portion of the Men's 200 IM Prelim during the Long Beach Grand Prix on January 18, 2010 in Long Beach, California.

(January 17, 2010 - Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America)

Beyond the Yellow Brick Road: Lee's Keynote for FBI National Training Academy a Success

Santa Monica, California:

"It was such an honor to speak to such a distinguished group of powerful professionals from all over the country who had completed the YELLOW BRICK ROAD course at the FBI National Academy," stated Lee Brandon, CSCS. "Honestly, I was not sure what significant tid-bit I might be able to bring to the table that a room full of experts had not heard before regarding motivation and wellness for Law Enforcement, but the feedback we got was amazing."  

  After Lee spoke over 15-20 stayed for an extra 30 minutes getting additional tips and strategies for their local Sworn and Civilian staff.  

   This event will now be followed up with a series of events at local agencies around the country introducing the IPT Training Program for Law Enforcement (Injury Prevention Training).  

The Riverside County Law Enforcement Administration Association (RCLEAA),  has invited all Asst. Deputy and Deputy Chiefs to attend an event coming up in October where Lee will be a keynote speaker for this pioneering program offering solutions to Law Enforcement agencies regarding avoiding injuries and simple preventative solutions that are cost effective and innovative!

"Lee is so full of life and inspiring" stated Captain Able from Corona Police Department, "that when I saw her speak at the FBI NAA event, I knew she would be inspiring for our brass here in San Bernadino and Riverside counties."

We will keep you posted.  

Feel free to contact us is interested in Lee coming to your area and doing a presentation:   admin@areyourlightson.com

Spine Sparing Secrets: Training Not Straining

Santa Monica, California:  Notes from Lee Brandon, CSCS Desk

"Corny as it may sound, "Spine Sparing Secrets" coming from a 2 Time World long Drive Champion in Golf, I feel compelled to share with you some knowledge and research that has been the cornerstone to my duplication of great efforts.  Any one can accidentally have the rare performance that is above average, but can it be duplicated without injury is the million dollar question!  Through 30 years of Training myself and others, and being newer to the game of golf (picked it up in my late 30's), there are recurring themes that I feel compelled to distill and share with you as simply as I can.

 1.  Research regarding Repetitive Micro Trauma is clear!  Do enough of the wrong moves enough time, it breaks the system down over time...  Print out the Contraindicated exercise sheet from 1986 that I recently found in my archives...WOW.  And I wonder why so many of my excessive stretching and dancing clients are buying their pain on the installment plan?   For the same reason that any position that encourages "end range training" will eventually break down the spine.  Is it possible the protocols we are choosing is replicating a mechanism of injury?  The answer has to be a resounding YES with back pain at epidemic proportions!  The take home:  "Avoid end range training at all costs and keep the spine protected by turning on the correct muscles and keep the correct spine angles (not flat or excessively rounded forward or backward) during all movement!

Print this out.  Biomechanists, spine specialists and
research has not changed
it's opinion on these moves!  Be careful!!!

  

2.  Heard the old adage:  "you are what you eat?"  Well I propose "we look like what we do (or don't do)!  One sided athletes, look like one sided athletes if precision and care aren't taken to undo the imbalances that the one sided sport creates!  For example, see the sequence of photo's below:

3.  Research has clearly documented and tested in a quantitative and measurable way, how different positions put undue forces on the spine.  Minimize these highly compressive moves and you will be sparing your spine!  Print out the chart below and glue it to your bathroom mirror, please, as a kind reminder to be aware!!!  Remember you can minimize the wear and tear on the spine by removing some of these repetitive compressed positions from your life today!

What you see here is the percentage of Intradiscal Pressures represented by a number relative to a position.
For example, sitting slumped over is 250% greater compression to the spine than laying down.

4.  The Solution:  Knowing which positions to avoid and which ones to add becomes critical.  Wheres the instruction manual for "Spine Sparing" information?   Research is ever morphing, and confirming what we know:  Movement is healing...movement in good form is more healing!  Move more precise, learn to move better in great posture and Duplication of great performances are coming your way!

Until next time... stay in strength,

Lee Brandon, CSCS

If you don't have an AB-Inforcer, try this set up!

Once you understand the AB-Inforcer Core training basics
then add these gold standards.  They assume however, that you understand the precise positioning of the posture and correct muscles to be involved doing these more advanced drills!

The AB-Infrorcer takes the Rocket science out of training your core!
National Strength and Conditioning Association National Convention