I’m sure I’m in the same camp as everyone else in that I’m scrambling to get some last minute Christmas shopping done.

Speaking of which, now that we have a kid and this is his first Christmas, I think I can buy an X-Box, have Lisa open it as a present, and say it’s for the family, right? RIGHT?¹

Okay, time to get to shopping. Wish me luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

But First

1. Coaching Competency Workshop – Dallas, TX

A week from today I’ll be in Dallas, TX putting on my Coaching Competency Workshop.

I’ll break down assessment in addition to troubleshooting common strength-based exercises such as deadlifts, squats, shoulder-friendly pressing, to name a few.

This is ideal for any personal trainer, coach, or regular ol’ Joe or Jane looking to learn more on my coaching process.

Details are located on the flyer above, and you can purchase HERE.

2) Mark Fisher Fitness Presents: Motivate & Movement LAB

I’ve had the honor of presenting at two previous iterations of the Motivate & Movement LAB (the brainchild of MFF’s Harold Gibbons) and it’s unequivocally one of the most unique events in the fitness industry.

Think: TED Talk, but with deadlifts and lots of f-bombs.

Anyways, the next LAB is this coming February, and will feature myself, Dan John, Pete Dupuis, my wife (Dr. Lisa Lewis), and several of the MFF coaching staff including Brian Patrick Murphy and Amanda Wheeler.

3) Spurling Spring Seminar

JUST ANNOUNCED: I’ll also be making a cameo up in Kennebunk, Maine this Spring for the Spurling Spring Seminar.

It’s not until April, but you can save BIG now ($100 off) by purchasing an (early) early bird ticket by clicking the link above.

[Link also provides details on all the presenters and topics covered]

There aren’t many industry events that come into this neck of the woods, so hope to see you there!

Stuff To Read While You’re Pretending To Work

Do Your Bodyweight Exercises Suck Compared To Your Loaded Ones? – Marianne Kane

I thought this was an interesting article as it’s a phenomenon I see quite often: a client crushes his or her’s barbell squats or deadlifts, only to struggle with, of all things, push-ups.

One Common Myth That Will Keep You In Pain – Michael Infantino

Wow – this was/is a deep article.

Grab a cup of coffee, you’ll need it.²

Merry Christmas, Bob – Chris Shugart

I read this article for the first time waaaaaaay back in 2002 or 2003 or something like that.

Whatever the case: smart phones and social media didn’t exist.

It’s still one of my all-time favorite articles and one that Chris reposts on T-Nation each year.

Social Media Shenanigans

Twitter

Soft reminder: Unless you’re a competitive power lifter, squat depth is arbitrary. Optimal or best depends on injury history, goals, ability level, and anatomical considerations.

— Tony Gentilcore (@tonygentilcore1) December 15, 2017

Instagram

Here’s a quick-n-dirty exercise that pecifies your pecs. Originally did this at the tail end of a bro session with @justinkompf awhile ago and decided to do a few sets today after benching. Try to keep your body as ridged as possible and then think about “hugging” yourself like the sexy beast you are, squeezing pecs at the top for a 2s count. Good one.

A post shared by Tony Gentilcore (@tonygentilcore) on Dec 14, 2017 at 9:07am PST