Here is a very strong man building his conditioning and coordination with a BOSU ball among other tools. Very cool!

Both Sides Utilized helps enhance performance on the ground and in the sky!

I received this picture from a Navy Fighter Pilot who wears a BOSU Beanie underneath his helmet on every mission. This photo was taken somewhere over the Northern Arabian Sea.

Best in health,

DW

Some days I’ve sacrificed my physical training for work.  In early BOSU days, I did this a lot working upwards of 90+ hours a week for long stretches.  My mind was certainly active and I wasn’t sitting at a desk all day long for sure.  But never-the-less it is important to take time for yourself just to exercise.

Today I’m more careful not let my training slip by the wayside as life’s challenges and work commitments gobble up time and get in the way.  I find I am far more productive, and feel a lot better, when I take time out for exercise.

So don’t let life get in the way of your training.

Best in health,

DW

I’m launching the NEW BOSU Fitness website.  The main emphasis will be teaching BOSU - Both Sides Utilized - Training to members of my virtual gym.

This is the Phase 1 launch, for serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts.  Very excited.  This has been a long time in the making!

Best in health,

DW

Yesterday a friend forwarded me an article from a publication on Fitpro.com titled “The Debate”. In the article, Charles Poliquin espouses some untenable positions while attacking some individuals I hold in high regard and know personally. I do not know CP, but I’ve certainly heard of him and have read some of the things he’s written in the past. I think he has a lot to offer, but in this case he’s way off base.

The main question I would ask is does he really believe much of what he says in this article?

If so, CP loses a great deal of professional credibility with many of the statements he’s made. It’s not only the very large group of smart, talented, and well respected people in the strength and conditioning/fitness industry he directly alienates. Even those individuals who would tend to agree with CP on most matters will have a hard time supporting his position on this one.

Try playing out his logic in the real world. Contrary to what CP may think, training tools such as speed ladders, cones, etc., are not totally useless. In fact, they can be incredibly useful. Let’s look at the speed ladder. Choreographed footwork drills with a speed ladder help develop a foundation of fast and precise footwork. Better footwork translates into better “game speed” - which is essentially the ability to move your body on the field/court into a position where you can make a play when it counts. Ask football legend Jerry Rice about the value of training with a speed ladder.

I would never argue that increasing one’s skill with a soccer ball is a bad thing for a soccer player. But soccer players don’t always dribble the ball when they run on the field. Much of the time they are trying to defend or gain position for receiving a pass. To say that certain drills and training tools are categorically useless for soccer players because they do not involve a soccer ball simply misses the mark.

According to the arguments CP presents, jumping rope as a form of training would not help a boxer in the ring. His logic would state that jumping rope would be at best a distraction or perhaps only a waste of time. I wonder if CP might argue that jumping rope would actually impair one’s abilities in the boxing ring? After all, boxers aren’t competing in a jump rope contest when they box. Perhaps they should only spar and lift heavy weights?

We all know jumping rope alone won’t make you a great boxer, but most experts on the subject would agree that jumping rope contributes significantly to one’s ability to become a better boxer - regardless of the innate skill level of the individual. The bottom line is jumping rope is a very useful form of conditioning for boxing because it enhances footwork and timing throughout the entire body.

How many decent boxers in the history of boxing did not jump rope regularly in training?

If CP admits he is wrong, he should be forgiven. But if he truly holds on to the arguments he makes in this article, I think a lot of people in the strength and conditioning community, even many of his loyal fans, are going to see that in this case the “king” is wearing no clothes.

Best in health,

DW

Inventor of BOSU

Vern Gambetta is one of the “founding fathers” of the functional training movement in the US. I know Vern, as he was an early adopter of training with the BOSU Balance Trainer - though he’d be the first to tell you it must be used in proper context. He uses it this way.

If you read Vern’s blog you know Vern is persistently calling for change and improvement in the arena of coaching/teaching/training. He’s very much against what he would characterize as empty certifications, the kind that can be acquired over a weekend, by simply taking a written test, or by doing some online seminar.

He believes that this would enhance Athletic Development which he feels is lacking in this country.

Here’s how I feel about it. At the elite level Athleticism has never been higher. The athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster. Never before have there been so many “highlight” quality – “jaw dropping” plays. You see it in Basketball, Baseball, Football, which dominate television. And you see it in other sports.

American athletes also tend to dominate international and world competition in so many athletic events.

So is Athletic Development not working or in jeopardy of becoming obsolete? At the elite level I think not, though there is always more room for improvement.

Where Athletic Development is in shambles is with the millions of non-elite athletes and youngsters in this country who need better coaching/teaching. The athletic landscape continues to grow more and more competitive. Non-participation in athletics among youngsters is a huge problem that sets life long patterns of inactivity. This certainly relates to the rise in obesity – though it is only part of the problem.

There is also a great deal of need for improved coaching/teaching at some of the higher level athletic programs. Vern is absolutely correct when it comes to the “how many letters follow my name = how well qualified I am to coach/teach”. There is no substitute for experience. And Vern sure has more than most in this arena.

I’ve seen Vern in action, teaching a clinic. He has a knack for making the time very productive and the workouts accessible to all of the athletes including the less athletic kids. This is what is important when it comes to Athletic Development.

Most athletes won’t “go to the show”. Athletic Development is more about becoming a well-rounded individual who can enjoy, participate, and contribute to the betterment of him/herself as well as the rest of us.

It is such a shame when kids stop participating.

Better coaching/teaching is indeed needed and Vern is helping that happen.

Best in health,

DW
Inventor of BOSU

Talk about Both Sides Utilized… in the New York Times today is an article about a remarkable young baseball pitcher who can throw strikes with either arm. When a right handed batter gets up, he pitches right handed. When a left handed batter gets up, he pitches left handed. Huge advantage for the pitcher when he can throw with either arm - and his arm doesn’t get as tired because he’s not throwing with the same one all day.

His name is Pat Venditte and he plays for Creighton University. His father taught him to throw with either arm when he was three years old and it looks like it is paying off pretty well. It will be interesting to see how far Pat goes…

As the competitive levels keep rising in sports, I would imagine you will see more of this kind of talent emerging in the future. Stories like the one in the Times today will perhaps send a call out to young athletes, their parents and coaches that learning to use both sides of your body equally creates an enormous competitive advantage.

The training I have been developing over the past year makes learning a complex action like the overhand throwing motion with your non-dominant hand much easier than you might imagine. In as little as three of four months, I aquired this skill with my non-dominant hand. It is not quite as good as my right side, but it is getting closer the more I train with my new system - and I haven’t practiced the throwing motion that much so far, maybe now I will…. Click here to read the New York Times article.

Best in health,

DW

Inventor of BOSU

Steve Nash is a true NBA Superstar (plays for the Phoenix Suns) who trains with the BOSU Ball.

I recall a few years ago a friend telling me he heard Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban on a radio interview saying that Steve Nash (back then Nash played for the Mavs) had the best balance of all the players on his team. Cuban said every time the players had a contest to see who had the best balance, Nash would win. My friend had called to tell me this because Cuban made reference to the BOSU Ball when telling this story.

Well today in the Canadian newspaper “The Vancouver Sun”, Steve Nash tells readers that he trains with the BOSU Ball among other balance tools to hone his skills for the basketball court.

See the article here.

Go Steve! How Do You BOSU!?

Best in health,

DW
Inventor of BOSU

For those of you who don’t watch the show, Melinda Doolittle is the frontrunner on American Idol. My wife and I TiVO the show and enjoy listening to her each week. Earlier in the season Melinda revealed in an interview that she likes to use both sides of her body equally when doing things. If she does something with her right hand, she likes to balance it out by doing it with her left hand too.

She admitted that this is a bit of a compulsion for her. If she touches something hot, she likes to touch something cold… She’s always seeking balance in this way. I was intrigued to hear her say these things as I have a strong interest in seeking balance in some similar ways when I exercise.

Then I began to watch her more closely the next time I saw her sing. Sure enough if she begins a song holding the microphone in her right hand, she switches the mic to her left hand about half way through the song. Using both sides of her body utilizes both sides of her brain.

Go Melinda, you’re the best singer on the show and I hope you win it all! How do you BOSU?!

Best in health,

DW
Inventor of BOSU

Thought this was funny and wanted to share…

My Mom sent me a letter and along with it were a couple of BOSU ad clippings from the Sunday circulars.

You know you’re getting big time when your mom writes:

“… Rose gave these two ads to me. We used to keep a notebook with BOSU publicity, but now since there is so much we don’t. …”

It’s a good thing. More and more people are learning about the benefits of the BOSU Balance Trainer. This February we will be launching a modified version of the DSL Ball that will make a big splash in fitness. I stand by my earlier prediction that we will change stability ball training in the next several years. The new product is called the Ballast(TM) Ball. It’s a translucent ball with ballast inside (aka Dynamic Stabilizing Load). Now everyone can instantly see that the ball is different (which will help more people to learn why it’s better than a traditional stabiltiy ball. You can see video on this website on how to use it.

Also, I’m continuing to develop more advanced BOSU training (goes far beyond just using the BOSU Ball) and will be revealing “the Secret Weapon” soon…

Best in health,

DW
Inventor of BOSU