Tommy Young

THERE has been a steady rise in popularity over the past 10 years in combat sports and specifically in female participation. You don't have to go pro and jump in the ring or cage to benefit from the training effects of these sports. Training like a fighter is hard work and hard work sees results. Hitting pads and bags as well as learning a new skill is greatly rewarding. At the University of Glasgow’s Muay Thai club, we have around 245 training members and more than 60 per cent of the club are female.

THE reasoning behind this weekend’s focus on yoga stems from something I am seeing more and more of in our clients and among athletes. The real topic of discussion is movement dysfunction in the physically active.

If you are wondering whether alcohol is ruining your fitness goals, the most important question is: what are your trying to achieve? Are you an athlete training for professional competition, are you trying to loose stubborn body fat, are you training to gain muscle as part of a training plan? All of these questions point us towards a similar answer. Yes, drinking alcohol will impair your fitness goals – but there is a scale.

Loaded carries, they sound pretty self-explanatory – and they are. Pick up some weights and carry them but loaded carries can be done in various ways: walking with the weights in your hands (farmer's walk), carrying the weight in the crook of your elbows (zercher carry), or holding a weight plate, kettlebell or even dumbbells above your head. The pushing or pulling of sleds are all classed as loaded carries.

IF, like me, you love to indulge in the local cuisine while on holiday abroad, then some damage control ideas are a must. Lying by the pool is a great way to chill out and recharge the batteries but squeezing in a workout or brisk walk before or after will also help you feel more relaxed. I'm not saying you should spend two hours in the gym every day of your holiday: 20 to 30 minutes is plenty and if you can add some intensity, that's great too.

WITH summer holiday season fast approaching I wonder how many people have ever thought about going on a training holiday? There are so many benefits to be gained from travelling to paradise and refuelling for the rest of the year.

This week we look at training for pregnancy. I've probably trained more pregnant clients this year than I have in the past 5 years. It has been a great experience helping each woman stay strong and cope with the demands on their body.

THIS week let’s take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about training. I am sure that most of you will have heard at least one of these myths before. Now, before we get started, I would like to open with this: if you are working out and making steps towards a fitter, healthier self, then that is brilliant. This article is intended to shed light on misconception, not on bashing certain training methods. Doing something is better than doing nothing, but if you want the best results from the time you train, you must train smart.

THIS week we address the king of the upper-body strength exercises, the pull-up. The aim here is to look at what pull-ups are, how to train for your first pull-up and how we can progress the movement. OK, so first up, what exactly is a pull-up? The pull-up is an upper-body compound movement beginning from a dead hang on a bar, hands wider than shoulder distance and palms facing away from your body. Start by squeezing the lats (latissimus dorsi, the muscles on your back that run under your armpits and round to the middle of your back) and shoulders together and pull yourself up towards the bar. The aim is for the chest or sternum to make contact with the bar before lowering to the start position again. If the pull-up is done with good form you will effectively work the muscles of your back, arms, forearms, shoulders and abdominals. This is why it is known as the king of upper-body exercises. Training for your first full pull-up can take some time, so you must be patient. Variables include, starting strength, athletic background and bodyweight. Bodyweight is probably the biggest obstacle most will face in achieving their first strict pull-up. If you are overweight you can still start with the first of the steps below, but the closer you are to a lean physique the easier it will be to move on through the stages.