Mike Robertson, Author at T NATION

13 Push-Ups for Athletic Dominance

Mike Robertson — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:00:30 +0000

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6 Pulling Exercises for Gains & Healthy Shoulders

Mike Robertson — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 13:00:20 +0000

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Tip: Band Resisted Jackknife

Mike Robertson — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 17:15:00 +0000

This is probably the most challenging subset of core exercises. The focus here should be on keeping your lumbar spine in a neutral alignment throughout, with no lumbar flexion or "tucking." Proper cueing here is critical. Focus on the following: Chest up and out. No hunching over to brace. Lock down your midsection. Allow as

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Tip: Activate the Lats, Prevent Bar Drift

Mike Robertson — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 20:15:00 +0000

Possibly the most common mistake I see when deadlifts get heavy is the bar drifting away from the body. Many lifters assume that a deadlift is just picking the bar straight up, but this isn't effective. As you pile on the plates, you need to think about actively engaging the lats and pulling the bar

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Tip: The Glute-Ham Raise

Mike Robertson — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:15:00 +0000

The glute-ham raise focuses on the knee flexion function of the hamstrings. But when most lifters perform a glute-ham raise for the first time, they'll arch their back to the max, and then start cranking out reps like it's their job. The problem? They're in a ridiculous anterior pelvic tilt; they're crushing their spine and

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Tip: Core-Engaged Dead Bug

Mike Robertson — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 17:15:00 +0000

Your anterior core can never be strong enough. For the core-engaged dead bug, lie on your back with the hips and knees flexed to 90 degrees, and then pull a light band over your core/torso to engage the abs. Exhale hard to get the ribs down, and think about "rolling" the pelvis back. Your back

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Tip: The Best Overall Deadlift Style

Mike Robertson — Wed, 17 May 2017 15:00:00 +0000

The deadlift is increasing in mainstream popularity. Today people outside of powerlifting and sports training are learning to love a big pull. But which type of deadlift is best for your goals: conventional, sumo, or trap bar? First, decide what you want to train. What's your priority? Are you wanting to build or strengthen your

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Tip: For Push-Ups, Make an Arrow

Mike Robertson — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:15:00 +0000

Too many people want to think in absolutes. Either they want the elbows flared out to 90 degrees, or they tuck them in hard by the sides. Neither option is great for your shoulders. With the elbows flared excessively, a ton of stress is placed on the shoulder joint. It's also an incredibly disadvantageous position

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Tip: The Push-Up That Prevents Injuries

Mike Robertson — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 16:00:00 +0000

Rotation-Focused Push-Ups Strong and explosive athletes have a tendency to get locked in the sagittal plane (driven into extension). If this becomes excessive, they lose access to their frontal and transverse planes, which can cause injuries up and down the kinetic chain. To remedy this, offset push-up variations can be crucial in getting trunk rotation

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Tip: The 3-Point Push-Up Test

Mike Robertson — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 12:00:00 +0000

The core is arguably the most important part of the body when performing a push-up. After all, tying together the upper and lower body is the reason we perform push-ups versus bench presses. Find and hold a neutral spine position throughout. If you laid a PVC pipe or broomstick on your back, you should have

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