From Muscle Dysmorphia to Building a World-Class Set of Legs

Adam Bisek is a trainer who is at home both personally and online. He describes his job as an opportunity to change lives. To this end, he also believes that personal training should be exactly as described, personally.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How muscular dysmorphism shaped Adam's fitness trip
  • How he got perspective and realized that his struggles were indeed a blessing in disguise
  • The importance of intent if you want to succeed
  • How to build a premium leg set

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 Hands-on Review

blackmagic design ursa mini pro 46k g2 rating 5

Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 to touch

"The hardware is great, but Blackmagic RAW is a game changer for indie and small budget productions."

  • Blackmagic RAW codec

  • 120 fps 4.6K

  • Accessible user interface

  • Built-in ND filters

  • Cumbersome placement of the iris dial

  • Some nickel and diming for accessories

"Bear" is a fitting name for the beast that is Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 from Blackmagic Design, the flagship of the company's cinema camera. But it is a well-trained bear. The Ursa is docile where other such machines appear fearsome in their complexity. I've never been so amazed at how easy a camera is to take professional pictures.

It really feels like cheating. Turn it on, point it at something, press record, and there will be a picture for the big screen. If you know how to use a DSLR, you can find out the Ursa in minutes.

Okay, it takes a bit more work. You first need to decide which record button to press – there are approximately four of them. But once you've chosen your favorite, there's nothing standing in the way of making your director's dreams come true. At least from a technical point of view.

Despite my love of techno, the Ursa remains outside my league – and yet not alien to my budget. I won't buy one soon for a five under $ 6,000, but it's a lot cheaper than comparable movie cameras from other manufacturers.

I'm not sure why a Red or Arri, the camera of choice in Hollywood, is worth tens of thousands more. But as someone who shoots video with a mirrorless hybrid camera, I can see the value of climbing to Ursa. Six giants are a lot of money. But here, with the Ursa, it feels like a bargain.

Design and user interface

The original Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K was the first Blackmagic camera to feel ready. After a few years of eye-catching and bizarre designs, Blackmagic landed on a familiar shape that bridges the gap between a cinema camera and an ENG camcorder.

The G2 refines the formula with small but important improvements to the electronics without changing what has already worked. The result is not only a professional video camera that shames my aging but trustworthy Fujifilm X-T2, but also the best value in the cinema world.

Blackmagic gets a low price by selling you a bare bones camera. A viewfinder, a battery and a handle are add-ons that can add hundreds or thousands to the price. This can make cameras like the Canon C200 cheaper for $ 6,500 with viewfinder and battery. However, the Ursa has a hardware advantage: 15 levels of the announced dynamic range compared to Canon's 13, higher frame rates and a more versatile RAW format.

Although not new, the built-in filter control with neutral density is a key feature of the Ursa – and many dedicated video cameras. You can select 0, 2, 4 or 6 stops by turning an adjustment wheel so that you never have to deal with a screw-on lens filter. Think of sunglasses for your camera. ND filters reduce light and allow you to keep a slower shutter speed for smooth movements and / or a larger aperture for a shallower depth of field when shooting in bright environments.

The viewfinder may not be standard, but a touchscreen monitor is the most accessible user interface you can get with a camera. Blackmagic has set itself the goal of standardizing the user interface for all camera models. So if you have a pocket cinema camera, you will feel at home with the Ursa. The user interface is easy to learn if you have not used a Blackmagic camera before.

The Ursa has numerous physical buttons and toggle switches for access to frequently used functions such as ISO, shutter angle / speed and white balance. A complaint? The iris dial is hard to reach when the monitor is open, a design flaw that Blackmagic may have missed because cameramen who use real cinema lenses use the iris ring on the lens.

Not me. I used standard Canon EF lenses. Apart from the bizarre iris control, I love that about the Ursa. Camera lenses are much cheaper than their cinema counterparts, but often of no less optical quality. (However, the Ursa's autofocus features aren't good – stick to manual focus.)

For this test, Sigma lent me its 18-35mm and 50-100mm f / 1.8 lenses, a pair of zooms that make a strong case for being the only lenses you need. Together, they're worth about $ 1,900. Sure, that's a bit of a change, but it's a far cry from the $ 8,000 required for theatrical versions of these lenses. (In truth, this is still quite affordable in the field of cinema glass.)

In addition, the Ursa Mini Pro has interchangeable lens mounts. In addition to the active Canon EF mount, you can use PL (the standard for cinema cameras), B4 for broadcast lenses, or even a passive Nikon F mount. The latter opens up the Ursa to a decade-long legacy of photographic lenses. I have a small collection of Nikon glass from the film era that I would like to have tested on the Ursa. Next time.

Of course, cinema lenses have some advantages – mostly they make you look like an ass – but Blackmagic's willingness to let you mount any old DSLR lens natively is a big plus for the indie and student filmmakers. From news gathering to film production, the Ursa Mini Pro can be configured to fill a variety of roles. The Digital Trends video team even used it on the floor at CES 2020.

Performance and picture quality

The updated electronics of the Ursa Mini Pro G2 are all about speed. Above all, this means new slow motion HFR (High Frame Rate) options. 4.6K footage can be captured at up to 120 frames per second, while 1080p can reach 300 fps. The 4.6K / 120 film material is recorded across the entire width of the sensor and automatically played back in slow motion (up to 5 times with 24p pictures).

It looks absolutely awesome. I also appreciated how the camera records audio in HFR mode, which many smaller cameras don't. This way, you can either slow down the audio in the mail to adjust it to the footage (think of the dramatic “Noooooo!” Shouted by a character approaching a certain doom) or the footage back to real-time speed boot up and use it more or less -less like a normal clip if you have to.

The updated electronics increase the maximum ISO by 3,200. That's nothing compared to modern still cameras with ISOs by the hundreds of thousands, but it makes the Ursa usable indoors. It is important that this high ISO value is useful when shooting HFR footage. This requires a faster shutter speed and requires compensation by either opening the iris or increasing the ISO.

Footage shot with ISO 3,200 can look grainy, especially when you try to lift the shadows in the post, but I never thought it would look bad. It's what it is, and you should try to stay at lower ISOs if possible, but I appreciate having that extra stop when I needed it.

Thanks to faster processing, the readout time of the sensor is shortened and the "Jello Cam" effect of the electronic roller shutter is controlled. In practice, I didn't notice it at all, except in very fast pans where I specifically searched for it.

File quality and flexibility

When I tested the first generation Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K, it was before Blackmagic released its RAW video format. It could record Cinema DNG, an open RAW format from Adobe, but I didn't have the storage or processing power to handle it. With the G2, I have finally experienced the power of Blackmagic RAW first-hand and it is absolutely revolutionary.

This is a RAW video format for the rest of us. With selectable compression levels up to 12: 1, .braw clips can be recorded on standard SD cards. In fact, the bit rate at 12: 1 compression is lower than the 400 megabits per second non-RAW codecs in cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH5s and the Fujifilm X-T3. You still want a fast V90 card to be safe, but you don't have to be a professional studio or have a big budget to work with RAW video. That's great.

Sample material taken with the Ursa Mini Pro G2 Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

I recorded all of my test material in .braw with 12: 1 compression and it looked great. I edited and colored the clips in Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 16 on my eight year old iMac and it worked. Performance was problematic after adding more than the most basic color adjustment, but the fact that it worked at all is impressive.

If you're concerned about editing performance, Ursa can record proxy files in addition to RAW footage, so you don't have to create proxies when importing.

I am not an experienced colorist or even an experienced DaVinci Resolve user, but I come from the world of still photography, where RAW files have been common for many years. Working with RAW videos seems familiar to me. In some ways, it is easier to work with other codecs like h.264 or even ProRes, which are often recorded with a flat logarithmic tone curve to maintain dynamic range and look like garbage before color correction is applied.

In contrast, Blackmagic RAW material can be used directly from the camera. It is also flexible. Even at 12: 1 compression, I was amazed at how many details I could pull out of the shadows.

Not everyone needs RAW video, but as Blackmagic explained to me, Blackmagic RAW offers the best quality-to-file ratio at any compression level compared to non-RAW formats. There is no reason not to use it. Well, unless you want to import directly into Final Cut Pro X, which currently doesn't have a plugin to support .braw files. (There is a plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro.)

Conclusion

The Ursa Mini Pro G2 is proof that we are living in an incredible time for photo and video equipment. I am jealous of today's film students who may have access to it. They can produce large-screen films in their dormitories and never know how difficult it is to record and edit standard-definition footage on MiniDV tapes.

Of course, for many of us, $ 6,000 could just as easily be $ 60,000. If it's out of your budget, it's out of your budget. However, some of the Ursa's most important functions – such as Blackmagic RAW – are available in the cheaper Pocket Cinema Camera series. The Ursa Mini Pro may still be a desirable product for people like me, but unlike a Red or an Arri, it's not a dream. I can at least afford to rent it.

Editor's recommendations




The Underpinning Reason That Stops You From Building Muscle

Luke Leaman is a trainer, fitness trainer and founder of Muscle Nerds, the company he founded after getting angry about the industry and the lack of empathy and science in it. He is also an acolyte of the great Charles Poliquin, who is unfortunately no longer with us, and a highly regarded pioneer in hypertrophy.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The reason that keeps people from building muscle
  • How to measure your overall health and stress status with three simple metrics
  • Why Leas mode is a secret to unlock your beast mode and much more

This is the latest in a series of interviews with some of the leading minds and pioneers in the industry today. A few things make these podcasts unique and I hope they are fun and inspiring: I try to curate the world's greatest hypertrophy experts.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro Review: Size Hardly Matters

Olympus OMD E M1

Olympus M.Zuiko ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro Test: Small but robust

"The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 is the smallest in its class and a breeze."

  • Built to last

  • Very compact

  • Macro focus

  • Sharp

  • Affordable

  • F / 4 is limited to Micro Four Thirds

  • No manual focus switch or focus scale

  • Some barrel distortion

When you take the mirror out of the camera, a smaller housing is created. With lenses, however, nothing needs to be removed to achieve a smaller look. While some brands have been able to save a few ounces, lenses still lag far behind in portability. However, the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45 mm F4.0 Pro is the most compact and lightest of all lenses in this class.

Part of that is thanks to the smaller Micro Four Thirds format, but this new 12-45mm is still impressively small. According to Olympus, there are almost 190 precision-made parts in the 2.76-inch long housing of the lens. Despite the size, Olympus managed to achieve the highest level of macroeconomic ability, excellent sharpness and weather protection.

The question is whether the smaller size and lower price can offset a narrower aperture compared to Olympus' existing f / 2.8 option. We combined the lens with the new Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III to find out.

Design features

Weighing just under 9 ounces, the Olympus 12-45mm 1: 4 Pro is a lens that feels well balanced on the front of a mirrorless body. Olympus says it's the most compact and lightest in its class, but the Four Thirds sensor with its 2-fold crop factor already gives it an advantage as the lens is compared to 24-90mm full frame lenses.

While the lens is light, Olympus hasn't left out the weather seal. My test device survived accidental dousing by an ocean wave and was no worse for wear.

The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 consists of 12 elements in nine groups, including the optical Zuiko extra-low reflection coating to combat flares and ghosting.

The lens is made of metal and lies well in the hand. However, the smaller size leaves less space for controls, just the zoom and focus ring. Both are smooth and easy to adjust.

In contrast to many other Olympus lenses, the focus ring is not retracted to switch to manual focus. There is also no place for a focus scale.

The Olympus 12-45 mm 1: 4 Pro not only covers a decent zoom range, but also offers almost macro levels with a 0.5x playback ratio (35 mm equivalent) over the entire zoom range. This creates a high degree of versatility with such a small lens, so you can switch from wide-angle to medium-telephoto to macro without having to change the lenses.

The autofocus was able to keep up with the subjects quickly and accurately. It didn't seem to struggle or hunt back and forth even with limited lighting, a good sign of a relatively slow lens.

Image quality & examples

This pro in the name is small, but it brings the 12-45 mm in the high-end lens family from Olympus – and it shows. Overall, the lens takes some sharp, colorful pictures, while most distortion remains low.

The sharpness is excellent in the entire zoom range, even when the shots are wide open. There is a subtle difference between 1: 4 and 1: 5, but with such a small amount, this is probably not important for real recordings.

The lens has a slight vignette on the corners at 12 mm and 45 mm. Both are small enough to undo post-processing.

At 12 mm there is a noticeable barrel distortion, which decreases as you enlarge it. With a wide-angle zoom, the distortion is not out of the norm and can be corrected with a few changes afterwards. As soon as machining programs support the lens, a quick profile correction should be an even faster solution.

Overall, Flare is well controlled. At the wrong angle, the light creates a small green torch. Smaller light sources also tend to starburst.

Chromatic aberration was also difficult to find. I spotted some light purple and blue edges along high contrast objects on the edge of the frame, but I really had to look for them.

While the image quality is solid, the 1: 4 aperture is not very bright for a pro lens. In combination with the Micro Four Thirds format, it is therefore more difficult to obtain smooth, creamy backgrounds. It is also a bad combination for shooting in low light. Given the lens' focus on portability, these are compromises that customers are likely to accept.

Our opinion

The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro, available for around $ 650 from April 7, is a solid little lens that lets you take great pictures. The robust construction and small size mix with the almost macro-capable functions and the long range to create a lens that is likely to spend a lot of time on the camera.

However, the smaller size eliminates some common design elements, such as simply switching from automatic to manual focus and a focus scale. The narrower aperture of 1: 4 is also not ideal in every scenario.

How long it will take?

The metal construction and weatherproofing should help this lens be used for several years and is unlikely to be replaced for many years.

Is there a better option?

Yes – if you have a larger budget and a little more space in your camera bag. The M.Zuiko ED 12-40 mm 1: 2.8 Pro has the same robust construction and is also designed for high-end image quality. However, it's 4.5 ounces heavier and about $ 350 more.

Should you buy it

Yes. Buy the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4.0 Pro if you need a compact wide-angle zoom that delivers excellent image quality but doesn't require a large aperture.

Editor's recommendations




The Six Pack of Knowledge: Thought Leaders in Hypertrophy

Find our podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, PodBean

This is a series of interviews with some of the leading minds and thought leaders working in the industry today. I am your host, Tom MacCormick, a personal trainer and online coach. A few things make these podcasts unique and I hope they are fun and inspiring: I try to curate the world's greatest hypertrophy experts. I think we got off to a good start with the experts listed below.

Second, I constantly work with clients in the gym and online, people who face challenges that are unique to them, but all have the common goal of being fit and healthy and showing these results in their bodies. So I have a lot of questions and experiences about the conversations in these podcasts.

All of these podcasts, individually or collectively, represent the latest in human performance and hypertrophy training. It is based on solid research, extensive expertise and knowledge gained through real training practices.

Nerding Out on Muscle Growth, Strength, and Repeat Schemes

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Greg Nuckols is a record-breaking powerlifter, fitness author, podcaster and all-round training nerd owner of Stronger by Science. He wants to help lifters and trainers train smarter.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The predictors of muscle potential
  • Training guidelines for hypertrophy
  • The role of strength in hypertrophy
  • Why he doesn't drink the effective repetitions of Kool-Aid

Muscle dysmorphism and building a first-class leg set

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Adam Bisek is a trainer who is at home both personally and online. He describes his job as an opportunity to change lives. To this end, he also believes that personal training should be exactly as described, personally.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How muscular dysmorphism shaped Adam's fitness trip
  • How he got perspective and realized that his struggles were indeed a blessing in disguise
  • The importance of intent if you want to succeed
  • How to build a premium leg set

The reason that keeps you from building muscle

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Luke Leaman is a trainer, fitness trainer and founder of Muscle Nerds, the company he founded after getting angry about the industry and the lack of empathy and science in it.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The reason that keeps people from building muscle
  • How to measure your overall health and stress status with three simple metrics
  • Why Leas mode is a secret to unlock your beast mode and much more

Get bigger, get stronger, get smarter

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Daniel DeBrocke is a strength and conditioning trainer who mainly works with power lifts and an educator who works hard to share his knowledge without asking for anything. As a competitive powerlifter, it holds a total of £ 1,700. DeBrocke also wrote: Is lifting heavy weight important for building muscle? among other great articles about Breaking Muscle.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How he took himself from 165 to 286 pounds
  • How beginners can build muscles most efficiently
  • How advanced lifters should sequence their training to make optimal progress
  • Pivot blocks, strategic variations, labor capacity development and more

Control the chaos of training in CrossFit

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

James Fitzgerald has more than 20 years of experience as a strength trainer. He was also the CrossFit game champion in 2007 and is the founder of OPEX, the educational provider for coaches looking for career success, longevity and fulfillment.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Control the training chaos for CrossFit
  • Why you shouldn't let energy systems work if you want to build muscle
  • The importance of the intestine for muscle and strength gains
  • Why a cyclical approach makes sense for your trade and diet

The role of cardio in hypertrophy and why CrossFitter are so jacked up

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Kyle Hunt started his fitness journey as a £ 85 child who wanted to wrestle and is now running an online strength and fitness consultancy. He prides himself on helping people achieve their goals as time efficiently as possible.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The role of cardio in hypertrophy
  • Why CrossFitter are so jacked up
  • How to program cardio if you want muscle mass without getting out of breath and tying your shoelaces
  • How to periodize both your workout and your diet for maximum results
  • The forgotten training phase that so many people miss

Exercise frequency and stubborn muscle groups

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Juma Iraki is the founder of Iraki Nutrition, a Norwegian company made up of sports scientists, athletes, nutritionists and researchers who offer training and nutrition, education and advice services to businesses and athletes.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Training frequency for size and why it is a variable. Many people get wrong phases of specialization for stubborn muscle groups
  • How many calories do you need to build muscle?
  • How fast you should gain weight when bulking
  • The two additions that work and the other two that might work

Three simple changes for strength and growth

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Wolfgang Unsoeld from Your Personal Strength Institute is a Stuttgart-based trainer who has worked with top athletes from 20 different sports. However, the vast majority of his business spends working with customers from the general population with whom he has built a reputation as the world's leading provider of body transformations.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The similarities and differences between gene pop and elite athletes
  • The most important measuring instruments with which he tracks progress
  • The three simple changes he makes to his clients' training, eating and living habits
  • And a popular new fashion trend that is little more than an illusion designed to sell programs

Keystone habits of a slim body

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Abel Csabai. Abel went into the nutrition and training game as part of his quest for personal growth. He started the podcast "Sustainable self-development". Hundreds of hours of podcasting and his own fitness journey gave Abel the opportunity to be looked after and educated by some of the best in the business, which allowed him to put all these philosophies together to create his unique view of things.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The hard lessons he learned when trying to get big and torn
  • The basic habits for maintaining a slim body
  • The power of mindfulness
  • And realistic body fat proportions for cutting and bloating

Building muscle whether you have elite genetics or not

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Menno Henselmans. Menno is an online body trainer, scientific researcher and fitness educator who traded his company car for his passion for fitness.

In this episode, consider the following in detail:

  • When there are really tough winners
  • How to predict your genetic potential for muscle growth
  • Realistic muscle growth rates
  • How to determine your ideal training volumes and frequencies
  • The fact that Menno has stopped counting in how many countries he lived at 50! Yes, 50!

Put your head in the muscle building game

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Valentin Tambosi. Valentin is a Natural Pro bodybuilder, prep coach and educator as part of the Intelligent Strength Coach program.

His passion for training shows up in this episode and you can really feel that he enjoys helping people achieve their fitness goals.

In this episode, we delve into the following:

  • The mindset required to build muscle
  • The intensity of the effort required
  • Creation of the ideal training environment
  • The power of visualization
  • And we go into the basics of programming training in detail to maximize growth. In particular, the identification of the 3 most important pillars of muscle building

We round off the show with some important training strategies for chest, biceps and back.

Maximize your return on investment in the gym

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Borge Fagerli's background as an engineer and later as an entrepreneur and CEO has enabled him to integrate his methods into a step-by-step system that can change your health, your appearance and your performance both mentally and physically.

Borge has been in the industry for over 20 years and develops "Myo-reps" – one of the most time-efficient and effective training strategies for building muscle.

As a 45-year-old father and business owner, Borge is an expert in how busy men can achieve exceptional results without having to give up their lifestyle.

In this episode, we delve into the following:

  • What causes muscles to grow?
  • Effective repetitions
  • Junk volume
  • Maximize your return on investment through training
  • Myo-reps

And a shocking revelation about him!

Stay open, but skeptical to achieve elite performance

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Andy Galpin. Andy is a professor at the Center for Sports Performance at CSU Fullerton. He is a pioneer in the field of human performance education and has his finger on the pulse of all innovative modalities with which you can improve your sporting activities.

In this episode we deal intensively with muscle building. Andy channels both his inner brother and inner nerd to give you a variety of golden nuggets to take and use to improve your results.

The number 1 factor that determines whether you build muscle, strength and strength

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Dr. John Rusin is a leading expert in the fitness and sports performance industry for the painless performance training model that combines the world of strength and conditioning with clinical exercise-based diagnostic medicine to provide the ultimate result-based methods.

In this episode, we discuss red flags that may be holding you back, the 6 basic movement patterns, and how to develop strength in them, how to make your body bulletproof, and why strength is never a weakness.

The difference between discipline and motivation at JC Deen

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is JC Deen. JC has been active in athletics for over a decade and is now working as a fitness consultant for fitness enthusiasts and athletes around the world.

It gets people in shape and helps them learn how fitness can complement their lives instead of governing them.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of having a mentor. The psychology to achieve your goals. The lessons he learned were torn apart for the first time. How to develop positive habits and rituals, a surprising fact about your past and much more.

Increase the ROI of your diet and training with Eric Bach

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Eric Bach describes himself as a bacon, bourbon, coffee connoisseur and overly invested sports fan. He has been helping high school, college and professional athletes for a decade. Helps boys build confident, strong and athletic bodies. Works both in person and online.

Eric has tried all of the BS gimmicks in the industry. Discovered that they didn't work and reduced his training to the following motto: "Success lies in the tireless pursuit of the basics."

Below we discuss the basics of building an athletic and aesthetic body, the most important muscle building habits you need to know, common mistakes most lifters make, how fast you can build muscles realistically, and much more.

The thin advantage with Brad Borland

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Brad Borland started out as a skinny 125-pound child weighing six feet and two inches. He started strength training at the tender age of fourteen, and a few years later became a competitive, drug-free, natural bodybuilder weighing 220 pounds. Now, armed with knowledge and muscles, he has helped countless people at home and abroad.

Brad is also a university lecturer with a master's degree in kinesiology and a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

We discuss a wide range of topics, including why people use genetics as an excuse, realistic win rates for a natural lifter, how to filter the information overload that bombarded the modern lifter, and Brad's preferred way of exercising when you want to build muscle as quickly as possible.

Strategies that can lead you from good to great in the gym

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Joel Seedman. With over 15 years of experience in personnel and team training, strength training and nutritional advice, Joel works with a large number of customers.

To maximize performance and health, Joel focuses on improving his clients' muscle function and movement mechanics. In this way, all characteristics of performance, fitness and health improve – regardless of the athlete or training goal.

In this episode, we delve into the causes of muscle growth, the role of genetics in muscle and strength gains, the benefits of eccentric isometry, factors that could hamper your progress, and Joel is the most interesting man on the planet.

Reignite the passion – lessons from a world champion

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Damian Lees. Damian is a personal trainer, online prep coach and WNBF Pro Natural Bodybuilder. At the World Championships, he took second place. In the interview we go into detail about how you can apply the principles and strategies he has learned from years as a competitive natural bodybuilder at the highest level to your own training. These tips will help you maximize your results.

We discuss the mistakes he made in the past, how to reconcile family, work and social life with the performance of the elite, which prevents people from making the progress they are able to make at home. Equip gym and more!

How to be ruthlessly efficient in the gym

The Six Pack of Knowledge: thought leaders in hypertrophy - fitness, bodybuilding, performance, elite, hypertrophy, elite programming, knowledge, growth hacking, podcast, training programming, sense of growth

Our guest for this episode is Michael Goulden. Michael is a personal trainer and founded his training facility Integra in 1997. Since then, he has integrated movement mechanics into neuromuscular preparation to develop a uniquely sustainable approach to health, fitness and performance. He has also become one of the UK's leading fitness educators.

In this episode, we delve deeply into all aspects of exercise mechanics. In conversation we discuss:

  • The importance of exercise mechanics for training efficiency
  • Considerations for individualizing the process
  • Active V passive
  • Align exercises and programs with goals
  • And a complete challenge for the contractile reach of the muscles

Feedback welcome

If you liked these podcasts and you cared about them, rate and rate them so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level.

If you are interested in working with me or learning more about my approach, follow me on Instagram @tommaccormick or visit my website tommaccormick.com.

Sennheiser HD 450BT Headphones Review: Affordable Cans

Sennheiser HD 450BT ANC headphones

Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones Review: Good value for money, with some limitations

"Impressive features, style, and noise cancellation are an affordable option for price-conscious buyers."

  • Sleek, understated style

  • Excellent battery life

  • Good build quality

  • Solid noise cancellation

  • Smooth, clean bass reproduction

  • Inconsistent tone signature

  • No automatic pause or ambient noise mode

  • App / EQ not useful

High-end travel cans like the indelible WH-1000XM3 from Sony are becoming an essential necessity for commuters and travelers. But if you can't spit out $ 300 to $ 400 (or can't find a good sale), it's possible to purchase a pair of wireless cans that offer the same benefits – from active noise canceling to deadly battery life and sound – , for less?

Headphones like the Sennheiser HD 450BT hope to make the argument that you can spend less and still get a lot. And on paper, the latest iteration is a good case. The magic value of $ 200 (450 BT) offers noise reduction, a full 30 hours of battery life and many other functions with a capital letter "V". However, before you click the "Buy" button, you want to know exactly where the rubber for these middle-class cans meets the proverbial road.

The look (and feel) of luxury

If there's one thing you can clearly say about the HD 450BT, it's that it looks like this. The 450BT is in matt black and has soft silver accents to break up the monotony. It makes the "business traveler" look cold and offers just enough style points to keep you from falling asleep. In other words, their aesthetics match most of the flagship headphones, including the Sony pair mentioned above.

Sennheiser HD 450BT ANC headphones Riley Young / Digital Trends

In addition, the matt plastic ear cups and headband of the 450BT feel just like the comfortable ear cushions, which are wrapped in inviting synthetic leather. The only limitation is the padding on the underside of the headband, which feels much less comfortable when touched than you would like for a long flight or constant commuting. That said, although the band didn't rock my head in pillow-like goodness, it never felt uncomfortable even after I had worn them for a few hours. The only little problem I am going to offer is that I wish the ear pads were only a shade wider, but it didn't bother me.

Keys on keys

Instead of adding expensive touch controls, the HD 450BT uses an all-button control system. Overall, it works relatively well, but there is a real learning curve. Technically speaking, there are only four buttons on the right auricle. However, this includes three multipurpose buttons, including a power / ANC button, a volume rocker, and a multi-button that does everything from answering calls to skipping tracks.

It is this last key that turns out to be the most annoying as you move through the sequence. Not only is it a bit of a hassle when skipping songs (I found that a quick flick of the thumb works best), skipping backwards from what is logical. If you move the key forward – towards your face – you actually jump back and vice versa. After more than a week I usually don't have it anymore, but I still mix it occasionally.

The voice assistant feature is a great addition, but there is something strange to keep in mind. I'm actually glad Sennheiser made this the only single-function key, but it seems to happen to do two things. When you tap for voice support, the headphones also pass on ambient noise. The strange part, however, is that there doesn't seem to be any other way to do this, which means you have to take off your headphones if you want to hear things like train or flight attendant announcements. I hope this is something that Sennheiser addresses in a firmware update.

The entire range of functions would have been reserved for first-class headphones just recently.

Even without transparent sound, a number of features are impressive, including instant access to the voice assistant, battery life for a longer flight (and more expensive headphones like the 700 from Bose), solid noise cancellation, aptX support for compatible devices and much more , Such a range of extras would have been reserved for top-of-the-range headphones recently.

What you don't get

While the HD 450BT is above its weight in the feature section, there are some useful ones that you will definitely miss. First, there is no automatic pause that is useful for quickly pausing music when you remove an ear cup, and you can also thoughtlessly turn off the headphones without worrying about battery drain.

After getting used to this feature from the WH-1000XM3 to Apple's AirPods, I had to keep reminding myself to pause the music.

In addition, the Sennheiser Smart Control app is pretty useless for these headphones anyway. The only real function is an EQ, but I'll give you my audio engineer certificate (I have it somewhere, I think) if you can figure out how to use it. As an esoterically shining band, it is not manageable to properly tune the sound. How about a basic parametric or graphic EQ, folks?

A mixture of passive and active noise reduction keeps outside interference out.

noise control

Although I couldn't use the HD 450BT for the traveling Holy Grail – a long flight – I can report that they do a solid job in a variety of settings to keep unwanted noise away. This seems to be due to a clever combination of passive isolation and active noise cancellation, which keeps your listening sessions unrestricted and outside annoyances at bay.

Sennheiser HD 450BT ANC headphones Riley Young / Digital Trends

The comfortable cushions in themselves block a lot of unwanted hustle and bustle, while noise cancellation adds an extra layer to fairly effectively suppress engine humming and other booming noises. While they're not a replacement for the WH-1000XM3 – which even offers additional pressure control for extra points – or one of Bose's top picks in the genre, the 700 or the QC35 II, the HD 450BT is sure to give your trips some peace and quiet ,

Decent (albeit inconsistent) sound

Since these are Sennheiser headphones, the strangest part of my HD 450BT experience was the inconsistent sound quality that I experienced during my listening sessions. First of all, let me say that the headphones offer a balanced, relatively detailed sound and also present instruments without "masking" well, which means that instruments are rarely lost in the mix.

I particularly like the bass reproduction of the 450BT. For someone who hates bass-heavy cans, they are perfectly reserved, yet present the tone and color from kick drums to bass guitar with power and clarity. Paul McCartney's exquisite bass tone on Something shows itself in all its soft, chocolatey splendor. And while the bass never gets overwhelming, it hits hard where it is needed for hip-hop and electronic tracks.

The presence that I expect from Sennheiser in the medium and high range is missing here.

The strangest thing about the 450BT is the mixture of a bright shimmer on acoustic instruments and vocals and a lack of presence in the middle range. The combination gives some recordings too much tinsel (and too little body) in instruments and vocals, while others are draped with a foggy taste.

While the lighter color affected most of the tracks, a prime example of the latter can be heard in Vampire Weekends Married in a Gold Rush. Danielle Haim's voice is depressed in the mix, while her first appearance sounds much more like "Fshared a moment in a cafe" than "Shared".

Riley Young / Digital Trends

This was also not always the case. Some songs were played so clearly that I had to pause over my previous grades. But overall, the presence that I expect from Sennheiser in the middle and high range is missing, as is the reddish warmth of the lower mids, which is something of a Sennheiser specialty.

You could say that I find the sound quality of the HD 450BT hard for its price, and if so, I'll take the heat. In fact, you can often buy a pair of our favorite wireless cans in-store right now, the WH-1000XM3, which rightly sneaks into this test over and over again for just $ 250. And frankly, they outperform the HD 450BT in terms of clarity, instrumental definition, soundstage and level of detail.

For most titles, the HD 450BT does a good (if limited) job of delivering the goods, and less picky listeners are likely to be happy.

warranty

Sennheiser grants a generous two-year warranty on most products, including the HD 450BT. More information is available on the Sennheiser website.

Our opinion

The Sennheiser HD 450BT isn't the best value in the industry, but at just $ 200, the impressive features, stylish look, and solid noise cancellation are a good option for those in high-end travel cans want to dive in without high end price.

Is there a better alternative?

If you can look for a business, yes. Whether it is the WH-1000XM3 or the QC35 II, it is the aging guild of travel boxes that offers the best value for money these days. Is that Sennheiser's fault? I would say no, and every new pair of cans will charge a premium for headphones that have been in the tooth for a long time. With a 30 hour battery and plenty of style and comfort, the HD 450BT is worth considering.

However, if you want to make a splash in this highly competitive segment, you have to give people every reason to throw the flagships away, and the HD 450BT isn't quite there.

Should you buy them

If $ 200 is your ultimate budget cutoff (or even a stretch), yes. Their noise cancellation and extra long battery alone are enough to get them talking. However, if you can sneak a little higher, it is worth looking for a sale of the flagship models, as this is where the serious value lies. At least until the next models arrive and they are discontinued.

Editor's recommendations




Build Shoulder Strength to Avoid Injury

The shoulder. Maybe it's not the best design out there, but it does allow people to do some pretty amazing things. When you think about which joints in the human body are most susceptible to injury, there is healthy competition between the shoulder and knee for the top spot,

But it's not a fair fight. The knee is a highly complex hinge joint designed to deal with an insane force in the frontal and sagittal plane that is inherent to the flexion and extension of the joint. The knee contains a series of stabilizing ligaments (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL) and menisci (medial and lateral) that offer additional stability and act as shock absorbers to deal with varus and valgus forces as well as internal and internal forces.

The shoulder joint and the surrounding muscles, on the other hand, are a kind of ball joint that was primarily developed to stabilize the glenohumeral joint. While this allows for amazing flexibility and freedom of movement (certainly much more freedom of movement than the knee), all of this flexibility and complexity can make the shoulder more susceptible to injury.

Build shoulder strength to avoid injury - fitness, injury prevention, pushups, shoulder, kettlebell, barbell, upper body exercises, stretcher, packed shoulder, shoulder health, whistle, shoulder strength, upper body workout

The shoulder is under pressure

Conclusion: The shoulder is not well designed to deal with the horizontal and vertical forces that we exert on it in strength and condition, But with intelligent programming and thoughtful extra work, you can train hard, push big weights, and avoid the kind of injuries that we've all probably had one or two times and get stronger in the process.

Because of the range of movement that the shoulder is capable of, it is important to train the surrounding muscles so that they are strong in as many of these ranges of movement as possible.

At Gym Jones, we use a series of isometric grips where we ask the shoulder muscles to do what they were designed to do – stabilize the glenohumeral joint. For example:

  1. Double kettlebell / barbell rack
  2. Overhead kettlebell / barbell wears
  3. Mixed kettlebell / dumbbell bears
  4. FLR planks
  5. ring boards
  6. Side boards
  7. Light weight presses with isometric overhead handles
  8. Squat overhead
  9. Slosh pipe carries and holds

Build shoulder strength to avoid injury - fitness, injury prevention, pushups, shoulder, kettlebell, barbell, upper body exercises, stretcher, packed shoulder, shoulder health, whistle, shoulder strength, upper body workout

We also use a number of additional shoulder exercises to get as strong as possible in different areas of movement, including:

  1. Dumbbell side elevations
  2. Leaning over rear delta flies
  3. Breast flies
  4. pushups
  5. Parallel pushups
  6. Ring pushups
  7. pull ups

Feel free to add these shoulder-specific movements and exercises to your existing programming if they are not already available, Remember to stay light enough to ensure perfect technique and only increase weight if you can do it perfectly. Technology is of paramount importance in shoulder work. Don't let your ego sneak in!

Increase your training and increase your strength

As with all other types of training Your sets and rep structures should be progressiveStart at the lowest volume that will adjust and work to the maximum that you can recover from. Go out there and build some bulletproof shoulders.

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Review: The Best Game Controller

Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Review Microsoft 3

Xbox One Elite Controller Series 2

"The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is the best game controller we have ever used."

  • Huge buttons and triggers

  • Excellent control pad

  • Fully customizable rear paddle

  • Adjustable analog sticks

  • Very solid build

  • Case has lots of bells and whistles

Microsoft's standard Xbox One controller lacks the fancy DualShock 4 touch bar on the PS4 or the "HD Rumble" of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, but its reliability and design make it undoubtedly great. There is very little to improve – either by correcting features or adding new ones – but Microsoft has found a way with the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2.

With a price tag that matches the impressive design and build quality, it costs the equivalent of three Xbox One games at full price. Even so, it's easy to see why within a few minutes of using it. This is the best video game controller ever made and a simple recommendation for competitive gamers.

What is the same?

The Series 2 Xbox Elite Controller is based on the regular Xbox One controller, so the placement of buttons and sticks feels familiar. Both shoulder buttons and the triggers feel almost identical to the standard Xbox One controller in terms of driving distance and pressure required.

The connectors on the base of the controller reflect the normal model with a 3.5mm jack and the proprietary connector that came with the controllers of the 2013 console. Accessories provided for the standard controller should fit without any problems, unless they need to be wrapped around the back.

This is the best video game controller ever made.

Although the charging port is still next to the sync button, it's USB-C instead of micro-USB, so cable compatibility may be an issue.

Classic Xbox design

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

The look can be deceptive, and although the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 looks like a standard Xbox One controller at first inspection and feels like a standard Xbox One controller, it offers a lot of bells and whistles that you won't find in the standard design.

The players will immediately notice that the directional pad is circular, which is strange. Fortunately, it is removable and can be replaced with a traditional cross-style directional pad. After toggling, it becomes the best d-pad I've ever used, with a firm tactile click that doesn't require excessive force. This design will be used for the upcoming Xbox Series X console, so it will be more common by the end of 2020.

Similar to third-party offerings like the Scuf Vantage, the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 has removable analog sticks that are held in place by magnets. They can be easily removed and replaced with the alternatives contained in the carrying case. Players who prefer a convex design can switch easily, as can those who want a shorter or larger racket.

However, the adjustable voltage regulator below is more impressive than the options offered. With an included key, players can move their sticks looser or tighter, depending on their preferences. I found it a bit loose by default, but it took less than a minute to repair and didn't require disassembly other than popping the stick out.

The tension of the triggers themselves cannot be adjusted as with the Scuf Vantage, but they do have a three-stage hair release system. By default, they move roughly to the standard controller, but flipping the switch can reduce that by more than half. For first person shooters, a short travel distance can increase the competitiveness of players and it is possible to leave them in different settings.

New features and customization

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

The Series 2 corresponds to the first Elite Controller design from Microsoft and has four removable paddles on the back. By default, they are programmed on each of the four face buttons so you can keep your thumbs on the analog sticks while performing other functions. With the Xbox Accessories app on Xbox One or PC, these can be reprogrammed for other functions, including pressing a button on the analog sticks.

Multiple profiles for specific games or multiple users can be saved. If you hold down the special profile button on the front of the controller, the paddles are completely deactivated. This came in handy when playing hectic games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, so I didn't have to worry about accidentally swapping a weapon by pounding a paddle. Removing the paddles is a breeze as they are also magnetically connected. If a guest is against it, the removal takes only a few seconds.

The paddles can be completely reprogrammed.

Since the paddles work by pressing a smaller hidden button underneath, they leave a small hole when removed, which is hardly noticeable. No wires are visible inside, and dust or crumbs are unlikely to accumulate if left out permanently. Spending almost $ 200 on a failed controller and removing its biggest feature may seem silly, but the customization is valued above all.

The tote bag is great

Lisa Marie Segarra / Digital Trends

A carrying case is usually no longer considered once the controller has been removed, but Microsoft has chosen the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2. The bag has magnetic slots for all the accessories included. Aside from being easy to store, it improves the transportation of the controller without worrying about one of the small parts rolling around or falling out when the case is opened.

The housing has slots for all the accessories supplied.

It also has an integrated charging station and a hidden cable connection, so you don't have to remove the controller to charge it. It's not a necessity, but it does add a bit of flair to justify the cost.

Our opinion

Yes, it's expensive, but the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is a phenomenal controller. You will find it difficult to use something else after spending a few hours playing it, and it was difficult for us to find bugs.

Is there a better alternative?

Provided that the price does not matter, there is no better alternative.

How long it will take?

The battery can last up to 40 hours when fully charged. The controller is designed to withstand abuse and is much harder than the standard Xbox One controller.

Should you buy it

Yes, unless you are a very occasional player who doesn't need the frills or doesn't care. It is the best video game controller I have ever used.

Editor's recommendations




Why Training Partners Are Essential

Someone is strange who takes a dangerous path or climbs the highest peak without the support of a team and the encouragement of a partner who goes on the hike with them. If someone hikes alone on a monstrous mountain, he has probably done it with others many times. They were initially dependent on the help of a guide and the help of a group of people who took on the task with them before they could do it themselves,

The desire to share an experience is practically the same for anyone starting a new physical or fitness practice. You might start a new sport or go to the gym for the first time to start exercising. And if you think, why should it be the same? It is human behavior, In both cases, you need guidance and camaraderie with others who share this experience and want to do the same work.

The typical gym

What membership fluctuation rates do big box gyms see? I imagine that there are statistics somewhere, but even without them it is a sure conclusion that it is high. Some health clubs have also created a structure in which members are automatically charged fees every month, although they rarely, if ever, use the facility,

The entire membership funnel from marketing to after-sale is designed and set up for this. These health clubs are of course dishonest about their intentions. However, the entire framework fragments and isolates members from one another so that they can never group together or receive the support they need from each other to progress.

What we long for

Ultimately, most of our behaviors and motivation come from searching for connection, This includes ambitions to get in shape. When people can and can get together to participate in an activity such as lifting weights, they connect. But there is more than just a feeling of connection due to the common interest.

When you improve physically, your health, endurance, performance and appearance change for the better. and your mind, whatever you think, is not separate from your body or mind, When your physical health improves, your mental health improves, and vice versa.

When mind and body are in harmony,

  • You can connect more deeply with every experience and with every person.
  • You have a better direction of how you can live your life.
  • You can get the energy of shared experience.
  • You feel more comfortable with yourself and this will also be noticeable in others.
  • You will really connect with others if you work authentically.

With the connection, the experiences we share can become the narrative we all want to build with friends. We want to create a story together that we can remember later and relive together.

Gyms can be a great place to find this. Sharing physical battles undoubtedly brings friends closer. That is why we make training partners friends and we make our friends our training partners.

It is much more likely that the bonding experience will take place in a smaller independent gym than in a major company type. These smaller indie gyms with tight communities instantly connect to others working on that concentrated strength or high-intensity discipline.

And you should be working on finding a place like this where you can work out if you're looking for fitness in four walls, This is the time when we find a place where we can satisfy what we long for with people who can identify with that desire.

Fight, shared

The need for a struggle to deal with is built into people. We have not met this primary need and it is not a matter of opinion.

If we don't have an obvious external struggle to get involved with, we create a pseudo-struggle in our minds, our daily lives, our relationships, and sometimes in society. Creating an imaginary conflict is a way to self-sabotage – something I can talk about.

The selection and strategic challenge of some physical struggles that we have to face on a daily basis prevents us from creating artificial mental conflicts that are more harmful than educational, But here's the problem: The physical struggle, by our standards, must be serious and significant enough in our minds to prevent us from creating more fictional mental conflicts that cause self-sabotage.

It seems that we all have an inner judge who decides whether what we do deserves our efforts and undisturbed focus. If not, our thoughts will wander and we will look for other conflicts.

But when we spend time with others who are participating in the same type of fight as we do, physically or otherwise, and we see that they are enthusiastic about wrestling with it, the mountain itself seems to be worth it.

It is essential for our group, so we believe that it is undeniably crucial. And that's why it is necessary to train a physical discipline or to do sports with teammates in order not to stop,

The role of the fight

My powerlifting trainer and employer, when I was a college strength trainer, was my training partner for many years. He decided to keep the fight as strong as possible and never deviated from it.

When I trained with him, my life was straightforward and my thoughts were clear. I had few concerns and thought about my work and training. I took up my coach's fight and focused my will on it and it kept me on a direct path, I have made unique improvements in this regard and my focus has kept me from unnecessarily complex in my life.

Then I left this job, this place, this training partner and this particular job. And without this worthy effort, I made my life complicated. The complications then drove me further away from training, and without anyone to share the practice with, I resigned from any concentrated physical pursuit.

Years passed; I started Olympic weightlifting again, but without consistency or diligence. Finally, however, I was fortunate enough to bring great weightlifting trainers and former world-class Olympic weightlifters to my gym. I was taught by them and had the opportunity to train next to them.

I have to live out new stories and share them with new people. They provided support and friendship, and I made progress and matured in life lifting and weight lifting and learning to focus my energies.

I kept my goal of participating in a physical fight and added more. I teamed up with Muay Thai fighters and then with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players. I spent time with more experienced opponents and learned how they thought about their work. I found that martial artists and martial artists have an unusual way of joining together to advance personally and individually.

In strength training, the training partners support each other to overcome some external obstacles. But in the martial arts school they test and fight against each other in order to push and grow internally, It's not just about contesting the person in front of you. It's about tackling your internal struggles and barriers and using struggles with others as an instrument to do so.

Almost everyone in these places understands this, even if they don't recognize it. When sparring and practice are over, they feel more connected than before. You are grateful to the other person for the gift received, They shared an experience that will help both of them on their way to progress and understanding.

Designate your vehicle for growth

Jiu-Jitsu seems to be one of the best means for personal growth, and it is connected with the need for a community of supportive people. I speak as an absolute beginner with no experience and only with a new perspective to compare behavior patterns that I have observed elsewhere.

All martial arts can be described as physical chess between opponents. And jiu-jitsu seems to be one of the most difficult chess games, Confrontation and strikes require instinctive reactions that have to develop into a habit.

But there is also an active intellectual struggle when you change strategies, read your opponent and adjust your movement while the person opposite you reacts to your movements and actions.

The complexity and possibility of attacks and defenses in Jiu-Jitsu make this all the more complicated. So it is necessary to roll with different types of people in a school to train your strength and skills, Everyone on this mat understands this and it creates a completely shared recognition that this is a worthwhile struggle. They form a group of people who believe that this practice will produce a better person.

Share the successes

Everything that is done is better if it is shared with others. It makes the good better. People have a spirit when they win together and achieve something together in cooperation and support, When they move forward together, it is almost as if there is another force with them, a recognizable spirit that is independent of a person.

There is also responsibility when you share your efforts with a group, Not a person can be flawless in their efforts or absolutely objective about where they are neglected and where they need to focus on improvements.

Everyone needs training partners to be honest, to pull, push, pull, or sometimes pick them up – and they also need to learn what it's like to do that for others. If you do this, you will understand and get to know this spirit. By giving this, you can get it better and with greater effect.

This is the beauty of the group that shares the adventure. Therefore, it is undeniably important to find this group and your training partners, regardless of which fitness or exercise you choose, A partner will support you and give you meaning. And with that purpose, you can stay on the right path, even if life seems to do everything to keep you off the path.

Jesse competes in Olympic weightlifting and used to be a powerlifter. It has been featured in major strength and fitness publications. You can read more of his work on his website.

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2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review: Affordable Hybrid For The Masses

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid review ry 4th

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review: Affordable hybrid for the masses

"The Toyota Corolla Hybrid 2020 is an excellent choice for frugal buyers."

  • Affordable prices

  • A lot of drive safety technology

  • Dynamic cruise control works well

  • Attractive styling

  • Modest trunk

  • Entune infotainment needs work

If you've been waiting for the hybrid version of Toyota's most popular and cheapest sedan to come to US dealers, this is your year. The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Sedan is here and it's about $ 23,000 to launch.

Corolla is not a new kid on the block. It made its debut in the late 1960s with more than 46 million copies sold worldwide. Many other Toyotas received hybrid treatment before the Corolla, including the RAV4, Highlander and even the Camry, Corolla's bigger sibling.

The Corolla Hybrid is affordable, but not the cheapest hybrid. The 2020 Honda Insight and 2020 Hyundai Ioniq are a few hundred dollars cheaper.

I tested the Corolla Hybrid in rainy January weather in the Pacific Northwest. It is an ideal time to test the driver assistance functions of the car (without deliberately endangering myself or the car).

design

Toyota has revised its range in recent years and this year it was Corolla's turn. Toyota decided that the car might as well be designed for a hybrid powertrain as well as the usual gasoline-only engine. This speaks for the success of Toyota’s hybrid technology, which has slowly but surely crept in from the Prius into other Toyota vehicles.

While some cars can continue to drive without a visit to the design team, the Corolla is popular and the Toyota design team visits it often. The last complete redesign took place in 2014 with an update in 2017. In between, Toyota has published special editions. The equipment variants and functions are revised considerably each year to keep up with the new trends.

The 2020 Corolla Hybrid features a simplified version of the new Toyota Camry front with a large grille and a sloping bonnet. It may not be the most exciting design, but given the price, it's nothing to make fun of.

2020 Toyota Corolla back seatRiley Young / Digital Trends

You can find more cargo space in the trunk of the Honda Insight or in the hatchback Hyundai Ioniq. If you are just trying to choose between the hybrid and the non-hybrid Corolla sedan, you will be happy to know that the hybrid system does not penetrate the trunk. But trucks are still among the smallest in its segment.

Seating is typical of a small car. The front seats are fine for most people, and the rear seats are tight for adults. The batteries are located under the rear seat, so that the seat for the rear passengers is not affected more than usual in a car of this size.

technology

The Corolla Hybrid has an 8-inch touchscreen that is mounted high in the center console for maximum visibility. This is a common design for Toyota interiors, and although it's functional, I've always found it strange. It looks like it should fold down when you're not using it, but it doesn't work. The strange design of the screen makes the interior look old-fashioned than it is.

The driver has a large 7-inch digital display that you can customize to display the information you want. You can choose to display, for example, the odometer or the outside temperature. I have set it to show current fuel consumption and fuel consumption as I would like to see how my driving affects my average mileage in real time. After all, this is a hybrid.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

Unfortunately for Toyota, the Entune infotainment system lags behind Corolla's competitors. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay, but not with Android Auto. There is a USB port that is common for every vehicle in 2020, but is in an inconvenient place on the right side of the center console.

The basic system of the Hyundai Ioniq is easier to use and offers both Android and Apple compatibility. There is also an upgrade with a larger screen and wireless charging. The Honda Insight's basic infotainment system is sparse and resembles what you'll find in the Corolla. But like the Ioniq, Honda offers an improved system with a larger screen and a WiFi hotspot.

For those who work their Prime membership for everything that's worth it, Corolla's Entune system is compatible with Amazon Alexa. This is still an unusual feature in any car, let alone one that sells for less than $ 25,000.

fuel consumption

If you're considering the Corolla Hybrid, you're probably in for fuel economy. You will not be disappointed. The hybrid is rated by the EPA at a combined speed of 52 mpg, with city and highway averages in the late 1950s. The Corolla only with gas is designed for a combined output of approx. 33 mpg, depending on which model it is.

That's great compared to most cars, but pretty typical of a modern hybrid sedan. The Honda Insight publishes almost identical numbers with a total of 52 mpg. The Hyundai Ioniq surpasses both with a combined 58 mpg.

2020 Toyota Corolla HybridRiley Young / Digital Trends

There is an EV mode with which the car can only use battery power at very low speeds and very short distances. At first I found this disappointing because any acceleration would leave EV mode to get going. Then I found an application: sneaking around in traffic. I could use EV mode while waiting for a light to change or an accident to go out.

I drove the Corolla a little over a hundred miles over a week. This was mostly the case on roads and local highways, so I never set it to 65 mph. I was also not careful with my acceleration, which I found peppy enough in the city. On rainy days I made a few short trips to the grocery store about a mile away, which is terrible for everyone's gasoline consumption.

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid front seatsRiley Young / Digital Trends

At the end of my test drive, the middle display showed me that my real fuel consumption was in the mid-1940s. That number is low, but my miles were completely stop-and-go. If you can set the adaptive cruise control for longer distances than me, your mileage may be closer to the EPA numbers.

safety

The Corolla features Toyota's Safety Sense Suite with driver assistance functions and a full list of safety technologies. I have used all but two functions. automatic high beam as well as pedestrian and cyclist detection. I was in town so high beam was not necessary and no one stepped in front of my car or drove.

My toughest test was on a rainy night on a street with dubious markings and irregular traffic patterns. The lane keeping assistant was able to find the middle dotted lane with reflectors, but it was difficult for him to find the correct lane marking that had broken down in places. The Corolla's steering assistant gently suggested that I hug the middle lane marker more than I would like.

I had also set dynamic cruise control on this trip and it worked well. This system will bring you to the limit and if it detects that the car has moved in front of you, you will be asked to press a button or restart the accelerator. It follows traffic as it should. It was able to adapt quickly when another car entered my lane, and it correctly displayed the speed limit sign.

The dynamic speed control was able to adapt quickly when another car entered my lane.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Association rated the Corolla Hybrid five out of five stars, with perfect results in front and side crash tests and four out of five stars in the rollover test. The insurance institute for road traffic safety has awarded Corolla a top safety ax because it received the top grade “good” in every test.

The Honda Insight was recognized as a Top Safety Pick + for its excellent crash test ratings and headlight lighting. The Hyundai Ioniq has not yet been tested by the NHTSA, but received top marks in all IIHS tests.

The Corolla Hybrid has a comprehensive 3 year / 36,000 miles warranty and 5 years / 60,000 miles warranty on the powertrain. Hybrid components are guaranteed for 8 years / 100,000 miles.

Price and availability

The base MRSP of the Toyota Corolla is $ 22,950. Our tested price was $ 24,303. The extra money went only to a body protection package and carpet mats. Since I tested the car in bad weather in January, these were smart additions from Toyota.

How DT would configure this car

The Corolla Hybrid comes in just one version, the LE, and is only available as a sedan. There are no options or packages for this car. When you visit Toyota.com and build a Corolla to your specifications, you can choose the interior and exterior colors and add accessories such as floor mats and crossbars on the roof. That's it.

You can at least choose the color, and although the test car was in Celestite, a gray-blue shade, blue print is definitely the way to go.

Wrap up

The Corolla has long been an affordable car for the masses. Now it's an affordable hybrid for the masses.

The Corolla Hybrid doesn't offer much luxury. Some of the upper panels of the gasoline-powered Corolla are prettier than this, and there are no options like leather upholstery or heated seats to refine the hybrid. This Corolla is a hybrid for people on a budget, whose first priority is a safe, reliable car and whose second priority is fuel consumption.

Still, the Corolla's Drive Assist technology is solid for the price. It wasn't perfect, but it worked well even in harsh conditions. I just wish the Toyota Entune system would be better and offer Android auto support.

Should you buy the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid?

Yes. If you are looking for a reliable, low-cost limousine from a manufacturer with a decades-long hybrid record, the 2020 Corolla Hybrid is the right choice for you. Just don't expect a fantastic infotainment experience.

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