By Rob Shaul This week MTI Lab Rats began a 4-week “geek cycle” designed to test both “explosive power” assessments and training progressions. By “Explosive Power” we mean explosive power demonstrated in a single explosive movement or short-duration series of the same movements. In the strength and conditioning world, another way to consider power is […]

By Rob Shaul BLUF This mini-study investigated the effect of stress on archery accuracy and found that a simple stress event which applied a small fitness demand and shot time limit decreased archery accuracy by an overall average of 23% for two subjects.   BACKGROUND & STUDY DESIGN Previously, MTI has done extensive work on […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF This 4-week Mini-Study investigated the total-body strength building capacity of the MTI Barbell Complex. The Barbell Complex is a complex of six exercises, six reps each, completed in succession, without putting the barbell down. The Barbell Complex is choreographed in a way such the barbell begins in front of the […]

By Rob Shaul A decade ago when I began programming for climbers I bought every book on climbing training in print, read like crazy, and tried to apply the programming other coaches described. It was a disaster. Vague terms like “power,” “power endurance,” “strength,” and “endurance” were defined around a hard to quantify measurement tool […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF MTI frequently tests progressions against each other in an effort to identify the most effective programming. In this mini-study, six experienced MTI Lab Rats were broken into two groups, and each put through a different 3-week bench press progression: (1) Classic Pyramid, and (2) Modified Big 24 Pre-and Post-study all […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF We conducted a short, 4-Week Mini-Study to test the cross transferability of two modes of endurance training: Running to Rowing, and Rowing to Running. Results found assessment improvement in both modes, but the transfer of rowing to running was twice as great. Background Does swimming make you a better runner? […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF Experienced MTI Lab Rats showed an average 4.9% strength gain over two strength exercises following MTI’s “Super Squat” strength progression for 3 weeks within a multi-modal fluid periodization training cycle.   Background MTI’s “Super Squat” progression is our implementation of the famous book, “Super Squats: How to Gain 30 Pounds […]

By Rob Shaul BLUF A volume-based progression which per session dictated 240%, 300% and 360% of assessment reps realized an average 17.4% assessment improvement across three exercises – Hand Release Push Ups, In-Place Lunges and Pull Ups.   Background Over the past 12 years, MTI has developed multiple bodyweight strength progressions. These were initially driven […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF We conducted a 4-Week Mini study comparing the effectiveness of two hang board dead hang duration intervals (4 seconds vs. 8 seconds) to increase finger strength assessed by a dead hang for time. Results “seem” to indicate the 8-second intervals were more effective, but they are suspect because the 4-second […]

By Rob Shaul   BLUF We conducted a short, 4-Week Mini-Study to test the transferability of one mode of endurance training (step ups) to another (running). Results found assessment improvement in both modes, but the improvement in step ups was twice as great.   Background Does swimming make you a better runner? Does running make […]