Today, we want to offer a congratulations to Coach Blake Gould!  He participated in the Under Armour Combine Training in Bradenton, FL, back in February and came back with a contagious renewed passion and enthusiasm!

He wrote a great blog post called “Taking your clients to the next level” that appeared on the Combine 360 page!  Take a look and leave a comment to tell Blake how awesome he is!

Blake has been a long-time supporter of Hyper Wear.  He loves to make his clients sweat using the SandBells and has come up with some awesome routines using them.  His Under Armour training has enhanced his overall coaching and continues to help him develop as a great trainer!  Way to go, Coach Blake!

We recently came across a local news story that features an amazing CATZ client, Zane Choat. There’s a great video showing him working out with various pieces of equipment, including the SandBell in a couple of shots. Check it out:

Have a hyper day!!

We’ve reached the final week with CATZ Founder, Jim Liston, putting CATZ Austin Coach, Blake Gould, through the paces of the foundational movements of strength training. With the final progressions being introduced, Jim throws out some heavy hitters to finish the workout in Orlando, FL.

Look out for the SandBell Toss and Chase, Lateral Lunges, Plank Madness, and some great Single Leg Stabilization Exercises. Can Blake keep up with the best that CATZ and Hyper Wear have to offer? You’re about to find out…

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #43

Ok MMM’ers, there’s only 2 more weeks left for you to get your fill of CATZ Founder, Jim Liston, bringing the heat down in Orlando, FL with CATZ Austin Coach Blake Gould trying to keep up!

I think this is the specific video that Blake was telling me about when he got back home from Florida, saying “Man, I thought I was in shape, and then I started training with Jim!!” Take a look at the video for more of the 5 major movements of strength development!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #42

Round Three! We’re back in Florida with Jim and Blake for another look at the Hyper Vest and SandBells in action.

Competitive Athlete Training Zone Founder, Jim Liston, takes CATZ Austin Coach, Blake Gould, through another series in the foundations of training here at CATZ. As always, look for the basics: a push, pull, squat, split squat, and single leg exercise.

Have you been keeping up? Are you able to do the workouts with Jim and Blake? Post a comment on the video on YouTube and let us know what you think!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #41

Round Two!! Get ready for some more Jim and Blake in Florida!

Competitive Athlete Training Zone Founder, Jim Liston, takes CATZ Austin Coach Blake Gould through another series in the foundations of training here at CATZ. To ensure a great training session, you always want to include a push, pull, squat, split squat, and single leg exercise. Once again, Jim comes up with a creative way to use SandBells in this simple, but challenging workout.

This week I challenge you to follow along at home, so grab your SandBell and get started!!!!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #40

So, CATZ President and Founder, Jim Liston, is known for devising workouts that can kick your butt. Last week we saw the warm, but the warm up is officially OVER!!

This week Jim shows Coach Blake a few pointers on training all planes of the body at once, while challenging balance. He moves from basic square stance exercises to split and eventually single leg only. Let’s see how Blake handles the workout this week!

Never Stand Still!!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #39B

Today Coach Blake and I are tackling a new drill with SandBellsor some on-field training for the big fellas. That’s right, this ones for you guys on the O-Line.

Run blocking is key and today Blake has come up with a drill to help the big men on the line increase their acceleration off the line and to help finish the tackle. Watch as Blake runs me over with a 30-lb SandBell in this explosive drill that you can do in the weight room or on the field!!

And don’t forget about Monday Night Football tonight as the Ravens take on the Browns down in the Dog Pound!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #32

Part 3 in the Squat Series is looking at coming off the line of scrimmage as fast as possible. The Viking Toss (or Caper Toss) is a fantastic way to create explosiveness through the hips and ensure that your athletes are fully engaging their glutes in their squat pattern. Bottom line is that the Viking Toss is a fun and competitive exercise that can help bring out the best in your players.

Check out the video link to see Coach Blake execute the Viking Toss with SandBellsâ„¢ weighing from 20 – 40 lbs. As always, we’re both wearing a Hyper Vest® for added weight and resistance to get even more out of our workouts.

Enjoy!!

Make sure to tune in to the Steelers take on the mile high Broncos tonight on Monday Night Football!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #31

Part 2 in the Squat Series…..Time to introduce some power. Last week we worked on creating strength with heavier loads and slower tempo. Now it’s time to be quick, explosive, and train at game speed.

Here’s a variation of a squat-to-push-press that you can do with any size group of athletes using a medium-sized SandBellâ„¢. Make sure you still focus on triple extension of the ankles, knees, and hips as you let the SandBell fly!! And also remember that creating a strong base in the core and legs is always necessary before going into a power series, no matter who the athlete is.

Enjoy!!

Tonight the Falcons are invading Bourbon Street as the Dirty Birds take on Reggie Bush and the high flying Saints! Be sure to tune in!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #30

Ok, let’s get down to it. What’s the number one exercise in the weight room you think of when you’re training football players? The Squat. What a fantastic exercise for overall strength and stabilization. Having a strong squat is one of the major exercises to enhance an athlete’s ability to produce force, hold their ground, and be explosive.

In honor of the squat, we’ve decided to do a three-part series on a few variations of the traditional squat using a heavy SandBellâ„¢. Enjoy the simple variations of the exercise, but always remember to think about proper form with each repetition! A heavy squat is nothing to take lightly…!

Be sure to watch the Eagles march into the Capitol to take on the Redskins tonight on Monday Night Football!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #29

Everyone knows that it’s not just the wide receivers and running backs that catch the ball on the gridiron; all 22 players on the field need to have good hands. Coach Blake and I got together and took a traditional practice field drill and changed the ball to a light SandBell.

The advantages of using a SandBell in this drill are to incorporate grip strength and shoulder stabilization as well as working on mental focus. Each SandBell I throw at Blake are a different color and therefore a different weight. Imagine the possibilities of the mental progressions that are can be reached with a creative coach.

Enjoy the drill, and make sure you catch the Broncos charging into San Diego to take on the Bolts on Monday Night Football!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #28

So our next step in the football series is using the SandBells for training offensive linemen on the practice field. One of the best things about the SandBell is the soft grip of it. Unlike a medicine ball, the SandBell is safe to catch without worrying about a finger/wrist injury, but with the benefit of it feeling like an opponent’s uniform because it’s not solid like a ball.

The kick block is a traditional technique for all pass blocking offensive linemen to work on. Once again, Coach Blake has joined us to show us the drill he’s done with lots of his football athletes, both on and off the field. Click on the link below to check out his drill, and don’t forget to watch the Jets take on the Dolphins tonight down in South Beach!!

Never Stand Still!

Bill Meyer, SCE, USAW
Head Hyper Wear Coach
Performance Director, CATZ-Austin

MMM #27