Achieve explosive core strength with these workouts

All athletes depend on their core for explosive movements. Sit-ups are not enough to build a strong core. Having strong abdominal muscles enables an athlete to have incredible rotational power commonly seen in mixed martial artists. This kind of strength can help football players create separation from their opponents in the field. John F. Eilermann Jr.

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Plank to push-up may seem like a simple workout to do. However, it’s definitely a challenging one as it works the core, back, and glutes. Barbell rollouts is an alternative to the old-but-gold Ab Wheel Roll-Out. This technique should work the core, not the arms. When the workout puts too much pressure on the arms and none on the core, the movement is incorrect. John Eilermann.

Landmine rotations develops core strength, with emphasis on the obliques. This workout is ideal for golfers and baseball players but can be helpful for football players. Cable woodchop is a functional workout technique that develops the core and oblique muscles, ensuring that every angle is covered. Remember to rotate the torso diagonally to prevent any unwanted muscle pulls while doing the workout. John Eilermann .

Athletes of all levels must develop core strength to enjoy an explosive performance. A well-developed midsection also ensures that a person has a strong back and can prevent injuries through proper movements. Before doing any of these exercises, remember to check in with a trainer and physician for optimal results. John Eilermann .

Work your writing muscle with these tips

In order to be a good writer, one must have a good command of the language they are listening, reading, and speaking. Improving in the practice of writing requires time, effort, patience, and intentionality. Here are a few tips to help work your writing muscle.

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Keep a diary. While considered an old-fashioned and outdated way of documenting one’s daily encounters and musings, it still helps develop one’s appreciation for writing. For those who partner writing with calligraphy, keeping a diary may also help improve one’s handwriting. Writers who consider themselves extroverts are more inclined to start a blog than keep a physical journal. Maintaining a blog can help a writer become more confident in putting their material out for the world to see. John Eilermann St. Louis.

If keeping a public blog seems like a stretch for one, they can always write for school magazines and newsletters. Doing this can give a writer their first taste of journalism. Fiercely confident writers work their muscle by joining literary article competitions. Such competitions double as an avenue for a writer to improve their style. One can gain invaluable knowledge and experience by participating in such competitions. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Accept that most of first drafts don’t pass. Editing is a skill a writer must possess. Thus, one should edit one’s own work. Before accepting editing jobs from other writers, learn to edit yourself without mercy. As experts say, majority of writing is rewriting. Having the cold eye of an editor enables a writer to work with more accuracy and less nonsense. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Footwork drills to keep you agile while on quarantine

While the rest of the world hits pause to stay protected from the virus or recover from its blows, professional athletes, health buffs, and fitness enthusiasts are not hitting pause on training. Workouts that focus on speed, agility, strength, and conditioning can be done at home, with little to no equipment. John Eilermann.

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One of the most popular footwork drills that athletes swear by is jump rope. From boxers to tennis players, jump rope helps improve an athlete’s mind-body coordination. It also develops a person’s endurance, speed, and agility. Jump rope drills can vary in height and speed, depending on the athlete’s preference and training needs. John Eilermann.

Step drills are effective ways to enhance footwork, stability, and agility. Side-to-side and front-to-back step workouts build various footwork skills that are necessary for sports that are big on footwork. Along with step drills, ladder drills that are done front-to-back and side-to-side help develop core, leg, and ankle stability. John Eilermann.

It should be an athlete’s second nature to start any workout with a warmup and edit it with a cool down. Warming up with dynamic stretches before a training session prevents one from overstretching their muscles and hurting their joints while working out. A cool-down may have the same stretches as the warmup, but they must be static to release tension. John Eilermann.

Dark origins of popular nursery rhymes

People often recall nursery rhymes from their childhood. These are often lively limericks that tell of a simple tale using fantastic elements and scenarios. What preschool teachers don’t tell children are the dark origins of these nursery rhymes. A lot of traditional nursery rhymes were written in times of great strife and were told with the sole purpose of instilling lessons to children. Here are some dark origins of popular nursery rhymes. John Eilermann St. Louis .

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Jack and Jill was about a royal beheading

Written in 1765, Jack and Jill was initially written as an account of King Charles I’s attempt at a tax on liquid measures. But 30 years later, the song takes a new meaning as the historical beheading of France’s Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette for the crime of treason. John Eilermann St. Louis.

London Bridge was built on blood

There are several theories when it comes to the rhyme London Bridge. Some of them pertain to how Viking attacks destroyed the bridge. But an even more harrowing theory claims that child sacrifices were made during the construction of the bridge to keep it upright. The belief was that the sacrificed children would help watch over the bridge and maintain its sturdiness. John Eilermann St. Louis .

Three blind mice were about a conspiracy to overthrow a monarchy

There were a lot of songs dedicated to the Queen of England Mary I, also known as Bloody Mary One limerick that survived came to be Three Blind Mice. Experts believe the song alluded to protestant bishops Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Radley, and The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer. They attempted to overthrow the queen and were burned at the stake for heresy. Critics claim that they were blinded by their titles and led them to believe that they could remove the queen from her throne. John Eilermann St. Louis .

Sports documentaries and sports shows to watch during a lockdown

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These are tough times for sports fans around the world. Entire seasons are canceled, our favorite players are getting sick, and there’s no telling when things will go back to normal or if they ever will. Besides watching replays of games, fans are left with very little to go with in terms of actual action. This is why it is the best time to get to know more about sports and athletes by watching documentaries. And while a lot of those have been made over the years, here are some documentaries that are worth watching during this lockdown. John Eilermann.

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Connor McGregor Detail

One of the most dominant and entertaining characters to become a UFC champion, McGregor is often celebrated as one of the most electrifying athletes the world has ever seen. In this documentary, Daniel Cormier breaks down McGregor’s abilities, why people gravitate toward his charisma, and his unique style of showmanship. John Eilermann.

Celtics VS Lakers: The Best of Enemies

Perhaps the greatest rivalry in sports history, no basketball fan could ever forget the animosity between these two teams. In this documentary, learn the roots of the story, see behind the scenes footage as this mythical rivalry begins. It’s more than just Magic VS Larry in this documentary. John Eilermann.

Free Solo

While mountain climbing may seem like a niche sport, the feeling of adrenalin is something all sports have in common. And what better way to get the blood pumping by watching Alex Honnold climb the Yosemite’s El Capitan without any safety equipment. This award-winning documentary gets inside the sport of free climbing, the dangers of the sport, and the dream of conquering the world’s toughest wall. John Eilermann.

A bookworm’s guide to trying out new genres

For writers, it’s difficult to break into the marketplace, especially when their genre isn’t too lucrative. Over the years, what people consider as popular genres change. However, a genre never dies. For readers, appreciating different genres contributes to personal development. John Eilermann St. Louis.

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Exploring different styles starts once a reader picks up a book that’s completely outside of their box. Most ardent readers follow a specific fandom, but that doesn’t mean they are limited to only reading books that belong to the genre of the obsession. Reading books that break a reader’s mold allows them to see gems in uncharted territories. The last thing a bibliophile wants is to miss out on good reads. John Eilermann St. Louis.

One must acknowledge that having a favorite genre means being able to predict the narrative, identify the words, and be comfortable with the story’s flow. Reading becomes a habit, not a hobby. Trying out new genres enables a reader to get comfortable with storylines they are not used to digesting. And since many readers are writers, too, their writing chops can improve by exploring reads from other genres. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Discovering an appreciation for a new genre won’t cancel one’s love for the former. On top of that, reading books from various genres also leads to one finding out the ones they dislike. A reader ought to allow themselves to keep reading and dreaming. One will never know what lessons a book holds without them giving it a try. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Improve reading speed with these techniques

John Eilermann St. Louis. Choosing a college major or deciding on a career path can be unnerving. In making a choice, it's important to consider one's skills and passions. Check out these career options for those who enjoy the company of books and understand the value of the written word. English Literature John Eilermann St. Louis. There are many things one can do with an English Lit degree. They can go into teaching, creative writing, publishing, and even law. One's love for reading will surely be encouraged here as students will get the chance to read and examine essential and contemporary works that have shaped literature.

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Creative Writing


Most readers also enjoy sharing their thoughts through writing. For those who want to make a career out of being a writer, this is the perfect opportunity for them to keep reading while they develop their skills. Choosing this path will also allow them to study under the mentorship of published writers who can help them get their start in the industry. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Linguistics

Those who love reading can also be good at learning languages. Linguistics also involves the structures and other aspects involving language, such as societal and psychological factors. Avid readers will surely enjoy going beyond the literal layer of language. John Eilermann St. Louis.

Journalism

This is another career that avid readers can pursue. At the heart of good journalism is captivating storytelling, something that avid readers have encountered many times. Voracious readers might have a gift for gathering and publishing vital information on relevant events that will benefit the public.