Are you interested in one of the top “secrets” to reach your full potential as a trainer - a secret that incidentally also will save you time and money?

If your answer to the above question is yes, then the 2009 Yes To Strength e-course is for you.

The 2009 Yes To Strength e-course is

1. Designed for personal trainers and coaches who want to reach their full potential as trainers.
2. Designed to teach you to ask questions about every aspect of the process of creating World class training programs.
3. Designed to help you maximize use of the knowledge you already have, as well as guiding your educational efforts (focusing your money and time on acquiring the information your REALLY need).

The 2009 Yes To Strength e-course is structured as bi-montly lessons that you receive with our newsletter.  (if youa re not already registered for our newsletter, you can sign up by entering your email in the box on the right side of this page.) Lessons will then be posted in the membership section of the site where you can review the course lessons at any time you wish. (see www.yestostrength.com for the membership section)

Each lesson contains:

1. One to two questions that every trainer MUST be able to answer in order to create World class training programs.
2. Potentially one assignment asking you to structure information you already have.
3. Suggested references to read more about the topic at hand.

The ability to ask (and answer!) the right questions is a trademark of the ANY top performer in ANY field. The lessons will guide you through key questions as they relate to creating World class training programs.

If you have no idea about the answer to the question I encourage you to focus your educational efforts on that particular area of the process of creating training programs.

If you have some knowledge of the question that may no be structured, I encourage you to work on structuring that knowledge (that will be the assignment).

If you know the answer to the question inside out, that area of the training process is a strength of yours and you may focus your development on other areas.

You will benefit from the course to the extent that you dive into and work with the question and the assignment.

To your success,
Karsten Jensen

PS: The 2009 Yes To Strength e-course may seem too simple to be of any benefit. “Give me some information!” you may think. I can tell you from my own experience, that the HABIT of asking questions has been instrumental in me growing to a level where I am able to help World class athletes win championships, write books in a, for me, foreign language (yes, English is a foreign language for me), as well as pursuing a role as an international speaker.

Recently, a client of mine asked my opinion on interval training for beach volleyball. My answer is very specific to this client’s circumstance and skill level but there are some general take home messages you may benefit from.

The program is meant for an SIS block, but research indicates that the anerobic lactic system is not particularly important to beach volleyball (atp/crp = 40%, anaerobic lactate system = 10%, aerobic system = 50% (recovery). Therefore the program parameters are twisted to work the aerobic system instead.

“Specifically, I suggest your intervals to focus on the aerobic system in a format specific to your sport. A format that also allows you to perform the intervals with speed:

• Program A:  15-45 x 15s activity : 5s rest (shaking muscles). Pick relevant movement patterns. Any thing with a ball is good. The drill should allow for maximal movement speed throughout. Build up the speed and the reps.
• Program B:  7-14  x 30s activity : 15 sec rest (shaking muscle). Same principles as program A. You may include jumping in this program.

These programs should take you anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Perform these workouts at the end of the second beach workout for the day.

I think a two day on – one day off schedule may work. Notice that the first program has a 3:1 work rest ratio and the second a 2:1 work rest  ratio, also the intervals should cover a “long” respectively a “shorter” rally.

The program assumes that any need for maximal movement speed and maximal power will be taken care of in the beach practice.

To your success:

Karsten Jensen

PS: There are more energy systems conditioning tips for beach volleyball in chapter 4 of my book “Best Butt on The Beach”. Get it here before summer is over. Right now “Best Butt on The Beach comes with a special Fat Loss Report.

PPS: The program shown is a “snapshot”. “The Flexible Periodization Method” explains how to periodize energy systems training over a whole macrocycle – regardless of your client and sport!

In my role as a strength and conditioning coach there are time when I am asked about my own athletic achievements.  I have never thought it overly important to mention my athletic background on my resume.  However, I must admit that there are times when some of that athletic background comes in handy with the athletes and clients I train.  To fill you in, my athletic story is as follows.

I have competed in tennis, badminton, soccer, basketball, track and field and was nationally ranked as a junior tennis player.

Best lifts:

• 1RM dead lift (no gear): 160 kg (double bodyweight)
• 1RM parallel back squat (no gear): 140 kg
• 3RM half squat (belt): 180 kg
• 20RM parallel squat (no gear) : 100 kg (I was on the “Super squats” routine).
• 500 bodyweight squats in 15 minutes.
• 58 KB Snatches.
• 1000 walking lunges in 1 hour (20 soccer fields)
• 23 pistols on my right and 26 pistols on my left leg.
• 10 Handstand Push ups.
• 10 Strict chin ups on moving handles
• 60 straight Hindu Push Ups
• Body fat around 7% for the last several years.
• A decent split 
• 12 minute run - 3.3 km

A decent split

The above mentioned lifts/achievements by no mean make me a world class athlete. However, my own training gives me the personal experience of the movements – a personal experience that improves my ability to teach any lifts/movements to the athletes/clients in front of me. My level of fitness/strength have also earned me a decent level of respect from nearly everyone I have ever been in contact with and I am often asked if I am a competitive athlete.