Kickstarter Abuse: The naming and shaming of EvoGrips by Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson

Kickstarter is a crowd-funding service wherein a project creator asks the site's users to give money so that they can create something. This seems a great way to promote innovation and as the Kickstarter homepage suggests “Bring creativity to life.” Had I known of Kickstarter previously, I may’ve used it to fund some of our unique creations, like our free-to-download workout app, or to have helped bring our Globe Gripz innovation to fruition, which now serves to fund our free resources. There are many people/ companies that do not operate according to the same code of ethics as GymProfessor.com. Unfortunately, Kickstarter is also susceptible to abuse and deception of its users by said creators. This is how I came to know Kickstarter.

On the 23^rd of October 2013, a Kickstarter project was created called EvoGrips - The Evolution of Ergonomics. Get Fit, Not Hurt. Within 24 hours of the project’s creation, I was contacted directly by several Kickstarter users disgruntled that Ramon Sodano and Mark Pederson were miss-selling a copy of Globe Gripz (called EvoGrips) as a new innovation. Remember, at this stage, they haven’t even made it – just text (copied), pictures (from the same angles as ours), and a disingenuous video (albeit much better than my own first attempt) - and users then offer monetary backing. They complained to Kickstarter also. Having checked out the provided link, I swiftly added my complaint to Kickstarter (privately, so as not to publicly embarrass RamonSodano / Mark Pederson) and highlighted the breach of patent and copy. After much delay, Kickstarter simply referred me to contact Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson via a “Contact me” button on their site. The breach of copy is quite evident, however, people deal with people and I try to see the best in people and so politely contacted the creators of EvoGrips in the hope they would do the right thing. With delayed responses from Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson deliberately evasive and unwilling to provide a postal address for legal documentation, it became abundantly clear to me that they knew exactly what they were doing from the outset and I had no choice but to refer the matter to our legal team. This grates on me, as thousands of pounds spent on legal fees and time allocated on the matter could be put to far better use to bring on new Gym Professor projects and add to our free resources, but I wholeheartedly disagree with their deception to Kickstarter users/ backers, let alone our lost revenue. All the while, Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson continued to promote EvoGrips to Kickstarter members and even further afield off the back of the Kickstarter promotion.

To-date, Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson (EvoGrips) have chosen to ignore correspondence from our legal representative (D Young & Co LLP) and have successfully screwed $11,068 from unwitting Kickstarter users. With the failure of Kickstarter to exercise their rights (which appears the norm according to online reports) and Ramon Sodano / Mark Pederson / EvoGrips failing to provide a response to our formal complaint, I write this article in the hope that it shows up online when searching “EvoGrips” so you know who you’re really dealing with. Well, now you know the truth, be sure to check out our worldwide acclaimed multi-grip ergonomic training aid – the original and best Globe Gripz workout tool.

www.GlobeGripz.com

You may also find our free-online-resource and free-to-download workout app to be of great help with your training goals too. All the best,

GP

P.S. Pictures tell a thousand words...

 

Performing Fitness Tests & Achieving Successful Data

Many fitness tests have been created as a unit of measure for various fitness categories, such as general fitness, aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. 

Fitness tests are only as accurate as you make them, so reading instructions carefully, and performing them often, should bring more accurate results. 

Although fitness tests are only likely to highlight what you already suspect - a bodybuilder achieving "excellent" muscular strength test results, or a marathon runner displaying an "excellent" score for their aerobic fitness tests - it can be used for trend analysis, which can identify progression or decline and might, in turn, alter the way you train/ or you train your client. Also, it'd be ignorant to assume you've taken all factors into account, although unlikely, sometimes the test results can throw up a surprise, such as a powerlifter with poor grip strength or an outwardly healthy individual with high blood pressure.

If you're performing fitness tests on a client for the first time, you should have their full approval and a completed PAR-Q (health questionnaire) that you're happy with. Please visit the www.gymprofessor.com website for further information about PAR-Q’s. If you're working with a deconditioned (not “fit”) individual, as a matter of course, they should see their Doctor beforehand and, thereafter, it would be prudent to perform the static fitness assessments (measuring general fitness) first.

Please visit the Gym Professor website for more information on the following:
Static Fitness Tests (measuring general fitness - good health & well-being).
Dynamic Fitness Tests (aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility).

Until next time,

GP

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Free Gym Workouts 
Free Fitness Workouts

Fitness Tests

Many fitness tests have been created as a unit of measure of various fitness categories, such as general fitness, aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. The fitness tests are only as accurate as you make them, so reading instructions carefully, and performing them often, should bring more accurate results. Although the fitness tests are only likely to highlight what you already suspect - a bodybuilder achieving "excellent" muscular strength test results, or a marathon runner displaying an "excellent" score for their aerobic fitness tests - it can be used for trend analysis, which can identify progression or decline and might, in turn, alter the way you train your client. Also, it'd be ignorant to assume you've taken all factors into account. Although unlikely, sometimes the test results can throw up a surpise, such as a powerlifter with poor grip strength or an outwardly healthy individual with high blood pressure.

If you're performing these fitness tests on a client for the first time, you should have their full approval and a completed PAR-Q (health questionaire) that you're happy with. If you're working with a deconditioned individual, as a matter of course, they should see their Doctor beforehand and, thereafter, it would prudent to perform the static fitness assessments (measuring general fitness) first.

Please visit the Gym Professor website for more information on the following:
Static Fitness Tests (measuring general fitness - good health & well-being).
Dynamic Fitness Tests (aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility).

Gym Workouts and Gym Routines

I (Gym P) have added categories below for various gym workouts and gym routines that may be of interest. These are sample gym routines and gym workouts only. Your weight training should follow a gradual progression (as your planned season allows), with sensible transitions from one gym routine to another. I will cover more on periodization of weight training and training transitions amongst other articles on this website and will (in time) release an eBook detailing sensible process maps (gym workouts & gym routines) to follow with your training. However, in the meantime, DO NOT RUN BEFORE YOU CAN WALK! I say this because many newbies will adopt gym workout routines that are far beyond them and will therefore make little gains and increase their risk of injury.

Gym Routines

Toning Gym Workout Routines (for men)
Toning Gym Workout Routines (for women)
Endurance Gym Routines
Strength Gym Routines
Circuit Training WorkoutRoutines
Bodybuilding Gym Routines
Powerlifting Gym Routines
Sports-Specific Workout Routines

Tell me more about:

Gym Exercises
Gym Workout Routine Factors to Consider
Gym Workout Routine Upgrade Options
Advanced Training Methods
Fitness Workout Routines
Fitness & Strength Assessments

Weight Training

Sad I know, but weight training is one of the loves of my life. No matter what your physique goal or sporting activity, weight training can help toward this endeavor. There are many widespread misconceptions about training with weights (or any type of resistance training for that matter), not helped by misleading advertising, but, hopefully the Gym Professor website, this blog, & my constant use of analogies will help to clarify things and set you on the right track in the gym.

Realising that many of you will be looking for guidance, the Gym Professor website (& eventually the Gym Professor blog) will include:

• Numerous exercise diagrams - providing basic instruction and detailing muscles exercised, what the exercise is for & who the exercise is for.
• Weight training & gym routines - relating to your physique goals & sports.
• Periodization strategies - for general gym & fitness training for sports.
• Fitness assessments - performing fitness tests & measuring hopefully positive trends.
• & Much more besides...
  

For successful weight training, I would suggest you have a basic understanding of nutrition and anatomy (in particular kinesiology). Information on both can be found on the Gym Professor website.

Incredibly helpful & thorough eBooks (mostly my own - time willing!) will be released in due course, with in-depth information and even more guidance on the above subject matters. So, if you find the Gym Professor website useful, please consider purchasing one of the eBooks.

In the meantime, to keep up to speed with all the latest updates, please follow the Gym Professor Blog and sign up to our FREE no spam Newsletter, which will (again, in time) offer a host of weight training, diet, & supplement advice etc. & some free related eBooks.

Best regards,

GP