A few readers asked about more home training ideas. I often refer to the RossTraining.com blog–especially the homemade equipment archive for inspiration. There’s one entry on here called “Smaller Tire Exercises” that is really neat; the man featured in the video has pretty much though of everything!
I got a tire after watching him, but I decided to bury mine though–can’t let it get away when hitting it with a sledgehammer!
I like to do 100-200 swings as a finishing exercise after a workout. It works well after yard work (mowing, digging, hauling wheelbarrows full of rocks) or any other long, slow-burn kind of exercise. Sledgehammer swinging adds a shot of intensity to an otherwise low-key workout. Sledgehammer intervals work too.
There’s a lot on the web about sledgehammer training, but no one mentions how hard it is on the hands! It takes a while to build up the grip strength to swing hard and repeatedly fast. It won’t take long to lose the hammer if you’re not careful. Try wearing thick gloves to cusion the impact and to keep control of the hammer.
I like practical diet and exercise tips. They’ll be more to follow. If you have some, list them here. Keep the comments coming!
Moai Martial Arts 
I can’t wait to take a whack at your tire! It should be a fantastic work out.
In looking at the picture, is the tire too close to the house? If the hammer slipped would it cause damage to the house.
Thanks for the comment, Alan. This is actually an old picture. I’ve moved the tire a little further away from the house, and I added wood backing (old closet doors) since then for protection. I actually have a makiwara (wooden conditioning stake) right next to the tire so I can alternate swings and strikes. It all makes sense in context, I guess.