Every Friday at 5 PM we have a packed house of guys training together. It is getting insane, but we organize the groups very tightly and there is little to no down time. This is a mix of high school Football players, College Football Players and a few guys from a adult Football League.
The workout pace is furious as we almost always perform 2 movements back to back. If they feel like they’re waiting too long they know to work in abs and pull ups. you can’t go wrong with rock solid abs and a powerful upper body developed through countless pull ups. And yes, even our 250 + lb. guys are required to hit pull ups.
We work in recline rows as well using a 2″ thick rope to aggressively work their hands, forearms and grip strength.
I highly reccomend the focus on ground based lifts. I encouraged this BIG time when I spoke last Friday at the NJSIAA Coaches Annual Seminar. Ground Based vs typical training, Ground Based movements will always give a better return in results. The typical movements let you sit down or lay down waaaaaay too frequently.
I’d rather see athletes working on tire flips, power cleans, overhead presses, deadlifts, etc.
Now, I know MANY people know how to do these movements. But guess what, doesn’t EVERYONE know how to bench press and squat? Yet we know how many people who can bench over 600 and squat over 1,000 lbs?
Catch my drift? It ALL boils down to the magic in the program design. Those who understand the science behind program design get phenomenal results.
So when an arrogant idiot e mails me, “We all know how to lift barbells and sandbags, it’s not rocket science” – I must give the response, “Then why the hell aren’t you transforming athletes into Beasts?”
There is a science behind developing optimal training programs which develop phenomenal results in strength, speed, power and work capacity.
The arrogant people who already know it all will ignorantly state that “It’s not rocket science”, and this is likely why he is not training any athletes or, able to get himself any viable results.
My methods have come about through hands on experimentation and LOTS OF LISTENING to highly experienced Coaches.
This is why The Gladiators are increasing strength, speed and work capacity every single week.
I’ll be getting into the details of how, when and why we implement the things we do when I present in NJ, on April 5th w/my buddies Jason C. Brown, Pamela MacElree and John McKenna. These are three Coaches who are training countless people day in and day out, and truly getting their hands dirty.
This seminar is for everyone – Coaches, athletes, parents, etc.
If you’re in the tri state area I hope to see you there!
Info is here: http://www.crossfitphilly.com/Events.html
In Strength,
Zach Even – Esh
P.S. - As always, we have an early bird registration so get in before time runs out.
Filed under Announcements, Articles, Zach's Workouts by on Mar 1st, 2008. Comment. 
Sometimes I do one exercise for an entire workout, or one type of movement for an entire workout. Not only is this a great challenge but it is also a great way to overload the body like never before.
Have you ever done all types of carries for an entire workout? I talk about this a lot at The Underground and have discussed the power of this method.
We will carry any and every training tool we have from different positions:
- Barbell on back
- Sandbag in arms
- Kettlebells overhead
- Dumbbell farmer walks
- Keg in bearhug
You just keep on grabbing heavy object after heavy object, over and over again. It becomes one squat / deadlift and carry after another and hits your body from all angles and directions.
Noone ever said this was the way to train, but I know about breaking the rules to get results. If you’re following all the “tried and true” ways that are supposed to get you stronger and in much better shape yet you still don’t see the results, then start breaking the rules.
In Strength,
Zach Even – Esh
P.S. – We don’t follow the rules at http://UndergroundStrengthCoach.com – we break all the rules and do what works. Stop by and you’ll see hundreds of articles ready for your use.
Look what one of our members just e mailed me….
“I’ve lost over 70lbs and feel the best EVER do to my membership to USC. I would never blow smoke on anything like this.
As I’ve mentioned before, I came from the powerlifting/bodybuilding background and because of my genetics, I was a lot stronger than I was able to get muscle symmetry in order to compete in bodybuilding.
After constantly suffering muscle fatigue during grappling I researched training techniques of combat athletes. That search somehow led to your Myspace page. Months later and a few dollars I purchased several tools to add to my regular routine.
I read and read and read more of the members section and watched countless videos. Once I got my routines together I just went to it.
I was asked by Master Lloyd yesterday about my weight loss and I told him that the single most decisive thing I did was join USC and learn more about muscle strength endurance. He said that he knew you.
Don’t get me wrong. There are a lot of things discussed here that I don’t necessarily believe will work for me or I just don’t think will fit, but overall its the ability to read from a vast amount of open sources of people that are just like me.
Thanks again.”
Eric Konohia
President of Bulldawg Protection LLC
Filed under Articles, Zach's Workouts by on Mar 2nd, 2008. Comment.
Bruce “The Dragon” Lee was quite the physical specimen, as we all know this all too well.
I saw some recent pics of him using his own gripper machine, which we now see on the market in various places.
Bruce was not only a work out fanatic, but he was truly a forearm / grip training fanatic.
Check out one of Bruce’s workouts below…
Read more on Workouts of The Dragon…
Filed under Articles by on Mar 3rd, 2008. 2 Comments.
My words won’t do justice, so let me make my words brief here…
Just watch this video and when you’re done, I want you to take immediate action on something you have always wanted to do, but for some odd reason, you always made an excuse for.
I am so pumped from this video, so now it’s time to work on a project and kick some serious ass.
I am exhausted, it’s 10: 15 PM at night, been working since 7 AM, but F**K it, I ain’t stopping, no quitting, I want the best and this means believing, going above and beyond, and sacrifice. Yes I’m tired, yes I’m exhausted but so what, excuses never helped anyone.
It’s your time, right NOW, go do what you’ve always wanted to do.
Dedicated to your success,
Zach Even – Esh
Filed under Articles, Videos by on Mar 4th, 2008. 17 Comments.
I’ll be tearing it up in my usual no holds barred ways.
The early bird discount ends Friday, March 7th so get your ass over here:
==> http://www.crossfitphilly.com/Events.html
See you in South Jersey!
In Strength,
–Zach–
Filed under Announcements by on Mar 5th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Rush, rush, rush.
That’s how it is nowadays for most of us.
I am in a rush so often, that many of my workouts last about 15 minutes. I get em’ done when time allows. The shorter workouts are bodyweight and dumbbells. Makes it simple – no changing weights, just grab em’ and go.
Here’s Friday’s RUSH workout.
1A) 1 arm dumbbell snatch – worked up to 105 lbs for 3 reps
1B) mixed pull ups – max reps every set
1C) handstand push ups – max reps every set
I went non stop for barely over 10 minutes and I was hammered.
Who ever said you gotta train long is WRONG.
Find out for yourself by clicking HERE Now.
In Strength,
Zach Even – Esh
P.S. – I’ve got a few heavy dumbbells sitting under my deck out in my backyard. They are used dumbbells from e bay and man do I get phenomenal workouts right in my own backyard. No excuses necessary, just old fashioned hard work. Now it’s your turn.
Filed under Articles, Q & A, Zach's Workouts by on Mar 8th, 2008. Comment.
I’m still confused why we never learned the least bit from all the training footage in the Rocky Films.
The Russians (the OLD Soviet Union) trained this way and many of them still do.
I have an OLD video of the 1970 something Polish weightlifting team training the same way as shown in my Ancient Strength Secrets.
There are too many fancy ways for “fitness” and strength.
Maybe we need to shut down gyms and fitness clubs and force people to find a way to train outdoors.
I think this would be great, and we would see playgrounds being used again, back yard workouts, people riding bikes and the parks would be filled with joggers!
Or, maybe not….
I had MANY e mails after the “Death Crawl” video below, and many of you are fearing what may be considered the “Pussification of America”.
Let’s send this Kit to all the fancy health clubs and see if we can make a change!
In Strength,
P.S. – Let’s create the movement and set the tone…. http://combatgrappler.com/Ancient.html
Filed under Articles by on Mar 8th, 2008. 2 Comments.
** The video above has inappropriate language for the younger ages **
When I watch the video above I get goosebumps. This speech doesn’t only apply to Football, it’s EVERYWHERE in life, anywhere you choose to apply this lesson you can.
The reason why I am so passionate and have come to this place of spreading and sharing my experiences in strength is because I had regrets as a youngster. I fought hard with serious depression and fought hard to discover the ways to come out on top, with no help.
I finally climbed my personal Mt. Everest as Martin Rooney would call this, and I was the victor. Still, I have the regrets of “I wish I knew back then what I know now”….
This is why many of my products are combining mind and body excellence. You can not have one without the other.
See my latest creation helping you to get on the fast track to mind and body excellence.
Dedicated to your success,
Zach
Filed under Articles, Videos by on Mar 9th, 2008. Comment.
I was on the phone today with my good friend who was telling me about a kid we both know who recently finished his high school wrestling career undefeated. There was a photo of him on the sports section of the paper and everyone was talking about how “jacked up” he was.
My buddy told me he had a tire in his back yard for the past 4 years, a tractor tire that is. The kid kept on using the tire and flipping it without counting sets or reps, just old fashioned hard work.
When I first met this kid, he was in 3rd grade and he LOVED Gymnastics, calisthenics and all sports.
In 8th grade I still remember him doing 26 strict pull ups and military pressing a 70 lb Russian Kettlebell with ease. It was scarey to see such strength from a young kid but his foundation in calisthenics and always using his body sure as heck didn’t hurt.
You can’t blame the tractor tires for hurting those “jacked up” legs either 
If you need a tire, just search for a tire yard or a farm. If you REALLY want a tractor tire, you’ll find a way.
Once you’re ready to start putting to use some farm boy training, you’ll want to check out http://UndergroundStrengthManual.com
Those good ol’ tractor tires, gotta love em’!
In Strength,
Zach Even – Esh
Filed under Articles by on Mar 10th, 2008. Comment.
Have you ever heard of Herschel Walker?
If you’ve read my Blog for the past year, you certainly have.
Pull ups, push ups, sit ups – hundreds and even thousands of reps every day…..
Sprinting with a tire and rope strapped around his waist….
Hill Sprints…
Throw in some power cleans…
We have quite the recipe for amazing strength, speed, conditioning and mental toughness….
That is a list of 5 exercises. Work the heck out of them for the next 2 months, or maybe the next 3 months, or how about from now until September 1st? Will you commit yourself to kicking the crap out of those few exercises and working harder than ever before on them, aiming to get an extra rep or an extra 5 lbs added to the bar every week?
The consistency and die hard dedication is what most people lack. So, I say remove the complication and go hard with the list above.
It will work, you just have to put in the time. Plain and simple.
Dedicated to your success,
Zach Even – Esh
P.S. – I have always loved plain and simple. Herschel Walker would have loved This Training Kit!
Filed under Articles by on Mar 11th, 2008. 1 Comment.
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