In these Videos you will find what I describe as the GREATEST Seminar nobody ever knew about! Actually, MANY people knew about this seminar but we could BARELY GIVE the seminar away! The seminar was taught by Mark Smelly Bell & Jesse Burdick before they had a strong following, sponsors, etc. BUT, at the time, Mark was one of the best powerlifters in the world, and, there were MANY powerlifters in the immediate area who said they could not attend the seminar because it was squat or bench … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2011
15 World Class Bench Press Tips from a BEAST
Let's recap the 14 Bench Press tips from Mark "Smelly" Bell, who holds a BIG 854 lb person best in the Bench Press. 1) When training for speed you will typically be around 40-60% of your max effort, although Mark has seen success with powerlifters using as low as 30% 2) The key to your dynamic work is exactly that, being FAST / EXPLOSIVE! If you're not moving the bar fast then you need to lighten the weight. 3) Don't mistake being fast and under control for fast and sloppy in technique. … [Read more...]
Thoughts On Squats, Jumps, Aggressive Learning & WINNING
My workouts have been going VERY good lately and after this past weekend's seminar at my gym with Mark Bell and Jesse Burdick, I have a gained a MUCH greater amount of knowledge AND respect for powerlifting and straight up getting stronger and more explosive. I have many more videos to share regarding last weekend's powerlifting seminar so hang tight for these :) The seminar seriously blew me away and I am still shocked at how many coaches and lifters didn't want to invest their time or money … [Read more...]
Nate Green, Benchin' Like a Beast & Kickin' Ass
At age 25 I was going through a hellish time in life. I had a bad case of "God complex" and left a job (voluntarily) which I loved and was very successful at with hopes of making a difference at a new position. Guess I thought I could save the world, which, for teachers, is the way you MUST think if you wanna do a GREAT job and it pushes you to think outside the box and bring better and better things to the students. But, trying to save the world wasn't my job, and I learned the hard way. I … [Read more...]
Lessons in Greatness, Hellish Times, Adversity & The Age Factor from Rodney Dangerfield
I watch lots of biographies on TV and love to read biographies and autobiographies. I probably read Arnold's 'Education of a Bodybuilder' over 100 times while in high school alone. I read it many more times after high school as well. I basically memorized the book, and through time, I began "becoming Arnold" during my workouts. I would visualize my chest like Arnold's when training chest. Or if I was squatting, I imagined I was squatting with Ed Corney and Arnold in Pumping Iron. … [Read more...]
Muscle Building Experiments That Broke ALL the “Rules”
I've been test driving all types of training methods, exercises and systems of training on myself and others ever since I was a young kid.I amassed every bodybuilding book that every book store had. Every holiday, birthday or special occasion that brought gifts my way came in the form of a bodybuilding book. My brain had information overload and I wanted to use ALL the methods in some way, shape or form. I experimented on myself with every workout in every book. I had specialty books for … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned from Golden Era Bodybuilding BEASTS
Robby Robinson is what I call a Renegade Underground Bodybuilder. His favorite upper body workouts were endless supersets of the bench press and pull ups / chins ups. His favorite lower body workouts were endless supersets of front squats and RDLs (Romanian Deadlifts). Heck, ANY athlete can benefit from those movements, you don't have to be a bodybuilder to be able to perform Density Training, ala Coach Reeve with the basics. Robby Robinson loved the basics that any serious strength … [Read more...]
Weak or Strong – The Choice Is Yours
I still remember that short yet powerful poem staring at me in front of the squat rack at Diamond Gym. It reminded me to add weight, get an extra rep and do what others would NOT want to do. I first saw that poem when I was 17, over half my lifetime ago yet I still remember that poem like it was this morning. There are those that will and those that won't Those that do and those that don't I remember going through some extremely hellish workouts, especially on leg day, back when I was a … [Read more...]
Monday Motivation: Why Were You Put on Earth?
One of the most powerful questions ever asked to me was "Why do I think I was put on this earth?" It led me to REALLY ask myself why I'm here, what my legacy will be, how will I represent for my kids and be able to look them in the eyes and tell them to turn their dreams into reality. It challenged me to believe in what I was set out to do. I also put a large amount of intrinsic pressure on myself to turn my dreams into reality. I kept replaying the scenario of my daughter asking me if she … [Read more...]
The X Factor
I am psyched by all the feedback I got from the last Blog on kickin' ass in life AND lifting, of course, I had my fair share of cry babies e mail me, but that's fine, come's with the territory. Remember, you can't make everyone happy. If your goal is trying to please everyone you are likely holding back and playing it safe. What I do and what I speak about is NOT for everyone, it is for a select group of people who want to challenge themselves BIG time while growing both mentally and … [Read more...]