Team Underground has been competing in Strongman Competitions held by Joe DeFranco since Day 1. I believe the first one was 4 years ago in the parking lot of Joe’s Gym. It was held after an Elite FTS Seminar where Jim Wendler & Dave Tate were present.

I still remember getting a 600 lb tire 3 or 4 days before the event so our guys could practice the tire flip. The tire was old and grimy and the guys couldn’t even grip the tire.

It was the beginning stages of The Underground Strength Gym being in a warehouse, after several years of being housed in my 2 car garage.

No one expected our athletes to do well as we were unknown to others. What others did NOT know was that my athletes were like a tightly knit unit of a Military Special Forces Team. They had gone through Hellish Underground Workouts in my garage, backyard and at a school field down the road from my house.

I still recall the spectators at the first strongman competition asking, “Who the hell is Underground?!?!”

That first Strongman Competition was an epic day and one that I still remember as if it just happened 2 minutes ago, where one of our athletes, “Curls”, had to compete against Adam “Trigs” Triglia in an overtime finale with a prowler race for the high school division crown.

Trigs won by a mere fraction of a second and it would spur Curls to go on and win the next TWO strongman competition titles hosted by Joe DeFranco.

From chubby slow poke as a kid to the world’s strongest college athlete it was a helluva ride. I try to explain to my athletes often that this chokes me up and makes me proud as all heck, but I still see nerves in their eyes every time I talk to them about what I want them to do and the high expectations I have of them.

This year, as we prepped for The World’s Strongest Athlete my nerves were running more than ever. With our college guys coming back to The Underground with nagging injuries and crazy work schedules we had to work around LOTS of injuries, strange time schedules and I had to rebuild these warriors.

We used lots of Eischen’s Yoga & soft tissue work to get the body’s back on track. Strongman training was actually VERY low volume and we focused on Kettlebells, Bodyweight and Muscle Building movements.

Several weeks our from this year’s WSA competition, my former students from Elementary School, Curls & Coop, stood nervous as we went over workouts, expectations, nutrition and MORE expectations. I got a bit choked up as I looked back to how fast time had gone.

It seemed like yesterday that these two boys were in 4th grade and we still bring back our memories of Curls rapping in 4th grade math class using Football touchdowns and field goals to help the class memorize their times tables.

Coop still remembers getting in trouble with me and sitting out after performing a death defying head spring off the vault during while I was teaching Gymnastics.

Curls remembers being slower than everyone else and getting tagged first in every game.

I remember those days like yesterday and after the WSA was over, I had this clear vision in my head of these boys still being scared and nervous every time I spoke to them. I realized we had only 1 more year of competition ahead and that as a TEAM, we had seen each other change and grow.

The boys growing from elementary school to high school stand out Football players, and today, the standouts of their college Football team. Myself, a teacher and wrestling coach and today the owner of The Underground Strength Gym.

Last year, our top athletes represented BIG time at The World’s Strongest Athlete. Curls took 1st in the college division, T Woods 3rd in high school and Kevin Kelly, a NJ State Trooper took 2nd losing the entire event by a mere half second.

It was a stressful day of events this year, with our high school Beast, T Woods, going through a repeat battle as Curls did when he was in high school. The first Prowler Race was so close we had to go into Double Overtime where Pat Cole edged out T Woods for the title. I didn’t get as much video footage as I wanted as I was too nervous pacing the floors of the event watching all our athletes compete.

T Woods had just finished a whirl wind 2 weeks as he was in full blown Football practice for the Snapple Bowl, a Football Game that pits the best players of Middlesex County VS Union County and you can see the reporters were BIG time impressed with his presence on the field HERE.

When Travis began training at The Underground, in the garage, he was training alone, in a corner almost, as he was too weak to deadlift more than 185 lbs without rounding his back.

On the other side of the garage was Curls & Coop, deadlifting 500 + lbs and motivating Travis to that next level. T Woods went from 160 lbs to 220 + lbs and is heading off to play college ball.

Check the highlight below and you’ll see how tough this event was and why I am so proud of the athletes who represented from The Underground Strength Gym.

Before the day was over I was PROUD of my crew for representing BIG time in more ways than one. They competed with every ounce of strength they had to raise funds and be strong for The MS Society as all funds were donated to MS.

The crew was ready for the next step and that was to prepare for their next season. They ALL showed up Monday ready to train again. Dedication. Commitment.

Although we battle for 1st place during this competition, our crew and DeFranco’s crew have become brothers through the years. It’s been an awesome journey watching our high school athletes grow into college athletes and now on the verge of graduation they’ll be heading into the work force.

I believe these are THE kids who can bring the economy back on it’s feet as they are warriors, they understand how to get results and don’t fear the hard work, sacrifice and commitment necessary to become a BIG success.

What these boys have learned in the weight room has made them better MEN.

And, because of these times and these athletes, I too am a better man.

I am grateful and honored.

Lead from the FRONT.

–Z–

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I have a SERIOUS passion for all types of lifting, but, I especially LOVE throwing weights overhead, ALL types of weights. Remember, I’m a SOUL Lifter, rules need NOT apply.

Check out this medley of overhead lifting in the Underground Video Below…..

There are certain lifts that are just a sure fire way for packing on muscle and developing Brute Strength.

Lifting weights overhead via the press, snatch, clean & press and even THROWING weights overhead will get the job done. Some of the objects were lighter and some of them were heavier.

If you’re a beginner I suggest you only hit one overhead lift but if you’re more advanced and have spent plenty of time under the bar, go ahead, see what it’s like to be a BEAST and lift like a SOUL Lifter.

Time for me to get back to WORK!

The Kick Ass & Take Names Project is on the way Boys & Girls….. The world will NEVER be the same.

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

Recommended Resources:

Man of Steel Challenge

The BEAST Strength Program

Get Wrestling Strength

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I get tons of e mails asking me what to do with regards to starting their own warehouse gym and getting that kick ass vibe happening.

I wrote a HARSH article on Running a Warehouse Gym and pissed off many people in the process.

There is NO simple answer to exactly how to do it. But, there are certainly a few tips I can dish out.

- Be patient, yet Hustle your ass off! Success will not happen overnight, but, EVERY DAY you need to do at least ONE proactive thing to improve your training knowledge, business knowledge AND market your program.

This means you need to be in the trenches training yourself. You need to study the best business models out there so you can learn from those who have blazed a trail ahead of you. You need to connect with people and offer 100 times the value of anyone else so people start learning who you are, what you do and how you can help them.

NOTE: MOST people don’t hustle for jack sh*t. I had a guy attend one of my USC Certifications almost 1 year ago and only now he is starting to connect with local schools, youth sporting leagues, etc. Who needs to wait a year to take action? REMEMBER…I said EVERY DAY, not every 9 months!!

People FEAR working, not just in the Strength Coach Biz but in countless arenas. If you are ready and willing to outwork others you are MILES ahead of the rest.

Invest in your Education – You must soak up tons of knowledge and this means it costs money. When I attended Tony Robbins’ live event it was life changing! It wasn’t free, nor was it cheap. It was over $ 1,000. And it was expensive for a reason….. it was F**ING AWESOME!

I payed BIG Bucks for lunch with Gary Vaynerchuk. We did NOT eat lunch. We sat in a Taco Bell for 1 hour and went ballistic mapping out EXACTLY what I wanna do with my life and how to go about getting “IT”.

I needed clarity and I wanted to learn from people who were BIG time passionate about what they were doing and created a life from it.

Prepare for HATERS & Thieves- People will be PISSED at you for being successful. That is the straight up truth. Get thick skin, REALLY thick skin and learn to say “F**k You” to all the haters. Even your “friends” will hate you for being successful.

Some people who used to be my “friends” are long gone, pissed at me for kicking ass.

Others go to my web site and copy graphics and anything else they feel like cutting and pasting.

In the end, you’ll count your friends on your hand, maybe 2 hands… that’s a BIG MAYBE.

I work so freakin’ fast that the copy cats can’t even keep up with me.

Rules – Don’t let others dictate the rules of your gym. If I have someone slackin’ at my gym, I let them know. If the slacking continues, I remind them and talk with their parents. If no improvement is found, we remove them from the program.

I ALWAYS loved hardcore gyms and I hated it when there was a bad apple in there who spoiled the energy or interrupted the intensity. But, I had NO authority to get rid of them because I was simply a member.

If I had a sh*tty training partner I gave them the boot.

Owning your own Warehouse Gym allows you to make the Rules. Don’t be afraid to make the rules.

Train ONLY Who You Want to Train – If you don’t like training house wives, DON”T do it. Find a way to maximize how to train athletes. It’s tough, and even tougher if you sit around hoping they will come knocking on your door begging them to be trained.

I have told countless aspiring Strength Coaches to write down 10 people / places to connect with so they could allow those people to explore their gym, get a trial, give a FREE hands on seminar, etc.

Then, you take action with those TEN people / places. How many take action with 5 of these, let alone 10 of them? Less than 5 percent?

Regardless of you being a Strength Coach or not, you will dig these Videos below, from our April USC Certification, next one is in JUNE!

Till the next time….

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

Recommended Resources:

Underground Strength Coach Certification

Underground Strength Coach Trial

Underground Strength System

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I’ve become stronger in mind AND body since becoming a Dad. Something about being a family man pushes me and other Dads to become stronger than ever before.

Not all Dads do this, some fall off the wagon and become lazy, fat pieces of sh*t and have a million and one excuses as to why they have become weak.

In fact, it has happened countless times, where some fat ass Dad says to me, “I used to look like you. Then I got married, had kids….. You’ll see, it’ll happen to you.”

The fact of the matter is, NO ONE is just like me. I’ve gotten up well before the sun was shining to lift heavy weights, or, have stayed up till midnight to get in a lift. I don’t make excuses, I make things happen.

Check out a select few Deadly Dads Deadliftin. We ain’t your ordinary crew of Dads, that’s for damn sure!

If you’re a Deadly Dad, drop a comment below and tell us why you continue to be a BEAST!

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

Recommended Resources:

Underground Strength Coach Certification

Training for Warriors – THE Books!

Man of Steel Challenge

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Martin Rooney and I talk about what life is like as a Strength Coach and give you a preview of what’s about to go down with “The Human Crane”.

Check the video and pay attention….

When I saw Martin box squat 405 for the easy reps it made me re-think and realize the carry over his training has towards his absolute strength.

I’ve seen Martin Bench Press 315 for a solid 6 reps and he weighs around 200 lbs, lean and mean.

The regular practice of sprints and bodyweight training have had a tremendous carry over to his strength, and these are NOT just my observations only. Martin told me that from doing all his push up variations and other challenging bodyweight movements so often they have a tremendous carry over to his powerlifting.

I have experienced the same effect so NEVER neglect the importance of attacking and mastering the challenging bodyweight exercises.

Lead from the FRONT or get the Hell out of the Way!

–Z–

Recommended Resources:

Training for Warriors Books & Workouts

Bodyweight University

Underground Strength Coach Certification

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Listen how these MMA fighters think AND feel while working out and how they put themselves in uncomfortable situations while training to prep not just the body, but also the mind, for the war that will be ahead of them, inside the octagon!

Yes, the barbells were very light, but the pace was brutal, and this is AFTER the warm up, which would crush most people with all the warrior bodyweight exercises and the sprinting.

Drop a comment below.

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

Reccomended Resources:

June, USC Certification

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The Man of Steel 12 Week Training System is HERE.

It’s time for The NEW Breed of Men to be built.

Strong as Hell, Lean, Athletic, Explosive and Highly Conditioned.

No longer do you need to have your own garage set up or basement gym to get in an ass kicking workout.

No longer do you need to train for endless hours in the gym. 30 – 45 minutes will get the job done when you follow The MOS 12 Week Challenge.

You can follow the MOS system in a commercial or globo gym and I suggest you crank up your I Pod to avoid the shitty music being played in commercial gyms.

You’re gonna HAVE to be in the zone when you train though. NO cell phones or other distractions.

Follow these 11 Tips to Become a Man of Steel

1) Train Like an Animal – Run, Jump, Sprint, Crawl & Climb

2) Powerlift – Get Strong as Hell in the Squat, Bench & Deadlift

3) Maximize Bodyweight Training – Mixed Grip Push Ups & Pull Ups MUST be Mastered.

4) Perform Hybrid Workouts – Mix various elements & methods together: Powerlifting + Gymnastic Based Bodyweight Movements, Dumbbell Olympic Lifts + Bodybuilding Movements…..

5) Break Records EVERY Week: Every week you’ll follow The Man of Steel Challenge of the Week. These challenges will push your body into a NEW world of transformation

6) Attack Ground Based Movements: Ripping weights off the ground will develop full body strength, improve conditioning and pack muscle on your entire body. Use dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells.

7) Train for Athleticism FIRST: Train like an athlete and challenge your muscles from different angles with NEW movements. Don’t sit on your ass pumping reps on useless machines. Athletes don’t look like Greek Statues carved from stone by accident, they EARNED it, and so will YOU!

Use Kettlebells: ALL gyms carry Kettlebells, but 99% of them collect dust and people don’t know HOW to use them effectively and properly. Kettlebells allow you to combine movements for maximum effect in minimal time while also improving your athleticism.

9) Train Hard & Short: Long workouts suck, Period. They work against you by draining you of energy and valuable time. Get in the gym, warm up, train hard and get out!

10) Push the Pace: Don’t rest excessively. Short rest periods force new muscle fibers to get worked and help build muscle, ALL of which speeds up your metabolism. You wanna be a fat burning machine around the clock, so PUSH the pace.

11) Develop Abs & Hands of Steel: Work your abs intensely with direct abdominal work and indirect abdominal work using the functional movements described in the MOS Challenge. Develop powerful hands and forearms so you can throw around heavier barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and perform Bodyweight training with ease.

12) Get The Man of Steel Challenge HERE

Enough Said.

Lead from the Front!

–Z–

PS: You can do a workout with no plan, day by day and get little if any results. Smitty and I combine OVER 40 years of in the trenches expertise and BOTH of us have followed training plans for 4 – 12 weeks and even longer, because we KNOW that a training plan brings results, workouts without planning bring Nothing.

Become a Man of Steel HERE

On Sale until Friday, April 9th, 3 PM

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First, let me say that Smitty and I are beyond humbled and honored by all the comments and videos that were submitted to win The Man of Steel Challenge.

We are SERIOUSLY floored by the response and are 100% psyched, honored and humbled – it was pretty emotional, actually.

It was damn near impossible to award 1 winner so what we decided to was to award 2 winners at each of our Blogs: 1 from the videos and 1 from the comments.

Also, those of you who submitted videos, please stay tuned for an e mail coming from both Smitty and I as we have a special “Thank You” coming your way!

The Winner from the Man of Steel Video Submission was the TOUGHEST one to choose from because these videos were so freaking BadAss! But, in the end, The Man of Steel Challenge award winner goes to Josh Hewitt, check out this inspirational video below:

And for the Winner from the comments, this goes to Comment # 8 from Bedouin John Albiola. Check out his reasons and motivation to get his hands on The Man of Steel Challenge below:

John even called Smitty & I “Sir” – which makes this comment even cooler!

“Dear Sir Zach and Sir Smitty,

its really simple… i think why i deserve MAN OF STEEL is because… i want my family to be together… My Dad is working in the Middle East… He is working there for us… for our college tuition… life is hard over here in the philippines… He cant come home or resign or quit his job because im still studying and also my sister in college… My Dad has been an Overseas Filipino Worker for 26 years now… and he wants to go home… but he cant because of our financial problems… so i told myself if i trained hard… if only i could land an athletic scholarship… playing college basketball… for my university… i can help my parents…. they wont need to worry about tuition… and our life will be easier… but becoming a varsity player is also hard… the try outs… etc… so i think i deserve MAN OF STEEL to help me achieve my athletic goals… at the same time… bring our family together… so my dad can come home… thank you sir zach and sir smitty…”

Here is what will happen next.

1) Josh and Sir John, please look for an e mail from Smitty and I coming shortly.

2) ALL Video submissions, please look for an e mail from Smitty and I coming shortly as well

Right now, Smitty and I are looking at Tuesday, April 6th for the release of The Man of Steel Challenge.

But, we have some final “touch ups” going on with the web site that need to be set to make sure our servers don’t crash as we’ll be offering a special sale during the first few days.

Time to open up The Underground, stay tuned for more and BIG thanks to ALL who participated.

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

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I’m going through ALL the comments and videos for those who have posted reasons why they should earn The Man of Steel Challenge.

Well, check out the MAD MEN who have created videos……

This is gonna be a TOUGH contest!

These Videos are AWE-INSPIRING!

I am speechless! Can you imagine that!?! ME, being speechless!!??

I’ll be announcing the winner of The Man of Steel Challenge tomorrow, Friday, April 2nd!

I am grateful and honored to have received such awesome responses, both in video and comments on the blog.

I am truly grateful!

Lead from the FRONT!

–Z–

PS: Got a comment regarding the videos above, please share them below.

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OK. It’s ON!

Read the Entire message below, CAREFULLY. Don’t be a Lazy Looker, read EVERY word below.

The Man of Steel Challenge is SOON to be released but before we open this Bad Boy up to the public, Smitty and I wanna give you guys a chance to “Earn” The entire MOS system… for FREE.

You don’t need sandbags, stones or any strongman equipment. The MOS workouts are tailor made for the typical commercial gym or home gym.

On the Flip Side, The MOS Challenge is anything BUT typical and is certainly not created for the Typical Man.

We are warning you now, we want Hardcore MoFos applying for this program! Weak minded Men are NOT encouraged to partake in this program.

But…..

If you wanna pack on more muscle, get leaner and meaner in the next 12 weeks then you have in the last 12 months, Smitty and I have created the Ultimate 12 Week training system for YOU.

You’ll get instructional videos for download, workout manuals for every week as well as ALL the videos on a physical DVD. Follow the program A – Z and you WILL pack on steel forged muscle.

You’re gonna have to EARN your MOS program, so read on….

If you’re down for this 12 week challenge and you 100% KNOW that you will go balls to the wall for the next 12 weeks, here is how you can WIN The MOS Challenge, on The House!

** The MOS Challenge Contest Rules. READ Carefully AND Entirely **

1) Be 100% Serious & Dedicated to the program. We don’t want you applying, commenting or crying about why you can’t do something. We want those who DO, not those who Don’t. If this means only 3 people will apply, so be it, we don’t care! Smitty and I have been doing this for a loooooong time and don’t bother working with half assers.

2) Create a Video as to why you want The MOS 12 week program and why you believe you have Earned it. That’s right, if you want IN, we want a video. It’s too easy to write a few half hearted sentences or paragraphs as a comment, it takes time, commitment and thought to create a GENUINE video giving us insight into who you are and why you feel you have Earned The MOS program.

3) Once Your Video has been created and posted on youtube or any other video hosting web site, drop a comment below and link it to your video so we can see your video. Be creative and genuine when making your video. We can see who REALLY wants IN and who put together a half ass video.

4) The Deadline to submit your Video is Wed., March 31st. We suggest you get busy this weekend and make it happen ASAP. Procrastinators are NOT who we want in this program. No exceptions.

5) Smitty & I will announce the winners on Friday, April 2nd. There will be 1 winner picked from each Blog.

Bring Your A Game, because we sure as hell put together our Most Ass Kickin’ Training system, EVER!

I can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.

Remember, only ONE winner will be picked from My blog and ONE winner from Smitty’s Blog.

Let the Videos Begin!

Lead from the Front!

–Z–

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