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At one point in time, my “gym equipment” was very little, and it all fit into the back of my SUV….with plenty of room to boot 
I used three training tools and if I was limited to these 3 things I would still be able to develop bad ass athletes and awesome strength, power and conditioning for myself.
I had heard about him using sandbags during his BJJ classes, homemade Russian Kettlebells, revolving pull up bars, a climbing rope in his house for his son and other wildly innovative methods that were a far cry from the popular stability ball and balance board afficionados.
His methods were in line with my way of thinking and he was certainly someone who was walking the walk being the first American Gracie BJJ Black Belt.
Lifting odd objects has been around for ages. I have books from the mid 1800’s that show men lifting sandbags, stones, bars with cemented stones on the ends, ice blocks with handles and other muscle and strength building movements that would shock onlookers of today.
The great thing is, this style of training requires no gym membership, and trust me, I have heard some of the music being played in these gyms! I bought a protein shake from a gym and heard a song “pumping”….”Don’t be cruel, to a heart that’s true….”
Try getting pumped for your 400 lb squats with that depressing song jammin’ through the speakers!
This is why I love having my own gym, still, with my busy schedule, lots of backyard and playground workouts are happening, and they are freakin’ powerful! I’m using lots of bodyweight training, kettlebells, stones and heavy dumbbells.
Check out what a backyard workout clip can look like with Steve Maxwell, who I’ll be presenting with at our Gladiator Seminar, come July 12 in Edison, NJ
Pretty cool stuff eh’?
That stuff will make you stronger than a freight train, works better than the crap at those fancy fitness clubs, that’s for sure
In Strength,
Zach Even - Esh
PS - Space is quickly running out from The Gladiator Seminar. This is one not to be missed. More info HERE.
Come to my gym and you’ll see us using many training tools:
- barbells
- dumbbells
- thick bars
- sandbags
- kettlebells
- sand filled medicine balls
- anvils
- stones
- sleds
- ropes
and of course, bodyweight….
But, one thing that has been a huge factor in developing strength and power endurance is the use of two critical training tools and the endless variations that come with them, and these tools are ….
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Change can be a good thing.
I am feeling a need for change. It starts from a point much deeper than my emotions, it’s just a Gut feeling I have.
I find myself running home rather than driving home.
I begin removing favorites such as squats and deadlifts, and return to a lot of bodyweight training, kettlebell workouts, sandbags and sledge hammers.
Sprinting becomes more common place, as does jumping, dragging sleds and running with the prowler.
Removing breads, milk and dairy from my nutrition intake begins to take on a new beast. My body craves the change so I listen.
My training will evolve, and you must search for this art form deep within yourself….I have been training since age 13, now 32, I can feel what my body wants and needs, you will begin the same journey.
Soon, the mountain bike will be dusted off and I’ll be riding the trails, stopping when I find a log for lifting, a stone for pressing or rowing or a tree branch for pull ups and leg raises.
Nature is taking its course with me, but I’ll always remain an animal
In Strength,
Zach Even - Esh
PS - Come see the countless secrets you’ll learn from me and Steve Maxwell at The Gladiator Seminar. We’ll help you better yourself dramatically, and if you’re a Coach, your newfound knowledge will blow the lid off of your current business. Go ahead, ask us anything you want related to training….or the business of training. It’s another No Holds Barred Underground Seminar! What else did you expect!? Click HERE for details!
PPS - Too far away to make the Gladiator Seminar? Check out my store and see how you can start using kettlebells, logs, stones, sleds, bodyweight and more to Your advantage! Click HERE for more info!
I just wanted to give some answers to the questions that have been coming in regarding my upcoming Gladiator Fitness Seminar with Steve Maxwell on July 12, 2008.
http://combatgrappler.com/seminars.html
********
Question: I am not a martial artists or jiu jitsu practioner, will this seminar still benefit me?
This oughtta piss some people off
I am a student first, teacher second. My primary goal is to learn more and more so I can pass on the knowledge to those who want to learn.
Still, I receive some funny e mails from people who claim to be “experts” because they were using stones, or sandbags and kettlebells before anyone else was.
I must laugh at this egotistical behavior, but it’s also why we have a rule at The Underground web site: No Assholes, No Egos.
Some people feel the odd need to claim their right as being first to have used something or done something first. Truth be told, these tools have been used for countless centuries. Maybe the Kettlebells have not been around for centuries, but stone lifting is common place in many countries, so when people say they did this first, I must be getting e mails from humans that roamed the earth slightly after the Dinosaurs.
The fact is this, what we do today has been done before, the methods of program design have certainly advanced greatly, which is a big reason we are getting phenomenal results with our athletes.
Sure, it’s easy to squat, press and row all the training tools we have available, but, designing programs which train other optimally is where the magic comes into play.
The gurus who feel the need to claim to be the first of the first have already lost, because they are no longer students, they feel they know it all already. Good for them.
The ironic thing is, these gurus tend to talk about what they used to do or they simply hide behind the keyboard and type endlessly on negative forums.
Beware of these gurus, they’ll try to bring you donw with them, not a pretty place to go.
As I continue to learn I’ll pass on my knowledge. Just like great books that are meant for passing on as opposed to sitting on shelves, great knowledge should be passed on. Then again, if you know it all, feel free to pass.
Dedicated to your success,
Zach Even - Esh
P.S. - The man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can not are both right.
We haven’t been following a ton of rules here at The Underground. This is a BIG reason why our clients are developing in strength and muscle so quickly.
Compare our style of training with the typical program that has light dumbbell curls, lat pull downs, crunches and calf raises to someone flipping tires, hoisting heavy barbells overhead, deadlifting and squatting hundreds of pounds - it’s no secret why the old school program works better than today’s “powder puff” workouts.
Sometimes all we do is press weights overhead, from the ground to over our heads on every single rep of every single set, using different implements every few sets.
Start with a barbell for a few sets, then some kettlebells, next up…an anvil, next up might be some old round head dumbbells, next might be sandbags…..on and on, ripping weights from the ground to overhead, pushing the body into foreign territory.
The mind and body will let you go where ever you desire, so push past your limits, soar to new heights and demand more of yourself.
Go get em’!
In Strength,
Zach Even - Esh
P.S. - Wanna take your training to new heights, see how break ALL the rules HERE!
