Yesterday, we had a high school Football player pop in, asking about training. The H3 he pulled up in looked familiar, so i asked if he was related to a certain someone who trained at The Underground Strength Gym… for 2 days.

His older brother, had his Mom pay for the training for a month. After 2 workouts he disappeared…no phone calls returned….no e mails returned.

I was pissed off that a young kid wasted his Mom’s hard earned money and thought nothing of it.

With his brother wanting in, I gave him the “speech”, and he was feeling that I wasn’t taking any shit or anything less than 150%.

We scheduled a trial and he went on his way, excited to come back Friday for some torture, errr, training, where we test the will to be in the program and commit himself.

Shortly after, I got to my own training. A very intense collegiate Football crew just finished their workout and they were hanging out afterwards. Mixed in with the group was Judo Beast, David Ellis.

I realized that The Underground Strength Gym was more than just a place to train. It is a place where younger athletes can surround themselves with highly motivated, well mannered athletes of similar interest.

For some, this is where they HAVE to be. A place where we shape them into kids who go in the right direction, as opposed to becoming thugs, lazy asses, disrespectful and the like.

I have a lot of work to do, it’s becoming much, much more than just training athletes. We’re changing lives here.

Back to work!

Kill it!

–Coach Z–

P.S. - Interested in being part of The Underground Movement? Want to be an Underground Strength Coach? Check this and e mail me for an interview for the acceptance. Our Underground Strength Coach Apprentice Program is also available for those who qualify after an interview.

P.P.S. - I’ve got something new about to be unleashes, watch your e mail in box.

P.P.P.S. - There is ONE place where everything Underground is under ONE roof. That place is HERE.

** Interested in membership at The Underground Strength Gym? **

- Application / invitiation only

- Call for scheduling a trial: (732) 379-9370

When I was 13 I started getting heavily into bodybuilding.

But what impacted me most was the info found in the original, Arnold Schwarzenneger Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. In this HUGE book were tons and tons of black and white photos of the rugged bodybuilders from the 50’s - 70’s.

These guys were more like what I call a “power-bodybuilder”.

They hit heavy deadlifts, heavy olympic lifts, heavy powerlifts, heavy cheat curls, HEAVY EVERYTHING.

They developed incredibly rugged, rock hard physiques and man did they motivate me to do the same!

These photos made me feel like I was living during the Golden Era, training with the crew at Gold’s Venice and on Muscle Beach.

I would watch Pumping Iron over and over again, and on weekends I would have my Dad drive me to see other gyms in the area as I dreamt of owning my own gym one day.

I wanted a hardcore gym, a dungeon like faciluty where everyone busted their ass and sweated buckets to achieve their goals.

I wanted a gym where everyone understood their purpose, and that was to train your ass off, surround yourself with other highly motivated beasts and to WIN!

Well, whaddya know…. dreams become reality and I own my own hardcore facility. Just as I envisioned.

I believed, I had the guts to make it happen and I took massive action - these are 3 keys to success.

If you want something to happen badly enough, ask yourself if you have followed the 3 steps above.

If not, how about NOW would be a great time?

In Strength,

–Coach Z–

P.S. - Wanna see what kick started my gym and my business? It allowed me to open up a kick ass gym with barely any investment, while others are out spending tens of thousands and paying loans, I owe not one dime to anyone and continue to kick ass. I am showing the world how I do it, get started HERE.

P.P.S. - Stay tuned, I’ll be announcing the next USC Certification course, very likely to be in November!

No fancy chair for me, no pretty desk to hide behind, only the challenge to lead from the front.

Is it really a challenge, or, is it a choice?

ONLY You decide!

In Strength,

–Z–

P.S. - This style of training is not for everyone. The psyche certainly pushed everyone harder, as we competed against one another. Technique loosened up a bit and insanity certainly jumped up more than a few nothces.

It’s time you began taking part in the Underground movement. Do it here: The Underground Strength Course

This morning I was drinking my morning shake, which I have 2 - 3 mornings out of the week, other days, I go with “real” food.

My wife asked me if I was going to work out today, I told her I would, after cranking out some computer work, I planned on hitting the backyard for some kettlebell training, and then she asked if the gym was open.

Indeed it was, but only for  select few who were invited to train on Saturdays in preparation for Joe DeFranco’s strongman contest. Joe never invited outsiders into his competition except for our athletes, which was last year.

My wife encouraged me to meet up with the crew to train with them, little did she know what we were actually doing, and when I arrived today, I was ready for battle.

As the Coach, I am expected to lead from the front, I expect this from myself and my athletes expect this as well.

I know that my athletes have been trained in ways I wish I knew of, and now, many of them are stronger than me, bigger than me, leaner and meaner than me. Regardless, I will be ready for battle, with little sleep and no perfect anythings, it was “Go time.”

Our plans to train outside were quickly shuffled as the rain began to pour down with no let down in sight.

I quickly adapted and adjusted and set up our workout as such:

1) farmer walk dead lifts: 1 x 5, 1 x 3

2) 600 lb tire flip: x 3 reps (flip, run to other side, repeat, etc.)

3) log bar clean and press: 1 x 5, 1 x 30 seconds, 1 x 5 heaviest weight

4) double Kettlebell cleans w/88’s: 1 x 5 reps - my psyche shot me to 10 easy reps!

5) glute ham raise 1 x 12

6) 45 degree back XT w/60 lbs 1 x 12

I finished with some heavy arm work for biceps and triceps. Getting the guns stronger is more important than many people care to admit or understand.

Strong triceps will push up your log bar military press, the biceps endure a lot of strain when performing farmer walks and when wrestling with a tractor tire. All angles must be covered.

Heavy abdominal training will be included during the week.

Note the low number of sets. Less can be more, when less is enough. More is not always better. We aim to train with the minimal amount of volume giving the maximum return. Some thrive on more volume and they are given free reign to do so. Psychologically, some of these Gladiators need the extra volume.

This workout reminded me of the battles I encountered every workout when I was competing as a bodybuilder. My training partner was a wrestler, I was natural, he was not. Mentally, I refused to back down. I knew this would make up for my lack of physical advantages, and, although natural, my intensity would often times nauseate my training partner and others who trained with me.

As you can see, the mind will be your most powerful weapon.

Don’t ever lose your edge, engage yourself in activities that keep you leading from the front.

In Strength,

–Z–

P.S. - A style of training too much for others, this may be just what you need, and just what you’re looking for. Check it out at http://undergroundstrengthmanual.com

If you’re not a member of The Underground Strength Gym, feel free to take a peek at some of the pics HERE to get a behind the scenes look at what our athletes do on a regular basis.

 The Underground Strength Gym is certainly a unique and rare place, if you’re an athlete in the NJ / NY area, this might be the place for you.

Or, you can take advantage of our Underground Seminars, the Underground Strength Coach Apprentice Program or the Underground Strength Coach Certification.

But, this is a special invite, for members of the Gym Only

In Strength,

–Z–

P.S. - I’m making calls for applicants for the Underground Strength Coach Apprentice Program. Rest up during the holiday weekend, I’m calling next week

P.P.S. - Not a member of my gym but you wanna learn about what we do and how it delivers ass kicking results? Then ditch the coffee and check this out.

Here’s the tail end of some of the crew tearing it up at The Underground Strength Gymnasium, in good ol’ Edison, NJ.

Here’s the workout these beasts endured…

After our Underground warm up, a powerful blend of mobility, calisthenics, bands, movement prep and stability work, they attacked the following:

1A) zercher squats 5 x 4 - 6 reps
1B) mixed push ups for active recovery 5 x 15 reps

2A) 1 arm dumbbell clean & press 3 x 6
2B) weighted pull ups w/mixed grips 3 x max reps

3) jump rope x 5 minutes

ya gotta move, and this is why if you ever saw our warm up, it could kick the crap out of the majority of people who walk through our doors.

We build our athletes up to this training and push hard for strength endurance, power endurance and overall work capacity and mental toughness.

The jump rope at the end is awesome! Jumping rope develops foot speed, leg power, ankle stability and improves wind, BIG time!

Listen to the music blasting, the guys having a blast while training, the atmosphere and another great day in “the office.”

Kick ass and stay strong, more is coming

–Z–

P.S. - Wanna learn my methods for developing kick ass training programs for athletes, doing what you love and bypassing all my mistakes? Watch our apprentice video and e mail me if you’re serious about getting in the door. SERIOUS inquiries only, as always

P.P.S. - Grill me and see how I do things at the July 12th Gladiator Seminar with Steve Maxwell. We’re gonna spill the beans and blow the lid off your current training knowledge. Get in before we shut the doors and space is filled! Click HERE now.

Check it out, in the thick of things at The Underground Strength Coach Certification, held at The Underground Strength Gym in Edison, NJ.

What a crew this first group was! The next one sold out asap….not sure when the next one will be, for now, the next way to get in on my ass kicking methods is through the apprentice program.

Damn, that was a FUN, FUN, FUN weekend!

I must say, doing what I love, spending my time with others who are doing what they love, ya can’t go wrong

I also do a 1 month follow up with all our Underground Strength Coaches and we have been sharing success stories and this crew is killin’ it! Starting boot camps, opening up gyms, traveling to foreign countries to coach sport teams….bottom line, they are taking massive action with speed and following their dreams!

My two take away points for you:

1) Don’t climb the ladder of success, JUMP to the top…with SPEED!

2) Screw the “I’ll do it tomorrow” saying, do it and do it NOW!

One more….

Go BIG or Go Home!

Dedicated to your success,

–Zach–

He walked through waist high water for over an hour, lifting his legs out of the water on each step to develop work capacity.

He would snatch throw a 220 lb. barbell for 100 reps backwards over his head as a warm up to his olympic lifting workouts.

He trained in solitude.

He trained in training hall or his backyard.

There were times he would train with a barbell in the water as well, diving under and emerging seconds later with the barbell ripped through the water into a power clean.

He did not follow the rules, very much like underground strength training.

One of our athletes, Kurt, who I have written about before, as a modern day Laird Hamilton, surfs on a regular basis.

When he is done surfing, he takes a long swim in the ocean and often times treads water in one spot for 10, 15 and even 20 minutes. He finds a spot 10′ deep, and throughout his treading water he sporadically jumps out of the water. Kurt goes through our most intense workouts probably faster than anyone else.

His work capacity is extremely high. On other days, he performs short workouts in his garage, the local park, playground or takes a bike ride.

Kurt doesn’t follow the rules written in the popular magazines and books. He follows the code of Underground Strength Training: There are NO rules!

Isn’t it time you started breaking the rules?

In Strength,

–Zach–

P.S. - There are some BIG changes happening at The Underground very shortly, you don’t wanna miss out on them. Become a member to become a part of this ass kicking strength training movement and start experiencing the best results of your life.

P.P.S. - If you want to see exactly how I run The Underground, and you want to start doing what you love, immediately, bypassing all the mistakes, then see our Apprentice Video and e mail me. Serious inquiries only please.

What the heck happens at The Underground Strength Gym?!?!?

 Many people are asking….

Well, for one, we train in groups. The energy levels are infinitely higher with these groups. The groups are created after a client is screened through a trial session and then placed in a group that best suits his / her needs.

Not everyone is accepted into our program because we can not allow a half dedicated individual to ruin the powerful chemistry of our groups.

You probably remember me talking about the “Champion’s Attitude”, well, today, one of the Football groups trained while our Gladiator Crew trained and man did they light that place up! The tires were getting flipped down the parking lot all the way to the edge of the street! I’m sure the oncoming traffic was getting scared!

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