Gladiator Garage Workouts
It was 2003, maybe 2002, and I had drawn the line.
I was up to my ears in work as a grad student and working full time as a teacher. Not to mention, I was also coaching Wrestling and the season was not far away. My time was pressed to say the least.
It was the first time in 7 or 8 years that I was unable to make the trek to my favorite hardcore gym, Diamond Gym. I was too busy to drive 30 minutes each way, and, with the risk of hitting traffic, you never know how long the commute will take.
I started checking classified ads like a Hawk and I got lucky. A few gems were found, as a few men (lucky for me, NOT for them) had some gym equipment to sell after their gym business went under.
I snagged a 300 lb barbell from CostCo. It was a piece of crap but what the heck, it was all I needed and it was only $99, perfect for a young guy piled high in debt.
I bought a flat utility bench, a pair of 50 & 100 lb dumbbells and a gun rack so I could squat.
If I wanted to do incline dumbbell benching I placed a heavy duty tool box underneath. Worked like a charm.
I trained 2 – 3 x week, it was a blend of powerlifting and bodybuilding. I was most influenced by the stories of guys like Dave Draper, Arnold, Franco and Mike Mentzer as they trained heavy and attacked the basics.
A steady diet of benching, rowing, squatting and heavy accessory work is what worked in the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s and those guys looked better and actually WERE strong compared to the bodybuilders of today.
On the weekend I would go to a different gym as my garage had NO heat. I locked on my headphones and went to town. I was stronger than ever before and also developed a muscle thickness and maturity that I had never developed either.
Not having access to machines, cables and all the other “pump up” bull shit was GREAT.
Every day I ran 1 mile with my Dog, Arnold. It was a balls to the wall run as he would sprint and pull me until I could no longer maintain his pace and then I would get him to show mercy and walk for 15 seconds.
The hard running was great and ramped up my overall work capacity. Running short distances at aggressive speed is something I highly recommend to all of you as long as you don’t have any injuries or conditions stopping you.
Those garage days marked the beginning of an era for me, a new life actually, as I NEVER went back to a regular gym since those days. I drew a line in the sand and never looked back.
I fell in love with training without all the fancy equipment that was never necessary. I cherished having awesome music being played loud as hell and I sure as heck didn’t miss seeing guys on their cell phones right before a set of squats, or checking their hair in the mirror, or reading the paper in between sets!
Life was good as it was the first time I began to go against the grain.
The gains I made in such a short time with the minimal equipment was shocking to myself and others.
I felt like a Gladiator. I felt like I was one of the crew from The Golden Era.
Stay tuned, I’ll be giving away a copy of ‘The Gladiator Program’ and the only way to find out is to subscribe to The Underground Strength Journal.
In Strength,
–Z–
PS: Your FREE chance to get ‘The Gladiator Program’ will ONLY be announced to those who subscribe by entering your e mail in the form below or top right. Stay tuned!
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Filed under Announcements, Articles, Strength Building, Success, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Nov 26th, 2010. Comment. 
Comments on Gladiator Garage Workouts
What about us peeps that have been getting your journal?? How can we get this info?? I’m loading myself with sooo much info it’s scary!!!
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Great story,I remember few of my friends back home in Croatia many years ago,they never had ant fancy stuff,for working out yet they developed really great body just by doing simple stuff,old ways,working hard with what they had,at a time,which wasn’t much.Steve Hawks become movie actor,he did Tarzan in several movies,he is stil alive live in Califirnia with his tigers,amazing guy.keep up good work.
Ivan
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Looks like a sick manual. It’s an awesome idea because most people think all the crap machine are necessary. Haha no Way!
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I am interested in THE GLADIATOR PROGRAM
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Braddah Zach..Looking forward to your Gladiator Project..Keep those strength training tips comin..Go Get it…Strength Warrior!
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Great post, Zach. I don’t have the tunes cranked to 11, but I have them, my stuff and my space to work in now. I love it, never going back to a regular gym. I just think back to the obnoxious trainers in that gym, the people doing curls in the squat rack … and I just am glad I’m not there anymore.
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Happy belated thanksgiving ! Greatr to hear yuor feeling better .
GARAGE GYMS ROCK aka Brutus
goggle – brutusplac for a REAL 1` car garage gym
peaceeeeeeeeeeeeee
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Zach,
Love your site and what you do. Couple years ago I decided to just buy a squat rack from ebay, a few houndred pounds of plates and a barbell and train in my garage. I may no be strong or faster, but I’m stronger and faster a”l while having fun. Thanks for everything you bring to the table.
-greh
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Ps, sorry for the spelling mistakes, my thumbs are to fat to type on my phone.
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Great website! Since I ditched the gym for my garage with kettlebells and sandbags I’ve made great gains. I feel stronger, more explosive and have become a cardio machine.
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Dr. Z , sorry bro I gotta call ya that your site is flawless it’s loaded with a plethora of useful info that is helping lean out yet not lose and of my precious muscle. I must admit I haven’t found anything to match your info. I love the fact that I use MAN work to get strong I do mix of powerlifting some bodybuilding and favorite sandbags. My wife has noticed how wide and thick my back and have become. She loves how strong I am. Aside from that I gotta let ya know your workouts are great for my work in the jails. Inmates think twice before trying me. Well, Doc gotta run time for some deadlifts , sandbags and burpees. Too much turkey Haha! Take care brutha !
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Added to my last post….
From one Garage Gorilla to the next stay strong!!!
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Zach, I have been hittin the big basics for a good while now an I feel awesome. BIG WEIGHTS + BIG MOVEMENTS= BIG MUSCLES. I’ve been slappin in bodyweight moves to keep the ol metabolisim up while packin on slabs of steel plated muscle an shootin my strength up. What is that “Gladiator Project” book, is it something new you just came out with.?
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having minimalist equipment doesn’t limit us, it unleashes the f’ing fury
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You guys rock 4 the comments!
Yep, if you are aready subscribed to the e mails, you’ll get the word monday or tuesday.
It’s ASS kickin time my friends!
–z–
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Zach, I am back (I’m the Francisco dude from the Russian Lion webpage)….this new Gladiator training is making me drool! The Russian Lion course is top notch (my wife is checking me out more than usual..lol) and I highly recommend it! Can’t wait for Gladiator training! Bring it on!
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The only limitation is that of your mind and your commitment, every day offers a new opportunity to learn and test yourself. Thanks Zach for reminding me of the reality that you don’t need fancy this and that to achieve and learn. Happy Thanksgiving to our US brothers in arms ‘Semper Fi”.
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The freedom you get from a garage gym is unparalleld. There’s something about lifting in an atmosphere without perfume and no restrictions on sweating, yelling and loud music. Respect the iron but never stop kickin’ it’s ass.
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That’s awesome! And it goes to show – you can always make time for achieving your goals. Just think outside the box a little!
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Great stuff as usual Zach keep up the great work.
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Zach I’m with you brother, there’s absolutely no need for fancy equipment, cable machines and the like. I’ve been in the game a long time and nothing works better than the basic compound movements. Everybody wants to know the secret to getting big and strong and they overlook it because of the simplicity. Pick up a barbell, load it up and press it overhead, pick it from the ground, squat it, and do some good old fashioned weight training. Keep preaching the gospel my friend.-Shane
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HOLA Z!!! Great stuff as usual but PLEASE! tell me (better yet;tell us)how can i got my hands on this GLADIATOR PROGRAM since im already getting your emails,i been suscribe for a while n’ have use a ton of your info not just for my own good but also for others
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Great stuff as always.
I have been training like this for years, and haven’t stepped inside a commercial gym since the late 90′s. That is one reason that I enjoy your site so much, its about true strength training and conditioning, not the fluff. Free weights and body weight training. The classic movements that all functional strength training and power training is based upon.
Thanks
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It is funny that you posted this picture of Columbu. I always liked to picture myself pumping iron like him, Zane, and Arnold when I was 12. Can’t say I ever looked as pumped as Columbu. He is a chiropractor now. And Arnold is one of the biggest supporters of chiropractic as well.
When it comes down to training, it is a mindset first. You need to visualize and know in your mind that you have already accomplished the workout before it starts.Your mind and heart are the two most imporatnt pieces of equipment you need in order to train because with those two things you will be creative enough to accomplish the goals with anything you can get your hands on. It is not about all the fancy bells and whistles machines you see at 24 hr Fitness.
You and Smitty did an excellent job with the Diesel Combat Seminar. Most people never pay enough attention to technique and every little detail that goes into a movement but you guys do, and that was the first thing I observed when I started watching the DVD’s. Many of the other videos you see out there don’t make the effort to be this thorough, but you guys do. I have studied the first disc, and started implementing with some patients already. I recommend everyone to get, the first 25 minutes of the seminar in itself are worth the price of the Program.
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