The three of us were driving up The Garden State Parkway heading Northbound. It was a cold, dreary winter day in NJ. It was early 1995 and winter was in full swing. I was driving, as always, since my training partners had no money OR no car, typical of aspiring pro bodybuilders, yes? My 2 training partners sat quietly in my Mazda 626. I had a special sound system installed specifically to get me amped up for the gym. In fact, everything in my life revolved around the gym. How … [Read more...]
The TRUTH About Heavy Lifting & Building Muscle
I was scared to go to this one gym. I felt I had to earn my way into training there. I wanted to be at least somewhat respected when I got there. The bodybuilders from that gym were winning all the major bodybuilding shows not just on a state level but also nationally. When I finally made the trek to this gym, the proof was not just what happened on the bodybuilding stage, but in how they ALL trained. They ALL lifted heavy. I saw countless bodybuilders incline bench 315 lbs for 6 - 8 reps. … [Read more...]
Muscle Building Secrets, Part II
If you haven't read Part I in this series, please do so First by clicking HERE. A lil' Underground History for ya, hence, The MONSTER Sale We're Holding HERE: - 23 years ago, in June of 1989 I began training - 10 years ago, The Underground Strength movement originated as I began training athletes from my parent's garage and backyard - 5 years ago, The Underground Strength Gym (Warehouse location) opened up in Edison, NJ … [Read more...]
35 Life & Lifting Lessons
Holy S**t! In a few short weeks I'll be 36. Time goes fast. TOO Fast. Here's some stories and lessons I've learned along the way & hopefully you're not too cool to learn from some of these. Anyway, for no reason whatsoever I thought it would be legit to have a pic of Dr. Ken training with an empty bomb to remind you to push the limits :) … [Read more...]
The Power of Deadlifts and Dips
Many say that deadlifts will wreck your back.... True, if you do them wrong. Many say dips will wreck your shoulders.... True, if you do them wrong. … [Read more...]
Jersey Shore Workout Goes UNDERGROUND
I was finishing off my workout and wanted to finish with some bodybuilding work.... POWER-Bodybuilding, that is. HEAVY stuff that most Jersey Shore fans would be lifting light and easy, watching themselves in the mirrors and making sure the hair looks good and the sun glasses don't fog up in between text messaging and 5 minute rest periods :) For me, the transformation is ON, time to get rid of the BIG hair and attack the weights, I see no NO other way to attack. Side raises don't need to be … [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...]
Return of The Golden Era Bodybuilding Workout
Golden Era bodybuilding is a far cry from many of the bodybuilding methods of today. Today we see circus tricks and pump up weights. The lack of strength focused work is why the bodybuilders of The Golden Era had that thick, dense, rugged physique. The bodybuilders of today rely on chemical warfare rather than building a physique that stays with you for a lifetime. The Golden & Silver Era bodybuilders focused on free weights, heavy lifting, hard work on the basics and no fads or … [Read more...]
Gladiator Garage Gym Workouts
It was The Fall of 2002, and I had drawn the line...... I was up to my neck in work as a grad student plus working full time as a teacher. I was also coaching Wrestling and the season was a few short weeks away. My time was pressed to say the least. Sunday mornings I would wake up and work on research papers from 10 AM until 10 PM. 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, … [Read more...]