STRONG Life Podcast Episode 98 with Dr. Travis Jewett. Our topic of conversation has been running through my mind for a LONG time: Why Is Everyone So Friggin Weak, Constantly Injured & Immobile VS Agile, Mobile & Hostile? What ever happened to being strong & athletic as a teen and young adult? Are those days gone? Dr. Travis Jewett is a SMART Dude, a Doctor of Chiropractic and Strength Coach. He is a family man and hails from Iowa, the land of Dan Gable. This was 1 of … [Read more...]
3 Reasons To Train Like A SAVAGE
Men need to train like uncontrolled savages & stop being so damn pretty when it comes to training & workouts. Start doing this at least SOME of the time. Not all of the time, but 1 x week, make it happen. Intense, Uncomfortable, Tough Workouts are GREAT for the mind AND body. The body is always capable of more, but through those perfect workouts that follow the perfect program design system and the best sets and reps, you NEVER truly develop your Inner Savage. I love telling the … [Read more...]
The Story of The Infamous BIG Curl Bar
It was a summer morning in 1990 and I had arrived at my favorite place, The Metuchen YMCA. This wasn't the updated YMCA with their brand new equipment, nicely painted walls and senior citizens aimlessly roaming the gym floor. This was the small basement weight room that was treated like the red headed step child, outfitted with what we call today "old school" York Barbell equipment. Round Head York Dumbbells lined the dumbbell racks while the heavier dumbbells were left scattered on the floor. … [Read more...]
World’s Strongest Athlete 2010, Memories, Gratitude & Times Ahead
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 … [Read more...]
The Wimp Who Became The Strongest Athlete in the World
Life & Lifting, they go hand in hand. It's amazing what you learn from life as you put yourself through hellish workouts and commit to becoming the strongest and biggest you possibly can be - "NO limits", you say to yourself! Here's quite an interesting story..... Mid July, 1 of my athletes competed in 'The World's Strongest Athlete' Contest, hosted by Joe DeFranco. College athletes flew in from around the country to go head to head and toe to toe in this brutal contest. The Underground … [Read more...]
2 Bodyweight Jump Training Exercises for Explosive Power
Jump training is one of the best and easiest ways to develop explosive power. Jumps also hype the nervous system and a great 'Kick Start" prior to engaging in HEAVY lifting, as you're about to see below :) If you want someone to be explosive, make no mistake about it, being weak and performing jump training won't help much. Like the athletes in my video above, they started off with the basics to get strong. This meant a TON of bodyweight training. In fact, even with them squatting 475 and … [Read more...]
Master the Handstand Push Up and Build Healthy, Powerful Shoulders & Serious Upper Body Strength
The handstand push up is without a doubt, one of the most powerful upper body exercises you can do for adding strength & muscle to your shoulders and entire upper body. In addition to the benefits of adding strength and muscle mass, the handstand push up will make your shoulders feel 100 x healthier than ever before. Your abs will become tighter & stronger from performing handstand push ups, your triceps will become stronger and more muscular and as you're about to see in the 2nd video … [Read more...]
A Day at DeFranco’s – The Strongman Challenge
Yesterday I made the one hour trek up north to my homeboy Joe D's gym, and damn, what a gym it is, I'm in heaven there. The atmosphere is always high octane and steel is always clanging together or being dropped on the floor. It was our 2nd year competing in Joe D's strongman contest, and this year we brought 1 high school athlete and 5 college athletes. Unfortunately, 2 were unable to attend due to injury and family vacation. I had a wedding to attend yesterday and I was big time pressed … [Read more...]
Muscle Building Formula: Build Strength = Build (A Lot) More Muscle
The amount of complicated BS training is getting out of control. The truth is, it is simple. And, NOT easy. It also takes time. Not months, but YEARS of work. The formula to gaining size? It starts with STRENGTH. If you want to get BIG, then you better plan on getting stronger, period. Heavy weights, low to moderate reps, some high rep sets for finishers, lots of quality food, quality rest, basics, basics, basics. I know, ground breaking, right? Yet on the regular, so many … [Read more...]