Photo Courtesy of Robert Zuver STRONG Life Podcast ep 340 This is Iron Roots Episode 2 In this episode, I take you on a trip back in time to learn about the MOST BadAss Gym EVER Known to Man, Zuver's Gym. An excerpt from Dave Draper on Zuver's Gym: The front door was a foot-thick steel and stone contraption. Must have weighed at least a ton or so. A 30’ gorilla stood out front on what had been the driveway. The benches were adorned underneath with cut-out and painted steel rhinos … [Read more...]
Squats & My Strength Training Philosophy As I Get Older
Here's an excerpt from my updated version of The Underground Strength & Performance Manual (Almost Finished!). Make The Rep or Die….. I never saw anyone miss a rep in the squat until the internet came around. Not once in the gym did I see a guy bail out on a squat and we’re talking age 13 until my late 20s, guys squatting 4, 5 and 6 plates per side. Spotters knew how to spot and lifters were focused. It’s hard to focus when you kinda think you can or maybe you can’t. Check that … [Read more...]
Why Calisthenics Are So Effective Yet Underused
Those old strength and health magazines had it right. They encouraged barbell lifting; Bodybuilding, Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting. They encouraged body control through the use of calisthenics, hand balancing and basic gymnastic drills. The physiques not only looked strong, they WERE strong AND athletic. You don't see the bodybuilders of today performing hand balancing or acrobatics. Heck, you don't see bodybuilders jumping. I often say I was born at the wrong time. I … [Read more...]
Strength Lessons from The Iron Gladiators of The 80s & 90s
Photo Cred: Grégoire Alessandrini / http://www.nyc90s.com The photo above is from the no longer open, Gladiator Gym. This gym was housed in "Alphabet City" in The East Village of NYC. Pro Bodybuilders used to train there. Hard charging weightlifters trained there. The unspoken rule was simple: Train Your Ass Off. Intensity Rules. This was the story in MANY local gyms back when I was a teen and in my early 20s. So when I was a teen and in my early 20s, the way I learned was by getting under … [Read more...]
How to Get STRONGER & TOUGHER Training Under Fatigue (Pre Exhaust Method)
I find myself more and more returning to methods I used in the 90s. Maybe it's my age, both in biological terms and training age terms. Spending all these years under the bar since 1989 I am still excited to train and finding new ways to keep getting better. I don't want to make the mistake I've seen others make, which is resisting change. I remember even as a young teen bodybuilder how others weren't making any progress year after year and I remember exactly why: - They didn't attempt to get … [Read more...]
My Thoughts On Training As You “Get Older” & The BEST Workout Program
I was 27 years old and getting my car filled up on gas at the local gas station. It was almost Summer time and I was wearing shorts and a t shirt. A guy I knew saw me and said, "Holy shit, son, you're all ripped up. I used to look like that. Wait until you get my age, you won't have the time to train anymore. I used to be just like you......" Those were the famous words I began hearing on the regular, "Just like you....." Listen, things change as you get older, and whether they change for … [Read more...]
QnA: “MAN Strength” – How To Get It & Lessons from Chuck Sipes
Above, Golden Era Bodybuilder & BadAss, Chuck Sipes, Hiking During His Regular 4 Week Mountain Treks While Working For The California Youth Authority. I recently received an e mail regarding something that hits home to me, BIG time. This question embodies The STRONG Life; Developing Strength BEYOND the gym, Strength that builds the mind AND body. Strength that carries over to your LIFE. I answered via Video, so go ahead and check this out and listen carefully to my message..... … [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...]
When Giants Roamed the Earth
Original Article by Jeff Everson Excerpt from the book 'Forgotten Secrets of The Culver City Westside Barbell Club' by Dave Yarnell. Before the last epoch of the Cenozoic era, some 65 million years ago, great beasts roamed the earth. These ponderous dinosaurs weighed as much as 100 tons and were over 120 feet long. Some had teeth the size of a child. Most had brains the size of an egg. The dinosaurs died out and were replaced by a higher form of life. Likewise, at one point in time (the late … [Read more...]
The TRUTH About Bodyweight Workouts
Franco Columbu was a BEAST when it came to pull ups. He cranked them from all angles AND added weight to them as well. High reps AND low reps. Reminds me of my OLD Bodybuilding training partner.... We almost always began our workouts with chins and progressed to weighted chins. He would build up to chin ups with THREE 45 lb plates strapped to a weight belt. His back was THICK! It freaked people out! Heavy Chins and HEAVY barbell rows were his ticket. Back to the legend of Franco … [Read more...]