Yesterday, I saw this video and it REALLY motivated me to RUN.
You see, in high school, back when I weighed 160 or 170 lbs or less, I ran on the regular. In season wrestling runs were 4 – 5 miles every other day regardless of the freezing temps or snow. I hauled ass….. It wasn’t a slow, easy jog…. it was an all out WAR, running hard through the cold night while Metallica blared through my head phones in my Sony Walkman, circa 91′, 92′ and 93′.
After getting heavier, bigger and bigger, running became painful…. it became something I hated, and that hate for running REALLY affected me emotionally. I was very upset with myself for having this relationship with running.
Today, this video changed me. I felt calm while running. My breath was relaxed. As I ran, I envisioned the Navy SEAL in the video below, reminded myself that the body can handle 20 X more than I have been setting limits on.
Yesterday, I ran beach side with my wife while my son rode his bike. I felt good running, which almost felt weird. I was running without getting tired as I used to. I started to feel that love for the run again.
Tomorrow, my truck will be getting a new stereo, navigation and DVD player for the kids. I plan to run to every place I need to get to without the truck. I am excited.
I miss running. I will keep you posted on this journey, as I evolve, I hope you evolve as well.
Check this video out, of a Navy SEAL….
Read more on Running For Mental Toughness…
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Filed under Articles, Kick Ass Life, Strength Building, Success, Underground Strength Challenge, Videos, Zach's Workouts, old school strength by on Apr 19th, 2012. 23 Comments.
Training young athletes is my passion. I LOVE helping skinny, weak kids go from Boy to BEAST….. not just physically, but mentally as well.
But, I feel HORRIBLE for the athletes who are forced to train with a Coach who has NO clue as to WHAT the hell to do with regards to Safe AND Effective training. Some Coaches do NOT want to learn. They use their EGO to control the kids and force them into training in shitty conditions.
NOTE: For those who want to learn about training athletes, I HIGHLY recommend THIS Book.
These kids end up getting injured and perhaps even worst, they are unable to reach their true potential because they are NOT maximizing their ability to get stronger, more explosive and adding necessary muscle. I have PERSONALLY been there and done that, this is why you see me getting fired up when I get into the topic of training athletes.
I figured I would address a few tips for training high school athletes as I get these questions on a frequent basis. By no means is this a complete, exhaustive list, just a few tips……
1) Should an inexperienced high school lifter be doing power cleans, squats, benching & deads?
NO.
NOT even with a light weight, the coordination is simply NOT there….. yet. It takes TIME. Train for the long haul, not for today and tomorrow only.
Build up their coordination with VERY simple exercises that yield a fast return in strength and coordination. Movements such as push ups, pull ups, bodyweight squats & lunges, sled drags, light Kettlebell farmer walks, ab exercises, high handle trap bar deadlifts, grip exercises and tons of band pull aparts.
2) Should young athletes max out every month for 1 rep?
NO.
Instead of using only the 1 rep max as an indicator, why not see if they get stronger from month to month or week to week on specific movements, or as Dave Tate calls them, indiciators.
Once you begin testing 1 Rep Maxes with young athletes form goes out the window.
If you keep a training long or simply remember in your head what you did for Trap Bar Deads 3 weeks ago for 5 reps, see if you can get a lil’ stronger for your 3 – 5 rep set today.How many pull ups did you get last week or 2-3 weeks ago compared to today?
Every workout is an assessment and every week you are testing yourself to see if you’re stronger as a young athlete.
Strength is NOT always in number of reps or amount of weight. It could VERY well be a greater demonstration of body control or control over the weight.
For example, an athlete does 5 pull ups but his legs are swinging up on each rep and he squirms his way to the top. 2 weeks later he bangs out 5 TIGHT reps, abs and legs are rigid, upper body pulls in a straight line with NO wiggle room. THAT is a Legit increase in strength. The reps are the same, but each rep looks 20 x better, you dig?
Don’t forget, make these workouts FUN… not just the style of training, but the atmosphere AND environment must be FUN and Competitive…..
I was in a high school weight room when a Football team was testing their 1 rep max on squats. I could NOT believe what was going on in there and how anyone with half a brain couldn’t see from a mile away that this was some seriously dangerous stuff! The weights being used were waaaaaaay beyond their control and even the exercises selected were too advanced for these skinny kids.
NOTE: If you need to add a BIG Ass Pad to the bar when doing squats you need to get OFF the squat bar and focus on building your body up to handle a heavy bar across your back with OUT the BIG pad. Instead, build up your back, traps, legs, trunk / ab stability and entire body FIRST. EARN your way to the squat rack, that’s the bottom line!
This is also why I am NOT a fan of timed workouts.
I have found that NO matter how much you tell an athlete to stick to form and technique during a timed workout, the form goes to shit.
Shitty form = shitty results…. and soon enough, injury, especially if timed workouts are with added resistance.
Watch the video below, and even though only bodyweight training, watch how a timed workout alters the focus on technique and quality to a focus on racing others and achieving a better time.
As you can see….. even with repeated coaching and even threatening their life the form of these bodyweight exercises went OUT the window.
We deleted ALL times from this entire challenge at the gym & told the athletes that if technique is legit, NONE of it counts.
There are OTHER occasions where time can be implemented safely and effectively.
Here are a few of those times where we’ve experienced success doing so.
1) Running - You can’t half rep the runs! Race for 400 – 800 or 1600 meters! Race for 40 yd dash……
2) Underground Sandbag Challenge - The bag MUST touch the ground each and every rep and the bag must get ON top of your shoulder each and every rep.
3) Bench Press Your Bodyweight x Max Reps – Touch the chest every rep and lock out the arms every rep, leave 1 rep in tank for technique. This is cut and dry. The bar must touch the chest every rep, lock arms every rep.
As you can see, I am on the constant improvement of my training methods for my athletes.
On the flip side, adding competition to workouts fires these kids up, so you MUST find a way to incorporate competition within workouts but focus on technique. If technique wasn’t up to your standards (and you should push for HIGH standards) then it doesn’t count.
Should young athletes take their set to max effort or failure?
NO.
Even experienced lifters are learning more and more, optimal workouts WIN, NOT Maximal Workouts.
This Book is a PERFECT example.
Listen to Louie Simmons talking maximal training VS optimal training…. He encourages lifters to leave with energy in the tank. Athletes even more so should leave with energy in the tank because the reason behind their training regime is to improve their sports performance.
Check this freshman wrestler out, 14 years young. He started with us exactly 3 months ago, trains here 2 x week. He began weighing 105 lbs and got to 117 lbs, adding 1 lb a week for 12 weeks. He’ll wrestle at 113 lbs this season.
He attacks the basics:
- Kettlebell farmer walks
- Pull Ups / Push Ups / Handstand Push Ups
- Sleds
- Back Extensions / Swings
- 1 Arm DB Rows
- Dumbbell Benching
- Kettlebell / Dumbbell Clean & Press
- Trap Bar Deadlifts
As you can see, ATTACK the basics!
By the way…. beginner or NOT, you need to attack the basics for LIFE. The movements listed above are regulars in my workouts as well. Why? Because they are LEGIT for producing results. Period. End of Story. DO Them.
But… Here are a few CRITICAL elements of a training program for high school athletes in addition to performance improvement:
- Improve Mental Toughness
- Increase Self Confidence
- Teach Discipline / Commitment / Intensity / Passion
Remember, we want to train these young kids for LIFE both on AND off the competitive sports field. People nowadays are soft, always whining, crying, making excuses and overall, are mentally weak. F**K that, some of your workouts need to be hellish (once they are ready for them) so these athletes understand what it means to go through a battle and fight to come out on top.
QOD (Question of the Day): How did you train when you were a teenager? What do you WISH you knew back then that you know now?
Peace!
–Z–
PS: USC Cert is coming soon, step up and make 2012 the year you experience a life changing weekend. Whether you’re a Coach or Not, this weekend will blow your mind. 2012 is coming, NO more waiting for things to happen, you start MAKING shit happen.
As Mr. Warrior says, start building it, brick by brick, punch by punch, you take your life back!
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Filed under Announcements, Articles, Q & A, Strength Building, Success, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Dec 9th, 2011. 16 Comments.
This is just the beginning. A lil’ taste of The BFT Workout with my own unique twist. Lots of carries to make the body work as a unit, this is Part 1, enjoy & drop a comment with any questions you have regarding The BFT course or this workout….
This was a HOT, HOT day…. along with some brutal humidity and some fasting, I was starting to get an ass whoopin’….. But, sometimes that’s what you need, a good ol’ fashioned ass whoopin’.
Comments or questions, drop em below and I’ll answer.
In Strength,
–Z–
PS: This is THE BFT Course... all 800 pages of it.
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Filed under Strength Building, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Jul 15th, 2011. 9 Comments.
I remember a few years back, training 2 wrestlers, 2 of our strongest wrestlers pound for pound.
They had to wrestle against one another and when I asked how it went, one of them told me that he had the most unusual strength he ever experienced. A grip that stopped him dead in his tracks and along with power and conditioning that would be the envy of ALL wrestlers.
That “unusual” strength came from our unique bodyweight exercises, kettlebell and odd object lifts.
My training is becoming more of a self expression, but, this is MY personal workouts. When I train my athletes, everything is carefully planned and calculated. For myself, things are a lil’ different, more to come soon so hang tight!
Question for You: Do you ever just say “F**k it!” & train how you feel or do you prefer to be organized and calculated with your own workouts? Drop a comment & let me know.
In Strength,
–Z–
PS: The next Underground Strength Coach Cert is fast approaching, I am psyched and KNOW this 2 day event will change your life. Look at what others say about The USC Cert HERE
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Filed under Articles, Strength Building, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Jun 21st, 2011. 29 Comments.
I see MANY Strength Coaches REFUSING to evolve in their training. They sit back and poke fun at others, talk shit and act as if their methods are the end all be all method for training.
They are NOT evolving. As an athlete, a Coach, a human being… you must evolve.
My training is evolving BIG time right now, my warm ups are getting longer and longer, evolving into play AND training and I’m feeling 100 X better….
My lifestyle is also changing. I’ve gotten back to doing what I USED to do over 20 years ago. Skateboarding, running, biking, swimming. Nutrition is going through experimental phases now as well as some supplementation.
More to come, but for now, Here is Part 1. Please leave your thoughts, comments and questions when you’re done watching.
Got any added thoughts, comments or questions, please drop em’ below.
Peace!
–Z–
PS: At age 35, my training AND life take on a whole NEW meaning, the majority of my training is coming via bodyweight and kettlebells. If you’re not training like an animal with lots of bodyweight exercises you more than likely are developing injuries that are waiting to explode on you. I’ve been there & done that, those days are over.
Start implementing These Bodyweight Exercises into your overall training ASAP and you’ll feel infinitely better: stronger, faster, healthier, more energetic and more athletic. Click HERE.
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Filed under Articles, Strength Building, Success, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Jun 20th, 2011. 23 Comments.
I gotta address something ASAP, this is becoming a BIGGER and BIGGER problem. I’m sure this will anger many and then we’ll have a few that can argue against this but it’s time to unleash some TRUTH.
It’s starting to piss me off because we have all these “strong” people who can’t perform in the “Real World”.
I’m done with simply chasing a bigger bench, squat and deadlift and you need to end that route as well unless you’re a powerlifter and willing to live with the pain that comes with it.
Chase that dream and let me know how your back feels every morning, how your shoulders feel and how it interferes with doing anything besides squatting or deadlifting.
Try playing with your kids with your back all jacked up. It ain’t cool, trust me, been there and done that. I HATED myself when it was happening. Don’t e mail me that you got hurt getting out of your car and pulled your lower back, or, strained your shoulder taking out the garbage. This shit happens.
At my recent Underground Strength Coach Cert, I had a MovNat Coach who shocked me by signing up. He’s a former Commando Marine in The French Army as well as a free diver and expert in various close quarter combat training methods. His great knowledge and fitness is NO secret, as I see that he is ALWAYS learning and expanding his knowledge.
I LOVE seeing Coaches out to learn more. Vic flew 27 hrs to attend the Certification where as countless local Coaches had excuses for not needing to learn more, what a shame.
On the second day of The USC Cert, Vic found no taxi for a ride to the gym so he traveled by foot for an hour and THEN we trained all day. For the normal person this would have been a struggle, but not for Vic, he is the new breed of man, or, perhaps, the older breed of man, when men were strong, fit and agile and had respect for their mind and body unlike the majority of today’s men.
It’s embarrassing to see the new breed of men and to even hear about this sad state that is on the rise. Sure, there are some FAT powerlifters and olympic lifters who can jump and run but they are far and few between. In addition, I’m talking about health, what’s going inside the body, not just on the outside.
I see this “Too Strong, Too Fat, Too Slow” issue with MANY athletes, especially football players who simply chase strength and pack on excess fat. They are USELESS on the Gridiron. Too fat & out of shape to make it through a full practice or go full force through an entire game.
Sure, they can squat, bench and dead heavy but they can’t even perform a bodyweight lunge, a jump, pull ups, rope climbs or sprints.They’re always hurt, tired, crying, whining and complaining. The solution is to shut the f**k up and CHANGE, don’t complain.
I see it in adults as well, especially those who fall in love with powerlifting or non-functional bodybuilding and make excuses for not performing athletic based movements, animal training and in a nut shell, exactly what we do HERE.
They complain that performing a longer warm up will interfere with their ability to train heavy. FIRST, be in shape….. if a warm up is a problem for you, then you’re probably a fat, lazy bastard.
Here’s the issue: you get too strong for your own good, training through only one plane of movement, negelcting all other movement planes, then you become weak anytime you step outside of that same ol’, same ol’ straight up and down movement. In essence, you’re weak unless you are doing the typical squat / deadlift motion.
Well, welcome to the real world because that ain’t gonna help you when it’s time to MOVE.
In life & sport, nothing is certain, this is why I utilize various training tools along with bodyweight to allow for varied movement patterns and maximum results. I’ve been performing lots of kettlebell windmills and bent pressing to open up my body more so, as well as going back to more odd objects and gymnastics based training.
You’ll feel healthier, stronger, more athletic and all around more agile, mobile and hostile. After a while, it’s the process that matters, not the numbers. REMEMBER: be a Soul Lifter.
I’m unleashing these methods to those who want to learn. If you’ve got excuses for not moving like an animal and remaining a fat bastard then this will anger you because it will take you outside your comfort zone.
Remember what I’ve always told you: Get comfortable being UNcomfortable.
Click HERE to learn my newfound methods, workouts, exercises and overall way of living so you too can take your training, health and mindset to the next level.
Peace
–Z–
PS: I just opened The USC Cert again, on sale for now, and, to be held at Underground HQ in The Dirty Jer-Z. Bring it & prepare for a life changing weekend!
==> Click HERE to take action <==
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Filed under Articles, Calendar, Strength Building, Videos, Zach's Workouts by on Jun 17th, 2011. 17 Comments.
Just wanted to give you a quick update on the killa shizza that’s been getting dropped at The Underground Inner Circle. Or, skip reading this and crank a 30 day trial for one buck, click HERE to get busy.
- New Underground Movie of our athletes prepping for our Lift STRONG Fundraiser, training for wrestling, football and more. You’ll see how we combine plyometrics, jumps and powerlifting to ensure we are not only getting strong, but explosive AND athletic. You’ll also see how we use what I call “off set loading” to develop some SERIOUS strength, power and stabilty for athletics.
- Russian Wrestling Camp video footage 15 minutes in length showing uncut footage of how Russian Wrestlers train to become the longest standing dominant force in international wrestling. This video is what “sport specific training” is truly all about. Even if you don’t wrestle, this video will blow your mind regarding how we should ALL be training to develop animal type strength, speed, power & athleticism. This video itself is worth the membership investment alone.
- New Underground Strength Coaches added to our Expert Panel. Yep, we’ve added THREE new Coaches, ALL of whom have gone through The USC Certification, own their own warehouse gym and walk the talk. Ask these guys anything about training, nutrition and business. The forum is available 24-7 for you to take advantage of while connecting with like minded Undergrounders. NO egos or Assholes! BOOM!
- Underground Workout of the Month. As always, I break down the workout of the month for you via video and telling you exactly why and how we apply what we do at The Underground. You can take this workout and use it for yourself or your athletes. Program design is the magic, it’s where everything gets put together and allows you to get the maximum result from just the right amount of training. Optimal training is the focus rather than maximal training which often leads to injury and burn out.
There’s a TON more, every month, including regular forum posts with QnA, detailed workouts from my gym as well as other warehouse gyms, garages, basements and backyards around the world. Undergrounders around the world, sharing how they go and tear it up.
Click HERE for a 30 day test run for only one buck. BOOM!
Peace
–Z–
PS: The next USC Cert has been announced, check the info HERE to experience this life changing weekend.
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Filed under Announcements, Calendar, Kick Ass Life, Success, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts by on Jun 16th, 2011. 7 Comments.
Having a powerful, bone crushing grip is one of the cornerstones of a legit, strong MAN. Heck, you might even say that being Man means you must have a bone crushing grip. You KNOW you remember the guy who always shook your hand when you were younger that had you walking away saying to yourself, “WOW, that Dude has got one helluva grip!”
Do you think people say the same thing about you? If not, then I must say, “Houston, we’ve got a problem”.
If you’re gonna use the Kettlebell drill in the video below, you’re gonna need to slap on the “death grip”. Crush that handle like you wanna crush it to dust! Check the video….
The bottoms up kettlebell press is not just good for the grip and shoulders in the realm of strength, but, the stability required to hold the kettlebell in the bottoms up position is great for shoulder health as well.
I’ve been playing with ladders a lot lately, not just with presses, but also with bodyweight training, kettlebell movements of all types such as squats, snatches and the clean and press.
The ladders have been inspired by Pavel, and let me tell ya, these workouts are fast and efficient, and also a helluva lot of FUN. It’s a form of Density Training that Coach Reeve talks about HERE.
Low reps work great on the bottoms up press, anywhere from 1 – 5 reps, BUT, I usually go with higher volume on the sets to make up for the low reps.
More to come on this later, if you’ve got questions or comments on this drill, please drop a comment below. Looking forward to your thoughts
Peace
–Z–
PS: Did you pick up your 7 Gifts yet? 30 days, one dollar, 24-7 access to the REAL deal behind my training, my mindset and what I do at The Underground and why we are always building BEASTS. Click HERE, you don’t wanna miss these 7 Gifts.
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Filed under Articles, Strength Building, Underground Strength Show, Videos, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Jun 10th, 2011. 4 Comments.


















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