I started lifting weights back when I was 13, it was 2 weeks before 8th grade was over. I used the weights my older bro had in his room down stairs on an old school Weider Bench.
Some of those weights were sand filled and I still remember doing dumbbell benching and sand would fall in my eyes and mouth – ahhhhhhhhh, those were the days 
Through the last 2 decades, I have gone through many phases in my training. All of these phases were based on my goals, my intuition, experience, injuries, motivation, joy and most importantly, how my family inspired me and in a manner I was drawn to.
Some may not understand what I mean by being “drawn to the weights” but it is very similar to the manner a surfer is drawn to the water, no matter what shape or form it has. Surfers such as this are considered Watermen or Soul Surfers.
Bruddahs like Laird Hamilton, Uncle Mike Stehle and Kurt Gregory are ALL Watermen.
They also ALL train with that Underground Style – No Rules, training as they see fit, sometimes with barbells, kettlebells and bodyweight, other times outdoors at playgrounds, in backyards, on the beach and in the water.
It is about whatever is drawn to you and whatever you are drawn to, they both go hand in hand.
I guess we can be considered “Soul Lifters” and “Iron Men” – we love to train, regardless of the tool, where, what, when or the shape or form, we just love to train.
Of course, the more natural the setting and the tool, the more connected we are to this style of training.
Laird Hamilton surfs with any tool available and doesn’t discriminate much and even uses “machines” to extend his surfing to the next level, very much like powerlifters wear suits to lift bigger weights.
His surfing and life are guided by his family, his connection to nature, peace, adventure and his roots, which is water, as my roots are training.
I think if we stopped focusing so much on simply the physical benefits of training and more of what it can do for our soul, we would have a lot more people getting way better results in the physical realm.
If you’re not a Soul Lifter, if you’re not an Iron Man, then you’re missing out on some of the most beautiful things “training” can offer.
Think about that for a bit….
So let me ask you, are YOU a “Soul Lifter”?
Drop a comment below and let me know.
Peace Bruddahs!
–Z–
PS: By the way…. I am Running out of copies of Lost Secrets of Strength FAST. Orders have come from some VERY cool parts of this world, one of which I had never even heard of, The Faroe Islands! I LOVE helping people around the world! Follow your passion – it’s NO joke!
PPS: It was AWESOME to see 2 people sign up for the 1 Day USC Certification with less than 24 hrs to go, one cruising down from Canada with his Dad as part of a “Bonding” road trip! I LOVE seeing people going after dreams in their life, following their passion and Making it Happen!
Other USC Certifications are available HERE ==> Follow your passion, Achieve your dreams, make it happen!
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Filed under Announcements, Articles, Calendar, Strength Building, Success, Zach's Workouts, muscle building by on Aug 21st, 2009. 22 Comments. 
He walked through waist high water for over an hour, lifting his legs out of the water on each step to develop work capacity.
He would snatch throw a 220 lb. barbell for 100 reps backwards over his head as a warm up to his olympic lifting workouts.
He trained in solitude.
He trained in training hall or his backyard.
There were times he would train with a barbell in the water as well, diving under and emerging seconds later with the barbell ripped through the water into a power clean.
He did not follow the rules, very much like underground strength training.
One of our athletes, Kurt, who I have written about before, as a modern day Laird Hamilton, surfs on a regular basis.
When he is done surfing, he takes a long swim in the ocean and often times treads water in one spot for 10, 15 and even 20 minutes. He finds a spot 10′ deep, and throughout his treading water he sporadically jumps out of the water. Kurt goes through our most intense workouts probably faster than anyone else.
His work capacity is extremely high. On other days, he performs short workouts in his garage, the local park, playground or takes a bike ride.
Kurt doesn’t follow the rules written in the popular magazines and books. He follows the code of Underground Strength Training: There are NO rules!
Isn’t it time you started breaking the rules?
In Strength,
–Zach–
P.S. - There are some BIG changes happening at The Underground very shortly, you don’t wanna miss out on them. Become a member to become a part of this ass kicking strength training movement and start experiencing the best results of your life.
P.P.S. - If you want to see exactly how I run The Underground, and you want to start doing what you love, immediately, bypassing all the mistakes, then see our Apprentice Video and e mail me. Serious inquiries only please.
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Filed under Announcements, Articles, Success, Zach's Workouts by on Jul 1st, 2008. Comment.
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