Hurricane Sandy happened about 2 years ago, hitting NJ pretty heavily. The town I live in, Manasquan, NJ, got hammered, especially the area 1 mile from the water front. I remember that day very clearly and it was one of the biggest learning experiences I've had, mainly about people, business and life in general. I've had a completely different look on life since then, mainly due to the life lessons I learned. … [Read more...]
Dads: Why You MUST Be STRONG
Sometimes I feel my heart actually hurt. It actually, truly does ache. This September will be the FIRST year that BOTH of my kids will be in school full time. Since they've been born, I've been used to them knocking on my door, climbing through my office window, shooting me with nerf guns while being interviewed and spending amazing times with my kids. You've likely seen my fishing videos on Instagram with my son as well, like this one (NOTE: My son has the BEST laugh in the world). I've … [Read more...]
How I Use QUICK Bodyweight Workouts for Added Strength AND Size
The power of bodyweight training has always been evident to me. I began doing push ups and pull ups on an almost daily basis when I was finishing 8th grade and was 13 1/2 years young. At age 14 I was doing 20 pull ups with ease and have been doing over 20 pull ups in a row even while weighing 220 lbs. When in doubt, I go with bodyweight exercises. They never hurt me or make me feel too old. They never make my joints feel like shit either. Thank you, Sir, may I have another! About 7 … [Read more...]
5 Tips To Increase Your Squat
You can't deny it. BIG, Strong legs are the ticket..... You wanna be as a strong as a house? Build the foundation. If you're serious about getting strong, you're always looking to refine the little things that make BIG differences in your performance. Check out these 5 tips for boosting your squat via Chad Smith. … [Read more...]
5 NO BS Training Tips & “Over The Edge” Workouts
At age 38 I am NOT supposed to be getting stronger and better, according the naysayers and the "experts" that is. In fact, even if you are younger OR older than me, you likely hear from everyone else... all the "experts", that you shouldn't do this or should do that.... bla bla bla I've been training since 1989 and have been training others literally since my high school days, when friends would call me so I could meet them at the gym and train them. I wanna share some hard hitting lessons … [Read more...]
Upper Body Blast & Training Mental Toughness
This blog post and video will fire you up to crush an upper body workout and to start attacking your training the same way ya gotta attack life. I seriously see NO other way to be, whether it's life OR lifting. This style of training keeps my mind in check, pushes me mentally and physically, reminds me that I CAN kick ass and go BIG, regardless of what is happening the world. The gym is a place of sanctuary. In life, to succeed at anything, ya gotta be TOUGH. That is why I train for Strength, … [Read more...]
The Problem with Perfect Workouts & Weak People
I often wonder how a Strength Coach thinks in his early days of coaching athletes. For me, when I began training athletes, I was viewed as an outcast. Seriously...... Coaches were training on Bosu Balls, using the Functional Trainer cable, wearing collared shirts tucked in all neat and there I was, having kids carrying stones, pushing trucks and sprinting up hills. In my concerns, I had a friend send me his training program for a wrestler. He was a highly certified Coach with all the letters … [Read more...]
1 Exercise Per Workout & Being AWESOME
It was New Year's Eve... well, just about. It was 3 PM on New Year's Eve and the dedicated crew of athletes & lifters rolled up to The Underground Strength Gym in Edison, NJ. Some had traveled as far as 1 hr to drive here & I let the thought enter my mind.... "Where are the kids who live 5 - 10 minutes away from here who keep telling me they're too busy during the season?" Instead of getting disappointed I get fired up by reminding myself to have ZERO expectations of people. I get … [Read more...]
Box Squats vs Free Squats?
The argument of box squats vs free squats is endless. With the box squat you must sit back and then you literally pull yourself up using primarily hamstring work. At the bottom of the box squat your shins are parallel, while at the bottom of a free squat or weightlifting squat, your knees will often be angled forward and you are going to parallel or lower. The free squat hits more quads and more overall leg work. Here are my thoughts on box squats vs free squats..... … [Read more...]
Men Need To Start Being MEN Again!
It's amazing, yet it never ceases to amaze me. Interesting and ironic at the same time. But seriously, WTF is going on with men nowadays? The intensity is gone, the gossip is like a group of women, the weakness of mind and body is at an all time high and the excuses just don't stop coming. My thoughts explained..... Don't move forward if you're a sensitive cry baby contributing to the Pussification of American … [Read more...]