I am always learning from others, hunting for ways to improve my knowledge and share it with Team Underground, apply it to my own training and to share with you. While away in upstate NY, I had LOTS of time to think deeply about life & lifting. I feel that all of us should get away every few months to "quiet the mind" & soul search. I used to be OVERLY influenced by others to a point where I couldn't decide what / how to do things fully on my own. Unfortunately, I see this still … [Read more...]
Redefine The Grind, Part 2 – Sleep, Opportunity & Success
Some people jump up the ladder of success while others climb, slowly and sometimes painfully. Little by little, brick by brick, they get there. I used to be a VERY slow learner in ALL things success related. I got used to taking bumps and bruises before achieving success so I thought this was the way it should ALWAYS be. I was wrong & things have changed. I have a much stronger mindset, a more positive mindset and much thicker skin, all of which allows me to use speed while achieving … [Read more...]
Redefine The Grind
Press Play & Close Your Eyes.... JUST Listen the First Time. Next Time, Open Your Eyes, Listen, Watch, Learn & Then Read The Article. [youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgUe9HRASnk[/youtube] Sometimes I worry I am alone when it comes to my expectations of the athletes I train at The Underground Strength Gym. I say things, do things and all in all, get a lil' crazy when I am IN the moment pushing them to go beyond the norms of what their competition is … [Read more...]
Lift Strong Prep, Challenges & Life At The Underground Strength Gym
Things are REALLY rolling here at Underground Strength HQ. Summer is a CRAZY time of year for us: - We've got our 5th annual LIFT STRONG Fundraiser coming up (You're invited, to compete OR watch & support us). I am FIRED UP because we just got one of our Underground Adults, also a Chef, to come and grill for us, getting 6 ft grill and food and I am PSYCHED! - We have athletes in & out all summer as they attend various training camps, compete in local, state & national … [Read more...]
The Truth About Sport Specific Training
When I first began to heavily research the training of athletes, the BIG Buzz words were "functional training" and "sport specific training". Everyone and their Mom was training on one leg, using a stability ball, insisted on using pieces of equipment called "functional trainers" - which usually cost between 5 and 10 thousand dollars. Mind you, this was before you tube came about.... hell, I'm not even sure Google existed at the time.... ha ha I was brainwashed into thinking those people were … [Read more...]
Solo Workouts, Cold Weather & Mental Training
I am excited to crank this blog post, as ALWAYS! The photos of old school greats and Golden Era bodybuilding always fires me up. Energy is sky high lately, I've been fasting often and experimenting with my nutrition and it's feeling GREAT. On a mission to get to 205, lean and mean.... agile, mobile and hostile! I haven't had a scale of my own since about 10 years ago so I'm gonna start tracking everything & dialing in the nutrition to keep my discipline and goals on track. LOTS of my … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Training High School Athletes
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. When you have a Coach who is hungry to learn, that is when athletes … [Read more...]
Unusual Strength
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 … [Read more...]
Mental Toughness Training for Football & Wrestling
A question was sent my way and I pulled it out of the "Mail Bag" :) This question was in relation to why a Football team is looking strong and tough in the weight room, BUT, when they play Football and compete, there is a disconnect. We call this "transfer of training". But, what many Coaches struggle to understand is how to build the mental aspect of the athletes. Check out the video below and drop a comment / question when you're done watching. … [Read more...]
NJ Wrestling Training, Eye of The Tiger & Physical Culture
I took a 1 hr drive up north yesterday to train The Blair Academy Wrestling Team, NEVER in my life have I seen an entire room of athletes who: - Focused 110% - Listened AND made eye contact - NEVER slacked Notice I did not say 99% of the athletes, I said ALL of them. … [Read more...]