Sometimes you need to break the so called "Rules" and take things to a "crazy" level with your training if you are in need of results and getting bored of your workouts. 

Shocking your body every once in a while is good for the soul. You will feel great overstepping the typical boundaries and rules of "weightlifting" and "strength training" - and, you'll get stronger because of it.

Back in the day, there was a HUGE bodybuilder named Vic Richards. He never competed, but he was a freak gym monster. He never followed the typical rules, instead, he would spend time on an exercise. Maybe 1 hour of squats, or 1 hour of benching or 1 hour of leg presses.

He trained with The Barbarian Brothers - none of their training was about following x number of sets and reps. They trained for time (hours per exercise!!!) or until someone quit.

2 Hours of Squats......

1 Hour of Heavy Benching, changing your grip every 15 minutes......

I was so motivated by these articles about Vic that I would copy his craziness. Not the smartest thing to do at age 15 and 16, but I was so passionate for the iron that I couldn't resist.

I squatted for nearly 2 hours and had to ride my bike home from the gym! I couldn't ride my bike after that, nor could I walk my bike. My legs were like rubber and I struggled to get home but I loved the pain!

Here and there, you need to go beyond your limits - both physical and mental. This will be different for everyone but deep down, we all know and can feel when we are in a rut from doing the same ol' training.

You know when you need a gut check.

This mindset is also why Vic started his training with twin brothers aka the "Barbarian Brothers" who were known for moving massive weights and breaking all the rules of training, which is also why they were the strongest guys in Gold's Venice.

I met Vic when I was 15 or 16 at a local bodybuilding show - we chatted briefly and he was NOT interested in discussing bodybuilding with me. When I told him "I now understand why you train for the soul and for the mind."

Vic lit up and began talking to me about training for something deeper than bigger muscles.

I am not sure if Vic is still alive as I edit this article and update it (January 2026) - but I believe Vic would have loved the style of training at The Underground Strength Gym as well as books like Dinosaur Training:

Below, I remember this training session - I lifted anything and everything in my gym overhead; keg, anvil, thick bar, kettlebells, sandbags, etc

I'm not telling you to train until you can't walk.... There are things we can do as teenagers and then those things change as we "get older" - My training has evolved through the decades, what I did in my 30s and 40s is not what I can or will do now that I am 50.

But, when the timing is right, you Break the Rules. 

This is exactly why I created The Underground Strength Academy - I was tired of coming across these "perfect workouts" that were fabricated by fake "Coaches" who don't train anyone. 

Or, they train ONLY the Elite athletes and tell everyone else they are "wrong" - we train athletes, adults and D1 athletes at The Underground - they have ALL experienced slightly different variations of "NO Rules" Training.

It's time to break the rules. 

Pick one day and push yourself beyond the norms, both physically and mentally.

In Strength,

Zach Even - Esh

The Underground Strength Manual