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 :) … [Read more...]
Kettlebell Training & Jump Training for Size, Speed & Strength
Strength is of critical importance for any athlete / adult, regardless of age. Speed is the next gear that takes strength to the next level. When I hear Coaches go on and on about strength and say nothing of speed I know they are missing the boat and vice versa. We then have Coaches who act as if strength is a bad thing. There is NO such thing as weak and successful. Not everyone who is strong is fast. And speed is not simply running around cones or ladders. Where is the force … [Read more...]
Top 10 Bodyweight Exercises Making You a TRUE Beast!
Lifting BIG weights feels awesome and there is NO denying that being a BEAST under a Barbell is critical for strength. You just can't deny squats, deadlifts, cleans, military pressing and the bench press. But.... Sometimes, the barbell just doesn't fit your needs anymore. Sometimes, your body craves the need for strength with JUST your own body. Sometimes, you get strong under a bar but can't move athletically otherwise. Enter Bodyweight Training for developing lean muscle mass and … [Read more...]
How Bodyweight Training Opened My Eyes & Changed My LIFE
Bodyweight training has always been at the top of my list of critical components of being strong and athletic. But, I mostly used bodyweight training as a finisher in my workouts. After heavy upper body workouts my training partner and I did chins and dips for high reps as a superset. Or, when I was on vacation, I did bodyweight only workouts. It wasn't until I started waking up with serious joint aches and pains that I started taking bodyweight training much more seriously and turned … [Read more...]
The Busy Man Bodybuilding Workout
Time is something I have TRULY began to respect, for 2 BIG reasons: 1) My kids 2) Being an entrepreneur In fact most people are today are more time conscious than ever before. Think about it. We barely call people in comparison to texting them. Technology has tricked many into being busy vs being productive UNLESS you know how to CONTROL your time. As a Parent, I see just how fast time goes. And, the ONE thing about time, something many do not grasp is the fact that you can NEVER … [Read more...]
Coach Ethan Reeve Interview
"All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work." ~ Thomas J. Watson Wow, look what I dug up! MANY Years ago, I had the opportunity to e mail Coach Ethan Reeve, one of my mentors, and he dished out some of the most powerful training information as exchanged emails. Here it is, once again, for your reading … [Read more...]
Underground Strength Show # 62 & 63: Rusty Iron, NO Rules Workouts & Mental Toughness
Training doesn't have to be perfect for it to work. Often times, the imperfections are better because they train the mind AND the body as one. They force you to cope with the "resistance" that is more than just the weights. My methods are NOT perfect, they have flaws, but guess what, so does every program. The flaws are beautiful. The challenges are to be wished for. Be grateful for the tough times for anything worth achieving is worth fighting for. Sometimes you just gotta attack your … [Read more...]
How to Use HEAVY Bodyweight Training & Pulling Power for Brute Strength
I recall having a phone call with Joe DeFranco and he was telling me how one of his Coaches / former athletes, Mike Guadango, was regularly doing heavy, HEAVY 1 rep sets for pull ups. Mike was also performing heavy recline rows with over 100 lbs on a weight vest for sets of 1 - 3 reps. It got me thinking differently about my Bodyweight training and I began looking to turn my Bodyweight training into a system, just like Westside Barbell implements the Conjugate System, with days focused on … [Read more...]
How 2 Wrestlers & George Hackenschmidt Changed My Way Of Training
I got my hands on an old book in the early 2000s and it really pushed home the need & the power for simplicity in life, training and nutrition. In addition, the book also encouraged the need for basics. When I saw the rugged physique on the author, I was inspired beyond my words to say the least. The author was built like a brick sh-t house. Above, George Hackschmidt, Built Like A Brick Shit House George Hackenschmidt's workouts were often in the 30 - 45 minute range yet he trained on … [Read more...]
15 Minute Muscle Building Workouts
I was in a bit of a rush Friday before clients were heading in to The Underground Strength Gym and I was finishing up some work on the Blog. Not to worry, as I knew I could crank out some brutal work for myself with limited time. Hey, 15 minutes sounds like nothing but when you're as insanely busy as I am, it works when you need it to work, and, you learn to cut out the crap and focus on the meat and potatoes. Getting stronger in both the physical and mental state is what I TRULY love. … [Read more...]