Photo Cred HuskerMax.com In mid June in NJ the Governor granted permission for "gyms" to train outdoors. I always say, The Underground Strength Gym is a Private club, but the government and governor don't really understand this. When mid June came around, I knew that I would have to start at 50 or 60%. The plan was to add 10% of work / intensity each week so that by the 4th week, we would be almost at "normal". Which nowadays, I really do not enjoy that word, "normal". With 3 months of … [Read more...]
Kettlebell Workouts Anywhere, Anytime
It was the Winter of 2002, maybe 2003..... I remember it was a freezing cold night. I had connected with a Kettlebell instructor to finally purchase my first 2 pairs of Kettlebells. Back then, we would all chat on a Kettlebell forum, sharing training tips and more. I connected with a Coach from NJ and he was getting a 10% discount on the Kettlebells. Back then, they were pricey to say the least. I ordered a pair of 53s and a pair of 70s. Before that, I purchased a DVD and studied how … [Read more...]
How to Build BEAST Athletes Who Dominate, From Youth to D1 to Olympians
When the beginning of COVID locked us all down, I was helping friends near and far with interviews, workouts and support for their gyms. My buddy Jim Kelly reached out to me. Jim is in Iowa operating Citadel BJJ and Eastern Iowa Wrestling Club but we've known one another since the early 2000s when I was starting to put out content and Jim was competing heavily in BJJ / Grappling. This Video was an Awesome QnA loaded with training questions and mindset to help Jim's students. It's great for … [Read more...]
7 Tips on Developing Superior Physical Conditioning + 19 Sample Underground Strength Workouts
I wrote about “Strong & Useless” in my Encyclopedia of Underground Strength & Conditioning. It’s when an athlete can move big weights on the barbell but can’t do basic bodyweight exercises such as lunges, pull ups, pushups, sprints, and jumps. I always say, Strong is Strong. This is why I don’t chase the 1 RM testing you see so often in high school weight rooms. The first athlete who demonstrated Strong & Useless to me held all the weight room records for his high school … [Read more...]
Can Deadlifts Cure Your Back Pain?
My back was going into spasms on the craziest things: doing dishes, warm ups with DB side raises, bent over row with a light barbell. It felt like a shot of lightning was hitting me in the back. I spoke to some "experts" and they all insisted I was having disc issues. I got tired of hearing how the world was going to end with my "bad back" and decided to go back to something I did in 1996 after my first knee surgery. What is that very thing? Listening to my OWN body & figuring it out on … [Read more...]
Why You MUST Build Muscle In Your 40s + 5 Tips for More Muscle, Strength & Joint Health in Your 40s
"Before my father died, he said the worst thing about growing old was that other men stopped seeing you as dangerous. I've always remembered that, how being dangerous was sacred, a badge of honor." That line from the movie Act of Valor always struck a chord with me. And I've had an older friend say similar to me. How when you're 175 lbs nobody moves out of your way. He doesn't mean that in an arrogant way or in a insecure way. I understand what he meant. He meant that other men don't see … [Read more...]
31 Years of Training Anniversary SALE
I was 13 years old. It was early June and there was 2 weeks left of 8th grade. I trekked down to my brother's room and went through Arnold's Encyclopedia. We had a Weider bench, some sand filled weights and bodybuilding magazines piled against the wall. I had tried "working out" before but NEVER stuck with it. In fact, I recall questioning myself in middle school every time I trained for a week or 2 and then … [Read more...]
BONUS: Early Days Underground Strength Gym, Strength Coach Influences & Success Tips
I had a great time going on The Rugby Renegade Podcast. In this BONUS of The STRONG Life Podcast we tackle some awesome topics: - Early days Underground Strength Gym / Warehouse Gym Start Up Days from the early 2000s - Influences from Louie Simmons and Dan John - Timeless books that I recommend to all Coaches - The type of work ethic I want to see in Younger Coaches - Special Strengths training methods for combat athletes Enjoy the show! … [Read more...]
234 | John Brookfield on Longevity & Strength Training as we “Get Older”
STRONG Life Podcast ep. 234. GREAT times chatting with John Brookfield, who is known for all of his work on hand / grip strength as well as being the CREATOR of Battle Ropes. This episode was all about training for health & longevity. John is 61 years young, NO injuries and still pulling HUGE trucks, runs and walks the trails barefoot, goes out for distance rides on his MTN Bike and much more. At age 61, I want to be pulling trucks and running the trails barefoot. This will fire … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Craziness, Upper Body Warm Ups + Specialty Bars for Shoulder Health
It's been a minute since I've posted a new article to the blog, and honestly, I am writing right now because it FEELS good to write. It's a therapy of sorts, similar to how I feel when training. LOTS going on now. I stayed calm and cool with the quarantine but now this craziness in NJ is out of control. I see lines out the door of Dairy Queen, other large chain businesses are packed to the gills and the only thing I ever see getting cleaned, if that's what it is, is a few sprays here and … [Read more...]
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