I love training with Sandbags. They are simple and brutal. Overall, they are an all in one gym and you can mimic a lot of barbell lifts with the sandbag along with old fashioned farm boy work; carry, throw, loading on platforms, etc. Of course, thanks to the sensitivity of the internet, there are coaches who are crying over who started to train with sandbags first. Or, they think they invented this or that exercise. They can finally SHUT UP, that would be great. Before any of us were … [Read more...]
REAL World Strength vs Pretty Boy Bodybuilding
It was the Fall of 2007...... Interesting story from today while training a crew of wrestlers and football players.... Two high school kids stopped by the gym while we were outside flipping tires, pulling and pushing sleds, carrying kegs, sandbags and Kettlebells. One of them looked to be 220 lbs of drugged up muscle. How do I know? Because this same kid attended a speed & strength camp that I ran 3 years prior when he was a freshman weighing 130 lbs. Three Years later, he's 220 and … [Read more...]
Dinosaur Training, Sandbags and a Gift
Recently a gentleman stopped by my gym to gift me with some very, very, very rare gifts. This shocked me BIG time.... This gentleman, named John, stopped by my Underground Strength Gym unannounced. Normally, I am not a fan of unannounced visitors as they want to talk and take me away from the # 1 focus I have, training my athletes. John was DIFFERENT. He waited until ALL training was done for the night before he introduced himself to me. John watches my Underground Strength Show, a … [Read more...]
Old School Muscle | Lessons & Inspiration from 2 Men Who Know About RAW Strength
I have an inspiring message for you, or, shall I say, lessons I've learned from 2 Men that TRULY inspire me in the world of strength, muscle building and athletic performance. These men BOTH walk the talk and have been around the iron game much, much longer than I have. Some of this might be the reminder you need to return to the basics and escape the fads and gimmicks. Sometimes I seriously wonder if I was born in the wrong era. I wonder why I stand alone or stick out like a sore thumb … [Read more...]
Episode # 106: Dr. Ken Leistner Inspiration, Part II
Rules? What rules? F**K the rules! This training session was inspired by Dr. Ken Leistner. Dr. Ken was a TRUE pioneer in the field of strength & conditioning. Having one day a week of NO Rules Training is great for combat athletes and men who are Training for Life; this can be family men or men who are in first responder careers and of course our military. The NO Rules Training Manual is inside The Underground Strength Academy. … [Read more...]
Underground Strength Show Ep. 104: Inspiration from Dr. Ken
I'm a BIG fan of the good ol' days when strength was a priority. When strength is your goal you have no problems putting on size. Squats were ass to grass and deadlifts were common place. Today, everyone says they have "bulging discs" and have more excuses than ever before. The bodybuilders of The Golden Era didn't just look strong, they were strong. They walked the talk. It wasn't chemical warfare back then, it was HARD WORK. I snagged myself a dozen or so old school bodybuilding … [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...]
Blasting the Iron with Passion!
The gym is the place where I lose myself and find myself. If I can start or finish my day in the gym, it's a way to know I did what others dared not do. I want to train and get after it when I'm in there alone. No excuses, No interruptions, No phone... NO bull shit. No matter what else is going on in this world and in my life, when I'm in the gym, everything goes right. Rusty iron feels best in my hands. Sandbags and stones show love as well. Time to attack training and … [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...]