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 to use Kettlebells. This way, when I got those bells, I was ready to GO! I could not wait. I was thinking about getting my hands on these Kettlebells non stop!
I drove an hour to north NJ, about 10 minutes from NYC.
I paid $550 for those bells and THAT is with a 10% discount!
I remember carrying the 53s to my car and I said to myself, "Holy s--t, these are HEAVY! I probably never should have bought the 70s!"
I was thinking how these Kettlebells (only 4 of them) just cost me over half a grand. Well, there was no turning back now. I was ALL in.
At the time, my fiance and I were not even living in our house. The garage was just starting to get fixed up for my training business and we were going to move in after our wedding, late 2004.
There were a bunch of YORK plates in my garage and the walls were bare cinder block walls.
It was the beginning of The Underground.....
I could FEEL it in my veins and in my heart.
I got to my house late, it was after 9 PM.
It was late and I was exhausted but I was too excited to just drop them in the garage and leave them., So I did 1 set of almost every exercise I knew from the DVD I had studied.
Clean & Press
Squats
Thrusters
Bent Over Row
Swings
Man Makers (These Crushed me BIG Time).
I felt ALIVE & Invigorated!
The first round kicked my a--. Everything was for 10 reps. I HAD to do another round. In my mind, getting 2 rounds of this Kettlebell Cicuit Workout gave me "permission" to call it a night and go to bed.
I finished that night with a huge smile. I organized my 4 Kettlebells in a corner of the garage and took a look around. The 2 car garage was my blank canvas. The York Plates and Kettlebells were all I had at the moment. There was something beautiful about what I saw. I could feel it.
When Spring time rolled up, I would take the Kettlebells in my truck and go to a local park. I had a milk crate for the Kettlebells since I learned the hard way NOT to drive around with Kettlebells unsecured in your truck. I would go to a local park or playground and then farmer walk the bells to a spot away from people and just crush myself with Bells and Bodyweight.
I loved training outside. I always connected with the fresh air but I also recalled reading about Arnold training in his early days in Austria, with bodybuilding workouts by the lake. For me, this was a freedom of sorts. No rules. No gym management telling me what or how to do things. It was perfect.
Here's a Video from 2007! I actually remember doing this training session with my buddy. Seems like yesterday.
Inside The STRONG Life Brotherhood where I am working with Coaches, many are going through the gym limitations and closures as a result of COVID and Mother Nature.
We've got wild fires, hurricanes and COVID.
Gyms are closed, buildings destroyed.....
It's f--ing crazy.
I know the feeling, going through Hurricane Sandy, the recession and more. The Underground Strength Gym has been through it all and not only survived, but thrived. I refused to allow circumstances to force me into anything. If I'm going down, I am going down on my own rules, through my own decision.
You MUST find a way to make it happen, I see no other way.
Inside The Underground Strength Academy, you have countless Videos and PDFs to use with Kettlebells.We've got my old KB DVDs like Kettlebell Training for Sports and Kettlebells for Combat.
We've got Kettlebell Courses and Videos.....
NO gym needed when you have Kettlebells.
What do you need? You need guts and a go-getter attitude. Unfortunately, many are missing that attitude nowadays. Comfort has ruined it for you.
Don't let the government fool you into hiding scared and being weak.
Be STRONG and take NO sh-t.
If you're a Hard Charger with a Kick A-- attitude, The Academy is for you.
I suggest you stop putting it off like the common folk and get after it HERE.
Live The Code 365,
Z
