Above, Golden Era Bodybuilder & BadAss, Chuck Sipes, Hiking During His Regular 4 Week Mountain Treks While Working For The California Youth Authority.
I recently received an e mail regarding something that hits home to me, BIG time. This question embodies The STRONG Life; Developing Strength BEYOND the gym, Strength that builds the mind AND body. Strength that carries over to your LIFE.
I answered via Video, so go ahead and check this out and listen carefully to my message.....
If you watched the video, you heard my story. I still remember that night I got jumped and didn't have the street experience to do anything outside of my wrestling. My controlled bodybuilding didn't give me the mental edge. My training with a referee and "rules" didn't help fully either.
Looking back, I now see how training must push you out of your comfort zone in many ways, not just through effort or intensity. Hence why I recommend The Underground Strength System; You are blending powerlifting, old school bodybuilding, strongman / odd object training, gymnastics training and more.
You are truly training for LIFE. This is what brings new energy and focus to your training, when you have goals beyond a big chest or "getting ripped".
Above, Chuck Sipes, benching over 400 lbs for reps. Chuck had "MAN Strength". He could also bench press over 500 lbs in a t shirt. No bench press suits or support gear for this old school BEAST.
That's how it SHOULD be......
And a bit about Chuck Sipes:
Chuck Sipes was a professional bodybuilder and performing strongman. His love for hard work and adventure led him to the Military after high school where he became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne.
Chuck was extremely strong, benching 570 lbs at a bodyweight of approximately 225 lbs! Chuck was highly regarded for his community service, working for the California Youth Authority and the California School System helping troubled youths. An avid mountain man with a love for the outdoors, Sipes would take the teenagers on trips to the mountains lasting 26 days, teaching them the foundations of friendship and teamwork and leaving a positive impact on their lives in the process.
During these trips through the mountains, Chuck would send each individual on a solo trip. In Chuck's words, They must go out by themselves for four nights and three days. During this time they must forage for their own food because we don’t give them any. This is the real test for them.
Chuck would often return from these trips 20 lbs lighter and shredded.
I can only imagine what these "survival trips" did for the mindset of the kids and for Chuck himself. Chuck would train with cables and bodyweight while away during these mountain survival trips.
And talk about "REAL Man Strength".....
Chuck could bench press a car.
His training was NOT fancy. It was free weights and calisthenics and he trained at home or at his work, the weight room at the California Youth Detention Center. Chuck would also sprint, jump rope and ride his 10 speed bike for conditioning. His mountain expeditions were also tough as there is only so much food he could take.
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Although Chuck trained with very high volume and high intensity, I prefer training 3 - 4 x week for optimal recovery. This is how we program inside Gladiator STRONG which you can review HERE.
Chuck was winning bodybuilding shows into his 40s.
Drop a comment below, let's hear how YOU are training for Life or "REAL MAN Strength".
Looking forward to your comments.......
Stronger Than Yesterday!
--Z--
Recommended Resources
The Underground Strength System
Gladiator STRONG
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Stones, steel, bodyweight! No particular order, rhyme or reason. Just do it!
now that the heat is rolling in I have that to wear on me. Love it! Get dirty training! Chalk, sweat, dirt and blood!
That’s RIGHT, brutha, it doesn’t MATTER what we lift – it’s the passion behind it and what it does for mind, body & soul!
Chuck was the effin’ man!
A man that spelled out brute power. The dude had 18inch forearms, that is bigger than what most people can get out of 10 years worth of bicep training. A 570 bench press, he bent steel bars at will, squatted 600lbs routinely, and could strict curl 250 lbs. Not to mention, the dude took month long treks in the mountains..
He did not take a keen interest in losing, he was hell-bent on winning. And that’s the way to go!
If you want it hard enough, get after it. Whatever your goals are—crush them. Commmitment…day in and day out.
I’m still deadlifting for heavy singles, I’m still tossing 200+ sand-filled kegs onto my shoulder, still doing heavy n high deadlifting reps with my keg, still working on heavy olympic barbell cleans and snatches for singles, still chasing my insane benching goals, still cranking out bodyweight reps of all exercises, but I added two more man-making exercises–insane squatting goals, and sprints to jack up my conditioning. It doesnt sound like much….but dedication to the basics will take you far.
Undergrounders—we can’t let the Golden Era to be a thing of the past. We got to rise up and elbow these naysayers in the face. Men of steel will always be stronger than yesterday!
Dustin M – sooooo TRUE, brutha.
Chuck was a MAN of STEEL, he fires me UP BIG time and the strength of mind, body & spirit that he carried was SIC!!!
Look at the bench that Chuck is using! It’s just a plank of wood.
Me, I was a lot stronger when I was doing manual work. Digging holes, lifting stuff all day, is way more manly than sitting in an office. Trouble is it doesn’t pay as well.
THAT is how many get STRONG, via manual labor. Chuck Sipes was also a lumberjack. He loved doing HARD things.
Man chuck was a BOSS, came across him a while back and he’s just the epitome of strength. Mentally and physically!
Also Zach, quick question dude… Been cranking out a load of bodyweight work as of late since i’ve been getting some aches and pains after a few intense strength cycles. I was just wondering if you have an alternative, or variation for handwalking, i generally train alone and the shiny, mirror-ridden gym i train at wouldn’t take nicely to me using the walls etc…?
Thanks for all the awesome content dude and keep doing your thing!
Luke
We will hand walk w a partner holding ankles or with feet on a glute ham roller. Back in the day we used a power wheel.
Do plenty of soft tissue work and rolling out. The more experienced you are, the more you need soft tissue work
Zach,
seems like you had an awesome conference! That’s so cool, you earned it & big Respect to you.
Wish I coud’ve been there but business comes to me first nowadays.
As a 40+ guy with a big family in the back healthy training for man strength has become Numero Uno for me. What is it good for if I can lift 300lbs + today and can’t move around with my kids in 5-10yrs? Always train smart!
I’m a big believer that real strength comes from the Move within. You gotta train for athleticism, mobility, speed and strength. Pure strength just doesn’t cut it if you DON’T have conditioning, if you DON’T have speed, if you DON’T have athleticism.
Put a conditioned bodybuilder in a ring and let him go 3rds with a halfsized amateur boxer/wrestler/fighter. Even if he doesn’t get hit hard he wil break within the second round. Seen it more than once. And this probably goes with every sport. Think about it.
Train smart, push your limits and go out there and DO shit. Go swimming, go hiking, go running & jumping. Do that, stand to your values, take care of yr family & friends and you will have more MAN strength then 95% of your surroundings and an awesome life.
Cheers
SVEN
SVEN, I love swimming, biking, running, etc
Chuck often ran sprints, jump rope, and biking.
Of course, he also was an avid mountain man, he could survive in the woods w/ the kids he took for 4 weeks!
Amazing!!!