Magazine above from 1957, I'd say that Dude is pretty STRONG. What do you think he did in training? I am sure he didn't have many options in the 50s. A barbell, maybe a few dumbbells? Calisthenics and running, swimming and overall hard training and healthy, strong eating. I did some research and "Tarzan" Jacobs was a Mr. Universe runner up and was also a pro wrestler in the 60s and 70s. They described Jacobs as "enormously strong". … [Read more...]
Search Results for: diamond gym
3 Reasons Squats Can Cure The All Too Common Complaining Syndrome
Does that person REALLY need to complain about ________? The answer? Probably not. What good does complaining REALLY do for anyone? Any time somebody complains to me about something that has NOTHING to do with them and matter of fact doesn't hurt them or anyone else, all I can think to myself is..... If this person would experience some struggles, like some 20 rep gut check squats, they would be minding own business! … [Read more...]
Farmer Carries Are Great, But…..
Before I even owned my gym I met up with some guys who were competitive strongmen. I was training out of my garage mostly, here and there going to the local tire yard for some tire flips..... It was Saturday and it was their day of training events. I remember getting destroyed with their 220 lb farmer walks and some of their guys jogged with the weight. I was fired up and got chatting with these guys about their programming and made my adjustments. At the time, my lower body … [Read more...]
Strength Lessons from The Iron Gladiators of The 80s & 90s
Photo Cred: Grégoire Alessandrini / http://www.nyc90s.com The photo above is from the no longer open, Gladiator Gym. This gym was housed in "Alphabet City" in The East Village of NYC. Pro Bodybuilders used to train there. Hard charging weightlifters trained there. The unspoken rule was simple: Train Your Ass Off. Intensity Rules. This was the story in MANY local gyms back when I was a teen and in my early 20s. So when I was a teen and in my early 20s, the way I learned was by getting under … [Read more...]
Will Anyone Ever Squat In Peace Again?
I feel bad for this generation of lifters. I'd say that 99.99999999% will NEVER know what it's like to JUST train for the sake of training and have NO phone around them. The kids I train nowadays always sneak a look at their phone when they grab a drink. Eventually ya gotta tell them to STOP taking a water break after EVERY SET. The beauty and purity of a training session where / when there were NO cell phones is beyond what my words can describe. When I was 17 years old, my buddy … [Read more...]
Training For ‘The Obstacle Is THE Way’
'The Obstacle Is The Way' Book Sketch by Sacha Chua I had a horrific night of sleep. I was up around 1 AM and stared at the ceiling until 3 AM until I said F--K it, time to get out of bed and do Work. I was exhausted after dropping my kids off at school and started coming up with EVERY excuse in the book to NOT train today. I'll train tomorrow Training when tired is bad This workout will be wasted if I train today Take a nap instead I decided to use my fatigue as a reason to DO … [Read more...]
Learn to Make The Rep Or DIE
I don't recall where I read or heard about the story, but, I feel like it was from Marty Gallagher. The crew is getting psyched up, climbing higher and higher on their squats. 500 lbs. 600. 700. 800 + lbs. The lifter yells at the crew..... … [Read more...]
Hard Work Is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hard Work is BEAUTIFUL. That is the first step towards success in any endeavor, Loving work rather than fearing work. You'll find resistance all around you as you work your ass off to achieve greatness in any endeavor, be it in the gym or in life. People will call you "crazy" and say "that's not normal". You're damn right it's not normal. Normal people achieve normal or average levels of success. I have ZERO interest in being average or normal. Recently, I was reminded like a punch … [Read more...]
The 6 Most Effective Strength & Muscle Building Methods
I've been doing a LOT of thinking about the various ways I have trained since starting back in 1989, well over 25 years of experience. I thought about the methods that wasted my time and didn't produce anything but all show and NO go muscles. Those days bother me BIG time because they have scarred me for a lifetime and unfortunately didn't help my success in athletics. I also thought about my days of squatting 455 lbs for reps. My days of breaking away from what the other guys in the gym were … [Read more...]
STOP Injuring Your Lower Back
Have you ever injured your lower back? I don't know anyone that hasn't, even if they aren't hard charging, heavy lifting maniacs. The first time I injured my back is a time I will never forget, and I recall it as if it happened 2 minutes ago. I was a 2nd year teacher, maybe my 3rd year.... I was young, that's for sure! I was at my peak in strength and muscle. I had just smashed a brutal leg workout that evening at Diamond Gym. I squatted 455 for 5 reps, did walking lunges with 60 and 70 lb … [Read more...]