I love the barbell and all free weights. But there is something powerful, beyond the strength benefits, about training with odd objects.

The mental toughness, the commitment to finish the struggling rep and the attitude required to fight through is unique to strongman training and odd objects.

That being said. Not everyone is ready for this style of training.

I explain below....

Tire flipping isn't for everyone.

Strongman training isn't for everyone.

A SOLID foundation MUST be built before you can dive into strongman training.

Can you perform the following key lifts with substantial weights and perfect technique:

- Deadlift

- Squat / Box Squat

- Pull Ups (ALL Grips)

- Clean & Press Variations (Kettlebells, Dumbbells)

Those 4 exercises are key indicators of your strength, power and athleticism, especially for strongman & odd object lifting.

When I see 60 and 70 something year olds flipping tires with straight legs and rounded backs on TV it disappoints me. Heck, I see teens and even pre teens doing this as well (Thanks to the YouTubes and social media "coaches"). Unfortunately, they don't know better, they are listening to the "coach".

NO Coach should use flashy exercises for better TV / social media views or to follow the fads. But, it happens ALL the time.

Do what is right for the person as an individual. Period. NO excuses. This requires education, learning, studying and putting in the work yourself.  

There are several different techniques for tire flips, and as you'll see below, we use a sumo stance, drive up at an angle and focus on power cleaning the tire using a knee lift and running THROUGH the tire.

Running through the tire, driving at a 45 degree angle and using a knee lift gets you away from the dangerous curl position.

Video Below:

Other benefits of strongman training, specifically the tire flip:

- Hand / Grip Strength

- Leg Strength & Power

- Back Strength

- Trunk Stability / Ab Strength

- Mental Toughness

- Hip Mobility

The benefits of hand, grip and wrist strength are WAY underrated with tire flipping. Weak Hands are the sign of a weak athlete, as are weak legs.

Odd objects in general are to be used with safety and with intelligence. For real detail on program design and how we train, make sure you get The Encyclopedia of Underground Strength & Conditioning.

Next week we will begin more strongman training and strongman medleys to prepare for our summer strongman contests at The Underground Strength Gym.

These strongman competitions are super intense and VERY competitive so our workouts must prepare our athletes not just physically, but mentally as well.

The athletes who thrive with Strongman training have a mental edge. These methods and techniques should not be used unless the athlete is properly prepared.

In The Underground Strength Coach Cert, we do NOT have all Coaches use the tire flip. If someone is not ready for that exercise which we use rarely, they use an exercise such as:

Sandbag Clean and Press

Kettlebell Clean and Press

The athletes who tend to thrive with Strongman training are wrestlers and football players. 

More to come soon.....

Live The Code 365

--Z--

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