When I first began training in my early teens, I trained quite wrong, unfortunately. I used both machines and free weights, but I didn't go heavy on either. I did TONS of volume and it halted my strength gains. I was brain washed :( I read all the wrong information and the far and few between guys who actually WERE strong in the gym, you simply assumed that bodybuilding and powerlifting were 2 different worlds. I was told to feel & squeeze the muscle, the weight doesn't … [Read more...]
Strength Lessons From My Old School Muscle Magazine Collection
I was listening to an interview done with Lance Dreher, 1 of the Bodybuilders from the 80s and early 90s. They were asking Lance about his arm workout and here is where the lessons start hitting home. Lance asked Sergio Oliva what Sergio did for arms. Sergio said he did lots of Barbell Cheat Curls with 205+ lbs, and heavy Barbell Skull crushers with over 200 lbs. In a book I was reading, there were stories of Larry Scott, the first Mr. Olympia. Larry was training with The Iron Guru, Vince … [Read more...]
The Keto Diet Circa 1968
Recently I was gifted with yet another BIG box of old school magazines. Health & Strength, IronMan, Muscle Builder & Power..... These magazines are gold and it's amazing how I find information from 40-60 years ago that are sometimes brought forward today as if someone invented them. I honestly feel much of today's training is overly complex as is the nutrition. In turn, results are less even though information is more easily and readily available at the touch of a finger or via … [Read more...]
11 Ways to Get BIG Arms
Let me slap the haters in the face before we get GOING. BIG, STRONG arms are critical to aiding your upper body strength. Wanna improve your bench press, military press, pull ups, push ups, dips, etc? Then get those arms stronger. If you've got skinny, weak arms it's likely your upper body pushing and pulling strength sucks as well. Do NOT fear doing direct arm work. … [Read more...]
High Rep Squats to Man UP!
Above, Greg Leistner squats 500 lbs for reps as Dad, Dr. Ken spots Sometimes you feel the need to kick your own ass.... At least I feel that way. I hope I am the norm and NOT the exception. I gotta make sure I still have that mental edge and pushing yourself into new territories of pain through training, especially high rep squats, will push you over the edge, trust me :) High rep squats are like the 'Man UP Medicine" - something about squats that cures almost everything in a WEAK Man. … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned from Golden Era Bodybuilding BEASTS
Robby Robinson is what I call a Renegade Underground Bodybuilder. His favorite upper body workouts were endless supersets of the bench press and pull ups / chins ups. His favorite lower body workouts were endless supersets of front squats and RDLs (Romanian Deadlifts). Heck, ANY athlete can benefit from those movements, you don't have to be a bodybuilder to be able to perform Density Training, ala Coach Reeve with the basics. Robby Robinson loved the basics that any serious strength … [Read more...]
5 Reasons You Need to Jack Up Your Guns
Don't think you need to train your arms? HA! Guess again! You NEED to build powerful arms, and, this means that sometimes you gotta specialize and WORK them directly. All this talk of people saying you don't need direct arm work because all the upper body pushing and pulling will suffice are dead wrong. Experts claiming that "training arms isn't functional" are WRONG. Now, don't be an extremist and avoid rope climbs, pull ups, heavy rowing, etc. You STILL gotta rock those movements, but, … [Read more...]
Upper Body Workout and THE 5 Year Plan!?!?
The inspiration to live a STRONG Life drives me to face my fears, be it in the gym or in life. The pic above of Ken Waller about to smash some heavy dumbbell benching also inspired me. I explain my motivation for LIFE & LIFTING in the Video below. So, rather than searching for inspiration or motivation, just grab it and DO it. NO waiting, just DOing. … [Read more...]