Where did the 5 x 5 program originate from? Well, it's been around for DECADES. To my knowledge, Reg Park started the 5 x 5 program. As 1 of the strongest bodybuilders ever, and, a man who could bench 500 lbs, I actually NEVER recall reading about 5 x 5 in my teen years. And I read EVERY bodybuilding magazine and a TON of bodybuilding books. I WISH I came across this program in my high school years. I was too busy doing pump up bull shyt. Although I DO recall a kid I used to lift with … [Read more...]
Ep. 214 | QnA: Sports Specific Training, Power Cleans & NEW Training Tools
Here we GO! STRONG Life Podcast Ep. 214. I wound up doing this live on Instagram with hopes of getting more questions and the audio gets a little crappy in the middle but hang in there, because as always, the information is AWESOME. Plus, I am just NOT into that Hollywood BS, trying to impress everyone with perfection. On the flip side, when I post opportunity for questions on Instagram, I want to see MORE questions. You should question everything. You should desire to learn more, to … [Read more...]
How I Train Athletes & The Fight Against Strength & Conditioning Fads
Strong is STRONG. You can't fake strong. Some athletes / people might LOOK strong but when it's time to perform, they can not perform. How do I know? I was there myself in my high school years as a wrestler - I followed too much bodybuilding work and I LOOKED strong, but I was NOT able to perform with dominating power. When I began getting heavily into strength & conditioning, the industry was really pushing the "functional training" craze. Back in the early 2000s, this meant you had … [Read more...]
Training In Your 40s VS Training High School & College Athletes
The older you get, the harder the training gets! It's tougher to make gains and you can forget about that "maintenance" BS program. As you get older, the last thing you want is that WEAK attitude of "I'm just maintaining". If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. I NEVER use the word "maintenance" when training anyone, including in season for athletes. Think about it, how weak does it sound when you say "I'm just trying to maintain." It sounds like you fear the work. It … [Read more...]
163 | The TRUTH About Youth Strength & Conditioning
STRONG Life Podcast Ep 163 hosted by Joel smith of Just Fly Sports. In this round table I was able to share the floor with 2 of the best in the industry, Jeremy Frisch and Jorge Carvajal. I've been involved with youth athletics before I ever owned a gym or even started the garage days of The Underground Strength Gym. My experiences have taught me so much and this podcast brings a lot of my experiences into the light. Being able to express our experiences and thoughts on this podcast … [Read more...]
How to Squat: DEEP Squats and Dinosaurs – Are BOTH Extinct?
Walk into a typical high school weight room and you'll see a 1 rep max test on the squat every month. Typically, you'll see kids hitting 315 to 495 on the squat. Kids that weigh 185 lbs are doing this, some weight 135 lbs and squat 315. Amazing. On the bar is a THICK Pad to cushion the back. The thick pad replaces the need to build up the traps. After all, who needs a set of BIG, thick traps to support the neck and reduce chances of neck injuries while playing football? Perhaps you'll … [Read more...]