The world is in a strange place...... I find myself saying that often. Hence, why I get so fired up and this article will be part rant and part advice on "what it takes"... I see what is happening in this world and of course experience some strange things on a daily basis between running The Underground Strength Gym and training athletes, working with parents and coaches on the regular. Before you can be a state champ, national champ, pro athlete, etc ..... You MUST pull your head out of your … [Read more...]
How To SQUAT Properly + My Disdain For Low Standards In The High School Weight Room
I love Squats, especially when I see someone doing them properly. But I'll be brutally honest, I get fired up hearing the athletes we work with at The Underground Strength Gym telling me what they do at their high school weight room. Why do I get fired up? Because the standards have been dropped. The technique has been given a lower standard. Because standards are dropped and technique is ignored, the results that come from the squat are dramatically reduced. For 9 years now, I … [Read more...]
AJ Roberts On Breaking World Records In Powerlifting & LIFE!
Episode 71 of The STRONG Life Podcast is with a close friend of mine, World Record Holder in Powerifting, AJ Roberts. AJ's story and skills go FAR beyond being one of the strongest powerlifters to ever walk the face of this earth, as you'll learn in this episode. AJ set his world record while training under Louie Simmons at the Strongest Gym in the World, Westside Barbell. Here's some stats from AJ when he achieved his World Record All Time Total at 308 lbs in powerlifting: 1205 lbs … [Read more...]
The Problem With Strength Training Advice On The Internet
Here's a little news flash that will hurt many people's feelings: Just because you see it on YouTube doesn't mean it's what ALWAYS happens in that person's training. Just because the guy behind the camera is ripped doesn't mean he knows more about training than the other Coach. The internet has given us opportunity to learn as much as we want, not all of it good and not all of it accurate. The opposite holds true as well, there is some amazing and powerful information out there that was once … [Read more...]
Don’t Play The Age Card & My 40th Birthday Workout
I was on the phone with my buddy, AJ Roberts, a former world record holder in Powerlifting while he was a member at Westside Barbell, aka The Strongest Gym in the World. We were talking training, life, business, the usual..... We got to the training talk and I mentioned something about how I feel and he said, "Oh man, you're already playing that age card!" He was right. I was 38 or 39 at the time and I made up some poor excuse about training, how I feel because of my age and then proceeded … [Read more...]
Warrior Workouts [March 2015], Random Thoughts & Various Inspiration
I am always finding inspiration. For some reason, everything I see inspires me in some shape or form. I am inspired to be better than I currently am as well as to not be like the things I see that bother me. I've tried to change, to calm down, to be less intense or less serious or even less passionate but it lasts very little. I'm just not a calm guy who lets things slide. I'm intense, passionate and fired up. It's like telling Dan Gable to stop being so intense. It doesn't work. It will … [Read more...]
STRONGLife Ep 45: Louie Simmons Interview & Westside Barbell
STRONG Life Podcast Episode 45. A Throwback interview with Louie Simmons, owner of Westside Barbell (Strongest Gym In the World). In this episode Louie and I discuss the following: … [Read more...]
Marcus Luttrell Speaks to Alabama Football Team (WHAT You ARE!)
So many people complain about life and how tough of a life they have. Ironically, these complainers often have a nice job, a nice car, a roof over their head and more. Somehow, someway, they still find a way to talk as if their life is so tough. Athletes complain about how busy they are, blame the ref for losing, complain about their coaches, etc. These are the same athletes who have opportunity all around them to do things to become better. They have the time and resources but find excuses and … [Read more...]
How to Build Strong, Powerful, Jacked Athletes – Pt 1
I'm doing something different this month where I normally add our Underground Strength Workout of the Month as a private video or a PDF training course to The Underground Inner Circle. This month, I am sharing with you the inside look with full blown access to our November WOM (Workout of the Month). I break down the following in this powerful video: - how we train our athletes to develop the total package: strength, size, athleticism, power. - why we train them with a blend of … [Read more...]
STRONG Life 39: I Ain’t Got Time To Be WEAK!
Who's got the time to be weak? Only those who don't care for LIFE. Waiting for tomorrow? Waiting for your gym membership to start? Waiting to get your next pay check? It's MUCH simpler than the "Gurus" want to admit. It CAN be done in a garage or basement using some old, beat up free weights. The journey to becoming STRONGER starts NOW. Pay attention and I will explain: … [Read more...]