I came across Mike Mentzer's training methods as a kid. In fact, if memory serves me properly, I began reading about Mike Mentzer around age 11. You see, I would read my older brother's bodybuilding books and magazines for 2 years before I actually began training. I began training in June of 1989 but leading up to that point, I would dabble in lifting the weights my brother had in his room. It was strange to me that I would lift weights for 2 or 3 weeks and then quit. I thought something was … [Read more...]
STRONG Life Insider: The Development of Muscular Bulk & Power
From Anthony Ditillo's Book, The Development of Muscular Bulk and Power There is something about bulk and power training that invades your very soul. It is extremely hard to put into words. The exercise movements themselves are quite simple to perform. The routines one must utilize in order to gain rapidly that much sought after strength are not especially interesting or dynamic in appearance. All in all, powerlifting and bulk training is a rather mechanical robot like procedure, which is … [Read more...]
Safety Squat Bar VS The Straight Bar Squat for Athletes: Strength & Shoulder Health + 3 Week Squat Cycle
Above, Mark Chaillet Squats - Photo from Purposeful Primitive / Marty Gallagher After a recent squat workout with the athletes at The Underground Strength Gym, I began having a more serious conversation in my own mind regarding the use of the conjugate method, more specifically, how often to switch the safety squat bar vs the straight bar for squats with athletes, specifically, high school athletes. I share my thoughts in the videos below and in conversation form which you can also see … [Read more...]
203 | Marty Gallagher on Minimalist Strength Training
Photo Credit: Marty Gallagher's Purposeful Primitive Book STRONG Life Podcast ep.203. I LOVE talking training and life with Marty Gallagher. We speak often and we do it the "old school" way, via phone! Imagine that! In this episode Marty and I discuss the following topics: - Training 1 x week and getting stronger on a consistent basis. - How to adjust volume and intensity in your training for longevity and results. - Sprint Training and lessons learned from Charlie Francis. - … [Read more...]
“Different Training” for Strength, Size & Toughness
Yesterday I was so fired up from reading a newspaper article about Karate Legend, Gary Alexander training harder than most people half his age at age 81, so of course, I HAD to try it myself. Gary Alexander was a Karate instructor where I grew up in Edison, NJ in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. Today, he is in his 80s, STILL training like a madman. Here's his current regime: With scuba fins on his feet, Alexander does 100 laps, mostly on his back, alternating with freestyle strokes. The … [Read more...]
4 Tips on How to Build Strength Endurance aka “Performance Muscles”
Strength Endurance or as my friend, Marty Gallagher calls it, Sustained Strength. STRENGTH ENDURANCE - This is simply strength that keeps on keeping on. Strength that ENDURES. Not just physically, but also Mentally. This is a crucial "special strength" that is beneficial to many athletes and adults as well. Just a few sports & careers: - Lacrosse - Football - Wrestling - BJJ - MMA - Military - Law Enforcement - Hunting Tip # 1: To acquire Strength … [Read more...]
RAW with Marty Gallagher: Strength Endurance, Minimalist Training & Fighting the Fads & Gimmicks of Strength & Conditioning
In this BONUS episode of The STRONG Life Podcast I join my friends of Iron Company on their podcast. We've got JP Brice, Marty Gallagher and Jim Steel. Marty's podcast is called RAW, and once you hear his unfiltered ways of conversing with me you'll understand exactly why! We discuss the following topics: - How my background in training began, from hardcore gyms to current days of The Underground Strength Gym - How some of the Powerlifters of the 60s, 70s and 80s trained for world … [Read more...]
TIME
TIME. It's something I think about constantly. That right there is a red flag. They say if you fear death then you are not living fully. Red Flag....... You see, I remember being 6 years old, riding my big wheel with friends like it was yesterday. I remember mountain biking with my friends all Summer long when I was 22 like it was yesterday, except that was half my life time ago. How does half a life time pass by in what seems to be minutes? Today, my days are filled with work and the … [Read more...]
Minimalist Training, Social Media Posts for Likes vs Impact & Training to be Dangerous
In this live Instagram I chat about the following: Minimalist Training, Social Media Posts for Likes vs Impact & Training to be Dangerous. With my hectic schedule it reminded me of my mid 20s when I went on a 2x week training program while going through grad school (1 hr commute each way), teaching full time, coaching wrestling and not wanting to give up my membership at Diamond Gym. Enjoy the show...... … [Read more...]
160 | Marty Gallagher on Minimalist Training for Elite Strength & Performance
STRONG Life ep. 160 with my friend Marty Gallagher, author of The Purposeful Primitive and STRONG Medicine. In this episode Marty shares how he is helping others achieve elite levels of strength & performance training once a week or one hour total each week. From adult men and women to Tier 1 Spec Ops Military, Marty shares how you can get stronger and improve your performance, even if you are "too busy". Marty's Book, Purposeful Primitive is available HERE. Marty's training … [Read more...]