My buddy and I used to hunt the area for the best playgrounds. We looked for parallel bars and pull up bars specifically. These were gems. Some schools removed their entire playground if one child fell and got injured. So this was not as easy to find as it sounds. The back of my truck usually had a sandbag, a few Kettlebells and maybe a sled or prowler. Those training sessions were powerful and effective. They were TOUGH. Now, being in my 40s, I find that more calisthenics and … [Read more...]
Zach’s Top 11 Bodyweight Exercises For Strength, Muscle & Performance
My friend, Coach & Mentor, former Navy SEAL, Brad McLeod, asked me to crush a video for his friends on the best Bodyweight Bodybuilding exercises. Below is the video and also a list of The Top 11 Bodyweight Exercises along with added variations, regressions & progressions. Adding the many variations to each of these bodyweight exercises makes this more like a top 15 or top 20 list of Bodyweight exercises. Bookmark this page and USE these exercises. They are POWERFUL! If you feel I … [Read more...]
The Power Behind Bodyweight Bodybuilding Playground Workouts
I am getting more and MORE hyped on Bodyweight Training. I feel GREAT attacking the calisthenics and with warmer weather especially, it is perfect for training outdoors to rejuvenate mind, body & spirit. The cold is not to be feared either, the Russian athletes often trained outdoors for a warm up and fresh air on a regular basis. You can see it in the Video below as well. I have been hunting for better playgrounds all around NJ since 2002. Sometimes I bring a kettlebell and mix the … [Read more...]
The Combat Conditioning Playground Workout, AKA, Damage Inc
Try this workout below, in the video. It's an oldie but a goody, a blast from the past dating back to the original days of The Underground where most of my workouts were outdoors mixing Bodyweight, Kettlebells, Sleds, Playground training, etc. Get as many rounds as possible in 30 minutes. You get 1 point for each round completed, NO half points :) The name of the workout? Damage Inc. See the Video below for details! … [Read more...]
Kill it with me, Playground Assault style!
I'm gonna hit the old playground this week before the REAL cold weather sets in. I'll toss a kettlebell in the back of my truck, a sandbag, some thick rope and the rest will be left up to Mother Nature :) I'm psyched to use the monkey bars, the parallel bars, free room to throw my kettlebell and tear into it any which way I desire. I love throwing kettlebells on the grass field for power development and work capacity. I'll definitely get sprints in there - sprints are undervalued … [Read more...]
Episode # 25 – Another Playground Assault
If you're not training and tearing it up at the local playground, you're missing out! Check this vid... Get outdoors, you need the fresh air! Then, tell us about your playground workout and post your exercises, sets, reps, etc - share with the world! Kill it! --Coach Z-- PS: There is about 34 hrs left on THIS. PPS: The Underground Strength Coach contest will be announced shortly. Watch your e mails! … [Read more...]
A TOUGH Wrestling Conditioning Workout (Even If You Don’t Wrestle)
Last night I went to the neighboring downtown with my family as everyone got some ice cream. In case you're wondering, I skipped the ice cream part :) Don't worry, I'm still human, I eat ice cream, but I'm on a mission, and that will require doing what others don't do. This time around, I won the ice cream battle. On the way home, about half way there, my wife dropped me off on the side of the road so I could run the rest of the way. I was fired up and even a bit disappointed in myself. I … [Read more...]