STRONG Life Podcast 270 with Matt Nichol. In this episode of The STRONG Life Podcast, We discuss the following topics: - Strength Coach Professionalism - Building Grit & Mental Toughness in Athletes today AND doing it Safely - The Hunger & Humble Attitude you need Today to Thrive as a Strength Coach - The Flaws of Training Methods of today vs Yester-year yet still finding how and why they can be applied - Old & New Books that Matt and I are reading in Strength & … [Read more...]
7 Strength Training / Coaching Mistakes that Hurt Athletes
I'm gonna kick this off with something that might sound like arrogance, but in truth, it's me taking pride in what we do and the results we've been delivering since day 1, 2002 garage days. I used to get hated on for how we trained but I look back and feel even those early days, even as imperfect as it all was, it was VERY EFFECTIVE. It was effective because we crushed the basics. We developed athletes, NOT just athletes who could lift heavy weights. These athletes were succeeding in every … [Read more...]
Building Stronger, Tougher & Faster Athletes: Eventually, Athletes Need a Heavy Bar on their Back
Times have been changing for quite some time..... Strength training with the basics is just not "cool" anymore. "Experts" hate on squats and now we have high school kids who can barely squat bodyweight. And this COVID shutdown of gyms didn't help. When gyms were open, at least the kids were in there training. Now, parents are afraid to send kids to a gym and we have everyone locked down in a "safety bubble" You see, many athletes took it upon themselves to do NOTHING during the COVID … [Read more...]
Days of Thunder…
Last week I got the news that one of my old wrestling teammates had passed away. I moved out of my old hometown almost 11 years ago. That town shaped me and molded me, as it did for many others. If you didn't fight back in that town, you got your a-- handed to you. Thinking of my old teammate, Joe, it reminded me of the tough times we had been through and what we experienced together on the wrestling team. Joe was a tough SOB. He had to be. Our Wrestling Coaches; Coach Scott … [Read more...]
How to Build BEAST High School & College Athletes
I am amazed at times when an athlete feels he needs "another program" when he can't even squat 225, let alone bench 225. Or when a Sport Coach insists his athletes can Squat, Bench and Deadlift yet they struggle with push ups and a full range of motion bodyweight squat. What "special program" do you need if you can't perform light weights with the barbell basics and calisthenics? The answer is, you do NOT need a special program. You need to MASTER the bodyweight basics. Still arguing … [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...]
Josh Bryant & Al Vermeil: Cutting Though the Fads & Gimmicks of Strength & Conditioning
As of this article / podcast being posted, I have listened to this Bonus podcast with Al Vermeil and Josh Bryant 4 times! Yes, it is THAT GOOD! This STRONG Life Bonus was given to me by Josh Bryant who interviews Al Vermeil and I gotta say, this interview was not only inspiring and educational, it was refreshing! There are MANY times where I am just fed up with the BS of the fitness industry and the strength coach industry. Too many people worried about likes and reposts instead of … [Read more...]
Program Design Tips for Athletes / Coaches & How We Train Youth to D1 Athletes at The Underground Strength Gym
With the release of The Underground Strength & Sports Performance Course, I wanted to give you a taste of what you'll be learning as you begin your journey towards becoming a Certified Underground Strength Coach. How do we run things at The Underground Strength Gym and how can you take these methods and apply to your existing sports performance program? Well, things have certainly changed since 2002 and guess what? Things change here on the regular. A BIG reason why is of course … [Read more...]
5 SIMPLE (NOT Easy!) Wrestling Strength Training Tips
3 days a week I work with the college wrestlers and man, we thrash that weight room! The energy is through the roof and that is an understatement. The culture of what happens with your team is a HUGE key to their success. A dialed in, consistent off season training program is a make or break factor for a wrestling team's success. Unfortunately, most teams don't have Coaches who organize a team plan be it in wrestling or strength & conditioning. The Coach who organizes this aspect of … [Read more...]
A Letter to My YOUNGER (Athlete) Self With 17 Strength Training & Life Tips
This letter isn't about holding on to the past or living in the past. Knowing and learning from mistakes is crucial. The opportunity to share with others to help them achieve more Success, to avoid my mistakes & to be inspired to improve themselves is the goal. It's a simple hope that a middle or high school athletes comes across this post, sees my mistakes, my tips on life and lifting and ultimately, puts these tips to use. Heck, I hope a college athlete sees this. Maybe a college … [Read more...]