Training for Performance – The Value of Calisthenics. Let’s dig into performance. Performance for sports and performance for life and work. Bodyweight training is a big component to improve your strength and muscular endurance for sports. In high school we see varsity athletes, both boys and girls who can NOT perform 1 proper push up. This is dangerous. The weaker an athlete is, the more likely he / she is to get injured. Weakness is a liability. … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Craziness, Upper Body Warm Ups + Specialty Bars for Shoulder Health
It's been a minute since I've posted a new article to the blog, and honestly, I am writing right now because it FEELS good to write. It's a therapy of sorts, similar to how I feel when training. LOTS going on now. I stayed calm and cool with the quarantine but now this craziness in NJ is out of control. I see lines out the door of Dairy Queen, other large chain businesses are packed to the gills and the only thing I ever see getting cleaned, if that's what it is, is a few sprays here and … [Read more...]
223 | Zach & Joe DeSena on Being AWESOME, Strong & Healthy During COVID-19
STRONG Life Podcast ep. 223 with my man, Joe DeSena! I was up at 4:30 AM for this episode that we pulled from Instagram Live and it was POWERFUL. Right now we are living through some uncertain times. Some of us going through tougher times than others, no doubt. BUT, we ALL have options that can give you the opportunity to live a Stronger, Healthier, more AWESOME life! Enjoy this episode and please share with friends. Also, see the videos below for some ideas in training while your … [Read more...]
How Push Ups Can Change Your Life
Recently, I got to watch a wrestling team that I train compete. The team competed against a team where the Coach was one of the original athletes I trained from my garage. It was a special night with lots of memories for me. The last time I got to watch a team I train compete has been the D1 level, 2 years ago. With my busy schedule, I am often on the ground floor, coaching almost daily, and so I miss these moments. But, now that I am full time coaching at a high school, I can often catch … [Read more...]
6 Reasons Why Your Training Program is Failing
I am always learning. I find podcasts or articles, even old books from decades ago to see how the "What's old is new" philosophy can help me become a better coach & lifter. Recently, I have been listening to an interview with Dave Tate & JM Blakley. I will share the video below as it's over 3 hours long. I listen to the interview while driving. And the 1 part that hit home for me was when JM said that we are not all that different. We like to THINK we're so different and that we all … [Read more...]
How to Prepare Yourself for The Police Academy
Recently I was at a commercial gym and about to head out after my training session until 1 of the guys introduced himself to me and asked me if I was a cop. He had seen me training as I went back and forth in superset style fashion. He thought I was in training for something but that fast paced training is common for me. It's funny because I used to get that question quite often back when I buzzed my head, people thought I was in the Military or Law Enforcement. Anyway, we got chatting when … [Read more...]
Getting Back to the Bells’ & Bodyweight Training + Donnie Thompson (SuperD) Inspiration
Here and there I catch myself getting away from training that is more Physical Culture based and end up chasing numbers. Now, there is NOTHING wrong with being Strong. But something was missing for me. I wanted to feel the toughness and challenge of working with circuits / complexes of Kettlebells, Fat Bell, Center Mass Bells. With my shoulder injury some years ago, I limit the overhead work but testing Donnie Thompson's Bow Tie made everything feel fine! … [Read more...]
5 Power Tips to Live The STRONG Life
I was the weakest kid on the block. I didn't get beat up often, but if I was ever in a fight, I never won. I had little if any confidence in myself. But things changed when I started doing push ups every day in 7th grade. Things changed more when I began lifting weights in June, 1989. Then, my confidence REALLY grew when I broke free of the demons holding me down in life. That was the Summer of 1994. I came across "mentors" perhaps you can say...... I trained with Joe, who … [Read more...]
Animal Warm Ups & Upper Body Training for Wrestling Strength (Bodyweight & Kettlebell Workout)
Anytime you think you're too busy to warm up, think again. Regardless of your age, it never pays to be "too busy" for a proper warm up. Give yourself 5 minutes to hit a warm up specific to your workout and mobilize 1 or 2 areas of your body that need attention. The "I'm too busy" excuse is never acceptable. Even for myself. When I say this BS excuse in my own mind or to others, I deserve a punch in the face. Whether or not you wrestle is also irrelevant. Although the Video below shows some of … [Read more...]
Is DAILY Bodyweight Training Effective & Safe For Muscle & Strength Gains?
This started all the way back in 1989. Every time I passed a pull up bar or anything I could grab on to over head, I banged out pull ups. This became a daily practice. Same for push ups. Push Ups for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guess what happened? … [Read more...]
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