I've been going through my old magazines from the 50s and 60s and really love seeing the nutrition basics. And a few weeks ago, someone sent me my original paper back of The Way to Live, which I recreated into The Russian Lion Power Course. So now, I am going through and rereading some of George Hackenschmidt's nutrition, training and lifestyle tips. Everything was so simple and yet so effective when we look at the nutrition and training tips dating back to the Physical Culture era (early … [Read more...]
5 x 5 Strength Training QnA
Where did the 5 x 5 program originate from? Well, it's been around for DECADES. To my knowledge, Reg Park started the 5 x 5 program. As 1 of the strongest bodybuilders ever, and, a man who could bench 500 lbs, I actually NEVER recall reading about 5 x 5 in my teen years. And I read EVERY bodybuilding magazine and a TON of bodybuilding books. I WISH I came across this program in my high school years. I was too busy doing pump up bull shyt. Although I DO recall a kid I used to lift with … [Read more...]
STRONG Life BONUS | Zach Gets Interviewed on The Hard Life Podcast
I had a GREAT time being interviewed on Doug Hershberger's Podcast, The Hard Life! We're in a world where the majority are busy making excuses, whining, complaining and blaming. People of ALL ages get offended by hard work. In fact, when you coach them through a tough workout, they perceive this as He doesn't like me. Or...... Don't you DARE tell an athlete that he cheated on the training. He will say, Everyone else did it. I have ZERO interest in being like "everyone … [Read more...]
2 Things You Need In Your Strength & Conditioning Training
After sharing this Video of Fedor to my IG, it reminded me how simplicity is crucial, as is intensity and your environment. It’s so simple it’s complicated 💀💀💀 / @undergroundstrengthgym @undergroundstrengthgym @undergroundstrengthgym / #Fedor #undergroundstrengthgym #manasquan #scotchplains A post shared by Zach Even - Esh (@zevenesh) on Jan 19, 2018 at 6:33am PST You see Fedor's training facilities and even his training, it's so simple yet very intense. Nothing fancy or … [Read more...]
4 Tips to Build Maximum Muscle With Minimal Equipment
Let's KILL some confusion here. If you love variety in your training, go for it and DO it. If you love just attacking the basics, go for it and DO it. Let me Explain ..... Your results in training come down to a select few things that must be executed VERY well. … [Read more...]
I Changed My Mind: REAL World Strength AND Bodybuilding
It must have been 6 years ago or so, I remember the moment quite clearly. We were outside The Underground Strength Gym, the athletes were hitting their finishers and training like farm boys. Back and forth they went pushing and pulling sleds, carrying the anvil, the atlas stone, dumbbells, kettlebells and sandbags. A BIG bodybuilder and his skinny friend began approaching. The bodybuilder was jacked. His friend looked like a typical high school kid weighing about 160 lbs or so. The … [Read more...]
WHY You MUST Earn It & Respect It!
I was in Vermont at SPARTAN HQ with 15 other Underground Strength Coaches. 2 days in a row we trekked up the mountain behind Joe DeSena's house and although I had been to the top before, it never gets old at the top. But, I am sure, for some people, they don't get it.... They don't understand why they should embrace the work. This is why..... … [Read more...]
Iron Roots Podcast Ep. 1 | 5 X 5 Strength Training + The Power of Push Ups
Here's your Underground Strength Challenge for this month along with Iron Roots Podcast episode 1 where I dive into the History behind the 5 x 5 strength training program! It's ALL about the basics in this one, post your comments, weights used, etc in the comments section. I also added The Iron Roots Podcast episode on where The 5 x 5 Strength Training system originated with Reg Park as well as the way Bill Starr implemented 5 x 5 in his book, The Strongest Shall Survive! … [Read more...]
Old School Strength
We always hear about "old school strength" but what is it, really? Well, one thing's for sure, we don't see a whole lotta dumbbell training going on nowadays. Back in the day, "old school strength" books and magazines show athletes and lifters using heavy dumbbells (dumbbells weighing 100- 200 + lbs) for movements such as: … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned From The STRONGEST Guy From The Old School YMCA (Circa 1990)
I still remember that guy, even though I met him when I was only 14 years old, a freshman in high school with dreams of being bigger and stronger than everyone else. Back then, the YMCA was ending the era of "old school". Believe it or not, The Metuchen Y was very much like the Y that Golden Era greats trained out of like Dave Draper did when he was a Jersey boy. The plates were all YORK barbell, the squat rack was the rarely seen today York Isometric Rack. No machines except the cable … [Read more...]