Check out this rare video done in the Pizzaria next door to my gym. I talk about how my business started, my early influences, my lack of money, my first time Tire flipping, how I got my first clients, grip training, kettlebell training, rope training and sandbag training. Enjoy this video and drop a comment on your questions and thoughts. I am psyched to see what you guys have to say about this kick ass video! Thoughts, comments, questions? Drop em' below! TONS more like this to come. Lost … [Read more...]
Kettlebell Training & Jump Training for Size, Speed & Strength
Strength is of critical importance for any athlete / adult, regardless of age. Speed is the next gear that takes strength to the next level. When I hear Coaches go on and on about strength and say nothing of speed I know they are missing the boat and vice versa. We then have Coaches who act as if strength is a bad thing. There is NO such thing as weak and successful. Not everyone who is strong is fast. And speed is not simply running around cones or ladders. Where is the force … [Read more...]
Follow Your Passion, Forget the Fear
Once again, from all over the USA this time (often times around the world) aspiring Strength Coaches and Biz Owners traveled to The Underground Strength Gym via planes, trains and autombiles. They learned the blue print and the exact system athletes go through when they become members of The Underground Strength Gym here in the dirty Jerzee. They went through a workout to give themselves a lil' taste of what it feels like, and, there is no better way to learn than by getting your hands dirty … [Read more...]
Bodybuilding with Sandbags
I love training with Sandbags. They are simple and brutal. Overall, they are an all in one gym and you can mimic a lot of barbell lifts with the sandbag along with old fashioned farm boy work; carry, throw, loading on platforms, etc. Of course, thanks to the sensitivity of the internet, there are coaches who are crying over who started to train with sandbags first. Or, they think they invented this or that exercise. They can finally SHUT UP, that would be great. Before any of us were … [Read more...]
Develop Full Body Strength & Six Pack Abs
I'm a BIG believer in carriyng heavy shit. It requires you to perform an explosive power clean at the beginning of every set. Then, you must wrestle the object into position. Carrying the objects in different positions force your trunk to work overtime and you must stabilize like a MoFo - you dig bruddah? Watch this video and see all the "equipment" you can carry! There is plenty of "equipment" you can carry in addition to what you just saw. What are you gonna carry at the beginning or … [Read more...]
Dinosaur Training, Sandbags and a Gift
Recently a gentleman stopped by my gym to gift me with some very, very, very rare gifts. This shocked me BIG time.... This gentleman, named John, stopped by my Underground Strength Gym unannounced. Normally, I am not a fan of unannounced visitors as they want to talk and take me away from the # 1 focus I have, training my athletes. John was DIFFERENT. He waited until ALL training was done for the night before he introduced himself to me. John watches my Underground Strength Show, a … [Read more...]
Old School Strength with Sandbags & Gymnastics
Wow, I was just perusing through my book shelf and stumbled across two books: one from 1888 (Yes, 1888, NOT a typo) and 1 from 1947. 1 Book on Gymnastics and the other on using sandbags, medicine balls, logs and homemade fitness equipment and obstacles. Amazing stuff! Well, the pics are amazing, the language is foreign and unfortunately I can not read them :( This "stuff" has been around for centuries. In some countries, stone lifting is part of their culture. And, during certain times in … [Read more...]
In the back of a truck…
At one point in time, my "gym equipment" was very little, and it all fit into the back of my SUV....with plenty of room to boot :) I used three training tools and if I was limited to these 3 things I would still be able to develop bad ass athletes and awesome strength, power and conditioning for myself. … [Read more...]
Ancient Strongman Training
Lifting odd objects has been around for ages. I have books from the mid 1800's that show men lifting sandbags, stones, bars with cemented stones on the ends, ice blocks with handles and other muscle and strength building movements that would shock onlookers of today. The great thing is, this style of training requires no gym membership, and trust me, I have heard some of the music being played in these gyms! I bought a protein shake from a gym and heard a song "pumping"....''Don't be cruel, to … [Read more...]
Time for change
Change can be a good thing. I am feeling a need for change. It starts from a point much deeper than my emotions, it's just a Gut feeling I have. I find myself running home rather than driving home. I begin removing favorites such as squats and deadlifts, and return to a lot of bodyweight training, kettlebell workouts, sandbags and sledge hammers. Sprinting becomes more common place, as does jumping, dragging sleds and running with the prowler. Removing breads, milk and dairy from … [Read more...]