I came across a quote from the book RELENTLESS recently, it was simply yet powerful, it said this: "Life is complicated, training is not." This was awesome because simplicity can be and truly always will be powerful and effective. I love reading, listening to podcasts and learning in general. I pay attention for something small, something tiny that I can apply to my life and training. I've been encouraging others to do this for years as well, don't get overwhelmed, just get 1 take away … [Read more...]
WHY I Refuse To Bend for Mediocrity, Fads & Gimmicks
STRONG Life Episode 115, QnA from Instagram. This episode unfolds in a unique manner as each and every question keeps bringing me back to WHY we must stand our ground for Excellence. None of this "good enough" BS and figuring out how to make things easier for everyone. I am at a point where I am not going to refuse for wanting excellence. My ability to accept weak excuses has dwindled to nothing. Your excuse is your excuse. ALL in, ALL the time. Here's some of the Questions I … [Read more...]
How to Use Barbell Basics Strength Training For The WIN
It was 1990, The Summer after freshman year and I was finishing up my days traveling to the Metuchen YMCA. At the time, the weight room was down stairs, a small dungeon filled with York Barbell Weights, a York Isometric rack and a small radio where the big guys allowed me to bring in my cassette tape to play hard rock music. I knew these were my last days at The Y as construction was in full swing and a new weight room was coming. The few who trained at The Y were big guys. It was a small … [Read more...]
STRONG Life Ep. 82: Zach & NFL Veteran, John Welbourn Answer Your Questions!
Episode 82 of The STRONG Life Podcast was my favorite episode ever as NFL Veteran, John Welbourn and I work together to crush this QnA episode. Here are just SOME of the topics / questions we crushed in this jam packed 90 minute episode: - What Coaches are the Best Coaches & what traits do they have that makes them so great? - What does the movie 'Dead Poets Society' have to do with living a great life? - What is the best way to develop first step quickness in athletes? - How … [Read more...]
Jason Spray On Organizing Football Workouts, Speed Training & Building TOUGH Champions
If you're like me, you strive to get better every damn day! You KNOW to stray FAR away from those poor souls who say, "We always did it that way...." Those people FEAR excellence. Let them stay scared. NOT you..... In Episode 75 of The STRONG Life Podcast I have an awesome convo with D1 Football Strength & Conditioning Coach, Jason Spray, On Organizing Football Workouts, Speed Training & Building TOUGH Champions in Sports AND Life. Jason is the Head Football Strength & … [Read more...]
7 Keys to Successful Youth Speed Training
7 KEYS YOUTH ACCELERATION AND SPEED DEVELOPMENT TRAINING By Travis Hansen / Author of The Speed Training Encyclopedia Note from Zach: Many of you know I work with high school athletes primarily, and I am also against fads and gimmicks. Travis gives GREAT insight into what it takes to get athletes FAST as hell with OUT the fads and gimmicks. If you're a Coach, athlete or parent, this is a solid read on what it takes to get FAST during the younger years and even for adults. Travis is a resource … [Read more...]
Speed Coach Asks: Strength Training WithOUT A Weight Room?
I recently had a Coach who is running Speed Training Camps for athletes ask about incorporating Strength work while out on the field as they have No access to the weight room. This is a GREAT question and I am psyched to hear from a Coach who understands that being STRONG is integral to the development of speed. To some, being without a weight room is seen as a dilemma, for me, this is where I was born & bred, lifting heavy objects in backyards and empty fields.Nothing fancy about what … [Read more...]
Get Comfortable Being UNcomfortable
I've spoken about this before and I'll say it again. Get Comfortable being UNcomfortable. This video comes straight after cranking hill sprints after breakfast with my family. Check it out.... QOD (Question of the Day): Let me know your thoughts by dropping a comment below. Let me know ONE thing you're doing to get Comfortable Being UNcomfortable. Looking forward to your comments and feel free to share this with your friends. Live the Code --Z-- … [Read more...]
Strong, Slow & USELESS
For those of you in the states, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow in case we don't chat. I wanna give you a few tips that you wanna use with your workouts that will have you feeling infinitely better in a very short time. I no longer compete in wrestling but one thing that helped me feel healthier was to train MORE like an athlete and LESS like a meathead. I had to get away from always grinding with heavy weights. I lost flexibility, got injured more often and did NOT feel … [Read more...]
2 Things Every Man Should Do
As much as I LOVE bodyweight training I still use the deadlift and the squat in some form of another with added weight. When I bail on deadlifts and squats my legs get WEAK, and as a man, I have NO room for weakness. The squats and deads help me run faster and jump higher. Running is NOT my forte so anything that helps with my runs is a plus in my book. Even if you don't squat or deadlift till your eye balls pop out of your head, that's fine, the main thing is that you do "The Thing". In Pavel's … [Read more...]