The question was asked: "What does it mean to be a "Strong Man"? I took a shot at the question, just like training, we are ALL flawed, there is NO perfect, but ya gotta try to do do your best, plain and simple. If you've got tips to add, drop a comment. Looking forward to reading your thoughts! Peace! --Z-- … [Read more...]
Strength BEFORE the Internet
Before the internet, the world of strength and serious bodybuilding was in it's very own little world. A small culture of people who shocked the rest of the world for doing what they did: - Lifting HEAVY and straining the body - Eating like Gladiators - Transforming their body / Growing Muscles that stretched shirts - The ability to perform feats of strength Well, after this weekend's USC Cert, we had a few guys in attendance who were in their 20s and they had never seen the … [Read more...]
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
I woke up earlier than normal today. It was tempting to stay in bed, shut off my alarm and just wait until my kids jumped on my bed to wake me up. The temptation lasted all but a few seconds. The thought of even considering to hit the snooze button fired me up and so I got out of bed immediately. The mind often tells you one thing and the body another. You must remember, the mind drives the body. Your habits can make or break you. If I slept in, it would have eaten at me all day and I … [Read more...]
You Have No Choice:You MUST Be Strong!
I have no pictures for you this time around. No videos. No cool graphics, no flashy anything. These are my words, not hidden or lifted with any technological gizmo. i wanted to share what I went through, and pass my thoughts on to you. Because if you've been to my Blog before, you know it's about "Pay it Forward." I hope this lifts you, educates you and helps you, in some way, shape or form. I just spent 1 & 1/2 days in / out of the hospital after something my son experienced. My son … [Read more...]
Power Bodybuilding for Gains in Speed, Strength & Muscle
Episode # 120 Baby... If you ever read the old Strength & Health magazines or Arnold's ORIGINAL Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding you would have seen HEAVY lifting going on, calisthenics / gymnastics movements, lots of jumping, rope climbs and speed in all movements. Hence, you're about to witness a lil' taste of what goes down in my gym and DeFranco's. Check it and post your comments... Wanna see footage of what we would do after a workout like this? Let's get 20 + comments and … [Read more...]
Episode # 59: Caught Dancing!
Let's that finish that upper body workout, shall we? Man, you would think I'd step up the dance moves knowing the camera is on! ha ha This is what happens when the tunes & the atmosphere are pumpin'! Think about what you could do if you have your own Underground style gym. I started in my parent's garage, then bought a house with a 2 car garage and took over the garage. Tell me about your Underground gym, no matter how big or small, let's hear it! Kill it! --Coach Z-- PS: I'm about to … [Read more...]
How to Use HEAVY Bodyweight Training & Pulling Power for Brute Strength
I recall having a phone call with Joe DeFranco and he was telling me how one of his Coaches / former athletes, Mike Guadango, was regularly doing heavy, HEAVY 1 rep sets for pull ups. Mike was also performing heavy recline rows with over 100 lbs on a weight vest for sets of 1 - 3 reps. It got me thinking differently about my Bodyweight training and I began looking to turn my Bodyweight training into a system, just like Westside Barbell implements the Conjugate System, with days focused on … [Read more...]
Episode # 50!! Pull Up Contest Prep & More Ways to Get Strong!
Well, lots of trash talking going on here, ha ha, just what I expected :) I need to step up my game and crush some of you BIG mouths! muahahahahaha Watch me prepare! Going back to my roots: hard core, old school, gladiator style workouts! Comment below and let us know how your training is going! Kill it! --Coach Z-- PS: Wanna see my blue print for developing brute strength? Check it out at http://UndergroundStrengthManual.com … [Read more...]
Episode # 49: Pull Up Variations
More pull up variations as I prep the pull ups. Gotta get em' higher, and I gotta get STRONGER, no 2 ways about it. Some strong mofo's out there! Check the vid and let me know how your pull ups are going and what you're doing to get your pull up numbers higher than ever before! More training footage to come soon enough! Kill it! --Coach Z-- PS: I will be announcing a telelseminar for this Tuesday, 9 PM EST. It will be all about the time crunched REAL Man Muscle workouts. PPS: I don't … [Read more...]
Episode # 45: The premiere of Neck TV!?!?!
More good times at The Ryan Lee Boot Camp. Elliot Hulse mans the flip cam and there's more to come, this is part 1.... We were eating breakfast together and began talking about bodybuilding for muscle growth, 3 and 4 way splits rather than 2 way splits. We decided we better share all our info and get it out there! What has been your best muscle building, strength gaining system? Post your answer below. Kill it! --Coach Z-- PS: Brute strength, rugged muscle.... get my home study course at … [Read more...]