I was in my early teens and training at my first "Hardcore Gym". This gym was 7,500 sq ft. NO AC, just a bunch of stand up industrial fans. ALL the plates were deep dish Ivanko plates and there was rumbling throughout the entire gym, blended with some old rock cassette tapes that blasted through the gym. Usually AC/DC or Metallica, sometimes Def Leppard. The back 1/3 of the gym was lined up with leg equipment. Plenty of squat racks, 2 leg presses, 2 hack squats, 2 leg extensions, 2 leg … [Read more...]
Underground Strength Stories: Tom Platz Squats & Diamond Gym
It was the Winter of 1995 and I was driving to Diamond Gym with my training partners. Our typical 30 minute drive to Diamond was the 3 of us getting fired up to destroy the gym as we blasted music from my special Kenwood stereo. Back then, I had cassette tapes that were special mix tapes with our favorite music. But this one time, the guys were strangely silent. I was scared. Scared that our workout was going to be a wash. The entire 30 minute drive I could just feel their lack of … [Read more...]
Us vs “Them”
No need to talk to me, I am here to do WORK. Before you even hit the gym, you've already been preparing for that training session. 24 hours in advance..... The day before you made sure your eating was on point. Plenty of protein to fuel yourself, some carbs to make sure the energy is on point because you know you're going to BATTLE it out in the gym today. You got to sleep a bit earlier than normal to ensure when you wake up, you feel READY. You are "mentally warming up" 24 hrs … [Read more...]
Chase Those “White Lights” or Get OUT
There is something very special at The Underground Strength Gym. I bring it with me anywhere I Coach. I look for the hardest worker in the room. I'm gonna tell you why in just a second..... You see, I feel so strongly about The Underground that I have kicked my own kids out of my gym when they are in there and NOT working. When I say Strength Discriminates Against No One, I mean it. It means YOU are not special and YOU will NOT get any special treatment here, EVER. The … [Read more...]
Passion & The Utter Disdain for Anything Less Than Excellence
When I talk about passion, it's hard to not think about Tom Platz! And of course, who was a BIG inspiration to Tom? It was none other than Dr. Squat himself, Fred Hatfield! Most people will never understand Platz's intensity (insanity) in his training but to me, it ALL makes sense. When I was a teenager and in my early 20s, before smart phones were around and the ability to film my training happened, I trained "crazy". But, I could NOT hold myself back. I couldn't stop myself. I HAD to … [Read more...]
Farmer Carries Are Great, But…..
Before I even owned my gym I met up with some guys who were competitive strongmen. I was training out of my garage mostly, here and there going to the local tire yard for some tire flips..... It was Saturday and it was their day of training events. I remember getting destroyed with their 220 lb farmer walks and some of their guys jogged with the weight. I was fired up and got chatting with these guys about their programming and made my adjustments. At the time, my lower body … [Read more...]
Training For ‘The Obstacle Is THE Way’
'The Obstacle Is The Way' Book Sketch by Sacha Chua I had a horrific night of sleep. I was up around 1 AM and stared at the ceiling until 3 AM until I said F--K it, time to get out of bed and do Work. I was exhausted after dropping my kids off at school and started coming up with EVERY excuse in the book to NOT train today. I'll train tomorrow Training when tired is bad This workout will be wasted if I train today Take a nap instead I decided to use my fatigue as a reason to DO … [Read more...]
Learn to Make The Rep Or DIE
I don't recall where I read or heard about the story, but, I feel like it was from Marty Gallagher. The crew is getting psyched up, climbing higher and higher on their squats. 500 lbs. 600. 700. 800 + lbs. The lifter yells at the crew..... … [Read more...]
Hard Work Is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hard Work is BEAUTIFUL. That is the first step towards success in any endeavor, Loving work rather than fearing work. You'll find resistance all around you as you work your ass off to achieve greatness in any endeavor, be it in the gym or in life. People will call you "crazy" and say "that's not normal". You're damn right it's not normal. Normal people achieve normal or average levels of success. I have ZERO interest in being average or normal. Recently, I was reminded like a punch … [Read more...]
Why Aren’t You Squatting?
If you wanna get jacked, then start squatting. A LOT. Squat 3 x week. Ass to Grass. - Squats will expose your weak areas. - Squats will tell you if you ARE weak or not. - Squats will tell you if you have mobility through the hips and ankles. … [Read more...]