If you've been following me for some time, you've likely heard me use the phrase, Comfort is the Enemy. But...... Let me expand on this. Comfort is the Enemy..... IN TRAINING. But, what about Life? Should life always be a struggle? Should life always be uncomfortable? It depends (of course!). Some people, like my friend Joe DeSena, find happiness when pushing and being uncomfortable. Others, need more flow and more happiness in life. So it depends, very much like … [Read more...]
STRONG Life BONUS with The Mind Muscle Project: Underground Strength Gym Stories & Lessons
The boys from The Mind Muscle Project hit this one out of the park when they interviewed me. It was reminiscent of when The Barbell Shrugged crew came to NJ and we could have kept talking for hours on end. This episode is a Bonus of The STRONG Life Podcast and you're going to LOVE it! We talk about early days of The Underground Strength Gym and how it all started. From my $3,000 "Lunch at Taco Bell" with Gary Vaynerchuk to how I got away from the fakeness of "the fitness industry" which I … [Read more...]
199 | Rachel Balkovec Interviews Zach on Childhood Upbringing, Coaching Philosophy & More!
Here we go, STRONG Life Podcast ep. 199 with Rachel Balkovec. Rachel interviewed me for her Theta Wave Podcast while on my drive to teaching and we got into some awesome history behind my training, my childhood and how these experiences have shaped my coaching philosophy. I share the infamous story of "Andrei The Giant" from Israel and lots of history from The Underground Strength Gym including how my mindset has changed from the business focus to the coaching / teaching focus. Prepare … [Read more...]
Gladiator STRONG + How I Messed Up My Own Training When I Was Younger?
When I was younger and competing in sports, wrestling specifically, I was unfortunately training the WRONG way. And as an athlete, time is crucial. You NEVER get that time back and so, you miss out on opportunity. The opportunity to train the RIGHT way is often times the difference maker between you being part of the team vs you being someone who goes down in the history books. It was the late 80s and the early 90s when I was training complete opposite of The Gladiator STRONG method. I was … [Read more...]
Art of Coaching: How & Why Strength & Conditioning Is MUCH More Than Sets & Reps
I've watched the worst movers in the weight room achieve some of the highest levels of success in their chosen sport. I've watched the highest achievers in high school struggle at the D1 Level and give up altogether. I've watched the strongest & toughest guys in the weight room demonstrate the least grit & toughness in their sport. These stories of irony go on and on. They are ironic only when you are new to training athletes. Once you've coached for a while, you see how … [Read more...]
Do The Simple Things Savagely Well
Do The Simple Things Savagely Well. I interviewed Jim Kiritsy for The STRONG Life Podcast and that quote has struck me ever since. It's simply saying, Brilliance with the Basics. Experts are not trying to impress you with the fancy fads and gimmicks. It's ALL about results. And lately, I've been focusing on 2 exercises: Squats & Deadlifts. Specifically, the hook grip deadlift. I don't go crazy on upper body work with my left shoulder which has been a nerve type issue since I was … [Read more...]
Iron Roots Podcast Ep. 7 | The History Behind The Box Squat
In this episode of The Iron Roots Podcast, I get into the History behind the box squat. I also share how we use the box squat at The Underground Strength Gym along with proper application of the box squat. I see a LOT of mistakes with the use of the box squat, including when I see footage from D1 University weight rooms. That is NO good. My first exposure to the box squat was from watching Louie Simmons' Westside Barbell VHS tapes. Louie learned how to Box Squat from these original … [Read more...]
UNSTOPPABLE Mindset: In The Gym & In Life
It's awesome to see how strength training has exploded, very much thanks to the internet. On the flip side, I still struggle with being the most fired up guy in the room. At age 43, I should NOT have more fire than the 15 year olds. Those younger years are like bottling up the energy of a rocket ship, you can't let them go to waste, not for 1 day. The things I've seen on social media and heard about in globo gyms downright scares me. So in this article, I want to address attitude and … [Read more...]
Training for When the SHTF: Building Athleticism vs Building Toughness?
STRONG Life Insider Training for When The SHTF: Building Athleticism VS Building Toughness? The Correct answer is you must do BOTH. If you're reading this article you're likely not that guy who just reads about it and never actually gets your hands dirty. But there are PLENTY of guys getting caught up and duped with doing things like: Barbell Cleans on 1 Leg with band suspen ded kettlebells hanging from the bar Training with eyes closed, standing on one leg on a balance … [Read more...]
193 | How to Build UNSTOPPABLE Confidence (Lessons in Strength)
STRONG Life Podcast ep. 193. Before we get into this episode, I want to share a story of Chet Yorton, who is in the pic above and who I learned about in 1990 when I began reading Arnold's Education of a Bodybuilder. Talk about being UNSTOPPABLE, I had to share this story about Chet Yorton to set the stage for being UNSTOPPABLE..... Chet Yorton was born in 1940. He was involved in an auto accident just out of high school that cut his left eye through the eyeball, cut his left forearm … [Read more...]
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