This morning I was drinking my morning shake, which I have 2 - 3 mornings out of the week, other days, I go with "real" food. My wife asked me if I was going to work out today, I told her I would, after cranking out some computer work, I planned on hitting the backyard for some kettlebell training, and then she asked if the gym was open. Indeed it was, but only for select few who were invited to train on Saturdays in preparation for Joe DeFranco's strongman contest. Joe never invited … [Read more...]
The Underground Strength Gym
If you're not a member of The Underground Strength Gym, feel free to take a peek at some of the pics HERE to get a behind the scenes look at what our athletes do on a regular basis. The Underground Strength Gym is certainly a unique and rare place, if you're an athlete in the NJ / NY area, this might be the place for you. Or, you can take advantage of our Underground Seminars, the Underground Strength Coach Apprentice Program or the Underground Strength Coach Certification. But, this is a … [Read more...]
Muscle Building Formula: Build Strength = Build (A Lot) More Muscle
The amount of complicated BS training is getting out of control. The truth is, it is simple. And, NOT easy. It also takes time. Not months, but YEARS of work. The formula to gaining size? It starts with STRENGTH. If you want to get BIG, then you better plan on getting stronger, period. Heavy weights, low to moderate reps, some high rep sets for finishers, lots of quality food, quality rest, basics, basics, basics. I know, ground breaking, right? Yet on the regular, so many … [Read more...]
Step inside my office (video)
Here's the tail end of some of the crew tearing it up at The Underground Strength Gymnasium, in good ol' Edison, NJ. Here's the workout these beasts endured... After our Underground warm up, a powerful blend of mobility, calisthenics, bands, movement prep and stability work, they attacked the following: 1A) zercher squats 5 x 4 - 6 reps 1B) mixed push ups for active recovery 5 x 15 reps 2A) 1 arm dumbbell clean & press 3 x 6 2B) weighted pull ups w/mixed grips 3 x max reps 3) jump rope x … [Read more...]
Underground Strength Coach Certification Feedback…
Check it out, in the thick of things at The Underground Strength Coach Certification, held at The Underground Strength Gym in Edison, NJ. What a crew this first group was! The next one sold out asap....not sure when the next one will be, for now, the next way to get in on my ass kicking methods is through the apprentice program. Damn, that was a FUN, FUN, FUN weekend! I must say, doing what I love, spending my time with others who are doing what they love, ya can't go wrong :) I … [Read more...]
He was a freak and had freakish training methods
He walked through waist high water for over an hour, lifting his legs out of the water on each step to develop work capacity. He would snatch throw a 220 lb. barbell for 100 reps backwards over his head as a warm up to his olympic lifting workouts. He trained in solitude. He trained in training hall or his backyard. There were times he would train with a barbell in the water as well, diving under and emerging seconds later with the barbell ripped through the water into a power … [Read more...]
333 | Interview With Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell Club: Lessons from The Westside Barbell Book of Methods
STRONG Life Podcast ep 333 This is a throwback interview I did with Louie Simmons, back in 2008. Back then, there were NO podcasts. I was using a landline to record these audio interviews for https://UndergroundStrengthCoach.com This was done after Louie released his book, The Westside Barbell Book of Methods. I devoured that book in NO time and could NOT put it down. … [Read more...]
The Power of Hand Walking
I have been a big believer in hand walking ever since my undergrad class in Gymnastics back in 1996. My instructor was Mr. Gonzalez, he was an All American Wrestler and the owner of a Gymnastics school. He was a no nonsense type of guy. His physique was ripped and rugged, built like he was carved from stone. One of the students in my class was wrestling for the University as a freshman when Mr. Gonzalez was a Senior. He told me how Mr. Gonzalez would do back flips to escape from take downs … [Read more...]
Modern Day Milo
If you've been visiting my Blog for a few weeks you may recall my old post about our young Football Player / Wrestler who carries a 100 lb sand bag on his back after every workout at The Underground Strength Gym. Well, as simple as it is, he is getting to be one strong mofo! His box squats are getting better and bigger.... His tire flips are looking meaner and more explosive..... His traps are starting to stretch through his t shirts.... His competition is paying the … [Read more...]
Behind the Scenes…
What the heck happens at The Underground Strength Gym?!?!? Many people are asking.... Well, for one, we train in groups. The energy levels are infinitely higher with these groups. The groups are created after a client is screened through a trial session and then placed in a group that best suits his / her needs. Not everyone is accepted into our program because we can not allow a half dedicated individual to ruin the powerful chemistry of our groups. You probably remember me talking … [Read more...]