Is there truly an ART or a Science to getting strong as hell? Hmmmmm...... Ask Louie Simmons and he will say yes, Jim Wendler will also drop his genius with his 5/3/1 program, allowing him to keep getting stronger....and STRONGER.
But, when in doubt, just lift heavy shit with PROPER technique.
You can do high sets and low reps such as 12 x 2 reps OR.... try Hellish set - rep paramaters like 5 x 10 on movements such as the Barbell Clean & Jerk, Deadlifts, Kettlebell Snatch, etc.
Coach Reeve was always training against the clock when he was a competitive wrestler and a college wrestling coach, and, he still does it today with the Football players of Wake Forest.
Not only does this style of training build serious strength and dense muscle, but also develop immense conditioning and mental toughness, something too many people lack nowadays!
Try This: 2 reps on the minute, every minute for 10 minutes of (Choose Any One Exercise) the log clean & press, tire flip, sandbag shoulder, stone shouldering, deadlift, barbell clean & press....
I've done this with athletes using heavy weights if they need to gain weight and fighters, wrestlers and combat athlete who need strength endurance / power endurance.
And by the way, if you're resting 3 - 5 minutes between sets because your last scientific handbook told you to do so you're missing the boat.
In the REAL world, when the hell do you get to do 2 reps and rest? Learn to push heavy weights with minimal rest and as I mentioned before, using proper technique.
I've seen some dangerous form being used in local gyms and even by popular web sites on the internet. It sends the wrong message, and you can't create a powerful message unless You Lead From the Front.
Time for me to get some rest, the alarm is set for 6:30 AM tomorrow morning. It's training time. That means heavy weights followed by prowler conditioning.
Check out some footage below.
You may also have noticed less video footage from me. I will get back to the videos, so don;t you worry, BUT, I am zoning out when I train and hate to mess around with a video camera when I am focused on getting STRONGER, FASTER, LEANER & MEANER!
That's me hitting some thick bar deadlifting and the Prowler Pushing with 9 plates is one of our Freshman Football Beasts, we call him "The Hit Man".
Peace!
Lead from the Front.
--Z--
PS: For all you Strength & Muscle Building Fanatics, check the 30 Day Underground Trial HERE.
PPS: For those of you who wanna start doing what you love, check out our upcoming Underground Mentorship Courses:
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6 Responses
I need to work on my grip for kettlebell snatches. Any advice?
Dale – Try using Fat Gripz with all of your lifts. They’ll add to the diameter of the bar and help you recruit more motor units in your forearms. This will have a carryover effect with your kettlebell snatches. Good luck with the KB Snatches!
D
If you want to improve grip for kb snatches do kb snatches. Remamber to press a lot one must press a lot. Also try snatching a 5 gallon water cooler bottle if you have on with a handle. This forces you to really grip hard to keep the bottle from flopping over on you. Bottoms up presses also build the grip.
Nice Zach,
Building strength, conditioning and mental toughness is a lost art on this world. Except for a few who dare to take themselves or their athletes to the next level.
Most believe it is one of these components not all. That is what seperate the underground method, you can have your cake and eat it too. To some this up people need to take some advice when it comes to life and training.
“Do or do not, there is no try”
Yoda
Keep Rockn
Blaine
Hey Zach,
That is a great picture, but the funny thing is that those weights are fake. It was a “lift off” between Graham and Ken Patera, if I remember correctly the two outside 45’s were real but the rest were made of wood. I actually read Billy Graham’s autobiography. (yes, I am a loser!) Good stories actually. And make no mistake these guys were jacked!!!! They just used the fake stuff to put on a good show. I have some great pics of Superstar and Arnold I’ll have to send you.
Quick question — What’s up with the no shoes when you lift? Psychological thing, anything to it? I’ve Joe Hashey do the same on his site as well. Just wondering. As usual, you motivate like no other . . . not just by word, but through action!