Dopamineo Bands And Why They Are A Bad Ass Tool That Builds Movers From Youth To Seniors

Is it truly necessary to have a garage full of equipment, a gym membership or some random "guru" who puts you through a copy and pasted system he plagiarized for a few weeks? Honestly, that's more of a choice than a requirement but in my humble opinion before we get into the article today is that a garage gym has better benefits than an expensive membership where you'll have to deal with people that aren't always the best company. 

Now, when it comes to traveling and being able to build solid levels of fitness that doesn't require horrendously expensive machines that does a damn fine job on its own or as an add on to your current regimen is the Dopamineo Bands. Trust me, I wouldn't hype it up if I didn't think they work. Working with Kettlebells, Sledgehammers, The Neck Flex, Bodyweight and other things. The top of the heap always comes from simplicity. The bands are as brutally effective as you can get. 

A lineup of levels of resistance that suits practically everyone from young children as old as 4 to youth athletes to adult men and women to even senior citizens looking to stay fit and mobile. Easy resistance up to over 220 lbs of sheer force. It's not cheap rubber or some lame latex that can snap on you after a few months of consistent training. These are literally made to last longer than many other pieces of equipment combined. It's the head honcho when it comes to toughness and durability. 

What makes doing workouts so unique? For starters, it's not even about the resistance. Any band out there gives that. Dopa however; gives you the movement. It formulates the ability to force the body to stabilize, control, explode, rotate and recover all in one shot. Unlike a machine, you're not locked into an isolated movement. You're moving the way us humans were meant to. Let's take a youth wrestler for example: With a band, they're learning to generate power from the core and the hips while shooting for a double leg without loading the spine with weight they're not ready for. 

For the MMA Fighter, it's that development of power endurance. The ability to explode, recover, explode and so on when they're in that state of fatigue. On the Senior Citizens side of it, it's utilizing workouts that are joint-friendly and maintaining muscle without tearing them apart and beating up the body. These are just ideas that are key ingredients whether one is a beginner or seasoned vet. The band doesn't give a shit. It helps you wherever you are and will work with you as long as you respect it. 

For beginners or even those who want to ease into understanding the bands, the Fly & Feather Weight options are great because they show you where the tension is because after all, the tension is the stimulus. It teaches you how to brace and generate the force needed. It also gives you the opportunity to learn how your core is the foundation. For veterans of the game, the light, middle and heavyweight bands will humble your ass. Shadow wrestling, sprints, shuffles, explosive waves and many more. Nothing shiny or too complex. Developing your conditioning with these will also instill your confidence because of what you feel and moving better after a session.

Here's some harsh truth that most don't talk about; most workouts kill the excitement, the ability to want to come back and destroying little by little the enjoyment of training. These bands plow through those walls by giving you reasons to be excited about your workouts. Think about being out in the fresh air at a beach or a park, feeling like a kid playing. That's where it lies in the very depths of training like a beast. It gives kids a chance to keep going even when they're tired, for older adults it's about being independent without needing a spotter. 

It creates opportunities to stay fit in the long run, not some joke of a program that will leave you broken because some whackjob told you to be extreme and suffering through pain is the only way to go. They make the body work as a single unit. You've seen the demos of how I use them. I just wished these specific ones were around when I was still in high school, I might have been more enthusiastic about being in sports. From my own experiences and putting my own bands through the ringer, they don't quit on you and they make you want to be better. 

It's not worth your time and energy to overcomplicate it. Moving better, feeling like a million bucks and building long lasting strength and conditioning from the toddler age to beyond 70 is the name of the game. These bands provide all of that. Go to dopamineo.com and get yourself a flyweight to start your journey or if you decide to train the kids or your own children. Get a middle, chosen higher and heavyweight to really put in the work. Better yet, get a bundle that gives you the tools to progress throughout your journey. Use my code POWERANDMIGHT and save some bucks. Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it. 

Bodyweight Squats Vs Hindu Squats: Which One Takes The Cake And Which One Is A Dumpster Fire?

Thick Thighs Saves Lives as they say. When it comes to a debate, you analyze what the topic is, the benefits, the pros, the cons, the dirt, the shining star and what it could do for the greater good. In the fitness world, there's going to be debates that at times can get ugly because one may get offended by who thinks what's better or how this method should be done. Some will even go to great lengths to not only believe in their own hype but will rant over and over again about how right they are and anybody who disagrees is a loser. Here on earth, in certain cases like this, it comes down to the individual and their goals.

For the sake of argument, which one of these ESSENTIAL exercises formulates the top of the food chain when it comes "Leg Day" from a bodyweight perspective:

First, let's be civil about the benefits of both shall we?

They're awesome to do anywhere and at anytime, you can do them fast, you can do slow, toss them into your routine, can be a warm up or finisher and they both can be a test to how conditioned you are from a fitness point of view. 

Either one has the potential to make your workouts either a living hell or something that makes the rocking world go round by utilizing their purposes suited to your goals. High rep, low rep, one set or dozens of sets it doesn't matter, both will kick your ass and make the legs like jello when you work specific methods of training for them. 

Now that we got some of that out of way, let's have the contest to see which one is better (Hypothetically)....

The most common squat among the two is the bodyweight squat where you move the body up and down working the legs in the  "natural" positioning of squatting down until you're parallel to the floor with the feet in a more diagonal pattern with the feet. It's essentially the non weighted version of the barbell squat. The perks of this movement is the basic formality of being able to squat down and pick things up or in time, be able to go down without pain and getting back up. It has been said that the first thing you lose as you age is the legs. 

Bodyweight Squats can be done in a variety of ways and is used in all major sports, research programs, beginner levels to progress to harder variations and has multiple variations that are easier or harder depending on your fitness level and adaptation. Some do them in very high reps for conditioning purposes, others will use them for rehab or to help with maintaining strength for longevity. 

Hindu Squats on the other hand is a specific movement geared towards the conditioning practices of wrestlers in the art of Kushti or Pehlwan Wrestling. They're a staple mainly in the sport that transferred over to other parts of the world where they became the cornerstone exercise to test a man's will. The two most men who brought Hindu Squats into a mainstream outline was Karl Gotch & Matt Furey. Furey made them the public image for his main 3 exercises in Combat Conditioning. Karl kept it more to the tune of how to train his wrestlers and other coaches who caught wind of them taught them in other circles of pro wrestling. 

In the training camps (such as Verne Gagne and Tryout Beasts like Ole & Gene Anderson) called these Free Squats and made everyone do hundreds of them or up to 1000 of them before they even got in the ring. Many guys ended up quitting because of how bad the lactic acid built up and couldn't walk for days. The movement itself consists of the following:

Arms straight out

Pull the arms in and inhale

Ass you go down, bring the heels up which bends the knees forward

exhale

swing the arms as you stand back up bringing the heels back down flat

Some may get it right away, some may have balance issues and others may get confused cause it has both an arm motion and raising the heels which isn't the normal type to squat on. 

These in most cases are done in high reps where the "gold standard" was to do up to 500 or more on a consistent basis within 15 minutes or less if you were a wrestler or some kind of athlete. From a fitness perspective, it gives you the idea of where your level of cardio is and the kind of condition you're in within other aspects of exercise and workout protocols.

Where does the debate come in? Good question...

They're both used for different purposes when it comes to training while one is more rhythmic and utilizing a circular pattern with the arms, the other does have a more strength based pattern working the legs in a fashion that is more understood by training the knees and ankles in a low skilled format. 

Bodyweight Squats is more basic compared to the Hindu Style which has a greater complexity. Are they effective on their own? That depends on your goals. Anyone that can make a youtube video has some variation of how to do them and many think they're style is the style that matters which is a narrow minded and narcissistic way of doing things. I first learned Bodyweight Squats in PE when I was a kid and did a few here and there when I tried out for wrestling back when I was a senior in high school. I just followed along and was never given a direction to how to train them.

When it came to Hindu Style, those were when I started out with Combat Conditioning when I was 21 years old recovering from my leg injuries. I did what I could to learn and understand them and eventually got good at them to where I did over 1000 of them in a workout within 4-5 months of training them. Eventually, my friends gave me tips on how to do them better and picked up on other variations from other people. Almost no one outside of my friends really knew what they were around the time I started on them. Hindu Squats had made traction in the few years they became mainstream but other than a couple guys who showed me better quality of them, I never saw anyone outside of a MMA or wrestling background that knew how to do them. 

Now they're just as common as any type of squat these days. Although still known for being a high volume movement, some use them to work their balance and tendon building by doing them much slower and building strength that way. 

Bodyweight Squats have their perks in learning how to do the most basic format of training and should be used whether you're a beginner or a vet of the game. Me personally, I take a variation called Pan Squats or a bodyweight version of the Goblet Squat and have done 500 of these in deck of cards workouts or do what are called Step Squats which I learned from mimicking the Bioneer. I would do these in intervals at times and go for 5-7 minutes. For the Hindu Squats, I did them in high reps using decks of cards, countdown methods or just going straight through them, my fastest 500 was 11:48 and my fastest 1000 was 33 minutes. These days, I would put them in my circuits with the Dopamineo Band and after doing the band exercises, I would 30-40 Squats. Throughout the circuit, it would be around 300-380 give or take. 

Does one take the cake and the other is a dumpster fire? From a realistic point of view, no. Both have their own pros and cons and don't necessarily have a generalized outlook to who should do what more, that's not my thought process. My outlook on it is to do both and master them but only at the expense of what gives you the biggest benefit and maintaining levels of fitness and enthusiasm within your goals and needs for specific training you're trying to achieve. Use what provides you the necessary steps to achieving whatever in your journey. 

Be amazingly awesome and get some solid leg training in so you can have that vitality and level of fitness that makes people's jaws drop. You got this and go kill it.    

Making Wrestlers Quit: A Lost Art In Catch As Catch Can Wrestling

When wrestlers start to wear down, they still don't just give up and go running, they quit because of certain situations they were put in where they wore out what they thought was working and everything was hurting. In many cases, that has been forgotten in modern grappling. 

When it came to Catch Wrestling, you got pinned or had to tap and often the submissions weren't pretty looking....Think Neck Cranks, getting the life choked out of you from a Leg Ride or even the Kimura aka the Double Wrist Lock that made many opponents scream and feel like their wrist or shoulder was going to come apart. Part of controlling an opponent was through their pain. 

When it comes to today's coaches, Ben Jones has been a leader that trains the next generation of grapplers with Catch Wrestling For MMA. We're not talking some random youtuber or mediocre athlete, we're talking about a guy who's been in the system of Erik Paulson's CSW crew (Combat Submission Wrestling) for nearly a quarter of a century and is Paulson's Successor as head coach. He lives it, breathes it and breeds life into a style of wrestling that is making a comeback. You'll be seeing members of his own squad being worked on that come and different sizes and strengths to show what is possible with different body types. 

5 Volumes, all killers and no bullshit. 

Learn how the Cowcatcher System works

Hammerlocks that make opponents think twice about.

Many more in Vol. 1 alone.

Vol. 2 consists of set-ups, finishes and other Old School entities that even some tough guys will face and getting ripped. 

Vol. 3 in a nutshell: Targeting the neck to choke out your opponent, not just hold it and wait for the tap. It's going in for the kill on this one.

Vol. 4 & 5 will tie everything together when you start to wear down. Drills for the ground & pound, transitions from takedowns, cage strategies, striking that leads to submissions and more that lead you on a course of victory. 

The tension, the pressure and learning how to make someone cry uncle (practically literally) is the name of the game. It's brutal and brings back that style that made men like Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, Joe Stecher, Ed Lewis and Ad Santel legends. 

Click below to get your hands on this gem....

Catch Wrestling For MMA

Be amazingly awesome and hope you reach success in the cage, on the mat or just learning the ways of Catch. 

Small Increments Of Muscle Building Using The Neck Flex

 Throughout my journey with the Neck Flex, it has given me a better perspective on training the neck and utilizing not only preventing injuries as much as possible but to increase muscle mass, even in very small increments. For months, I've worked on it consistently just using the band and a little bit of chain Isometrics, doing hundreds of reps multiple times a week. 

I have written before why I don't use weights for the neck which you can read>>>HERE!!! Not to mention the fact, I wanted to build up my neck a bit more since having a thick neck is more than just for show. It's a sign of strength next to having strong muscles that are shock absorbers and lessen the chances of injuries. Also its fun to be a part of the Neckzilla Family LOL.

Starting out doing a couple hundred total reps hitting areas of the neck from several directions. Worked up to 300, 400 and now at 500 total reps (100 Reverse Neck Curls, 100 Neck Curls, 100 Half Circles W/ Chin Tucked, 50 Ear To Shoulder Each Side, 50 Neck Turns Each Side), it has been a hell of a ride. The tempo sometimes is slow or fast depending on what I want to do. If I did weights, sure my neck would grow slightly bigger and doing far less reps but for me, the other benefits may not be as effective and probably wouldn't feel as good. That's just me, if it helps others using weights or machines with the NF, awesome and wish you the best in that. 

On Saturday while I was visiting someone, I had a friend measure my neck because for one, it's not easy to do it yourself and two, I wanted to know where I was at. Last I checked it was some time before I ever got the NF. It was around 17-18 inches and that was with no apparatus of any kind, just mobility and iso holds mainly. Since I started training with this thing, I had actually increased it to 18 1/2 inches. No weights, mainly just using the band and being consistent 4-5 times a week working on it and put on muscle. I figured it would be roughly the same but even putting on a half inch of muscle without machines or anything remotely heavy at my age is awesome. I don't even have any problems in my neck, no soreness or feeling lightheaded or even have spinal issues. 

Consistency is the real deal guys and it is possible to keep building muscle without having to rely on weights. You can do them if you want and if they work for you and don't give you any fits, do it. It's your journey but if I can pull it off using a freaking band, just imagine the possibilities for you. If I were to have a goal, I wouldn't need to go any further than 19-19 1/2 inches and that's a big if. If it stayed this big for a while longer, I'm happy with it. 

Now, some don't care much for having a thick neck and that's ok, having an aesthetically pleasing neck can work well for you and reap benefits that keep you going. Some others however; think they're an expert when it comes to building neck muscles when not only have they not learned how to use a harness even similar to this longer than a few days but have a pencil neck that a 11 year old BJJ white belt can clamp on easily and choke them out kind of makes you wonder why they even bother with it? It's just sad, it takes far more than a few reps and starting with a few pounds to truly understand how building the neck like this works and be a "expert" on it. Hell, I'm not even a full expert on it and I've had it for months and just told you what results I got from it. Don't be acting like an ass thinking you know more about training the neck than someone like Mike The Machine Bruce. Take one long hard look at him and you'll find even at 53, you wouldn't want to mess with him. 

 Make the training a journey to keep your life going. Not to try to one up someone or think you're better than whoever and do things to prove you're superior. That's just a dumb take and pointless as hell. Someone will always be better out there than you and can destroy whatever you think you're better at. It's not a competition, shit, you don't need to compete with anybody unless you're training for some sport or having a friendly competition among comrades. Do you and make the journey about improving yourself, not trying to upstage somebody else. Why, what's really to gain from that? Nothing, that's what. I'm no better than the next guy, we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. When I trained with Bud Jeffries and Logan Christopher, I never tried to be better than them, they were doing things that I couldn't imagine doing, just having the opportunity to be beside them and learn from them was enough. 

BTW, Happy belated Birthday in Valhalla to Bud. He would've been 53 this year, miss you everyday bro.

Anyway, keep at it and get your hands on arguably the GOAT of all neck harnesses, the Neck Flex by clicking HERE!!! Use my code POWERANDMIGHT to get a kick ass discount on your order. My personal recommendation, the MMB Pro Kit is the cream of the crop of all the kits. Be amazingly awesome and kill it in your journey. Train your damn neck, it could very well save your ass being possibly paralyzed. 

A Slam Ball Complex That Is Brutal, Simple And Effective As Hell

Here's a workout I did yesterday that I wanted to share with you all. 

Simplicity has become somewhat a lost art in the fitness world. There's always some new machine, exercises that some may tell you they're the secret to some crazy results claim and a dozen tools that aren't really NEEDED!!! Sometimes, all you need is a powerhouse of a slam ball. 

It's going to need a bit of space so this would preferably should be done at a park. My kind of place to train in my opinion. Here's a rundown:

Part A

Overhead Slam Ball Throw As Far As Possible

180 Degree Jump

Sprint To The Ball

3x

Part B

Slam Ball Push Press As Far As Possible

Bear Crawl

3x

Rest and Repeat until you've done 3 of them each. Not complicated but they will kick your ass. Doesn't take up much time either. Rest as long as you need. It may not seem like that much in writing but your lungs will feel it. 

What Makes This Effective?

It's not intended be some typical cardio session. This guys, is pure Power Endurance. Being able to explode with great intensity, recover and explode again when you start getting tired. That is part of a solid plan for Combat/Contact Sports.

Let's take a look at how each exercise gives off those intimidating vibes:

-The Overhead Throw For Distance

 We're looking at a triple threat here...talking knees, ankles, hips that are firing on all cylinders. A pattern like a Power Clean, Jumping Vertically, Shooting on a double leg. Say you use a 20 lber for example ok? It's not something you just muscle with the arms, its driving from the damn ground. The core, lats and even the triceps have to transfer that power in order to go overhead. Weak core? It's not going more than a couple feet.

-The 180 Jump

Many train to go forward and back, almost never train that re-orientation. Leaping high enough to turn in mid air. The stability in the ankles and knees while under fatigue. 

-The Sprint

Closing the distance after throwing with max effort and jumping. That's insanity as if it was named Brock Lesnar. Even for a short burst, in football, it'll be like a linebacker going after the QB as if the guy killed his mom. 

-Push Press For Distance

Time to go horizontal. This is some bad intentions for the chest press. A full body shove. If the throw was suplexing the shit out of someone, this would be like a block or a snapdown. 

-Bear Crawl

Do you think this is where most guys would break? A wrestling base or a drive on the gridiron. The ability to stay heavy and move when your tank is practically empty. 

What Are Its Best Uses?

1. As A Standalone Explosive Conditioning Session

For one of those days where you want to get a good sweat going but don't need to put in a ton of time. Give yourself time to prepare; a good 10 min DDP Yoga warm up, some pull aparts with a band, couple easy throws and then go in for the kill bro. Again, rest as long as needed, look to chase the distance, not the timing.  

2. As A Finisher

Murder this after a typical training day (hopefully not leg day unless you are psychotic) a couple times a week. It gives you that last bit of conditioning without getting trashed the next day. 

A tool of the trade, real world strength and busting your ass. Be amazingly awesome and let me know in the comments what you think of this workout or send me a note through the Contact Form.  

Kettlebell Swinging & Pressing: It's Not Fancy But They Do Work For A Good Reason

 Many systems of exercise these days involve complicated moves and schemes that makes you wonder if some of these people should be in the nuthouse. There's always going to be a claim of some secret exercise or machine that does the job for you when in reality, it's bullshit.

Some equipment have their place, some are just out there and wonder how the hell do people work with them? One implement however stands out as a great tool that stands the test of time and has been used by the old timers, average joes and some of the best in athletes in the world including guys like Alexander Karelin and Sig Klein. That implement is the Kettlebell.

Two distinctive moves that stand out and can be done practically anywhere since it doesn't take up a ton of space is the Kettlebell Swing & The Overhead Press. Nothing overhyped and fun as hell to do out in the fresh air. 

-The Conditioning, Power & Muscle Building From The Swing

It isn't a squat move in particular even though some have utilized the squat in order to generate some leg strength. In it's true form, it's a hip hinge movement. Explosive and hits the glutes, core, low back and hamstrings. It develops the posterior chain, creating strength and power that matters. When you need to pick something up, sprint with a vengeance or even wrestle, this gives you the tools for those other methods. The conditioning in and of itself is insane. Bud Jeffries mastered this move to the point where he was doing 1000 reps or more in various workouts in under an hour which in turn helped him lose over 100 lbs. Read about that in his book I Will Be Iron. It builds anaerobic and aerobic endurance at the same time. Great for building grip strength as well because of being able to hold on as you swing.

Don't need to swing heavy to get the benefits. One of the best teachers today on Kettlebell Swinging is Dave Whitley and his knowledge is about as awesome as you can imagine. 

-The Overhead Press: Stimulus Through Control

Strength isn't always in how much you lift, it's the focus and control that really makes the difference. Some like to utilize a jerk to get as much leg drive as possible which isn't necessary a bad in certain cases but you do want to be able to press and work the muscles in a very specific fashion that showcases strength and power. It's not rushing or ego lifting. It's true connection to the muscles you're working. 

The upper body does the most work. Engage the core as you clean and ready to press, focus on the grip, triceps and shoulders. Do your best not to jerk. Building thick shoulders and dense triceps, strengthen the rotator cuff and building tension. Progressive Overload. When you learn to be in control, the strength will follow in time. Creating real functional muscle and not counterfeit muscle that will break you. 

Progress isn't always pretty and perfection is virtually non-existent. The key thing to remember is that we all learn things differently and our progress takes more or less time depending in the individual. Don't chase perfection, chase being functional with solid technique that works in your favor. Even the smallest fraction of progress still leads to the big picture. Control the weight, own your reps and the muscle/conditioning will come. Be amazingly awesome and have fun in your journey. 

Sledgehammer Training: The Kind Of Strength That Also Meets Controlled Violence

 You can train in many different ways and practice methods from several eras. You can be on a machine and get something going, count reps until the cows come home on the bench until someone takes it over once you're done. Then there's the sledgehammer. A tool that just (pun intended), strikes different.

In the video below, working with a hammer isn't about looking like a pretty boy or following someone in a spin class, it's about making a killer piece of steel a part of building a powerful and strong physique that has the go along with the show. Working in unison as if you and that hammer are one. Control, Rotate & Lift as you put explosiveness into it over and over again. It's one of the reasons why Sledgehammer Training is about as bad ass as you can get

Striking with a hammer isn't always in just how the arms move. When done properly, the true power comes from the ground. Your legs, trunk and hips generate that incredible force while the arms create the guide. Scientific studies such as from the American Council on Exercise suggests that training with hammers build solid yet challenging coordination, strength, power and rotation. Emphasizing that the lower body is the engine behind it all.

Most of modern training has become or can be linear as hell. Typical push/pull/squat and all that. In and of itself they're not bad things, they are essential with great importance but us humans don't always live life moving like robots. We're meant to turn, twist, brace and chop to generate force from many angles. That's the beauty of the sledgehammer, it brings that rotation and even anti-rotation into the mix, making our core transfer all that force but also in a controlled manner.

It goes beyond what we know about ab training and not just seeing mirror muscles. It teaches to stabilize as we unleash hell. 

Another is when it puts great emphasis on forearm & grip strength. Just holding the hammer isn't going to make you some wild and crazy strong dude, it's really about controlling that long lever with a heavy head pulling the hands in directions they may not want to go. Each swing demands strength in the lower arms. Ever shook the hands of a man that works with hammers? It's quite noticeable. 

Conditioning is where it really starts to get good. Giving this implement a good swing in a repeated fashion, isn't just some rinky dink stroll on a machine that doesn't go anywhere, it tackles the heart rate with vast vengeance and forces your lungs to work at levels they're not used to. From the shoulders down to the legs, you have to keep producing that force. Some of the best athletes in the world understood this especially boxers and wrestlers. 

The mental aspects are profound. It's practically primal in this regard. The tool, a target and the job at hand. It's not complicated, just pure unadulterated effort. It's one of the reasons why training in this capacity has great attitude. The combination of aggressiveness, conditioning, grip, strength and other things into one nasty entity of equipment. It's a bad ass without even trying to be. It doesn't automatically make you a tough son of a bitch, it just doesn't give a shit what you say online LOL. 

Control the weight, generate the power and keep on trucking, or don't. Simplicity in the implement, the work, not so much. Be amazingly awesome and work on building that kind of strength that challenges the norm and gives you the type of capacity that has insane effects.

A Hammer And A Kettlebell Walk Into A Bar

 Ok, that sounded like the beginning to a terrible joke but hey, I have that weird sense of humor. Yesterday was a fun outing at a park in town on the eastern side. My wife wanted to practice her photography, so we did some filming and photo shooting of me doing stuff with my 70 pound Darth Vader Kettlebell & my Giants Hammer which I emptied out to its original weight of 13 pounds cause I wanted to build some greater speed and explosive. 

We were out there for quite a while, a couple hours max and I couldn't tell how many reps I did moving those damn things. For the filming, we tested out some things with angles and where some good shots of me lifting the bell and slamming down the hammer. Yeah, I rested in between takes and all that but it was still pretty tough to do to maintain my strength with one implement and going in short bursts with another. Hell during one set of filming, I was being so fast with the hammer that it didn't catch one of the reps I wanted to do. Took several takes to get it right but we got it. 

I don't know what was worse LOL, the filming or the photo shooting. With the photo shooting which I will put up a few here and on SM soon, I had to hold the hammer at certain points and yeah that was easier to do cause it is much lighter, but the Kettlebell? Holy shit, There were a few shots where I had to hold it overhead in lockout for an extended period of time because she wanted to get some good shots both straight ahead and from the ground looking up a me. It's one thing to hold up a good 25-30 pounder for promo purposes but to hold up a 70 that is awkwardly shaped? That's a whole other ball game. This is where I'm glad I have strong tendons and ligaments along with functional muscle to do this. 

Some of the photo shooting was to get the idea of how I would slam the hammer down and the power of the thrusts nearly frame by frame. All she told me to do was to rep it out as much as I can which felt like a damn sprint and maintaining that explosiveness. The last of it was doing Kettlebell swings which I don't do very often and don't have the greatest technique but I can do them without killing myself (even with a KB that heavy). So for a 2-3 sets or so of that, I was told to swing for as many reps as I can muster until she told me to stop. It was under 10 reps at a time but you didn't know how many were needed done so you just kept swinging. 

To say that whole session was a workout would be an understatement. With also not even eating anything that day until we got home from the park, I built up a hell of an appetite. Still was a blast though and she just loved getting the practice in. 

Before the session, I got in a little workout of O2 Training for a few minutes and some DDP Yoga for mobility and flexibility. Did a few push-ups and self resistance exercises to get some blood pumping as well. After the session before bed, I did some more O2 Training for several minutes and a Core/Hip Exercise along with an Animal Combo. 

Like I said earlier in the post, I'll put up some of the shots she took and another video of doing Hammer Slams where the camera moves almost in a circular type fashion instead of stationary (maybe). For now, I edited some of the videos to what I wanted to do which you can view below....

Overall, as tough as some of this was, it was a lot of fun and would do it again. One of the videos that I'll eventually put up is hitting 25 reps in under 40 Seconds. That's just freaking nasty man and if you want to talk about a lung burner, it ranks right up there. 

Be amazingly awesome, kill it in your endeavors and train with an adventurous mind. 

 

If You Want More Strength, Don't Ignore The Power Of Tension

 "Tension is the stimulus and Isometrics generate a lot of it."- Paul O'Brien

Simple statement that hits the bullseye. Our muscles don't give a damn whether resistance comes from a machine, our own bodyweight, a barbell or even a band for that matter. The response comes from the work being put in. It responds to the tension.

When it comes to Isometrics, it hits hard in this case. Within Isometric Exercises, it stops being about moving mindless weight from one direction to another. You are the one that is deliberately building and ultimately maintaining the tension. Pushing/Pulling/Squatting by bracing and resisting at a stopping point or in other words generating force by going against something Immovable. Overcoming Isometrics if you will. 

That's the beauty of Isometrics I love the most. Being able to create my own muscular force without relying on a bunch of equipment. Straps, Walls, Rails, Trees and my own bodyweight can be more than enough. Create the tension and make the muscles work with a vengeance.

There are way too many people who are conditioned to believe that when it comes to training, it only counts when things are moving or having some crazy weight on a bar. That's complete bullshit. Movement in and of itself is a tool, just like Isometrics is a tool and when done with proper application, can build powerful amounts of effort.

The big key word here is EFFORT!!! If you're just simply standing there like and acting like you're pretending to push or whatever, it isn't going to matter much. True value comes from the intent you put into a hold. When you perform an Isometric Contraction, you put real power and tension into it, almost as if your life depended on it. Put your mind into the muscles you're working and apply that power and force with pure control. Once those few seconds are up, let yourself relax and recover. 

Isometric Training fits into practically any regimen or goal you want to achieve whether it's getting stronger, more conditioned, rehab/prehab, being more capable as you get older and even being more mobile. It's not a replacement of anything, but ignoring them because you were taught they don't hold any merit from some arm chair twig, makes you miss the bigger picture. 

What it all boils down to at the end of the day, the muscles don't care about a gym membership or whatever equipment you use, the tension is what will get it done and Isometrics provides that in more ways than you may believe. Be amazingly awesome and get your ass going with some Isometrics today.   

Is There The Best Harness For Your Neck? Let's Learn By Comparing

 In recent times, I've been gathering info and experience through more neck training these days and I got an opportunity to test out various models of Neck Harnesses to see and feel how they would be applied for others or at least learn their own value and comparisons. 

What I came up with is based on my own experience, knowledge and what I potentially see through these apparatuses....

I'm going to start with what I believe is the least likely Harness that didn't pan out.

It's called the DMoose Harness ....

This particular product does have its potential but from the time I put it on, I noticed many low grade entities. 

1st off: Just by putting it on, it felt too light and even tightening it, it felt too big to wear. 

2nd: The Rings that you can attach the chain or cables to, are merely plastic and not metal. If you attach the chain and put weight on it, it's not going to sustain it for very long. I don't believe it can hold weight more than a 25 lb plate for consistent work. 

3rd: The lack of life expectancy of this harness. In my personal opinion, this is merely a beginner Harness and with consistent training, it won't last more than a year max, 4-6 months if you really dig into the training aspects. This potentially can be dangerous if it snaps and give you a bit of whiplash. 

So what are the positive notions for this Harness? Well, if you're on a budget and are a beginner to working with equipment like this, this may be for you. What I was given may be different from the site but the price for this is $35 which isn't bad but after a short time, you're going to want to upgrade which can damper your wallet. 

The next apparatus is the Iron Neck Alpha Harness....

 Now this is a far better product and has some cool things to it. The D Rings are metalized and can hold up some serious weight. Mike Tyson has used this to challenge his neck work even at his current age which you can find at https://www.iron-neck.com/blogs/articles/mike-tyson-neck-workout. 

It can be a little tricky to put on at first but it's more doable and has adjustments to fit your head. Work with a chain or a strap you can attach to an anchor point and have at it. Isometrics are perfect for this thing. With weight, it can hold its own and you can get in some serious training with this crazy bastard. It's lifespan is much longer and works well for athletes and trainees who train in the gym. In my experience, it has its perks and does its job.

Now this is the part where it can get controversial: This apparatus has been known and publicly documented as the carbon copy of the Neck Flex. They made it virtually identical and passes off as an original product when in reality it's a knock-off. I personally believe that it gives off bad vibes to take on something that was sued and not only lost once but twice in court. 

If you hadn't known about the lawsuit, design and the knock-off aspects, I would say this is a cool product and has great potential to be a top notch piece of equipment but due its black mark on the fitness industry, I wouldn't recommend it but it is up to you. It's currently priced at $59 which is still relatively affordable and there may be some additional things you can grab so again, your choice with what you want to do with this but you read it here and can look into the lawsuit yourself here>>> https://www.theneckflex.com/blogs/resources/neck-flex-vs-iron-neck.

Here are the Neck Flex Comparison Products:

-Let's start with The Halo Kit 

This is the basic and virtually the first level of working with the Neck Flex. You get the Harness, a door anchor and a resistance band that has a level of 19 lbs at full stretch. It's an introduction if you will. With the band, you can attach it with the carabineer to the D Rings which has 4 all together. You can work the neck in the front, back and side to sides in several capacities. If you didn't want to use weights whatsoever, this is perfect for just about anybody whether you a pro athlete or just a regular guy wanting to get in shape. Hell, this is the type of apparatus that bodybuilders have used including female bikini competitors. The door attachment works very well and can use the band for additional exercises.

-Next up is the The Neck Flex Ballistic Kevlar Series Kit

This is the next level of Neck Training. You get the Harness, band, door anchor and in addition of the chain. The chain is for adding plates or kettlebell. The Velcro straps have a bit of adjusting to and there's several within the rings that may need to understand but it's not impossible or anything. I've personally done a workout or two with the chain to do Isometrics with and it shifts really well between exercises and is a very powerful chain as I've pulled and held with incredible strength. It would take a lot to break that thing. 

The band is a little longer since it can also be used to do exercises with the door anchor and work the neck with greater distance compared to the Halo Kit Band. Overall, solid product and gives you more options to train than just a band or chain separately.   

-The last kit is the MMB Pro Series Kit

MMB stands for its inventor Mike The Machine Bruce whom I've written about before. 

This kit is similar to the Kevlar version but it's considered the cream of the crop of all the kits (my personal opinion as well). The additional two D Rings you will find aids into the safety of building a strong and powerful neck as they can be used with the band and utilize turning of the head and creating circles as opposed to just going up and down, ear to ear and small turns like a halo. Mike does what he calls the wet behind the ears as he speeds up and shakes his head to hit the neck in ways that are pretty bad ass. I've worked the two additional rings in an exercise I call "Joker's Smile" where you tuck the chin slightly and turn the neck to create a half circle making it an exaggerated entity of the Joker's laugh. However you want to call it, its what I see it as.

You get the chain as well and is just as strong or not even stronger than the previous kit. Do I know for sure, no but I do believe it can hold its own. 

So what's the verdict when it comes to a full comparison analysis:

Each have their own uses and have similar features yet work the neck in many ways. You can expect more out of the Neck Flex because the core of these pieces of equipment is how Mike Bruce wanted to train his neck for wrestling/shoot fighting along with developing injury prevention and Concussion Prevention. Not to mention utilizing pre/rehab therapy. In the other products such as the Iron Neck, you're looking at something that is mainly used to build the neck for sports like Football, Boxing, Wrestling and other contact sports and maybe some aspects to injury prevention but very little for what it is marketed as. 

The DMoose is literally the beginner's beginner of all Neck Apparatuses in my opinion and it's an encouraging start but it doesn't have the long term effect of being able to stick if you're looking for a good stretch of consistent training. It's not necessarily a bad thing but you will eventually hit a wall and would need to keep buying a new apparatus every few months to a year max. That can add up if you keep needing to upgrade.

The Neck Flex kits are most likely the safest pieces of equipment you can get because it gives you insights beyond just typical training. There are several Iron Neck equipment you can buy but several run up to nearly a grand and unless you own a gym or saved up for several months to a couple years, I don't see many people spending that kind of money just to see what they can do for their neck. 

If you choose to go with the Neck Flex at https://www.theneckflex.com/, find what can be suited for you and use my coupon code POWERANDMIGHT to get some dough off your order. 

Hope you enjoyed learning about these and their comparisons along with finding a harness suitable for your training. Be amazingly awesome and don't neglect your neck.  

Training The Core For Realistic Strength And Not Vanity

 Building Core Strength is not always about what you see in the mirror. A six pack can look cool and it has more to do with diet and bodyfat percentage as opposed to just training the abdominals. In most cases with the fitness industry, when it comes to the Core, it's simply to train so you can visibly see the abdominals. Now, there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that if it's your intent or goal. My goals in particular is not so much developing a Six Pack but to treat the Core with intent on strength building, functionality and conditioning.

It's about being capable to handle movement and digging into the very depths of injury proofing that area of the body. Not even to isolate it as separate muscles, but to harness it as a single unity that ties things together that recruits not just the muscular structure, but the back, the spine, the hips, the groin area and being in control of the techniques that target those areas like an Army or a Team working in unison. Usefulness and Vitality.

In recent times, I've worked on my Core using Isometrics that usually comes in the form of 9 positions (Dead Bug Crunch, Hollow Body Hold, Arch Body Hold and Side Bends with the legs wider than shoulder width, shoulder width and feet together each side). A good portion of my training hits those muscles anyway to build those stabilizers with the bands and such or even contracting muscles to stabilize while doing Push-Ups on the Push Up Grip Spikes. Testing the waters again with three particular movements (2 of them bodyweight & 1 with the band) and seeing what was possible. Back Bridge, Sit Ups & Russian Twists. 

Nothing shiny or complicated but can make a hell of a combo or work separately depending on what you do. Train the mid-section differently but also conditions that area with a vengeance.  

The Back Bridge or Wrestler's Bridge

Beyond something for the neck, back or hips. When done with control, it helps the body utilize tension along with working every muscle to stabilize throughout the entire chain. In this case, it's working towards getting your nose to the mat and holding the position without hands. To be forewarned, this is not about training to be a wrestler or boxer. This isn't the type of training that someone like the legend Mike Tyson has done. His style was merely to build the neck to take hits, which ended up costing him to get surgery after years and years of overworking that area doing countless rocks and holds at a pace that wasn't meant for human beings to bend themselves in.  

This style of bridging I'm showing you when you click the link on the link above, is more to build flexibility, stabilization and strength in the neck, back, hips and legs. This is what I learned from Matt Furey back in 2005 and from there learned to expand on it from Logan Christopher. You can start out doing what you can and utilizing some form of padding that protects your head but isn't so soft that it can do something ineffective. A good garden mat or a small gymnastics mat would be fine. Work up to holding and rocking without the hands for support like I show in the video demo. To really dig into the progression system of the Bridge beyond this kind of stuff, click here>>> Logan's Advanced Bridging Course. 

 

Onto Sit-Ups: Old School Style

Simple but effective in a lot of ways. We all have done some kind of sit up in our lifetime and we even did a few here in there when we went out for school sports or in PE class. While the Bridge hits the extension of the Core, the sit-up is the flexion. There are several variations you can do but what I like doing and will put out a different variation soon that will involve a combo compared to what I'm showing you here. Click Here>>>Sit-Ups and you'll notice certain things but you may also not see certain things either. What I do here is not pointless crunches or typical situps where you grab the back of your head and just hammer out reps. These are intently utilizing tension throughout the entire Chain and keeping my elbows as closed in as possible so I can keep focus on what my goal is. As I rise, I'm contracting all the muscles including the lower back, as I come back to the floor, I control the tension and then expand the ribcage so it works the stabilizers. This isn't about tackling reps for a test, it's to demonstrate that with Sit-Ups, you're not merely getting in the abdominals, you're hitting everything with laser like focus and concentration along with working on Muscle Control. You can make ten reps feel like 100 doing this and still get great benefit. 

A Variation Of The Russian Twist

Most who are familar with this exercise do it on the ground and work the muscles in a situp position as you twist from side to side. The variation I'm working, is from the standing up position using the Dopamineo Band. I learned this by using a slower style from Hanoch Rahamin who's one of the owners of the company. Being inspired what his conditioning and reputation is as a wrestler, it was natural to figure out what is possible for me to do. Nowhere near his level and don't need to be but I wanted to see what he did and how I can do it. Whether fast like him or a bit slower and methodical like me, the variation consists of doing a 12-3 O'Clock with a twist and then a 12-9 O'Clock with a twist. My pace is more in the learning stages and getting the technique down so it's like I'm learning with you. His pace is explosive and works on conditioning. Within a couple sessions of doing the way I'm showing you here>>>Russian Twists, it's already around over a couple hundred. He's done thousands of these I'm sure. 

The key element throughout all of these is CONTROL!!! I'm not interested in doing hundreds of sloppy reps just to tell people how many I can pull off. Yes I do plenty of reps, some of them are fast, some are slower but throughout the process, it's performing the movements with intent and focusing on the muscles at hand.

That to me is part of the journey to be functional and conditioned. It's about building a center that allows everything to work the way it was meant to. Doesn't matter if its bodyweight training, bands or whatever. The greatest purpose is be able to move through everyday life without killing yourself. You don't even need to work so hard to be sore in order to get results. 

Be intelligent about what you do and be able to correct mistakes when they come about. Recover well and progress gradually. Adapt and improvise if you have to but respect the abilities you have right now and take them for what they are later. 

Core strength isn't about looking like a model. If you got the goods to go along with the strength and function, that's awesome and proud of you for accomplishing them but remember that it's about being able to move and work your body to produce force when you need it. 

Simplicity is the biggest key and don't need to rely on shiny machines or silly informercial gimmicks. Simple movements, consistent training and a protective Core is where it's at. 

Be amazingly awesome and go to dopamineo.com to get kick ass bands. Punch in POWERANDMIGHT to get your Coupon Code. 

Training With Resistance Bands: Great Tools You Can Take Anywhere

 If there was exercise equipment that is grossly underrated, it's Resistance Bands. Many times, the credit for them goes unnoticed and it's practically shameful. Some will barely give bands a glance due to being lightweight but for the most part, they don't understand the magnitude of how powerful they can really be.

They provide crazy resistance training while giving you the opportunities to learn control throughout various ranges of motion, changing speeds & tempos, the amount of tension along with positioning. Usefulness couldn't even begin to describe them but that's the beauty of it. Whether your goals are building strength, boosting your conditioning levels, staying functional for the long haul and keeping up with your mobility (This is particularly important for those over 40). 

A personal favorite advantage I believe in is that you can train well without beating up on your joints. Now, this doesn't mean you'll avoid injuries 100% of the time but when you learn to control the resistance, work on technique and intelligently building realistic progressions, it can help train those who are limited while building stabilization and strength. It even gives you lessons to respect recovery because it is important to know that adaptation becomes your best friend as the years pass by. 

Here are three distinctive styles of Bands that can you full body workouts (one in particular working specific muscles):

-Neck Flex 

A great example of applying resistance to target one of the most neglected areas of the body. Many look at training as an afterthought and that can bite you in the ass if you don't pay attention. Controlling the resistance that allows for targeting muscles at various angles. You can even do Isometric holds rather throwing your head around and thinking that's best. (Coupon Code POWERANDMIGHT)

-Dopamineo Bands

If you want to expand your horizons in mimicking exercises in the gym, on the mat or wherever, you're looking at arguably one of the best tools on the planet when it comes to working with bands. Be able to manipulate the resistance just by going towards or away from it and hit more muscles at practically any given angle. Conditioning Training at its finest. More than just a a warm up, they're a go to for some of the best athletes in the world including Olympic & World Champion wrestlers. (Coupon Code POWERANDMIGHT) 

-Lifeline Fitness Cables

Don't be confined to a machine or just dumbbells and barbells as these can target the same exact muscles. The biggest difference is the resistance, with Cables, the resistance increases throughout the range of motion while BBs and DBs remain the same throughout a movement. Practicality, versatility and portability is what give these a bad ass option.

A key component where all these shine the brightest: The traveling.

With any of these systems, you can throw them into a bag and be able to train on the road. Staying at a hotel? Getting a tan at the beach? Vacationing in Hawaii? Doesn't matter. You can have a fully equipped gym without the stress of paying for day passes or having to haul extra luggage. Consistency beats perfection. 

Be able to challenge your conditioning throughout continuous movements that keep muscles working and targeting your cardio at the same time. Adjust the intensity however you like or how you apply it to your goals and not worry that harder always means better (it's not unless you choose to do so). Many miss this and don't realize that it's not always about competition. It's about adapting, recovering and getting the most out of yourself without tearing yourself apart. They're not a replacement for things like Bodyweight Training, they're an add on and sure as hell aren't some magical tools. They're an option when things like weights aren't practical in certain situations and compliment your current training. 

Be intelligent, resourceful, in control and most importantly, listen to what your body is telling you. This is how you can consistently train for many years to come. Where are your favorite places to travel? Let me know in the comments or use the Contact Form to DM me. 

Be amazingly awesome and kick ass in your endeavors. 

Why I Never Used Weights With A Neck Harness?

 For the longest time in my journey, training my neck was nothing more than Bridges & Self Resistance Movements. I never even thought of a Neck Harness until I got one in late 2025 because in most cases, guys used weights for them using chains and so forth. I was already content with what I built in my neck.

I avoided the harness really because I only thought it was used with weights. Sure it looked bad ass but you can't really travel with weights plus, I wasn't fond of trying to control weight while moving my head in limited directions. There weren't many movements to work the neck using weights and it's not ideal to use the same weight for every direction, it could put a kink in things. 

As you know, when it comes to weights, I do things more unconventionally and although aspects of weight training are great and have promoted them with the courses that Brooks Kubik has published and want to give people that option of how the old timers trained. The best weights I have ever reacted well to have been hammers, sandbags and kettlebells. Can still do a solid level of barbells and dumbbells like heavy shrugs with more than 315 and can curl in the 60's along with benching around 300 but they just never gave me the type of strength I craved.

Neck Training is essential for many reasons beyond the mats and the gridiron. Having a strong neck isn't about the muscle that is built, it's the strength of the bones and tissues that keep it mobile and elastic. You can have a thick neck but if you struggle to turn it or have stiffness that causes spinal issues, it's not worth developing that. You'd want to train the neck in every possible angle that makes it durable, strong, flexible and strengthens areas of the spine. Hell, when I was doing Bridging Gymnastics (Kicking over on the head), it was fun and I loved being able to accomplish that while not being a wrestler or a fighter but eventually, I drifted away from that and merely kept up doing Self Resistance Exercises up to 200 Reps working in different directions.

I understand the reasons to use weights with a harness or a machine and they have good intentions, but they're not meant for everybody. It just never entered my mind to do them that way. When I finally got the Neck Flex being inspired by Mike The Machine Bruce, I figured it was time to give something like this a chance. Since it came with a Resistance Band, that was just up my alley. It was a little tricky to understand at first since I'm not used to wearing equipment on my head. I trusted Mike and his judgement because our mutual mentor Bud Jeffries took a chance on us, Mike's reputation in fighting and knowledge of Neck Work was also a major factor. I got better and better at it to the point where I'm doing 300-400 Reps per session working my neck with the Band hitting every direction I can think of and learned. 

Since using the NF, my neck is just as strong, durable and mobile than ever before. The Bridges and other things still work well but there's something about the NF that those other things haven't quite caught on. Because of the use with the Band, I can control the resistance with greater efficiency and work a pace that's comfortable yet challenging at the same time. 

I highly encourage you guys to grab one or either of the bundles. You can still work weights with it as you wish and still get bad ass benefits but I personally believe the Band does wonders especially since its portable and you can train your neck anywhere you want. Shit, you can even get a discount of them on me using my coupon code POWERANDMIGHT, even with the affordable pricing the company already has compared to other places. 

Fun Fact: The Legendary Powerhouse Mike Tyson used a Neck Harness along with Bridging to develop his 20 inch neck for absorbing punches. At his age now, he may bridge a little but if he had a Neck Flex using a band, it could help with those old injuries. 

Be amazingly awesome. What has been your experience with a Harness and how have you managed to build your neck with one? Let me know in the Comments or DM Me using the contact form.  

Training For The Long Haul After 40 Using Dopamineo Bands

 

When we hit a certain age, there are things we will need to adapt to. Doesn't mean we stop going after things that matter, it's just another route that leads to places where we can still thrive. We do need to train with a bit more sense once we reach 40, 50 and beyond which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The main goal isn't to punish ourselves and go to limits that lead to injuries. It's to be able to build that continuation in our journey that keeps us capable, strong and conditioned. 

This is where I believe in the Dopamineo Bands and what they represent, beyond the ability to train for specific sports and turn people into explosive machines. It's another aspect of Resistance Training to help maintain muscle and strength as we get older. However; we don't need to suffer in every workout in order to make this a possibility. These bands give you the opportunities to develop these qualities without relying on gym equipment. Is it the end-all-be-all? Hell no, but if you like training at home or want to get in some solid training while traveling, these are top notch for that. 

You can push, pull, squat and all sorts of things that keeps things flowing and come out of it feeling like a million bucks. Use them for circuits, intervals, high rep work, build technique through slow and controlled movements or combine them to your current routine whether its bodyweight or weights. Use them as a warm up if you like or as finishers to your gym work, so many options. That's how versatile they are. Versatility is a key ingredient when you're training for the long haul.

Some of the mistakes people make (myself included, I'll admit) as we get older, is believing progression is about hammering out more and more reps and making exercises harder than they need to be. Making an exercise harder can be subjective whether it be another variation of something or creating more tension. The thing is, in most people's definition of harder is through the difficulty of an exercise itself and stop making it just a simplistic move which is bullshit. Simplicity is the real key, not turning an exercise into some circus act where you end up trying to balance on a slam ball with a barbell on your back or something ridiculous. Progression can mean greater endurance, better control and utilizing range of motion to a better quality of movement. It could also mean less fatigue during the same types of workouts. 

That's the type of stuff the "Extreme Workouts Everyday" crowd tends to forget. It's not possible to adapt well if you end up beating yourself into the ground all the time. Do you really think you can stay consistent if you're injured the majority of the time? Not on your life. It's not about tolerating the punishment you put on yourself and try to train for decades doing that. It's going to bite you in the ass if that is your goal. Our bodies need time to adapt and recover with efficiency. In my own sessions, I don't push so far that I can't walk out without looking like I was in a war, I do what's necessary and hit certain levels of fatigue that I can still come back when I'm ready or do other workouts that are less intense and recover that way. 

The major aspects of the Bands is that they're portable as well. Hook them to the door at home, to a tree at a park and be able to change exercises on a dime. Throw them in a bag and be able to take the gym with you everywhere. I've used them at lakes, on the beach, at parks, in hotel rooms, gyms, rec centers, shit even in the damn parking lot. It just makes the process and journey less complicated. Sometimes we need that.

After 40, we shouldn't really need to prove to anybody how much we can dish out or show up some moron on the internet who's only purpose in life is to be an asshole and make everybody else feel less along with practicing being superior even though it's insecurity. It's about staying as capable as we can for the next 30-40 years or more. Maintaining our levels of strength and keeping our conditioning up. Moving our body and performing tasks while also enjoying the activities we love. Stop trying to train like you're 20 years old again. It has come and gone but that doesn't mean your journey stops. It just means you put in the work that sets aside the ego trip and do things that have you moving forward as you celebrate life. 

Keep finding ways to better yourself, adapt with gusto and do the best to your abilities to keep moving forward. Be amazingly awesome and grab some bands so you can become fitter and healthier as time goes on. Use the coupon code POWERANDMIGHT to get a percentage off your order. 

Want anymore info on them, use the contact form below or find me on social media through my linktree.

RIP To Dory Funk Jr. A Champion Beyond The World Of Professional Wrestling

 

If there was anyone synonymous with the words Professional Wrestling, it was the legendary Texan Dory Funk Jr. A man that represented his craft with respect, grit and earning his dues at a time when you had to be one tough son of a bitch in order to get in the door to this business. 

His big break came in the form of becoming one of the greatest champions in the NWA when he won the title from Gene Kiniski way back in 1969. Over the next four years, he made that belt not look like some prop or fashion accessory, but a reign that made people understand the word Toughness. Wrestling night after night, 60 min broadways and wins over the best of the best in every territory. Carried the NWA on his shoulders that still holds merit to this day. It wasn't hype, it was pure dominance. Years later, his brother Terry won the belt. With that win, it will forever stand that Dory & Terry are the only brothers to hold the NWA Championship. 

If Texas had a true man to call son, it was Dory. It was his home, enhanced its status in the Amarillo Territory with his father Dory Sr. and his brother Terry. It embodied what being a pro wrestler was at that point in time and that was hard-nosed believable wrestling. The territory wasn't full of flashy gimmicks, entrances and catch phrases, it made you believe in the villain and the hero using matches that were drenched in blood, showed technical skill and a level of ring psychology that set a gold standard. 

Japan, was a place that not only Dory made his mark in, but was a pioneer along with a few others that sent the international territory into the stratosphere. He helped establish places like All Japan Pro Wrestling by wrestling the very best there with names like Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta and many more. Unlike most guys who traveled abroad to the land of the east, Dory was more than just a mere attraction, he was treated like Royalty because he respected the culture and the business there. 

Another thing he was well known for....Being the consummate professional. He kept his ego in check, didn't act like a circus clown and acted like a man towards the boys in the locker rooms. He showed up, did the work and made opponents look like a million bucks. That approach built a Hall Of Fame career while several today in the business that barely can talk build a lasting reputation. 

His greatest contributions were really outside of his powerful in-ring career. Long after the championship reigns, the countless matches everywhere and setting the standard for the wrestling world, there came the Funking Conservatory where he trained a who's who of future talent such as Kurt Angle, The Hardy Boys, Edge & Christian, Mark Henry and many more. They were pushed in fundamentals, conditioning and professionalism. Dory never let up. If you really want to understand the word Influencer, Dory was the cream of the crop in that regard.

The legacy of a champion isn't measured by by just belts and HOF plaques, its through those that came after and got better because of the knowledge they gained within that champion's example and influence. Dory Jr. didn't need to be loud to be noticed, his wrestling and other work ethic did that for him. 

Pro Wrestling holds a great debt of gratitude for him, he stepped through the ropes, pushed himself in workouts and left fingerprints that nobody will ever match. Respect the legends, Dory sure as hell earned his. RIP champ, say hi to Terry and your dad for us and may your spirit shine in every squared circle in this life and the next.

Don't Let Another Immortal Release The Power Of Your Quickening

One of the most common themes of the Highlander Franchise is in order to have the strength and power of another immortal is to decapitate them using the stroke of a sword that releases what's called the quickening. In other words, if you won the fight, you gain power and knowledge of your opponent. Enhancing the abilities of the victor.

So, what the hell does this have to do with fitness? Well, in a nutshell, it's the training of the neck. A fun little tidbit of developing real strength and conditioning for one of the most neglected body parts in the Fitness Culture. Unless you're a football player, MMA fighter or wrestler, you don't see a ton of programs involving Neck Training. 

Working your neck is more than just building muscle, it's the possible prevention of injuries and concussions that occur a lot with Spinal issues and recurring neck problems. Many don't train their neck in a typical gym setting or even at home because there isn't a ton of information and whatever is, usually involves using weights, bridges on the head and merely using a wall or laying on your side as you only use the head. Weights have their place in training the neck and bridging is a cornerstone for building a strong neck to prevent being pinned down or getting out of a jam if you're fighting on the ground but it doesn't always constitute the idea of working the neck for longevity and strength.

If you know anything about what I love doing, it's finding exciting and cool ways to train using practicality and realistic ideas to keep things going in the long run. Neck Training is no different. I've done Bridges, Mobility Work and Self Resistance stuff for many years and rarely ever got injured in my neck. Had plenty of soreness at times but I feel grateful that I've never had a concussion or had to wear a neck brace from having whiplash or worse.

One of the best pieces of equipment I've ever used so far since earlier this year has been the Neck Flex that was the baby of the man known as Mike The Machine Bruce, a Marine with a background in shoot fighting and wrestling. Also is dubbed the man with the World's Strongest Neck, holding records such as Neck Curling with 300 lbs, having rebar and horseshoes bent across his throat and other things. In his prime, had a 20-21 inch neck that you really couldn't get a good choke hold on. He inspired me to get this crazy looking thing. Since I've had it, I've done thousands of reps doing exercises in various directions. Working up to 300-400 reps per session, sometimes more with experimenting the door anchor style. 

I use the resistance band variation of the NF because it's just my preference and I can hook it up to the D Rings and just go to town man. Here is my Demo of exercises and some Neck Curls using a strap. This has kept my neck thick, strong and mobile. I plan on testing out more exercises in the near future, even might work on Isometrics using chains, that would be bad ass to do LOL. For real though, you don't have to be a wrestler or a fighter to train your neck, it's an add on to what you can do for your current program or do Neck Work on off days so you can give the other muscle groups a break, whatever is comfortable for you. 

When you train the neck with intent and safety, you're learning to value the body from another perspective. We have to keep our heads up high and let people know we are strong. Guys like George F. Jowett knew this, Farmer Burns and others that made the importance of building a powerful neck worth the effort. In a nerdy sense, there would be more immortals in Highlander if those people knew how to truly their neck and those swords would have a much tougher time to cut. Then again, the villain The Kurgan had his throat cut and didn't get decapitated the first time, maybe there was some special training he did because you never see that happen at any other time in the films or tv series. 

Be amazingly awesome and remember.....THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!

*If you click the link to the Neck Flex, you can get a special discount off your order if you use the code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout.  

Being On The Oregon Coast And Training To Keep Things Flowing

 Being near the ocean again was just incredible and putting in some training doing Isometrics, Dopa Bands & the 2 + 1 Sapate HIIT Workouts. Feeling the air, the sound of the waves, it's one of those great places to clear your head. Each day, there was a fun way to get some exercise in and then enjoy the rest of the time doing whatever. First night after getting into our Hotel in Lincoln City, did some Isometrics and using the band to stretch my body after being on the road for over 8 hours. The rest of the week was Sapate Workouts and a couple more Dopa Circuits doing 500-600 total reps each in Coos Bay. When we came home Saturday, I did a 500 Rep Dopa Circuit after a long travel day. 

I turned 42 last Tuesday and the older I get, the more I'm understanding that in fitness, it's not about who the toughest is or who can be so damn extreme consistently, those can be subjective but the latter has become more of a joke because of how much it's pushed by certain people. It's really keeping things flowing, especially after reaching 40.

I'll still push myself at times, hell those Sapate Workouts are hard and I do enjoy them. Testing things out but also being smart about what I do. I rather do things that build a future over beating the crap out of myself that leaves me wanting to sit out for days. I'm not breaking my streak to do that shit. Being on the sand and seeing the waves while feeling the wind of the sea reminds me of these things. Sometimes it's calm and other times, it creates a greater force but they always keep coming. Always in motion, that's a big proponent of my fitness journey.

It's those days where you can hammer out a high rep workout that can have you breathing like you ran sprints but other times, you can do some Iso Training, creating heavy tension and letting those muscles work without pounding the joints into an oblivion. Being over 40, I know I haven't peaked yet but I also know that when to go hard and when to back it up a few notches becomes an art form.

It also doesn't mean slowing down or making excuses. It means you're training with purpose, a structure that has meaning. Being able to train anywhere has become somewhat of a lost art, sure you can do just body weight and be cool with it, I encourage it wholeheartedly but having things like Bands on hand just adds not only the variety, but also getting an on site education to what you can come up with and developing abilities that keep you young and vibrant.

There's nothing fancy about old school training, it's the consistency and the use of your imagination that will have you going into new realms of strength, health and durability that didn't seem to exist before. Too many these days feel turning 40 means you're going downhill. Not me man, I don't believe it for a second. Do I train exactly the same as I did at 21? Nope, but that's ok. Do I believe I'm doing better now? Very much so, because I've learned that wisdom comes with age and experience. Adapted to what my body responds to and how to progress intelligently. That's what knowledge through trial and error over the years gets you.

Nature is a great teacher. Giving us lessons that can last a lifetime. When we pay attention to things in a different light, it shows us what we are capable of. The weather changes, the tide can be low or high, the wind can be calm but out of nowhere can be gusty. It teaches adaptability. The way we train shouldn't be any different. Some workouts can feel incredible, others can be humbling and even question our life's choices, we can seem invincible in one sense, at times just showing up and doing what's possible in the moment is our victory for the day. Just don't stop moving.

For those over 40, don't spend so much time worrying about what was in the past, stay the course on what you can do today. Experiment, learn new challenges, the journey doesn't end because a calendar tells you you're a year older. Think of it as a new chapter, a new adventure on the horizon. 

As for our time on the coast itself, we saw beautiful sunsets, witnessed a proposal within yards on the beach and even celebrated a little of it, some awesome lighthouses and spending time with people that we don't see very often even though each time we do, we pick up where we left off last. We smiled, took little trips down the coast and created memories that will never leave us. Being loved and sharing it with the people that matter to us. Life can be hard at times but there's beauty in it as well and that is also what keeps things flowing. Be amazingly awesome and have a great Monday.

Share some of your favorite travel memories in the comments.

A Hater's Workout: Lots Of Typing, Zero REAL Training Done

 I saw a lot of this with a hater of my own. Some idiot who barely does 10 Squats on a Youtube Video will write a Tolstoy like Novel of a post about my own form and say the dumbest things that make no sense, not to mention plagiarizing my articles to make up fake reviews for his so called Isometric Course (if you even want to call it that, mainly copy and pasted garbage with no originality or actual training structure). Hell, he couldn't post a video of a real hold to save his life.

It's funny how some of these people utilize anecdotes more than actual science and individual adaptation and only post what they believe is right otherwise anything else outside their messed up bubble is wrong. 

Let me tell you the truth.....

Pseudoscience isn't real science. That should be a painfully obvious "No shit sherlock" moment but most of these guys can't get that through their overly biased thought process. Realistic research starts with the actual work being done, I've shown things like my bands and even performing a full Deck Of Cards Leg Workout. All he really shows is dumb rants and small little "hints" of his superiority to things like Pull-Ups when he struggles to get 6 yet claims he can 25 like its nothing. Talk about bullshit. 

Anecdotes aren't evidence either especially when it comes to the most exaggerated claims. Things like losing 132 lbs in less than 6-8 weeks. How the bloody hell is that even healthy? Where's the science behind that and being able to function? Even losing that in 6 months would be pushing it. It's not true, sure he lost a lot of weight but it wasn't in that period of time unless he did some kind of liposuction and made sacrifices to maintain it like his sanity. Making up stories like being able to casually swing a 40kg Club in each hand. I've seen footage of several people doing this but its nowhere near casual, it takes a load of coordination and not only strength but to even get those damn things upright in the first place. If you're claiming crap like that while weighing less than 135 lbs soaking wet, you better put up or shut up and not just picking it up and actually swinging it, put it on a scale to see the actual weight. For the record, 40kg is 88 lbs.

What's their biggest tell?

The Obsession. I've never met a strong dude that spends his day bitching and moaning about other people's training style or doing everything possible to debunk them. Real men, spend their time training and doing things to make it better for themselves. Weak men, take more time to hate. It's practically a full time job: Scroll, Analyze, Debunk and repeat over and over. No training that means anything and stay stuck as a pencil neck twig with a grudge. 

If your training works for you, that's awesome. If you like pull-ups, do them until the cows come home, like swinging clubs, cool. Just make sure you write the accurate weight instead of some outrageous arbitrary number that makes people question your math skills. Don't tell me about my form in certain movements like Hindu Push-ups while you turn it into something overly inappropriate. What is wrong with these people?

Here's an idea: Put your damn phone down or put the laptop away and actually move your ass doing something. Spend less time writing your little pity parties playing the victim and actually train. I highly doubt you will since you seem to care about what I do more than what you can do for yourself. Quit the hating, click baiting and be a man. Actually do something productive in your miserable life. 

Damn that was quite a rant wasn't it? Sometimes you just got to get stuff out every once in a while. Keep kicking ass everyone. Be amazingly awesome.