Dopa Deck Of Cards Training 2026

 Man, can't get enough of these workouts with the Dopa Bands. The last couple days, I switched from circuits that I've been doing to doing it with the Deck Of Cards. Saturday, I just did one deck that was 500 total reps, yesterday was doing the deck twice in a row totaling 1000. 

The energy, the sweat and the only rest is flipping a card and getting back into position. These workouts are great cause it's never the same one twice and you can change up the exercises however you like. I usually keep it to Pushing, Pulling, Squatting, Jumping & Core Work. You never know what you'll come up with. Since I'm a collector of decks of cards, I don't always need to use the same deck. One day, I can do a deck with Pirates on it, Back To The Future, Marvel, DC or Animals. Endless combinations 

A key point in doing the Deck twice in a row for me is to instead of doubling the number for each card and doing a deck once, do a complete deck and then reverse it. So if the Jokers are more towards the end, when it's reversed, they start practically at the beginning but that's only if you shuffled them that way otherwise, things can get very interesting. I don't time myself doing this so my thing is to just keep going without much rest at all instead of focusing on the clock. 

It's a whole other realm of physical and mental conditioning. It teaches you how to be prepared for the unexpected and that just when you think it starts to get easy, a joker or some other card may pop up and you'll have to work your reps hard and do quite a few of them. The pacing isn't the same either, you can go pretty fast for a bit but then those higher reps may slow you down a bit. Jokers in this case are 50 reps of the Propeller Exercise so if you get those towards the beginning (for the 500 total), you can do pretty well with the rest of the deck but if they're towards the end and you're doing the deck twice, it's going to test you with a vengeance. I do my best to keep a good clip going and since I have the Chosen Higher Band, the speed is a lot higher compare to the Black Band which is meant for heavier guys so the resistance will have a much greater difference in how you work a deck. 

Conditioning is a person's greatest asset and decks of cards workouts are a top of the line test for that. You'll sweat and you'll feel fatigued but it's a test of wills to push through. This is also where your breathwork comes into play cause if you can work your breathing doing stuff like this, it'll give you hints on how much stronger your lungs can get. Your breath can determine whether you start to wear down or not so learn to control your breathing just like in a wrestling match, a fight or whatever sport you play. Whether you're a student of the mat, a warrior on the gridiron or a strategic player on the diamond, conditioning will be the ultimate assurance. This is why having Bands like these are powerful cause they're not just things that stretch, they help you with technique and can be added to any routine. 

Temporary strength is a good thing to have when it's needed but too many rely too much on how they can lift instead of how long they can last. Long term strength is more suited to certain things because even when you're tired, you can still have strength left in the tank to do some amazing things. Having both however, is a deadly combo because when you have the ability to call upon your strength whether it's a few seconds or several minutes, it tells you what kind of athlete you are. As General Patton has said, "Fatigue, makes cowards of us all" it is important to be in the best condition regardless of age and to be able to have reserves that could be life saving whether your own or to help someone else. 

I highly recommend you grab a band and make use of it whether on its own or as part of your current program, doesn't matter if its weights, bodyweight, sports or just weekly fitness sessions. You don't even have to pay full price for them when you can use my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT to shave off a few bucks. Unlike other bands, these won't snap as quickly, matter of fact even Goku or Vegeta may have trouble snapping these fuckers and those fighters are freakishly strong. My black band, I've had for years, put through some hardcore workouts and not one scratch or tear in it. They're pretty damn close to being indestructible. The Chosen Higher Band, I've already done thousands of reps with it already and still going strong. When you get one, let me know how I can help and tell me your feedback with it, I want to know your progress and how you do them. 

Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it.   

FYI...The Black Band is on Pre-Order at the moment due to the popularity and being out of stock. It will be available again next month so if you wish to pre-order it now, go for it, my discount will still apply to the order. If you rather wait until it's available again, there's nothing wrong with that either. Believe me, this is far better than those who put products on Pre-Order that go on for YEARS and never coming around and just swindle you out of your money. I feel sorry for those people who have to wait for something that will never show up. Nobody deserves that. Don't waste your time and hard earned money on people like that. This company is way more professional, honest and will help you in any way they can. You deserve the BEST!!!

Leaning Out Little By Little

 

My journey continues as to becoming a better version of myself. Training is going just as strong as ever and making the most of what's possible around me. These Dopa Band (10% OFF Code POWERANDMIGHT) workouts are kicking my ass, having fun in the gym lifting stuff like the sandbag and doing pullups for strength along with playing with Barbells and Dumbbells. Right now, I'm roughly under 235 last time I checked like around 233ish which I'm happy with. Slow process to get lower again but hey it's just part of the process and weight fluctuates from time to time. Still way fucking better than when I was closer to 300 lbs at 275. 

When I'm in the gym, I don't go as heavy as I did in the past which is awesome. Think my only ego lifts were the near 300 lb Pin Press with the Fat Gripz and the 500 lb Leg Press for reps. Lifting weights has its perks and I can still move some decent weight. Can still lift my bodyweight in several lifts but the majority of the time unless it's shrugs or something, I don't go past maybe 250-260. I don't even do deadlifts or barbell squats anymore, it's not my style to train for. 

The majority of my training right now is doing conditioning stuff with the band with a goal in mind which by now I've completed around 20% of. I'll do bodyweight and Isometric stuff which has always been a go to when I need it and have reduced to going to the gym 2x a week instead of 3x lately. I can go, do upper body one day, lower the next one and then the rest of the week do whatever else I love to do. I don't have a particular routine except the Dopa Band and I don't even do the same exercises with it all the time either, I switch them around some days but still get in 500-1000 Total Reps whether with the Heavy Band or the Lighter Band doesn't matter, one of those numbers will be accomplished. No days off man.

My true goals is to stay consistent and avoid injuries as much as possible while hitting my workouts hard but not so extreme it's going to burn me out or worse. I feel great, I might get stiff in some areas but some good stretching from DDP Yoga and some animal crawls usually do the trick. Some days I'll throw in push-ups and squats to keep things in check and/or do 500 Step ups or more to keep my legs from having imbalances as much as possible. I'm pretty good training in the morning but my best form where I'm like energized to the gills is usually around late morning or early afternoon which is where I feel way more at my best. In the early morning, yeah I can do stuff but rarely ever feel like I'm at my true best. I was never that much of a morning person anyway LOL.

Everyday is a new chapter in my journey and seeing what I can do. I've said before, I don't go so hard I can't walk or move well for hours on end after, I do just enough that I still have gas in the tank and say "fuck you I still win" to whatever I do training wise. My food intake is better little by little. Usually I eat about 2 big meals a day and snack on things here and there but not a ton. My first meal is something with chicken or steak, sometimes eggs up to 4-6 at a time whether scrambled or fried, might have a homemade burger or make nachos. On occasions I might grab a Subway or order some BBQ or a big burrito packed with steak, rice and veggies. My second meal the majority of the time is whatever dinner is, sometimes I'll cook, sometimes my wife cooks and we'll either have Burgers and Fries, Chicken Breasts with veggies, Quesadillas, Tacos with turkey meat, Pasta or bake a frozen pizza one night. Simple things and limiting my soda intake. I'm a sucker for Coke. I'm doing my best to drink up to 100 ounces of water a day, most of the time it's about 80. With the Liquid Death Sparkling Water, that helps with Soda Cravings.

I'm not strict about what I eat but I'm a lot better than what I did use to eat. I was really into sweets like Cookies, chocolate (Dark & Milk) and pudding but I've cut those down by maybe 85%. I'll still eat them but I'd be lucky to have one of those things a couple times a month instead of multiple a week. If I do overeat at times, I'll just fast until I'm hungry again and even though I can still eat quite a bit, I don't push it like I did in the past, like with tacos, I use to eat sometimes 12 in a sitting but these days I rarely go past 5. Tacos are the fucking bomb man. I eat for fuel, it's the way to go.

There's always room for improvement and as time goes on, I get a little better about what I eat and train on. Be smart about what you do, be consistent and keep being amazingly awesome. Hope you enjoyed this one.     

Why Conditioning Should Be A Top Fitness Priority – And Why I Believe In It

How's it going everyone? Something has been burning in my brain as of late. We live in a wild world of fitness where everyone's chasing the next big lift or that shredded six-pack, we've got it all backwards sometimes. Strength is and always will be royalty in the quest for longevity for sure, but without conditioning, you're just a castle built on sand, waiting for the tide to wash it away. Today, I would love to dig deep into why conditioning training needs to be one of the top absolute priorities in fitness. Not some side dish – the main course. And I'll share how I've made it happen for me, because let's face it, talking the talk without walking the walk is bullshit.

First off, what the hell do I even mean by "conditioning"? I'm not talking about some off the wall cardio class where you're prancing around like a gazelle on caffeine, it's great if that works for you. However; conditioning is that beast mode endurance – the kind that builds your engine so you can go harder, longer, and recover like a fucking superhero. Think high-rep total circuits, explosive band work, hill sprints that make your lungs scream, or even those grueling bodyweight sessions that leave you in a puddle of sweat. It's the stamina that turns a one-set wonder into a multi-round warrior. Conditioning isn't just "cardio"; it's the foundation that lets your strength shine without crumbling under pressure.

Why prioritize it? Let's break this down, because number one: longevity. I'm in my 40s now, and I've seen too many guys my age blow out knees, tweak backs, or just quit because their bodies couldn't handle the load. Conditioning builds that resilience. It's like prehab on steroids – improving joint mobility, firing up those fast-twitch fibers for explosiveness, and torching calories without the joint-pounding punishment of endless heavy lifts, lifting has its perks especially with Sandbags but that's not the name of the game here. Take my obsession with Dopamineo bands (shoutout to those indestructible beasts – if you haven't grabbed one, what are you waiting for?). I hammer out 500-rep circuits daily, sometimes 1000, mixing pulls, pushes, and rotational stuff like the Propeller exercise. That shit doesn't just build muscle; it conditions your heart, lungs, and connective tissues to handle whatever life throws at you. No more feeling like a zombie after a workout – you're electrified, ready for round two or three.

Here's a take on performance. If you're an athlete, weekend warrior, or just someone who wants to dominate pickup basketball without wheezing or giving out within minutes, conditioning is your secret weapon. Remember Henry Cejudo? That UFC champ used resistance bands for his conditioning, turning him into a machine that could wrestle, strike, and outlast many of his opponents? I've channeled that vibe in my own training. Those 20 Rounds with the Chosen Higher Band have been brutal. By the end, I'd cranked out 1,000 reps of blissful hell, feeling like Goku powering up like a Super Saiyan. My explosiveness went through the roof, and recovery? Flawless victory, Mortal Kombat style. Without prioritizing conditioning, that strength plateaus. You hit that wall where reps feel like molasses, and gains stall. But flip it – make conditioning the priority – and suddenly your lifts improve because your body's efficient at using oxygen, clearing lactate, and staying in the fight.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ditch the weights entirely. Hell no. Strength and conditioning go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly. But if you're building a pyramid, conditioning is the base. Too many programs out there glorify the "no pain, no gain" bullshit, pushing extremes that lead to burnout or injury.

How do you make it a priority? Start simple, but commit like your life depends on it – because in a way, it does. Assess your current state. If a 10-minute circuit kicks your ass, that's your baseline. Build from there. Little by little down to the smallest fraction of progress still leads to the big picture. Even bodyweight circuits are fantastic because you can do them anywhere. Do them on your off days from the gym. I'll be going 2x a week to play around with the weights and then work on the other stuff the rest of the time. Do what works for you. If you're looking for some fun bodyweight workouts, check out Darebee.com. Thousands of workouts for FREE!!!

Here's a kicker: making conditioning a priority isn't just physical; it's mental. In a world full of distractions – social media, endless scrolling – fitness is your anchor. Prioritizing conditioning builds discipline, that instinctive drive to push when you want to quit. It's like speaking a second language of grit. I've seen it in the Dopamineo Community: folks using the dopa bands for family workouts, kids building explosiveness for sports, elders staying mobile. It's inclusive, not elitist. Unlike some bro-science out there, this isn't about destroying yourself; it's about evolving. Be passionate about it – let that fire burn, add gasoline if needed. The rewards? Endless. You'll move better, live longer, and crush goals you didn't know you had.

Wrapping this up, because I could go on for days: if you're serious about fitness, make conditioning your priority. It's your greatest asset – the engine that powers everything else. Start today: grab those bands, hit a circuit, feel the burn (be sure to lock in my code POWERANDMIGHT to get a few bucks off your order). You'll thank me later when you're killing it at levels you never imagined. Be amazingly awesome, keep evolving, and remember, train smart, train hard, and let's dominate.

Going Green Kicked My Ass

On Saturday, the Chosen Higher Dopamineo Band came and the moment, I opened it, I was ready to head down for a workout with it. Quite the experience if I say so myself. This band specifically (resistance wise) is much lighter than the Black one I have. This is Dopa's One Size Fits All band where just about anyone can work with, even little kids would get a kick out of this thing. It can be used in so many ways whether you're a beginner just getting into it and learning techniques, to advanced specimens that use it for explosiveness, conditioning and speed. 

I did a circuit like usual of 5 exercises, 10 reps each but did 20 Rounds instead of the normal 10. I wanted to work on my speed and quickness. Had to stretch it a bit to get a feel for it but once I got going, holy shit it felt like sprinting. I was cruising through that workout and like always, rested only to mark off a circuit and kept going. I was breathing hard and it felt incredible. I was moving at a much more rapid rate and exploding on some of the exercises that it seemed powerful. 

The workout was 1000 Total Reps. At about round 15-16, I was starting to slow it down a bit cause I was already getting exhausted from how fast I was going. Those last few rounds weren't so slow I looked like a turtle but it was a vast difference than going Sonic The Hedgehog on that thing. I even had to readjust the band at times cause of my sweat, my hands would slide but it wasn't too bad, never let up. This fucker was no joke and to move at the pace I did, I was shocked I could still walk out of there without looking like the Walking Dead. 

It kicked my ass that's for sure and that shower afterwards was the best feeling ever. Having it being green is awesome cause it's my favorite color and it look lit up when you're training with it. Never underestimate the power of resistance bands. It's a great add on to your routine or can be done by itself like I do with it or even a finisher. Play around with it and see what it can do for you. If you're into weights going to the gym or have a home gym, you can do a band workout as a warm up for your current routine, you can do it between sets of your push-ups and squats or other bodyweight exercises, superset it with pull-ups and chin-ups, do sprints, lunges, take it out to the park or in the woods while you camp to keep yourself mobile and energized from Chopping Firewood, pre or post practice sessions in MMA or Wrestling and so much more. 

It's a great tool to have in your arsenal and it's great for kids to get that excess energy out. They can use it as resistance for their youth practice, doing animal crawls, jump, skip, whatever gets them going. Kids deserve to be healthy and this is a great tool to help them get there. Got a band for you, your son/daughter and wife, it's a workout for the whole family and get to bond together building strength and positive minds. Great for youth programs to get ready for any sport and not to mention with the type of training you can do, it builds up a hell of an appetite from burning calories like a furnace.

I'll never get over how awesome these bands are and those that do them are some of the best in the world, so it's worth something right? Get a glimpse of this band below and see if you're interested in getting one. Being able to do this stuff in my 40's is helping me stay in shape for the long haul and remember, conditioning is your greatest asset. Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it guys.

Dopamineo.com (Discount Code: POWERANDMIGHT)

15000 Reps With The Dopa Band

Well, the first month of 2026 is close to an end. This past month has been a great part of my journey especially with my Dopa Band Training. Every single day so far, I have done 500 Total reps of my Band Circuits. Some days I change up the exercises or work on ones I know and I love to do but also been giving new ones a go. Some of them work well, others are more for those who have better experience than me. 15000 Reps has been done with this thing and I'm just itching to do more of it.

No matter what whether I was in the gym or not, I made the time to do a circuit a part of my daily training. Even did one as a finisher after a gym session. That was brutal and really tested my conditioning. Quite honestly, I don't know why I'm not sore from that. With the new addition of the Chosen Higher Green Band (which I've had my eye on for weeks), it's going to be a crazy ride to keep at it with this style of training. Think my first workout with it will be either a circuit totaling 1000 Reps or do a Full Deck Of Cards twice in a row with it which is also 1000 rep total. I'll have to flip a coin on that one. Yes I' am that crazy. There is no third option LOL.

Seeing great athletes use it keeps inspiring me and seeing folks in their 50's and 60's use it to keep themselves healthy and in shape is incredible. These bands have made led many wrestlers to medal in both the Olympics & World Championships. One of the best wrestlers that also went into MMA, Henry Cejudo credits Dopamineo Training as a go to for enhancing his conditioning and technique. You can hear the man himself HERE!!! Seriously, this dude won Gold in the 2008 Olympics, 2x gold and 1 Silver winner in the U.S National Championships, 3x Pan American Champion, UFC Bantamweight & Flyweight Champion and won his first 10 Fights in MMA in a row. That's a Hall Of Fame career man. 

It feels great to be a part of this community. I ordered the Green Band along with their anchor strap from one of their champions, a BJJ prodigy named Helena Craver who has been named the #1 No Gi Women's Grappler pound for pound by FloGrappling. If you ever find some of her videos on her training, you're going to find a lot of them have a dopa band in her possession. I wanted to support her journey in Grappling because at her age, she's already reached levels most women don't in their whole career. She's only 19 years old and and has potential that may even hit Ronda Rousey status, who knows where this kid will go but I'm proud to have at least contributed something that will help her along the way. 

When you add your current routine or even do it in and of itself on days off from your regular training with the band, there's going to be some killer benefits that will be in your corner; Stamina, Mobility, Conditioning, Flexibility, Technique Building, Coordination Skills, Explosiveness, Recovery and more. It can be used for rehab or prehab, a warm up or a finisher, you can go slow or fast if you want and it's virtually indestructible. It's like the name it was given, DopamineO with the O being "Oh shit, that was great".  Build new skills, breathe new life into your fitness and be able to take it with you practically anywhere. 

I will be continuing doing these workouts for a while since I've got something cooking that I can't share with you just yet. Be amazingly awesome and be sure to grab a band at Dopamineo.com and use my discount code POWERANDMIGHT to get 10% OFF your order. There are bundles, add ons and discount plans for those in the Military. 

Being Passionate About Your Training Has Its Own Rewards

In those moments where time seems to stand still but you're doing what you love and having a blast, it becomes more than what is taking place. There are days where things may not go so well but you push through anyway and do what you can and still get that work in. Sometimes we're not always mentally there or get frustrated and our focus shifts that it isn't the right time to be motivated to train. On Tuesday, I was having set up issues that I had to fix from putting the band together with where I was setting it up and had one of those frustrating moments. After a few attempts and trying to do what I went there to do, I wanted to see some exercises I can give a go for the circuit, a couple exercises just didn't feel right and after maybe 2 unsuccessful rounds, I switched to exercises I knew well enough to work with that I liked and it was off to the races completing those exercises and my 10 Rounds (500 Reps Total).

Sounds petty but there is a point to this. Out of frustration, it can be difficult to shut off once it hits you but when your instincts kick in and you still have that drive to do what you are passionate about, it rewards you later with the fact knowing even you don't always have the motivation and you have something fixated on your brain that doesn't leave you right away but you don't let it stop you from getting back up and keep going. After that workout, yeah I was still pissed off at myself still fighting inside my own head but I also knew that doing that 500 Rep workout needed to be done for me and I made it happen. My mind wasn't all there but I was still willing to go through it because it is who I am, someone who puts in the effort everyday regardless of what's going on in my life, even the little things. The passion was still burning.

Yesterday however, I wanted to film some stuff just seeing what could be fun to do, did several takes each of the things I was doing and it became kind of a warm up for me before I did my workout with the Band again. The end result of what came out to a demo is what you see below. The workout however, just doing simple exercises for my circuit and starting up my tunes, the fire wasn't just burning within me, it was like something poured gasoline on it. I was pumped, energy was electric and I was cruising through that fucker with a vengeance and felt invincible. It was like the day before was a blur and something not only kicked in but made me think I was superhuman. I love moments like that. It may not happen 100% of the time but when it happens, it shows that if you're consistent and you keep at it, you will have those moments when they're meant to. No one was around me, I never talked to anyone or even go into some meditative state beforehand, it was right there and my mind & body were connected in that moment in time. I want to have that feeling again and again.

Sometimes your training won't always make your day better but you can make things happen that will have an impact on you that makes your day interesting. There have been days where my workouts seem to drag on but then something kicks in and it just goes. Other days, I have that fearless and take charge kind of thinking and those workouts turn into an epic session. It happens at times when you've done some kind of a workout every single day for 20+ years straight even if it was for 5 minutes. Certain things will come and go but when you always have that passion, that drive, that fire, every workout will do something to you whether you're having a bad day or whatever. It's one of the reasons I call it my second language, it's instinctive and fluent. 

Training with a passion comes with its own rewards, there are pros and cons to doing something every single day but the pros far outweigh the cons and when you do something, it may not seem like anything at first but the more you get into it, it turns into something beautiful and practically spellbinding. I can give you small hints of what the rewards are but in order to understand them, you have to figure them out yourself by experiencing it. You don't get benefits from looking at words, you get them by feel, by moving, by discovery of what you're capable of. With passion, you will feel things that you don't get with other things. Don't wait around to find out, get after it and be fucking amazingly awesome. 

A New Addition To Dopa Conditioning Is Going Green

 Training is about discovery and learning how to handle certain methods not just in research but also in what your capabilities are. You've seen enough posts of the Dopamineo Band I use since I enjoy it so damn much but something within me decided to step things up a notch.

Last night, I made the decision to order their newest band that may or not be around much longer which is the Chosen Higher Band. It's the same material, same length but the resistance is much lighter and it's suited to just about about everyone since it's a one size fits all type of band. The reason why I got this wasn't to replace the black one I have, it's to utilize another approach to my conditioning with the bands by working technique, control and some power/explosiveness with one band and really hammer out my speed, reflexes, quickness and agility with the other. 

I look at it as doing one or the other on certain days and if anyone is up for training with me and doing a workout with the bands together, I'll give you the green band whether you're advanced or just a beginner with this kind of training and we can tackle a kick ass session together. It's a win-win in my book. The band is great for adults, teens and kids who are looking to stay fit and build up their condition and stamina. 

This particular band is awesome for working techniques in various sports like Wrestling, Boxing, Judo and even Football. College level athletes use bands like these to drill and work on moves that can be used in regular games. Some of the best wrestlers in the world work with bands like these as high up as the Olympic & World level and quite a number have won medals in the process and credit these bands for developing their technique, leg drive, speed and durability. Little kids can even use this thing for youth sports training and even get excess energy out that can be a part of doing bodyweight and playing on the playgrounds. 

One of the best perks of having bands like these is that it's virtually indestructible. They've even had contests from various practitioners on who can snap the band. As far as I know, none of them were able to do it and these bands already can be put through the grind. If I venture to guess who can possibly snap a band, maybe Brian Shaw or a strong wrestler with insane grip and shoulder strength. Other than that, this thing has been tested in ways 95-98% of other bands would snap within seconds of even on the first use. Myself, I have pounded this band on concrete, dirtied it up, stretched it to the best I can from sprints and explosive training and still don't see a scratch or even a tear in this fucking thing. These bands, make chest expanders and even ones powerlifters use for training look weak. 

Working with the band has helped my training outside of it very well and strengthens my mobility and flexibility. At 41 and seeing many athletes my age already having knee replacements, hip replacements, ankle tears, joint problems and are in constant pain, I feel it's my duty to help those minimize those things to living pain-free as best as possible along with my own training. You've heard enough of my story and some of the things I've been through and you know that I've had enough dealing with pain that I wouldn't wish on anybody and don't want to experience it again. I don't believe in going to such extremes anymore of doing things that challenge the risk to reward ratios. With the band and even bodyweight I'll do high rep work (in total) but not make it my whole existence, I want to walk out of a session with gas left in the tank, not feeling so sore I can't move well hours or even a day later and also don't need to push it to the point of feeling pain. That whole "no pain, no gain" thing is bullshit, it may be something bad ass you want to think of in your 20's, maybe 30's but 40 and beyond, it'll be harder to heal up again and injuries are at a greater risk of happening. I'd rather have a brutal session that makes me feel great and alive than to go so hard that my bones are tested to see if they snap. 

Conditioning is your greatest asset along with long-lasting and temporary strength but that's for any age. As we get older and priorities change even by the smallest fraction, the ability to get up off the floor, being mobile, limber and agile becomes assets that you'll want to have moving forward. That doesn't mean you can't have insane sessions, as long as you can keep at it without needing to go to the ER or be sore that it takes away certain aspects of your daily life for a period, do what's possible. I have believed in since I was 21 years old that daily training is valuable and in part necessary to have a long and quality life, but it is important to understand when to go hard and when to back off a bit and focus on things that keep you moving. 

Made many mistakes along the way but as of right now, I'm where I'm supposed to be at this point in time and I'm loving that I don't live in pain, able to climb stairs with ease, walk for miles with a vest on and workout anywhere I want. This band will be a great addition (not supplementary) to my arsenal of continuous training and building knowledge of what I can do as time goes on. Come and grab one before it's gone at Dopamineo.com. Use my discount code POWERANDMIGHT to get 10% off the order, that's $8.30 from the full price so nearly 10 bucks off just using my code. What have you got to lose? 

Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it in your journey. Live pain-free and own your workouts. 

Baby Baby Tell Me More Of Your Lies

 Ever done a workout that was so intense and powerful that when it's all said and done you just think to yourself "Holy fuck, did that really just happen?" Like it wasn't supposed to be THAT good but you come out of it not just smiling but feeling like you can take on the fucking gods. It has happened to me a time or two, those moments where everything is in place, you're locked in battle and when it's over, you're left standing with something beyond yourself.

Some workouts take us to another realm of what we can possibly achieve, others at times are just getting through and then walking out without thinking twice about it. The moment where it becomes epic is when in that point and time, it becomes an entity you didn't know existed. That rush of adrenaline, the feel of power surging and the awakening of strength that makes Zeus think "Glad he's on our side". We all have a power residing within us that we haven't let out yet. Could we achieve it on our own? Absolutely, it takes practice and guidance but once we understand where to unlock it, it opens the door to another world.

Certain things can trigger this power; it can be a memory, that voice in your head, your imagination, training with a friend or a group of people, listening to music, it can even be triggered by strong emotions. Unlocking it isn't the hard part, that's just the first step, the hard part is to consistently do it and be in control of it to the point where even in certain times of life, it's like flipping a damn switch. 

 It's like music, it creates vibrations and moves your mind. Not everyone is going to be hit with the same music, we all feel things differently. I'm an eclectic, I enjoy and feel things from different genres of music from metal to classical to 60's soul and/or rock and even Mongolian Folk Rock like The Hu. Now when I train, there are specific genres I put on or specifically songs that fire me up like from Miracle Of Sound, Ozzy, Godsmack, Peyton Parrish and others, closer to hard rock and metal. I don't put on things like ABBA or Hanson for that matter, I don't feel anything from those other than "switch to something else for the LOVE OF GOD". Some might be into them and get something but in my opinion, even Bud Jeffries has said to me while we were training that ABBA is the unmanliest music to work out to LOL. 

When I don't have music on, I can still go like crazy but something just hits me differently putting on a kick ass song or a playlist. I feel even more alive and have hit PRs listening to certain songs. The times I don't have a playlist or a song to start with, I use my imagination and think of either people beside me and telling me to keep going, or I picture something with the exercise I'm working on and make a game out of it or something epic to strive for. It works very but for me, music enhances all of those things. When I used to train with Logan Christopher from Lost Empire Herbs, we didn't use much music to do stuff, we had each other to push ourselves and learned things from one another that made us better in our sessions. Sometimes we used music and killed it with the things we did. Shit, his hand and thigh lifts at his height and weight were fucking unbelievable. The way he juggled a kettlebell was a sight to see, I can do a flip or two but he was doing things with as heavy as 70 lbs like it was baseball. 

You see, music brings vibrations that fires the neurons and takes us to places that we may not be able to do without it. I'm not saying you can't do great things if you don't listen to music while training, you sure as hell can, many have but a lot of us love music and use it to make our sessions look like we can take on the world by storm. Whoever tells you not to listen to music at all because it's distracting or just background noise while you train hasn't felt the true power of it and doesn't have a clue what it can truly do in a session. It's great that you don't and still have the power to make something incredible but don't you dare tell someone they can't and not experience something that can unleash something within them that turns a workout from going through the motions to something wild and epic. Music is power, music is a part of life and music can charge a person's strength to new heights. 

Be amazingly awesome and use that playlist you love or start off with a song that fuels you more than a Pre-Workout. Just an FYI, the title of this article is lyrics from a song I started listening to recently that is just beautiful, has a classic 80's rock vibe and gives me goosebumps. Although the story is about something else entirely but it still has a bad ass sound, great riff and vocals that are banging. 

Flawless Victory

 2 Words 90's kids love to hear when they played Mortal Kombat. Yesterday, I was messing around with Push-Ups and wanted to find out how my technique stood out doing just regular style, no handles, no PUGS, no fists, only the classic. Turned out better than I thought.

Push-Ups in general are weird for me since I'm a bit more one sided than the other so it wouldn't matter the variation, it was going to have some balance issues even if it's not noticeable to the naked eye. Yeah sure I've done plenty of them over the years and continue to do so but in ways that suit me and not what I've been told to do. In some sessions I'll do 100-200 and can do quite a few in a row without struggling much but I get just as much out of the Isometric versions without always going for reps. The Hybrid Push-Up variation from Overcoming Isometrics is my personal favorite and it's tough as shit as it builds strength from another perspective.

Before my 500 Rep Band Workout, I figured I'd see how my form was and do 25 in a row. I didn't focus so much on speed although I could explode up well, I rather focused on my control and balance. Safe to say it was one of the best sets I've ever done in quite a while. Were they completely flawless? Maybe not, there's always room for improvement but they were pretty fucking strict as best as I can make them and utilized tension in my back, legs and core while moving down to my chest to the floor and back up. 

See below.....

They weren't anything special, after all, they're just boring push-ups right? The truth is, if one wants to do 100's of them a day, that's awesome and it works for just about about anybody (emphasis on Just About) but for someone like me who likes to move things along and not spend a ton of time on them, I like to put my attention on creating the stimulus by performing them in a slower fashion, using as much tension as possible to move but only able to get 12-15 reps and I'd be spent for that set. Some like to do them in a partial format going as far as to only the mid point and back up doing Time Under Tension that way, I've done as many as 50-60 in a row doing that and it builds a hell of a pump. Guys like Mike Bruce do that and he's shredded while being in his 50's. It all depends on what you want to do.

Push-Ups is always going to be a classic and it's important to know them as a foundational and part aspect of strength training. If there was anyone that was the true GOAT of push-ups it's Jack Lalanne in my opinion, others like Herschel Walker & Mike Tyson were phenoms with them but Jack was in a class all by himself with the incredible things he did along with his inspiring training modalities. 

Use little progressions to build solid levels of strength but as long as you stick to the basics and focus on the technique and control of the movement beyond the numbers, you can go far. Here's a free guide to multiple variations from beginners to advanced with workouts and little challenges you can go for. Doesn't cost you an arm and a leg that some try to scam you on and don't have any real progressions that mean something. Some courses don't even give you a starting routine or how to progress to being able to do more, they just expect people to do whatever how many push-ups and determine how weak or strong someone is with no context other than calling them losers or worse. It's stupid and degrading.

Progress in your own time, once something becomes easy, do more or do a harder variation. A key thing to remember is, you always have room to grow, don't go to such extremes where the risk to injuries becomes greater. Train so you can minimize injuries. Some tend to push so hard themselves it's like they're asking to injure themselves on purpose. The hell kind of way is that to train? That's just needing to be on meds man. 

Be amazingly awesome and drop down and give me a few. See what's possible to build real world strength, not chase numbers to prove how above you are someone. 

Unleash The Essence Of A Fighter Dinosaur Style: 100 Strength Training Tips For Combat Athletes

 Do Dinosaurs fight? In this case, it sure as hell does. A legendary section from the Dinosaur Training course that first roared to life as a two-part article in The Dinosaur Files newsletter. We're talking way back in the late 90's, when the world was still chained to fluffy fitness fads and dumbbell curls for show. But, it has been seen that the mighty have risen! This wasn't just ink on paper; it was a thunderclap that shattered the status quo, and the echoes? They're still shaking the foundations of training halls worldwide.

Back then, The Dinosaur Files was the underground bible for those who craved real strength – not the polished, pretty-boy kind, but the primal, beast-mode power that turns men into legends. That two-part series on the "100 Tips"? It exploded like a keg of dynamite. Hands down, it may have been the most popular article ever to grace those pages. Feedback poured in like a tidal wave – letters, calls, smoke signals from the trenches. Trainers, fighters, and everyday warriors hailed it as the gospel of grit. Why? Because it wasn't about chasing mirrors or pumping for selfies. It was about forging unbreakable bodies for the real fight – combat, survival, dominance.

Fast forward through the decades, and watch the transformation unfold like a epic conquest. Those ideas Brooks unleashed? Once labeled "pretty far-out" by the skeptics – the keyboard critics and the barbell benchwarmers – they've clawed their way into the mainstream. Dinosaur methods aren't fringe anymore; they're the gold standard for combat athletes grinding it out on mats, in rings, and under the lights. Some of the best grapplers and strikers of all stripes adopted these secrets and ascend to glory. Hell, at least two World championships in grappling arts have been claimed by athletes who trained Dino-style. Think of it, a fighter wrapping his hands around gold, his body sculpted not by machines, but by the raw, unrelenting principles of old-school power. That's the Dinosaur roar echoing through victory!

But it doesn't stop in the cage or in a dojo. No fucking way, this revolution has stormed the fields, courts, and pitches like an unstoppable horde. Football players at high school, college, and pro levels? They're Dino devotees, bulldozing through lines with that unbreakable core strength. Rugby beasts? Charging like rhinos, thanks to the same brutal basics. Basketball phenoms? Leaping higher, enduring longer, all fueled by these timeless truths. One NFL head coach – a titan in his own right – was so fired up by these workout ideas and philosophy that he bulk-ordered copies of Dinosaur Training for every single player on his roster. How bad ass is that, an entire team of gridiron gladiators, each clutching the manual that turns potential into powerhouse. They didn't just read it; they lived it, pounding the iron with purpose, emerging as champions forged in fire.

And let's talk rugby royalty – the legendary All Blacks. One of their top strength coaches, a master of might, weaves Dinosaur methods into his programs like threads of steel. Those warriors from Down Under? They're not just playing; they're dominating with the kind of functional ferocity that only comes from embracing the basics: heavy lifts, grip work, odd-object training that mimics the chaos of battle. It's no coincidence they're perennial powerhouses. Then there's the NBA angle – a famous strength coach, back when he was molding the Chicago Bulls, was working with none other than Michael Jordan – the GOAT himself – and he credited Dinosaur Training for elevating their game. Picture MJ, soaring through the air, his explosive power amplified real-world strength over gym gimmicks. That's the ripple effect, brothers – from the hardwood to the end zone, Dino principles are the secret weapon.

Now, for those who think this is just sports fluff, let's crank it up a notch. Dinosaur Training isn't confined to arenas; it's infiltrated the front lines of real-world heroism. A man who specialized in tactical self-defense for Canadian law enforcement – yeah, the Mounties themselves – was a die-hard fan. He didn't just nod along; he integrated these methods into his curriculum, teaching officers how to harness raw power for survival scenarios. A Mountie, red serge and all, drilling Dino-style: sandbag carries for endurance, thick-bar pulls for unyielding grip, abbreviated workouts that build unbreakable resilience. In the heat of a takedown or a pursuit, that kind of strength isn't optional – it's life-saving. Yes, the guardians of the North train like Dinosaurs, proving these secrets transcend games and enter the realm of duty and defense.

What makes these 100 tips so enduring? It's the purity, the primal essence. We're talking about ditching the bullshit: no endless sets, no fancy machines, just heavy basics done right. Squats that build legs like tree trunks. Deadlifts that forge a back of steel. Presses that turn shoulders into boulders. Grip work that made the hands into weapons of destruction. Odd lifts – stones, barrels, anvils – that prepare you for the unpredictable grind of life. Mental toughness drills that turn doubt into dominance. Nutrition that's straightforward: fuel like a warrior, not a dieter. Recovery strategies that honor the body's roar, not its whisper. These aren't trends; they're timeless truths, drawn from the old-time strongmen who lifted before science tried to sanitize or even complicate strength.

Many have seen the evolution firsthand. In the '90s, folks scoffed at abbreviated training – "Too short? Not enough volume?" Now? It's the smart path for busy athletes who want results without burnout. Grip training was niche; today, it's essential for grapplers locking in submissions (Imagine trying to get out of a Double Wrist Lock when the guy applying it is like a vise). Functional strength over isolation? Combat sports live by it. Even periodization with Dino twists – waves of intensity, deloads like a beast in hibernation – has become staple. And the community? It has exploded. Forums buzz with Dino stories, gyms echo with the clang of real iron, and social media warriors (the good kind) share their triumphs.

Don't just read about these incredible tips – embody them! Whether you're a weekend warrior, a pro athlete, or a first-responder honing your edge, these principles are your forge. Start simple: Pick three basics, hit them hard, recover smart. Build that Dinosaur mindset – relentless, unbreakable, ever-evolving. I've done a few things in honor of this course because I believe in the power of the primal. From those newsletter pages to world stages, the proof is in the pudding.

As we charge into the future, remember: Strength isn't given; it's seized. These are your arsenal. Grab 100 Strength Training Tips For Combat Athletes, apply the fire, and watch your world transform. Are you in? Drop your Dino stories below, I want to know what it did to help you in your journey. Be amazingly awesome.

Here's a powerful song to amp you up that makes Pre-Workout look weak. WarChants man. Hear the Goblin War Drums....

He Walks In Flame

 Sometimes, we need to dig deep into ourselves to find the energy it takes to train and do what needs to be done or even put ourselves into a state of bringing that fuel to the fire that burns within. It's not always going to be motivating to workout, neither is it going to be easy to get through one when we don't have the mental strength to do it. The truth is, we all have the power in us, the question is, how do we bring it out?

From a short perspective of how CoreForce Energy works at least from my experiences is that it's not about being motivated and it certainly isn't how energetic or possibly lethargic you are; it's about what you bring into your mind that translates into the physical. Not what you think from an analytical POV, but from a vibrational POV. There's vibrations all around us, some of it isn't felt right away, other times it's painfully obvious where it hits your nervous system, the goosebumps you get, the sensations that can't always be explained. What if we were able to create something out of that using the mind/muscle connection and build that energy within even if we're tired as fuck? It's not the same thing as adrenaline, it's focused intent to utilize the brain to fire the neurons that goes into unleashing levels of strength, speed and agility that pops and gives off that electrical essence.

Motivation isn't always what people think it is. It's behavioral, an act using reasoning or a series of reasoning. We need a reason to do this or that in order to motivated to do something. Being able to channel our energy into thinking differently isn't through reasoning, it's through vibrating our bodies and putting effort into bringing out something that was always there and using it to give us abilities that have been chained up or locked away. We can do this through meditation, using music, recreating a feel from a strong memory or even through exercise. 

One of the reasons I've always found CFE fascinating is because it teaches you to see into another world, to have or the imagination of a child, to look into things beyond what you see with your eyes. You learn to listen to sounds, move with fluidity, create strength that many scientists say we don't use, all through the power of how we synchronize thought and feeling. 

I can't put all of how it works on here cause that would just take forever, but what I can tell is that with practice, it is possible to rewire your thoughts and vibrate at another level that has you doing things that look effortless, as if you've done things for decades when you may be doing them for the first. That's not luck, that's power. 

In the case of exercise or training in general, when you think differently and program your mind to feel things through the course of range of motion, it won't seem like you're grunting and grinding, it be as if you can work an exercise with flawless precision and moving as if you can go on forever. Grinding out an exercise has its perks, pushing towards a goal and busting your ass like your life depended on it. Many do that and believe that's the only way to achieve results when in fact, you can make many exercises look effortless even though they're tough to do. Garin Bader, the creator of CoreForce, uses it to work levels of strength that are actually pretty phenomenal to witness. The way he knocks over a 300 lb Boxing dummy is bad ass. His 2 Finger Superman Push-ups seem so surreal that he makes it look like someone doing regular push-ups a breeze. He showed me a version of the Hindu Squats using CD's as a tool to showcase how to move in another plane of motion with the arms. 

In the case with the Dopamineo Band, putting a different thought into a movement where to the naked eye, it's just a move but to the person working the exercise, there's electrical spheres on the body, there's hitting a point in space that zaps you with greater speed, there's follow through with powerful light. For the record, yes these are all imaginative and not real but when imagination runs as if it was real, you're creating a whole new oulook of what natural movement looks like. 

It all sounds pretty nuts huh? Trust me, I've been there, I know the feeling many have when it comes to this stuff at first. As adults, we have been taught to look at things right there with our own eyes and where to go this way or that way. To the thinking of a child, it defies the laws of physics and being able to transform, zig zag on a dime without warning, be able to have super powers and walk through walls with incredible intensity. Einstein had certain things going on that were not the norm through the scientific era of his time. He was seeing and writing down things people thought couldn't exist, he saw himself standing on a beam of light, traveling through space and time, his mind was complex and difficult to interpret. He had symptoms of Dyslexia yet he was able to come up with the formula of E=Mc2 that many scientists today utilize what is believed to be the laws of the universe. Like a child, he let his imagination open the door to possibilities unlike at any other time in history. He saw himself traveling at the speed of light, he helped reshape what physicists see as what time and space formulates and built a legacy that next to greats like Newton & Tesla, found what is now truth and continued evolution of mathematics and scientific breakthroughs. 

Getting a little carried away with this but it's exciting to me. Being able to see things from another perspective and build vibrations that enhance our strength and power. Hard work has its purpose, but when you stop and think with a different mindset, you can find ways to do things that look like it's not hard work at all but as if you make it as easy as flipping a switch. A key aspect is to not view it as "I got to work harder, I need to be faster, I have to....." whatever it is, it gives off the vibes of taking that area of thinking out of the equation and putting effort into doing things that can be hard to do but you make it look like it's a fucking cakewalk. It's one of the coolest things you can look into and find out what you can truly be capable of. Check out CoreForce Energy. What took you years, can maybe be accomplished in days or even hours. You never know what you are able to do. 

Be amazingly awesome and bring out that fire within you, walk with strength that turns heads and set ablaze the very power you always had. 

 

Training For Whatever Comes

I wrote this in another Group that my friend Garin Bader created to teach about aspects of CoreForce Energy. Thought I'd share it here as well.

Adding music to my videos is something I love to do and it takes on different meanings yet one thing remains the same and that's putting my passion into it.

When you're in that state of being able to do things that you either haven't done in so long or even doing them for the first time, it becomes something more than what we as a society are led on to believe.

There's always going to be people out there that will tell you, you can't do this or that but you still find a way to prove them wrong not by showing off but to stay the course for what you want to achieve in your journey.

Some of the things in this video I rarely ever do but I make it explosive and work with what's in my imagination that leads to the physical. You have power in you that is just itching to come out. Let go and FEEL what you think and find out what some of your true capabilities are.

This was written to give others an opportunity to see how music affects the body when you're training. I don't use music all the time when I train, when I do, something just hits differently and am in a completely different state of mind. Some never music at all which is great for them and if it puts them in a state that works, great. When I don't put music on, I can still get in a great session, however; I do program my thinking differently and don't always just go through the motions of an exercise and think analytically. I put effort into making an exercise beyond an up and down or side to side thing, I make it seem 3D at times. Like with my Fingertip Push-ups video, it wasn't just going up and down, I felt as if I was effortlessly crushing the earth with my whole body, not the fingertips by themselves. As if I was weightless even though that exercise is hard to do. It's not everyday 235-240 lb guys can do that compared to someone who's a buck 40 or something. 

Other than putting music on to work out, I add music to my videos for a purpose. It may not make sense to some but to others, it gives perspective to what happens when you mix music and exercise together to create something inspiring, motivational and fun. In truth, when I film, there's no music playing, I just throw in a tune to make it interesting. Sometimes it's a random song I like but other times, I like finding ones that have a beat, a powerful set of lyrics or rhythm of the instruments that shake the very core of one's soul. Music is powerful, it can make you stronger, it fires neurons in the brain and it makes you feel the vibrations through sounds. That's one of the big reasons why I love listening to music, it doesn't make exercise easier in and of itself, nor does it take away what the mind does without it, it helps build vibrations and energy so when you do train, it feels like you can conquer Mt. Olympus or something. Music is energy. 

Be amazingly awesome and let me know what your playlist is like when you work out. 

One of the comments I got from this is from a lady in the group that said "This is where genius begins." I don't know if I call myself a genius, it was something that popped into my head that I instinctively was thinking about. It was a great gesture and thanked her for it. The true inspiration for writing it and putting thought into it was from Garin himself. One of the most underrated guys in the strength world that has mastery in many things beyond exercise and music. Has a mind that may seem out there but once you feel what he's saying and understand the meaning behind his words, it makes sense.   

A Long Training Day That Was Quite The Thrill

 Yesterday, I decided to head over to the gym down the road and mess around with stuff for a bit. The walk by itself was around 45 minutes or a bit longer. Once I got there, got what I needed and went into the area with the sandbags and the gymnastics mat.

Started out with some stretching, mainly my legs, low back and shoulders. Got my Dopa Stretch Band and did some stuff for my shoulders and back to loosen things up a bit more. After that, got onto the Bench Press and didn't go stupid heavy or anything, just wanted to keep focus on technique and control with some good weight. Hit 135 for 15, 205 for 10 and then went to my weight 225 for three sets. My style of hand placement was closer to the middle of the bar so I was doing a close grip bench. Managed 3 sets of 6 reps and stayed in control the whole time which was what I wanted to do. Even one of the guys saw me working even came up to me and said how solid my form and technique was. Took it as a compliment, for me it was just having fun.

Moved onto Pull-ups for 4 sets of 3. Getting a little better but there's always room for improvement. Chin Over Bar man. Almost every time I go in there now I end up doing pull-ups one way or another. Sometimes I'll do chin-ups but not today. Went to the rack next to the pull-up bar so I can get some shrugs in. Managed 225 for 20, 295 for 10 and then went to 3 plates (3-45 lb plates each side) and got in 5 solid reps. No straps or anything to assist me, picked that fucker up and moved my trap muscles. Last set was another 10 pounds for 325 and got 5 reps in that one too. One of the heaviest lifts I've done in many years. Ended the weight training session with Dumbbell Curls using Fat Gripz, just a couple sets of low-medium reps with 35 and 45 lbers. Nothing special really but that wasn't the end of my workout.

Threw in a finisher for some added conditioning (along with burning off more calories) by doing my 500 Rep Dopa Circuit with my band I brought with me. 5 Exercises, 10 reps each for 10 rounds with the only rest was marking it off and/or adjusting the band since one of the knots came undone and fixed it up. I had the energy but holy shit I was sweating profusely, breathing heavily but hey, that's all part of the game right, finish strong and kicking your ass. I think I had a larger smile on my face than the Joker after all that shit. Packed up, walked all the way back home. Going to and from the gym, it was about 34 out, maybe 32 and although it was cold, it actually helped balance out my body temperature since I built up a lot of heat in that place. Walking back felt smooth and calming. My breathing was back to normal within a couple minutes or so after heading out the door.

Overall, it was a good 2 1/2 hours or so out of my day and I feel great. Today is most likely going to be band training and maybe isometrics. Might throw in a few squats and push-ups who knows. All I know is, in a long time, that was a pretty damn long session and that's including the walking. When I got back home, I weighed in for shits and giggles and went down to 234 even. I was 237.8 on Sunday. Ate a couple tuna sandwiches and some tortilla chips since it was my first meal of the day and didn't eat until after 2. Had some Pina Killada Liquid Death to help wash down the food. Fell asleep for about an hour or so and then went about the rest of my day. It was a thrill and maybe I'll do that again next week, who knows, you never know what will happen.

Be amazingly awesome and hope you all have bad ass sessions as well and killed it. 

A Journey That Takes Many Roads But Never Ends

 We all are on a path that leads to many places. There are forks in the road at times, routes change, even who we may see on the road and never see again. That's how life is and we get thrown curveballs in our wake out of nowhere when we least expect it. It's never meant to be easy but it can be interesting when you learn to follow your instincts and do what you can in the moment. 

Becoming the best versions of ourselves is part of that journey. The trouble is, many attempt to be better than somebody else outside of a sport or want to be like somebody else. Seriously, why would you want to be somebody else when they're already taken? When I first learned this when I was younger, it opened my eyes to things that I didn't see at the time. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a basketball player and had dreams of being in the NBA. I wanted to be like Jordan, Kobe, Malone and those other guys. In reality, I can shoot a little bit and defend slightly but I was never going to be 6'6 and dominate guys that would shatter me on the court in a heartbeat. I like basketball and I'll play every now and then but it was never a true passion of mine.

Some have this egotistical notion that they have to be better than others at everything when here on earth, that's not entirely possible. There are things you can be great at that others will never reach, there are those that will always be better than you at some things but will never match some of the things you are capable of. I can't even begin to try to outdo anybody else, shit I'd rather attempt to be better than who I was yesterday or years ago and work on things that matter to me than to be above somebody else when I don't even need to. 

It's like those striving to be so perfect at something that it becomes a chase that never ends and even if it did, what do you really accomplish? Chasing perfection is like racing in a 84 Buick against a Viper or Mustang, you won't be able to catch up no matter how hard you try. Chase evolvement. Find other ways to grow and take on challenges that make you learn and become a greater individual than you were before. In sports, many chase to become better than their competitor which is often a better suited entity. However; one could attempt to out do or become the GOAT of their generation or even ever in that sport but there are things regardless of who you are, you're either going to be statistically greater or you'll manage to become something beyond statistics. 

Think of it this way, why do people in boxing pick Muhammad Ali over someone like say Rocky Marciano or Mike Tyson? Ali was a showman that had talent above practically any other boxer before or since and fought with very tough motherfuckers. He didn't defeat people with just his hands and his conditioning, he was most brutal when it came to the mind game and there were boxers who had some better wins/losses than he did but he didn't care. He made the "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" an art form that translated into his focus to be the very best at his sport. Tyson wasn't flashy or a great talker, he relied on street smarts, brute strength and had cardio that was unprecedented in the heavyweight division. He had power that was unique even for today and can still go which is impressive even if it's not in his prime shape. Rocky was out of the three, the only undefeated one that was in an era where fights went longer and didn't rely on charisma because quite frankly he barely had any in comparison to Ali or Tyson but to me, he was the guy who would be able to go at any length of a fight and still come out on top. All three are at the top of the pyramid of the all time greats. 

A person's journey will take them to many places and we may get caught up in some things, but there's always a path that leads to somewhere and we're either going to grow or get lost in the trenches. Sometimes, getting lost may be part of the journey because we may find things we didn't expect and they turn out to be the very things we were looking for without realizing it. 

My own path has led me to places I never thought I'd end up at. Took wrong turns at times, had routes that some made sense while others didn't but as of right now, I'm on the path I'm meant to be at for the moment and it's going to be a hell of a ride as time goes on. I have changed over the years, I've had to learn how to overcome things some will never understand or even care about but that doesn't mean I'm above anybody else, sure I can do certain things others can't and there are things I'm far better at than some will ever admit but my journey is to not be better than the next guy, it's to be better than who I was before and that is the true aspect of where I want to be. Hell, I'm a lot leaner than I use to be, I was closer to 300 lbs at a point in my life (roughly 8 years ago) than I' am now at 237. I may not have six pack abs or look shredded like a Classic Physique Mr. Olympia but I'm healthier, I'm in better condition and I'm continuing to do things that I've never thought were possible. I get to work on things that matter to me, I don't even remotely attempt to try to keep up with someone else, what would be the actual purpose of that?

I get to live in a world of Physical Culture that blends itself with the old school styles with today's scientific entities and although I lean more towards the old school (although some things are very outdated that need a tune up) it's still far better than a lot of things today. I got to train with some of the strongest on the planet pound for pound, sparred with a UFC fighter in BJJ, made friends with people that will always have a place in my life and had mentors that gave me opportunities to better myself when I was lost at times. There are things I still have yet to learn but that's part of evolving and it continues to be a great ride. A journey that takes many roads but never ends.

Be amazingly awesome and continue to kick ass in your journey. You got this and keep evolving. 

Is Bodyweight Training All That Is Really Needed?

 Heated debates can be interesting when it comes to things in the fitness world and what works and what doesn't when it comes to exercise. A general outlook to what is perceived the "superior method" and how it applies to certain aspects of life outside of it. Ultimately, it boils down to what your goals are and what gives you the practitioner the benefits.

If you look at it from a certain perspective, yes, bodyweight training is at the top of the list as the method for training anytime and any place. There are so many things you can do without a single shred of equipment or very minimal other than a pull-up bar and maybe even a chair. However, bodyweight does have drawbacks like anything else. There are aspects of strength that it may lack and there are things that may create imbalances without proper knowledge. Doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, hell it's better for you than killing yourself with extremely heavy weight and it is one ideal method to master more than anything else. Once you have mastered your bodyweight, whatever else is just icing on the cake bro.

If one chooses to do nothing but bodyweight, that's awesome and the only limit is your imagination. I did it for so long it's like a second language to me and it will always be a part of my journey. I do like having other options though if opportunities arise. It's not like I have a complete gym set up, most of my equipment is in storage cause it wouldn't be wise to have some of those things in an apartment where you're on three floors. What I do have and am able to use at home works well for me at the moment and when I need to, I'll head down to the storage place, pick out what I want and head over to the park and play around. 

Now, even if you did only bodyweight training, there's even debates on what exercises one should do and what you will be criticized for. For instance, step ups is a favorite form of leg training but it has been a while since I've done them and doing more squats like Hindus, (BW) Goblet Squat Style and Sumo Variations from time to time. Same with push-ups, you can do crazy high reps which is great if you want to get good at them but there are ways to make push-ups harder which creates stronger stimulation to build muscle. Use handles or chairs for deeper stretches, handstands, fingertips or things like the Push-Up Grip Spikes from Stronger Grip that ties in grip strength, balancing even in the basic positions and utilizing more tension to create stability. Step Ups in my opinion are better than any machine and you can work your legs unilaterally to build strength and stamina that also helps fixing imbalances. Pistols are awesome too and things like Bulgarian Split Squats, Lunges & Shrimp Squats. I'm not big on the pistols much and I don't have the best form of balance when it comes to doing them but the others work just as well and have built strength from them. 

There's different styles of bodyweight training one can do to build levels of strength and endurance. Sprint Training, Gymnastics, Barstarzz, Animal Moves, Isometrics, Plyometrics, DDP Yoga, all have their place in doing what is possible for you. Quite frankly if you did nothing but these, you'd still be a hell of an athlete. From a reality based POV, they're all great options for what you want to achieve. If one wants to go to the gym and just do stuff there, that's great, they're doing something but I believe there's more to life outside of the gym. The gym has its place in many things. I joined up at Forge Fitness here in town because for... 

1. It has things that are pretty gnarly that I like.

 2. I get to support someone locally instead of just any typical gym like Anytime or something.

3. It has that old school vibe. Yeah there's a few machines but the way the Barbells, Dumbbells and Racks are set up, it has that aura of a dungeon type atmosphere where guys can train like those of the past. 

4. It's actually a hell of a lot cheaper than the majority of gyms around here that range from 50-90 bucks a month that have things that are way too fancy for my taste. 

5. It's another place that I can work on things that are fun to play with. 

I'll still do bodyweight training everywhere I go cause it's easy to figure out. Everything else is part of the package deal with me LOL. Do I need the gym, no. I like going cause it's part of what I love doing and that's training. I have always believed that if you're a true student of Physical Culture, you can create a workout anywhere you want with the knowledge & application and being part of a gym is just another aspect to it. 

So, back to the question at hand....Is bodyweight training all that is needed and nothing else? In most cases yes, you can go your entire existence without ever picking up a barbell or dumbbell or do something on a machine. Is bodyweight training good for as an addition or even something you do the majority of next to weights? Fuck yes, matter of fact, make it something to use as finishers or something great to do on off days with your regular gym routine. It will always be there when you want to do it. Like I said, it is important to master but in addition to that, it is the best ally for any method you practice. 

Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it in your journey. 

Flow And Rhythm With DopamineO Bands

Many look at strength training as a rugged and consistent need to be brutal and forceful along with being rigid to the degree where we only move in a straight line when in reality, it's more than those things and strength isn't just about Brute Force, it's about channeling a flow that paints a picture to utilize what is true strength. When it comes to the DopamineO Bands, it's not seeing what you do at it's peak stretch. When you stretch the band, the more you bring back, the heavier it's going to feel when you do exercises with it. It's finding that balance of resistance but able to move with precision and power in just about any direction. An idea is to see it as a partner that works with you. 

Yes technique and work ethic is part of it but in all aspects, it's really how you make it your partner. A dance with rhythm and creative entities that make a workout look effortless and powerful at the same time. The uniqueness of it compared to other bands I've worked with is that it takes the stiff mechanics out of the equation and let's you build your imagination through the movements themselves beyond the reps and whatever.

It strengthens the motion that is congruent with the style of play you make with it. An example of what I mean.....

One of my favorite moves is what's called the Propeller which is an exercise that consists of training duck unders in wrestling along with rotational mobility and a twist. In the beginning learning it, it looks like a complicated move but once you understand the flow with the body and the band working together,  it's not a stiff move, it's a form of what I call Ballet Strength or Dancing Strength. It's your partner, you put trust in it but it also has to have trust in you otherwise it won't have the same effects. The technique in and of itself is a practice but once you feel the placement of your body and the way it truly is done, there's fluidity. This particular move is not just a full body exercise, it tells a story.

When you flow through with the Band, you're not just working out, you're bringing something to life that builds strength from a different perspective. In terms of just looking at it or done analytically, it's really just a particular exercise that does build something whether strength, mobility and rotational power but when you flow into it and have a rhythm that mixes with your imagination, it becomes something different, something greater and an exercise that enhances your explosiveness and speed. 

Dopa Bands were made in a sense to help bring techniques to a bigger platform for wrestling practice and working on moves for MMA but from another POV, it's fitness aspects can open doors to really unlock areas of your mind that seem limitless. It's not meant to build muscle to look like a Mr. Universe, it's true purpose in my eyes is to teach you how to use the true power of your imagination to create workouts that are lively and thinking 4th Dimensionally as Doc Brown would say. When you stop seeing things analytically and seeing them as a way to strengthen your body beyond the basic formalities, things will change. Your body will be doing things that didn't seem possible and training things that you didn't catch before and have this electrical impulse to move fluidly. 

Train more lively with the Dopa Bands and find out what your true strengths are when you add in your imagination. There's a whole other world that you haven't see yet. Be open to it and be amazingly awesome. Go to Dopamineo.com and find a band suited to your weight class. Use my discount code POWERANDMIGHT to shave some bucks off your order and start your ass kicking journey. 

Prehab And Recovery Training

 The body is an amazing thing isn't it? It has abilities that we have yet to discover and what we do know, seems to boggle the mind of some. However, as much as we know, a key thing to remember is that we're not invincible and have the ability to heal as fast like Wolverine or recover like Goku after eating a Senzu Bean. It does need its share of maintenance and fueled up right so we can function in the long run. 

Some may think Recovery work is a myth and one needs to be extreme all the time and go for record breaking workouts everyday. The truth is, being able to recover well holds benefits that actually give you long term results and gives you opportunities to learn what is possible to do without breaking down the body so much that it's not going to help you live a long and quality life. Some even try to claim Recovery is just a gym term when in reality, it's about doing what is right for your body. 

I've been training pretty hard lately; going to the gym and doing a series of thing, later on doing my 500 Rep Circuits with the band (Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT), my neck training with the Neck Flex and sometimes do Isometrics before heading off to bed. The first two things have been almost every other day for the last couple weeks and sometimes for 2-3 days straight. The circuits have been every fucking day LOL. It takes a toll so it's important to know when to back off for a couple days to let the body do it's work. No injuries or anything, just keeping myself in check. 

I'll still be doing the Circuits daily for a bit longer cause it's one of those workouts where I can have either a more explosive and fast pace session or slow it down and focus more on technique which is working for me. As for just pure Recovery work or Prehab Training, that's going to be on off days from the gym hitting up DDP Yoga for Flexibility & Mobility and my Joint Loosening Workouts as "Rechargers" so that I can still do something everyday without needing to go hard. Those gym sessions lately are fun and picking up on some stuff again after years and years away from Barbells, Rack Training & using heavier Dumbbells than there are in our Rec Center.

I did an exercise yesterday I probably haven't done since I lived in Santa Cruz and that's the Dumbbell Pullover. Did only a couple sets with nothing too heavy doing 10-12 reps respectively. It was more of getting the technique down again. I went as heavy as a 60 lb Dumbbell and was doing it in complete control. Felt great to even remember how to do it. Was also doing Animal Stuff, Trap Bar Deadlifts and Hanging Knee Pull-Ins on the Pull-up Bar in this session as well. 

This is where I feel that if I wasn't in the shape I'm in, I wouldn't be able to move around much or do anything for a week after the type of workouts I've been putting myself through. I have felt tight in a few areas and not so much sore but more on the lines of being slightly slower but that's where I love having the knowledge and being wise enough that I can't be doing this all the time and need to pace myself physically and mentally. Giving my body some "rest" from the crazy stuff and focus on doing lighter things that fuel my muscles and joints again. Those DDP Yoga type workouts are a godsend and the Joint Loosening reduces the chances of injury and soreness. The body can only do so much at a given time and going so hard so often can bite you in the ass. Hell, some pushed themselves so hard that they ended up having no Cartlidge in one of their knees and some other issues. I don't want to be living with those kinds of things, that's just misery and disaster waiting to happen. 

 The best form of recovery is Sleep, bar none. Training has its perks for sure but solid quality sleep is the ideal thing here. For some it may not be as easy with the way life can throw things at you and not everyone will have the opportunity to get optimal sleep so when that happens, do what you can to be able to sleep and recover well. Nutrition is great too when it comes to recovery because when you can get things into your body that helps muscle repairs and such, it gives you fuel to let the body work its magic. That's really the ultimate goal nutrition wise is to use it as fuel. Some overeat, some don't eat enough and others find their perfect set up whether it's the OMAD thing (One Meal A Day) like Al Kavadlo does or those eat enough in the day when they feel hungry and not stress eating. Do what's possible for you.

Prehab is an awesome aspect of knowledge to have. Knowing which areas of the body need attention (not the same as isolation exercises in bodybuilding) and being able to preserve strength and health to the ligaments, not just the muscles. Isometrics are phenomenal for Prehab Training because they target areas from a positional lock in so do speak where you're working but you're not moving. It's not just a style of strength training, it can also minimize the chances of osteoporosis and possibly arthritis.  

With some of the crazy shit I do, it still amazes me that I don't have knee pain, back pain, tendonitis or arthritis. Yeah I stiffen up every now and then and do heat and ice sometimes (rarely) but once I get moving and doing what i love, it's like being a kid again. The stiffness doesn't last long and some stretches like some of the Animal and DDP Yoga Moves open me up really damn fast. I don't pop pills or get injections or any of that crap. The only supplements I ever do take is my my spark powder which has all kinds of vitamins and minerals, hydration powder like Rehydrate and Nectar and things like Zinc or Pine Pollen. I was taking Creatine for a bit but I didn't like what it was doing to me, apparently there were effects from it that didn't suit well with me so I'm seeing how I feel from not taking it for a week or so and so far, I'm feeling pretty damn good without it. That's pretty much it and I take the bare minimum with these. 

Take care of yourself and listen to your body. You don't need to do extreme shit like some claim you should, that's just marketing bullshit and doesn't give a damn about a person's health. Everybody has to do what's needed for them and learn what works and what doesn't. There's always going to be some general idea but an 80 year old lady is not going to recover the same as a 25 year old man. It's not practical, realistic nor is it good for the body. I believe in doing something daily but it doesn't have to be a shattering world record every time. Be amazingly awesome. 

The Mishra Dand Exercise – An Ancient Exercise That Builds Unstoppable Conditioning

In a world drowning in gimmicky workouts, quick-fix apps, and fleeting fitness trends, there's an ancient beast lurking in the shadows of history, waiting to awaken a force within you. It's called the Mishra Dand – a powerhouse exercise straight from the heart of ancient India, forged in the fires of yogic wisdom and wrestler grit. As someone who's delved deep into the realms of strength and resilience, I've been learning what this move can do to turn mere mortals into legends. Today, I'm here to ignite your spirit and give you an idea on why the Mishra Dand isn't just an exercise; it's a revolution for your body, mind, and soul.

Let's start at the roots. The Mishra Dand, often spelled as Mishr Dand or Misr Dand (derived from the Sanskrit word "misra" meaning "mixed" or "blended"), is a dynamic fusion of the traditional Hindu Push-up (Dand) and elements of the Baithak (squat). This isn't your granddaddy's push-up; it's the OG burpee of the East, predating modern CrossFit by millennia. Born in the akharas (traditional wrestling gyms), where pehlwans (wrestlers) honed their bodies for epic battles, the Mishra Dand was a staple in the Vyayam (exercise) regime. Think of it as a seamless blend of yoga's fluid grace and raw, explosive strength training. Historical texts and oral traditions from Indian martial arts like Vajra Mushti (Diamond Fist) reference similar movements, used by warriors to build endurance that could outlast sieges and stamina that turned the tide in combat.

Why does this matter? In an era where we're chained to desks and screens, the Mishra Dand reconnects us to our primal heritage. It's not about vanity muscles; it's about functional power – the kind that lets you conquer mountains, dominate challenges, and rise above adversity. Strength isn't built in isolation; it's woven from discipline, flow, and fire. Incorporating the Mishra Dand into your routine is like unlocking a secret level in the game of life, another version of the Game Genie if you will.

Here's a variation of how I've been doing it and have already gotten a total of a couple hundred since I started with it.....

Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps initially, but listen to your body. Do your best to keep form. Some perform this so explosive it seems radical but when you slow down the speed a smidge and focusing on control, it's a hell of a workout.

Visualize it: Imagine a warrior flowing like water yet striking like thunder. That's the Mishra Dand in action.

The benefits? Holy shit, where to start? Physically, this exercise is a total-body annihilator. It torches fat faster than a bonfire, making it a marvelous tool for weight loss – ancient pehlwans swore by it to shed pounds while packing on muscle. Your chest, shoulders, triceps, and forearms get sculpted; quads, hamstrings, and glutes fire up from the squat element; and that core? Toned to perfection, with improved posture from the spinal stretch. Studies on similar movements, like Hindu push-ups, show enhanced cardiovascular endurance, boosting VO2 max and stamina. But it's the agility that sets it apart – the explosive jumps build fast-twitch fibers, turning you into a nimble force ready for any challenge, be it sports or survival. Some of the wrestlers who still practice this have some insane physiques.

Mentally, this exercise is pure inspiration. Each rep is a battle against gravity and doubt; conquering 100 in a session (a common akhara goal) or within a day, instills unbreakable discipline. It's therapeutic too – the yogic flow reduces stress, balances hormones, and elevates mood via endorphin rushes. Imagine starting your day with Mishra Dands: You're not just working out; you're ritualizing victory, channeling the might of ancient sages who used this to prepare for enlightenment and war alike.

But wait, it's more than just muscles and developing a strong body. The Mishra Dand embodies philosophy. In Indian lore, it's tied to Hanuman, the monkey god of strength and devotion. Each rep honors that, devotion to self-improvement, strength in humility. 

Challenges ahead? Absolutely. Your first sessions might leave you gasping, muscles screaming. But that's the forge, rest as long as needed between sets and slice off those periods little by little. Start small, build consistently. 

 Embrace it, and unlock that power within you. Rise, flow, explode – repeat. Your body will thank you, your spirit will soar. Be amazingly awesome and find out what you're capable of.