Sole (Himalayan Salt Water)

Staying hydrated is one of the key elements to keeping the body healthy but with all the stuff that's out there that sells you the best hydration packets and what they represent, it can sometimes become misleading and you can't trust all the commercials and things you find in GNC or other so called "health" stores. Probably the biggest things you'll find about hydration is Gatorade and Pedialyte which the latter would be used after a knocking back a few and being so drunk that the next day you need something to keep your organs from failing from dehydration. 

I've tried different things like Gatorade, Advocare's Rehydrate products and a couple others but two things lately have been favorites to do and noticed some differences. The first has been a product I use from time to time to help hydrate in the morning and either during or after workouts has been Liquid IV which is a powder that you can pour into a glass of water or into your water bottle that has pretty good amounts of vitamins and good sodium to keep hydrated for some time. Just one packet alone is the equivalent to 4 bottles of water. The only drawback might be the Sugar content which is around 12 grams per packet, so if you're hesitant about things like that there are others out there with little to no Sugar but this has worked for me. Whenever I do feel dehydrated and need a pick me up, that does the trick almost instantly and feel energetic and ready to go. 

The other thing I've been doing a little more recently is what's called Sole or a better term would be adding Himalayan salt to water. I was thinking of other ideas to use to stay hydrated and did some research and found out about this simple ingredient to add to my water. There isn't a ton of research done on this so I'm not going to say it's the GOAT of hydration but from my experiences, it's got some pretty damn good health benefits and it's pretty easy to make. Now I must caution you that not all salts are equal since most of the salt that is used in our food supply is very limited to no true value in the minerals real salt has. Salt has been around for millions of years and has been used in medicines and the rich minerals from certain areas around the world that has kept people hydrated for extended periods of time. Himalayan salt is about as pure as you can get and has been used for adding flavor to food to help eliminate toxins for salt baths. 

I would sprinkle the salt onto the meats I eat such as steak, lamb and chicken and have taken salt baths before but let's just say I can't fully stretch out and feel comfortable in a bath tub in my house. Creating the salt water is pretty simple to make. You take a bag and pour the salt crystals into a mason jar (don't incase it in metal from what I've read) and fill it to about a quarter of the jar if that and pour as much filtered water (not tap) till the water reaches the top. Close it ands tighten it with a plastic lid and shake it up a little, put it either on your counter or in a cool pantry to leave over night and there you have it. Easy to do. The amount to take mostly depends on the person but from the research it has said you don't need more than a quarter teaspoon to one teaspoon of the salt water because that amount contains about 400-500 milligrams of sodium. 

Do some research on it and see if it can benefit you. I usually just take a teaspoon and pour it into an 8 ounce glass of regular water and feel really good right away. The benefits from my research has said it can help with eliminating toxins in the body, increases energy levels, helps with headaches, lowers blood pressure balances out ions and possibly helps with sleep. Yes we do need salt in our bodies, it's an essential ingredient but here's an idea on how to find the real thing and not that crap that is white and full of stuff that is more of a killer than a healer.  

A Word On Bud Jeffries

 You were a light that shined on the world when the darkness tried to take over. A beacon of hope that there is still humility and love in the universe. Strength beyond the levels of most mortals and a man among the gods. 

You may be gone in the physical realm but your spirit now and to the end of time is stronger than anyone can possibly imagine. Our hearts have you to be a light for our dark moments and your strength becomes embedded with ours as we live on in our realm until it's our time to leave. We miss you but you will always have our back when we need your guidance in our dreams and in times of chaos or solitude. 

Tears that rain down aren't always of sorrow but of love and caring for when we think of your compassion you had for us and yours. It will never be easy or even simple to carry on without you but always know, we will never stop becoming stronger because even in times of dire straits, you'll have your hand to pick us up. 

Rest well my brother and say hi to all that came before us and may your legend and legacy live on.

Where I Originally Found Out About Animal Movements And How It Evolved

In between surgeries from my injuries, I was researching a way to rehab myself and I found Combat Conditioning by Matt Furey. Granted, I wasn't in the best shape and I always figured since I was going to be off the weights, why not bodyweight exercises? I read through it and when I was able to walk and start rehabbing, I just did his Royal Court of Hindu Push-ups, Hindu Squats & The Bridge. After about a month, I got into the supplementary exercises and some of the workouts. Three exercises I noticed in the book were ones based on Animals; the bear, the crab and the duck. They were interesting at first but something didn't click with me at the time.

For the next couple years around that time, I tried out all sorts of stuff from CC to gymnastics, Dinosaur Style Bodyweight Training, The Chest Expander, Pull-ups and others but what truly hit me with Animal exercises was when Matt's friend Ed Baran came out with the Primate Power course. It was weird to read at first because who in their right mind would want to move like a crazed Ape? I kept an open mind and gave it a shot and I loved it, it felt natural to me and I got pretty good results with it from the hanging to the Gorilla walks to switching one arm hangs and moving across a soccer goal along with being able to do multiple pull-ups as a heavyweight. It showed me a different perspective on how to have fun as you train.

Within a short time after that, Ed and his brother Andy started branching off into their own style of conditioning books and videos starting with their Gymnastic Abs course. I got into that and did decently with it and strengthened my core a bit more to get better with everything else but when they brought out their own Animal Movement course Animal Kingdom Conditioning, it took me to another level in my evolution to conditioning training. This came even more natural to me than the Primate Workouts and it began a chain reaction to the GOAT of all workouts for me. 

This course alone, changed an entire landscape from how I trained from then on. No matter what I did, every time I felt an urge, I would do the Animal Exercises and that's where the Animal Dice Game came from. I would do a suggested workout from one of the booklets that came with the book and DVDs but the dice game became my safe haven, a workout I just could not get enough of and one that helped me in more ways than I care to admit. I've made progress and stayed in shape from everything else I did and it still goes on today but none compared to the that game. It was a constant challenge where you never did the same workout twice and can do so much with it. I've played with other kids on it including my nieces and it has always put a smile on my face whenever I do it. 

I've played around with other forms of Animal Movement Training from Animal Flow to Ginastica Natural to Primal Training or MovNat type of training and Gold Medal Bodies' version of Animal Movements but none ever truly clicked than the ones I learned from Ed Baran's books and videos. He doesn't sell them anymore since he shutdown his site and focused more on just Website Designing and training others in Gymnastic Type training but the closest to his book you can find that I know of is David Nordmark's version which I call the B-Movie of Animal Exercise books. I don't want to call it a rip-off cause quite frankly everybody rips off someone in one way or another or tributes someone from another perspective but I think B-Movie is pretty appropriate in this case. Let me put it in another term, Animal Kingdom Conditioning is like a Mega Star like Tom Cruise and Animal Workouts is like a version of Bruce Campbell; likeable and a cult favorite just more low budget. 

Why The Animal Dice Game Is So Damn Fun

In our workouts, most of the time we have something set and schemed to work our bodies to a specific number of exercises in a specific order and specified time for rest. Unless you're going through a circuit, you're hitting an exercise for X amount of sets, X amount of reps and resting for some arbitrary amount of time. That has its merits and in turn can determine where you are as far as strength, conditioning, endurance or more than one attribute at the same time is concerned. 

When it comes to conditioning, I want to do exercises that I can go to one after another without rest and test my abilities to a certain degree. You've seen the superset workouts I've done along with darebee circuits being written but none of those compare to the animal workouts I do; specifically, the animal dice game. Not only is it different, but it also tests your strength and conditioning from another perspective that you don't get from circuits or just supersets.

With circuit workouts, you know what's coming, you do the same sets, same reps, nearly the same amount of rest and changing it up can make or break where your level is at. Not the animal dice game. You never know what's coming, it's unpredictable, just like the jungle. It fools you into thinking it can get easier and than all of a sudden, poof you hit an animal doing steps or distance that is hard and ready to take you out. You're constantly moving in awkward directions and your brain is continually being forced to send messages to the nerves and coordinate with those awkward positions without warning. You're challenging your body practically on every roll and the more you add, the harder it gets. It's so random, it forces you to be prepared for the unexpected.

Now, you don't just have to make this game full of of just steps or distance; you can make it interesting for other parties who want to join. You can roll for an animal and whatever comes up, you can race, tag or do a relay. The only limit is your imagination. You can go as long as it will allow you to but for my recommendation, don't keep going until your arms or legs are ready to fall off and you're going to have a damn stroke. Do enough that is good for the day and still have some energy left in the tank. It's meant to be a game, not a chore or some crazy balls to the wall workout that resembles something like crossfit. 

It's fun because it takes away the predictability of a typical workout whether from bodyweight, bands, weights or machines, it's just you being free and using your body in unique ways and developing a level of fitness that you can't get anywhere else. Animal Movements have had the dumb notion for decades as warm up exercises for sports programs or thought of just exercises meant for kids. They're more than just warm ups and whoever came up with the idea they were meant just for kids clearly never saw a well conditioned football player or wrestler. They're ancestral and have abilities to turn a person into a very fit one and have levels of strength that last, boundless energy and an unbelievable form of conditioning that would make an MMA Fighter's jaw drop.

With the dice game, you'll never do the same workout twice and you'll never know what comes next. Whenever I do it, I'm always up for what comes after each roll and sometimes I'll change an exercise on a certain roll to make things interesting but with the endless variety and how intense the workout is, it doesn't take long to get your ass kicked. I've done long and short workouts with this workout and I will tell you first hand, you'll always be on alert because any roll can come up something easy or so damn hard that you'll need a break within seconds. How much time do you rest? It depends on how many rolls you do until you feel out of breath but for the most part, there's no limit. When I need a break, I'll walk around and breathe deeply until I feel ready to go again which on average, maybe 1-3 minutes but that's just a guess. 

Get wild and take on the jungle with a vengeance. Unleash the beast within and have a blast doing it. 

The Night Owl With Energy To Spare

 Having great energy whether you're young or a little older, can be a great blessing but also has its drawbacks especially for those who have ADHD or even ADD for that matter. For some, have no clue what to do with it and either party or need some form of stimulation in order to even feel calm and relaxed. Some will take drugs, get drunk or have a little too much fun behind closed doors in order to just chill out and go to sleep. 

I've been a night owl for as long as I can remember and have energy to spare the majority of the time. When I was in grade school till High School, I would stay up for periods of time watching shows like Raw, Smackdown, Seinfeld or watch game shows with my dad until I was ready to pass out but many a night I would just be wide awake and want to do something. I would read a book or listen to something. When I was about 13 or so I once read an entire Goosebumps Book in one night. On weekends, I would watch Nick At Night till 530 in the morning since I didn't know about working out or try to do something to not wake my dad or the grumpy neighbors next door. 

By the time I was in High School, staying up was the norm for me since I still didn't have a freaking clue on how to get rid of excess energy so I would listen to Adam Corolla & Dr. Drew on the radio till I fell asleep which at times ended up around 230 in the morning and still had to get up for school. To say I really got my sex ed from a radio show was not that big of a stretch and learned more from that than any class I took on the subject. To this day, I don't know how I still had the little energy I had to still go to school, do shot put & discus, do drama class/rehearsals and do my studies along with weight training and basketball on less than 5 hours of sleep every night. 

I was never a partier and wasn't one of those guys who got drunk and did crazy stuff on weekends with his buddies. I just worked out, ate, did my work with my writing and mainly either was with my girlfriend or staying up all night and sleeping till noon or later. Still going to tahoe for family vacations and all that and barely sleeping even then and when I would really pass out at times, I could sleep for 12-13 hours straight. Now in my late 30's, I still have trouble going to sleep at night but not as bad as it use to be. What I have found is that when I do my animal workouts about an hour or so before bed, those were the ones that knocked me on my ass and I could easily pass out. 

I'm also one of those guys who just can't go to bed early no matter how tired I' am. I might drift off around 8 or 930 at times but it feels more like a nap cause I would just be ready to go again in under an hour after drifting off. Between 11-1am is when I'll finally be ready to sleep but in order to do that, I got to do a workout intense enough to get those endorphins kicking in and breathe hard enough that when my breath is calm after a period, I'll easily sleep. It's also not fun being a light sleeper either; going into a deep sleep is not easy for me and I have pretty good hearing that even sounds that are very mild can wake me up out of nowhere. 

It is a blessing that I have a ton of energy and some might envy that but if you have any opportunity to sleep when it's needed, be blessed to be able to do that. I'm not saying I wish being lethargic on anyone even myself, but to be able to sleep in a snap of a finger would be a godsend to someone who's hyperactive. If I'm really hyped up and need a great workout, I up the intensity of my animal workouts by doubling the number of reps/steps of my animal dice game. It's shorter but so vicious that once it's over, I'll be out like a light and one of those rare times I'll sleep heavily and not hear a damn thing or feel so relaxed it's easy to get comfortable. 

Sometimes I'll forget to workout and not sleep very well at all so, I just need to accept the fact that my most productive way of getting to sleep is through intense exercise and keep going until I feel worn out. Use your energy right and get rid of excess energy in the best way you can but do your best to not fall to drinking heavily or popping muscle relaxers and other pills or drugs to feel sleepy, that shit will do more harm than good.  

Were Isometrics A Major Key To The Great Gama's Undefeated Wrestling Record?

When it comes to Physical Culture and the study of classic or ancient fitness, the Great Gama's story is a great one. In this day and age, many in the fitness or even in MMA world have no idea who Gama was or even what he represented when it came to the significance of wrestling and its ideals based in Middle Eastern Culture. To give you an idea of who this guy was, in his career that spanned decades, he never lost a single fight/match ever and his wins were in the thousands. To this day, he's the only wrestler in history to have accomplished this. Two key ingredients to his success was his overwhelming conditioning and the use of Isometrics.

When you look at the history of this extraordinary athlete of the late 19th, early 20th century, you'll find that he's got a powerful bond with the method of Isometrics. He's credited the method for developing strength that is just absolutely phenomenal. It was even written in a book about another Physical Culture legend, Joseph Greenstein (AKA The Mighty Atom) who had met Gama on his journey with a Russian Strongman. As a boy at the time, Atom had witnessed the power and athletic ability of the mighty wrestler and asked the man himself how he could throw and outwrestle large opponents with ease. 

Now when you look at the reality of Gama's conditioning, the numbers he displayed for reps are grossly exaggerated, however; despite what he did, you can't knock what he was capable of and understand the magnitude of what he put himself through in order to be the most successful wrestler of his time if not the entire time wrestling has been around. The man use to tie a belt around a tree first thing in the morning and tried to throw it for quite a period of time. It was never possible mind you but when you push, pull, grip and squat in various positions for a few seconds to several minutes at a time, you're developing strength that is an added bonus if not critical to the actual movements themselves. 

The fact is, regardless of what you're training, the biggest factors are intensity and progressive resistance. Studies have shown that intense training can increase strength and muscle growth but also to add resistance and challenge the body's ability to adapt. It's hard but there are ways to be smart about it. Overall, Isometrics can give you abilities in your athletic endeavors that can give you advantages like Gama had and develop incredible strength, speed and agility. 

As we get older, it's still good to be athletic and have great energy, but the true purpose is to keep your body strong to prevent bone loss, muscle loss, osteoporosis and decreased strength in the tendons and ligaments. A key component to Isometrics is the benefit of developing the body's ability to prevent injuries as much as possible. So, were Isometrics the key to Gama's victories, who really knows for sure but I believe and many that know about him believe that with Isometrics, the strength you can possess takes on a whole new meaning to the word Superhuman.  

The Other Side Of Training

 Fitness is not only a passion of mine, it's a path I chose through trial and error along with understanding what I had done to get to this point and helping others see things from another perspective. Like with all things that go with the path you choose, you'll suffer some stuff along the way in order to appreciate and even learn what it took to survive them.

I wasn't really into working out per se when I was a teenager, it was just PE and a weight set in my dad's garage that I barely used or even took seriously. I was so bad that I got hurt far more often and just didn't care about safety or recovery. Being 15-16 years old and not knowing any better, it's crazy to think that looking back on it now, I really wished I knew then what I know now. Hell even as a young kid I hated running and my conditioning was so terrible that running a mile felt like torture and dogging it most of the time. One time our PE class did a run and we had to climb up this big hill right next to the field and then keep going along this trail and back. I was already out of it just doing that damn hill and ran pathetically with my classmates but about 100 yards to get back to the hill to go down, I collapsed in front of my PE coach and nearly blacked out. I was so exhausted and just wanted to die. 

Talk about some scary shit man lol. During my first year of weight training in High School, I was a sophomore at the time, we were in the weight room and I was going for the Bench Press. I had put maybe 155-160 on the bar and test out some reps (at least I thought that was it), well I put the wrong set of weights on and accidently put on like 235 or something like that and when I was about to bring the bar down, it shot straight down onto my lower chest and almost broke my ribs. I bruised my ribs pretty bad and had to go to the nurse. Hard to breathe and the only thing I could use was an ice pack. 

When I got out of High School and joined the Gold's Gym right down the road, I wanted to get stronger and lift more weight. No real conditioning to show for and basically learned on my own how to move weights that I read in one book of Ironman that featured some Dinosaur Training and Bodybuilding. I didn't have specific routines even though I tried and taking MetRx supplements. One day, I tried a circuit I saw either in the book or some other book I had, not even halfway in I was feeling overwhelmed and breathing so heavily that it didn't feel right. Went into the bathroom and in the stall I sat and nearly passed out. I was seeing spots and than it just went black for like a minute or 2. 

In gymnastics when I was 23 almost 24 in 2008, we were doing forward and backward rolls one day and I rolled back wrong and put heavy stress on my neck and spinal cord. It felt like a crowbar smacked my neck. I couldn't stand straight for a couple days and it scared me. I did remind myself to be grateful for the bridging training I did because if my neck wasn't strong as it was, it could've been way worse and after those couple days, I felt bruising but nothing severe and focused on little things to recover. 

So what's the point of me telling you guys this? It's definitely not to brag about injuries as some badge of honor, when scary shit happens, there's not a whole lot to be proud of in those situations. People tend to think that when it comes to certain things in fitness, yeah it looks easy and you handle certain things but you're not immune to everything. Injuries and even such physical and mental exhaustion that you black out can happen and if you're not careful, you can end up losing your life. I learned from those experiences to make myself aware that you don't need to push to such limits to make your training worthwhile. Become strong and conditioned with little to no injury sustaining issues. 

The other side of training is what many won't talk about and have this taboo idea that looking from that other side of the coin is bad and should be left alone. That is dangerous as hell and sure some will go to lengths to see what they're capable of but there's a price to pay. Nobody is like Duncan McCleod of the clan McCleod and can live forever. Make the most of what you're capable of and progress little by little. We never know what's coming so train to the best of your abilities and make the best life you can.  

Can You Bear It In The Wild For Even A Minute?

It's easy to forget that whether you're starting out or are a seasoned vet, fitness doesn't have to be complicated or so damn time consuming it becomes problematic in your life. First and foremost, we are responsible for what we make of ourselves and getting the most out of our existence and learning new things or adapting helps us grow. Throughout my fitness career, I've learned to create any workout I want no matter how long or short it is anywhere I go. It's a constant practice to find the creativity and develop the habit of doing something daily which at times can be hard because life throws us curveballs.

Lately, one of my things for daily exercise is to do something for one minute. That turned out to be the classic Bear Crawl; for one minute everyday I would do this exercise whether in the morning, after a workout or in the evening. One minute of this exercise is incredible. It has become such a good practice that I have now done it for 24 days straight. That's 24 minutes of just Bear Crawling. 

It doesn't have to be fast, just get on all fours and start walking. This exercise is great for waking the body up, neurons firing and feeling a slight endorphin high at the end. Not to mention it gets the heart rate up pretty quick and targets so many muscles it's not even funny. You don't have to do the Bear Crawl, you can pick other animals to do for a minute or you can do isometrics or a callisthenic exercise for a minute, it's up to you. I prefer animal movements for that one minute because it challenges the body to move differently and just getting up and playing. Calisthenics aren't playful to me, I enjoy them don't get me wrong but the idea of being wild and primal just feels right, it feels ancestral. 

Most think in order to accomplish a good workout, you need to do this for 10 minutes, lift for an hour, do 30 minutes on a treadmill or take some crazy aerobics or spin class around 3-4 times a week. This is more of a set up to fail because not everyone has time on their hands and have important things going on in their lives plus they might have kids, PTA meetings, conferences and jobs that just renders them dry at the end of the day. Instead, look into the idea that if you do some form of exercise for 60 seconds, it's a hell of a lot better than doing zilch. The funny thing about this is, one minute may feel like a cake walk but some exercises for that long may feel like the longest 60 seconds of your life. Once you get past a minute, go for 2 than 3 or spread your training throughout the day. You have more options than you were led to believe.

If you're up for it, start with Bear Crawling for 10 seconds each day for a week, than bump it up to 15, than 30 and keep adding till you get to a minute. You want to do something else, go for it. Hell if you want to bring it up to minute in stages, do 6 sets of 10 seconds and go from there, you can even make a tabata workout out of it (20 seconds on/ 10 seconds off for a max of 4 minutes) if you wish, make it work for you. One minute can change so many things it's mind bottling (channeling my inner Ron Burgundy) but seriously, what have you got to lose? Give it a chance and see where it goes, if you're still on the notion that you have to do something crazy for an hour or more 3 or more times a week than that's what you will end up or not end up doing. 

Go and be Wild with these books on Animal Workouts & Exercises

 Animal Workouts by David Nordmark

Animal Moves By Darryl Edwards

What's More Important? Good Looking Muscles Or Healthy Joints?

 Now this isn't to say you can't have both which can be attainable with the right tools to make it happen but many these days go gung ho for one but not the other and look at it from an external point of view most likely. With all the overwhelming info out there and never truly knowing who to trust when it comes to "Fitness Influencers" these days, how the hell can you make a bold decision to make something worth while without understanding the aspects of it?

There's nothing wrong with having a good physique, it can look like a billion bucks and maybe even land you a role or two in a Superhero flick but did you know they sometimes CGI areas of a person's body in those movies? Anyway, it does take hard work to develop a great body, for some it's easier on others but in the end, putting in the work is where it starts. The problem is especially in the day of Social Media, Magazines and other Digital Formats, they filter and alter various aspects of the human body in pictures to the degree where it looks practically unrealistic to even achieve. Along with many who photoshop and/or take steroids, diet pills and often very unsafe supplements, you're looking at a body that isn't made to be developed by the average person. 

Muscles can do wonders, but they won't always be able to save your ass. Some guys and even women develop a condition that's called Bigorexia which is to develop so much muscle that it looks as if it popped out of a comic book. They take steroids, TRT, Muscle Supplements and eat so much that it consumes and overwhelms the organs. That can kill you quicker than the amount of time tickets are sold for Wrestlemania. Along with that, many Influencers show off bodies that look great but have some very dark undertones in order to obtain it and to even try to maintain it, they brainwash people into believing it can be achieved through all these gadgets and $500 resistance bands or these workouts that would put the average person in the ER. It's ridiculous. 

Now, what about developing healthy joints, tendons & ligaments? They're internal and they don't show anything that is worth more than a pluck Nickle at times but they do far more than meets the eye. For people who have healthy and conditioned joints, many don't look like Bodybuilders or Crossfitters, they look almost "normal" or average but they've got more going on than you might think. The power behind those healthy joints is incredible when it is used in various ways. Did you know that some people over the age of 60 have a much healthier body than the 30 year old influencer that gets injured more than Wiley Coyote? That's because despite the appearance, the joints carry far more into a person's years from a long term point of view than those who only use fitness for a short period of time and lose themselves by the time they're 40. Imagine still feeling you're in in your prime than only having it for a few years and than it just poof disappears. 

I'm not saying all influencers and fitness stars can't do things into their golden years but many can't grasp the damage they can cause when they influence people to believe what they do is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that if you did this or that you can be just like them. It's that snake oil salesman mentality and can have dangerous consequences. As we get older, things do change and it can be very challenging to keep a level head on how to maintain a level of fitness and health especially when it comes to the organs and joints. If you can maintain a good physique, that's awesome and I'm happy you pulled it off, but also keep your eye on maintaining healthy joints because nobody wants to say "I've fallen and can't get up" by the time they're 50 and beyond. Be vigilant on taking care of your body both internally and externally. 

Overcoming Isometrics

Encyclopedia Of Bodyweight Training 

Lost Empire Herbs 

Jack And Jill Went Up The Hill To....

 Remember that old Rhyme? Well. times have changed and those two have been climbing that hill too long to fetch some aqua from that damn well. I bet they got in pretty decent shape from climbing that thing everyday but what if they decided to sprint up that hill? They'd be totally different in terms of physique wouldn't they? 

Sprint Training is a timeless and true art form of burning off fat faster than any other method period. Hill Sprints are the king of beasts when it comes to fat loss and quick muscle building. Run up one for 10-12 seconds, slowly walk down to the starting point and repeat, you'll be getting a hell of a workout. There's even research that says Hill Sprints are better than running on flat ground; I wonder why? Well, for one you won't be able to run at the speed you normally do on flat ground and two, you're looking at better joint application. You're also fighting more on a hill because the incline is resisting you; this in turn gives off better chances of developing the muscles.

Acceleration is different too so even at the starting point, you're only accelerating at the speed that a hill will give you. There's no doubt that even at top speed, you won't stay there for more than a few seconds and to even maintain it takes up more force than if you were to do it on flat ground. Some of the best athletes were Hill Sprinters and their conditioning was in the elite of the elite. Did you know that when Walter Payton ran those hills during the off-season, some athletes would join him and these guys weren't too bad either but even then, they had trouble keeping up with Sweetness and would quit before he even had a chance to feel fatigued. He even once said he would run hills trying to kill himself. Now for most people, you don't need to go to extreme lengths to get the most out of Hill Sprints.

How many should you do? That depends on where you're at. If you're just starting out and you can't even sprint yet? Be like Jack & Jill; climb the hill a couple times twice a week at best and increase the number of climbs by one every few weeks or so. When you feel ready, start jogging up and see how it feels, 2-3 times a week. When you're ready to start sprinting, start with 4 at first and you don't need to go further than a 10 second burst. 2-3 times a week do 4 sprints time for a little while, than bump up to 5 and so on. You don't need to do more than 10 sprints per workout and you don't need to sprint any further than 15 seconds worth. A sprint should be your top speed otherwise you're basically jogging up the hill. Even jogging up can get you in good shape but a sprint will separate the men from the boys. 

Start as Jack Jill going up to fetch a pale of water and work your way up to a mountain lion catching prey. Be prepared to see major changes in your body from Sprint Training. It'll be like looking at a totally different person.  

Unleash The Power Of Your Core

 Core Training these days is being thrown around like it has to mean something; for example, the six pack abs look or working towards training for a sport or god forbid Crossfit. Real Core Training is more than just some explosive exercise or working your ab muscles so hard into the ground that if you're not sore you didn't do it right, it's more about strengthening both internally and externally. It has more to do with training the body to prevent injuries as much as possible. Many exercises taught today are merely just muscle building and have no regard for being safe and realistic. 

From a realistic point of view, real life situations aren't going to call for how many sit-ups you can do or how many times you can toss a ball against a wall or even how long you can hold a plank. Things creep up on you and it's important to be prepared. If you have to move your body in awkward situations and your core muscles aren't in shape for them, you're not going to last long. Conditioning is more than just how long you can go, it's about going while staying strong in the process. 

Conditioning the mid section goes a long way than to just put on some muscle. Core Strength helps you move things in awkward positions without hurting yourself, it gives you power to take a hit and it even helps with flexibility and mobility. The Core is not just ab muscles; it's the obliques, the lower back, the pelvic area and others. My favorite forms of training the core is using the Ab Wheel or the Power Wheel to really tackle those areas in a short amount of time. Sit-ups don't really do it for me anymore and plus, they're boring as hell in my eyes. Isometrics while focusing on the Core is a hell of a lot better than sit-ups, you can do sit-ups until the cows come home and not truly get anywhere. Farmer's Walk or shouldering & walking with weight is a hell of a Core Builder because you need to be in control otherwise you're flopping all over the place. Animal movements force you to work the Core in order to stabilize you in those weird positions. 

Having million dollar abs may look awesome but if you turn slightly or can't move in the most basic format, you just wasted all that time and now you're hurt. There's a difference between being sore and being in agonizing pain; I've had both. When I do focus on Core Conditioning, I have a greater chance of being strong when the unexpected comes. That's the reality at times and it's important we make training the core a priority. I don't give a damn about a magazine cover or what people think what's better for your abs, I train to make myself as strong as possible so I don't get hurt very often and be able to do things that are fun to do. 

The idea is to train the body as a unit, not working a bunch of isolated muscles. When you work your Core, work it to the degree where multiple muscle groups work together to get the best out of it. Exercises from the Power Wheel give you real Core Strength & Conditioning in such a short amount of time it's not even funny. Get strong and remember, you have the power in you to unleash levels of strength you didn't know existed. 

One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Being sick sucks and that's a damn fact man. Over this past week, me and the wife ended up a little under the weather and tried to take it easy as much as possible. I did end up getting my wife's cold which could've been worse but I'm recovering pretty quickly since it's been less than a few days. She's healing up to the best of her abilities and she seems to be practically over it since she was being cute and a little mischievous yesterday.  Think this is the first time I've been sick for a little over a year or more but who's counting?

When it comes to illness or getting over something, I try to make it as natural as possible to heal up: Intermittent Fasting, Hydrate, Take Some Vitamins, Training And Rest. Training might sound a little odd and maybe even cuckoo you might say but it does have some benefit to be a little active to get some of the crap out of your system. I don't mean to go running sprints or going to the gym and moving some plates around but something light and about maybe no more than 40% of what you normally do but that also depends on the condition you're in, everybody is different. I like to work on some joint loosening, deep breathing as much as possible and do Isometrics with less intensity. 

Being sick is never fun and some get sick easier than others which is why we need to strengthen our immune system more often than just our muscles and the connective tissues. We can't completely prevent ourselves from getting sick but we sure as hell can find ways to heal/recover at a quicker rate with the right tools and info that gives as many individuals an advantage as much a possible. It's a known fact with me that I don't trust the medical industry all that much and go to a route that has alternatives than to just take a pill or pop something in order to feel better temporarily. That doesn't mean the medical industry is all terrible, yes it has flaws but it also has many success rates for many things. To me, it's important to stay healthy as much as I can, unless I'm in severe dire straits or need to see a specialist (which is already rare).

Take care of yourself the best way you can and let your body heal when it needs to. Even superheroes get sick sometimes so do what works best for you. I can give you ideas on certain supplements you can take but overall; rest up, hydrate when needed and give your body time to recover (it may not be that easy for many but do your best).

Elderberry

Immunity Page At Lost Empire

Mushroom Alchemy Tincture

Meditation Jedi Style

"The force is what gives the jedi his powers, it's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds, penetrates us and binds the galaxy together."- Obiwan Kenobi.

Ever since I was little, Star Wars has been one of my all time favorites but when I got older and getting into the ideas behind the "force" and all that, I started to understand the true purpose of it and what it means to have that spiritual feeling. Now I'm not into religion or anything like that for reasons I really don't think people care enough to hear or read but I do like the idea of certain meditation practices, breathing techniques, visualization and thinking differently. Meditation has many meanings but the true and sole purpose of it is to have the ability to be empty in the mind and form a connection between yourself and the universe in the present moment.

Some people think in order to meditate, you have to sit or stand in a specific position, make your hands a circle and just empty everything in your brain; that's not as easy to do nor is it the only way. Some form of meditation is by moving or doing things that just have your mind go completely blank and all you're doing is just being. Lifting weights can be meditative, moving like a wild animal can be meditative (just look at guys like Rickson Gracie) or whatever. It's the ability to be in such control of your body and mind that it becomes one with everything around you. I'm not very good at sitting when I meditate, I mainly lay down in a comfortable position and just focus on my breath. Lately, I've been listening to Ambient Sounds and videos with amazing visuals of nature and even Jedi videos.

I would sometimes listen to this meditation I found on youtube that sounds like a Star Wars soundtrack with music and sounds of nature mixed together that is just awesome to listen to and just breathe into. It's about an hour long, other videos have 10-30 minute skits of the same or similar music. I downloaded it into an MP3 on my phone and now I just listen to the sounds. I've also downloaded into an MP3 a Jedi Meditation Guide where a guy talks you through the process and uses quotes and references from Star Wars, it's about 10 minutes long and although he sounds like a robot at times or his broken english is painfully obvious, I just listen to what he says, breathe and just let everything sink in. Done it a couple times now and each time, I feel great, relaxed and more present.

There are books out there that uses various practices like Daoism, Buddhism and others in the words of Star Wars that is actually really cool. Some are catchy and/or tacky a bit but they also share great messages. Some of the references you might need to have some knowledge of the franchise in order to understand but the messages are pretty direct and make good points on meditation, how to be a good person, what to look for when it comes to "energy vampires" or applying certain Jedi Practices in the real world. No, you don't learn to make objects float in the air or use the jedi mind trick to manipulate someone or even shoot lightning out of your fingers like Count Dooku or Emperor Palpatine; but you do learn how to be mindful, practice doing good deeds whenever possible, relax the mind the body often and making good choices. 

Meditate like a Jedi or in some cases like the Gray Jedi (A jedi who finds balance in both the light and dark side but doesn't succumb to the evils the dark side creates). 

The Jedi Mind

The Dharma Of Star Wars

The Jedi Path

Be More Yoda

The Way And The Power Of The Force

Active While Rehabbing Little Injuries

 It can be easy to want to take a day off of training; especially if you're really sore or have minor injuries. It can also be easy to just drop things and just "take it easy" for a day or two. I look at it as, if I took it easy or even too easy, something won't feel right. I've had my fair share of minor things and broke through skin or worked a little too hard but I have always believed that being active helps with recovery.

A couple days ago, I pushed a little too hard doing a deck of cards workout and ended up pulling muscles around the right side of my lower back and hip areas. Luckily it wasn't severe enough to not even get off the floor or just being in pure agony on a scale of 11 out of 10 but I did feel it and knew something wasn't right. I just went with my instincts and rehabbing those areas for now doing little things. It's not the same as taking it easy and doing nothing, I'm not programmed that way. So far, just doing things like 1 minute bear crawls, isometrics and joint loosening have been a huge help. 

Sometime before that, I did a live video on Tik Tok doing a workout that I made up and only did it the one time. The whole workout took about 30 minutes including rest periods. Here's what I did......

-10 Round Superset Of 

10 Strikes Of The 25 lb Sledgehammer

1 Thor Catches Loki W/ 73 lb Hammer (Walking the hands up and down with a heavy sledgehammer)

-5 sets of 10 each arm of High Pulls W/ 70 lb Kettlebell

-Finisher was swinging the 15 lb Indian Clubs as many times as possible

It was a pretty hard workout and really got my cardio up along with strength training, plus I was doing it in less than freezing weather. I got some bad discomfort in my low back the next day and had to rehab for a few days which consisted of mainly joint loosening, some bridging and animal moves at a slower pace. Things happen and you have to expect the unexpected at times. Some people just shrug it off and think nothing of it but others might have some discomfort or a little minor injury that will heal quick and treat it as so dramatically epic you'd think they should win an Oscar for how they performed the feeling.

We never know what will creep up on us and we sometimes get so enthralled on how to treat an injury that we don't know if it'll lead to something very severe later or it'll just be gone in a flash. The important thing is to avoid injuries as much as possible but not be so damn cautious that it causes fear. Now if you have severe injuries and there's no way around them, that's a whole other story. Train with the intention that you are conditioning the body to be resilient but also be mindful of taking care of yourself if something were to happen.

As we get older, being resilient is far more important than looking like a million bucks. With the right tools and nutrition, you can look like a fitness model at 40 or 50 but if you get hurt too frequently and your body tends to get injured quicker, looking good is not going to save your ass. Train to be resilient and strengthen the body to the degree where breaking down is less likely to happen. Train with intent but be safe in the process as well.

The Indestructible Body By Logan Christopher 

Overcoming Isometrics By Matt Schifferle

The Wildest Workout In The Wilderness

 It's awesome to want to challenge yourself outside of what you normally can do. It's an opportunity to learn what you're capable of and making the most of what is possible yet also rewarding. Every now and then (sometimes more often) when I really have some energy to use up in my workouts, I take my animal dice game workout and double the amount of reps/steps per animal. This really hits your conditioning hard and it doesn't take long before you feel like you want to die. 

Although I like using reps/steps, you can make it however you want; yards, meters, feet or even inches for that matter. Use your imagination and see what makes this workout so fun to do. I always feel great after a workout like this. The longest I have gone with this was about 45 minutes with little to no breaks but there are workouts that make 10 minutes feel like an eternity. Imagine doing up to 40 reps on some moves and up to 80 on others, that's nuts man. Here's how it goes: You roll once for an animal and than another for the amount of steps or distance you have to do. Say you land on Bear Crawls and you roll a 17 (The dice goes up to 20), that means you have to take 34 steps of the Bear Crawl. 

I've had these animals memorized on that dice for many years now but I never do the same workout twice which is the beauty of this, you never know what will come up and that helps you to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. Nature can be pretty to look at and be in awe of, but it's also unpredictable and can creep on you at any moment; that's where workouts like this can really tackle your senses, your awareness, your strengths, your weaknesses and the ability to be on alert at all times because in the jungle, you have to know how to survive.

It's a hell of a ride and puts your conditioning to the test. Just a few minutes of this will take out anyone and you'll be huffing and puffing within less than 5 rounds. When you start to breathe really heavily, take a walk around to catch your breath. Some rounds get me winded fast and I need to take at least a couple minutes to catch my breath, other times it takes more than a few to get me winded and I'll just keep going. When I need a breather, I walk and practice my deep breathing until everything subsides and go again. For the longest time, once I felt done, I left it but now when I've had enough, I want to finish it off with Bear Crawls to really feel done. Since I've done that, I've had greater satisfaction that I kicked my ass in this workout. 

There is no limit to how many rounds you do so do what is possible that day. Some workouts, 10 rounds is all you can do, others you might go up to 20 or 30 so never look at it as "oh I need to do this many rounds to get in shape" or "That felt too short, did I do enough", this workout is so random at times that you never even know if you're doing more upper body or lower body. Let it happen and see what you can do and play around with because that's the point of this crazy workout is to have fun. 

For books/kindle on animal exercises check these out.....

Animal Workouts

Animal Moves: How To Move Like An Animal To Get You Leaner, Fitter, Stronger And Healthier For Life

Hyperactivity And Animal Movements

Many kids can be very hyperactive and some have ADHD  and need some sort of stimulant or activity to get that excess energy out. I've seen many little ones over the years just run around with so much fire and imagination it's almost unbelievable how some adults can keep up. Now when I say stimulant, I'm not saying put them on Ritalin or some kind of drug to keep them focused, I don't believe in drugs and I was on Ritalin during the first decade of my life.

Hyperactivity is due to the abnormal or extreme case of moving that can be restless and overstimulation of the brain that causes the nerves to keep moving the body. We were meant to move and when you have a case of a child or even in an adult where focus can be difficult for certain tasks either during school or at a job, movement is better than a drug but also we have been told in school, sitting still is a requirement and we have to pay attention to the task at hand at all times. Sitting still isn't just difficult for some, it can be downright murderous to the mind and when you're hyperactive, trying to suppress the nerves is just nuts. 

I loved playing outside when I was a kid, playing ball, tag, building stuff and even rough housing a little but that gave me the stimulation my body needed cause when you're full of energy and don't know how to bring it down and have those endorphins kick in, it can cause someone to have insomnia or restless leg syndrome. When it comes to putting kids on drugs like Adderall or Ritalin or things of that nature, yes it can help someone stay focused and form an ability to control the nerves in your body but it also can have an effect on the nervous system to shut down and possibly cause depression and not have the ability to use the energy needed that brings in those "happy" hormones and you're left with this near "zombie" like state where you're too focused and undermining the energy a kid needs or even an adult for that matter.

If you ever get a chance, watch the films Bigger, Faster, Stronger & Prescription Thugs to understand the drugs that people use to get ahead in their endeavors that include Adderall that kids in high school trade off on. I've believed for nearly 17 years that movement and exercise is one of the best medicines if not right at the top of the list for best medicines to help with depression, insomnia, hyperactivity, motor skills and strengthening the nervous system. It's a natural form of therapy. I know some people have stronger and much different circumstances than others and it's not always in Black & White but to me, going straight to drugs especially in little kids is just a giveaway of saying "you're destined to be addicted." 

I have played around with mimicking animals when I was little but when I got older and discovered systems based on moving like a wild animal, it became clear at least in my experience that this type of training helps a lot more than what the drug pushers give credit for. In my experience, it's an amazing relaxer and gives off endorphins naturally. It teaches you how to handle the body in awkward positions, it stimulates the brain to help control the nerves and muscles needed to move without falling on your face and pulverizes that excess energy to help you focus better and feel good as you continue on your day. It's my go to therapy to help me sleep since I've been known to be a night owl. A few rounds of my animal dice game, some deep breathing and within minutes I'm practically out like a light. 

I'm one of those people who hates drugs or even over the counter stuff (unless it's a supplement I'm interested in) so much that I won't even take cough drops or pain pills. I hated it when I was forced to take things when I was little and when I was in the hospital for my injuries, I felt guilty taking the stuff in the IV. When I had those muscle issues after the car accident last year, the only thing I took for them was Tylenol and after a few days, I tossed them because I felt like I was relying on them too much. I worked on joint loosening & flexibility training and that did more for me than the Tylenol ever did and I felt good about myself. 

Animal Movement or even regular exercise can be a great form of therapy for hyperactivity and it provides stimulation needed to help focus on the things you can do. If I was able to train this way when I was a kid, who knows where my focus could've gone. It doesn't take very long and has benefits that both kids and adults can appreciate. Get stronger both mentally and physically as naturally as possible. Be safe and be aware. 

Had Enough Yet?

 Sometimes we ask ourselves "Am I doing enough in my workouts?", "Am I getting enough reps in?" or "Will this be enough to make me stronger?" The truth is, we all don't always feel satisfied when we train. It can be a constant battle of being able to do enough. Some just push on and not realizing that not only have they done enough, they go too far beyond it and end up hurting themselves. There are those as well that just don't know any better and are so brain dead that they don't even understand why they're killing themselves in the name of exercise.

We are more capable than we believe to be and some of us are still learning this and figuring out what makes us stronger and doing amazingly awesome things. Now, we also come to a point in time where we just tell ourselves "Ok, this is enough for now" and we move on or do a little better the next time around. Feeling satisfied for some means they've done it, they've made it through and they're happy with it. For others, being unsatisfied means they're unhappy and feel like a failure or they may have done all they could but it just didn't feel right. It happens sometimes, more often than we care to admit.

When I started out with the Hindu Push-ups, Hindu Squats and the Bridge, I just wanted to see what I was capable of and just being able to rep out the best I could. I became frustrated when I was trying to satisfy the standards that the people demonstrating them saying you have to do this many push-ups, that many squats and hold this much time in the bridge. When I stopped trying to hold other people's standards on a pedestal, I felt free, in control to see what my standards were because my standards are what matters. Because of this, in various workouts, I've done more than 200 Hindu Push-ups, 500+ Squats and held a bridge for three minutes without thinking anything about it. Once I felt satisfied with my standards, I moved on.

When you hold your own standards, you're free to challenge yourself to your levels on your terms. When someone else sets standards for you, who're you really holding up to? Sure in some cases, when someone else sets a standard and you accomplish it (or even survive), it can feel great especially if the person who set them is a mentor or someone you highly admire and you believe in what they're trying to help you accomplish but the truest form of satisfactory is when you set your own standards and you make the choice of doing enough. 

This is more on developing your own fitness programs and such and setting goals or standards of training for yourself, this does not mean that if you're training for law enforcement, military, firefighter training or hell if you're in the damn CIA, you're training for specific purposes and there are standards and tests that need to be up to a certain qualification otherwise you need to up to the task or you won't make it. If you're training at a gym or at home or wherever, you can set your own goals and it's on you whether you fail or not or feel the satisfaction because you made that choice. 

These days when I train, I sometimes fail at attempting certain things or just had enough because my body or mind just isn't there that day or getting through it and had enough that day. Some days, I feel great just getting a thing in or two, I make the choice of what I want to do and if I fail, it happens, if I feel I've had enough, that's my choice. Because of this, I don't feel as sore, I recover naturally and I strive to be a little better each time. Holding onto someone else's standards that don't meet with yours is a recipe for disaster and you have an opportunity to make your own standards and learn what it takes to make things better for your body and mind. There are plenty of things I can't do that people have set a standard for but there are just as much that they can't do what I have done, that's the true nature of doing enough for you, you can do great things, make it enough for you to grow and feel that you made something satisfactory. 

Going Wild Makes The World Go Round

Some people have a love/hate relationship with their workouts. It's never easy going through a routine and getting the most out of. Sometimes, we just want to let loose and not be able to think. Letting our training become meditative in my eyes is the ultimate goal; sure we can go for time, how many reps or sets and go for quality as best as possible but yet when it becomes more of a meditation than anything, it leads to the big picture.

Animals are incredible to watch and the way they move, the skill sets, the ability to catch prey or escape a predator is just fascinating. From National Geographic to the Planet Earth Series, watching and mimicking wild animals is just so meditative. When I play around with my Animal Dice Game workout, I don't have to think much and can transform into a different animal at any given time. I have done this workout so many times, the order of the exercises is planted into my brain forever. Like the young superhero Beast Boy from the Teen Titans, being able to mimic just about any animal is literally like second nature to me. It's a language, a creative outlet to hone my instincts and my learning to expect the unexpected. 

My favorite times to do an animal workout is either in the morning or at night, when I do it at night, I would do as many rounds as I can until I feel like I've had enough. It gets me out of that jittery state and into a much calmer state of mind. Once the endorphins kick in and my breathing gets down to normal, it makes it easier to fall asleep and letting everything sink in. If I were to do it in the morning, it wakes up my brain and have greater focus and feeling alert. It's a moving meditation. 

Many people in sports or fitness see animal type movements as warm ups before they get into the big workouts. It's great to even warm up with them but to do them as themselves, it becomes a different workout. It channels your natural state to be with nature and using the body in a greater sense of being. In the last few years, people have gotten into things like Animal Flow, Ginastica Natural and Primal type training to learn a sense of blending systems together and mixing ideals like Gymnastics, Capoeira, Yoga and Martial Arts which is awesome and I would at times do those but there's nothing like mimicking wild animals as closely as possible without the flair and "spectacle" of movement training. It's a whole different feel and getting a true sense into the art of animal movements and closely resembling the imitations. 

Without question, wild animals are the kings and queens of bodyweight training and I hope more people take on this kind of training as part of their training regimen because it blends the imagination and develops skills that could be used later in life especially as we age. Not saying at 80 years old you should run 100 yards doing a bear crawl but you can learn how to move and strengthen the brain and strengthen your motor skills along with developing a stronger sense of coordination and focus. It's also fun as hell and it doesn't take up a ton of time. A goal in my lifetime is to be able to play with grandkids in this fashion and stay strong into the golden years. I never want to stop being wild in my training, it just makes life a little better.   

Training Through Grief

We all deal with grief in our own way; sometimes we dive into our work, we distract ourselves by being around others or go somewhere that makes us feel a little brighter, some of us even train to push through the emotional pain. It's still hard to accept that it has been 10 days since the passing of Bud Jeffries and the amount of love and influence he had on people during his life that are now dealing with this tragic loss. I still get little jolts of emotions whenever I write or think of him. 

Since he died, I have written on facebook, some stories about him when he was up here in Idaho from stories just days before my wedding to my most recent one about our trip to a Wolf Sanctuary sometime after we performed a show together. It's also a bit eerie to me that I'm now the same exact age as Bud was when I met him in 2011. His influence on me and others are mostly indescribable even though we try to tell what kind of influence or impact he had on us. 

Through this process, it has been a battle a time or two to get training in or just little workouts. The thing is, no matter how much I was feeling, I know deep down he would've wanted me to keep doing what I love to do and make the most of what's possible and be victorious in the midst of tragedy. That's what he wanted for all of us who train or perform feats or whatever in our lives to do because he would've done the same thing. The power he had and the energy he put on us can never truly be matched in the sense that when you trained either with him or through his videos and books, that energy made you feel stronger, almost invincible and you had abilities you didn't think were possible. That's the kind of person he was.

Most of my workouts recently had been short or micro throughout the day, doing little things here and there but one workout really stood out in this time where I wanted to do something that I know I can do but also have it be challenging enough to push through. In one workout, I did 500 Step Ups in under 22 minutes (21:51) which I had never done before or did that many in that amount of time. I used a countdown method and didn't rest the entire time. I wanted to quit a couple times but it felt like Bud's spirit was right beside me and telling me to keep going and that I got this. It wasn't really like a cheering me on type of thing but I sensed that he was just pushing me to be the best I can be and to not quit on what I can finish. 

Other workouts were some carrying & step ups, chest expander training, working with the TNT Cables and now just getting back into my animal workouts. I did some demo videos I posted on Social Media, swinging a sledgehammer like a mace, fingertip push-ups, hindu squats, lifting my 70 lb Kettlebell with three fingers in each arm and even doing push-ups on three fingers of both arms. I guess you can call those micro exercises or workouts and than doing a few other things. Some of these just came to me to do and others were to honor my friend and mentor because it's something I love and that's the biggest moral of this piece is that to do what you love and share it with the world like he did. 

This world is a little darker now that he's gone but in the words of Art Lafleur as the Ghost Of Babe Ruth in the movie The Sandlot, "Heroes can be remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid and you'll never go wrong." Bud was our hero and his legend will live on till the end of time. 

Has Our True Strength Potential Revealed Itself?

 We all have great strength in us and we all have incredible gifts that we don't always know we posses. The true potential in ourselves can be fearful to understand but it also goes without saying that we overcompensate and let ego take over and not give a second thought to what is the real deal and what we want others to see. Strength is more than physical and it never hurts to have a great amount of physical strength but our true potential is where we channel our emotions, mental intentions and physicality into one super power as oppose to separate entities.  

It has been said we can only access very little of our true strength at it's peak. What if we learned to channel our strength that it goes higher than we have always perceived to be. Some people learn visualization techniques, breathing patterns, controlled emotions and what the real intentions are; what if we can learn all those things at the same time, not just little pieces here and there? If anything, we are our own worst critic and when we fear ourselves or overwhelm the ego, it can be dangerous and keep us from reaching our true potential that is just waiting to explode.

This is where the incredible system CoreForce Energy comes into play. The ability to access the body and mind's abilities to strike with such ferocious strength, speed, endurance and flow that it couldn't be comprehended by other means. What if we had abilities to lift a little heavier with more reps, run even 1/10th faster than our top speed, hit harder and with greater precision  in a fight, have greater endurance and gas out an opponent with ease or even go up a flight of stairs like it was almost walking on air? CFE can show you all those things with simple terms just about anyone can understand and have lesser chances of getting injured. 

We all want to know how powerful we really are but there's always something holding us back and it could be anything, more often than not it's ourselves because we don't understand the true nature of who we are inside and out. In the wise words of Yoda "you must unlearn what you have learned", we need to channel our true strengths into understanding the harnessing and the applications to open the door to ourselves. It's about taking what we know and apply it from a different perspective to reveal what is the real deal in how we create the real strength within us.

I know this all sounds like Hocus Pocus bullshit, I thought so too but I felt like I needed to learn this anyway because most of my life has been finding out the truest form of myself. It's still going on but have learned so much from CFE that it's gotten smaller and smaller about finding my true strengths. Because of the techniques I learned and applying them to certain aspects in my day to day life, my mind has not just absorbed what it has learned but also expanded to areas I never thought could go. I may have changed how I train over the years but I never truly stopped expanding my discoveries into CFE and it has helped me in the long run than anything else.

I still feel my physical strength hasn't peaked and things are just getting started. That's where the true power of CFE lies; when you apply the techniques, it reveals your strength in ways you didn't think was possible and potentially expands that strength over and and over as time goes on. The power we have in ourselves is far stronger than we think it is. We have to expand ourselves in order to open those doors to what has been there all along. It's almost as if you can create such strength and power in the blink of an eye it'll blow someone's mind. Does it take practice? Of course it does like anything else but it creates such an atmosphere that it becomes addicting to learn. 

Find out for yourself and see if CoreForce Energy can WORK for you. You have the potential to see results in less than a day as opposed to what someone can see in weeks, months or even years of training. It is THAT awesome. 

Coming To Grips With A Fallen Brother

 

Some say in life you should never meet your heroes because they just might disappoint you. This case is not only the opposite but on a scale many couldn't possibly imagine. Not only did me and quite a number of people meet our hero, he never disappoint, he made life that much more gratifying and beautiful to live in. To say my heart and my soul is now torn is not only an understatement, it also can't be hidden. 

Bud Jeffries has left this earth and not only is it something I never thought I'd say or find out so soon in this lifetime, it just doesn't sound real or believable. This past Friday, I get a message on Instagram from Mike "The Machine" Bruce showing what Bud's Wife wrote to Dennis Rogers that Bud had died and like those times you hear in movies I just screamed "no, no, no" and just lost it. I literally felt my whole being come crashing and being in such shock that my emotions just poured out of me just like when I found out my stepfather died the same exact day 19 years apart. 

He was more than a man among men, the strongman's strongman and an athletic barbarian, he was a rare soul that deserved to be here longer than he should've. A man with such compassion, lust for life and a presence that would make anyone in a room or even a whole building take notice. There was something very few in this crazy world had and that was the will to showcase what it means to be a human being with such genuine love for others that can't be matched by any other means. He was that man and there won't be anyone like him again.

I had known about Bud since about 2005-2006 and maybe spoke to him once or twice for a few years after that but I officially met him at a seminar in San Jose, CA that he hosted with Logan Christopher in April of 2011. The first time I looked over and saw him, it was like seeing a master of different arts walk in and just flood the place with energy that just made you feel powerful inside. I had never known anything like that before or since. I got to know him a little while we took a lunch break one day and sat with him and Noah at a 5 Guys Burger Joint across the way. It was the casual asking of questions and what he's like and all that, wanted him to give me some pointers on some things and during the seminar, I couldn't help but wanting to learn from him and I felt at times I annoyed him but he never showed it and he was humble. 

Over a period of 2 and a half years since that time, I occasionally messaged him and seeing how he was doing and then I found out he was doing a show in Spokane, WA which is less than an hour from here in Idaho and I jumped at the chance to have dinner with him and hang out. He came by and we did some training together and went to a Texas Roadhouse. This is where the ball started rolling and spending real one on one time and learning from one another. This was just before Thanksgiving in 2013 and after he did his time, he came back again and spent two nights at my house. This was February of 2014 and we did three shows together in Coeur D' Alene, Athol & Sandpoint. He did his anti-bullying speeches, feats and other things, I got to perform some Phonebook Tearing and Bent a 60 penny nail in a nose to mat bridge at least once or twice. It was a bonding experience that will never leave me. He took me under his wing and became brothers by that point. 

I learned so much from him and he became more than just a role model, he became a part of my family. He put knowledge and wisdom on me that nobody can ever take away and when I wasn't being true to myself when I would talk to him, he didn't let up on me and told me how much value I had and that I'm an amazing person with such strength inside and out and never ever judged me. Very few in my life ever gave me that and showed such compassion and understanding. He was the hero I was looking for after my stepdad died, it took me 8 years to find him and not only did it happen, it made me feel I truly belonged to something and keep that fire inside me to do what I love and share it. 

Years later, I was engaged and Bud was the first man I wanted to call and ask to officiate my wedding. He not only agreed but also because the theme we were going for, he dressed up literally like Obi-Wan Kenobi. It turned more of a laugh into a thing where I couldn't believe he would do that for us. When he came up here to do the wedding, I was such a wreck and emotions were all over the place, he was calm and collected to keep me on track and helped me with training, giving me ideas to enhance what I wanted to do and kept me distracted in a way that regardless of what was going on with me during those 4 days, I was ready to be married and give everything I had. I couldn't have done it without him and I will be convinced of that for the rest of my life. 

He ended up leaving a day early because his wife Heather had some physical issues back home and Bud couldn't wait any longer to be there for her. That's a real man folks, that's love beyond reasoning. The last time I ever saw him was when I hugged him, thanked him for everything and he drove off. 

Little did I know that would be the very last time I got to spend time with him up close. It's just so damn eerie and unbelievable he's not here in this physical form anymore. I wish he was still here to know that after me and my wife adopt a son, Bud would be in his middle name. I want my son to know who he was and that not only was Bud Superman to me and others around the world, that I would pass on what I learned from him and do everything in my being to be as compassionate, understanding and love even remotely as much as he showed to me and the people in his life.  

The last conversation we ever had was on messenger and we had talked about how he was doing and what he wanted to change to be better not only for himself but for anything else. He would like and put a little note on my videos every now and then which I always appreciated and will miss. The last set of words he ever wrote to me was wishing me and my family Merry Xmas after I wished him the same. I love you my brother, I will miss you everyday and know that you were and still are my guardian angel, the man I needed in my life and that your legacy will live on forever in the hearts of everyone you touched. I'm grateful and honored for everything you taught me and that I have Heather's back always whenever. 

RIP Bud, say hi to Noah for us and we all will share your stories and antics for all. 

The Young Gun And The Wise Man

 Generation after generation, we learn from various people from all walks of life about all kinds of things. The young and eager find out certain aspects of life through a format and sometimes can be a pain in the ass and wants to move along faster, sometimes they take patience to heart and slowly progress but at the end, takes the lessons and goes on his own path. The wise man, who has taken lessons from his years of being taught or in some cases self-taught and passes on to the next generation and finds certain aspects of the emotional investment. 

It doesn't matter if you're young or old, there's always something we can learn from somebody and we learn things that didn't always involve google or social media. People have a history to such a degree that at times we can't always comprehend because of their background, what they learned and what they applied. Now it can be rough to understand who we learn from or what we have become because of our upbringing, what we did or didn't do and if we become similar or the complete opposite of whom we learned from. 

In my life, I learned from a good number of people from friends to family, to complete strangers and mentors along the way. I learned what works, what not to do and observed people from different perspectives. I'm still learning all these things and for good reason. There are some people in life that we shouldn't learn from but as fate would have it, we learn anyway and we find out in ourselves if we become the young gun or the wise man or both. In a literal sense, there's always going to be a young kid looking for something and is eager to learn either from someone or learn and wise up on his own but the wise man however is different because he's learned so much and has either stopped learning or has a continuation from another perspective. What has he truly learned that has made him wise and is he wise from a general stand point or to something specific which is a very different ball game.

Sometimes, the people we learn from, we become the complete opposite of  because what they taught us can have major consequences in life and something didn't feel right or they just taught us to be an asshole when in fact that's not always what you want to be in life. Sometimes we are taught in another extreme direction that it can be confusing as hell and it's hard to form a decision of using that extreme teaching or forming something different. There needs to be some kind of balance where we can shift from one thing to another in the right format but often times we tend to shift in more of a direction that we didn't have a choice in or were pushed in that direction because it was meant to happen at a certain point in time.

Now because there are people from all walks of life, they'll teach you things you'll either take with gusto and wisdom or shrug it off and go somewhere else. Hell there are people out there today that'll tell you that if you wear a mask you're not a man, you're a pussy but there are others that'll tell you wearing a mask keeps you safe, in my opinion, it's your choice and it shouldn't be held against you if you make a choice that works for you. Some are wise enough to make a choice and move forward with it and maybe things will happen and maybe they won't. Others are the young guns who are still learning and figuring out what works and what doesn't for them. 

I say, be a bit a bit of both, be wise in some aspect but also have the mindset of a young gun and learn things that you can use later on. We all learn something and we're either going to grow from it or it'll eventually die out and we go somewhere else, either way, life will throw you a curveball at the most unexpected times.

The Joy Of Creating Workouts At Just About Any Given Time

 It's never easy to find a good time or place to train but when you understand the fundamentals and have studied many forms of exercise, you'll be able to create any workout no matter where you are. Most understand the concept of working out at home, a park, a hotel room, on the staircase of a building or on top of a skyscraper like in Chicago or New York for crying out loud but it becomes much more than just where you train.

Time for the most part is an illusion and it's more of a construct to how we apply economically and restrict the human mind to thinking we have so little time for anything other than the aspects of work and financial responsibilities. For those who want to play along, we have 24 hours in a single day, that's 1440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. Think about that, when you look at time from another perspective, you will find that even the fewest minutes or even 30 seconds can be used to do something that will make you stronger, healthier and/or fit regardless of where you are. 

We have become an exhausted society where time is used for some of the most ridiculous things, even in fitness it can make you go bonkers how crazy certain workouts can turn someone into a raving lunatic or such a fanatic that it consumes their soul in the most negative ways. Yes in many ways, we can and have made things productive and thrived but on the deepest level, we still have a lot to learn on how "time" is being spent. 

I have studied enough methods of exercise that no matter what environment I'm in, I can find a way to train and so can you. The question is, what could you do regardless of where you are at any given time? It's not easy and you have responsibilities and you have exhausted your brain or body from whatever your job is, the kids, the elderly in-laws, the mortgage, the laundry, the bills, the overwhelming abundance of craziness, you still have a choice to do something that could work for you. 

Out of all the years I've been training, I wasn't always motivated or ready or even happy to train and I was in some shitty moods as well but I made a choice. That's what it comes down to is making a choice. I love to train so much that even after breakups, fights, deaths, tired from moving, having no sleep or overslept, cuts, bruises, minor injuries, frustrations, anger and going through anxiety and traumas, I always made a choice to do some kind of training whether it was mediocre or highly intense. 

My joy comes from the love I have and what it gives back that brings the rewards. I can be in a crappy neighborhood scared out of my mind or sit in an arena or stadium around 10-45,000 people with bits of moments of anxiety and still do a workout without anyone knowing. I've done workouts on a plane next to strangers. If you find joy in something, it can help you find a positive solution regardless of how you feel, where you are and how to channel certain situations. 

Make choices that show how you can define yourself and make the best of them. Some days will be harder than others, some will feel like a breeze and there will be days that you have no clue as to what you can come up with and it becomes instinctive more than just thinking about it. Find joy in something and use it for nearly any given time. Time is just an illusion but the joy in something is a choice you get to make. Hope it's a good one. 

Unusual Conditioning Style

 Focusing on conditioning shows off many benefits but because there are so many programs, where do you go to find top of the line methods for it that doesn't involve some textbook trainer that wouldn't last in a real world conditioning setting? Many have made fitness complicated because of all the confusion and overwhelming aspects of what is told what works and what is pure bullshit. Fitness Influencers, celebrity trainers, cookie cutter programs and countless gadgets in infomercials have taken the core of strength and conditioning and made it into a big pile of useless crap that many in the world couldn't handle if they tried.

Simplicity is the key to real results by far. Anyone who says otherwise are probably the same people who think crossfit is a long lasting method of exercise, it really isn't. Becoming a stronger human being takes real effort, but it doesn't have to go as far as the amount of time those people on "The Biggest Loser" were training. When you learn simple programs, you learn the true ins and outs of what real training is all about. Notice I didn't say to follow a program, I said to learn one; when you follow a program, that's something entirely different. Following means you do step by step exclusively for that program and when you're doing something different outside of it, it doesn't have the same benefit. When you learn, you find things that format something later on like how to properly do a technique on something and use it to program something for yourself later. 

It is important to work an exercise with proper technique or teaching the body to respond to a technique but everybody is different so mechanics don't always work the same way. When you can train with great intensity but also develop a system that creates an injury-proof body as much as possible, you're forming what the body's potential can really aspire to. 

Earlier today, I tried a workout that was inspired by Bud Jeffries' Power Building Isometric Superset Program  where I did a movement exercise and supersetted with an Isometric exercise. This is a unique outlook on how to develop a different level of conditioning and combining things together to create strength at a greater pace. Here's what I did.....

Farmer's Carry the Darth Vader Kettlbell (70 lbs.) 2 times (1 revolution each hand)

Than immediately picked up and Bear Hugged a 50 lb Sandbell in a Wall Sit for a minimum of 30 seconds or more

Did this for several rounds (around 6 or 7) just to get an idea of what really hits. The idea is to work a tough exercise and than hold an isometric to build that extra level of fatigue. Breath control is tested big time on this and this really hits the whole body including your grip, core stabilization, muscle activation, leg conditioning and your nerves. Although it's a lung burner, I also felt lighter and faster afterwards and had some pep in my step. When it came to the wall sit, I did the best to control my breathing and really feel my legs and the squeezing of the sandbell as I held it until about 70-75% fatigue and keep going. This really targets different aspects of physical and mental conditioning yet it's so simple to do. 

When it comes to training, learn how to do certain things but make your style unique and set your own rules of bettering yourself. It shouldn't take you hours to train, less than 30 minutes would be enough to kick your ass if you do it right. Train with conviction and focus and things will fall into place.