Why I Stopped Talking In My Youtube Videos

The attention span of today isn't all that great and for a lot of reasons. A major thing is from Social Media where you have so many things to view that it can be hard to keep up and the truth is, you can't keep up so what's to really focus on. Some live their whole lives and document every single fucking thing in order to feel that they'll be remembered. Hell being a celebrity seems to be far easier today than it was even 25 years ago. All you have to do is make one little comment or show some skin and wham bam, many will come and will either love you or hate you.

Some people will go on youtube and get things off their chest and rant about how much the world sucks and how men are so weak that they can't take a blow to the face by a feather. Others may feel threatened because of something someone said that was not all that was the truth yet took it to the extreme believing that person is trying to bruise their business. Get real bro. I used to talk quite a bit in my videos over the years and quite frankly, I had enough for certain reasons.....

I don't have a ton of patience to explain shit to people about exercises that could raise more questions than answers. Talking to an audience isn't my strong suit and don't look at the camera very much. If I start talking, it could be very short or too long for someone or even for my taste. I always felt like my writing did the talking for me and just film doing exercises and workouts because they're right there and don't need to really say anything, most of them are very self explanatory. Other people are far better at that than I'll ever be like Logan Christopher, Al Kavadlo, Matt Schifferle, Matt Furey and others. The only way I was able to really talk was because it takes me back to doing performances and scenes when I was in School. In middle school, I was in the choir and performed in various places through Santa Cruz like schools, a nursing home, the mall and at the Coconut Grove at the Boardwalk. In High School, I performed in Drama doing plays like Brigadoon, Wizard Of Oz, Once Upon A Mattress and Singing In The Rain mainly doing dance sequences and only one scene in that entire era where I talked, have fun guessing which one and which scene (only those that were there and know me IRL know). 

For the most part, I 'am camera shy and I get nervous pretty easily. Shit I'm not that great as an interview or giving an interview, it's difficult for me. When I stopped and realized that the best way for me to do videos is to just do what I love and shut up. It worked and that makes me feel confident in being on camera. That has somewhat helped me evolve into someone showing his journey without the need to say much or at all. Just do your thing and if someone has a question, do it in an email or in a comment. I may not have the coolest gadgets or do the most perfect form of exercise but I do what I can and make the most of what I know and understand. Some have it, some don't and I'm one of those people who doesn't need to talk in order to get my point across.

Some don't have it but try anyway and I applaud the effort but if you're going to overexplain along with belittling people, you either need some fixing or use a completely different approach. If you're trying to appeal to a specific audience that's great but not everyone is going to want to listen and then try to view you doing something. Can you improve on it, of course. Even for me I may find some words in future videos but just do what you love and train. Just putting it out there can be nerve wracking especially if you're new to it. That's what made it painfully obvious to me was the talking, the moment I learned to shut up and go, things just shot up like a rocket. 

There are so many youtubers, influencers, gurus, trainers and such but an extreme few ever will make it big and better yet, a fraction of them are actually that good and have helped many people. Some are great at explaining things and teaching the mechanics but others just want to run their mouth and act like nobody comes close to what they do, it's sad. I'm sorry but if you're going to boast about how great you are and that you can "coach, train, take you by the hand – and SCRUFF hehe – and WHIP your ass into shape like NO-ONE else out there, I repeat, NO-ONE comes close – even can come close to 'can'" than that's borderline narcissistic and need to fix those loose screws man.

If you've mastered at talking on camera, keep at it and showcase the best to your abilities, if you're just great at showing stuff and don't need to explain it on film, that's great too. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Have fun and be amazingly awesome in your endeavors. 

Side Note: Be sure to check out the kick ass sale going on at Lost Empire Herbs where you can save up to 20% on selected herbs using the code CYBER2022 at checkout. Find out about Free Shipping and check out some awesome articles about the herbs, the dosage, ingredients and more. The sale is running until the 28th of this month. 

How Important Is Form Really?

One of the things I've learned throughout my fitness journey is to be in control of an exercise as much as possible. Making mistakes along the way through trial and error, it's important to understand that although form may not always be what makes or breaks you, it's the control that really pits the findings of avoiding getting hurt and getting injured. In some videos you see people making all kinds of mistakes and flopping around like a fish out of water and can't control themselves if they tried in a fucking boat. 

When it comes to exercises like Push-ups, how far do you go before you lose control of your form or better yet, how much control do you have over the amount of tension concentrated on the movement itself. For some, it doesn't take long before their arms turn to jello or they think that arching the back for a regular pushup is a good idea. Let me put it this way....This is a work of art and control, this is bullshit form and think this is in some way good for people.

In weightlifting or just typical weight training, control is a must otherwise something terribly wrong can happen, granted that the heavier you go, the greater the form and control but even then you can get hurt. Some bodyweight fanatics admire guys like Herschel Walker who's a genetic freak and has done hundreds to thousands of pushups, squats, situps and such a day for decades; the weird thing is, his form isn't always pretty looking and looks like he does half reps or TUT (time under tension) throughout the movements which has worked for him well and is still a hell of a specimen (despite having a few issues in the political arena these days) but those particular movements aren't always meant for people with different body structures. Hell even the Great Gama didn't practice the best form when it came to the Hindu Push-ups, Hindu Squats, Sapates and other things because the form and control was very different in order to work his body for a specific purpose, it sure as hell wasn't completely for health sake.

It can be stingy to how we control a movement and which muscles to focus into as we move throughout any specific exercise. There are certain things you can get away with but you can't teach people the same exact style as you because different body types come with different structed areas of the muscle groups, you can't teach a 6'6 man at 25 pull-ups the same way you teach a 5'1 75 year old granny, the mechanics yes, absolutely teach that area the best way you know how but the structure in order to perform pullups is different due to arm length, shoulder distribution, the control of the torso so it doesn't swagger and other things. 

Training is meant to help prevent injuries as much as possible, not to cause them. There are ways to train like a madman and not have as many injuries or if any if they can help it. We can't 100% avoid injuries from training, it's a part of the game and it's important to understand that no matter what we do, whether microscopic or something completely stupid, there is a chance of injury. However; if we practice our control and keep a solid focus on making a movement work to our advantage so the chances of injury are reduced, that's a far better option than just seeing how many reps you can do and think you won't suffer the consequences when your form turns to shit. 

That's one of the things I love to learn from guys like Matt Schifferle, his style of training is to put tension and control into every movement he does in order to make any exercise he does efficient and maybe not spectacular looking but solid enough to where the muscles are worked and it takes on a life of its own even at a low-skill setting. His books in particular like Overcoming Isometrics & Suspension Calisthenics give you an inside scoop to how you can practice controlling your body in order to make exercises effective to their highest degree. His style is more Low-Skilled compared to say someone like those guys from Barstarzz that at times are so advanced that an extremely small percentage of the population can pull it off. The hand placements, the straightness of the core, the curvature of the spine as it moves and the level of tension throughout the body is what will make or break you. 

Swinging a sledgehammer is another and it's going to tell you if you're in control or not. If you can barely swing it and your core is too loose, it's going to wreck your back and put strain on the hips, elbows and shoulders. People who work for a living with sledgehammers understand this as well and after many years, some are wrecked regardless because it is really hard physical labor. The point of this area is to understand what you are working with and learning the mechanics while training safely and effectively. As you can see here working with a near 73 lb hammer, I have to keep my body tight in many areas otherwise I'm risking serious back problems and greater chances of blowing a disk along with hernia problems. Also, I wouldn't be training with a hammer that big all the time. With a much lighter hammer, the mechanics are a bit different but the principle of keeping your body safe as you work throughout the movements is the key and to avoid injury whenever possible. I can do hundreds of reps if not up to a thousand or more with a 25 lb hammer and not get injured or have any serious issues but it's only because I pay attention to my body and keep on eye on being not so much stiff but keep control of how I move with precision and speed.  

Depending on the type of exercise you do (not kipping pull-ups or crappy form in olympic style lifting), keep control of your body and the movement you perform. Never take such a risk that it becomes a serious injury sooner rather than later. Like I said before, we can't 100% avoid an injury, but we can avoid them a good portion of the time if we learned control and utilizing the best form possible to make ourselves stronger, healthier and in far better condition than the person who can literally be going to the hospital due to stupidity more often than he is training. Be safe yet bold, strong with control and be amazingly awesome in the things you do. 

A Childhood Hero Gone: RIP JDF

 Like many, yesterday I heard the news of Jason David Frank aka Tommy Oliver the Green/White Ranger from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers died. I thought like a lot of people did that it was a hoax but with the confirmation from his rep and former co-stars, it was sadly true. It was said to be suicide but not 100% confirmed. To say it hit me would be an understatement, nearly 30 years of memories came flashing at me.

I have met other Rangers but never got the opportunity to meet JDF which now hits even more. The man was so young yet had so much more going for him and demons just pinned him down. When I was about 9 years old, MMPR came on the scene and was one of millions of kids at the time to watch those first episodes when they aired. The 5 episode event of the Green Ranger was at that time one of the epic things a young kid especially young boys watched. Yeah sure the show was very campy and had cool scenes of martial arts and all that but there were some hidden messages for those young kids especially how to treat people and using your skills to better yourself as a person and not be a bully or a douchebag.

At the time until maybe Power Rangers Turbo, I was utterly obsessed with Power Rangers. My favorite obviously was the Green Ranger and when he became the White Ranger, to me that was the coolest thing ever. He was one of my first superheroes and a childhood icon. Tommy was the type of character that loved protecting others and treating everyone he cared about with love and respect. The other rangers did as well but there was something different about that character that others related to. I was part of the Fan Clubs, getting those spinners, shirts and other cool stuff. I played practically every video game that was out there and had the afterschool special tapes where it went beyond the TV Show. I even had a custom made Green Ranger Costume with the Gold Shield made for me for Halloween by a co-worker of my mom's.

I loved watching that series and would be literally waiting for it to come on after coming back from school to my second mom's house. It was one of the things I looked forward to before doing homework. Sang the theme song, crushing on Kimberly the Pink Ranger (Amy Jo Johnson) and just watch those guys kick ass, beating monsters and the putties. Had my Dragon Dagger in hand mimicking Tommy as he called on the Dragonzord and just manhandled Evil like a boss. 

When the Movie came out, it was a major highlight of my childhood and watched it so many times I lost count. I was about 11 or so when it came to the Theaters and would beg my dad or my mom to take me to see it. I remember one outing, my dad got us tickets to see Free Willy I believe or some other movie and saw the Power Ranger Movie in one of the closest theaters to it and begged my dad to have us go see that instead, the usher just looked at us and told us it's ok. The toys, the games (even that weird handheld one) and the show itself were my biggest thing. It annoyed so many of my friends and family I don't know how they held it together with me. I did get teased for it quite a bit but I didn't care. The Green Ranger was the man and was my hero and tried to hold onto his every word.

As time went on, like many kids growing up and having the horrific spats of puberty and shyness, I drifted away from Power Rangers and got into things like Pro Wrestling, heavy metal, basketball and other things but I never forgot the series and it's actually the very reason to this day that my favorite color is green. I never got into Karate or Martial Arts back then and maybe I should've, things may have been different.  Fighting was never one of my strong suits and literally had no skillset to speak of. Couldn't punch or kick if my life depended on it but with the influence of the Power Rangers (along with seeing others I knew very well) I never got into drugs or smoking and didn't really drink. 

I had my flaws and all that and that show tried to teach me to believe in myself when even now I still struggle with but gotta keep fighting and making the most of it. It had such an impact on me that I still use some things from it as of this writing. It helped me find passion in my life, to do what I love and share it with as many people as I can even when there those who won't agree with me or just want to hate on me. It helped me to never give up on the things you care about and to be who you are. 

As for Jason David Frank, although I never met the man, I heard so many stories and interviews about how much he loved his fans and I don't think even once something bad about him came up. With all the paparazzi and people finding as much dirt as they can, you didn't hear much of the negative things about him which is a rarity because there's always some kind of crazy thing about a celebrity. He was the embodiment of what a real life hero can be. He was such an influence on so many kids that they took up the martial arts and found a place in this world when for a number of them there was pain, loss and anguish yet rose above all of that. A small bit of me even channeled that influence when I was laid up in the hospital and told myself to keep fighting. 

JDF had his demons like anybody else and just because you're famous doesn't mean you're immune to certain things. For us who grew up on Tommy Oliver, many will never truly know who the man was behind the tables, the interviews, the suit, character the signings or the photo ops. A true martial artist in every sense of the word and made an impact on many of us that we can't comprehend how much it meant to us as a person and repaying him for the things he gave us. The teachings, the philosophy, the belief and the heart we feel for others. He was really a hero to look up to when for a lot, there wasn't. He was the first true superhero I looked up to and learned many things from him. 

Whether it was suicide or not (I really hope it isn't) it's no joke and in this day and age, mental health is in a big stage of finding ways to better ourselves and finding positive things to keep us going. Some are so far gone it's tragic but if we can even make a microscopic influence to help someone, it can be a huge impact and save somebody. I knew someone who killed themselves way back in 2000 and he was just a 17 year old kid, had a bright future and was incredible at basketball that he had aspirations for D1 College and maybe the Pros, he was that good. There was even a relative I knew and although he wasn't the most humble or even the nicest guy, he was still family. We can't save everyone but we can do our damndest to be there for someone even if it's just shooting the breeze, it can do something great.

RIP JDF, your influence will live on in the hearts of fans all over and your heart, your character and your love will never die. You may be onto the next phase of your journey in the afterlife but nothing will stop us from learning from you as time goes on. You were a hero to me and many who grew up in the 90's and are learning about you today. I'm so honored to have lived in a time where men like you can show us the way and be a part of a phenomenon that will live on for generations to come. Long live Jason David Frank and may the power protect you. 

Resistance Cables That Are Affordable

Because of the awesome response from my Chest Expander Article, thought I'd add some more things to the cause for building a body for those on a budget. Even though the most free method of exercise is bodyweight training, some might want to go the extra mile but can't always make it to a gym or afford a weight set which can set you back tens of thousands of dollars. It's more of a construct really and money can be tight for some people especially if you have to take care of a family, a mortgage and the skid mark of life we call BILLS!!!

They say money can't buy happiness and in many cases that's true and even if you're the richest man in the world (or a tanned Cheeto that we called a president at one time), it still can't make you feel as good as kick ass exercise can. That's where if you're on a budget, Resistance Cables can be a great option. Now, there are elastics out there that cost a horrendous amount of money which I never truly understood. Shit there are bands that cost as much if not more than half of a rack of dumbbells. That's why I have stuck with Lifeline Fitness for as long as I have been training the last 17+ years.  

Resistance Cables such as the Chest Expander, TNT System, Portable Power Jumper & Power Push-up Plus can be very beneficial and convenient if you're traveling. Imagine getting in a workout that can be done in your hotel room, while camping, being at a nice park, in your New York penthouse, your cabin in the woods or at a beautiful lake, it can be done just about anywhere. The ability to do all the exercises a gym provides that can be stuffed into a small bag is about as awesome as you can get. Some of the greatest bodybuilders and Physical Culturists such as Fred Rollon, John Grimek, Eugene Sandow and Earl Liederman all used resistance type cable training (originally spring loaded) to aid in their development and had some of the greatest physiques that even to this day can be seen in awe. Think for a moment being able to do the same exercises they did 50-100 years ago. 

You've seen some ideas for the CE especially with a video I put up and how Rollon was said to have built his mighty physique from the Expander almost exclusively. The TNT System is longer and can be used for exercises like the machines in the gym and then some. Get your pulldowns, rows, flys, curls, presses and more with just a simple apparatus that you can adjust resistance in seconds or go from one exercise to the other in a heart beat. I have used this to do supersets with Step Ups that give me the workout I need to stay in top condition and maintain my long-term strength. You can always switch to squats or lunges and still get a great workout in. The Portable Power Jumper is mainly for explosive leg training such as squats, lunges, jump squats and others. I've used it to where I added resistance to Hindu Pushups and the Back Bridge (just be careful not to whack yourself in the crotch area LOL). From time to time I did sets of Hindu Squats with it and puts you in a whole other state of hitting the quads and back.

For the Power Push-up Plus, it goes beyond just doing Push-Ups, you can essentially get in some awesome deadlifts, rows and good mornings for the back to even things out. There's more exercises but I'm just giving you an idea here. Be able to adjust it just by sliding a clip on and make as easy or difficult as you'll need. With all this how much is the cost of these? Overall, depending on your budget, the Chest Expander Set with the handles is around 27 bucks, this alone can be your entire gym for the upper body, the TNT System starts out at around $42 and the cost for additional cables van vary due to the amount of resistance but even the heaviest set of cables is around 20 bucks. The Portable Power Jumper is around $52 but you could find a cheaper price on Amazon like with any of these. You don't need to get any additional cables for this, for the most part, just the set it comes with would be more than enough. The Power Pushup is around $42, I don't know if you need heavier cables for this so just the set alone is really it. Total here, less than $165 for a full starter set. That may sound like a lot but compared to the amount any machine costs that's a fucking fraction. You don't even have to get these all at once and on Amazon, you can find them cheaper and get the same quality. 

For those that are worried about the wear and tear on these cables over time, I got something cool to lay on you guys. I've had only maybe 2-3 cables snap on me ever and had some of the same sets of cables for more than a decade. The thing that I use to keep their elasticity strong for an extended period of time is Armor All Wipes. Just take a sheet and smoothly go up and down on the cable for maybe a few seconds if that and that's it. Very simple and easy to do. You deserve great quality and use simple tools that will get the job done regardless of your budget. I never want you going broke or having to spend your paycheck. Getting in shape shouldn't always cost you an arm and a leg. 

Be strong, stay safe, save some money and be amazingly awesome. 

The Chest Expander And It's Underrated Benefits

 There are things we get inspired by and helping us get back into something or start up for the first time. When it comes to an underrated method of exercise, the Chest Expander ranks right up there especially in this era of modern equipment like machines and such. Chest Expanders have been around since the 1880's and have produced some of the greatest physiques in all of not just bodybuilding but in Physical Culture. From Eugene Sandow to John Grimek, at one point or another either endorsed and/or practiced with this apparatus.

I've been using the expander for years off and on and have reaped plenty of benefits including building my back that I consider the most muscular area on my body. What helped me get back into it? For starters, to build some strength and even out the shoulders. Working with hammers and animal exercises will always be my thing but often times, the shoulders are only hit in a couple areas and need to do more pulling exercises such as even the TNT cables but the Chest Expander works the upper body in places bodyweight, hammers and kettlebells can't touch. It also builds off a better posture. 

The other thing that inspired me to utilize this old school training style was finding videos of the great Fred Rollon who's claimed to have used almost nothing but Expanders, Isometrics (Muscle Control) & Bodyweight Training. Now even judging from the pictures of this guy, he had one of the most powerful looking physiques that even by today's standards would consider him on steroids. Ripped to shreds with muscle that he was given the nickname The Human Anatomy Chart and this was before major supplements and steroids even existed. 

The chest expanders of today compared to Rollon's time, have changed from Steel Springs such as These to Rubber Elastics which Lifeline Fitness has produced. In Fred's era, the amount of Tinsel Strength was said to be around 300 lbs at it's best. That's got to be one of the most profound feats at any point in history. Today with the rubber cables, the highest I've ever heard of him someone doing was around 250. Some Expanders go up to 120 kilos and before he died, Bruce Tackett produced a DIY version called the Hook which you can put cables on that reached a level of 400 lbs which I don't believe anyone has ever attempted and if they did, just budging it even an inch or two would be considered superhuman strength. 

Chest Expanders are truly underrated because of their versatility and ability to build muscle without needing a gym or tons of equipment. The amount of exercises you can do would be the equivalent to a complete workout that mainly hits most of the upper body groups such as the shoulders and upper back. I even came up with some exercises on my own like pulling for Arm Wrestling doing hundreds to a thousand reps at at time during certain periods of my life. They tackle the tendons and ligaments and one of the best pieces of equipment to help avoid injuries. Although the amount of resistance isn't the same as lifting a barbell or dumbbell, it does create greater tension the more you extend it. The peak of the resistance is towards the end of a pull but the heavier you make it, the harder it is to try and expand it. Lifting a weight like dumbbells utilizes gravity and is the same resistance from the top to the bottom of a move but elastic cables try to prevent you from moving them and the more you extend, the more it'll fight you. That's why when you pull, the contraction is greater in the muscles along not just isolating a muscle but using multiple in order to move it. 

When it comes to convenience, very few can match the elastic cables because you essentially can have practically an entire gym in the palm of your hands and are easy to adjust from light to heavy resistance. Most cables weigh less than a few ounces to just over a pound yet can make you have the workout of your life. In reality, resistance is resistance and the body doesn't completely know the difference between rubber cables or barbells. You'll build muscle either way from them with the right set of routines. It's always awesome to get a great workout in anywhere you can from a hotel room to the park, the beach, your backyard, your bedroom hell even at a dumb Trump Rally where you'll probably look in better shape than 99% of the people there. 

Add the Chest Expander to your training and you might be surprised how much your strength and conditioning goes through the roof, not to mention some bad ass muscle building (maybe not as crazy shredded as Fred Rollon or maybe you will). Grab a set and if you're into the really old school and want to do the 5 cable set instead of the typical three today, grab this sucker and have at it like the greats from yesteryear.   

Here's a recent video I do where I use the Lifeline CE at 150 lbs Resistance doing three exercises that showcase the ability to build a muscular back and shoulders. 

Be strong, stay safe and be amazingly awesome. 

Is There Poetry In Animal Movement Training?

In poetry, we tend to not just come up with words that go together in a meaningful setting but also make the reader feel an emotional connection to those words especially if it's about love, despair or even something mysterious. Granted some poetry is just plain awful (if you ever watched Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy you know what I mean) but in the midst of that, we want to find meaning and how we interpret it.

Exercise in some form is like poetry but in a physical setting. We let our bodies take shape of the words, we express ourselves through things like dance, bodybuilding, intense training for a sport, a combination of flows and patterns and other things. We format a poem using gestures, twists, turns, facial expressions and movements that express our passions, our anger, our will and our strengths. We also at times show our vulnerability without even knowing it. We show that we aren't always perfect and showcase our imperfections.

In the idea of movement such as MovNat, Ginastica Natural, Animal Flow, Vahva Movement Training and Parkour, it is a form of physical poetry where we take the shape of bringing together forms of exercise that can be unbelievable to witness. From leaping from building to building, making switches from one move to another in the blink of an eye or using a natural setting of utilizing our ancestral attributes, movement style training is not just about being fit with the body but fit in mind and emotion. 

One of the important things to understand about Animal Movement Training is not always how "accurate" the movement is compared to an animal in the wild but to get a sense of how we tribute to that animal with the best of intentions. Some movement patterns are modeled after let's say primates like Gorillas, Chimps and so on but we know in reality that we can't develop the same type of strength or exact structure of that animal yet we utilize movements that are in tribute to their way of moving. We move around Monkey Bars, we do pullups, we climb trees, we mimic characters like Tarzan. Now wild primates don't actually go up and down in a sequence like Pull-ups, they mainly climb, swing through vines and either walk or run on all fours on their palms or inner knuckles. 

It is a form of poetry, a sign of expression and a connection to the written word but with the quality of our physical being. Poetry makes us laugh, cry, think, get angry or be happy at and other things. Movement is essentially the same thing, it makes us express ourselves and showcasing our emotions. You're probably thinking "how in the hell is doing a bear crawl express emotion or does walking like a duck have anything to do with anger or anything poetic" well, both these movements can show our strengths and weaknesses physically and mentally but the way we do them can show signs of anger or smooth relaxation. If you're stiff and anxious, that'll show in your movement, if you're relaxed, calm and in tuned that'll show as well. It shows if you're being analytical or robotic and it can show how you're flowing with effortlessness while being in a state of gentleness but passionate. Just like poetry.

I'm not the most graceful guy nor am I the perfect specimen when it comes to training but that's not the point. I show my passion in my demos and when it comes to flow training, yes it's not pretty looking compared to someone like Eero Westerberg or Mike Fitch but I do what I love and it may not be poetry in the eyes of others but it's poetic for me and I express it with the best of intentions. Nobody's perfect and we all express ourselves in unique ways but that also should tell you that it's awesome to continue to improve and master yourself. 

Be free to move and show what you're capable of and keep improving. Make mistakes, practice things you normally don't do and have fun with mastering yourself. You may not have great days and we won't always be peachy and smile like the Joker but we can learn how to make ourselves better little by little and if exercise is a part of that, so be it. Be amazingly awesome. 

Thor Hammers Aren't Always Needed To Smash

Working on the grip is an essential part for building overall health and strength. I have written about why building grip is needed to succeed in many aspects of training but not all exercises are created equal. When it comes to grip strength and conditioning, very few can match the Sledgehammer. Now you don't always need to smash a tire with one or even hit the ground with those rubber ones or smash into the sand, a sledgehammer or even a Thor Hammer for that matter can be used like a Club or Mace or even a Kettlebell for that matter.

Whenever I use a Thor Hammer or in this case of it's Viking Name: Mjolnir, I love working exercises like a club or a mace because with the thickness of the hammer, it's working more than just the shoulders and core, it's hitting the grip with a vengeance. Whether it's nearly 14 lbs or 30 lbs, either way this thing will make you stronger in ways that even the gods would be impressed by. Just today, I worked with the lighter of the two hammers for up to 200 reps of various exercises that really hit the spot. Mainly in the 10-20 rep range each way or per exercise, that's quite a bit cause you're squeezing the handle with every swing and that's putting solid stress on the tendons and ligaments.

They say, the more muscles you use in an exercise, the better your overall health will be. There's a time for isolation (like rehabbing or isometric training) but from a big picture standpoint, hitting multiple muscles at the same time really gives you another perspective of strength training. Thick Grip Training has reaped many benefits and workouts don't have to take as long because when you work with a Thick implement, you're forced to stabilize your body and be in complete control otherwise you'll end up dropping the implement or falling in the case of pull-ups or something. 

Having Mjolnir in your hands is an incredible but also an intimidating feeling. You can't get sloppy with it otherwise you'll pay a price so whether you're hitting a tire or swinging it like a club, mace or even a kettlebell, be careful but also pay attention to what you're doing and treat it with respect or else it'll bite you in the ass or in this case, dropping on the foot, stabbing you with those sharp corners and hitting the legs. If you want powerful forearms and a grip like a vise, this is the implement that will get you there. 

While you're at it, to really kick things into high gear, take the Thor Hammer Formula before your workout and notice the surge of energy coursing through you. Be strong, have a blast and be Amazingly Awesome. 

Supplementary Exercise And Actual Sport

I got this comment on one of my YouTube videos about a person disagreeing about the exercise I used as a conditioning exercise and it didn't help him at all in MMA sparring and he got tired really quick and felt embarrassed. I felt bad for the guy and was giving him a rundown about as embarrassed he felt, I wanted to let him know that he doesn't need to be and maybe I'll explain it better here so for those who felt the same way. I've been there myself and I understand what some go through.

There's no question that in order to be good at or be in shape for any sport, conditioning is a priority and understanding the mechanics of your sport whether it be Wrestling, MMA, Hockey, Baseball or whatever sport you choose to be in. This is painfully obvious. Now the trouble with certain aspects is sometimes we as athletes can get in over our head that if we train hard enough and do all the pushups, weights, squats, burpees, we would be ready for the sport we partake in. That's not always the case.

A favorite line I like from the late Billy Robinson where he says "you can do 5000 squats a day and it still won't make you a better wrestler" so despite the supplementary work you put in, it's not going to make you any greater at your sport. This doesn't mean that supplementary exercise don't do anything at all, their essential in many formats. Before Karl Gotch taught anyone a hold or takedown, he would put them through the ringer and see how tough they were, that didn't mean they were a wrestler by the time by the time they learned one freaking move, you were a wrestler by how much time you were on the mat and developing the skills for that, the exercises beforehand were merely a test that became a daily thing. 

To be the best at your sport, you worked hard on that sport. Some people developed faster than others and some had greater specific skills than others. Take baseball, Rickey Henderson for all intents and purposes had an incredible skillset of speed, power and eye at the plate and was the very best leadoff man in history. His supplementary exercises were Push-ups, Squats, Sprints & Flexibility work, did those help him? Very much so but those alone didn't make him a better player, the skills he build as a player made him great and was in a class on his own. Now let's take someone like Honus Wagner...From a completely different time period of the game but had skills maybe not on the same level as Henderson but in his time, Wagner was stealing bases, hitting homeruns and having batting averages that still baffle people to this day. He hit 101 Homeruns in his career, that's not even a glimpse of what today's standards consider a homerun hitter but if you look at the era he was in and look at the statistics of that era, which was before the Babe came along, Wagner was in a sense one of the greatest power hitters of that generation. What were his supplementary exercises? No one really knows and most likely just stretching and working farms in the offseason. 

When it comes to MMA, it can be unpredictable. You can do all the conditioning exercises required to GET READY for a fight but the moment someone steps in that octagon/ring there are chances he's going to tire out somewhere in the beginning or be dead by the end. An actual fight as opposed to just the training is a completely different animal. Even the sparring is slightly different because you're not going 100% as if you were in a fight, sparring is more about finding the strategies needed and getting in some work to prepare for a fight. The breathwork is very different when it comes to sparring and conditioning work. The perfect example of this is the fight with Maurice Smith Vs. Mark Coleman, Smith a kickboxer and Coleman a wrestler. You would think a wrestler had better sense of conditioning right? In this case, Smith had a greater upper hand and despite going the distance, you clearly see between the two who had more gas in the tank. 

Breathing is mainly the founding culprit between getting tired or having gas left in the tank. I know this well because I made the mistake of believing that despite my years of doing thousands of pushups, squats and doing so many crawls and sprints I was going to be ok even in sparring. I panicked a lot and was gassed sometimes in less than a minute against guys that not was I stronger than but in much better shape outside of sparring and BJJ. Ok maybe not in better shape than all my opponents because some guys in there were fucking machines and can go for hours if they wanted to but many did take notice of the strength I displayed. Once I learned to be aware and breathe better, I lasted longer and wasn't tapping as much. I even went a few rounds without getting tapped at all, that to me was an accomplishment than ever trying to make someone submit. Even going against a UFC fighter was a hell of an experience. 

What's the point of all this? Don't put supplementary exercise up on a pedestal and use them as the main factor in your sport. Your sport should be the main factor and supplementary training is an add on to give you a sense of direction. Doing a thousand pushups a day won't help you hit 450 ft homeruns, doing hundreds of hill sprints won't turn you into Usain Bolt and no amount of squats will give you the athleticism of Pele. However, those things can be great to get a few tweaks in as you master your sport. Supplementary Exercise won't make you great, they will help you be on the right track to being great.    

How Do You Prepare For Workouts In The Winter Months?

If you looked at the big picture of what brings you opportunities to train, you'd find out you can workout anywhere under most circumstances (there are some things that aren't always in our control) and be able to train in just about any form of weather although I wouldn't test that theory during a hurricane, tornado or in acid rain LOL. 

You can always get to the gym but if there's a blizzard out or Hurricane Karen is approaching, you might want to rethink your priorities. Bodyweight is one of the better options and so are things like Isometrics where you can use things in your household to create a great workout. Now if you want to go to extremes and want to take your chances out in the freezing ass cold, you might want to take the approach of Russian Athletes like the legendary Alexander Karelin whom trained in the dead of winter for decades doing everything from running, calisthenics, wrestling, lifting weights and even drills that would make most men puke their guts out. 

Winter Workouts can be a time of great importance as it teaches you a level of mental toughness and taking on tasks that would humble most. Shoveling snow can be a hell of a workout especially if it's on a daily basis in certain areas around the country and Canada. It's hard work and puts you on a level even this generation would be baffled by. How do you even prepare for workouts in the dead of winter? For one, be prepared to stay as warm as possible, two, you might want to learn some breathing techniques such as the Wim Hoff Method and three, cold showers can be your best friend.

For the workouts themselves, it depends on your goals and making the most out of what is possible at the time. If you're not use to the cold and you try to do workouts with as less clothing as possible, you could make yourself sick or even worse so it is important to build a tolerance. Learn from those like the Finnish with their ideas of the sauna and rolling in snow or going into a freezing lake, learn from Wim Hoff and learn from athletes who thrive in cold weather. From time to time, I'll train out in the snow doing mace swings, hammer strikes, kettlebell work or even some pushups and crawls but as a guy who grew up on the beaches of Santa Cruz, California there's always that mentality where being warm is just part of your nature and being in a warmer climate is something that you can't let go of. 

I've trained in t-shirts and shorts out in the snow and am always told how crazy I 'am but the truth is, I don't go out in the snow for hours at a time for specific reasons. One of them being that after a period, it can be almost near painful because of the rod and pins in my legs, when it's stupid cold out, I can feel it right away and need to be careful. I'll still crazy shit out there but only during a small window and have to balance out the cold and warmth. That's just life man and you do what works best. 

Make your winter workouts fun, that's another important thing to prepare for. If you condition yourself to hate the cold, you're going to be miserable but if you condition  your mind to be able to tolerate the cold and make something interesting out of it, you might get more enjoyment out of it. Go sledding, if you're into skiing or snowboarding, make it worth your while. Workouts should never feel like a chore or conditioned to hate. When you're a world-class athlete, you might end up hating the workouts because they're so damn hard, they'll make you wish you want to die but you do it for the sake of being the best possible. Those are the people that go a completely different route than most people and it's not always wise to train like a world-class athlete when you can barely keep up with the most basic exercises. 

Be prepared by expecting the unexpected, mentally condition yourself and physically level up little by little to train in winter. Have fun with it and challenge yourself little by little. Hell just standing there for several minutes at first may be all you can handle but it's not impossible to train hard, be smart about it and listen to your body. Be bold and keep being amazingly awesome. 

The Snow Has Fallen...FACK

 It is the first big snow day here in Hayden/Coeur D Alene Idaho which means time to get the jacket, sweats, gloves, boots and of course the almighty shovel. Life can't be anymore fun...Bullshit. To sum it up...Whoopie Fucking Doo. 

For real though, shoveling snow can be an invigorating experience and teach you valuable lessons like hard work, handling yourself in various conditions, getting the most out of the time you use like putting on some tunes. Sometimes it'll feel like you're in a war with the snow because it sometimes can get slushy so it weighs more as you pick up and toss. I envy those who live in warmer climates that don't have to do that unless you work at a site and shovel or farmer carry gravel and dirt. 

Many people around here do have snow blowers but there's something about having a shovel in your hands and putting in the work to ensure the people you care about can get out safely and get to where they need to. Hell yeah a snow blower is much easier to use but not everyone can afford one or even understand how to operate one so you go old school. Having a shovel and working heavy snow at times can be a test of your will and enduring strength. Some will say snow shoveling is not that big of a deal and saying how hard it is makes you sound weak and pathetic but the truth is, not everyone can last doing an hour or more of shoveling snow especially if its slushy as hell and if you live up in the mountains without many people around, a shovel can be your best friend or a pain in the ass. It's a matter of perspective.

It's always a good thing to help a neighbor when you can especially if that neighbor has kids and they're trying to get their car out. A snow blower won't always be the best option. That's what I love about this neighborhood, there are people who look out for one another and if there's an opportunity to help out, you do what you can. With all the crap that goes on in the world, there's still humanity somewhere and we have to hold onto that as best as we can.

One of things that has helped me stay injury free during the winter months and shoveling snow has been Isometrics. You wouldn't think that was possible but the fact is, moving snow can feel awkward and using muscles you normally don't use as you twist, pick up, turn and toss can have an impact on the body. Isometrics can give those movements a bit of leeway as you push/pull and twist in different directions. Hell there are workouts where I practice Isometric Shoveling in order to train my body so I don't hurt myself. There are people who do get hurt shoveling snow and it does happen often, not in a major way but enough where for some people there are issues especially in the hips, knees, elbows and shoulders. 

Now I'm not saying it takes a ton of strength cause it really doesn't or it makes you a better athlete, but snow shoveling isn't an easy task it's not meant to, simple yes and not difficult but you never know what you'll end having to do cause it can powdery one day and feel like easiest thing ever, the next day with slush, it can feel heavy as hell and the body has to adapt otherwise something could go wrong. This is where muscles do well for you but strong tendons and ligaments make the biggest difference. Obviously it's not a muscle builder or make you shredded but it is hard work and builds up mental toughness. 

Stay safe out there, help a neighbor, keep warm as much as you can and keep your body and mind healthy. Real strength comes from within and look out for one another, we can always use a bit of help sometimes. As always, be Amazingly Awesome. 

Sledgehammers And How They Take On Another Approach To Training

In one aspect of training with sledgehammers, you can essentially get a full body workout within a few minutes but in the overall aspects, there's nothing like holding one in your hands. This old school style of strength and conditioning has been used by fighters and enthusiasts for decades that go back to the old days of boxing and wrestling where athletes used hammers, axes and other tools to not only get stronger and fitter but to sharpen their coordination, enhance their conditioning and develop grip strength that just blows people's minds. 

The performance side of the coin is an added benefit because of that little nudge that edges an athlete's levels from mediocre to almost superhuman. The attributes alone would make any man or woman beg to possess. As you know, Sledgehammers are asymmetrical and performing movements such as the striking requires a certain blend of balance and coordination in order for the body to work like a madman and burn calories that would result in some awesome muscle building results. 

Now there are a variety of weights to use but as I've written in the past, the heavier the hammer is, the different the technique is in order to successfully and efficiently swing with control. I started out with a 10 lber and worked from there and for most people, it's a pretty good start. That's the bare minimum, now when it comes to the max, it all depends on your goals and quite frankly, you can go as high as you want but I caution you to understand the mechanics and how you control a hammer regardless of the weight.

When it comes to conditioning and continuous strength, you'll want to be able to handle a hammer that with great accuracy and speed, almost like a sprint. If you can do 30 reps within 40-45 seconds, that's cruising considering how you swing. There are also different variations of swings you can do for certain goals but the main two would be the rotational style that many use and the double handed chop style that is mainly used for lighter hammers for speed and conditioning. Now around 10-30 lbs using a speed style is more than enough (unless you're Bud Jeffries and can cruise through with a 40 or higher as if it was a 10), as you get heavier, you'll be focusing more on the power aspects and assuming you can lift a very heavy hammer (say 50 lbs or more), your whole will be forced to come into because there's no way you'll work a hammer that heavy the same way as say a 25 lber. 

Check out the video below for what I mean by this....

You can check out the tiktok video where I do more of a chopping motion and can move pretty fast with a 25 lb hammer. I did a workout yesterday where I did this exercise and worked up to a total of 552 reps using a deck of cards as my numbers count. That type of workout is not only brutal but your forearms will be pumped to the max and your lungs will feel like they just went through a marathon. The intensity, the heavy breathing, the pump and the surge of strength that can only be described as incredible. Using a 73 lb hammer is a whole different feel and a very different aspect of strength as you can see here.

Said it before, very few or anything can match having a hammer in your hands and going to town on a tire that pits you in the realm of the gods. Take it on and see what you're made of. Be strong and be amazingly awesome. 

Did You Hear The One About The Bear, The Crab, The Monkey & The Duck?

All jokes aside (maybe?) when it comes to exercise, you want to make things interesting. Being bored just sucks the fun out of doing something that's meant to get you in shape or keep you in shape. Although it is important to take training seriously because for one you want to maintain good health for as long as you can right? The other side of the coin is to make a workout work so well, you'll want to come back to it more and more or do it more often because you not only enjoy but it gives you a hell of a thrill.

That's one of the reasons why I love Animal Exercises so much, they allow you to freely move and harness your imagination to not only get great results but feel like it's not work but playing hard. From the dice games to flow routines and combos, there are so many ways to get in a great workout using the wild animals as your inspiration. One of my personal favorites for a while has been using a deck of cards which can be called the Animal Exercise Bible or the Animal Deck Of Madness (either way it's just a name). It consists of four Animals: Bear, Crab, Primate & Duck. It's 2 upper body animals and two lower body animals which target multiple muscle groups at the same time and works your conditioning, strength endurance, agility and your mobility. 

For a period with one of the lower body movements, I was doing an exercise called the chimp walk which I still do from time to time but have recently switched to an exercise that is based on wrestlers' type movements where it's somewhat like a lunge but you also reach out and pull as if to lunge and grab a hold of an opponent. I learned it from Eero Westerberg from Vahva Fitness and even though he isn't a wrestler, he was inspired by them and have seen a similar move people use in MMA and Amateur Wrestling. You can view it here....

The numbers on the cards can vary from workout to workout but today, the numbers on the cards were as follows.

Face Cards: 15 Steps/Reps

Aces: 20 Reps/Steps

Jokers: 50 Steps/Reps Of The Bear Crawl

2-10: Done As Shown. 

The objective is to get finish the deck as fast as possible. Now this doesn't mean you get sloppy and get lazy by not paying attention to form but to work the exercise as it intended to be with control and coordination. The speed will vary and it's not important to break world records by finishing in something like 10 minutes or whatever. These exercises are not just your typical type movements, there's a reasons wrestlers and grapplers have been using these exercises for a very long time and have stood the test of time. This can be used as a warm up to your MMA Workout or for conditioning in Football or Wrestling or as a stand-alone. It's not that difficult but it's not easy either so never underestimate it.

I've been doing deck of cards workouts off and on for years starting in my Post Rehab days of doing Combat Conditioning and evolving from there. I've written a few times on why I just don't like certain aspects of stationary exercises and feel like certain rules don't apply to me so I come up with my own workouts to suit my needs and Animals are the peak of conditioning exercises. Bodyweight Exercises have their place and if you're in close quarters like a hotel room, workouts like these are perfect for that but I love having that extra space to move around and I can go hard with Animal Exercises without getting sore. 

Be wild in your workouts and unleash the beast within. Grab a good deck, shuffle well and have at it and see how you do. Can't do a full deck yet? That's fine, do what you can and once you do, try to beat the deck every workout. Have fun and if you want to make some animal noises in the process, that's optional (recommend you do that alone). 

Are Herbs Dangerous?

 I've been told once that my misinformation about training and supplements such as herbs are not only dangerous but could get someone killed. Now granted whomever said this is a full on gym rat and quite frankly hates anything I do and only tries to "help" me so it benefits his ego. With that said, are herbs really that dangerous? Are you in danger of using an herb after an extended period of time and are there any long term effects? Well for starters, just about anything can be considered dangerous. It's not a cop out its a fact. 

Water is essential to life on earth but it also can kill you if you drink too much and get water poisoning. Even the cleanest water on the planet can still do that, should we stop drinking water? Herbs potentially can do the same thing. In the name of science, us humans sacrifice animals. A lot of herbs are being tested for what's called and LD50. What this stands for is Lethal Dose 50 as in what will kill off 50% of the test subjects. Now by writing this I mean the acute toxicity rather than the long term issues.  “Dosis sola facit venenum” or “only the dose makes the poison” was said by Paracelsus who was considered the father of toxicology and other credited notions such as Physician, Astrologer & Alchemist. 

It's the idea of understanding the difference between medicine and poison by the amount of the dosage. In the short term, this lies true and can be easily seen yet also lies true in the long term but we can't always see it. Out of the many reasons, one would being that the Western Medical Systems are one of the leading causes of death by iatrogenesis. Is there a reason why many don't trust doctors in the medical field? It's not always the medical errors but scary enough, it's the long-term side effects which don't always contribute to one thing. Other deaths have been swept under the rug as they say because a lot of people dare to question this stuff would be considered conspiracy theorists. We notice this in Pharmaceuticals as well.

Now the dose by medicine or poison is still considered true for herbs just by a lesser degree. Many of the herbs at Lost Empire are safe if you look at the research from a long term stand point. Herbs such as Reishi or Chaga are known to be very gentle on the body. Logan Christopher himself will take them just about everyday and even give them to his near 5 year old daughter. I've witnessed first hand how healthy that little girl is and it boggles my mind how energetic, smart and full of life she is. In the Daoist Philosophy, there are three distinctive classes of herbs. Superior herbs which is possible to take everyday and support enormous health. That's one of the main focuses at Lost Empire by using the motto of Do No Harm.

With superior there is also inferior herbs which are more medicinal in which they treat specific conditions. There is a class between the two such for example: Foxglove can be very useful in treating those in cases with heart failure or atrial arrhythmia but also has been known to be dangerous for those who don't have those conditions. 

There are some herbs that are not intended for the long haul. Depends on who you talk to really. Horny Goat Weed for example is one of those herbs not intended for long term use. Certain herbs that are gentle like Shilajit which is one of the best anti-aging herbs around and has great properties and benefits, shouldn't be taken with those who suffer gout. 

Make good decisions for yourself in how you apply the herbs and what they can benefit you. Are all herbs created equal? You've been reading what can be used everyday and what could be useful short term haven't you? For those playing the home game, no not all created equal and some herbs aren't meant for everyone due to certain conditions or how the organs take in certain herbs but for the most part in my own experiences, work very well and have done a great job in helping my performance, my mental clarity and energy levels. Hell for a period I was using Thor's Hammer on days of my Sprint Training days and I felt great. 

We all take a risk at what we buy but I can assure you, I wouldn't put this up if I didn't believe in Lost Empire and what they do. There's tons of research and shows you what the ingredients are and the do's and don'ts of how to use them. Be safe, take quality herbs and live in Amazingly Awesome health. 

Do Gorillas Carry Strength Secrets?

Have you heard of the story of the Gorilla at Animal Kingdom in Kissimmee, Florida? Many, many years ago, the foreman that was in charge of the habitat there was keeping an eye on the walls to make sure there weren't small cracks. Why would he do that? There's a simple explanation really and that's because if you gave an idea of how strong a Gorilla is, you'll learn that within a crack of a wall, if it gets even a singer finger within it, that's all it needs for leverage to scale the wall and get up and over. For real man, that's some stupid strength and if its in a rage, you're going to need to call on Godzilla or something.

The foreman knew it was possible for a Gorilla to do this. The real reason he knows, it's not because of the study of primates or anything like that, it's because it has happened before. How incredible is that? Think of the power you can possess if you had that kind of strength. Now, we know in reality, we can't literally have that kind of strength, however; we can have strength that the average human (especially in today's age) couldn't even fathom. Would you enjoy your training more? Feel stronger as a result of it? I would bet you would. Moving like an animal in the wild takes on a whole different feel of exercise than the conventional or even traditional way. 

Strengthening the tendons and ligaments by moving like a primate is actually one of the coolest things you can do. At Vahva Fitness, there are so many movements you can practice on but the movements that are inspired by Primates such as the Gorilla and various Monkey Patterns like the Baboon are on a completely different level. The conditioning aspect alone is worth the price of Movement 20XX. 

When you start to learn the patterns, the flows and the fundamental aspects of these movement exercises, boredom not only goes out the window, it shoots off into space to never be seen again. You can learn sample routines or come up with your own and format workouts that will shape you in ways many methods today can't. You'll be moving freely like a beast, gaining flexibility, strength, agility and endurance. That's only the physical part, the mental part is much more gratifying because you'll be finding ways to channel your brain and send your nervous system into a state of possible relaxation and a meditative aspect that can be only seen to believe. 

To give you an example of how powerful this type of training is: Rickson Gracie who's one of the greatest fighters of his generation practiced a lot of animalistic type exercises and breathing patterns that he mastered so well that one point, he was in such a meditative type state from moving this way that he couldn't even hear his coach Orlando Cani call him out for roughly 45 minutes and the man was within feet of him inside this little studio. Rickson was so in tuned with his body and mind that he became animalistic himself and was forming patterns and movements that were unbelievable to witness even for Cani himself.  Think about that, to be able to go into such a state that you're not even yourself anymore and just being primal. Being inside yourself and flowing on the outside as if it was effortless. That's a hell of an achievement and if the great Rickson Gracie can do it, why can't you?

If we can even do 1/10th of what Rickson accomplished, that would be an achievement that would satisfy us for a lifetime. Being animalistic is not about going crazy or so primal you'll hurt somebody, it's about being in touch with nature both internally and externally. The ability to unlock that animal within all of us. That's the true secret. We can become super strong and be able to move with ease if we let ourselves go and let certain aspects of our natural instincts take over. Move, Play and be Amazingly Awesome. 

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Developing A Physique That's Dangerous Through Natural Strength

 Let's forget for a second about false confidence and let's dig into the heart of building a physique that's real and functional in a practical manner while also being prepared for performance. If you ever pay attention to animals in the wild, you'll notice they can be totally at peace but even while in that state, it also radiates incredible strength and potency. It's important to remember that training in this manner, it isn't to create harmless sheep or just to feel good in your own skin. 

It's also not about building an ego that relies on crazy skills or lifting so damn heavy that it gives you confidence which can render false. Being soft isn't always ideal either when you train this way and living in fantasy land in order to become the best version of yourself. It's really up to you what you want to focus on but the true mission is to train for preparedness in performance. Training whether doing Animal Moves, lifting or other means is to truly shoot for practicality so the body is able to thrive when put to the test. 

There's great potential to be dangerous and you have a choice to be hard if needed be. Realistic training such as Isometrics, Movement Conditioning, Lifting & Carrying or even sledgehammer training for that matter should give you a direct advantage for competition and/or demanding scenarios if you're in sports, MMA or the performing arts. Being shielded, resilient and having a tolerance of pressure. Often times, the muscles and movements we display aren't just for show, they give us an understanding of how to tackle life's obstacles and whatever curve balls they throw at us. As a species, we can be a menace and many of us like it that way. Some of us can make training look pretty but don't forget that there's some harsh work there too and just because it may not look like much to the naked eye, training hard when needed can make a huge difference. 

Taking care of the body is a must obviously and sometimes "soft" training is needed in order to balance out the hard stuff by mastery yet making the body capable of withstanding power and understanding of pushing our limits (to a certain degree). Don't live in fear of your own power because in reality, we may not always know what we're capable of but also shouldn't be afraid of it either. We do put limits on ourselves and at times hold ourselves back (done this plenty of times myself) but the more we set our mind to becoming stronger, the more we find out where our true strengths are. In order to take full charge of developing the physique you want you have to go deeper than just typical means. That doesn't mean taking steroids or PED's, it means what are you willing to do naturally that brings the very best at what you can do and progress. By continuing to master ourselves utilizing both soft and hard training, we can become a great threat. 

Are we being stripped of our natural strength? Some will blame environment, others will blame their job or blame some lame politician (well maybe Donald Trump). Any one of those things can be a factor but realistically, the only thing to blame is ourselves. We buy into crap that make us believe would do us better; the influencers, the pseudo-science, trainers that get their info from horrible textbooks and programs that involve standing on stability balls while attempting barbell squats. If we are to become our strongest, we have to look at what we can do and progress from there. Some training methods can be very demanding but that's a good thing to the extent where if we want to get better, we must progress otherwise if we jump in blindly and not know what the fuck is there, it's going to bite us in the ass and sadly, too many people get bit and have to pay a price that's completely unnecessary.

We need to take back back what's ours and be the true masters of our bodies. Go from pet to beast and strengthen ourselves as naturally as possible. Train hard but train smart as well and be amazingly awesome.    

Fun Times In Vegas

 For her birthday, my wife wanted to do a trip to Vegas and go see the Raiders play. Turned out to be an awesome time full of food, relaxing, walking and checking out the sites on the strip. Last time I was in Vegas was almost 12 years ago visiting my friend Garin Bader and seeing a show by one of his friends Cees De Kok. Was only there for maybe a day and a half while on a road trip with my dad back then so I didn't really take it in as much as this trip was.

This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of trips where you get to spend several days with the person you love and seeing amazing things like the Titanic Exhibit at the Luxor, seeing Criss Angel's Mindfreak show and seeing the Raiders annihilate the Texans by nearly 20 points. I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime to do this with.

Although a couple bumps during the trip, it wasn't even in comparison to the fun we had. I still got my workouts in just not at my normal capacity since we did a ton of walking and only stayed in the room to either sleep or chill out for a bit in between site seeing. Did Overcoming Isometrics most of the time using the Iso Belt and getting in a deck of cards workout consisting of Hindu Squats, Hindu Pushups, V Ups & the Tablemakers. Workouts ranged from maybe 10-30 minutes if that and wasn't even going full bore with them. 

Seeing Criss Angel was a hell of an experience. I've only seen a couple magic shows in my lifetime prior and one of them was David Copperfield when I was a little kid in Lake Tahoe in the 90's. I had seen Criss' tv show back in the 2000's where he was coming into prominence as the top Magician at that time. His illusions were just bad ass and the blend of music and picture perfect performance was incredible. I've seen a couple of those tricks from other people like the Locked In A Box Trick, the doves and all that but some of them were mind blowing as hell and was really impressed with his sense of humor, attitude and ability to make an audience laugh but also give the feel that what you're seeing is definitely entertaining but a true master of his craft. He's awesome at what he does and make you think twice about what was real and what's the illusion. 

The Raider game at Allegiant Stadium was probably the best part of this trip. Team has had a rough time during the season and needed a desperate kick in the ass win to get some momentum back. Back and forth but as the game went on, the Silver & Black went on a rampage that was the thing they needed. Their running back hit up numbers for yards and carries that you don't see a lot in this time of the NFL, we're talking over 20 carries and around 150 yards just for the RB alone. Carr threw decently and got the win by nearly 20 points 38-20. The biggest highlight was an interception caught by Duron Harmon that he ran for a touchdown from 74 yards, never thought I'd witness something like that, it was deafening when that play hit. Overall, it was about as memorable as you can get. We wore our Jerseys, mine was Bo Jackson's #34. 

I may never get to see another game (or maybe we will if my girl has anything to say about it) but it was an experience I'll remember forever and a big thank you to the most awesome woman in my life. You made it incredible and I love you so much babe. Till next time. Enjoy the great times in your life, take trips when you can and be amazingly awesome to each other. 

Tire Cutting & Smashing With Authority

On Friday, I asked a neighbor of mine (let's call him Jay) to see if he had any tools that could cut my tire in half. He ended up getting the set he needed and was eager to get it going. He never cut a tire before and was willing to help me out. Took 3 saw heads and a butcher knife (Michael Myers eat your heart out) to get the thing cut. It was an enjoyment to say the least and I begged to repay him cause it wasn't an easy job and all he said was "that's what neighbors are for." There would've been too much money to spend on getting a half tire and ended up with two so there was that.

Hitting a half tire with sledgehammers is a more convenient way to get some bad ass training in without a huge tire taking up space and could be hauled easier to places like a park, parking lot, camping or wherever. The flatter surface has a better "bounce" which when hit consistently throughout a set can generate greater cardio benefits and anaerobic conditioning. You've seen my latest posts about Sledge Training from Big Bertha to the Thor Hammers and Big Barry (25 lber) and its benefits on strength, explosiveness and other things. It's taking your anger or aggression and using it productively cause life can be stressful and it's important to manage our emotions as best we can (I know I still have some learning to do).

We all need a release and it's a hell of a lot better than beating on objects or worse somebody else. Ever heard of these places where you pay to go smash shit up in a room? I've seen them from time to time in TV shows and movies. They're in various places around the country where you pay the price of basically a concert or sports ticket to go into a room for 15 minutes with a hammer and just smash the living hell out of everything in site (wearing protective gear including glasses so the shattered glass doesn't hit you). It's supposed to help with using your aggression in a different manner to just let everything out and get yourself to calm down. Some people find it helpful which I'm all for and it's a hell of a lot better than going home and beating up someone you love or destroying property somewhere but others like Psychologists tend to have mixed feelings because it's believed it promotes violence.

Now don't me wrong man, we are a species that is violent by nature and our animalistic instincts tend to get the best of us but also because of our complexity, there are certain aspects of our aggressive nature we still have yet to discover especially when it comes to our brains. When us guys have a very high level of testosterone, it does bring out that animalistic aspect of our DNA and can turn us into a vicious person at times. That's where when it gets to a point where aggression has overrun our other emotions and we can't stop it, it can turn so violent that it's possible to black out and not know what you have done once you've "woken back up" so do speak. 

Testosterone in men is a must obviously and being aggressive is part of our nature. We fight, we wrestle, our sex drive shoots through the roof and the dominant areas of our brain can overload our nervous system. The thing is, like everything else in life, there has to be a balance somewhere, a yin and yang. Too much testosterone and aggressiveness can be a bad thing. Now with that balance, every guy is different and his genetic makeup won't have the same impact as other men so it's important to find that balance even into the golden years. A solid peak of testosterone even at an older age can be a good thing doing physical stuff, great sex, eating real foods and other things. 

Training with Sledgehammers is a powerful way more than what is being seen in order to utilize our emotions, aggression and reproductive health in a positive manner. If you're on adrenaline too much and that level of emotion is so high it can be seen from outer space, you won't sleep optimally, the satisfaction of being calm isn't where its at and if you have that overload of needing to fight somebody and it consumes you, it could have you end up in places you don't want to be (mentally & physically). Exercise is one of those things to channel our nervous system to get stuff out of our system that balances us out. Is hitting a tire violently a good thing? In this manner yes because when you get so wrapped up and need a release it's a hell of a lot better for your health than keeping it held up and turning it into a possible criminal act later.

We do need to find a source to release that dopamine and make the most of what can be used productively to channel our aggression. It's important to not go so far to the point where your faculties aren't there anymore. Control the emotions you have as much as you can and use them when they're needed. We can't 100% not get emotional (unless you're a fucking robot) but it's important to instinctively be able to know when an emotion comes on and be aware of it. When I really need a release and get some of the aggression I'm feeling, get the hammer and tire out, put on some tunes and just whale on that damn thing, sets and reps don't exist, only going until my anger has subsided. 

This is just an idea of what you can do. I love using hammers and having a half tire is just another of platform of training used for health and balancing myself inside and out. It can be very meditative and that feeling at the end where you're blissed out of your skull and and you're full of smiles more than sadness or anger or even depression for that matter. This is my definition of getting high.

Find your resource to channel your aggression without hurting someone else or something that can break easy. Be strong and keep being Amazingly Awesome.