Being Passionate About Your Training Has Its Own Rewards

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

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

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

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

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

A New Addition To Dopa Conditioning Is Going Green

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baby Baby Tell Me More Of Your Lies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time Under Tension With The PUGS

 Yesterday before my 500 Rep Dopa Workout Circuit, I wanted to get in some Push-Ups with the Stronger Grip PUGS (Push-Up Grip Spikes) since it has been a minute doing them. Just getting a set of 10 can be a challenge because of the way you have to grip them and they can be slick at times. The idea is to not try to get a high level of reps going, the true format is to utilize Time Under Tension to produce stimuli which helps building muscle and strength. There are some who have done these for high reps and are freakishly strong, the Hammer King himself Ryan Pitts being one of them. 

I got in a total of about 35-37 where I filmed my last few reps of them for the day. They were done with a more closed in position so it was much more difficult to control but I managed those last few reps with the best form possible. The impact they have on the forearms and hands is indescribable. This is strength training at it's peak element taking a basic movement and adding serious grip work to it. If you believe it's easy without having done them, they will humble you quick. 

Everything is contracted, the mind must be crisp and your balance is tested with a vengeance. One little slip and you're on the floor. Putting in enough tension to even move smoothly takes practice and giving the mind/muscle connection a run for its money. If you can get passed 15 reps, you got some solid strength. My best is 25 in a row and have done as many as 100 in a workout through various sets. When you can do these consistently, your tendons and ligaments will feel like they were carved out of granite and feel like solid steel in the fucking bones. Your core strength will skyrocket, your chest will feel like hardened stone and your upper arms will have insane power.

They are worth every penny and you're not just supporting a website, you're supporting a man that makes these things by himself. He's made hammers, swords, machetes, clubs, maces, weapon of the Grim Reaper, Hooks for extra difficulty in pull-ups, pulldowns, deadlifts and more. Pound for pound one of the strongest guys around. Bent steel, tore phonebooks, levered hammers, swung human beings with his custom made swing and has hands like a vise. Ryan is one of those once in a generation type of guys that makes the world a bit more bad ass with his equipment. Has made stuff for NFL Teams, Arm Wrestling organizations, Strongman Comps and many other things. Never underestimate the power of one's Grip. He can be goofy doing his thing but when you're past 50 and doing things that are pretty gnarly to do, think he's earned the right to be having fun and killing it.

Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it.  

Flawless Victory

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

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

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

See below.....

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

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

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

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

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