When I got into bodyweight training I started doing it for recovery in my legs and build up to a ridiculious number of squats. After that I began finding exercises that were very difficult to do and getting up past 15-20 would be in the realm of dreams for most people so I gave the handstand push-up a try. At first I couldn't hold a handstand on the wall for more then 5 seconds before I fell on my ass. I kept at it and learned various techniques and in a short period of time I was hitting numbers that most people at my size can never imagine. It is difficult to hold a handstand let alone do 1 rep of a handstand push-up. After getting stronger in this I did a little research.
For the most part if you want to get good at start something you have to start with the basics. Some people think they're more advanced but if you asked them to do a basic thing they won't get within an inch of what they say they can do. Learning a foundation is a key to great success if you want to go beyond what you're capable of. Take my friend Logan Christopher for example, here is a guy who looks like he can be a very limber individual but if you put the 2 of us together most likely at first you'll probably guess i'm the much stronger one right? I mean hell i'm 240+ pounds and can do things not many people in the world can do but I hate to disappoint you guys but the truth is, Logan is actually pound for pound stronger then I'am and I'm not ashamed to say this.
Back to my research, I discovered many techniques on how to do handstand push-ups and tried many variations but nothing has come close to what Logan teaches in his Ultimate Guide To Handstand Push-ups Course. This book will take you through all you need to start learning the basics, intermidiate and advanced variations of the handstand push-up. After learning just a few techniques from him I've become much more aware of where I'am, where my hand placements need to be and how to make the exercise harder or easier within seconds. As far as I know I'm one of the strongest men in the world to press up his own bodyweight at a considerable heavyweight level being 240+ lbs. but that still doesn't make me the smartest man in strength and conditioning. You can be strong but in order to get there you must learn balance,corridnation, flexibility and a good amount of strength.
I will tell you right now Logan & I weren't the best at what we do at first. We had a tough road to go on but with will power and a constant founding of determination and motivation we made it through but yet we still have a lot to learn. Thats the thing with all of us is that we all have a road to go through and we all need to find a source of motivation to keep us going. Why not start with a great teacher who can help you and encourage you to do the best you can be.
In the course there will be chapters on......
Basic Handstands
Handplacements For Targeting Either Shoulders Or Arms Or Both
Wrist Exercises To Warm Up
Advanced Techniques
How To Build Iron Claws For Handstands On The Fingertips
Isometric Techniques If You're Stuck
Frequency In Doing Handstand Push-ups
Specific Workouts
& More..............
I encourage you to pick up The Ultimate Guide To Handstand Push-ups. This book will help you skyrocket your strength and it can help your pressing movements in the weight room. I firmly believe that Handstand Push-ups are one of the best exercises for gaining massive strength in the upper body and building mental toughness with your awareness and sense of Kinestetics.
Ultimate Guide to Handstand Pushups
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Recovery Tips After Hardcore Training
We all do some form of training where it takes us beyond a average level and takes us to limits we didn't know we had and its very difficult to recover from the next day. How do you train after doing such a brutal workout? This past Monday I did the Karl Gotch Bible where I varied the push-ups and kept the Hindu Squats. My goal was to finish the workout in 30 minutes and I surpassed it and finished in under 27 minutes. I don't know about you but damn that feels good to get pass a goal. After a few hours I did another training session doing a series of chest and arm exercises from a course called Sinkram.
The very next morning I didn't want to get out of bed I was so sore in my shoulders, chest and legs. Even though I was sore I was not going to deny a workout at least once in the day. I have been known to train 7 days a week without fail and the reason why I do that is not because I need to prove how many workouts I do, its how smart I can be to train daily that doesn't need to be brutal day in and day out. A lot of people feel that you need to train only 2-3 times a week and have to do this or that for recovery and take 4-5 days off. Well if you can do that in the long run more power to you but thats not the only way to go and heres why.
Our bodies were made to keep moving, we work different angles of the body and if you're smart this helps you stay healthy for life along with a balanced eating plan. There are times to train hard and there are times where you need recovery any one of my secrets is after a hardcore workout (day after) I would work on deep breathing exercises and some form of qi gong. If i'm very sore in a particular area like the legs or lower back, chest, shoulders ect. I woul do very little to no work in those areas until they "heal" because I want to give those areas a rest but the rest of my body is working from different angles at light to moderate intensity. This is where I like to work on muscle control and stretching/loosening the body. The only time I work the sore areas is when i'm stretching because when you're sore and you leave it sore over a period of time with no exercise it can tighten up and you may not be as efficiant in your next big time workout. Stretch the muscles slowly and with intention.
I always felt stretching is a key component in recovery periods because at my next harcore session not only do I want to be stronger but more limber then the last time. Just do a couple stretches and each day do a stretch a little longer howver don't go to the point where you're in pain, its not how far you can go or how long you stretch its how smart you stretch and the way you breathe....Breathing is the major key to recovery and for good reason.
Each day as I get stronger I amp up a workout just a bit to just about 70% of the intensity of the work I want to do in a brutal workout the next time around. My training really consists of 1-2 hardcore workouts a week along with moderate work the rest of the week until i'm fully recovered. I may not do specific routines because I get bored after a while but I always want to have at least one day where I push myself up a notch.
My keys to recovery training is as follows.....
1. Breathing
2. Stretching
3. Work at moderate pace that doesn't compromise your ability to train the next day
4. Meditate (either moving or not)
The very next morning I didn't want to get out of bed I was so sore in my shoulders, chest and legs. Even though I was sore I was not going to deny a workout at least once in the day. I have been known to train 7 days a week without fail and the reason why I do that is not because I need to prove how many workouts I do, its how smart I can be to train daily that doesn't need to be brutal day in and day out. A lot of people feel that you need to train only 2-3 times a week and have to do this or that for recovery and take 4-5 days off. Well if you can do that in the long run more power to you but thats not the only way to go and heres why.
Our bodies were made to keep moving, we work different angles of the body and if you're smart this helps you stay healthy for life along with a balanced eating plan. There are times to train hard and there are times where you need recovery any one of my secrets is after a hardcore workout (day after) I would work on deep breathing exercises and some form of qi gong. If i'm very sore in a particular area like the legs or lower back, chest, shoulders ect. I woul do very little to no work in those areas until they "heal" because I want to give those areas a rest but the rest of my body is working from different angles at light to moderate intensity. This is where I like to work on muscle control and stretching/loosening the body. The only time I work the sore areas is when i'm stretching because when you're sore and you leave it sore over a period of time with no exercise it can tighten up and you may not be as efficiant in your next big time workout. Stretch the muscles slowly and with intention.
I always felt stretching is a key component in recovery periods because at my next harcore session not only do I want to be stronger but more limber then the last time. Just do a couple stretches and each day do a stretch a little longer howver don't go to the point where you're in pain, its not how far you can go or how long you stretch its how smart you stretch and the way you breathe....Breathing is the major key to recovery and for good reason.
Each day as I get stronger I amp up a workout just a bit to just about 70% of the intensity of the work I want to do in a brutal workout the next time around. My training really consists of 1-2 hardcore workouts a week along with moderate work the rest of the week until i'm fully recovered. I may not do specific routines because I get bored after a while but I always want to have at least one day where I push myself up a notch.
My keys to recovery training is as follows.....
1. Breathing
2. Stretching
3. Work at moderate pace that doesn't compromise your ability to train the next day
4. Meditate (either moving or not)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Are You Up To The Outlaw Challenge?
If you're a typical weightlifter in a commercial gym there are certain rules you feel you HAVE to follow....Do this for biceps, do this for back, do this for legs blah blah blah. Well try telling that to Strongman Bud Jeffries. At 5'11 and 270 pounds he doesn't look like a typical weightlifter, hell he couldn't pass the "normal" standards of what is a bodybuilder but he doesn't care about that nor the rules.
This particular challenge is unlike anything else and something you only persue if you got the guts. Whether you're a weightlifter or not this type of challenge can take your conditioning to the next level. No matter how you slice it you will become stronger and throw away the typical "rules" of the trade in hitting the weights.
Bud Jeffries is the one guy that can make just any challenge thrown at him a walk in the park and he'll tell you flat out that its not just physical but more mental and thats not an easy thing to take and its the truth. He is not your typical weightlifting and physical training pretty boy; he is one powerful and over the top freakishly strong. Here is a list of accomplishments he has done over the years...
1000 Pound Squat (Starting at the bottom)
3000 Kettlebell Swings
Partial Squat of 1850 pounds
Lifts Rocks up to 300+ Pounds
1000+ Hindu Squats
Pulled A Bus
Bends Rebar, Flat Steel and Mangles 60D penny nails and 10 inch spikes
Thats just a small amount he has done but nonetheless he knows what he's talking about when it comes to building strength. The Outlaw challenge is lifting a 150 Pound Dumbbell 1000 times using various exercises. Are you up to the challenge? Do you got the guts to step out of the pretty boy gyms and make a name for yourself in your own training? Well lets see what you're made of and let Bud take you all the way.
Outlaw Challenge
This particular challenge is unlike anything else and something you only persue if you got the guts. Whether you're a weightlifter or not this type of challenge can take your conditioning to the next level. No matter how you slice it you will become stronger and throw away the typical "rules" of the trade in hitting the weights.
Bud Jeffries is the one guy that can make just any challenge thrown at him a walk in the park and he'll tell you flat out that its not just physical but more mental and thats not an easy thing to take and its the truth. He is not your typical weightlifting and physical training pretty boy; he is one powerful and over the top freakishly strong. Here is a list of accomplishments he has done over the years...
1000 Pound Squat (Starting at the bottom)
3000 Kettlebell Swings
Partial Squat of 1850 pounds
Lifts Rocks up to 300+ Pounds
1000+ Hindu Squats
Pulled A Bus
Bends Rebar, Flat Steel and Mangles 60D penny nails and 10 inch spikes
Thats just a small amount he has done but nonetheless he knows what he's talking about when it comes to building strength. The Outlaw challenge is lifting a 150 Pound Dumbbell 1000 times using various exercises. Are you up to the challenge? Do you got the guts to step out of the pretty boy gyms and make a name for yourself in your own training? Well lets see what you're made of and let Bud take you all the way.
Outlaw Challenge
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Make Your Kettlebell Snatch a dominate workout Component
Working with Kettlebells there are many ways to turn your workouts from boring to extremely fun and the KB Snatch is no exception. I have personally done 83 Snatches with a 53lb. Kettlebell in 5 minutes. Compare that to my bud Logan who is as of official standards to be one of only 3 men in the world including John Brookfield to hit 300+ Snatches in 10 min. Thats pretty damn impressive considering he is 6'2 and 185 pounds. Not a big dude but really powerful. He has put together a series that can take your Snatch to the next level and then some. The Snatch can make or break a conditioning workout so if you don't have the technique down you're in a world of hurt.
Task into consideration if you're a fanatic of kettlebells that many workouts can put you in the elite level of Octane Strength & Conditioning but also if you're careful you will be bruised and it will sting. Work on technique and keep the body in alignment for the Snatch.
Kettlebell Snatch Domination
Task into consideration if you're a fanatic of kettlebells that many workouts can put you in the elite level of Octane Strength & Conditioning but also if you're careful you will be bruised and it will sting. Work on technique and keep the body in alignment for the Snatch.
Kettlebell Snatch Domination
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Superhuman Workshop Weekend
When you go to a seminar where theres just a great deal of energy in the air and even as some things go around something jut stirs in the back of your mind., then you turn around and see Bud Jeffries and now its really on. This wasn't your normal type laid back and do some things for the day type seminar. This was hands on in your face get off your ass and train type seminar and not just physical but mental as well.
I have met a few people in my life that are a bit on the above average when it comes to strength then you meet a man who bottom squatted 1000 lbs. Thats not above average my friend thats just over the top freakish (and thats the simplist way to put it). On a serious note this was one of the greatest weekends of my life and even though i'm known for my memory, I know this will stick with me for the rest of my life. It wasn't just fun but it was very educational with a few laughs and jokes and some outlandish type strength training.
First night was more on psychology with a dose of hypnosis and visualization training. It was an interesting experience and it gave a whole new prespective on mental conditioning. My bud Logan hypnotized a couple people and the way he presented himself was raw and emotional and a good portion of it worked. Then Bud Jeffries walked into the gym and then it went all uphill from there. The man is a freak of nature and thats putting it with great respect.
The second day was probably my most favorite because I got to have full hands on training with the two strongmen. We tore up phonebooks, some ripped up some cards out of a deck and just destroyed good solid steel. Now I don't personally squat weights anymore due to my problems in the lower legs but I did take a shot at partial squatting 500+ pounds which to me felt awesome. Worked on some crazy bodyweight training. Now may I say Bud is nearly 6' and weighs in at a whopping 270 pounds, a good portion of that is powerful functional muscle along with over the top power in the tendons and ligiments. I've heard and seen on video what he's capable of and saw upclose and personal what he can do with steel but the best thing I really saw him do was a full on headstand handstand push-up on the wall at 270 f*cking pounds. I weigh 240 and done quite a few of them myself but at 270 thats just not human.
The third day was just incredible when we all played around with kettlebells and barbells along with a few sledgehammers and tires for superhuman endurance. It was a little emotional at the end for obvious reasons but I truely feel that this was something that just totally helped my life a tad more then usual and it was a lot of fun. Made friends with great people and having the honor of meeting Bud's son Noah who is a 13yr old strongman prodigy with a few things up his sleeve in the Clay Shooting world. This kid is the strongest I have ever met and he's not only that young but pretty damn big too at 6' and nearly 270 himself. I kid you not I personally watched this kid bend a 5 pound 4ft 1/2 inch thick flat steel bar into the breast cancer logo and lets just say that's not normal even for a strongman.
Overall, the presentations were great, Bud & Logan did a hell of a job and I personally believe this is a great moment in both their careers as strongmen and as business men. Meeting Bud to me is like meeting Hulk Hogan or Babe Ruth to me he is that Iconic in the Field of strongmanism and Physical Culture. For that I want to leave this on a high note starting with Bud......
My friend you have turned on a new light in my pursuit to be the strongest I can for whatever I wish to do, your small time to train me was a huge breakthrough for me and I will never forget that. You have taught me so much in a short period of time that I'm still shaking a little. You are one hell of a man and not only are you the world's strongest man but you have just as much as a strong and generous heart both literally and figuratively. I am damn proud to not only call you a mentor but a great friend and I hope one day sooner or later we cross paths again and just hammer out a workout then kick back and tell stories. Your son is one of the most polite young men I ever have met. You raised him well and I see a lot of potential in him and you will agree with me on that. I can't describe in true words really how much this meant to me. You are truly the world's strongest man at your size and power and it was a true pleasure to see a master at work. You are one of a kind and it was an honor meeting you.
Now Logan.....
Dude to me this was a high point in your career and I know in my heart it will only get higher from here on out. I can't thank you enough for letting be apart of this and giving me a chance to not only reach new levels of power but to keep myself educated. You are a true friend in every sense of the word and I'm honored to call you not only one of my best friends but also a brother. That's how much you mean to me bro. You have a such a vast knowledge for physical culture at your age its just unbelievable. You have my full on support for whatever lies ahead and I'll do what I can to help out if needed to. I realize it wasn't easy setting up for this crazy ass weekend but you handled yourself very well and its always a pleasure to learn from you and throw in a few laughs to spice up certain moments. Your mom would be so proud of you man. I'm not really on being so emotional and sentimental but this calls for an exception but you are one of the best teachers and friends a guy can ask for and you will always be a treasure to not only our crazy world of the strongman but a true man for who doesn't let anything get in his way. Almost anyone can and should learn from you.
I have met a few people in my life that are a bit on the above average when it comes to strength then you meet a man who bottom squatted 1000 lbs. Thats not above average my friend thats just over the top freakish (and thats the simplist way to put it). On a serious note this was one of the greatest weekends of my life and even though i'm known for my memory, I know this will stick with me for the rest of my life. It wasn't just fun but it was very educational with a few laughs and jokes and some outlandish type strength training.
First night was more on psychology with a dose of hypnosis and visualization training. It was an interesting experience and it gave a whole new prespective on mental conditioning. My bud Logan hypnotized a couple people and the way he presented himself was raw and emotional and a good portion of it worked. Then Bud Jeffries walked into the gym and then it went all uphill from there. The man is a freak of nature and thats putting it with great respect.
The second day was probably my most favorite because I got to have full hands on training with the two strongmen. We tore up phonebooks, some ripped up some cards out of a deck and just destroyed good solid steel. Now I don't personally squat weights anymore due to my problems in the lower legs but I did take a shot at partial squatting 500+ pounds which to me felt awesome. Worked on some crazy bodyweight training. Now may I say Bud is nearly 6' and weighs in at a whopping 270 pounds, a good portion of that is powerful functional muscle along with over the top power in the tendons and ligiments. I've heard and seen on video what he's capable of and saw upclose and personal what he can do with steel but the best thing I really saw him do was a full on headstand handstand push-up on the wall at 270 f*cking pounds. I weigh 240 and done quite a few of them myself but at 270 thats just not human.
The third day was just incredible when we all played around with kettlebells and barbells along with a few sledgehammers and tires for superhuman endurance. It was a little emotional at the end for obvious reasons but I truely feel that this was something that just totally helped my life a tad more then usual and it was a lot of fun. Made friends with great people and having the honor of meeting Bud's son Noah who is a 13yr old strongman prodigy with a few things up his sleeve in the Clay Shooting world. This kid is the strongest I have ever met and he's not only that young but pretty damn big too at 6' and nearly 270 himself. I kid you not I personally watched this kid bend a 5 pound 4ft 1/2 inch thick flat steel bar into the breast cancer logo and lets just say that's not normal even for a strongman.
Overall, the presentations were great, Bud & Logan did a hell of a job and I personally believe this is a great moment in both their careers as strongmen and as business men. Meeting Bud to me is like meeting Hulk Hogan or Babe Ruth to me he is that Iconic in the Field of strongmanism and Physical Culture. For that I want to leave this on a high note starting with Bud......
My friend you have turned on a new light in my pursuit to be the strongest I can for whatever I wish to do, your small time to train me was a huge breakthrough for me and I will never forget that. You have taught me so much in a short period of time that I'm still shaking a little. You are one hell of a man and not only are you the world's strongest man but you have just as much as a strong and generous heart both literally and figuratively. I am damn proud to not only call you a mentor but a great friend and I hope one day sooner or later we cross paths again and just hammer out a workout then kick back and tell stories. Your son is one of the most polite young men I ever have met. You raised him well and I see a lot of potential in him and you will agree with me on that. I can't describe in true words really how much this meant to me. You are truly the world's strongest man at your size and power and it was a true pleasure to see a master at work. You are one of a kind and it was an honor meeting you.
Now Logan.....
Dude to me this was a high point in your career and I know in my heart it will only get higher from here on out. I can't thank you enough for letting be apart of this and giving me a chance to not only reach new levels of power but to keep myself educated. You are a true friend in every sense of the word and I'm honored to call you not only one of my best friends but also a brother. That's how much you mean to me bro. You have a such a vast knowledge for physical culture at your age its just unbelievable. You have my full on support for whatever lies ahead and I'll do what I can to help out if needed to. I realize it wasn't easy setting up for this crazy ass weekend but you handled yourself very well and its always a pleasure to learn from you and throw in a few laughs to spice up certain moments. Your mom would be so proud of you man. I'm not really on being so emotional and sentimental but this calls for an exception but you are one of the best teachers and friends a guy can ask for and you will always be a treasure to not only our crazy world of the strongman but a true man for who doesn't let anything get in his way. Almost anyone can and should learn from you.
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