I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again

 Remember that one hit 90's song? Classic. I was 13 when that song came out and it was all over the place for like a month or maybe a tad longer and then it died worse than Mel Gibson at the end of Braveheart. Every now and then it's nice to hear something retro like that (is music from 1997 considered retro?). Anyway, back to the show....

Nothing in life is ever really easy, if it really was easy, it be boring as shit. We all have moments of failure but when you get back up with a vengeance, it makes you appreciate how much failure really is a great teacher. Sometimes in this chaotic world, we just need to keep on going even when we get hit around. In the words of Steve Rogers "I can do this all day". Training is no different, we try things, we fail at certain attempts but we figure out a way to come back and make it better.

I made a video earlier today just doing a few things with bodyweight and the band but once I got into it especially the editing and then putting music to it, it turns out that it was more than just a fun thing to do, it helped ignite more of the passion I have for fitness and training. At least one thing you'll see is me Skipping rope which is extremely rare cause I've only ever filmed a couple times before, but not at the speed I was doing. After yesterday doing a few hundred jumps, I wanted to give a quick glimpse of what I do with it. Just basic jumping really, nothing special. The other stuff, some I haven't done in forever and even added in the Mirsha Dand that I'm still working on, I'll show doing more reps at another time. 

Some of my demos don't get viewed as much, others exploded a time or two but that's one of the things I like about doing them, they're not glamorous or anything, just me being me and adding some tunes to it. I don't do it to get millions of views (maybe some day, who knows), I do it cause it's fun for me and some like it which makes me happy, even a few were inspired by them. Some stuff may look cool and downright crazy at times but I don't get those the first time out. I sometimes film a lot longer than you would think. Whatever I post up, I failed multiple times and done multiple takes before getting what I want out of it. That's one of things Bud Jeffries did with many of his videos, he would often spend hours on one or a few things to get the right shot before posting anything. Some of the things he did were even things I wouldn't attempt to do and he made them look bad ass. Damn I miss the big man, it'll be 3 years since he was taken too soon from this world over a week from now. 

There are people out there who are perfectionists and try to do things that are so crisp that it looks like they never needed to practice in their life, but sadly, life doesn't work like that. Being a perfectionist has its perks for some and they thrive on it. For others, it can bite them in the ass because if all you do is chase perfection when it never comes around, you miss out a lot of things in life. It sucks but it happens.

We do what we can to get back up even when have had our asses handed to us. What is important is not to just shrug it off and rub some dirt in it, but to keep in mind that success can come when we get back on that horse. It's easy to just give in. There are some things that can't be fixed or be a solution to a problem for whatever reasons depending on the situation. We can however, move forward with what's possible and build success as time goes on. I have quit and given up on a few things in my life, things I can never share on here but those who know me best know what those are and what I've done to create my own successes later. 

Keep being amazingly awesome everyone and keep killing it in your journeys.  

The Importance & Art of Physical Conditioning: Building a Body That Lasts a Lifetime

Hey everyone. Today, I'd like to dig deep into the heart of what keeps you in peak shape for the long haul: physical conditioning. This isn't just about hitting the gym for a summer bod; it's the art of crafting a resilient, powerful machine that carries you through decades of life. Buckle up, because we're talking pure inspiration to level up your game. Let's crush this!

First off, let's get real about why physical conditioning matters. In a world obsessed with instant results—think crash diets, steroid shortcuts, and viral challenges—conditioning is the unsung hero that separates the flash-in-the-pan from the lifelong legends. Physical conditioning is essentially training your body to handle stress, recover efficiently, and perform at high levels consistently. It's the foundation of endurance, strength, flexibility, and overall vitality. Without it, you're building a house on sand: looks good for a bit, but crumbles when life throws curveballs.

Think about it. As we age—and yeah, even if you're in your prime now, time waits for nobody—our bodies face natural wear and tear. Joints stiffen, metabolism slows, and recovery takes longer. But with solid conditioning, you flip the script. Studies show (and I've seen it in my own training) that consistent conditioning reduces injury risk by up to 50%, boosts heart health, and even sharpens your mind. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about longevity. Want to chase your kids around the park at 50? Or hike mountains at 60? Conditioning is your ticket. It keeps chronic issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease at bay, turning fitness from a hobby into a lifestyle armor.

But here's the real-talk kicker: conditioning isn't sexy. It's not the heavy deadlifts that get likes on social media or the shredded abs that turn heads. It's the grind—the steady, methodical work that builds resilience. Importance-wise, it's everything. Without it, overtraining leads to burnout, plateaus hit hard, and motivation tanks. I've been there: early in my fitness journey in my late teens, I chased max lifts without building a base and doing circuits that I didn't prepare for or progress to—that lead to near blackouts and being so sore that I looked like a broken down 80 year old man the next day at fucking 19 years old. Lesson learned. Conditioning ensures you're in it for the long run, preventing those setbacks and letting you enjoy the process. It's the difference between quitting at 40 and thriving at 70.

Now, let's talk the art of it. Yeah, art—because conditioning isn't a cookie-cutter routine; it's a masterpiece you sculpt with intention, creativity, and smarts. The art starts with understanding your body as a canvas. Everyone's different: genetics, age, lifestyle all play in. The key? Listen to it. Push hard, but know when to pull back. That's where the beauty lies—in balancing intensity with recovery, variety with consistency.

Step one in mastering this art: Build a strong foundation with compound movements like from Bodyweight Exercises: Push-Ups, Pull-Ups, Squats (even Crawling)—these aren't just exercises; they're conditioning cornerstones. They engage multiple muscle groups, spike your heart rate, and teach your body to work as a unit. Aim for 3-4 sessions a week, mixing in progressive overload: gradually up the reps, or time under tension. But don't stop there—infuse art by varying modalities. One day, hit resistance bands (10% OFF Code POWERANDMIGHT) for that portable pump (shoutout to my 500-rep circuits!); next, lace up for a walk with a weight vest to build strength, cardio & endurance. This cross-training keeps things fresh, prevents boredom, and conditions your body holistically. To give you an idea.

Flexibility and mobility? Non-negotiable strokes in your masterpiece. Stretching, DDP Yoga, or joint loosening sessions aren't "fluff"—they're essential for long-term shape. Tight muscles lead to imbalances and injuries, killing your progress. Dedicate 10-15 minutes post-workout on certain days for flows such as from Movement 20XX. I've incorporated things like these into my own routine or do them on "days off" and it has made differences in how I move—smoother, stronger, zero nagging pains. Pro tip: Use tools like the Dopa Stretch Band for assisted stretches; they're game-changers for deep tissue work without fancy equipment.

Nutrition fuels the art. You can't condition a body on junk. Focus on whole foods: lean proteins for muscle repair, complex carbs for sustained energy, healthy fats for joint health you know the drill. Hydration? Water and electrolytes. Supplements can help like those from Lost Empire Herbs but the true importance is to eat to perform, not punish.

Recovery is where the magic happens—the art's finishing touch. Sleep 7-9 hours nightly as best as possible; it's when your body rebuilds. Active recovery days with walks or light swims keep blood flowing without overload. Massage, ice baths/cold showers, or even meditation? All tools in your kit. Experiment with hypnosis audio tracks (check my recent post on Logan Christopher's stuff), and they supercharge your mental recovery, reprogramming the mind for resilience. Remember, overtraining is the enemy of conditioning. Signs like constant fatigue or stalled progress? Dial it back. The art is knowing progress isn't linear—it's a wave you ride. Like Bruce Lee said "Be like water."

Mentally, conditioning is a mindset masterpiece. It's about discipline over motivation. Some days, you'll feel unstoppable; others, like sludge. The art? Show up anyway. Track wins in a journal: "Nailed that 5K PR" or "Felt energized all week." Celebrate small victories to build momentum. Surround yourself with a community—follow blogs/accounts like mine for tips, join local groups, or find an accountability buddy. This social element turns solitary grind into shared triumph, keeping you inspired for years.

Long-term, the payoff is epic. Conditioned bodies age gracefully: better bone density, sharper reflexes, vibrant energy. I've seen 60-year-olds outlift 20-somethings because they mastered this art early. It's not about peaking young; it's sustaining power. Avoid common pitfalls like ignoring form (ego lifting? Nope). Always prioritize quality over quantity.

In wrapping this up, physical conditioning is both vital and artistic—your blueprint for a body that endures. Embrace the importance: health, resilience, joy. Master the art: listen, vary, recover. Start today—pick one tip, like adding mobility work, and build from there. You've got the power; now unleash it. Crush those goals, level up together! What's your conditioning hack? Drop it below—let's engage and grow. Be amazingly awesome.

Is It Really That Important To Piss People Off?

 The world can be a shitty place, depending on where you are and who you interact with. There's also that other side of the coin where the world has its wonders, beauty, great people and seeing amazing things. The problem with some in society is that they have this need to piss people off in order to get their satisfaction. It almost is or has become an addiction for them, getting a mental high on just shitting on others especially those you never see yourself hanging around with. 

I mean come on, is it really that important to call others out on a frequent basis in order to prove a point? What's the end game? Where does it truly lead to? Not peace or happiness that's for sure. Many of us have our moments of frustration and disproval of others around us or in society in general but is it possible you get your rocks off on hurting others especially when it comes to someone's race, sexuality, their lives in general or if they workout or not in order to hide your insecurities? Cause if you are, you're not doing that well of a job bro.

Some guys have this need to rant on things that really have nothing to do with them and utilize derogatory terms to showcase their anger or frustration. We know the world isn't perfect and there are people out there who have an agenda the general population can't fathom, but seriously? I see it all the time on social media that it makes you wonder what the hell is going on in someone's head to not only blurt out the dumbest shit but to intentionally make others feel worthless just because they're overweight, struggle with their life or even try to make themselves better. They throw things like "your ancestors would be disappointed" in people's faces or "you're fat because it's your choice", hell even as to call out young teenage boys as pussies because they can't do a certain number of push-ups, what the hell is wrong with you?

Do these people want to watch the world burn? Or do they just want to trample on the weak so they can feel better about themselves? I believe it might be a bit of both or even more of the latter. There's free speech which even in this day and age can be debatable but at the same time, how do people not understand the true nature of the consequences of using that free speech? It boggles my fucking mind sometimes. Not everyone is going to agree on things and many will be successful while others fail but that's the nature of the beast, it's life. Even when we succeed, we've failed at certain points in time but made things happen along the journey to be successful. I do wish all of us would get along but that's in reality a pipe dream cause there are things in this world and people that aren't meant for us. Some go to extremes and literally kill to satisfy urges that never truly end (Bundy, Gacy, Ramirez anyone?). 

When you rant on a frequent basis in anger or just to make some of your audience happy, there's a line at some point if it hasn't been crossed yet that you may not come back from and all you have is frustration, an urge to hurt someone's mental health or an endless craving to challenge people's boiling points. You let insecurities take over and try to prove to others that you're this tough guy who can say whatever the fuck he wants and screw anybody who disagrees. Bragging about how many kids you have from several women or throwing how long you haven't had a drink in someone's face when they're working very hard to not do it themselves doesn't make you special or tough, it makes you insecure, sound narcissistic and don't have a clue what real sympathy or empathy is. Someone like that needs some serious soul searching and most likely therapy. You can be the hardest working guy and protect and provide for your family and all that which is admirable in most cases but if you treat others like shit or have this need to control others to secure your "legacy" or even to manipulate, that's not a real man, that's an asshole with a god complex. Be better bro, you owe it to yourself and others around you.

Does the world or the people in it need an enema sometimes to wake up? quite possibly. Pissing people off to satisfy your anger issues doesn't do anyone any good. We can all find some improvement in ourselves, some way more than others and stop treating each other like we're at war. None of us are going to be around forever, it's important to live without killing each other over things that don't actually effect us.