A Hammer And A Kettlebell Walk Into A Bar

 Ok, that sounded like the beginning to a terrible joke but hey, I have that weird sense of humor. Yesterday was a fun outing at a park in town on the eastern side. My wife wanted to practice her photography, so we did some filming and photo shooting of me doing stuff with my 70 pound Darth Vader Kettlebell & my Giants Hammer which I emptied out to its original weight of 13 pounds cause I wanted to build some greater speed and explosive. 

We were out there for quite a while, a couple hours max and I couldn't tell how many reps I did moving those damn things. For the filming, we tested out some things with angles and where some good shots of me lifting the bell and slamming down the hammer. Yeah, I rested in between takes and all that but it was still pretty tough to do to maintain my strength with one implement and going in short bursts with another. Hell during one set of filming, I was being so fast with the hammer that it didn't catch one of the reps I wanted to do. Took several takes to get it right but we got it. 

I don't know what was worse LOL, the filming or the photo shooting. With the photo shooting which I will put up a few here and on SM soon, I had to hold the hammer at certain points and yeah that was easier to do cause it is much lighter, but the Kettlebell? Holy shit, There were a few shots where I had to hold it overhead in lockout for an extended period of time because she wanted to get some good shots both straight ahead and from the ground looking up a me. It's one thing to hold up a good 25-30 pounder for promo purposes but to hold up a 70 that is awkwardly shaped? That's a whole other ball game. This is where I'm glad I have strong tendons and ligaments along with functional muscle to do this. 

Some of the photo shooting was to get the idea of how I would slam the hammer down and the power of the thrusts nearly frame by frame. All she told me to do was to rep it out as much as I can which felt like a damn sprint and maintaining that explosiveness. The last of it was doing Kettlebell swings which I don't do very often and don't have the greatest technique but I can do them without killing myself (even with a KB that heavy). So for a 2-3 sets or so of that, I was told to swing for as many reps as I can muster until she told me to stop. It was under 10 reps at a time but you didn't know how many were needed done so you just kept swinging. 

To say that whole session was a workout would be an understatement. With also not even eating anything that day until we got home from the park, I built up a hell of an appetite. Still was a blast though and she just loved getting the practice in. 

Before the session, I got in a little workout of O2 Training for a few minutes and some DDP Yoga for mobility and flexibility. Did a few push-ups and self resistance exercises to get some blood pumping as well. After the session before bed, I did some more O2 Training for several minutes and a Core/Hip Exercise along with an Animal Combo. 

Like I said earlier in the post, I'll put up some of the shots she took and another video of doing Hammer Slams where the camera moves almost in a circular type fashion instead of stationary (maybe). For now, I edited some of the videos to what I wanted to do which you can view below....

Overall, as tough as some of this was, it was a lot of fun and would do it again. One of the videos that I'll eventually put up is hitting 25 reps in under 40 Seconds. That's just freaking nasty man and if you want to talk about a lung burner, it ranks right up there. 

Be amazingly awesome, kill it in your endeavors and train with an adventurous mind. 

 

Unleash The Essence Of A Fighter Dinosaur Style: 100 Strength Training Tips For Combat Athletes

 Do Dinosaurs fight? In this case, it sure as hell does. A legendary section from the Dinosaur Training course that first roared to life as a two-part article in The Dinosaur Files newsletter. We're talking way back in the late 90's, when the world was still chained to fluffy fitness fads and dumbbell curls for show. But, it has been seen that the mighty have risen! This wasn't just ink on paper; it was a thunderclap that shattered the status quo, and the echoes? They're still shaking the foundations of training halls worldwide.

Back then, The Dinosaur Files was the underground bible for those who craved real strength – not the polished, pretty-boy kind, but the primal, beast-mode power that turns men into legends. That two-part series on the "100 Tips"? It exploded like a keg of dynamite. Hands down, it may have been the most popular article ever to grace those pages. Feedback poured in like a tidal wave – letters, calls, smoke signals from the trenches. Trainers, fighters, and everyday warriors hailed it as the gospel of grit. Why? Because it wasn't about chasing mirrors or pumping for selfies. It was about forging unbreakable bodies for the real fight – combat, survival, dominance.

Fast forward through the decades, and watch the transformation unfold like a epic conquest. Those ideas Brooks unleashed? Once labeled "pretty far-out" by the skeptics – the keyboard critics and the barbell benchwarmers – they've clawed their way into the mainstream. Dinosaur methods aren't fringe anymore; they're the gold standard for combat athletes grinding it out on mats, in rings, and under the lights. Some of the best grapplers and strikers of all stripes adopted these secrets and ascend to glory. Hell, at least two World championships in grappling arts have been claimed by athletes who trained Dino-style. Think of it, a fighter wrapping his hands around gold, his body sculpted not by machines, but by the raw, unrelenting principles of old-school power. That's the Dinosaur roar echoing through victory!

But it doesn't stop in the cage or in a dojo. No fucking way, this revolution has stormed the fields, courts, and pitches like an unstoppable horde. Football players at high school, college, and pro levels? They're Dino devotees, bulldozing through lines with that unbreakable core strength. Rugby beasts? Charging like rhinos, thanks to the same brutal basics. Basketball phenoms? Leaping higher, enduring longer, all fueled by these timeless truths. One NFL head coach – a titan in his own right – was so fired up by these workout ideas and philosophy that he bulk-ordered copies of Dinosaur Training for every single player on his roster. How bad ass is that, an entire team of gridiron gladiators, each clutching the manual that turns potential into powerhouse. They didn't just read it; they lived it, pounding the iron with purpose, emerging as champions forged in fire.

And let's talk rugby royalty – the legendary All Blacks. One of their top strength coaches, a master of might, weaves Dinosaur methods into his programs like threads of steel. Those warriors from Down Under? They're not just playing; they're dominating with the kind of functional ferocity that only comes from embracing the basics: heavy lifts, grip work, odd-object training that mimics the chaos of battle. It's no coincidence they're perennial powerhouses. Then there's the NBA angle – a famous strength coach, back when he was molding the Chicago Bulls, was working with none other than Michael Jordan – the GOAT himself – and he credited Dinosaur Training for elevating their game. Picture MJ, soaring through the air, his explosive power amplified real-world strength over gym gimmicks. That's the ripple effect, brothers – from the hardwood to the end zone, Dino principles are the secret weapon.

Now, for those who think this is just sports fluff, let's crank it up a notch. Dinosaur Training isn't confined to arenas; it's infiltrated the front lines of real-world heroism. A man who specialized in tactical self-defense for Canadian law enforcement – yeah, the Mounties themselves – was a die-hard fan. He didn't just nod along; he integrated these methods into his curriculum, teaching officers how to harness raw power for survival scenarios. A Mountie, red serge and all, drilling Dino-style: sandbag carries for endurance, thick-bar pulls for unyielding grip, abbreviated workouts that build unbreakable resilience. In the heat of a takedown or a pursuit, that kind of strength isn't optional – it's life-saving. Yes, the guardians of the North train like Dinosaurs, proving these secrets transcend games and enter the realm of duty and defense.

What makes these 100 tips so enduring? It's the purity, the primal essence. We're talking about ditching the bullshit: no endless sets, no fancy machines, just heavy basics done right. Squats that build legs like tree trunks. Deadlifts that forge a back of steel. Presses that turn shoulders into boulders. Grip work that made the hands into weapons of destruction. Odd lifts – stones, barrels, anvils – that prepare you for the unpredictable grind of life. Mental toughness drills that turn doubt into dominance. Nutrition that's straightforward: fuel like a warrior, not a dieter. Recovery strategies that honor the body's roar, not its whisper. These aren't trends; they're timeless truths, drawn from the old-time strongmen who lifted before science tried to sanitize or even complicate strength.

Many have seen the evolution firsthand. In the '90s, folks scoffed at abbreviated training – "Too short? Not enough volume?" Now? It's the smart path for busy athletes who want results without burnout. Grip training was niche; today, it's essential for grapplers locking in submissions (Imagine trying to get out of a Double Wrist Lock when the guy applying it is like a vise). Functional strength over isolation? Combat sports live by it. Even periodization with Dino twists – waves of intensity, deloads like a beast in hibernation – has become staple. And the community? It has exploded. Forums buzz with Dino stories, gyms echo with the clang of real iron, and social media warriors (the good kind) share their triumphs.

Don't just read about these incredible tips – embody them! Whether you're a weekend warrior, a pro athlete, or a first-responder honing your edge, these principles are your forge. Start simple: Pick three basics, hit them hard, recover smart. Build that Dinosaur mindset – relentless, unbreakable, ever-evolving. I've done a few things in honor of this course because I believe in the power of the primal. From those newsletter pages to world stages, the proof is in the pudding.

As we charge into the future, remember: Strength isn't given; it's seized. These are your arsenal. Grab 100 Strength Training Tips For Combat Athletes, apply the fire, and watch your world transform. Are you in? Drop your Dino stories below, I want to know what it did to help you in your journey. Be amazingly awesome.

Here's a powerful song to amp you up that makes Pre-Workout look weak. WarChants man. Hear the Goblin War Drums....

Striking Into The Heart Of Your Goals

            To really shoot for something, it’s not going through the motions; it’s not taking it easy, it’s taking the time to make things happen. Hammer your way to what you want and not just strike with a few dings, take down the damn door like you own it. Sometimes it takes a few days, some have goals that go on for months and others slowly work up to building years of a goal but it’s still within yourself to take down what you want to do.

            For most when they start out, it’s tough, it’s not something they’re use to and when they can’t handle it, it wasn't there at the right time or they just give up. Sometimes in life not always, you got to be aggressive and fight for it. It’s not always just training for something or getting motivated, it’s a feeling that you crave and you are eager to get something done come hell or high water. When I broke my legs, I didn't want to spend the rest of the year in a wheel chair and hope and pray that it will get better; I had to fight with everything I had and set my mind to saying “You’re fucking walking sooner than anyone expects you to.” When I was cleared to walk again, I was determined to make something happen, not just walk but become far stronger than I ever was in my teens. I hated some of those workouts but I pushed myself. If you want something bad enough, you got to do it for you otherwise what was it really worth?

            When you take on certain challenges, some look at them as a prison sentence and if you do your time you’ll get out of it, I say bullshit. Real challenges take you out of your comfort zone and challenge your mind more than your body. You have the power to make your mind say “You know what; it’s tough but god damn it’s fun as hell.” Very few get that mindset and that’s where you learn to be at your toughest. You may not always like it but you want to make that goal bad enough, you’re going to hit some crossroads. Sometimes you may end up failing and you know what it happens. You can’t not fail all the time otherwise where is the challenge, where’s the excitement? Challenges can be overwhelmingly fun but you got to put that in your mind, no one else can do it for you.

            I personally believe that if you want to do something great, something that is worthy for you to accomplish, it is your responsibility to make it your personal mission and don’t be afraid to fail if it happens. Never attempt to fail on purpose, it just doesn't seem right. I have failed on many things in my life but each time it happened, somehow I both came back and won or I switched to something else and I got it done and was proud of it. None of us are perfect and our goals will always be different but it’s our ability as an individual to find that spark, that thing we want to accomplish no matter what it is, we have the power to define what others say is impossible. For years I never believed I could deadlift over 400 lbs. I even trained for it at one point and it never came, one day it did and it just lit me up like only those who have experienced it understand.

            You want it, you go get it and do it for you, don’t do it for anybody else otherwise you sell yourself short. Strike into the very Core of your goals and make them happen in the best way possible that’s positive, confident and challenging who you are to become better.