They Will Never Understand

    What makes you unique? Can you do things that makes others give you weird looks or vibes? When it comes to people especially in certain industries, they fear what they don't know or understand. Its human nature to feel that when you see someone do something extraordinary or even superhuman. I've gotten this many times even by my own blood and hear things like "don't hurt yourself", "Can you do that in the other room", "It's a shame nobody pays you for that" and a favorite "Don't do that in the middle of the floor when there's people around" (I was bridging and there were 3 people in the room and weren't doing anything). I like to feel I'm unique in my own way and can do things most people my age and size can't do especially in this era. Why don't I fear the things I do? Because I not only love it I challenge the norm and see what else I'm capable of and going that extra mile.

 
    Do you get put down for what you love? How can anyone with a brain even remotely tell you, you should do something else because they can't understand? It's messed up. You're not hurting anybody and what do they really fear it's certainly not you it's them and they hate what you're capable of. When you get to pull off something that not only makes you feel incredible in a positive and productive way and you get joy out of it, people want to try to take that away from you because they're not happy with themselves and they're too damn scared to do something that could give something to smile about and be grateful to do things others can't fathom. Not everyone is like this because on the other side of the coin, there are people who want to encourage you and help you succeed. The type of people that have similar interests and share a common goal of making themselves great by helping one another and cheer you on as you cheer for them. When people put you down for what you love it's not because they don't care it's because they can't do it and they don't want you to succeed and that helps them feel better (even though it really doesn't).

 
    For those that can't fathom what you're capable of or what you're willing to strive for, it is almost hurtful to be looked at as if you're some kind of freak of nature and you're too different for them. That's the beauty of being unique, you get to be different and lead your own path to what makes you happy and give you a reason to show your talent in ways the average person just doesn't have a clue. They don't have what you have and they're jealous as hell even though they won't show it or admit it, it is there. I love being able to fall back into a bridge and kick over when I'm able to, it's a beautiful feeling. Can't say the same for some people I know because they look at me and think "he's going to break his neck and he's too big for that." You know what that tells me, it says yeah say what you want and be a negative Nancy but I'm going to do what makes me happy and if you can't take than walk away from me. I'm tired of hiding of what I'm good at and you should never hide who you are.

 
    The people that don't see the positive things that you're good at will not support you (trust me, It's been said to me in my face) but yet you can find those that will and will push you to challenge your passion because they not only see the awesome things you're capable of but want you to share them with the world and can even make a living out of it. It doesn't matter if you're a writer, a hand balancer, a manager of a small store or even one of the world's strongest men; if you love what you do and you're great at it than keep doing it and never let go of that fire that burns within you. I believe in you and if you use what you can do in a positive and awesome way than by all means keep at it and don't think you're not strong enough to be better. Coming from a guy that was told that loved basketball at one time in his life that I would never be in the NBA no matter how hard I tried it hurts to listen to that shit. You are the most awesome person you can be and your limits are your own and if you want to reach for the stars than dammit do it. Make yourself stand out and have fun with it, if you love it and you learn to be the best at it that you are capable of making it than don't let anyone stop you. Keep at it and don't let assholes take you down when you can rise above them.

It's Tuesday so make it a great one and be awesome everyone. Be sure to check out my Special Offer at the top of the site. It'll only hold until Oct. 1st. Jump on it now and find out how to get a coaching session with me on Skype.

To Bridge Or Not To Bridge??? That Is The Question

            Is it not wise to build a mighty neck & back? For he that is weak in the electric embodiment of one’s core shall deteriorate with fierce consequence. A neck that holds the head up high with great confidence and soaring charisma must be strong that he must practice to save his body from a hunch and painful muscle.

            Fear is a piercing for those that not practice. It is this fear that thee doesn't take one step closer to his true potential with the ability to become not just strong but agile and fearlessness that brings forth his soul’s purpose to achieve inner strength. To practice is to be within the deepest reaches of one’s heart and purpose to leap with both feet and making thyself more wanted to be strong.

            The power of one’s spine is to a soul’s strength. The strength of man’s back is a source of great admiration, the might of his bones and muscle is a leap to perhaps a superhuman entity for which very few men can accomplish. It is within man’s birthright to be strong in many facets of life and only that crossing is from being weak to being powerful.

            Is it in the interest of thee that can fall with grace? Most fear because of their lonesome, they will be hurt and not tackle that darkness. Are there not angels that are there for guidance? There are angels but there’s also a blessing of a friend that can guide you and help you fall back with confidence and inner power. To fall back, one must reach down into his very soul to build the power to take another leap into becoming a being of no fear and not dwelling on putting his body at risk, with great practice, greater energy becomes.

            One must tell thyself to make way of crossing past the darkness and kicking over to the other side with will and the ability to fight. The more practice, the less you need to fight. An agile body doesn't happen overnight just like the cities of the Roman, Greek and Persian empires of the remote past. Your body is a temple of Great Power. Not everyone can enjoy this power but for most it is within your grasp to take whole of which is yours to keep. To Bridge takes patience, with great patience comes confidence, confidence becomes power.  

My Secrets To Daily Training

If you want to build the greatest foundation for creating great programs for you and your goals you must absorb as much information as possible. They say knowledge is power, well the more you learn and the more you experiment, you will start becoming your own trainer.

When you train, get a feel of how the exercises are in the beginning and work your way up at a pace that's comfortable for you. Listen to how your body responds to soft training and tough & brutal type training. Work on things that give you a sense of power and a sense of well-being. Learn to use your instincts when your body gets tired and how your body responds to certain exercises. There are some exercises you shouldn't do which is fine but you need to find out which ones work and which don't.

There's a big difference between training for an hour at one time as if you trained a full hour throughout the day. Your concentration is different and your structure is different. Your speed and pace is different. This is where you need to learn on how to pace yourself in a workout. Spreading an hour throughout the day is a good ideal because you get to focus on the things you want to work on. For this benefit it helps you with your schedule as you may not have a lot of time to train but doing things here and there set the pace for how the rest your day goes.

Many people can't find that amount of time dedicated to a workout. Now working out for an hour straight or resting in between sets within the hour can be a good thing as well but your mind structure is different cause you are training for a long time and concentration is key in this case. Training at a good clip for an hour straight is also different especially on specific exercises that can be ballistic and tough plus in my experience doing tough workouts for an hour just makes you feel not that good and your body doesn't have the capacity to train hard for that long.

I feel the best benefit of training for an hour straight shouldn't be hard training at all. It should be soft, concentrated and meditative. Work your joints, tendons and ligaments while taking the time to do deep breathing because working on these elements can create huge jumps in your training later on as you can do more speed and concentration on shorter workouts and work your body the way you feel needs to.

Me personally I rarely ever train for a whole hour at one time or throughout the day as I get bored very easily. I have some ADD type moments in my workouts because ten minutes to me is too long and I need to regroup and think about what I want to do. This is where shorter workouts are more simpler then doing the same routine of 30 minutes of this and an hour of that. I have a bit more time to kill then most people ad even I can't do that much work, its boring, not fun and makes me want to punch someone in the face for whoever came up with that idea.

Pacing yourself in a training session is critical because you don't want to go so fast you lose your form and you don't want to go so slow that you get bored and just hate what you're doing. Work on finding your own pace and speed according to how your body responds an your mind is in the right place while maintaining the best form possible. Its not bad to go fast in a workout, hell that's a favorite for me because I want a great workout in the shortest amount of time as possible. Its not bad to go slow either so you can focus on certain exercises like holds and working your flexibility safely and productively.

One of the real keys to being your trainer is to change up your exercises and tempos on a frequent basis and make your body need to adapt. This is sometimes called muscle confusion but in my line of training its making progress on developing fresh and exciting workouts. I have to change up all the time but I'll use the same exercises while mixing them up and working at different paces. Some exercises I move fast on, with others its more focused and more on movement. I also hold certain positions for a certain amount of time. This works the muscles and tendons in a different setting and is sometimes more relaxing then just moving and moving.

There's no one way to train and everybody trains differently no matter how much you teach them. A lot of trainers make the mistake of trying to show a student an exercise exactly the way they think it should be taught and the student just doesn't always get it right and its not their fault. A person should work an exercise according to his/her body structure whether they're small, average, thin, muscular, overweight or tall & short. I learned this the hard way from a teacher I once had who taught us how to do side steps and plyometrics. I'm 5'10 and well over 240 lbs. and have some arthritis in my leg due to my accident years back and although its strong and flexibility in some areas, in others it isn't and she tried teaching it exactly the way it worked for her which cannot and logically cannot work the same for someone my size or smaller. I ended up hurting myself and eventually quit after nearly a month. So even with all my training experiences from doing hardcore training methods and doing stamina training that makes most people want to puke it be hard to believe that I needed to quit after going through that.

Learn the exercises you want to learn, master them and work with them as often as possible and supplement other exercises to work weak areas and to help you recover. Doing this type of progress and finding what works best for you puts you ahead of the pack and you learn the ultimate key of training of becoming your own trainer and that's Self-Reliance. Don't ever copy someone else's program but your own because you won't be achieving first rate training, you'll be a second rate wanna-be and this is something that should never happen to you. Don't go looking for a trainer and be second rate student, look to yourself and learn what you want to learn for yourself and become a first rate teacher of your own ideals and programs.

No Time To Train During A Snow Storm? Think Again

It can be difficult to travel or just stay home during a wicked snow storm. Shoveling snow so you can get your car out of the driveway is no easy task and requires some strength and a lot of physical labor. I live in a state where this happens a lot in the winter time. I still consider it exercise as you're using more then just your body to shovel snow. After doing this for period of time make sure to stretch your body as this type of work stresses a lot on the body.

One of my favorite workouts to do warm or cold is moving around like a wild animal. Training like this in warm weather gets rid of toxins in your body and forces you to drink more water then you normally would because of the fluids that run through you and plus you're building natural Human Growth Hormone which helps burn off fat, build muscle and makes you grow younger. In the winter however where in some places around the country its cold as hell and training in the snow in this manner forces you to be fast and explosive just to stay warm and eventually just trying to stay warm burns more calories and burn off fat even faster. The breathing is also different in various weather climates.

Another way to train during winter time is to do some form of Rocky training like in Rocky IV when he ran, pushed, pulled, twist in the snow and used what he had to bust his ass in every way he can. You can do the same thing with what you have and if you don't have anything then just use your own body.Yet if you want some kick ass tools then don't look any further then here.

Whether you like it not if you're a gym goer and can't get to the gym during some bad snow weather you're shit out of luck. At least you think you are. I have a solution for you that will save you from not only trying to drive to the gym or walk but to give you a small workout that lasts only 4 minutes and brings you down quicker then Andre The Giant getting knocked by Hulk Hogan. What you do is do an animal exercise for 20 seconds and rest for 10 sec. Continue doing this until your 4 minutes are up. You don't need to move around that much in your own living room, do frog jumps, hop like a rabbit, move around like a bear in a circle whatever you want to do. Another thing you can do is do Squats and Push-ups and get those endorphins in your system so you will be in a blissful state instead of feeling like crap and bored.

I will say thi for sure, if there's too much snow, its best to just stay in, stay warm and you really need only a few spaces to train on and you're set. After you train, take a nice warm/cool shower or bath and let your body go. Feel blissful, be thankful for your accomplishment and just breathe naturally. After some time feeling incredible and happy, get out, dry off, put on some warm clothes and settle near the fire watching your favorite movie or tv show eating some good healthy food. Embrace the snow and never take for granted your own winter wonderland.

Bending Steel Documentary- Process Is Now Underway

There have been decades where when it was time for the old-time strongmen would have the opportunity to not only show what they're capable of world-wide but would it ever get to the big screen? This time, its finally coming true where we will see what its all about when you see how strong the men of this film are. Learning from one of the strongest men on the planet Chris Shoeck is on his way from having self doubts about being a performing strongman to getting on stage and showing how powerful a man of his small stature can be.

In the film it shows Chris learning the craft of the mythical and somewhat surreal feats of the old-time strongmen that were the mega-stars of the early 20th century where you had men and women performing phenomenal stuff in vaudeville and ACT shows in the peak of PT Barnum's Circus. This journey is a heartfelt and somewhat courageous act of will and determination of going beyond the norm and becoming something more then yourself. This little strongman is only 5'7 and around 160 pounds but with inner power and a fierce will of overcoming impossible odds he shines over men twice his size.

Chris' trainer Chris Rider is becoming a legend in his own time. A man at nearly 6'5 and well over 300 pounds is one of the strongest men of our generation. Learning from Grandmaster Strongman Dennis Rogers, he has become one of the best performers of our time and there is no stopping him and you will see why in this film. Performing for only a few years Rider has already jumped up to a status that most other strongmen took more then a decade to get where they're at. He has ripped the thickest phonebooks with ease, bent steel that should never be bent and has become another version of what World's Strongest Man Champion Sven Karlson refers to as "Viking Power." Rider just has that mythical viking style of look and strength that you would see in the stories of the old Norwegian Vikings in middle ages. Take it from me when I say the man is strong he is STRONG!!!!!!

Back in August of this year, Rider, Shoeck and other strongmen performed their legendary feats at the famous Coney Island, NY Amusement Park. It was the first in nearly 60 years that a strongman last performed there. In its rich history as the mecca of strongmen it was only fitting to have the past, present and future strongmen to be at this event, even the last of the remaining old timers Slim The Hammerman was there who had been performing since the late 50's. This event was one for the ages and those who performed couldn't have performed any better then they did at this level. There were many feats performed and each strongman did his own unique style that kept the audience in awe of every performance. If you were there you know what i'm talking about.

The film is now in the process of editing and getting it into theaters by next summer. Paying out of their own pocket its a bit tough to get things done when you have a deadline so with your help they are looking for donations to help get this film finished and believe me when I tell you this its worth every dollar or more you donate because these not only will thank you but you get something in return as well which should be the right thing to do. Within a certain amount you donate you will get a little something back and the more you donate the bigger you get back. If you look up at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixkillernyc/help-finish-bending-steel-a-feature-length-documen
you will see what kick ass stuff you can get ranging from a sticker w updates to having Rider & Shoeck performing at your business, school or private event being filmed by the filmakers themselves and given a donated credit in the film. Thats a pretty awesome offer don't you think?

Last but not least I know the Mighty Atom would be proud that strongmanism is finally getting what it deserves and thats to show the world how these men of strength give everything they have to make the best of giving the people a show of a lifetime and building strength and power that is just surreal to everything else in this world. If a boy wants to become something that he believes in, a man should help show him the way and thats what this film is all about, having the heart and soul to put everything aside for that one moment that takes you from a boy to a man to a legend. Join me and others and get this film done and let it be shown the way it was meant to...A film for the ages in our sport.

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.

Building The Mind/Muscle Connection

Building muscle is a great way to improve yourself but combine it with mental training and you're getting the best of both worlds not only from a physical aspect but from the inside as well. There are many programs that develop this particular aspect of physical culture and many are good but only a few show the true meaning to the term mind/muscle connection. Take Isometrics for example you push against a wall and you're pushing and pushing but if you push the wall with your mind at the same time you may find yourself being stronger and more efficient. Another example is DVR/VRT exercise, you visualize the resistance with your mind and its connecting you to the muscles you working. You flex and move and before you know it you're building nerve force and a powerful connection with your entire body from the inside out. Building strength is great in the physical sense but mental strength is more important otherwise it will be boring. Create a connection and you will master the will of your body to move in ways you wouldn't have dreamed possible.