Archive for the ‘insane feats’ Category

Dudes,

Glad everyone is out there trying to get strong. Everyday I try and think of different ways I can incorporate a different exercise to get that most wanted muscle.

I remember the days where three sets of 10 was the norm. I used to lift like this constantly because I didn’t know any better. I am here to say that over the years I have incorporated many different tools and lifts to get strong as hell and lift big weights.

It’s all about change and not letting your body get used to what you’re doing.  I now incorporate tools like sandbags, kettle bells, rope climbing, kegs, tires, prowlers and all odd objects are fare game.

Doesn’t that sound like fun?  The days of lifting on machines are over.  They don’t get you what you are looking for anyway so why use them.   Start working with free weights, sand bags, kettle bells, tires, ropes, and just heavy odd objects.

It’s give your body the shock you need to see new growth in size and strength!

Get Forged Strong!

Hey kids,

Boy it’s been a crazy weekend!

I just got back from Louisville, KY at Bootcamp, Bootcamp, where I met up with lots of other fitness pros that came from around the country and world.

I was stoked! I met up with a pal  Zach Even-Esh and met and made some more new pals likes Jason C Brown and Pamela MacElree, who are two of the most sought out kettlebell gurus in the country.    I also met some other really inspirational people as well!

Overall it was a great weekend but, I couldn’t just travel to Louisville and hang with a ton of the biggest boot camp owners and fitness pro’s in the world without repping The Forged Athlete!

On the last day of the seminar, TRX had a “40-40” challenge which is 40 atomic push ups with a min rest in between then immediately 40 reclined rows.  I was able to complete the task and win myself a brand spanking new TRX!  I’m thrilled!  It’s in the mail as I write this now!

The TRX in my opinion is one of the best pieces of equipment to train one to get strong as heck with simple “suspended” bodyweight exercises.  I also feel it’s one of the best ways to train your core to build a solid mid section as well.  The exercise options and difficulty levels you can bring yourself to with the TRX are endless.  Besides a good pair of Olympic rings, the TRX is by far, the best bodyweight training system out there.

Which reminds me to let you all in on some really cool info about what’s going to be taking place in a few months. The Forged Athlete will be holding TRX “Underground” Suspension Training Boot Camps.  These camps will rip you up, BIG TIME!   You’ll build crazy strength, power, loads of new muscle, and of course, help increase insane amounts of athletic ability.

In the mean time, check me out tearing up this “40-40” challenge.  I should’ve turned it into a “50-50” challenge.  Ha Ha!  Next time…

Get Forged Strong!

TRX 40-40 Challenge Forged Style

What’s up everyone!

Today was one of those days where we unleashed some hell in the weight room.

Trav was training so hard that his nose started to bleed. Now! we do not expect our guys to train this hard in our gym.

Trav is just one of those crazy dudes.

He had close 100 lbs or better hanging off that belt. Damn good strength if you ask me.

Check out this vid at the forged athlete of him doing some crazy pull ups.

watch?v=gp3Dyu70bJY

I remember I used to run a 4.38 40 and have a 38 inch vert.  Ok numbers for todays elite level athlete.

That was back in the playing days and years ago when I was in “combine” shape.  The way I got there?  Well genetics played a small role I’d have to say.  What really got me there was by doing everything explosively. 

If you want explosive speed, you have to train that way.  Yes absolute strength is great to have, but if you’re not explosive, you’re strength and overall speed isn’t as dangerous.  It’s the fast, quick, explosive burst of power that’s the true game changer.  Speed is just a plus when you’re explosive.     

Nothing can out do having explosive speed capabilities.  If you’re the most explosive player on the field, people are going to know.  It will be very apparent you is the fastest and most explosive.

Now we know we want explosive speed, but how do we get it?  Well, like I had mentioned above, I focused on doing everything as explosive as I could.  Whether it was pressing a weight over head or pulling a weight off the floor, I did it with as much explosion as possible. 

I love the Olympic lifts with a passion.  I’ve spent many years trying to perfect my form to get more explosion from these lifts.  While knowing how to do these lifts is great, for a beginner, learning and perfecting the form can take years.  If you need explosive speed now, you need to focus on other explosive activities, such as plyometrics.

Nothing will ever out do bodyweight plyometrics.  Jumping, skipping, bounding, single leg hops, and yes – lots of jump roping to name a few.  These help create raw explosiveness, speed  and just great overall athleticism.  Different jumps NEED to become a staple in your program ASAP! 

I always recommend doing these types of activities at the start of your workouts when you’re the freshest.  If you try to perform plyometric while you’re tired, you won’t be putting out maximum effort, so you will be training at subpar performances.  This will not get you more explosive, it will help gain work capacity, but not raw explosion. 

Just a few examples of what I used to do for plyometrics, at every workout, especially my lower body days, I would start the workouts by doing skips for height and skips for distance for sets 4 of 40 yards.  I also had access to a long jumping pit that was filled with sand.  I would do sets of 5-8 explosive squat jumps out of the sand before legs days as well.  This really increased my vertical jump and explosiveness due to the fact I was jumping out of sand.  Anytime you jump out of a soft surface, you’ll help increase your explosiveness. 

These are just a few examples of how I used to train and how I still train.  I think plyos are fun, that’s why I still do them.  When you have explosiveness, you just don’t ever want to lose it.  That’s why I train like an athlete still.  Once an athlete, always an athlete.

Enjoy this video of an example of some explosiveness.  Crazy shit!

jump out of pool

Stay Forged Strong!