AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE
ISSUE 7 - 12/17/2003
1. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Robert Thurman (first westerner ordained a monk by the Dalai Lama)
On of my newsletter readers was nice enough to send me this excellent quote from Robert Thurman. After I graduated from college, I thought that I wanted to be a social worker. I wanted to help people and doing social work was the only thing that came to mind. However, being a social worker was not my calling or something that I was passionate about. As a result, I was not willing to go through all of the trouble to bother pursuing that path. Next, I decided that I would get a job with a great salary and simply donate money to worthy causes. That is certainly one way to do some good in the world. Yet, the prospect of doing a job that was not enjoyable just to donate money to worthy causes did not get me excited. Finally, after I got laid off from my last job, I realized that what I wanted to do with my life was always right in front of me. Strength training had been one of my hobbies for many years and I used to spend most of my free time reading books on training and test-driving different training methods and ideas. I knew that becoming a strength coach would be something that I would be passionate about and I had to give it a shot.
That was 19 months ago and while I have had my ups and downs in this business, I still love what I do and most importantly I am helping people daily through this vehicle. By following my dream I have come alive and it has allowed me to reach people that would not have been possible otherwise.
Somewhere inside you is something that you are passionate about. Be true to yourself and find out what it is. We all need to benefit from you coming alive!
Live Life Aggressively!
Mike Mahler
2. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING ARTICLE
The Power Of Extended Isometrics
Recently top strength coach Christian Thibaudeau told me about how he is using extended isometrics to help his athletes recover faster. An isometric exercise is a static lift in which you hold a position in an exercise for time. For example, holding the pushup position at the halfway point of the drill. Christian has his athletes do exercises such as: isometric pushups and bodyweight squats at the end of their workouts to get more blood into the worked muscles for active recovery. The trick is that Christian is not having them do the standard 10-15 second isometrics. Christian is having his athletes hold isometric positions for 3-5 minutes! I tried doing extended isometric pushups the other day and managed to hold the position for 2 minutes. My chest and triceps were toast and the pump of blood into the muscles was immense to say the least. Try adding an extended isometric exercise to the end of each of your workouts, or do the following on your active recovery days:
Isometric Pushup (hold the half way point) Isometric Squats (hold the parallel position) Isometric chin-up (hold the top position)
Start off by doing 30-60 second isometrics and work your way up to 3-5 minute isometrics over the course of several workouts. I think that you will be amazed with the results.
Also, if you are trying to learn how to do difficult bodyweight drills such as: handstand pushups, one legged squats and one arm pushups, try applying extended isometrics to those drills as well to build up the tension necessary to execute them.
Make sure to pick up Christian’s must have book at Biotestedge.com.
3. GET THE AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH DVD COMBO PACK TODAY
"Kettlebell Solutions for Speed and Explosive Strength is incredible! All of the exercises are explained and displayed perfectly and leave you with no questions. There is absolutely no filler and it gives so many options to add to your arsenal. Watching it gets me so amped up to train! One of the best things is the Free DVD User guide to set you on the right track. I love all of the exercises and together with Tke Kettlebell Solution For Size and Strength, I will never get bored of training!"
- Chris Pontius of MTV's Wildboyz and Jackass
Kettlebell Solution for Size and Strength
If you enjoy lifting light kettlebells and have no desire to be strong with a powerful physique, then this DVD is not for you. However, if you are ready for a new challenge with kettlebells and desire to maximize the benefits of kettlebell training, get this DVD today.
The Kettlebell Solution For Size And Strength will show how to get much stronger with kettlebells and build a muscular physique as well. This detailed DVD is for all levels and covers the basics enough for beginners and offers new challenges for experienced kettlebell lifters.
Kettlebell Solutions for Speed and Explosive Strength
Super comprehensive kettlebell training DVD that goes over how to build speed and explosive power in four different categories: Full body explosive power, Upper body explosive power, Lower body explosive power, and Rotational explosive power. Translation? You will be one explosive hombre after you practice the exercises on this DVD and follow the programs in the Free Kettlebell Training DVD E-book. I did not leave anything out on this DVD. Even if you do not care about getting faster and more explosive, you will love the wide variety of exercises that this kettlebell training DVD contains.
4. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH PERSONALIZED PROGRAM DESIGN SERVICES
"Lost 10 lbs and went down from a size 12 to a size 8 in jeans – that was something I expected not to happen for another 10-15 more lbs! So thanks for your guidelines – they really have helped a lot."
- Michele Milevoi
Tired of trial and error? Want a training program that actually works? Click here for more info!
5. NEW AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
I have just added some great new products to my website including: medicine balls, the ultimate portable gym, and some pull-up straps that allow you to do a pull-ups anywhere! Click here.
6. THE AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH SOLUTION FOR THE ROAD WARRIOR
Tired of terrible hotel gyms and getting out of shape on the road? Tired of doing bodyweight only routines in your hotel room because there are no other options? You need Lifeline's resistance cable products. Not only are they light and portable but they provide enough resistance to humble the strongest athletes around. Click here for more info
7. KETTLEBELL TRAINING INFORMATION PAGE (NEW)
http://www.mikemahler.com/kettlebell_info.html
8. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
http://www.mikemahler.com/newsletter
9. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH ARTICLES
http://www.mikemahler.com/articles.html
10. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING JOURNAL
http://www.mikemahler.com/journal.html
11. RECOMMENDED READING LIST
http://www.mikemahler.com/reading.html
Until next time.
Live Life Aggressively!
Feel free to email me with your comments and feedback at mahler25@yahoo.com
Mike Mahler