AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE
ISSUE 22 - 5/20/2004
1. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Most men are afraid to do anything that is different from what the rest of the world is doing. Most men condemn themselves to lives of hopeless mediocrity because they cannot envision doing anything that would separate them from the mediocre.”- Brooks Kubik, author of Dinosaur Training
Taking on new challenges is never easy. In addition to the difficulty of taking on the actual challenge, y! ou have to block out the negativity from people around you. Often the latter is more difficult. Regardless, if you want to do anything meaningful in life you have to learn how to filter through all of the negativity and persevere. Don’t be afraid to strive for excellence because of the possibility of receiving negativity from the mediocre people in your life. People that cannot or will not do things often take solace in criticizing people that are in the game. I remember one time when I was a kid at a baseball game some people in the audience yelled out to a player that he was a horrible player. Well, I really doubt that a professional baseball player cares. Just to get to the major leagues you have to be excellent. While the loser in the audience is yelling out profanities, the major league player gets a nice pay check and gets to do what people can only dream of doing. Regardless, somewhere along the line, this professional baseball player had! to learn how to filter out negativity. Otherwise, he never would have made it to the big leagues.
If you cannot handle the negativity of others or need someone to motivate you, then do not even bother going after your goals. You will never achieve them. Be prepared to walk alone if necessary and finish what you start.
Live Life Aggressively!
Mike Mahler
2. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING ARTICLE
Training For Brute Strength And Muscular Endurance
Recently on the dragondoor messageboard there was an interesting discussion on how to train for both brute strength and muscular endurance. Top strength coach Steve Maxwell made the point that strength will carry over more to muscular endurance than the other way around. Based on my experience I agree with Steve completely.
Years ago I worked up to being able to bench press 315lbs for six reps. When I tested my numbers on the bench press with 225lbs, I was a! ble to bang out seventeen reps straight. I never trained the bench press above three reps at the time. One of the main reasons, why I think I was able to knock off so many reps with 225lbs was the mental confidence that I acquired from handling 315lbs with ease. 225lbs felt like nothing and the first twelve reps literally flew up. Recently with my kettlebell training, I noticed a similar result. I have been working on double snatches with two 70lb kettlebells for several months. One day I decided to test my numbers with one 88lb kettlebell and banged out 20 reps with both arms. I felt like I could have gone up to twenty-five with my right arm.
Now before you get excited about cutting all cardio and muscular endurance out of your routine, keep in mind that brute strength will only help up to a point. If you want to be a marathon runner, you cannot just do sprints and hope that it carries over. If you want to compete in kettlebell competitions, you have to get used to the mental toughness of persevering with very high rep sets. However, if your main goal is to increase brute strength, but you want some muscular endurance as well, make the focus of your program strength. However, add in a few high rep sets at the end of your workout as a “finisher.” For example, 50 pushups and 100 bodyweight squats. Or, one all out set of kettlebell snatches and jerks. By doing the high rep sets at the end of your workout, you will not take anything away from the strength portion of your training. Moreover, according to strength coach Christian Thibaudeau, high rep sets allow your body to rapidly absorb nutrients after a workout. Thus, adding some “finishers” at the end of your workout might increase overall recovery as well. You can’t beat that!
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