Below is the first of a five part video series that details the life of Ben Underwood.  I first wrote about Ben on my old blog almost 2 years ago.   The original post was lost however after a database conversion in 2007.  I had almost forgotten his story until receiving an email this morning with links to these videos (thanks to Son N. for sending).

Parts 2 through 5 can be found at the links below:

Part 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1QaCeosUmw

Part 3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpNZOx5FGk

Part 4 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Px-aPnk4ZU

Part 5 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNkJ1diTxOE

It will take some time to watch all of these videos, but I highly recommend doing so when  time permits.   The entire series is truly fascinating.

A Change In Title

As you’ll notice, the Youtube videos are titled, “The Boy Who Sees Without Eyes.”  I unfortunately had to title this blog entry as the boy who saw without eyes.  After researching his story this morning, I realized that Ben had passed away earlier this year.  Sadly, the cancer that took his vision eventually took his life as well.

His family has a website in his honor (with more details) at the link below:

Ben Underwood

Learn From His Example

Ben’s story is incredibly sad, but I still believe that we can learn from his example and gain something positive by witnessing the way he lived his life.  Ben’s life story is perhaps the most amazing story I’ve ever seen.  To watch him move freely in this world without eyes is mind boggling.   It is almost impossible for me to comprehend.

As ironic as it sounds, it would be difficult for me to believe this story without seeing it.  Meanwhile, Ben Underwood couldn’t see anything, at least not in the traditional sense.  His senses were everything but traditional however. He is perhaps the perfect example for overcoming obstacles and living life to the fullest regardless of the hand that you’ve been dealt.  Words cannot describe his amazing abilities. I won’t even try.

It’s also amazing that someone who couldn’t see had such an ability to open our eyes.   While certain circumstances are out of our control, we still hold the magic pen that is responsible for writing our own lives.  I doubt that there was a doctor in the world who could have predicted that Ben would become as physically capable and active as he was without vision.  So much for conventional wisdom.

I’ve often said that almost anything is possible in this world.   I still agree, although I’m inclined to drop almost from the previous statement.

Throughout the history of this blog, I’ve posted several inspirational stories, and I’ll continue adding more for as long as I host this site.  One obvious reason for posting these stories is to motivate those who come across this page.  I must confess however that I also post these stories for my own motivation.

And while I don’t actually need motivation from others to wake up each day and provide for my family, it is often nice (and useful) to put things into perspective.   This morning my day started at 3AM.  It’s now approaching 10PM.  I’ve been working throughout the day.  It has been one of those days if you know what I mean.

I’ve had moments today when I was tired and wasn’t in the best of moods.   But then I came across the video below (along with this story)…

After watching Josh George’s story, I suddenly didn’t feel so tired.  I snapped right out of the funk I had been in earlier today and ended up accomplishing a significant amount of work.   I also put in a second workout this evening after having trained almost 12 hours earlier at the crack of dawn.   I felt beastly in the gym tonight after feeling exhausted for much of the day.

Watching the Josh George story gave me the visual reminder that I needed to get on with the rest of the day.  We all have good days and bad days, but often times our bad days are not as bad as we think (when living in the moment). This isn’t to say that our problems are not real, but simply a reminder that things could often be much worse, and we are often more fortunate than we realize.

As I mentioned above, there are times when it is useful to take a step back and put things into perspective.   Today was one of those days for me.

I had plans for a more serious article this morning, but have instead decided to share a classic training montage that was posted to my forum last month.   Please note however that these techniques are not intended for the novice.

On a more serious note,  I don’t believe it is possible to watch the entire clip without breaking into laughter.

In a past entry, I provided a video demonstration of a homemade T-handle.  Since posting the video, I’ve received several emails regarding clearance on the bottom of the swing.  Some readers mentioned that they cannot swing as low as they’d like without the T-handle brushing the ground.  After all, the 12 inch piece of pipe is longer than what you may be accustomed to when swinging a dumbbell or kettlebell.

If you’ve had a similar problem, a simple adjustment can be made by swinging atop blocks.  In the image above, I’ve placed two cinder blocks side by side (two on each side).  I use two blocks per each side as two offers a much more stable feel when compared to a single block.  I don’t want to worry about footing when working with heavy loads.

With these blocks, I can swing heavy loads with no concern over brushing the ground.  Personally, I’ve never had a problem hitting the ground, but the blocks allow you to get even lower on the bottom (if you wish), which offers unique benefits as well.

For more information regarding the T-handle (including instructions for building one), please refer to the link below:

Homemade T-handle Demonstration

See Part I

This entry is a follow up to Part I. I will address some of the questions that arose following the original piece.

To begin, my advice to think for yourself is not a suggestion to reinvent the wheel. Strength isn’t new. The wheel has already been invented.

Clearly, the novice needs direction. He isn’t expected to arrive at the gym on his first day with all of the answers. Even Einstein had to gradually acquire his knowledge. Thinking for yourself doesn’t mean spitting in the face of common logic. I’m certainly not knocking traditional sources of knowledge (ex. reading books, working with different routines, questioning more experienced athletes, etc.).

Instead, I simply remind you that you too can become a valuable source of knowledge. Often times, we learn by doing. There is only so much that you can take away from a book that was written by someone else. Human beings are not automated robots. We must all recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of each individual.

Dependencies

Unfortunately, many from this industry would like you to believe that their word is gospel. It is their way or the highway. These same people often try to confuse otherwise simple topics in an attempt to create dependencies. There is nothing more ignorant than suggesting that there is a single “way” to train. Great athletes have been developed with countless methods and protocols. There is no single way and there never will be.

As I stated before in a past entry:

The Internet has changed the fitness industry.  Never before has getting in shape been made out to be so complex.  I’m only in my 30’s, but even we didn’t have the Internet when I was in high school.  I didn’t learn of the Internet until my freshman year in college.  Back in the day, no one assumed that a degree in rocket science was required to build strength in the gym.  I know groups of guys who may have had one brain between the entire group, yet were monsters in the gym.  Not many athletes and gym rats were in contention for valedictorian.  I’d be willing to bet that our high school valedictorian didn’t know the difference between a pull-up and a chin-up.  Fitness wasn’t his gig.  Exercise wasn’t thought of as one of the lucrative fields to pursue.  There were still loads of strong and amazing athletes however.  The difference was that no one was trying to confuse them with irrelevant bullsh*t.  Athletes went to the gym and busted their ass.  The results followed.  That’s it.  Nothing fancy.

Raise The Bar

Furthermore, thinking for yourself often means nothing more than reacting to the moment. For example, if a cookie cutter routines calls for 4 sets, you won’t be penalized or fined if you feel the need to go for a 5th or 6th set. You don’t need to be a 10 year veteran to have a good day. There is nothing wrong with raising the bar and trying to separate yourself from the majority.

As a kid, I would come home from baseball practice and pitch into an empty garbage can. I had days when I pitched a full game by myself. I called balls and strikes as I pitched into the empty barrel. On other days, I would throw the ball against a backstop and practice fielding ground balls. I practiced into evening, long after the sun went down. I wasn’t an experienced (elite) athlete. I was a young kid who wanted to be better than everyone else. If the team practiced for two hours, I wanted to practice for four. I never wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to be better.

Still Trying

Twenty years later, I am still trying to improve. Despite all of the books and journals that I’ve read, there were certain things that I needed to find out on my own. The answers (for me) weren’t written in a book. I had to get in the gym, experiment with different methods and then come to my own conclusions.  I’ve also learned that what works for me may not always work for one of my athletes. I don’t force my athletes to follow my exact lead. I recognize the uniqueness of the individual and cater their plans accordingly.

There isn’t a single book of answers that will apply exactly to all individuals. As a novice, you’ll gain strength by looking at a barbell. Almost anything will work. The time will come however when you begin to plateau. Yes, you’ll need to seek out new sources of knowledge (ex. within a book), but you’ll also need to learn things on your own.

And while this may be commonsense to some, there are still plenty who overlook this seemingly obvious truth. Many have been misled to believe that they cannot think on their own. They’ve been fooled by those puppet masters who do everything in their power to create false dependencies.

The Truth

Look at dominant athletes from any sport and more often than not you’ll find athletes who engage in unique methods. Does anyone actually believe that all successful powerlifters follow the exact routine day after day? Does anyone actually believe that there is a single strength program that everyone in the world should follow precisely?

Even athletes with similar goals may need entirely different routines. For example, suppose John and Joe both wish to improve their bench press. If John’s weakness is the lower half of the bench, but Joe struggles with his lockout, each man has unique needs. They will need to travel different roads to improve their lifts.  Each is plagued by a unique bottleneck, therefore each requires unique attention.

Many of the greats have figured things out for themselves. A perfect example of this concept can be seen within the second video from this past entry. Listen how Kroc discusses his use of heavy rows. Through trial and error, he found something that worked for him.

There will never be a single protocol or method that reigns supreme for all athletes. And even if such a program did exist, it would only last for a split second before someone then tried to make it better. Dominant athletes don’t want to be like everyone else. They always want to take what is good and then make it better. That’s the difference between the ordinary and extraordinary.

Also see Part II

The most successful people in the world think for themselves. They aren’t guided by secret puppet masters. Successful people get their hands dirty, take chances, experiment with new ideas and continually strive to improve. They view best as something that can always be made better. Best therefore remains a moving target.

From a business standpoint, Bill Gates offers a prime example. As I’ve said before, he didn’t take a class on how to become Bill Gates. Yes, he surely had mentors along the way, but he had to figure things out for himself. There wasn’t a book or course that outlined his future business model. If such a book had existed, someone would have already used it.

Unfortunately, I’m not here to tell you how to become the next Bill Gates. I wish I knew. My point with this entry is to instead encourage you to think for yourself. You will only go so far if someone else thinks for you. The time will come when you must find things out for yourself.

Application To Training

A day doesn’t pass without me receiving multiple emails from people requesting detailed, step by step programs. When I see these emails, I often think back to Dave Tate’s book Under The Bar. Tate had some excellent things to say regarding program creation.

In his words,

“A program alone will not yield results. It’s the modifications that are made along the way that lead to the success of the program…

Now there are many coaches and trainers out there who will proclaim they have this ability and that their programs will work for anyone. I am here to tell you they are dead wrong! It is just not possible for one to see into the future. Training is a process that has to be taken day to day. Yes, you need to have a basic plan to work from, but there are so many variables that can change at different rates that you must be willing to adapt your plan accordingly… A prescribed training plan is a good idea, but is only that – an idea. The rest has to be pieced together as the session and workouts progress… You will make many changes to your plan along the way. “

Excellent Advice

I encourage you to follow Tate’s advice. It is impossible to find a generic program that was tailored specifically to your needs. Trainers don’t have crystal balls and they don’t develop programs specific to your needs when creating sample plans. A sample plan is just that. It’s a sample. It isn’t etched in stone. Sample plans are not created specifically for anyone.

I often compare sample plans to outlines or summaries of a particular style or philosophy. When you see a sample routine, try to look past the specifics (at least momentarily) and instead focus on the philosophy and principles that were used to develop the routine. Yes, you can experiment with different programs, but the goal should always be to customize the material to coincide with your specific interests and needs.

Think about it like this… If an author sells 100 books to 100 unique readers, how can the single program contained within that book be ideal for all 100 readers? On a smaller scale, if you and I have different goals, why would you and I follow the exact routine? Despite what some may say, there isn’t a single routine that will cover the unique needs of entirely unique athletes.

And even if or when you come across a program that is ideal for you, it will not be the best thing for you forever. The best program today will rarely be the best program this time next year (perhaps even next month). The training process must evolve and adapt over time. This doesn’t mean that you’ll need to knock everything down and start from scratch, but subtle additions and modifications can and should be made over time.

Improvise and Adapt

I’ve been in the gym for most of my life. Yet even with all of my experience, there are times when I don’t even know myself. I’ll have a plan in mind for an upcoming workout, but more often than not I’ll make modifications once I get into the gym. I never commit to something that is written on paper, even when I’m the one who wrote it.

Sunday night, I had a tentative plan for what I would do Monday. On Monday morning I got into the gym and felt like a beast. I had a lot more in me than I expected the night before (when creating the workout). Should I have stopped simply because of something I had written down the night before? Of course not…

There are days when you just need to go for it. Forget about what’s written down on paper. If I’m feeling particularly strong, I’m not going to slow myself down or stop simply because the pen says so. I’ve hit some of my best numbers on days when I was not supposed to. I felt strong and decided at that given moment that I was going to go for it.

There will be other days when I may get a little too ambitious on paper. I get into the workout and realize that it just isn’t the day. The greatest athletes in the world have off days. Some days, the iron is flying. Other days, you just don’t have it. During these times, you need to be flexible and make changes if necessary. This isn’t to say that you should give up on the session, but rather that you are willing to adapt based on your capabilities and mindset for that given day.

If you are reading this entry, you are a human being, unless of course there are aliens that I don’t know about. As people, we all have good days and bad days. Yes, we all attempt to control those circumstances that lead to the good and bad days, but life is often unpredictable. I couldn’t have predicted that my daughter would be in pain last night from teething. When I went to bed, I didn’t realize that I’d be up half the night. Life often throws curve balls when we least expect it. Therefore, we need to be on our toes at all times, willing and ready to adapt when necessary.

Yes, it’s nice to have a tentative plan in place, but even the best plan in the world will require modifications at some point. No one knows you better than you. Training isn’t as complicated a process as many would like you believe. Rather than asking for a fish, you’ll be better off learning how to fish. You can then cut the strings off the puppet master and chart your own future. This isn’t to say that you should stop trying to learn. Instead, I’m simply reminding you that much of the learning process involves you getting your hands dirty and finding out firsthand what works best for you.

Below are several tributes to great fighters from the past. Almost all of the tributes come from the following Youtube Channel (great videos for boxing fans).

My reasons for posting these videos are twofold. First, I enjoy studying fighters from the past. I’m sure that many of you will also enjoy these videos.  It’s always nice to take a look back at legends.  These short videos take us back in time to watch portions of the training, performances, and accomplishments of some of the greatest fighters of all time.

It is also useful to be reminded that training isn’t new.  In an era where so many coaches and trainers pretend to have invented the wheel, it’s nice to be reminded that the wheels were already in motion long before we ever existed.  So many young athletes hope to come across new breakthroughs in training, when often times, they’d be better served to look backwards rather than forward.

This isn’t to say that we should stop trying to improve, but rather that the process of improving can and should include methods from both the past and present.

Enjoy the videos below (posted in no particular order).  The first is embedded, with the remaining linked through to Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6PK_1E_wBc (Marciano)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8UF0MIwc70 (Louis)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgaxHBgerDw (Liston)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GepPSCyJWU0 (Frazier)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubUrl4YU2QE (Johnson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w68sXTLsdqI (Ali)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG84waTmH30 (Armstrong)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a_wt60Wn9M (Pep)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ATaP2TyF9U (Moore)

As Youtube video clips become more and more popular, it appears that there has been a simultaneous increase in self-certified exercise form freaks. It is officially time for the form police to return their crack jack badges. I am calling for a worldwide recall.

Just recently, the following video clip was posted to my forum. Within the clip, you will see an absolute beast (Matt Kroczaleski) perform rows with a three hundred pound dumbbell.

Matt Kroczaleski is an accomplished powerlifter with some incredible lifts. He’s squatted over 1000 pounds, benched over 700, and deadlifted over 800. You can read more about him here.

Most members of the forum were blown away by his strength display. Anyone with any experience in any strength related activity will realize how impressive Kroc’s strength truly is. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before the form police came out from hiding.

I had someone email me asking what was so impressive about the video. Rather than offering a written response, I wish I could have instead strapped three hundred pounds to his arm and let him find out for himself. He ridiculed Kroc’s form, and of course had his own suggestions. Such a response is typical from the form police. They almost always include a line such as, “What I would do is…”

No One Cares!

Do these people ever stop to think that no one cares what they would do? I don’t mean to sound rude or offensive, but if someone wanted your opinion, I’m sure they would ask for it. I find it particularly amusing when members of the form police hold down other positions such as armchair quarterbacks or 120 pound 15 year olds who struggle to carry in a few bags of groceries.

These self-appointed know-it-alls are quick to offer advice and suggestions on topics that they don’t understand. If knowledge is power (as suggested by Sir Francis Bacon), these people need to buy a generator.

Despite what some might like you to believe, working out isn’t a sport. Unless you compete in a specific lifting event, no one is keeping score. You don’t get judged on how you pick up a piece of iron or how you perform a pull-up. There are times when you need to go for broke. You bite down and use everything that you have to lift the weight or complete the exercise. Yes, there are benefits to this kind of training!

Just for example, did you ever play tug of war as a kid? Did anyone judge how you pulled the rope? Did your parents comment on strict pulling form? Did they offer advice on controlled pulling to maximally target the latissimus dorsi? Of course not! There was only one thing that mattered and that was pulling as hard as you could to ensure your side won. You clenched down and pulled with every ounce of strength that you had. No one had to tell you to do it. It’s just what you do. You naturally wanted to win!

I knew this even back in the 1970’s at age 3! (I’m pictured in the middle)

And I still know it now…

If you’ve never lifted a significant load the way that Kroc demonstrates, how can you comment on potential pros and cons? It doesn’t make sense. I don’t offer advice to NASA on how they should improve their space shuttle design. I don’t know what I’m talking about. My opinion on the subject is about as useful as pissing into a windstorm.

And please don’t misunderstand this entry. I’m not suggesting that we disregard form entirely and seek out ways to injure ourselves. Conversely, we all need to realize that others often do things for specific reasons that we may not realize or understand. For example, in the video below, Kroc discusses his use of the row and how is has benefited him significantly in terms of improving his deadlift:

Clearly, his use of heavy rows has benefited his performance significantly. Whether the resident expert on a fitness message board approves of his form is irrelevant. No one cares. Improved performance is what truly matters to the competitive athlete. The results don’t lie. Kroc’s results speak volumes to the effectiveness of his training.

Talk Is Cheap

No one wins an argument on the Internet.

To the former form police officers (who have returned their badges), we don’t hold your past against you.  We’ve all made mistakes.  I simply encourage you to focus your time and energy on yourself.  Worry about your goals and needs, and realize that others are likely doing things for different reasons.  There is a good chance that you won’t understand these reasons.  You don’t walk in another man’s shoes, so you have no idea why another man does what he does.  Whether or not you understand doesn’t matter.  Athletes don’t do things in the gym to satisfy the form police.  Athletes work in the gym to better themselves for specific events.  Competition is specific, and working out isn’t a competition.

Athletes don’t argue with each other on the field or inside the ring.  Athletes compete.  What you do in the gym is often unknown by all spectators.  No one cares.  Fans come out to see you compete.  Differences are settled not through verbal insults, but instead through live competition.

When it comes to training, the ends often justify the means.

The Sandow Plus site has been updated with three Thomas Inch books.  The main Thomas Inch listing can be found at the link below:

http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Inch/inch01.htm

You can then download the three new listings in PDF format.  You can also view these books online if you wish.  A few quick links are provided below for your convenience.  Please note that the PDF listings are fairly large in size, so may take a few moments to load.

Thomas Inch On Strength – online version

Thomas Inch On Strength – PDF (large file)

Strength Secrets – online version

Strength Secrets – PDF (large file)

Instructions on Advanced Exercises – online version

Instructions on Advanced Exercises – PDF (large file)

The name Thomas Inch is often associated with the Inch Dumbbell.  The original Inch dumbbell was 172 pounds and 9 ounces.  Inch become well known for lifting this thick handled dumbbell overhead.

Formerly, Britain’s Strongest Man, Thomas Inch should be remembered for much more than his dumbbell lifting prowess however.  Born in 1881, he presented ideas that many falsely consider new breakthroughs in today’s era.   As you look through his material (along with the rest of the Sandow site), you’ll realize that almost nothing is new.

One of the reasons why I enjoy Inch’s material was his interest and involvement in the sport of boxing.   Some of the notable fighters that Inch worked with include Gunner Moir and Bombardier Billy Wells (pictured below).

Inch shares stories about these boxers in the Strength Secrets book listed above.  He also discusses boxing within the Thomas Inch on Strength book.  He even suggested various boxing workouts for non-fighters.  In fact, much of what he prescribed in the early 1900′s would be considered cross-training today.  For example, Inch mentioned the following:

I am personally in favor of varying the work by allocating a certain amount of time to other methods, such as moderately heavy dumbbell work, use of a heavy expander, interest and participation in other sports and games.

He then went on to say,

Such work includes running, skipping, Indian club swinging, long drawn-out light dumbbell work or wall exercise work, shadow boxing, ball punching, boxing, etc.  None of this kind of work is calculated to put on heavy muscular development, though it has its uses, it improves wind and speed, etc.

Inch also had interesting things to say regarding topics such as speed in relation to strength, tendon strength, mental efficiency, and more.

If you want to learn about becoming strong and athletic, it is always useful to learn from someone who walked the walk and practiced what he preached.  Thomas Inch was an absolute beast, long before any of today’s so-called “modern” training secrets were revealed to the masses.

I highly recommend taking some time to look through his material.

Recently, I posted a documentary on Fedor Emelianenko (via Youtube videos).  The original clips were removed by Youtube however.  Fortunately, the new blog software can now host Daily Motion videos.  The full documentary is available through the video clips below.

Even those without interest in combat sports will likely enjoy this documentary.  Fedor’s story is quite intriguing.  It is also nice to see a fighter of his caliber rely (and thrive) on the basics.  Fedor didn’t become who he is today by training in a “state of the art” facility.  He is living proof that the basics do work.  Simplistic methods often reign supreme.

A quote that I’ve cited before sums up this idea perfectly.   In the words of E.F. Schumacher,

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.

The results don’t lie.  Just take a look at the clips below…