Below is an inspiring video that highlights the courageousness and heart of Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Nogueira’s mental toughness comes as no surprise to those who knew him as a youngster.  He was only nine years old when he was run over by a truck.  The near fatal accident left Nogueira in a coma with serious internal injuries.  Both legs were broken and a rib perforated his liver, forcing removal of part of the organ and of one of his ribs.  His diaphragm was also injured.  He had to breathe through a machine and was hospitalized for eleven months.

Following his release from the hospital, no one in their right mind could have guessed that Nogueira would become a prized professional fighter.  Fortunately, he never gave up and didn’t let the naysayers hold him down.

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You have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it, and that is the grave. – Henry Ward Beecher

The muscle up is an exercise that eludes many.   I regularly see questions on the forum from individuals who struggle to successfully perform the movement.

Fortunately, muscle ups are not as difficult as they may initially appear.  Many athletes possess adequate strength to perform the movement, but struggle with the necessary technique.  Below are two excellent tutorials from a friend of mine who was featured on the blog last month (see here).  If you’ve struggled with muscle ups in the past, these clips are worth a look.

Muscle Up Tutorial Narrated (Long)

Muscle Up Tutorial Written (Short)

I’m sad to report that Jack LaLanne has passed away at age 96.  At times it seemed like he would go on forever.  He is one of the greatest inspirations that the world of fitness will ever see.  There will never be another Jack LaLanne.

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Those familiar with this blog have likely seen the videos below.  I’ve posted several Jack-inspired entries over the years.  Amazingly, the words spoken from him so many years ago are still as true as ever.

Within this entry, I’d like to take the opportunity to repost a few of my favorite clips from Jack.

Life Is A Battlefield

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Body and Mind Connection

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A Slave To Your Body

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Stop Being So Tired

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Unhappy People

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Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Together, you’ve got a kingdom. If you have a Corvette, you don’t put water in the tank. The human machine deserves the same treatment. – Jack LaLanne

RIP Jack.  You will be missed, but your memory will live on forever.

I have received several emails from people indicating that they either could not download the bonus file, or didn’t notice the link on their order letter.  I did not advertise the file, so you may not have been aware of it.

In case you missed it, there is a PDF link highlighted at the bottom of the letter that accompanied the 2 DVDs. Unfortunately, there were a few issues with the server earlier this week, so if you had any problems downloading the file, please email me at ross@rosstraining.com. I apologize for the inconvenience.

http://rosstraining.com/themissinglinks.html

Following last month’s release of The Fighter, I’ve received several questions about Micky Ward (the fighter portrayed in the film).  To my surprise, there were plenty of readers here who had not heard of him.  If you’ve seen the film but not the real Micky Ward, take a look at the video below.  It highlights one of the best rounds ever.

Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti

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While on the subject of legendary rounds, a legitimate case could be made for several rounds in recent history.  Below are just a few that I was able to find on Youtube. If you are a fan of boxing, I’m sure you will enjoy them.

Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo

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Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield

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Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns (my personal favorite, with a related entry here)

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And for a look back at how the sport used to be, check out this classic footage between Jack Dempsey and Jess Willard.  This is one of the most brutal beatings of all time.

For those interested, I have a new 2-disc set available.  You can find more information at the following link.

http://rosstraining.com/themissinglinks.html

The two DVDs target the often neglected hands, neck, and core.  The combined running time is 2 hours and 38 minutes.  There is a brief trailer available below.

Below is yet another homemade suspension trainer tutorial.  Within this clip, you’ll also find information on how to create an inexpensive door anchor (7:30 into the video).  The door anchor can be particularly useful for those who regularly travel and wish to bring the device with them.

If you need straps for your suspension trainer, strapworks.com offers an inexpensive, yet durable option (as mentioned here).

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Several suspension trainer exercises can be found at the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shDqXTSvF3E

http://rosstraining.com/blog/2010/11/30/more-suspension-trainer-ideas/

http://rosstraining.com/blog/2010/01/26/suspension-trainer-exercise-ideas/

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Additional ideas for DIY suspension trainers are also available:

http://www.rosstraining.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1056#section6

Below is a video that was recently sent to me about the return of Zach Krych after a devastating training injury.  The video shows the injury and the steps that were taken to defy the initial prognosis provided by his surgeon.   The video is just shy of six minutes and well worth your time.  Incredible is an understatement.

You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity. – Walt Schmidt

Below is a video that shows a creative backyard exercise station. I first came across this video on my forum and I later posted it to Facebook.

The Youtube description states that the entire exercise station was created from scrap materials.  I tip my hat to the man’s creativity and ability to construct an inexpensive home gym that is both challenging and fun.

Unfortunately, as soon as I shared this video, critics came out to highlight the faults of a home gym that was made from scraps.  I find it humorous that people will criticize something that they’ve never used.  It is even more comical when some of the critics would struggle to perform many of the exercises demonstrated within the video.

Personally, I have no idea what it feels like to train with this man’s invention.  I’m not here to judge.  All I see is a man who has created an inexpensive exercise station that allows for challenging home-based workouts.   What is wrong with that?   Why not commend his creativity and eagerness to train, rather than focusing on the possible limitations of a device that you’ve never used?

Contrary to what many believe, equipment does not guarantee anything.  Just look at all of the hardly used equipment that regularly shows up on Craiglist. People buy into the idea that an expensive tool will deliver results. Sorry folks, but it doesn’t work that way.  The human body can be challenged with almost anything (including  bodyweight). This is particularly true when discussing recreational athletes. I’m guessing that the man seen within this video isn’t training for a world-class competition. He’s exercising. That’s all. Why make such a big deal out of it?

It often seems that the Internet has provided too much information. Rather than investing their time in the gym, some folks are now more content to discuss training. They’d rather debate various styles than get their hands dirty in the gym (which is where you really learn). The same paralysis by analysis is often seen with nutrition. Those suffering from such paralysis can often be found micro-managing and scrutinizing every last morsel that finds its way to a fork or spoon.  They seem to believe that their ancestors sat around the camp fire calculating zones and nutrient ratios on the abacus.

Confucius once said,

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

I’m almost inclined to believe that he was talking about exercise and nutrition.  His words of wisdom certainly apply to both.  If you want to get in shape, steer clear of the complicated nonsense that clutters the web.  The real secret is to show up, remain consistent, and find ways to regularly challenge yourself.  Even one of the three will put you ahead of most of the world.  Showing up is more than half the battle.

In summary, the video above offers yet another example of how easy it is to exercise with a minimal investment in equipment.  You don’t need anything fancy to get in shape.  If you are willing and eager to put in the work, you’ll find a way to get it done.

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For more homemade equipment ideas, please refer to the link below.  Those returning to the site will notice that the equipment archives are much easier to navigate now.  I’ve added some click-able links within to allow for easy browsing. Take a look…

Homemade Exercise Equipment Archives