RossTraining.com Blog

Below are a few excerpts from a book that is linked to at the bottom of this entry. The entire book is available online. Before glancing through the full book however, take a guess at what year this book was written, based on what you see below.

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Probably more men walk past the corner of Broadway and Fulton Street, in New York city, in the course of one year, than any other point in America – men of all nations and ages, heights and weights. Look at them carefully as they pass, and you will see that scarcely one in ten is either erect or thoroughly well-built… A thoroughly erect, well-proportioned man, easy and graceful in his movements, is far from a frequent sight. Any one accustomed to athletic work, and knowing what it can do for the body, must at times have wondered why most men allowed themselves to go along for years, perhaps through life, so carrying themselves as not only to lack the outward grace and easy they might posses, and which they occasionally see in others, but so as to directly cramp and impede one or more of the vital organs…

The advantages to men of a well-built body, kept in thorough repair, are very great. Those of every class, whose occupation is sedentary, soon come to appreciate this. Some part of the machinery gets out of order. It may be the head, or eyes, or throat; it may be the lungs or stomach, liver or kidneys. Something does not go right. There is clogging, a lack of complete action, and often positive pain. This physical clogging tells at once on the mental work, either making its accomplishment uncomfortable and an effort, or becoming so bad as to actually prevent work at all. It may make the man ill. There is very little doubt that the large majority of ailments would be removed, or, rather would never have come at all, had the lungs and also the muscles of the man had vigorous daily action to the extent that frequent trial had shown best suited to that man’s wants…

Hundreds of thousands of men and woman have hard work, mental strain, fret and anxiety, daily, and for years together, - indeed, scarcely do anything to lighten the tension in this direction. They tell you they are subject to headache or dyspepsia, or other disorder, as if it was out of the question to think of preventing it. But had the work been so arranged, as it nearly always could be – far oftener than most persons think – to secure daily an hour for vigorous muscular exercise for all the parts, this running down would, in most instances, never come. The sharp, hot work, till the muscles are healthily tired, insures the good digestion, the cleared brain, the sound sleep, the buoyant spirits…

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Everything stated above seems relevant in today’s world.   It wouldn’t be too surprising if this piece had been recently written.  But perhaps it will be a surprise to learn that this book was written in 1879.  This material is well over 100 years old!  Yet oddly enough, much of what the author described is no different from our world today.

Often times, you’ll hear that nothing is new under the sun.  Much of what we know (and do) from an exercise standpoint is everything but new.  What many do not realize however is that many of the problems that our society deals with today are also everything but new.  Yes, the world has changed, and our problems are often unique to the times, but many of the underlying causes are still very similar (ex. sedentary lifestyle, the false perception that one has no time to exercise, etc.).

When time permits, take some time to glance through the entire book (referenced above).  It is an enjoyable read. Simply refer to the link below:

How To Get Strong and How To Stay So - By William Blaikie

Enjoy,

Ross

I’ve posted a new article at the link below:

http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/individualfactors.html

A video of an all time classic fight is also included within.

Enjoy,

Ross

Following the recent equipment updates (here and here), I’ve received several suggestions for the homemade equipment archive contained within the forum.

Below are four recent additions to the archive:

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Instructions for the Homemade Sled seen below.

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Inexpensive T-handle for swings

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Sandbag Construction - video tutorial

Another option for sandbag construction can be seen here

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Homemade gymnastic rings - video tutorial

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The full homemade equipment listing is available at the link below:

http://www.rosstraining.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=157

To those with additional ideas, send them over, as this homemade archive benefits us all.

Ross

I am on the road this week but will be back on Friday the 24th.   I apologize for the delay in posting this update, as I haven’t had access to the Internet. 

I’ll get back to updating the blog and responding to all emails later this week.

Ross

Most will agree on the importance of goal setting, as it allows you to focus on specific, measurable objectives. When setting a goal, you are reminded of what you wish to achieve. You can then focus your energy towards activities that are relevant to the specific goals, while minimizing distractions that throw you off track.

Note the use of the word YOU when discussing the significance of goals. YOU are able to focus on those things that YOU wish to achieve. Goals must be personal. We all have unique goals. Whether your goals focus on education, career, finance, fitness, or competitive events, these are YOUR goals. It is your life, so it’s natural that you have plans in place to achieve YOUR goals.

Sounds good, right?

While setting goals can be useful, there is a fine line between enough and too much. If you only focus on future goals, it is easy to overlook the present time. You may find yourself lost in the “someday” mentality. Someday I will do this, someday I will do that, someday I will become this, someday I will become that…

It’s as if you are constantly waiting for a future day that will change your life. You become certain that “someday” will bring happiness, but as soon as you reach one of your “someday” wishes, you shift gears to a new “someday” goal.

Don’t fall into this trap. Goal setting does not mean that we should forget about today. You should enjoy yourself as you work towards achieving your dreams. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. There will be a time in our lives when tomorrow does not come. This may sound gloomy, but it shouldn’t be. Don’t worry about something you cannot control. Instead, focus on making the most of today. We all live in the present, so we need to enjoy it.

A wake up call

I tend to get wrapped up in my work. Once I have an idea, I often find myself going overboard trying to get it done. I constantly need to remind myself that the work will be there when I wake up in the morning. Yet, even with my own reminders, there are still times when I find myself getting wrapped up in my work. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), life then comes around and throws out a harsh wake up call, which helps to put things back into perspective.

Two weeks ago I went to pick up some food at a local shop in Manchester (CT). We had family over and decided to order out at one of the new restaurants. Those local to me will know the downtown Main Street area. It is a fairly busy road, with cars traveling at a decent clip.

It was a Friday evening, so traffic was busy. I waited for the crosswalk light and started making my way across Main Street. It’s a multiple lane road so it takes a moment to get all the way across. As I was walking, I looked to my right and noticed a car traveling faster than it should have been considering the red light. In what was probably a 1 or 2 second incident, I found myself suddenly sprinting out of the way of a speeding automobile. It seemed like everything was in slow motion. The driver had blown through a red light and missed turning me into a hood ornament by just a few feet.

I jumped to the sidewalk and didn’t fully realize what had just happened. A man walking his dog then stopped and summed it up nicely with the following, “Holy sh*t , that was close!”

Ten minutes earlier, I had said goodbye to my wife and kids. If I wasn’t paying attention, I could have been hit by a car. Maybe I would have been fine, but maybe it would have killed me. I honestly don’t know. It doesn’t really matter, as it is over and done with, but it did serve as a reminder that life can come and go in a flash. No one knows when their time will come.

Life is unpredictable. Tomorrow is filled with uncertainty. There are no time machines, so no one knows what the future will bring. I’m all for setting goals, but it’s nice to be reminded that we also need to cherish today. I won’t let my future goals get in the way of enjoying my life today, tomorrow, and every day after.

Cherish the moment as you work towards the future.

Ross

Michael Pollan published a new article last week which many here will enjoy.  Take a look at the link below.

Farmer in Chief

I also suggest reading through some of the comments (where Pollan is also active with his responses):

Article Comments

The article is somewhat of a lengthy read, but definitely worth a look.  Many important topics are raised within (topics that rarely receive attention from the media).

Ross

At our old boxing gym, we covered the walls with photos of past champions.  We also had magazine and newspaper clippings of motivational stories that the younger fighters could read for inspiration.  There were countless clippings affixed to each of the four walls.

There was one particular story that stood out to everyone however.  Oddly enough, it was one of the few stories that wasn’t even related to boxing.   Everyone read the story at least once, but most of us found ourselves glancing over it on a regular basis.

This story was about Shun Fujimoto and his triumphs during the 1976 Olympic games.  After reading of his amazing performance, you couldn’t help but find motivation to continue training.  You could always find at least one more round in you.

As referenced in the link above, Fujimoto competed (and excelled) despite dealing with a broken kneecap.  His sense of pride and dedication to his teammates and country propelled him to one of the most amazing Olympic performances ever.  He amazingly committed to, and stuck a landing after a twisting triple-somersault dismount from the rings.  His leg only buckled slightly, as he raised his arms signifying the end of the performance.  He managed to hold back the pain of the broken kneecap, as well as the torn ligaments that followed his landing.

I highly recommend taking a few moments to watch the video below, which tells the story of his amazing performance.

Fujimoto’s story shows that we often have much more in us than even the most determined may realize.  Clearly, I’m not suggesting that we train for or through injury, but knowing what we are capable of is something that we can take strength in during difficult times.  This is particularly true for those involved in competitive sporting events.  I’ve been in the corner with fighters who had to literally get up from the canvas and fight their way back towards victory.  Knowing that the potential to keep going lies within is something that you can call on when necessary.

Fujimoto’s story serves as a reminder for what we are capable of when we truly commit ourselves to succeed, regardless of the obstacles that stand in the way.

Ross

Earlier in the year, I posted the video clip seen below.  It’s a great clip to get the adrenaline flowing before heading to the gym.

Two follow ups were posted to the forum last week.  I’ve linked to both below:

Part II

Part III

Regardless of your training interests, it’s always nice to see others who get up and bust some ass in the gym.

The intensity seen within these video clips is addictive however, so be warned!

Ross

Since posting the recent thick handle dumbbell entry, I’ve received several questions regarding homemade dumbbell handle construction.   I first discussed homemade options for dumbbells within the Infinite Intensity manual.

For those who have not seen the manual, you can find two tutorials at the links below:

Homemade Dumbbells I

Homemade Dumbbells II

Rope Climbing

It’s been several years since I first wrote about rope climbing on the website.   In the time since, manila rope prices have changed. The prices stated within the old article are no longer valid.  Fortunately, a member from the forum has found a new supplier, with better rates than anywhere I’ve seen thus far.  The supplier sells his rope through eBay.  I have NOT purchased from him, but his prices are very low.

Inexpensive Rope Supplier

Resistance Bands

I’ve also had several questions come in recently from athletes who have experienced ankle problems while training.  Resistance bands are one of the best ways to train this area.  If you are consistent with the bands, ankle problems will be a thing of the past.

Below is one excellent video direct from Dick Hartzell, the founder of Jump Stretch.

You can also find several related videos by following the link below:

Youtube Listing of Several Jump Stretch Videos

Ross

Take a moment to visit the link below to watch the animated MATRIX spoof entitled The Meatrix.

http://www.themeatrix.com/

This spoof has received millions of views since it first hit the web.  It is an amusing way to create public awareness regarding a serious topic.  Many people in this world have no idea where their food comes from, and some even ridicule those of us who take these topics seriously.  The “why worry about it” mentality is very common.  I even have friends and family members who share such a nonchalant attitude.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting mass hysteria.  I am however promoting awareness.  I’ve yet to find a knowledge machine that passes information through osmosis while we are sleeping.

For those interested in more “Meatrix” like material (without the amusement), consider reading up at the link below.  Take some time to look through the Photo Gallery and read through some of the reports filed under the Issues heading.

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming

It will certainly serve as an eye opener to many.

Ross

PS -New members to the blog may also wish to look here.