It is rare that a week passes without receiving questions about squatting. I am regularly asked about barbell squats, unilateral options, the potential of either, the differences between each, and what athletes really need. I also get my share of “how much can you squat” questions.

The reality though is that I’ve spent little time with barbell squats for the last 15+ years. I am certainly not against barbell squats, but it is an exercise that has little to do with my role as a trainer. I train fighters during the day so I’m often inside the ring holding mitts, outside running with them, and/or leading them through conditioning drills. As much as I may want to squat, it rarely makes sense as I need my legs to be fresh when I’m moving around the ring with one of the fighters.

I do however mix in a good share of unilateral leg training as I can get it in almost anywhere and I don’t need nearly as long to warm-up before performing challenging variations. Such variations do not involve as much weight (when compared to barbell squats), so the need to gradually warm-up towards max-effort loads is nonexistent.

Yet with that said, I had an itch to squat barbells a few months back. I wanted to mix them in without interfering with my coaching duties. I began squatting on Saturday mornings last fall at a time when I didn’t have any fighters with bouts lined up. After approximately 1 month, I was able to work up to 405 pounds (related discussion here). It was not a one rep max, as I didn’t feel comfortable enough with the movement to push myself to determine a true max.

Soon after, we began preparing for a bout in December (last year), so I eased off the squats as my Saturday mornings shifted back to training sessions for the fighters. It was fun while it lasted.

As for the relevance of this blog entry, I recently came across an article from Ben Bruno which addresses a similar topic. Ben is quite strong and performs a considerable amount of single leg training. In the article below, he shares the results of a test that he performed on himself. If you have any interest in single leg training, his work is certainly worth a look.

Single Leg Training Put To The Test

Monohar Aich was a dominant bodybuilder over many years. Below he can be seen at 75 years old.

If there was ever a man to listen to about longevity, Aich would certainly be at the top of the list. He is a true testament to the benefits of consistent work over many years.

A new article about his life can be viewed at the following link:

Monohar Aich – An Endearing and Enduring Ambassador For Physical Culture

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These youngsters want the easy way out these days. They don’t have the time and energy to go through the drills in an old-style gymnasium. – Monohar Aich

Despite originating from a fictional movie, the message from the speech is quite powerful. It is no surprise that it quickly became Youtube gold. The speech has been uploaded many times with most versions receiving thousands of views.

Yet despite its popularity, there will always be those who say it is just a movie. They need to see real world examples to understand and believe the message. Fortunately, we don’t need to look far to find several real world displays. The sport of boxing offers countless examples.

The video below captures many of these memorable moments. You will see fighters who are forced to deal with adversity. They must rise up from the canvas and fight through pain and fatigue to become victorious.

The truth is always on display when a fighter enters the ring. Courage cannot be faked. You either have it or you don’t. It’s only a matter of time before you and the rest of the world find out.

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Adversity introduces a man to himself.

I quickly changed my mind however. This tribute series is as good as any. If you grew up watching Tyson like me, expect to be glued to the screen while watching.

Two thumbs up…

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I tell my kids, what is the difference between a hero and a coward? What is the difference between being yellow and being brave? No difference. Only what you do. They both feel the same. They both fear dying and getting hurt. The man who is yellow refuses to face up to what he’s got to face. The hero is more disciplined and he fights those feelings off and he does what he has to do. But they both feel the same, the hero and the coward. People who watch you judge you on what you do, not how you feel. – Cus D’Amato

Within the video, you will see the remarkable transformation of disabled Gulf War veteran Arthur Boorman. Doctors once told him that he’d never walk again on his own. Fortunately, Arthur didn’t listen and decided to find out for himself. The results that followed are incredible.

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The only disability in life is a bad attitude. – Scott Hamilton

The film follows the stories of three young Cuban hopefuls as they prepare for the Cuban National Boxing Championships. Any fan of the sport should find the documentary interesting, moving, and enjoyable.

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He who is outside his door has the hardest part of his journey behind him. – Dutch Proverb

Afterward, I was fortunate to meet a few people in the crowd who frequent the site so thank you again for all of your support.

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Here we are warming up moments before walking to the ring…

And here is Chip in action…

Additional highlights can be seen through the Facebook video below:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151700769745188

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The average person has very little understanding of what goes on in boxing. They think back to when they were kids or whenever it was they saw two people fighting for the first time – a real fight with people trying to hurt each other. Maybe they saw someone get his mouth cut up, or a broken nose. That’s what people think of when they watch boxing. But there’s a difference between being the toughest kid on the street and knowing how to fight. A lot of guys are undefeated in street fights and big losers in the ring. That is because boxing is more than a sport. It’s a skill. – Sugar Ray Leonard

Following a recent entry on Bruce Lee, one reader informed me that a previous documentary that had been posted to the site was no longer available. Fortunately, I was able to find another Youtube video that contains the entire 90+ minute documentary.

You can watch the full movie within the embedded player below.

Although his accomplishments and abilities are perhaps the most debated topic in the martial arts community, we can all agree that Bruce Lee was a pioneer and a tremendous influence to other fighters around the world, both past and present.  I’m sure I speak for many when I say that I grew up watching and reading about Bruce Lee.  He was certainly an inspiration to me.

In his own words,

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.”

As a 13 year old boy, Italo Romano was playing on a train with friends when he fell between carriages and nearly lost his life. The near tragic accident cost Italo both legs. Amazingly, the accident did not thwart his adventure seeking behavior however.

Italo never gave up on life. Instead, he remained active and eventually took up skateboarding. Within a few years, he is rated amongst the best in the business, even surpassing many able-bodied competitors. He recently made it to the finals at the Tampa Pro 2012 competition (story here).

Check out the video below to see Italo in action.

Who would have thought that anyone could become so successful on a skateboard without legs? Probably no one. That’s the point though. It isn’t up to others to decide what we as individuals attempt to achieve. Find out for yourself.

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In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd. – Miguel de Cervantes

Monique Newton may be small in stature but her heart is bigger than most. At age 19, this powerlifter has won 18 or her 19 competitions. Amongst her wins include a second world championship earned last year in Latvia.

Her road to the top has not been easy however. Long before powerlifting, Monique first overcame life threatening cancer. As a youngster, she was diagnosed with stage four ganglioneuroblastoma and wasn’t expected to live. After the debilitating treatment which included chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she later drifted into a state of clinical depression.

Fortunately, Monique refused to give up and eventually found her true calling.

In her own words,

I took up powerlifting because I wanted to do something where I would be the underdog and have to push myself to get to the top.

In the time since, she’s enrolled in college and continues to dominate her weight class. The inspiring video below tells her story…

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You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you. – Walt Disney