Below is a video of man who is approaching age 70. He was featured on this blog once before. In the video that follows, you will see how he progresses towards a slow muscle up.
While his physical display is clearly impressive, it is his quest to continually improve that captivates me the most. Here is a man who has obviously taken care of himself throughout life. Gymnastic training is still new to him but he spent many years as an active rower and climber.
Yet after all these years, he still finds new ways to challenge himself. He isn’t content to maintain what he already has. Instead, he methodically plans one progression to the next until he has achieved his goals. His work highlights the potential of a consistent and intelligent effort.
I regularly see and hear from athletes who have previously jumped from one program to the next. It is their lack of consistency that prevents them from achieving anything worthwhile. More often than not, to excel at a given event or task requires a consistent effort. Only so much will be achieved if you haphazardly jump from one idea to the next. Consistency is important as the body needs time to adapt and grow stronger.
The man highlighted above has performed many impressive feats within his Youtube channel. His success does not come by accident. Yes, he has worked hard physically, but he has also done his homework in that he patiently works up one step at a time.
A rushed approach is more likely to cause injury and less likely to produce results. If a 70-year-old who performs slow muscle ups does not prove the importance of consistency, I don’t know what does…
Very impressive! This guy is awesome and very inspiring. Thanks for sharing Ross!
Plain, vanilla, boring progression over a prolonged time equals results. The commitment required to perform the transition practice 4 days/week for 4-6 weeks would be too much for many a ‘modern’ trainee. Frits’ old school Ant in the Rubber Tree mentality is the mark of a champion! My hat is off to him and his commitment to success over a life time.
That’s amazing, regardless of age! On a side note, which is actually more difficult, the ring muscle up or bar muscle up?
Holy. Shit.
Thanks again Ross. Wow, a great example of a patient, consistent and systematic approach. For those who have not trained all their life but wish to begin: Accept to start real small; Be patient; Track your progress; Accept setbacks as part of the game; Don’t quit even if it means starting over from scratch. My 2 cents.
Great stuff.. respect. i always look up to those old ppl who do not see age as a limiting factor. Shame on the young gym goers who do not treat bodybuilding seriously.
Maybe he’s just getting around to doing gymnastic muscle ups in the rings. But if he is a rock climber, the ‘mantle” move up on to a ledge is basically the same thing.
Beast!!
In life and in training, most things do best ‘slow-cooked’. Rushing leads to a lack of results. It takes dedication, passion, and intelligent research to produce real gems. Few people are willing to put in the time necessary to achieve this.
In life and in training, most things do best ‘slow-cooked’. Rushing leads to a lack of results. It takes dedication, passion, and intelligent research to produce something worthwhile.
Incredible! I’m going to use this prescription to see if I can master this move as well. Much respect!