Old Man Strength: Is It Real or Just a Myth?
by- Josh Bryant
Reminiscing about training with George Brink
Back in 2016, I was on the seminar circuit with the GOAT Dr. Squat (RIP) at the San Antonio stop. He drags in this haggard old bastard—think Texas ex-powerlifter turned ranching cowboy, the kind of guy Doug Young would’ve been at 75 if he’d lived that long.
Dude’s there to drop mental training bombs.
Picture a cowboy church elder, but—get this—a Buddhist monk. No robes like I saw in Tibet; this guy’s rocking a cowboy hat, pearl snap shirt, and a Texas twang so thick it’d choke a steer. He’s got that aura—like he’s wrestled bulls, meditated on it, and comes out harder than the dirt he stands on.
He went deep, borderline wild with his philosophies—enough to make the room squirm. But one thing hit me like a sledgehammer: he talked about ranchers, real cattlemen, still working their land in their 80s with grip strength that’d crush a 20-year-old desk jockey’s soul. Said it’s science-backed, and I can confirm—it was. But for the life of me, I do not recall the book he referenced (if you know the book, reply to this newsletter).
Years of brutal, functional labor—hauling, gripping, fighting the earth—plus tendon toughness and a mind that doesn’t quit, forge a strength that doesn’t rust. It’s not some fleeting pump; it’s leather cured by decades.
I’ve seen it up close.
I’ve trained for years with Odd Haugen—Pro Strongman in his 60s, moving weight like gravity owed him money.
George Brink, pulling 800+ in his 50s.
My dad, benching with me in his 50s, outlifting his college PRs like time’s a joke.
Old man strength isn’t a myth—it’s a war chest of iron years, a refusal to break, and a body rewired to dominate.
If Old Man Strength is real what the hell is it?
The Science Behind Old Man Strength:
Myofibril Packing & Hypertrophy: Over the years, muscle fibers increase in density and structural integrity, packing more contractile units into the same muscle volume. This creates harder, denser muscles with more functional strength.
Connective tissue adaptation: Tendons and ligaments thicken over time, increasing stiffness and force transfer efficiency, which explains why older lifters feel “wired differently.”
Neural efficiency: The nervous system refines motor unit recruitment, meaning older lifters can fire off stronger, more coordinated contractions without wasted effort.
Muscle fiber transformation: Long-term training can shift muscle fibers toward slower-fatiguing, high-force Type IIa dominance, increasing durability and sustained strength output.
This is why a 45-year-old who’s been in the iron game for years feels like they’re built out of oak, while a jacked 25-year-old might still have that ‘pumped but soft’ look. Decades under the bar condition the body beyond just size—it builds deep, structural strength that doesn’t fade overnight.
You can’t microwave this process. It’s a slow-cooked brisket, not a gas station hot dog. But if you keep putting in the work, the years compound, and eventually, you’ll notice it: muscles that look, feel, and perform like hardened steel.
Build Strength that lasts a lifetime with one of my programs HERE.
