Build The Strength Skill

A man doing body building activities

by: Josh Bryant Josh using a form of de-inhibition training with Johnnie Jackson. You don’t go parading around in your birthday suit to fetch the mail, unless you’re eager for a free stay in the county’s crowbar hotel. Now, picture this: that one night at the world-famous Kentucky Bar in Juarez Mexico, after a whirlwind…

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Altitude Acclimation

Men wearing brown cloths in snow mountains

by: Josh Bryant It’s 2017, and I find myself at the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Conference in Denver, Colorado. You’d think this gathering of self-proclaimed fitness aficionados would showcase the gold standard of “practice what you preach.” But oh no, the standard conditioning protocol of attendees consisted of eating fast at the International House of…

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Prime Your Day

Success and Failure sign board

by: Josh Bryant As a teenager training at the Santa Barbara YMCA, I still remember the tension between this huge black dude we nicknamed “Zeus” and this yolked up cat we called “The White Power Guy” because of his white power tattoos. My friends and I debated for hours who would reign victorious if these…

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Sand Bags are the REAL DEAL

A man about to lift different quantities of weight

by: Josh Bryant Venezuelan tactical legend, Carlo Vecchi, is showing off his sandbag skills. Functional training?  Sandbags are just that! This ain’t your pink dumbbell, Pee-wee Herman functional workout, either! Sandbags are the real deal –building the strength you need for the real world.  Lifting that sandbag is like tussling with an unpredictable opponent on…

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Explosive Strength—Training Economy

A man running uphill with plain fields behind

by: Josh Bryant “Uncle Fester”, as we affectionately named him, wasn’t a good man, but he was good at being a man! Hailing from Western Arkansas, he was a true hillbilly through and through. Uncle Fester had his “crops” stashed away in the barn, emitting a pungent aroma that could be detected a mile away!…

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Beat the Heat

A muscular man wearing a backpack

by: Josh Bryant Back in the day, I trained clients at a fancy gym. They were tough with more strength and better physiques than your average gym-goer. Then, this plush chrome palace added a boxing fitness component, led by Coach Jimmy. Now, Jimmy wasn’t your typical high-end gym guy. He ran a kick-n-stab Latino bar…

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Explosive Bench Pressing

by: Josh Bryant It is impossible to lift a maximum weight with intention of moving it slowly! Often, I am asked how to build speed in the squat, bench press, or deadlift.  My response is redirecting the question back at the person on their intent when lifting the barbell. Dollars to donuts says the response…

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Celebrating Singles

A man flexing his muscles

by: Josh Bryant Big Jim Williams Q: So, here’s the deal. I’ve been hearing Haters claiming that training powerlifting with single reps is a bad idea. What’s the truth behind this? Well, let me tell you a story. Back in the day, there was this gruff bouncer from a West By God Virginia kick-n-stab bar.…

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Advanced Rucking for Physical Readiness

A man wearing a backpack

PRovide PRotect PReserve Rucking is foundational to everything. Throughout history, rucking has proven to be the simplest and most effective method to prepare soldiers for duty, and now it’s your turn to benefit from it. Not only will it enhance your aerobic conditioning, but it’ll also build strength, improve your posture, and boost your mental…

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Power Posing—Stand Tall, Stand Your Ground

A football player

by: Josh Bryant Bill Romanowski exemplifies power posing.  Dennis, a witty and sharp-tongued 65 year old, was a total classic. Despite his reputation as a skilled manipulator and slick talker, he found his calling as a Waffle House cook. Dennis achieved more in one hour behind the grill than most cooks did in 12. I…

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