Chuck Sipes

I got a review copy of an ebook package on Chuck Sipes called Chuck Sipes Power Storm this week and I must say the guy was impressive. Here are a few pictures I found of him showing some of the awesome stuff he did.

While a lot of the oldtime bodybuilders are cool and all, I haven’t found a great deal of evidence that they bent steel on top of hitting the iron relentlessly, but Chuck Sipes did. In fact, he doubled as a regularly performing strongman during the 1960’s while maintaining a world-class physique, reportedly all drug-free.

Text-book reverse bending technique, above. Check out the location of the nail in relation to his thumb .

Here he is crushing down what is most likely a 60D (60-penny) spike. It looks as if he just wrapped them in a small towel. Bending 60D’s with minimal wrapping like that involves a tremendous amount of pain tolerance. Chuck was obviously an intense dude.

Sipes didn’t just do the short non-braced bends, he also did the long braced feats. While I don’t know how far he went with the finish, whether he just put a U in the bar or if he “fished” them wrapped them into a scroll, above it shows he had some massive arm and shoulder strength to be bending bars in this way.

I can’t even imagine how many magazines must have featured Sipes back in the day.

My bouts of research on Chuck Sipes have been very impressive. My biggest take-away from it all was his work ethic. Maintaining his physique would have been much easier if he were not employed as a lumberjack, working long shifts, with less-than-optimal meal conditions, I’m sure, yet he managed to make it happen, keeping himself as hard as the mountain rock that he walked on. Keep that in mind next time you are feeling run-down after a day’s work.

For more inspiration, you can read more about Chuck Sipes,one damn intense dude, right here: Chuck Sipes Power Storm

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Explosive Medicine Ball Training for Speed and Power Development

By: John Cortese

http://CortesePerformance.com

Medicine ball throws are an excellent way to develop explosive power. I learned of these throws a few years ago from the late, world-renown speed coach, Charlie Francis; and world-famous Olympic sprint coach, Dan Pfaff.
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Explosive Medicine Ball Training for Speed and Power Development

By: John Cortese

http://CortesePerformance.com
Medicine ball throws are an excellent way to develop explosive power. I learned of these throws a few years ago from the late, world-renown speed coach, Charlie Francis; and world-famous Olympic sprint coach, Dan Pfaff.
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Reactive / Speed / Quickness

Training for Athletes

When you think about speed, quickness and reactive movements you immediately think of jumps, agility drills, jumping and maybe even perhaps some overspeed running with bands?
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Non-Conventional Strength Training for Real Results

When you look around during your typical day what do you see?  You probably see a lot of people who look like they’ve never worked out a day in their life.  Let’s take it one step further.  When you go to the gym, what do you see?  I would bet you even see people in the gym who look like they never worked out, OR you see the same people you’ve seen for the last several years, doing the same exercises they always do.

And you know what?  They still look the same as they always do.  How can this be?  They are always in the gym, yet they never change?

Well, they’re not doing something right.

Bad Nutrition?  Definitely

Wrong Exercises?  Probably

Wrong Intensity?  Probably

Too Much Volume?  Maybe

Something is not right.  Maybe they’re allergic to exercise?  That must be it.

Something has to change.

If you are stuck in a rut with your workout and you’re looking for some new exercises and some new challenges, try out some of the following movements.

Hindu Push-ups

Incredible movement for the shoulders and hips and is great to hit for high volumes for conditioning.  It can be done on an elevated surface to help perform the movement through a full range of motion (ROM).   The movement can also be overloaded with chains, a weight vest or elastic bands.  It is a very popular movement with old school grapplers and fighters.  I actually use it a lot in warm-up because of the benefits of the shoulders and hips.

Mace Swings

This movement can be performed using a mace or a clubbell.  I love the movement because it fries the grip and opens up the upper back and shoulders.  If you don’t have any of these special implements, we’ve actually used and ez-curl bar as a substitute.  Mace swings should be done for high repetitions or for a specific length of time.

Sandbag Get-ups

This movement is brutal.  It taxes the entire body and forces it to act as a single unit.  Because the entire body is working, it becomes very metabolic, very quick.  If you don’t have a sandbag, a dumbbell or kettlebell, held at arms length, can be substituted.  As you drive upward on the outstretched arm, tension on the bent leg allows the straight leg to swing through into a lunge position.  From there, the lifter braces hard and drives to a standing position.  This movement is amazing for conditioning and great for fighters for bracing while fatigued.

Try any or all of these movements during your next training session.  They can work as the supplemental exercises or you can throw them in at the end for conditioning.

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Check out Chaos Training for Athletes

Check out Core Training

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Explosive Kettlebell Training – Power Bombs

Within the last 1o years you’ve probably seen kettlebells popping up more and more in your commercial gyms.  If you don’t train at a commercial gym, I would guess that you even have a few kettlebells in your warehouse or garage gym.

The reason is quite simple.  Kettlebells are an amazing tool.  With their offset mass and versatility, kettlebell movements can range from simple to complex and provide a variety of benefits.

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