Amazing Courage!

I was watching TV tonight and came across a show on the Discovery Channel. Surgery Saved My Life! They were profiling extreme spinal surgery and they profiled two kids. Two kids who were the bravest kids I have ever seen. So innocent and so full of life. These kids had terrible twisted spines - the worst, as bad as you could ever imagine. The one young boy, they said, had likely contracted polio as an infant, which demolished his spine over 10 years.

The group who did these surgeries was FOCUS, founded by a Dr. Bewagi (sp?). This guy was a Saint! I couldn't find the website, but if you do - DONATE to it - and send me the link! You really get to see how amazing modern technology is, and how far it has come.

The fear in their eyes before their surgery was horrible. But they were so brave and just wanted to have a better life. Their stories really inspired me.

Go home, kiss your kids and your wife and be thankful for all your blessings!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Don't Miss the Point!

Check out this recent news story.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20061128/sc_livescience/newadvicedontsitupstraight

They're missing the point! GET THE HELL OUT OF THE CHAIR! GET MOVING!

If you have to sit for long durations, get up every 20 minutes or so and perform some quick mobility drills, reach over head or take a walk!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

PS Chaos is coming!

Get Your Balance On!

This video is one of the most impressive displays of balance and kinesthetic awareness I have ever seen. Renowned strength coach Jamie Hale posted this video of Rodney Mullen.


Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Are You Overtrained?

In my recent interview for RobertsonTrainingSytems.com website, I discussed how powerful of an indicator the hands are for determining your level of overtraining.

Here is the excerpt:

Remember the hands are a direct indicator of the CNS and subsequently can provide you with direct feedback of overtraining. Have you ever gone into the gym for a workout and the weights felt “cold” or you’re hands “hurt” when lifting the weights? This is an immediate red flag that you are overtrained.

My good friend Alwyn Cosgrove wrote to me after Mike's newsletter went out and he said "...that is exactly how I feel!" Alwyn's is going through a battle right now and his immunity is real low - BUT HE IS STILL TRAINING! He confirmed that the weights did feel cold to him.

Check out my hands after today's push / pull workout.





They're torn up - and really "tired." Check out this high volume workout....

We did:


1) Clean & Jerk

2) Push Press

3A) RDL

3B) Chest Supported Rows

4A) Incline Press

4B) Dips


After all the cleans and heavy RDL's - my hands were beat up. I NEED SOME RECOVERY! Contrast baths, good nutrition and some rest.

If the weights feel heavy or cold, or you just feel like you never warm up - you are probably overtrained! Take a day off!

Don't forget to check out the interview I did with Mike a while back - packed with a ton of information - Click Here.

Train smart, train hard,

Smitty

The Diesel Crew

Amazing Strength!

Check this out - talk about powerful relative strength. His grip is pretty good too :)



Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Great Message!

Just received this from Ryan Lee's newsletter and it made my day!



Smitty
The Diesel Crew

DREXEL DAY 2006

The Drexel video is done and it is huge! Approximately 20 minutes, but well worth the download.

Check it out here

You'll see some amazing footage, including a 50" jump on 1 foot, triple clap pushups and a 360 lb stone lift at 170 lbs bodyweight!

Stay Diesel,

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Good Luck AJ!

Our boy AJ Roberts is competing in the WPO NY Semi's this weekend in Lake George, NY. AJ is in the superheavyweight class and is unbelievably strong.

Check out his website TheIronGladiator.com. I met AJ at a seminar this year and we both got to play around with a 120 lb sandbag.

PLEASE RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE TARGET AS
Check out the video - click here.

Lots of big things are going to be happening for the Crew in the remainder of this year and into 2007.

Stay tuned, stay DIESEL!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Sick Grip Strength!

Here's Evan, an amateur MMA fighter putting the hurt on a deck of cards. Look at the muscles in his forearms!

Do you think he is building functional grip strength endurance? Of course! Do not be locked into the same old routines!

Check out this quick routine incorporating Grip:

Focus: Upper Body & Crush

i. Dynamic Warmup

ii. Mobility

iii. Foam Roller

1) Power Hang Cleans

2A) Military Press

2B) Posterior Flyes

3A) Pull-ups

3B) Face Pulls

Quick and Easy!

Each exercise above can be done with an olympic bar, dumbbell, kettlebell or sandbag.

Switch it up!

Smitty

The Diesel Crew

Homemade Equipment!

A great post by Scott on StraightToTheBar.com. A ton of useful information for building or creating your own, homemade equipment.

Thanks Scott for compiling this comprehensive list!

http://www.straighttothebar.com/2006/10/diy_homemade_gym_equipment.html

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Paul Anderson Tribute

One of the strongest men of all time - here is a very cool tribute!



Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Unbelievable Grip Strength Endurance!

You will not believe how incredible this climber's grip is...

http://www.klimb.com/gallery/climbing/movies/todd_meyers_campusing.mov.html

Check it out!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

New Articles Coming Out Soon!

1. Crush Your Opponent - a MMA article discussing some innovative ways to develop insane grip strength, how to brace through irradiation and how to increase dexterity. One exercise is excerpted from my MMA manual. Check it out on FightersReview.com

2. I am doing a post seminar article on Eric Cressey's The Sturdy Shoulder Seminar, which should be out in a few days

3. I also will be interviewed by both Eric Cressey and Mike Robertson very soon!

I will keep you updated as things start getting posted.

Check out the Blob Load Medley from the recent BBB Grip Contest - Jedd took 3rd place, but he crushed everyone in this event!

Building the Ultimate MMA Athlete

The FightersReview.com Review!

FightersReview.com just completed a review of my manual and I couldn't be happier. Matt, at Fighters Review, gave the manual two thumbs up and he really appreciated the creativity. In fact, he already started implementing the exercises right into his own strength program!

Go over and check out the review - Click Here!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew

Chaos Manual Coming Soon!

If you are a strength coach or fitness professional who thinks instability training involves a bosu or a wobble board - then you are going to be blown away by the new Chaos training concepts. It is not about changing the base support - remember there is an inverse relationship between the level of instability and the potential to generate power.

The more unstable the base support - The less potential power you will be able to express!

Open up your mind and get ready for the next level of training!

Chaos!

Get Diesel,
Smitty
The Diesel Crew
"Achieving Beyond Potential"
www.DieselCrew.com
www.TheGripAuthority.com

The Sturdy Shoulder Seminar

I'm heading to the Sturdy Shoulder Seminar put on by Eric Cressey and Excel Strength in Mass tomorrow. Pretty excited about it.

I'm going to hit an ME bench day with Eric and his crew, and share some training ideas. On Saturday, the seminar is going to go over all things shoulders, including; rehab, stabilization, balance, mobility, functional anatomy and a ton more.

I will let you know how it goes...

My goal is to start updating this blog more and more to keep you informed of all the upcoming events for the Diesel Crew.

Get Diesel,

Smitty
The Diesel Crew
"Achieving Beyond Potential"
www.DieselCrew.com
www.TheGripAuthority.com

Shaolin Training!

Awesome Shaolin Training clip!

Balance, agility, hand strength, heavy plyometrics and sick abdominal strength - you've got to check this clip out!

Quick Workout

Check out this quick workout to pump up your grip strength and posterior chain.

Warmup
1A) Bodyweight lunges
1B) high knees
1C) leg swings
1D) high hurdles
1E) pushups

Workout
1) Axle Double Overhand (DO) Deadlifts 6x3

2A) RDL's 3x5
2B) Kettlebell Pull-throughs 3x5

3A) Plate Pinch High Pulls 2x12
3B) Posterior DB Flyes 2x12

Done! In and out quick!

The Grip Authority

Check out our new site: The Grip Authority

Your site for the latest and greatest on how Grip strength is essential for your athletes.

Application of Sport Specific Grip strength training ideas that are innovative and will provide the "missing link" for your athletes.

Come by and check it out!

Check back frequently at The Grip Authority and The Diesel Crew site for updates on how to develop insane, real world strength.

Stay Diesel!

Smitty

The Diesel Crew, LLC

"Achieving Beyond Potential"

Leaders in Grip Strength

Corporate Strength

Corporate Strength - Gartner

Corporate Strength - Six Sigma

Corporate Strength - Projects

GET YOUR FREE ATHLETIC NEEDS ANALYSIS HERE!

Check out my Corporate Strength article series. Huge amount of feedback from the scientific community (those who moonlight during the day in labs and dominate the weights at night.) Thank you to everyone for your great feedback!

Corporate Strength discusses how to take the "tools" used by Corporate America and customize them to help visually express complex concepts dealing with the development of our athletes.

Enjoy...

Stay Diesel!

Smitty
The Diesel Crew
"Achieving Beyond Potential"
www.DieselCrew.com