Matt Furey - Zen Master of the Internet

Politically Incorrect Health and Fitness

“Where the He!! Have You Been”

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I came home late from school. My Mom wasn’t happy about it.

“Where the hell have you been?” she asked.

“Nowhere,” I replied.

“If you want to be a son, you need to get home on time,” she scolded.

Funny, eh?

Perhaps you’ve been wondering where I’ve been as well, especially when it comes to sending out emails on a regular basis. Some of you have written to inquire. I’ve been hush.

But I’ll let you in on a big secret, which I don’t normally do in matters such as this.

I’ve been saving my bullets.

Normally, I write emails when my journalistic energy is highest. Whatever is left in terms of creativity, goes into other endeavors.

But I got to thinking…

What if I reversed the way I’ve been doing things? What if I put my highest vibrational energy into writing a homerun (or grand slam) instead of an email?

That, my friend, is precisely what I’ve been doing.

Everyday, el Furecat plops his rumpus in a chair and flexes his imagination, putting words on paper that may rearrange the neurons of the whirld.

When I finish with my daily writing task, I go about my day, checking off other priorities on my victories list.

Lately, instead of knocking out an email or two, I recharge and prepare for another savage word-fest… tomorrow.

This morning, however, whilst in a deep R.E.M. state, I heard my mother’s voice shouting, “Where the hell have you been?” And at that precise moment I realized I better drop you a note and let you know what I’m doing.

My current pace on the new book is steady. I’ve written books fast and I’ve written them faster. This time I’m more focused on hitting a daily bullseye of 1,000 words.

What’s the book about?

I’ll let you know as time treks along – but believe me now and read me later, this book is probably going to be the greatest of all times. At least it will be for me.

You’ll definitely want to be feasting on it when it comes out.

In the interim, if your appetite needeth something NOW, you can visit one or all of my three main websites, all of which are listed below.

If you are on all three lists, you’ll receive this message three times. Sorry, but that’s the way the system worketh.

I’m saving my bullets.

As my creative energy rises and my writing muscles get back into tip-top condition, I will probably have spare bullets for the book and for regular emails. But for now, I’m not taking any extra chances.

All for now.

I’ll be in touch within a week (or so), I reckon.

Matt Furey

Snooze Button Success Secrets

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I changed my morning routine recently and the rewards have been huge.

The change involves staying in bed longer than usual. But not to sleep.
I just lie in bed and doze – half-asleep, half-awake.

As I do this, I picture myself taking the actions I want to take, or the
changes I want to make in my life.

Normally, I’m not a fan of visualizing while lying down, but this is
different for one fundamental reason. You’re tapping into the power
of “dream space.”

When you are in between two worlds, the dream state and the waking
state, I believe you have access to more of your mind. Great ideas come
to you, problems get solved, answers appear.

Many self-help authors over the years have advised students to review their
goals or the changes they want to see in their self-image, just before
sleep and shortly after waking up.

What I’ve found is even better. Don’t wait until you’re out of bed,
have showered, dressed and sipped a cup of coffee.

Preview your day in bed.

Do it BEFORE you get out of bed. Do it before you’re fully awake.
Do it when you can barely open your eyes.

This will take some practice, yet the rewards are off the chain.

How much time to invest in this process?

I suggest setting an alarm. When it goes off, hit the snooze button at least once.
Once you get into a groove, you may find yourself hitting the snooze button twice or thrice.

Get over the guilt of being late for the 5 AM club or whatever else you believe to be the correct way to start your day.

Sleep in longer – but “work” as you snooze.

The results you attain by using this process are other-worldly.

You’ll be taking charge of your mind and your life before you put your feet on the floor.

See it. Feel it. Do it.

Matt Furey

P.S. Looking for some accountability in 2020? Want to master Theatre of the Mind? Want to stop procrastination in its tracks? We’re here to help. Fill out the coaching application and send it our way.

30-Seconds to Save Your Shoulders

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Ten years ago, I was sitting in a comedy club inside a Las Vegas hotel/casino.

And I heard one joke that was worth remembering: “When you’re young, you hurt yourself playing sports and doing dumb stuff. When you’re older, you get hurt from sleeping.”

And so it is with many shoulder injuries. Go to bed feeling fine, wake up injured. What giveth?

Perhaps you’re sleeping in the wrong position. Yes, this may be a contributing factor, but damnit, you’ve slept in that position for 150 years and it was never a problem before. Why now?

There are a number of exercises that may save your shoulders, provided you haven’t reached the point of no return.

These exercises are not the bench press, the pec deck or dumbbell flies.

Nor are they lateral raises, trap bar exercises or deadlifts.

In fact, the movements I generally recommend are not even bodyweight calisthenics such as pushups.

Well, what do I recommend then?

I recommend a combination of joint loosening exercises and isometrics. Nothing fancy. Just what works.

Isometrics allow you to directly target specific areas of weakness that you cannot reach with weights or any other type of fitness gadget. In many cases, isometrics employ the use of a towel, strap, rope, bar or stick.

One of my favorite shoulder exercises is an isometric rope pull. When you do it with light to moderate exertion, one repetition takes 10 to 30 seconds. That’s it. And you can definitely feel it working.

I also enjoy stick isometrics, whether with a bamboo pole or a Taiji bang. And as I wrote yesterday, I believe in doing isometrics before you get out of bed in the morning, and not with that other stick.

Yes, I’ll be covering more on the subject of saving your shoulders – and I’ll be doing so inside the “Burly Gates” of the Matt Furey Inner Circle.

Come inside. Train with me and you will definitely understand why I tell you to..

Kick Ass and Take Names,

Matt Furey

How to Get Your Workout In

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Another day passed by yesterday and if you didn’t get your workout in, and you’re pissed off and disappointed about it, today’s email will probably be music to your muscles.

Here’s the situation: You have the best of intentions about getting your workouts in, but then a million and one distractions come along, and you act as though ALL of them are important. Then, when you woke up this morning, how did it really feel to know that you checked Facebook and Instagram 2,000 times, or that you watched hours of television, or that you didn’t even get a five-minute workout in, much less one that goes for an hour or more?

Well, let me tell you what el Furecat doth do, so you can follow along.

On the days wherein I can workout for an hour or longer, hallelujah.

But if I am failing to get my workout in because I have too much writing to do, or other projects and commitments, I will do microtized (yes, that’s my word) workouts throughout the day that run anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

Here’s how it worketh:

7 AM – Wake up – but do not get out of bed. Instead, do a few minutes of isometrics or joint loosening exercises.

8 AM – Walk dogs (20 minutes)

9 AM – Do one round of tai chi long form – 8 minutes – then get to work

11 AM – Take a break – reward myself with another round of tai chi – 8 minutes

1 PM – Time for a lunch break – before eating hang from pull-up bar for 60 seconds

2 PM – Do another round of tai chi

3 PM – Hang upside down for a minute

4 PM – Do one set of Hindu pushups

5 PM – Do one set of Hindu squats

6 PM – Punch the heavy bag for one minute

Get the idea?

Use exercise as a reward.

You did a bit of work, good going, you animal.

Now do a set of pushups, squats, sit-ups or bar hangs. Then get back to work.

Such a lovely* way to go through the work day – mixing yin and yang; work (pain) and working out (pleasure). Or versa-vicey.

With this method, the el Furecat Method, your brain and body are continually being refreshed, the same way a cat or dog stretches all throughout the day (not all day long). You get to feel the pump of your muscles reversing the gravitational pull, your joints and tendons reconnecting.

This routine leaves no excuses… unless you want to fail, and I don’t think that is your objective.

So here’s what to do, on a platter: When you have an hour or two to train, wonderful. But when you don’t, use one stretch or one set of an exercise for 30 seconds or longer.  Weave work around your workout schedule.

What do you think?

Any of you using a similar routine? I’d love to hear about it.

Kick ass – take names,

Matt Furey

P.S. NOW is “perfect timing” for you to get the insider’s secrets contained within the Matt Furey Inner Circle. Jump on it and get your New Year launched with a bang.

500 Pushups for a 510-Pound Bench Press?

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In response to Tuesday’s email, 3 Pushups Kicked His Ass, I received a testimonial that is almost beyond belief.

Over the years some people have accused me of “hype” when all I’m doing is telling true stories about what can and does happen when people follow the exercises I teach in Combat Conditioning and/or to members of the Matt Furey Inner Circle.

Well, I can assure you, this testimonial is so far out there that it raises the bar on hype.

Here’s what this reader wrote, followed by my comments:

I tested it (pushups) out when I was in my mid 30’s and when I was able to get to 500 pushups in an hour. I went to the weight room to test my bench strength. I had not been in the gym lifting for about over a month.

I had to get used to the bench again and was now training my mom.  First week I did 315lbs, it felt weird. Second week 405 lbs, still felt weird because I had not been benching for over a month. Third week tried 475 lbs, still felt strange but not overly heavy.  Fourth week I found someone to spot me and I put 510 lbs on the bench and pushed it up twice.

I know if I want to increase my bench strength doing pushups, hindu-pushups and even adding upside down hand stand pushups (which I could only do 5 at that time 275lbs)

I’m a believer. Keep sharing the truth with us.

I’m going to test my strength after I heal up from surgeries by going back to the body weight and flexibility exercises you have shared throughout the years.

Thank you for what you do, it has been worth every dollar spent to learn the information you shared.

Wishing you and your family the best

JE
Dallas, Texas

M.F.: JE, man, that is hard for me to believe – even if I saw it with my own eyes. I’m sure you can respect that. Once you’ve healed from your surgeries, please shoot some videos of yourself doing pushups and follow it up, when you’re ready, with footage of you benching. That would be truly awesome to see. Heal up quickly. KATN.

Now, for something that was witnessed:

Back in 2001, Dr. Dave Woynarowski came to town to train with me. We were at a local YMCA, swimming for about an hour, when we decided we’d had enough. I went to the locker room, put on a pair of shorts, a tee-shirt and a pair of flip-flops, and prepared to leave.

Before exiting, though, I spotted the free weights in the house, and meandered over to them, just for fun.

I loaded the Olympic bar with a pair of 45’s, making for a 135-pound lift. While still wearing my thongs, I cleaned and jerked the weight overhead.

That was my warmup set. One rep.

I added more… and more… and more.

One rep with each successive weight.

I got to 275 pounds, a weight I had never cleaned and jerked before. To my amazement, I easily accomplished the feat.

Dr. Dave then warmed that it was probably not safe to continue, especially in my flippers, so we left.

While leaving the good doctor did say, though, that it looked as though, based on how easily I lifter 275, that I could have done 300.

What I just described was the first time in three years that I lifted a weight (other than my own), and the last time in my life I lifted a barbell with weights on it.

That was 18 years ago.

So yes, bodyweight exercises, including bodyweight pushups, can make you much stronger. They also increase flexibility and endurance. So you get all three in one shot.

Can you bench 515 pounds from doing pushups alone?

I doubt it. But if you use a combination of both to achieve that sort of poundage, I’m all for it.

Whatever you choose to do, bodyweight exercises alone or a combination thereof, I’m in your corner.

Latch onto my programs and let’s see what you can accomplish in 2020.

Kick ass, take names,

Matt Furey

3 Pushups Kicked His Ass

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Last week a big, buff weight-pumper happened to question me, “How in the hell can you say that pushups build strength? The only thing they’re good for is endurance.”

I agreed. Or so it seemed.

As the weight-pumper watched I kicked into a handstand and did one repetition in slow motion.

“Are you strong enough to do one of these?” I asked.

Crickets.

Then I fell on my back, folded my legs, put my palms by my shoulders and pressed my body into the air.

How about this one?

“Uh, I don’t have the flexibility to do that one,” he said.

I pulled out a book showing a Shaolin monk doing a handstand on two fingers, i.e. the index fingers only. “Can you hold this position and do a pushup?” I asked.

His jaw dropped.

“Don’t feel too bad,”I smiled. “I can’t do it either – and neither can this monk. But I assure you, if he, you or I could, it ‘s not endurance.

The power of pushups can be denied, but not in the face of reality.

And that’s why I’ll be putting more and more examples of them up in the Matt Furey Inner Circle.

Get in NOW and start 2020 out with a BANG – and a little PUSH.

Matt Furey

How I Walk My Dog

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This morning I walked my dog in a way that no one I know of on the face of this earth walks his dog.

Not only do I walk different, I also breathe different.

Halfway through my walk I said “hello” to a couple who were walking to get fit and to improve their health.

I walk for neither of these reasons. I walk to energize my brain and body. I walk to plug myself into an energy source that is far greater than my own. I walk to get ideas.

And I walk so that I can say, at the end, “You did it, Furecat. You won another mental battle over yourself. You didn’t want to walk this morning, but you did it anyway. And as you walked you prepared yourself mentally for the rest of your day. That’s what champions do. They use the first hour of the day to prepare for the rest of it.”

When I got home I gave the dog a biscuit and went outside to practice some kickass tai chi. And as I trained I buzzed with more life.

Yes. at a fundamental level, more life is what we’re seeking.

We want to improve our lives, inside and outside.

For some that means moving to get fit. For others, you move to get ideas. Yet, in the end, all meet at the same place of doing what you do because you want to experience more life.

Want to learn the ways that lead to more life?

Then become a member of the Matt Furey Inner Circle.

It’ll be the best decision you make to end the year – and the smartest move ever going into 2020.

Most importantly, keep in mind the daily mantra to …

Kick ass – take names,

Matt Furey

Best Exercise to Do at Night

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There’s an exercise I do before I go to bed at night.

It helps me unwind my mind. It helps me let go of any unnecessary tension from the day. It helps me relax completely and fall asleep with ease.

Last night I did this exercise on the left side of my body first. I held for about a minute. Then I did the left side. Afterward, it was lights out.

This exercise hits your hamstrings and can be performed on your bed. It’s done differently, in el Furecat fashion.

Within seconds of finishing it, you might be so comfortable inside your own skin that you let go and let yourself sleep.

In addition to this movement, I have other exercises I recommend doing in the evening. I’m going to be covering them in the Matt Furey Inner Circle very soon.

Everyone is raving about the videos I put up last week that teach you how to eliminate pain, weakness and lack of overall energy by training your foundation first.

And what is your foundation? It’s your feet.

I recommend you train your feet first thing in the morning.

But what about the evening?

Yes, I heard your call and I’m responding.

Follow me and discover how.

Kick ass – take names,

Matt Furey

By the way, some of these exercises I teach may ramp up growth hormone and testosterone levels – and this is an important factor for men over 40.

5,000 Reps a Day (or More)

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A couple days ago I wrote about sitting – and how it’s NOT the boogie man the media makes it out to be, so long as you know how to train your body the proper way.

That said, there are some ways of sitting that enhance energy flow and some that lead to energy stagnation. The point isn’t whether or not you should ever sit – it’s HOW you sit.

For example, a good friend of mine, John, speaks highly of his “old man’s” daily routine.

John’s Dad is 79 years of age and still reads the daily newspaper, does the dishes and works in a factory, which he owns. He prides himself on lifting heavy boxes and hoisting them onto the truck each day. He insists on doing everything “by hand.”

The key element in this story though, is HOW grandpa reads the daily newspaper. He sits toward the front of the chair and places both feet on the ground. He doesn’t sit back or slouch. He doesn’t use a lazygramps.

Sitting on the edge of a chair is ideal and having the soles of your feet on the ground is also advisable. This position, my friends, is where you can do plenty of exercise for your feet – and you can do so as you read a newspaper, a book or while listening to someone prattle on about his/her life.

Keep in mind that your feet are the gateway to your brain and nervous system.

Your feet are the foundation for strong ankles, knees, hips and more. As important as your hands are, your feet are even more important. I believe that pumping your feet up each day increases brain waves, memory, creativity and overall body strength.

Your feet are akin to pumps that suck vital energy or qi into your body.

Sadly, your feet do NOT benefit if you sit for hours each day in the lotus position to meditate. In fact, the lotus position can cause some major problems in your lower body.

Getting into the lotus position as a stretching exercise is fine by me. But sitting in it for hours, in my opinion, is not good.

Yet, hold on.

If you exercise your feet the way I teach, you can still sit in the lotus position to meditate – and you’ll probably be alright.

The same goes for those who are cry-babying about their shoes. I don’t care if you’re compelled to wear high heels or combat boots. I don’t care if you wear shoes with thick pads or rice sandals (aka Sakai Yusai, the marathon monk I met in Japan in 2007 and brought to the U.S. back in 2008). Sakai Yusai ran 1,000 marathons through the mountains of Mt. Hiei in Kyoto. And yes, he ran them in “rice sandals” that often fell apart during the daily trek.

If you want to be declared a Living Buddha, as Sakai Yusai was, you don’t bitch about your archaic footwear. You learn to make your feet strong. Superhuman strong.

Truth: If you exercise your feet each day – you’ll probably find yourself far better off than the person who insists on going barefoot.

And… if you’re exercising your feet all day long, even as you sit, stand and walk around – ah, so much the better.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear the best shoes you can find and afford for your feet. What it does mean is this: live without excuses, stop being a crybaby. The biggest problem isn’t the shoe companies and their demonic designs that aren’t good for your feet. The big, Big, BIG problem is that people aren’t exercising their feet.
Period.

By the way, I just put up five new videos in the Matt Furey Inner Circle, and two of them go into detail on how you can do 5,000 or more reps per day of the most important foot exercise there is – and do so without investing one second of extra time.

If you want the deeper answers to the deeper questions, enroll NOW and start kicking ass and taking names at a whole new level.

Matt Furey

#1 Exercise to Do Every Morning

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What’s the most important exercise to do when you get out of bed each day?

Is it stretching?

No.

Is it pushups, squats or pull-ups?

No.

Is it walking?

No.

How about running?

No.

Well then, is it making your bed?

Hell no.

What is it then?

It’s the one thing that the idiots are now telling us is worse for the human body than smoking. And that would be… “sitting.”

Nothing wrong with sitting whatsoever, so long as you stand, walk, stretch and move throughout the day.

Same goes for the shoes you wear.

Having good shoes is preferable. But make no excuses. Even if you’re running around in high heels or wearing shitty sandals or shoes, it won’t matter as much as you think if you’re religiously training your feet.

And that, my friend, is what you do when you start your day off with a sit. You sit and exercise your feet.

Your feet are one of the time-tested gateways to the brain and nervous system. I also believe they are one of the keys to healing your body of injuries, especially to the lower extremities.

On my most recent trip to China, the Taiji master I trained with removed all erroneous ideas and misconceptions about training the feet. Within two days of implementing his suggestions, my feet, knees and hips felt better than they have in years. My overall balance, strength and fluidity improved dramatically as well.

I’m reluctant as hell to let the cat out of the bag on this one. I paid a lot in time and money to learn this. But I feel I must do so for members of the Matt Furey Inner Circle. They will hear about it first, then other possibilities will open up.

Kick ass – take names,

Matt Furey

P.S. Yesterday, the Hebrew Hammer, Aleks Salkin, in an interview for his podcast, asked me when I’m going to hold another combat fitness seminar.
I’ve been pondering the idea ever since. Interested? Drop me a line.

P.P.S. The response to Monday’s email about coaching was off the chain. I’ll be getting back to all of you soon. Thanks for your patience.

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