Great question came in from Robert about using weight in the deep squat hold position. My response will follow:

Hi Matt,

I work out in NYC, but I am a 65 year old Red Sox fan from Boston as well as the guy mentioned below (yesterday’s email).

I have lately been doing the deep squat holds with a 45 lb. plate on my back and go at least 3 minutes. Then I did a few Hindu pushups, wrestler’s bridges, and wall walks and a guy comes up to me and asks if I follow Matt Furey. I said of course. 

Question. Should I do those squats with or without added weights?

Robert H

el Furecat: Robert, it’s a shame you don’t live in Tampa, because we have far too many Yankees fans down here.

Anyway, to answer your pregunta, the answer is yes and yes.

Holding for long periods without weight is tremendous. Holding with a weight on your back is also fine.

My answer may surprise some as they think I am opposed to all weights, all the time.

Not the case. I swing the mace from time to time, as well as Indian clubs. They aren’t empty.

In martial arts, you need to be able to lift another human being.

The key to me, as I wrote in Combat Conditioning, is always about functionality.

Do people sit in fields with weight on their backs as part of their job? Yes.

Do animals carry their young on their backs? Yes. Do animals climb trees with their next feast in their mouths? Yes.

What you are doing is natural, and effective. It is also functional.

Yesterday I put a video up on Instagram – @mattfureysays – of me training backwards, pulling a weighted sled. Some thought this as wrong. Ah, Furecat is using weights.

Pulling a sled is not weight training for “the look.” Pulling a sled is functional; it’s something that used to be a job.

This should be enough of an answer your question, ya think?

Kick ass – take names,

Matt Furey

By the way: If you dig the way el Furecat writes these emails, and if you want to follow in his footsteps, go to knockoutmarketing.com and take a gander at the special offer that only has about six hours left. It’s huge. So huge you’ll kick yourself in the head if you miss out on it.