My friend, Clarence, called a few weeks ago.
He says, “Quick question: I’ve been watching your most recent videos. Would you say you are stronger now than you were 20 years ago?”
“In some ways yes, and in other ways yes,” I replied.
What did I mean?
Well, for starters, I don’t measure my strength the way “dead-lifters” do.
I measure based upon live-lifting, i.e. can I toss a live person around the room with ease when he is pushing or pulling on me.
Weights sitting on the ground attached to a barbell do NOT resist you.
As Bruce Lee was fond of saying about those who break bricks, “Bricks don’t hit back.”
This doesn’t mean that a deadlift or brick break is easy. It does mean that it is definitely NOT the same as being animalistic in origin, in terms of how you move your body.
When you are animalistic in your movements, a light flick of the wrist can make someone go flying. It’s not about how much weight you can push or pull – it’s about what you can do with your body when somebody else is pushing or pulling on you.
This requires a different type of strength – an elastic strength that feels like steel, and is impossible to acquire with weights. Yes, it’s an inner strength.
No, I did not say “mental strength.”
Mental strength is important, but can also be a disguise for those who don’t know the structure of body alignments and movement.
Without structure you don’t have jack – even if you have “mental strength.”
Recently, another friend, J, starting diving into the exercises in Combat Conditioning. He’s a life-long martial artist who is highly skilled and the program is kicking his ass.
Key thing is the program is making him better without injury.
So many of the bodyweight programs that have come out since I released Combat Conditioning some 20 years ago, are all about being EXTREME.
And they are Extremely UNNECESSARY.
You don’t need to be able to do one-finger pushups and handstands in order to be fit.
Keep in mind, as you get on in years, being free from injury must be a priority because injuries take longer to heal.
Stay injury free by being smart in how you train.
This is one of the reasons why Clarence, my long-time friend, from observation alone, believes I am stronger now than I was 20 years ago.
That’s all I need to hear.
And don’t forget to…
Kick ass and take names.
Matt Furey
By the way: If you already have the Combat Conditioning book and DVDs and you want to go to the next level, click here.
