When I was in fifth grade, I got myself a paper route delivering the Omaha World Herald.

This was a life-changing moment for me because I had to get up at 5 AM. After getting up, I walked downstairs and found a stack of papers on the front porch. I put the papers in a canvas bag and positioned the cross-body strap over my left shoulder as the papers hung to the side of my right hip. And out the door I went.

Each day I walked a good three miles delivering to my customers, whilst those who delivered the Des Moines Register walked five or six blocks to deliver the same number of papers. My customers were usually located a block or more apart, while our competitor delivered to almost every household. Such was life in southwest Iowa.

I didn’t win any prizes for taking 90 minutes to do what other paperboys accomplished in a half-hour. But this first job began to develop my body, giving me strength and endurance.

One morning, when I was a good mile from home, I met an annoying competitive paperboy who was a few years older, and none the wiser. He used to greet me by hollering, “Long time no smell.”

He usually had a quart of chocolate milk in hand that he purchased from the milkman that was making home deliveries. He encouraged me to get some as well, so I approached the milk truck on the side of the road and bought my first quart.

It wasn’t long before I was hooked on chocolate milk. And it only took a couple weeks for the new habit to show its unsightly rolls.

Not only did I begin packing on extra unwanted pounds, but the profits I was seeing from my paper route dwindled down to nada.

My mom took note of both negatives.

She told me, “If you continue to drink chocolate milk every morning, you’ll not only have no money, but you will get so fat you will need to be rolled down the street.” When my mom said this, an image came to mind of the rolling pin she used when kneading flour in the kitchen.

No, no, no. Not the rolling pin.

So I gave up chocolate milk and haven’t touched it since.

I tell you this story because, for some inexplicable reason, these memories of my paper route days resurfaced yesterday, and I feel compelled to write about them in this email… so I’m going with the flow.

But… I also have some really great news that is “happening now.”

This morning we filmed a new product that will be available soon as a digital download, or on DVD. This is the first stand-alone health and fitness product I have created since 2007. Yikes! It’s been 15 years?

It sure has.

I realize you’ve waited a long time for something totally new from me, but it’s going to be more than well worth the wait.

This morning I was up at 6:45, getting my mind and body ready for the shoot that will begin to reveal the secrets I have learned over the last 15+ years on developing tendon strength, increasing mobility, healing injuries and recovering from exhausting workouts and/or stressful living.

I’ll let you know when this product goes live, as you WILL want to grab it as soon as it becomes available. I believe it will be ready within a couple weeks.

In the interim, you can prepare yourself for this course by following the exercises in my international best-seller, Combat Conditioning, as well as the 1914 Farmer Burns classic, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture.

Both courses continues to turn old, tired and seemingly useless bodies into finely tuned machines.

Make sure you have them in your old-school library.

Kick azz – take names!

Matt Furey

By the Way… I see a lot of copywriters signing up for this email newsletter, and that’s wonderful. But it is also grossly insufficient. If you really want to learn the Fureyesque way of writing magnificent copy, become part of my Zen Mastery Group so you can really learn how it’s done. NOW!

When you get up in the morning but don’t feel ready for exercise, your body is not telling you to avoid it. It is telling you to get started slowly. It’s telling you to begin with exercises that gradually awaken the nerves and tissues. 

This morning I woke up early and although I wanted to exercise, I was not ready to jump into action immediately. So I coaxed by body to begin.

I began while lying on my bed. I started by moving my ankles and toes, wiggling them and rotating them. After this I moved to my hands, then my neck, hips, shoulders and legs. 

Within a couple minutes, the pumps were primed. I was now ready for more.

I got out of bed, walked across the floor, opened a sliding glass door, went outside and began to do the deep breathing, calisthenics and self-resistance exercises, that are in the classic 1914 Farmer Burns course, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture.

All my movements started out slowly, but within “no time at all,” I was putting snap and ginger into them. 

With each passing minute, my movements were more dynamic and more connected. I felt strong, energized, relaxed and loose. And I was ready to take on the day with gusto.

That’s what happens when you begin your day in a natural way. That’s what happens when coax your body to do what it wants to do.

Start slowly and your body will tell you when it’s ready for more. And yes, it will want more because movement is how we give ourselves more life. And you do want more of that, eh?

The Farmer Burns course will give it to you – that’s why I’ve been recommending it for the past 24 years.

It kicks azz and takes names.

Here endeth the lesson.

Matt Furey

It’s always great to hear from customers. Today’s message is one that surprised me. Read on and discover why:

Hey Matt!
So I bought Combat Conditioning from you a while back, and I really liked it. I’m drawn to old-style physical culture, so when I found a copy of your reprint of Farmer Burns’s course, I jumped at it.

Really great course, but I wanted to tell you a story about how it helped me (feel free to use). I twisted something in my lower back/sacrum area, and could barely lean forward to touch my toes, lift my leg straight up, and so on. Even though I had the flexibilty, the spine was in defensive mode and wouldn’t let me. Yesterday in the shower it occurred to me to do the (deep breathing isometric), while slowly moving through the positions I found difficult… and it cured me instantly! I realised it’s like pandiculation, and kind of ‘reset’ my body’s awareness of what it could do! So thank you!!
Alexander

M.F.  Truly awesome, Alexander. The Farmer Burns exercises can definitely help eliminate back pain, not to mention reducing the waistline, improving digestion, increasing energy and so on. Your results astound me, though. Typically I wouldn’t advise the exercise you did when you were in pain, but perhaps I need to rethink that one. Thanks for letting me know.

Matt Furey

It’s always great to hear from customers. Today’s message is one that surprised me. Read on and discover why:

Hey Matt!

So I bought Combat Conditioning from you a while back, and I really liked it. I’m drawn to old-style physical culture, so when I found a copy of your reprint of Farmer Burns’s course, I jumped at it.

Really great course, but I wanted to tell you a story about how it helped me (feel free to use). I twisted something in my lower back/sacrum area, and could barely lean forward to touch my toes, lift my leg straight up, and so on. Even though I had the flexibilty, the spine was in defensive mode and wouldn’t let me. Yesterday in the shower it occurred to me to do the (deep breathing isometric), while slowly moving through the positions I found difficult… and it cured me instantly! I realised it’s like pandiculation, and kind of ‘reset’ my body’s awareness of what it could do! So thank you!!

Alexander

M.F.  Truly awesome, Alexander. The exercises can definitely help someone with back pain, not to mention reducing the waistline, improving digestion, increasing energy and so on. Your results astound me, though. Typically I wouldn’t advise that exercise when you’re in pain, but perhaps I need to rethink that one. Thanks for letting me know.

Matt Furey

Last night I was speaking with a gentleman in his 60’s who has incurred various injuries in recent years. He told me that he’s moving away from extreme exercises, including weight training.

Why? Because he’s so banged up from following the extreme routines that he’s finally concluded that his body is a.) NOT a machine and that b.) he is not “bulletproof.” 

This man is now doing seemingly SIMPLE calisthenics, isometrics and breathing exercises that Farmer Burns teaches in his 1914 course, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture, and he’s stunned at how effective they are.

“These exercises change your body fast and yet you would think they couldn’t based on how easy they appear in the illustrations,” he said. 

“Simple exercise is profound. And simple exercise wins,” I replied. 

At some point, you are wise to realize that your own exercise routine must be one that you can follow for a lifetime. If you beat your head into a post, there is a price to be paid down the road. You may think you’re invincible when you’re doing it, but you’re not.

Hone and practice the basics until they become profound.

The Farmer had it down over 100 years ago, and his methods still WIN.

Grab your copy of Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture NOW and watch how quickly your body begins to change. 

Matt Furey

Yesterday, I wrote about ole Farmer Burns and the secrets of physical culture he revealed in his 1914 by-mail course.

Burns came before Charles Atlas in the physical culture industry. At the time, people understood that you cannot become a great wrestler or boxer or fighter of any sort, without great conditioning methods.

Burns wasn’t a bodybuilder – but he knew how to get the job done in a functional way, and that’s what matters.

I learned a ton about strength, health and fitness from Farmer Burns course. I studied it in earnest.

How on earth did Burns, for example, hang himself and not get injured, much less put himself six feet under?

Well, the Farmer doesn’t reveal the secret to his hanging stunt in the course, but when it comes to flattening your stomach and giving yourself washboard abs, he most definitely does.

After I began practicing the exercises the ole Farmer taught for flattening your midsection and increasing speed and power in your hands, it was only a matter of days before people noticed that I looked and moved differently.

And that’s when I began to realize I must do my part to make this course available to people throughout the world. Why? Because the exercises are simple yet profound. And because you don’t need much room to move, they can be taken with you anywhere.

The exercises don’t require a gym or an investment in fitness machines, gizmos or gadgets. In fact, once you have the exercises in mind, they are with you for life. No one can ever take them away from you.

And the most important exercise in the course can be done in the shower, while sitting in a chair or while waiting at a traffic light. You can do it while lying in bed or as you stand in line in a store. You can do it while cooking or talking on the phone.

It’s truly amazing when you think of the versatility of an exercise that focuses on how you breathe and tighten specific muscle groups.

It feels almost miraculous when you consider the positive effects, not only on your waistline, but on your digestion. Years ago I referred to these breathing exercises as a type of “cosmic fiber” and I still use that term today.

You can begin doing these exercises immediately when you leaf through Farmer Burns classic Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture.

With your order we will also send you an autographed copy of “yours truly” on the cover of an MMA magazine.

Let’s Go…

Matt Furey

P.S. For those of you interested in grappling or olde-time catch wrestling, consider getting the full blown Farmer Burns video course

Question of the Day

Matt,
 I’m loving the Farmer Burns course but I’m way out of shape. Used to be fit and lean and then Covid hit and I turned to blub. He says to do 10 to 20 repetitions. I can’t do that many in a row yet but I feel I’m still benefitting, especially with my digestion. Will I still get value if I do less?

Jay

Jay,
Glad you’re digging the course. You’re already seeing benefits in terms of your digestion, so you’ve answered part of your own question. The breathing and flexing exercises that Farmer Burns teaches are amazing for improving regularity, and even better news is you don’t have to eat a bunch of fiber to activate your bowels.

’tis why I say, “forget fiber.”

Learn to breathe properly and be astounded by the changes you notice taking place. Better sleep. Better bowel movements. Better levels of strength and vigor.

As for being unfit, look at it as an opportunity to reclaim your body and regain your health.

In regard to the number of repetitions, if 10-20 is too much for you at the present time, then begin with less until you find your comfort zone. There’s nothing wrong with doing five reps (or fewer) when you begin. Start slowly and soon you’ll be carrying a big stick. Keep me posted on your progress.

Matt Furey

Got a message from a reader of the Farmer Burns course, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture:

Matt,
I got my Farmer Burns course a couple weeks ago and started doing the breathing exercises on page 7 the first day. These exercises are incredible. The Farmer is spot on. When I first read the descriptions I thought no way these are too simple. But whenever I get thoughts like this I check my ego at the door and see what happens when I do them. Oh my. You were right when you called these a type of American Chi Kung. I find them better than the Chinese stuff that’s so popular these days. Now I’ve been doing the breathing exercises on page 20 for the past week and I am totally sold. My energy is up. My digestion is improved and the flabby gut is going bye bye  On top of that, my bedroom skills are no longer waning. I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned that these exercises improve erectile issues, but they sure have for me. Anyway, enough already. Just want to thank you for all you do to promote health and fitness. 

Johnson 

My reply:

Glad to hear about your results, Johnson.

Reminds me of the lady who called our office several years ago to rave about how she rid herself of urinary incontinence using the breathing exercises in the course. She had tried everything to eliminate this embarrassing malaise, and she said that the F.B. exercises were the only method that truly worked.

With this in mind, it definitely stands to reason that you may be able to improve functioning throughout the nether region with these exercises. Thanks for bringing this UP. Perhaps some others will write to mention the same thing.

Matt Furey

Earlier today I did a coaching call with a man who has a habit of working out for three weeks straight. Then, for some unknown reason (to him), he runs out of steam and takes three months off.

Then he jumps all over himself for being a lazy slackoid, begins another program, and finds the same situation being reactivated.

Sound familiar?

You bust your rumpus in the beginning, going full throttle. Then you run out of gas, lose momentum, and end up becoming absent-minded about exercise – and other matters.

Ever wonder why this happens?

You might think it’s because you lack will power.

You might think it’s because you are lazy.

You might think it’s because you haven’t found the ideal program yet.

The reality is that you’ve probably bought into the notions that tell you:

a. to train to failure
b. to always give 110 percent
c. to push until you puke

Over the years, I have followed these same ideas, to my detriment.

And whatdyaknow, all these ideas I bought into as a youth, or later on in life, I’ve proven that there is a better way.

But first…. keep the following in mind:

Training to failure harms your brain and nervous system.

Second, there’s no such thing as giving 110 percent just as there’s no such thing as “massive action.” Remember, no matter how hyped up you are for massive action, you can only take one step at a time.

Third, stopping long before you feel fatigue or before you puke will give you much better results than giving it all you’ve got.

el Furecat, who does nothing extreme in his workouts, who isn’t banging his head against the Great Wall, with ideas of training to failure or fatigue, or achieving the unachievable ideal of 110 percent – continues to kick ass.

I never miss a day of training. Every day I am exercising. On most days I exercise three times. And I continue to be amazed at the progress I am still making, even when I don’t look as through I’m “trying.”

The other day someone told me about his experiences with my Dao Zou program. He told me that he’s never done a workout that made him feel so good with so much ease.

When he finishes his Dao Zou routine, he is energized and relaxed, almost beyond belief. He feels his calves, glutes and hips in a way that cannot be reached with weight training or any other type of exercise. And he is blissed out for hours after he finishes.

There are many reasons this happens. One of the biggest is that you unconsciously give up the caveman, “me give 110 percent” mentality, when you perform Dao Zou.

When you leave caveman mode behind, you turn off the reptilian part of your brain and nervous system. This means you’re no longer in fight, flight or freeze.

Once this happens, your central nervous system is working FOR YOU instead of against you. Anger, angst, nervous tension and other gloomy negative emotions evaporate.

You get results that seem unfathomable.

And you do this without giving 110 percent. Or 100 percent. Or 75 percent.

In fact, your best results often come when you give it 50 percent, or less.

I know this goes against the grain of the caveman mentality, but I’m telling you, it’s true.

I’ll be putting up a few videos in the members site this week, showing how this works for me each day. You will be stunned at what you personally discover when you implement my suggestions.

That’s it for today.

Kick Ass – Take Names,

Matt Furey

P.S. Dao Zou is now available via digital download as well as on DVD.

Nearly 20 years ago, I wrote about a gorilla who scaled the wall of its habitat at Animal Kingdom in Kissimmee, Florida.

The foreman in charge of constructing the habitat looked over the walls of the enclosure, making sure there weren’t any small cracks. The reason was simple. A gorilla’s hands (and body) are so strong, if it can place a single finger-tip inside a crack within the wall, that’s all the leverage the primate needs to pull himself up and over the wall.

Yes, this foreman knew a gorilla could do scale a wall this way, in part because it happened before.

Amazing, eh?

Imagine having the grip strength of a 400-pound silverback gorilla as you train. If you do this, I’m betting you’ll not only enjoy your workout more, but you’ll get stronger as a result.

Positive mental imagery positively affects how we perform.

And when you combine gorilla imagery with sensory specific exercises, such as those shown in Primate Power and Gama Fitness, you’ll start going ape over your newly-acquired strength.

Do what gorillas do.

Do what animalistic athletes and martial artists do.

Stun your friends and family with the changes taking place inside of you.

Kick ass – take names.

Matt Furey