You see these athletes who spend a lot of time in the weight room? They have big barrel chests, beach biceps, barn-door deltoids, six-pack abs… you name it.

They can push, press, curl and pull incredible amounts of weight. They laugh at bodyweight exercises because they think being BIG is what life’s all about.

Yes, they can hit home runs out of the park WHEN they play. And those last three words are key: “WHEN they play.”

Keeping these billion dollar bodies healthy is no easy task. When they’re not in the weight room they are in the trainer’s room, getting ice, heat, ultrasound and a bunch of other treatments. Their injuries run the gamut from chronic to mysterious. “Sorry coach, I can’t play today because I think I might be injured.”

I have more than an idea as to why these athletes are injured so often, why many of them cannot go through half a season without getting hurt.

The reason is so simple you may want to scoff. In fact, I’ve already given it to you. They’re “in the weight room.”

But there’s more.

Constantly shortening and tightening your muscles by lifting weights is NOT the best way to train. Tighter, shorter muscles are not better at preventing injury. They are far, far worse.

Being injured sucks. And missing games all the time because your body is falling apart because of the way you train is just plain dumb.

But these athletes never seem to learn. It’s sad.

I figured it out a long ago. The more time I spent in the weight room, the easier it was for me to get hurt. When I stayed out of the weight room and concentrated on bodyweight exercises, such as those I champion in Combat Conditioning, I got stronger.

And when I got on the mat to train, I was able to avoid injuries that weight training caused.

Why?

Because I didn’t make my muscles shorter and tighter. I made them longer and stronger.

In Combat Conditioning, you learn to make your body longer and stronger, which gives you a far better chance of preventing injuries.

If you want to play the game of life to the best of your ability, stay away from the weights. Remember, your body is your own gym. Use it wisely.

Incidentally, we are down to 75 copies of the final edition of Combat Conditioning. When these are gone, I’ll be coming out with something new. That makes these books collector’s items.

Make sure you order yours today (or another copy), and you’ll be given an autographed copy of a martial arts magazine that I appeared on the cover.

If you already have my book and you want to go to the next level with my ongoing guidance, then be sure to become a member of the Matt Furey Inner Circle. It rocks.

All for now.

KATN

Matt Furey