Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Today is the last day of 2015 -- and
that means that tonight's workout will
be the last workout of the year.
In about six hours I'm going to bundle
up in my sweats, roll on out to the
garage, and slip my Rocky Balboa
CD into the old boom box -- and
then start warming up and getting
loose for some good lifting.
After that, I'm going to have a good
dinner, and then sit back and welcome
in the New Year.
And I imagine that many of you will
be doing the same thing -- or you
may already have had that last
great workout of 2015.
I also imagine that you're looking
forward to the first workout of 2016.
I know I am.
And I'm sure you're planning to make
it a good one. Me, too.
That's the funny thing about strength
training. After you do it for awhile, it
becomes part of your life. You celebrate
your birthday with a great workout --
and you make the last workout of the
year an extra good one -- and you do
the same for the first workout of the
new year.
I think it means that strength training
is part of our DNA -- and that's a good
thing.
In closing, let me say:
1. Thanks for all of your friendship and
support over the past year.
2. Thanks for training Dino style.
3. Have a happy, healthy, safe and
wonderful new year - and best wishes
for 2016!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
Some Questions About Sets and Reps
Hail to the dinosaurs!
Two quick notes, and then we'll talk iron.
1. The Dinosaur Files
We've gone back to a MONTHLY version
of the Dinosaur Files newsletter -- and
for the first time ever, it's available
with digital delivery. The December
and January issues are out now, and
you can grab them right here:
a. The January Dinosaur Files
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
b. The December Dinosaur Files
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
2. The Iron League
John Wood's enormous archive of rare
strength training, boxing, wrestling, self
defense and physical culture books, courses
and magazines is going great guns -- and
it's a terrific resource for Dinosaurs. Go
here to check it out:
http://www.ironleague.com/
3. Some Questions About Sets and Reps
For some reason, I've been getting a lot
of questions about sets and reps. Here are
some of the most common questions -- and
my answers to them.
Q. How do I build up to doing heavy singles?
A. Do 5 x 5 for 3 months, and then do 5/4/3/2/1
or 5 x 5 followed by 1 x 3 and 1 x 1 for three
months.
Q. You always talk abouty 5 x 5 -- but what
if I need to do more warm-up sets?
A. Go ahead and do them. If it turns out to
be 6 x 5 or 7 x 5, that's fine.
Q. Does 5 x 5 mean you do five sets with your
heaviest possible weight?
A. No, it means you do a series of progressively
heavier warm-up sets followed by 3 working sets
with your top weight -- or 2 working sets -- or
one working set.
Some related points:
Over the course of a training cycle, you can
move from 3 x 5 working sets to 1 x 5.
You can do 3 x 5 in light weeks, 2 x 5 in
medium weeks, and 1 x 5 in heavy weeks.
The stronger you are, and the heavier you train,
the fewer work sets you need (or can stand).
Older trainees usually do better on one working
set in any exercise.
Squats and deadlifts usually work best with
one working set.
Q. Do heavy singles work well for all exercises?
A. They work best for squats, front squats, dead-
lifts, Trap Bar deadlifts, bottom position bench
press, bottom position squats, push presses,
military presses, cleans, snatches and the
clean and press or the clean and jerk.
Curls, shrugs, and lat exercises usually work
better with sets of five or six reps.
Gut work and grip work is best if you do sets
of 8 to 15 reps. Ditto for calf work.
Grip work varies depending on what you do.
Q. When you do heavy singles, do you lift your
maximum possible weight in your top set?
A. No, you do a series of progressively
heavier sets and work up to a weight that
is heavy, demanding and challenging -- but
not to your absolute max.
Q. Can I skip the warm-up sets to save time?
A. No, warm-up sets are important. If you
don't have time to do warm-up sets, you
don't have time to train.
Q. What is the best system of sets and reps?
A. There isn't one. The best system of sets and
reps for YOU will depend on a variety of factors,
and it will change over time. It also will vary
from exercise to exercise.
Don't agonize over finding "the best" way to
train. Find a GOOD way, and work it hard.
You'll do just fine.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. For more details on effective strength
training and muscle building workouts, grab
these:
a. Strength, Muscle and Power
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
b. Chalk and Sweat
http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html
c. The Dinosaur Training Military Press and
Shoulder Power Course
http://www.brookskubik.com/militarypress_course.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are available
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "If you sweat
more planning your workouts than you do
when you train, there's a problem." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Two quick notes, and then we'll talk iron.
1. The Dinosaur Files
We've gone back to a MONTHLY version
of the Dinosaur Files newsletter -- and
for the first time ever, it's available
with digital delivery. The December
and January issues are out now, and
you can grab them right here:
a. The January Dinosaur Files
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
b. The December Dinosaur Files
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
2. The Iron League
John Wood's enormous archive of rare
strength training, boxing, wrestling, self
defense and physical culture books, courses
and magazines is going great guns -- and
it's a terrific resource for Dinosaurs. Go
here to check it out:
http://www.ironleague.com/
3. Some Questions About Sets and Reps
For some reason, I've been getting a lot
of questions about sets and reps. Here are
some of the most common questions -- and
my answers to them.
Q. How do I build up to doing heavy singles?
A. Do 5 x 5 for 3 months, and then do 5/4/3/2/1
or 5 x 5 followed by 1 x 3 and 1 x 1 for three
months.
Q. You always talk abouty 5 x 5 -- but what
if I need to do more warm-up sets?
A. Go ahead and do them. If it turns out to
be 6 x 5 or 7 x 5, that's fine.
Q. Does 5 x 5 mean you do five sets with your
heaviest possible weight?
A. No, it means you do a series of progressively
heavier warm-up sets followed by 3 working sets
with your top weight -- or 2 working sets -- or
one working set.
Some related points:
Over the course of a training cycle, you can
move from 3 x 5 working sets to 1 x 5.
You can do 3 x 5 in light weeks, 2 x 5 in
medium weeks, and 1 x 5 in heavy weeks.
The stronger you are, and the heavier you train,
the fewer work sets you need (or can stand).
Older trainees usually do better on one working
set in any exercise.
Squats and deadlifts usually work best with
one working set.
Q. Do heavy singles work well for all exercises?
A. They work best for squats, front squats, dead-
lifts, Trap Bar deadlifts, bottom position bench
press, bottom position squats, push presses,
military presses, cleans, snatches and the
clean and press or the clean and jerk.
Curls, shrugs, and lat exercises usually work
better with sets of five or six reps.
Gut work and grip work is best if you do sets
of 8 to 15 reps. Ditto for calf work.
Grip work varies depending on what you do.
Q. When you do heavy singles, do you lift your
maximum possible weight in your top set?
A. No, you do a series of progressively
heavier sets and work up to a weight that
is heavy, demanding and challenging -- but
not to your absolute max.
Q. Can I skip the warm-up sets to save time?
A. No, warm-up sets are important. If you
don't have time to do warm-up sets, you
don't have time to train.
Q. What is the best system of sets and reps?
A. There isn't one. The best system of sets and
reps for YOU will depend on a variety of factors,
and it will change over time. It also will vary
from exercise to exercise.
Don't agonize over finding "the best" way to
train. Find a GOOD way, and work it hard.
You'll do just fine.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. For more details on effective strength
training and muscle building workouts, grab
these:
a. Strength, Muscle and Power
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
b. Chalk and Sweat
http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html
c. The Dinosaur Training Military Press and
Shoulder Power Course
http://www.brookskubik.com/militarypress_course.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are available
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "If you sweat
more planning your workouts than you do
when you train, there's a problem." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The 70 Percent Workout
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
I had one of my best workouts of the
year last night.
I went out to the garage, warmed up,
got nice and loose, and then did a
series of progressively heavier singles
in the clean and jerk.
I did squat cleans and power jerks.
Long story short, I ended up doing 22
pounds more than I had planned to do.
And I hit my top weight not once, but
twice. Once to lift it -- and the second
time to reenforce the successful lift.
(That's a Tommy Kono trick, and a
good one.) (Note: these were two
singles, not a double.)
And the top weights actually felt light.
My form was perfect through the entire
workout. As the weights got heavier, my
form and speed got better and better.
And there was a reason for this.
The last two workouts before this one
were light workouts. In one of them, I
did snatches to 70 percent of my one rep
max. In the other, I did cleans to 70
percent of my one rep max. In each
workout I did five singles with the 70
percent weight.
I took the light workouts because I had
been training extra hard and heavy, and
I was getting a bit sore and beat up. I
needed a bit of a break from the heavy
training.
And it worked pretty well.
The seventy percent workout is an
excellent idea for older trainees. It's
particularly good for Olympic lifting,
because you can drill form and
technique on the light day. But it
works well for any older trainee,
no matter what exercises you
perform.
You can follow a simple cycling system
similar to those outlined in Gray Hair
and Black Iron, or you can follow the
Light, Medium Heavy system outlined
in Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vols. 1
and 3. There's no one way to do it.
The important thing is to include some
light workouts that allow you to recover
mentally and physically from the harder
and heavier workouts. They'll set the
stage for some great workouts -- just
like they did for me last night!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab Gray Hair and Black
Iron:
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
P.S. 2. We also have a great new mini-course
that covers effective training for older Dinos:
http://www.brookskubik.com/minicourse_01.html
P.S. 3. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 4. Thought for the Day: "Every step takes
you closer to your destination -- even the little
ones." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
I had one of my best workouts of the
year last night.
I went out to the garage, warmed up,
got nice and loose, and then did a
series of progressively heavier singles
in the clean and jerk.
I did squat cleans and power jerks.
Long story short, I ended up doing 22
pounds more than I had planned to do.
And I hit my top weight not once, but
twice. Once to lift it -- and the second
time to reenforce the successful lift.
(That's a Tommy Kono trick, and a
good one.) (Note: these were two
singles, not a double.)
And the top weights actually felt light.
My form was perfect through the entire
workout. As the weights got heavier, my
form and speed got better and better.
And there was a reason for this.
The last two workouts before this one
were light workouts. In one of them, I
did snatches to 70 percent of my one rep
max. In the other, I did cleans to 70
percent of my one rep max. In each
workout I did five singles with the 70
percent weight.
I took the light workouts because I had
been training extra hard and heavy, and
I was getting a bit sore and beat up. I
needed a bit of a break from the heavy
training.
And it worked pretty well.
The seventy percent workout is an
excellent idea for older trainees. It's
particularly good for Olympic lifting,
because you can drill form and
technique on the light day. But it
works well for any older trainee,
no matter what exercises you
perform.
You can follow a simple cycling system
similar to those outlined in Gray Hair
and Black Iron, or you can follow the
Light, Medium Heavy system outlined
in Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vols. 1
and 3. There's no one way to do it.
The important thing is to include some
light workouts that allow you to recover
mentally and physically from the harder
and heavier workouts. They'll set the
stage for some great workouts -- just
like they did for me last night!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab Gray Hair and Black
Iron:
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
P.S. 2. We also have a great new mini-course
that covers effective training for older Dinos:
http://www.brookskubik.com/minicourse_01.html
P.S. 3. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 4. Thought for the Day: "Every step takes
you closer to your destination -- even the little
ones." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Looking Ahead to the New Year!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Like many of you, I'm looking ahead to the
New Year.
In other words, I'm sharpening my pencils
and scribbling notes on paper as I outline
my workouts for the coming year.
Most people think about "resolutions" for
New Year.
I don't.
I think about training programs.
With the right training program, good things
happen.
Of course, the right program starts with the
right kind of goals. You start by establishing
your goals for the coming year, and then you
design a program to achieve them.
What do I mean by "the right kind of goals"?
The right kind of goals are:
1. Realistic, but challenging.
2. Difficult, but not impossible.
3. Not too hard, and not too difficult.
4. Objective and measurable.
a. Poundage goals or other performance
based goals are best.
5. Easy to put into words, such as:
a. I want to press my bodyweight.
b. 300/400/500.
c. I want to gain 20 pounds of muscle.
e. I want to lose 30 pounds of flab.
f. I want to set a new state record in the
squat.
g. I want to close the No. 2.5 gripper.
h. I want to ______________________ .
[Fill in the blank -- it should fit into the space
provided.]
6. No. 5 is important because you need to
internalize your goal and burn it into your
heart and mind.
a. You do that by thinking about it --
visualizing it -- repeating it -- or writing
it on notes.
b. You can't do any of those things if your
goal takes 10 pages to put on paper.
And most importantly --
7. Your goal needs to be something that
motivates and inspires you.
a. It has to be YOUR goal -- not someone
else's goal.
b. It has to be something you truly want
to achieve.
c. It has to be something that you will work
toward for the entire year -- not something
that will hold your interest for a week or two,
and then you bounce to something else.
Goal-setting empowers you.
Harness the power -- and make 2016 your
best year ever.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a good
one.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. The Dinosaur Files monthly newsletter will
help keep you focused on your training and on
achieving your goals for 2016. Start with the
December and January Issues -- available right
here with immediate electronic download:
a. The January issue
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
b. The December issue
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Set your sail for
the far horizon and steer a course to great
accomplishments." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Like many of you, I'm looking ahead to the
New Year.
In other words, I'm sharpening my pencils
and scribbling notes on paper as I outline
my workouts for the coming year.
Most people think about "resolutions" for
New Year.
I don't.
I think about training programs.
With the right training program, good things
happen.
Of course, the right program starts with the
right kind of goals. You start by establishing
your goals for the coming year, and then you
design a program to achieve them.
What do I mean by "the right kind of goals"?
The right kind of goals are:
1. Realistic, but challenging.
2. Difficult, but not impossible.
3. Not too hard, and not too difficult.
4. Objective and measurable.
a. Poundage goals or other performance
based goals are best.
5. Easy to put into words, such as:
a. I want to press my bodyweight.
b. 300/400/500.
c. I want to gain 20 pounds of muscle.
e. I want to lose 30 pounds of flab.
f. I want to set a new state record in the
squat.
g. I want to close the No. 2.5 gripper.
h. I want to ______________________ .
[Fill in the blank -- it should fit into the space
provided.]
6. No. 5 is important because you need to
internalize your goal and burn it into your
heart and mind.
a. You do that by thinking about it --
visualizing it -- repeating it -- or writing
it on notes.
b. You can't do any of those things if your
goal takes 10 pages to put on paper.
And most importantly --
7. Your goal needs to be something that
motivates and inspires you.
a. It has to be YOUR goal -- not someone
else's goal.
b. It has to be something you truly want
to achieve.
c. It has to be something that you will work
toward for the entire year -- not something
that will hold your interest for a week or two,
and then you bounce to something else.
Goal-setting empowers you.
Harness the power -- and make 2016 your
best year ever.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a good
one.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. The Dinosaur Files monthly newsletter will
help keep you focused on your training and on
achieving your goals for 2016. Start with the
December and January Issues -- available right
here with immediate electronic download:
a. The January issue
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
b. The December issue
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Set your sail for
the far horizon and steer a course to great
accomplishments." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The Night Before Christmas (Dinosaur Version)
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Christmas is almost here -- and that means that it's
time for the Night Before Christmas (Dinosaur Version).
This is another Christmas tradition for the Dinos -- and
one that I always enjoy sharing with you.
Hope you enjoy it!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
T’was the Night Before Christmas (Dinosaur Version)
T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the gym,
the lifters were lifting with vigor and vim.
They squatted so heavy the bars were all bending,
as they ground out the reps in the sets never ending.
They snatched and they pressed and they cleaned and they jerked,
until all of their muscles were thoroughly worked.
Then they ran to their sandbags and heaved them up high,
then heaved them again – right up into the sky!
When out in the back there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the rack to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave a luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a bag-flattened sleigh and unconscious reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
He was hopping and shouting and yelling and screaming.
He wasn’t just hot – he was totally steaming!
“You sandbagged my sled!” he cried in dismay.
“And that means you ruined the big Christmas day!
My toys are all broken, there’s no time to fix ‘em –
And look what you did to poor Prancer and Vixen!”
The lifters were flummoxed. “We’re sorry!” they cried.
And they picked up the reindeer and brought them inside.
“Quick!” someone shouted, “I know what to do!
We’ll whip up a batch of a high-powered brew!”
We started with milk and eggnog and eggs,
and added Hi Protein and poured it in kegs.
We tossed in some chocolate and ice cream for flavor,
Then added some honey, for reindeer to savor.
We mixed it together until it was ready,
Then lifted the reindeer and held them all steady.
We gave each performer three cups of the stuff,
Then added another to make it enough.
“It’s working!” cried Santa. “They’re coming around!
“That Hi Protein potion is the best to be found!”
He turned to his sled – we had fixed that as well –
if the toys could be fixed, then all would be well.
“There’s no time to do it,” said Nicholas, sadly.
“This is one trip that is turning out badly.”
The lifters were quiet and took all the blame,
And hung their heads lower in sorrow and shame.
Then Santa bent over and picked up a letter
That lay in the snow, getting wetter and wetter.
The letter said, “Santa, for Christmas I’d like
a whole lot of muscles. Your friend, Little Mike.”
“That’s perfect!” I cried. “Here’s a course for the kid!
We’ll send one to each of them!” And that’s what we did.
Each kid got a course and a full set of weights --
barbells, and dumbbells and squat stands and plates!
Now Santa was smiling – the good boys and girls
Would soon have their barbells for presses and curls!
The kids would be healthy and happy and strong –
For with barbells and dumbbells you never go wrong.
Santa sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
Christmas is almost here -- and that means that it's
time for the Night Before Christmas (Dinosaur Version).
This is another Christmas tradition for the Dinos -- and
one that I always enjoy sharing with you.
Hope you enjoy it!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
T’was the Night Before Christmas (Dinosaur Version)
T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the gym,
the lifters were lifting with vigor and vim.
They squatted so heavy the bars were all bending,
as they ground out the reps in the sets never ending.
They snatched and they pressed and they cleaned and they jerked,
until all of their muscles were thoroughly worked.
Then they ran to their sandbags and heaved them up high,
then heaved them again – right up into the sky!
When out in the back there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the rack to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave a luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
but a bag-flattened sleigh and unconscious reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
He was hopping and shouting and yelling and screaming.
He wasn’t just hot – he was totally steaming!
“You sandbagged my sled!” he cried in dismay.
“And that means you ruined the big Christmas day!
My toys are all broken, there’s no time to fix ‘em –
And look what you did to poor Prancer and Vixen!”
The lifters were flummoxed. “We’re sorry!” they cried.
And they picked up the reindeer and brought them inside.
“Quick!” someone shouted, “I know what to do!
We’ll whip up a batch of a high-powered brew!”
We started with milk and eggnog and eggs,
and added Hi Protein and poured it in kegs.
We tossed in some chocolate and ice cream for flavor,
Then added some honey, for reindeer to savor.
We mixed it together until it was ready,
Then lifted the reindeer and held them all steady.
We gave each performer three cups of the stuff,
Then added another to make it enough.
“It’s working!” cried Santa. “They’re coming around!
“That Hi Protein potion is the best to be found!”
He turned to his sled – we had fixed that as well –
if the toys could be fixed, then all would be well.
“There’s no time to do it,” said Nicholas, sadly.
“This is one trip that is turning out badly.”
The lifters were quiet and took all the blame,
And hung their heads lower in sorrow and shame.
Then Santa bent over and picked up a letter
That lay in the snow, getting wetter and wetter.
The letter said, “Santa, for Christmas I’d like
a whole lot of muscles. Your friend, Little Mike.”
“That’s perfect!” I cried. “Here’s a course for the kid!
We’ll send one to each of them!” And that’s what we did.
Each kid got a course and a full set of weights --
barbells, and dumbbells and squat stands and plates!
Now Santa was smiling – the good boys and girls
Would soon have their barbells for presses and curls!
The kids would be healthy and happy and strong –
For with barbells and dumbbells you never go wrong.
Santa sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
Here's Part 3 of the Dinosaur Christmas Story!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Here's Part 3 of The Dinosaur Christmas
Story for 2015:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-3.html
I hope you enjoy it!
In other Dino news, I'll send an email
later in the day with another of our
annual traditions -- the Dinosaur Version
of The Night Before Christmas. That's
always a lot of fun.
We're open for business, and our Kindle
e-books and digital delivery products
will make it anywhere in the world in time
for Christmas. The December and January
issues of The Dinosaur Files would make
great gifts if you're doing any last minute
shopping -- or if you just feel like giving
yourself something great to read.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
And here's the link for the December issue:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
Here's the link to the products page, where
you can find everything else:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an
email.
Otherwise, Merry Christmas -- and best
wishes for strength and health in 2016!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Here's Part 3 of The Dinosaur Christmas
Story for 2015:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-3.html
I hope you enjoy it!
In other Dino news, I'll send an email
later in the day with another of our
annual traditions -- the Dinosaur Version
of The Night Before Christmas. That's
always a lot of fun.
We're open for business, and our Kindle
e-books and digital delivery products
will make it anywhere in the world in time
for Christmas. The December and January
issues of The Dinosaur Files would make
great gifts if you're doing any last minute
shopping -- or if you just feel like giving
yourself something great to read.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
And here's the link for the December issue:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
Here's the link to the products page, where
you can find everything else:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an
email.
Otherwise, Merry Christmas -- and best
wishes for strength and health in 2016!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The Strongman's Christmas (Part 3)
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
This is part 3 of our 2015 Christmas Story. If you missed part1 1 and 2, go here to see them:
Part 1
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
Part 2
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-2.html
I also want to give you a heads up about another Christmas treat for the Dino Nation. On Physical Culture Radio yesterday, I read a six-part Dinosaur Christmas story that I wrote in 2011. It took the entire hour to finish the story, but it turned out great and it will be a real treat for everyone. I'll share the link as soon as I have it from my co-host, Carl Lanore.
And on a related note, be looking for the Dinosaur version of The Night Before Christmas. I'll share it later today.
Finally, if you're looking for a late Christmas present, we have 15 Dinosaur Training e-books available on Kindle, as well as several courses and the December and January issues of The Dinosaur Files newsletter available with digital delivery. You can find links to all of them right here on our products page; we have a special section with links to the Kindle e-books and another special section with links to our digital delivery products:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
Merry Christmas, everyone -- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
The Strongman's Christmas, Part 3
It was the strongman's last performance before Christmas, and it may have been his best of the year.
He lifted enormous, thick-handled barbells, stupendous dumbbells and massive kettle-bells.
He juggled 56-pound block weights.
Then he juggled his kettlebells.
And then he juggled two cannonballs.
He asked one of the stagehands to come onto the stage – a man weighing perhaps 140 or 150 pounds – and used the man to perform the Manual of Arms as easily as if he were holding an 8-pound rifle.
He broke chains with his bare hands – and snapped others by having them wrapped around his chest, and then breathing fast and deep, filling his lungs, and flexing every muscle in his upper body. The links of broken chain went flying across the stage and into the audience.
He twisted metal bars and horseshoes as if they were made of rubber.
Ten men from the audience came on stage, and he beat all ten of them at the same time in a tug of war.
He lifted 500 pounds with one finger.
He performed a back-lift with a specially constructed stage while 20 men from the audience stood on it.
The crowd loved it. They clapped and cheered louder and louder with each successive feat of strength.
But like any good showman, he saved the best for the last, ending his performance with a truly titanic feat of strength.
It began when six burly stagehands rolled an enormous globe barbell onto the stage. It lay in the center of the stage, huge, hulking, massive and menacing.
The strongman invited two men from the audience to step on stage and try to lift the bell. Two husky heroes accepted the invitation – and failed to budge it.
The strongman challenged four men to attempt to lift the barbell.
Two more men stepped onto the stage and cautiously approached the barbell.
One man bent down and wrapped his arms as far as possible around one of the globes.
The other man did the same.
The first two men grabbed the thick handled bar. Their hands could barely wrap around it.
“On the count of three!” said the strongman.
The men nodded and tightened their grips.
“One!”
The men gripped harder than ever.
“Two!”
The men barely dared to breathe.
“THREE!”
The four men heaved with all their might – but nothing happened.
For several long, agonizing seconds they pulled and strained – and then the man holding the left globe suddenly lost his grip and fell backwards – and then the man holding the other globe did the same – and then one of the men pulling against the bar fell forward – and the other man let go, stood up, and backed away, shaking his head.
“It’s impossible,” he said. “No man could lift this!”
“Stand aside – out of the way!”
The strongman approached the bar. With quick, sure, practiced movements, he reached down, levered it up on end, slipped his right hand under the center of the bar and dipped under it.
The audience gasped as the huge barbell rose up as if by magic.
The strongman smiled as the bar balanced on his shoulder.
He turned slightly, and began to lower his body, twisting himself under the barbell.
He finished in a deep squat, holding the massive weight overhead with one hand.
And then he stood up.
He finished the lift with the bar overhead – and smiled at the audience as he held it motionless.
And then, for good measure, he squatted down again, picked up a heavy kettlebell, rocked it to his other shoulder, stood up and pressed it overhead.
The crowd went wild.
Back in his dressing room, he showered, and changed back into his street clothes.
He had just finished tying his tie when he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
The door opened, and a well-dressed man stepped inside. He was middle-aged, with short, silver-gray hair, but he stood tall and straight, and moved with the grace of an athlete.
He held an engraved calling card in his hand, and passed it to the strongman, who glanced at it curiously.
His eyes opened in surprise and he read the card a second time.
“Let me come straight to the point,” said the stranger. “That was a magnificent performance this afternoon. Simply outstanding. You’re the very best strongman in the world – but you’re doing neither yourself nor the world any favors by performing in a place like this. I am prepared to offer you double whatever they’re paying you here – to tour the United States with my circus. I’ll give you a guaranteed one year contract and everything you need to perform your act.”
“Food and drink?”
“As much as you want.”
“I have two brothers – what about them?”
“Are they strong?’
“They’re my brothers. They’re strong.”
“Then I want them, too.”
The strongman nodded.
“There’s one more thing I want," he said.
“Name it.”
“There’s a boy down the street who sells hot roasted chestnuts. He’s an orphan – his parents died of the flu. I want you to hire him as well.”
“To do what?”
“He can sell chestnuts just as well in the circus as on the street corner.”
"They must be a special kind of chestnuts.”
The strongman shook his head.
“No – but he’s special kind of kid,” he said.
The circus owner nodded and extended his hand.
“It’s a deal,” he said.
The strongman reached out and offered his own massive hand.
“Deal,” he said.
As the men shook hands, there was another knock on the door.
"Come in!"
The blonde chorus girl stepped inside.
"Oh -- I'm sorry!" she said. "I didn't know you had company."
The circus owner bowed and smiled.
"Not at all," he said. "A mere business discussion -- and we've concluded it."
He turned back to the strongman.
"I'll have my lawyer draw up a contract and deliver it next week," he said. "And I wish you a merry Christmas!"
He left, leaving the door open.
The chorus girl turned to the strongman.
"I thought you might want to buy some chestnuts," she said. "You know -- from the kid. Just to help him get some food for Christmas."
The strongman shook his head.
"I think we'll take him to dinner instead," he said. "This is a Christmas he'll remember forever."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
He told her the news. She clapped her hands for sheer joy, threw herself against his powerful chest, crushed him in a hug and kissed him.
"That's the best Christmas present ever," she cried. "Let's go tell him!"
They stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind them, and then stepped through the big doors at the front of the theater and into the busy street.
The wind blew fiercely as they walked toward the boy at the chestnut stand. It battered the poster on the wall of the theater, a poster that proudly proclaimed: "FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT -- THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD -- THE STRONGMAN, ARTHUR SAXON!"
This is part 3 of our 2015 Christmas Story. If you missed part1 1 and 2, go here to see them:
Part 1
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
Part 2
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-2.html
I also want to give you a heads up about another Christmas treat for the Dino Nation. On Physical Culture Radio yesterday, I read a six-part Dinosaur Christmas story that I wrote in 2011. It took the entire hour to finish the story, but it turned out great and it will be a real treat for everyone. I'll share the link as soon as I have it from my co-host, Carl Lanore.
And on a related note, be looking for the Dinosaur version of The Night Before Christmas. I'll share it later today.
Finally, if you're looking for a late Christmas present, we have 15 Dinosaur Training e-books available on Kindle, as well as several courses and the December and January issues of The Dinosaur Files newsletter available with digital delivery. You can find links to all of them right here on our products page; we have a special section with links to the Kindle e-books and another special section with links to our digital delivery products:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
Merry Christmas, everyone -- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
The Strongman's Christmas, Part 3
It was the strongman's last performance before Christmas, and it may have been his best of the year.
He lifted enormous, thick-handled barbells, stupendous dumbbells and massive kettle-bells.
He juggled 56-pound block weights.
Then he juggled his kettlebells.
And then he juggled two cannonballs.
He asked one of the stagehands to come onto the stage – a man weighing perhaps 140 or 150 pounds – and used the man to perform the Manual of Arms as easily as if he were holding an 8-pound rifle.
He broke chains with his bare hands – and snapped others by having them wrapped around his chest, and then breathing fast and deep, filling his lungs, and flexing every muscle in his upper body. The links of broken chain went flying across the stage and into the audience.
He twisted metal bars and horseshoes as if they were made of rubber.
Ten men from the audience came on stage, and he beat all ten of them at the same time in a tug of war.
He lifted 500 pounds with one finger.
He performed a back-lift with a specially constructed stage while 20 men from the audience stood on it.
The crowd loved it. They clapped and cheered louder and louder with each successive feat of strength.
But like any good showman, he saved the best for the last, ending his performance with a truly titanic feat of strength.
It began when six burly stagehands rolled an enormous globe barbell onto the stage. It lay in the center of the stage, huge, hulking, massive and menacing.
The strongman invited two men from the audience to step on stage and try to lift the bell. Two husky heroes accepted the invitation – and failed to budge it.
The strongman challenged four men to attempt to lift the barbell.
Two more men stepped onto the stage and cautiously approached the barbell.
One man bent down and wrapped his arms as far as possible around one of the globes.
The other man did the same.
The first two men grabbed the thick handled bar. Their hands could barely wrap around it.
“On the count of three!” said the strongman.
The men nodded and tightened their grips.
“One!”
The men gripped harder than ever.
“Two!”
The men barely dared to breathe.
“THREE!”
The four men heaved with all their might – but nothing happened.
For several long, agonizing seconds they pulled and strained – and then the man holding the left globe suddenly lost his grip and fell backwards – and then the man holding the other globe did the same – and then one of the men pulling against the bar fell forward – and the other man let go, stood up, and backed away, shaking his head.
“It’s impossible,” he said. “No man could lift this!”
“Stand aside – out of the way!”
The strongman approached the bar. With quick, sure, practiced movements, he reached down, levered it up on end, slipped his right hand under the center of the bar and dipped under it.
The audience gasped as the huge barbell rose up as if by magic.
The strongman smiled as the bar balanced on his shoulder.
He turned slightly, and began to lower his body, twisting himself under the barbell.
He finished in a deep squat, holding the massive weight overhead with one hand.
And then he stood up.
He finished the lift with the bar overhead – and smiled at the audience as he held it motionless.
And then, for good measure, he squatted down again, picked up a heavy kettlebell, rocked it to his other shoulder, stood up and pressed it overhead.
The crowd went wild.
Back in his dressing room, he showered, and changed back into his street clothes.
He had just finished tying his tie when he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
The door opened, and a well-dressed man stepped inside. He was middle-aged, with short, silver-gray hair, but he stood tall and straight, and moved with the grace of an athlete.
He held an engraved calling card in his hand, and passed it to the strongman, who glanced at it curiously.
His eyes opened in surprise and he read the card a second time.
“Let me come straight to the point,” said the stranger. “That was a magnificent performance this afternoon. Simply outstanding. You’re the very best strongman in the world – but you’re doing neither yourself nor the world any favors by performing in a place like this. I am prepared to offer you double whatever they’re paying you here – to tour the United States with my circus. I’ll give you a guaranteed one year contract and everything you need to perform your act.”
“Food and drink?”
“As much as you want.”
“I have two brothers – what about them?”
“Are they strong?’
“They’re my brothers. They’re strong.”
“Then I want them, too.”
The strongman nodded.
“There’s one more thing I want," he said.
“Name it.”
“There’s a boy down the street who sells hot roasted chestnuts. He’s an orphan – his parents died of the flu. I want you to hire him as well.”
“To do what?”
“He can sell chestnuts just as well in the circus as on the street corner.”
"They must be a special kind of chestnuts.”
The strongman shook his head.
“No – but he’s special kind of kid,” he said.
The circus owner nodded and extended his hand.
“It’s a deal,” he said.
The strongman reached out and offered his own massive hand.
“Deal,” he said.
As the men shook hands, there was another knock on the door.
"Come in!"
The blonde chorus girl stepped inside.
"Oh -- I'm sorry!" she said. "I didn't know you had company."
The circus owner bowed and smiled.
"Not at all," he said. "A mere business discussion -- and we've concluded it."
He turned back to the strongman.
"I'll have my lawyer draw up a contract and deliver it next week," he said. "And I wish you a merry Christmas!"
He left, leaving the door open.
The chorus girl turned to the strongman.
"I thought you might want to buy some chestnuts," she said. "You know -- from the kid. Just to help him get some food for Christmas."
The strongman shook his head.
"I think we'll take him to dinner instead," he said. "This is a Christmas he'll remember forever."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
He told her the news. She clapped her hands for sheer joy, threw herself against his powerful chest, crushed him in a hug and kissed him.
"That's the best Christmas present ever," she cried. "Let's go tell him!"
They stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind them, and then stepped through the big doors at the front of the theater and into the busy street.
The wind blew fiercely as they walked toward the boy at the chestnut stand. It battered the poster on the wall of the theater, a poster that proudly proclaimed: "FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT -- THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD -- THE STRONGMAN, ARTHUR SAXON!"
The Dinosaur Christmas Story -- And More!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Three quick notes -- but they're all
very important.
1. The Dinosaur Christmas Story.
Here's part 2 of the Dinosaur Christmas
Story for 2015:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-2.html
We'll run part 3 of the story tomorrow.
I hope you're enjoying it.
Have you figured out who the strongman
is?
2. Phyiscal Culture Radio.
We're doing something new and different
on Physical Culture Radio today. I'm going
to read one of my favorite Dinosaur
Christmas Stories from several years ago.
The whole show will be the Christmas
Story -- and it will be a good one.
Physical Culture Radio is part of the
SuperHuman Radio network -- and you
can find us right here at 12:00 EST
every Thursday:
http://superhumanradio.com/
If you miss the live show, catch the
download later on.
This is going to be a terrific show. I don't
think any other strength training podcasts
have ever featured anyone reading an
original Christmas story -- and I have to
tell you, it's a heck of a story.
3. The January Dinosaur Files.
We've released the January issue of the
Dinosaur Files -- and Dinos around the
world are grabbing the little monster.
And they're LOVING it. We're getting rave
reviews.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Of course, if you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start there
first. Go here to grab it:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an email.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses -- and my
Dinosaur Training DVD's -- and links to my
Kindle e-books -- are right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S.2. Thought for the Day: "Train hard. Train
heavy. Train smart. Train with full focus and
total concentration. You won't believe the
results." -- Brooks Kubik
************************************************************************************
Three quick notes -- but they're all
very important.
1. The Dinosaur Christmas Story.
Here's part 2 of the Dinosaur Christmas
Story for 2015:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-2.html
We'll run part 3 of the story tomorrow.
I hope you're enjoying it.
Have you figured out who the strongman
is?
2. Phyiscal Culture Radio.
We're doing something new and different
on Physical Culture Radio today. I'm going
to read one of my favorite Dinosaur
Christmas Stories from several years ago.
The whole show will be the Christmas
Story -- and it will be a good one.
Physical Culture Radio is part of the
SuperHuman Radio network -- and you
can find us right here at 12:00 EST
every Thursday:
http://superhumanradio.com/
If you miss the live show, catch the
download later on.
This is going to be a terrific show. I don't
think any other strength training podcasts
have ever featured anyone reading an
original Christmas story -- and I have to
tell you, it's a heck of a story.
3. The January Dinosaur Files.
We've released the January issue of the
Dinosaur Files -- and Dinos around the
world are grabbing the little monster.
And they're LOVING it. We're getting rave
reviews.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Of course, if you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start there
first. Go here to grab it:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an email.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses -- and my
Dinosaur Training DVD's -- and links to my
Kindle e-books -- are right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S.2. Thought for the Day: "Train hard. Train
heavy. Train smart. Train with full focus and
total concentration. You won't believe the
results." -- Brooks Kubik
************************************************************************************
Training Tips from 35 Dinosaurs!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
I just went through the January issue
of the Dinosaur Files (which we released
yesterday), and found something very
interesting.
The January issue features training advice,
tips, comments, suggestions and feedback
from 35 of your fellow Dinosaurs.
It also includes plenty of tips and training
advice from me -- as well as tips, advice,
and suggestions from or about:
1. Legendary Iron Game author Bradley J.
Steiner
2. Oldtime Strongman and Physical Culture
Director, Thomas Inch (yes, the very same
Thomas Inch who owned the "Unliftable
Dumbbell")
3. Olympic wrestling champion Henry
Wittenberg
4. Olympic Weightlifting coach Bob Hoffman
(who is featured in a detailed interview)
5. Two-time Olympic champion (and six time
World weightlifting champion) John Davis
6. Olympic Champion and medalist in
four different Olympics, Norb Schemansky
7. Four-time Olympic gold medal winner
in the discus, Al Oerter
8. Hardgainer author and Master's power-
lifter, Dr. Keith Hartman
9. Engineer, Master's powerlifter and inventer
of the Gerard Trap Bar, Al Gerard
10. Master's bodybuilder and author, Clarence
Bass
That's a heck of a lot of training advice --
from a variety of different sources. And that's
what I love about The Dinosaur Files. It's a
place where Dinos can get together and share
real world training advice. Meaning the stuff
that really works.
Think about it.
Training tips from 35 Dinos. Plus 10 other
famous champions and recognized experts.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab the January issue of The
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Note: If you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start
with that issue:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Never stop
training and never stop learning." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
I just went through the January issue
of the Dinosaur Files (which we released
yesterday), and found something very
interesting.
The January issue features training advice,
tips, comments, suggestions and feedback
from 35 of your fellow Dinosaurs.
It also includes plenty of tips and training
advice from me -- as well as tips, advice,
and suggestions from or about:
1. Legendary Iron Game author Bradley J.
Steiner
2. Oldtime Strongman and Physical Culture
Director, Thomas Inch (yes, the very same
Thomas Inch who owned the "Unliftable
Dumbbell")
3. Olympic wrestling champion Henry
Wittenberg
4. Olympic Weightlifting coach Bob Hoffman
(who is featured in a detailed interview)
5. Two-time Olympic champion (and six time
World weightlifting champion) John Davis
6. Olympic Champion and medalist in
four different Olympics, Norb Schemansky
7. Four-time Olympic gold medal winner
in the discus, Al Oerter
8. Hardgainer author and Master's power-
lifter, Dr. Keith Hartman
9. Engineer, Master's powerlifter and inventer
of the Gerard Trap Bar, Al Gerard
10. Master's bodybuilder and author, Clarence
Bass
That's a heck of a lot of training advice --
from a variety of different sources. And that's
what I love about The Dinosaur Files. It's a
place where Dinos can get together and share
real world training advice. Meaning the stuff
that really works.
Think about it.
Training tips from 35 Dinos. Plus 10 other
famous champions and recognized experts.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab the January issue of The
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Note: If you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start
with that issue:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Never stop
training and never stop learning." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The Strongman's Christmas (Part 2)
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Every year I share a Christmas story with readers. It's an annual tradition here at Dino Headquarters -- along with our Dino Christmas tree, watching "White Christmas" (my dad's favorite Christmas movie), and doing lots of heavy leg and back work out in the garage.
This is part two of this year's Christmas story. I posted part one on Monday -- if you missed it, follow this link and read part 1 first:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
The Strongman's Christmas (Part Two)
He got back to the theater early, and went back stage to his small dressing room.
He took off his heavy coat, and hung it on the hook on the wall.
He placed his hat on the dressing table, and laid his thick, warm leather gloves next to it.
There was a sharp knock at the door, followed by a high-pitched female voice.
“Are you decent?” the voice asked.
He sighed, and shook his head. Maria always asked that question when she knocked on his door. She always made it sound more than a little hopeful – as if she hoped he was disrobing when she knocked on his door.
“I’m dressed,” he called. “Come in!”
He could have sworn he heard a small sigh of disappointment from behind the door.
The door opened and a chorus girl with blonde curls and nice curves stepped into the dressing room.
“I brought you something,” she said. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“That was kind of you!” he said. “It smells good. What is it?”
“Chestnuts. Hot roasted chestnuts. I bought them from the little boy who runs the stand down the street.”
That caught his attention!
“A short little boy – about so tall?”
He held his hand out, palm down, indicating the boy’s height.
She nodded.
“Pale, white skin – no gloves – wears an old jacket that’s ripped and torn? Old black hat that’s two sizes too big for him?”
She nodded again.
“Do you know him?”
He nodded.
“My hat ran away on a gust of wind earlier today,” he said. “He found it for me. And he wouldn’t accept a penny for helping me – so I bought a bag of chestnuts from him. It was the least I could do.”
“That’s funny,” she said.
“What – that my hat blew off?”
“No – that he found it for you and wouldn’t accept any sort of payment. The very same thing happened to me. Not with my hat – but with my favorite silver brooch. You know the one -- it was my mother's. I don't know how I lost it. But he found it, and brought it to me. And he wouldn’t accept any kind of payment.”
“He seems like a good kid.”
She nodded.
“Yeah, he does, doesn’t he?” she said. “I just wish things weren’t so tough for him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s an orphan. His parents died in the flu epidemic a few years ago. He’s been living on the streets ever since. I don’t know where he sleeps. I think he has some kind of hiding place somewhere. I just hope it's warm. It must be really cold outside in the winter!”
“How do you know about him?”
“He told me. We talk sometimes. I try to buy chestnuts from him whenever I can. Just to help out. He won’t take any handouts.”
He smiled.
“You’re getting a good bargain. They’re good chestnuts.”
She dropped her hands to her hips, moving them up and down in a sort of halfhearted slimming gesture.
“I don’t eat them,” she said, quickly (perhaps a little too quickly). “A girl has to watch her figure – you know how it is!”
He chuckled. Maria seemed so concerned – and really, there was no reason at all for her to feel that way. She was stunning. They always were. He’d spent his whole life working in vaudeville and circuses, performing his strongman act. The chorus girls were always stunning – but they always worried about “watching their figures”!
“I wish there were some way to really help him,” said the strongman. “Something more than just buying chestnuts from him.”
Maria shook her head.
“There’s nothing else to do,” she said. “I don’t have much, but I’ve tried to give him money. He won’t take it. Not a penny. ”
The strongman nodded slowly. He understood.
“He won’t take charity. He know he has to make his own way in life. He'll work for money, and he'll sell chestnuts to you, but that's all."
Now it was Maria's turn to nod her head in understanding. He was right.
“That’s what I had to do,” she said.
He leaned forward and kissed the top her head.
“Me, too,” he said. “It’s what we all had to do. All of us who perform for a living. We all have the same story.”
A young stagehand popped his head around the side of the door. He had red hair and freckles, and was chewing a huge wad of gum.
“Curtain call in thirty minutes!” he said. “You’d better start to get ready!”
The chorus girl turned and stuck out her tongue.
“You’re worse than the stage manager,” she said.
“I know!” laughed the stagehand. “That’s why you love me so much!”
She laughed.
"You think all the girls love you!"
"No, just you! That's why we're getting married."
“Married? Hell will freeze over before I marry you!"
“Then I’m in luck!” countered the stagehand. “”As cold as it is, that just might happen!”
He turned and headed down the hall, whistling a popular love-song.
The chorus girl turned back to the strongman.
“I have to go now,” she said. “I need to get dressed.”
He nodded.
“Me, too.”
“I’d like to stay,” she said. “I mean – to talk. You know. But I gotta get changed.”
He nodded.
“Duty calls. The show must go on.”
“Yeah – something like that.”
Maria girl turned. left the room and walked down the hall to the dancer’s dressing room.
The strongman closed the door, and started to change into his costume. As he did, he thought about the little boy who made a living by selling hot roasted chestnuts. There must be some way to help him!
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
***********************************************************************************
Every year I share a Christmas story with readers. It's an annual tradition here at Dino Headquarters -- along with our Dino Christmas tree, watching "White Christmas" (my dad's favorite Christmas movie), and doing lots of heavy leg and back work out in the garage.
This is part two of this year's Christmas story. I posted part one on Monday -- if you missed it, follow this link and read part 1 first:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
The Strongman's Christmas (Part Two)
He got back to the theater early, and went back stage to his small dressing room.
He took off his heavy coat, and hung it on the hook on the wall.
He placed his hat on the dressing table, and laid his thick, warm leather gloves next to it.
There was a sharp knock at the door, followed by a high-pitched female voice.
“Are you decent?” the voice asked.
He sighed, and shook his head. Maria always asked that question when she knocked on his door. She always made it sound more than a little hopeful – as if she hoped he was disrobing when she knocked on his door.
“I’m dressed,” he called. “Come in!”
He could have sworn he heard a small sigh of disappointment from behind the door.
The door opened and a chorus girl with blonde curls and nice curves stepped into the dressing room.
“I brought you something,” she said. “I thought you might be hungry.”
“That was kind of you!” he said. “It smells good. What is it?”
“Chestnuts. Hot roasted chestnuts. I bought them from the little boy who runs the stand down the street.”
That caught his attention!
“A short little boy – about so tall?”
He held his hand out, palm down, indicating the boy’s height.
She nodded.
“Pale, white skin – no gloves – wears an old jacket that’s ripped and torn? Old black hat that’s two sizes too big for him?”
She nodded again.
“Do you know him?”
He nodded.
“My hat ran away on a gust of wind earlier today,” he said. “He found it for me. And he wouldn’t accept a penny for helping me – so I bought a bag of chestnuts from him. It was the least I could do.”
“That’s funny,” she said.
“What – that my hat blew off?”
“No – that he found it for you and wouldn’t accept any sort of payment. The very same thing happened to me. Not with my hat – but with my favorite silver brooch. You know the one -- it was my mother's. I don't know how I lost it. But he found it, and brought it to me. And he wouldn’t accept any kind of payment.”
“He seems like a good kid.”
She nodded.
“Yeah, he does, doesn’t he?” she said. “I just wish things weren’t so tough for him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s an orphan. His parents died in the flu epidemic a few years ago. He’s been living on the streets ever since. I don’t know where he sleeps. I think he has some kind of hiding place somewhere. I just hope it's warm. It must be really cold outside in the winter!”
“How do you know about him?”
“He told me. We talk sometimes. I try to buy chestnuts from him whenever I can. Just to help out. He won’t take any handouts.”
He smiled.
“You’re getting a good bargain. They’re good chestnuts.”
She dropped her hands to her hips, moving them up and down in a sort of halfhearted slimming gesture.
“I don’t eat them,” she said, quickly (perhaps a little too quickly). “A girl has to watch her figure – you know how it is!”
He chuckled. Maria seemed so concerned – and really, there was no reason at all for her to feel that way. She was stunning. They always were. He’d spent his whole life working in vaudeville and circuses, performing his strongman act. The chorus girls were always stunning – but they always worried about “watching their figures”!
“I wish there were some way to really help him,” said the strongman. “Something more than just buying chestnuts from him.”
Maria shook her head.
“There’s nothing else to do,” she said. “I don’t have much, but I’ve tried to give him money. He won’t take it. Not a penny. ”
The strongman nodded slowly. He understood.
“He won’t take charity. He know he has to make his own way in life. He'll work for money, and he'll sell chestnuts to you, but that's all."
Now it was Maria's turn to nod her head in understanding. He was right.
“That’s what I had to do,” she said.
He leaned forward and kissed the top her head.
“Me, too,” he said. “It’s what we all had to do. All of us who perform for a living. We all have the same story.”
A young stagehand popped his head around the side of the door. He had red hair and freckles, and was chewing a huge wad of gum.
“Curtain call in thirty minutes!” he said. “You’d better start to get ready!”
The chorus girl turned and stuck out her tongue.
“You’re worse than the stage manager,” she said.
“I know!” laughed the stagehand. “That’s why you love me so much!”
She laughed.
"You think all the girls love you!"
"No, just you! That's why we're getting married."
“Married? Hell will freeze over before I marry you!"
“Then I’m in luck!” countered the stagehand. “”As cold as it is, that just might happen!”
He turned and headed down the hall, whistling a popular love-song.
The chorus girl turned back to the strongman.
“I have to go now,” she said. “I need to get dressed.”
He nodded.
“Me, too.”
“I’d like to stay,” she said. “I mean – to talk. You know. But I gotta get changed.”
He nodded.
“Duty calls. The show must go on.”
“Yeah – something like that.”
Maria girl turned. left the room and walked down the hall to the dancer’s dressing room.
The strongman closed the door, and started to change into his costume. As he did, he thought about the little boy who made a living by selling hot roasted chestnuts. There must be some way to help him!
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
***********************************************************************************
Take a Look Inside the January Dinosaur Files!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
We released the January issue of The
Dinosaur Files yesterday, and Dinos
have been snatching it up right and
left.
The new electronic delivery feature is
a huge help for everyone -- it saves us
days of time compared to filling orders
for hard copy issues, and it gets the
Dinosaur Files to you immediately.
We're actually getting feedback from
readers in Europe and Australia, so
that shows you just how fast the
delivery is.
For anyone who has not ordered the
little monster, here's the Table of
Contents. As you can see, there's
a TON of information -- which is why
the issue is well over 30 pages long:
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Mesozoic Mail
Jurassic Jottings
Training Advice from Bob Hoffman:
The Split Style Snatch (by Brooks Kubik)
Playing on the Edge (by Allan Roth)
Safe and Effective Lower Body
Training for Older Dinos -- No One
Size Fits All! (by Brooks Kubik)
My Experience with Cycling Systems
for Strength and Power (by Peter
Jensen)
Cardio Training for Dinosaurs (by
Gordon Ruth)
The Effect of Limited Cardio Training
on My Strength Training Program
(by Nik Hawks)
My Limited Space Home Gym and
How I Use It (by John Pratt)
Getting Ready for the New Year of
Hard and Heavy Training
(by Brooks Kubik)
The Wrap-Up
As I said, there's a TON of information
in this issue. Maybe even two tons. And it's
all real world, no-nonsense information.
None of the silly stuff you see everywhere
else.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Of course, if you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start there
first:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an email.
And please let me know how you like this issue
of The Dinosaur Files, and what we can do to
make the next issue even better!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses -- and my
Dinosaur Training DVD's -- and links to my
Kindle e-books -- are right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you have a Christmas order, get it in now
and we'll do our best to get it to you before
the big day.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "It doesn't matter
if you've been naughty or nice this year -- you
still get to read the Dinosaur Files!" -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
We released the January issue of The
Dinosaur Files yesterday, and Dinos
have been snatching it up right and
left.
The new electronic delivery feature is
a huge help for everyone -- it saves us
days of time compared to filling orders
for hard copy issues, and it gets the
Dinosaur Files to you immediately.
We're actually getting feedback from
readers in Europe and Australia, so
that shows you just how fast the
delivery is.
For anyone who has not ordered the
little monster, here's the Table of
Contents. As you can see, there's
a TON of information -- which is why
the issue is well over 30 pages long:
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Mesozoic Mail
Jurassic Jottings
Training Advice from Bob Hoffman:
The Split Style Snatch (by Brooks Kubik)
Playing on the Edge (by Allan Roth)
Safe and Effective Lower Body
Training for Older Dinos -- No One
Size Fits All! (by Brooks Kubik)
My Experience with Cycling Systems
for Strength and Power (by Peter
Jensen)
Cardio Training for Dinosaurs (by
Gordon Ruth)
The Effect of Limited Cardio Training
on My Strength Training Program
(by Nik Hawks)
My Limited Space Home Gym and
How I Use It (by John Pratt)
Getting Ready for the New Year of
Hard and Heavy Training
(by Brooks Kubik)
The Wrap-Up
As I said, there's a TON of information
in this issue. Maybe even two tons. And it's
all real world, no-nonsense information.
None of the silly stuff you see everywhere
else.
Go here to grab your copy of the January
Dinosaur Files:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_januaryr2016.html
Of course, if you missed the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files, you should start there
first:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
If you have any questions, shoot me an email.
And please let me know how you like this issue
of The Dinosaur Files, and what we can do to
make the next issue even better!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses -- and my
Dinosaur Training DVD's -- and links to my
Kindle e-books -- are right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you have a Christmas order, get it in now
and we'll do our best to get it to you before
the big day.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "It doesn't matter
if you've been naughty or nice this year -- you
still get to read the Dinosaur Files!" -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Here It Is -- The January Dinosaur Files!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
We've been working like crazy to finish
the January issue of The Dinosaur Files
before Christmas.
I know that's a little early, but I wanted
to get it finished as an early Christmas
present to the Dino Nation.
And frankly, it's a pretty good present.
It's a great issue, with tons of articles
from me and from your fellow Dinos.
It's another BIG issue -- over 30 pages.
And it has a cover photo that is just
absolutely killer.
Best of all, it comes with immediate
electronic delivery.
Go here to grab the little monster:
We've been working like crazy to finish
the January issue of The Dinosaur Files
before Christmas.
I know that's a little early, but I wanted
to get it finished as an early Christmas
present to the Dino Nation.
And frankly, it's a pretty good present.
It's a great issue, with tons of articles
from me and from your fellow Dinos.
It's another BIG issue -- over 30 pages.
And it has a cover photo that is just
absolutely killer.
Best of all, it comes with immediate
electronic delivery.
Go here to grab the little monster:
Happy reading -- and be sure to send
me an email and let me know how you
like this issue of The Dinosaur Files.
me an email and let me know how you
like this issue of The Dinosaur Files.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
The Dinosaur Christmas Story, Part 1
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
The Dinosaur Christmas story is a holiday
tradition here at Dino Headquarters -- and
it's always a big favorite with the Dinos.
I'm posting this year's Christmas Story at
the Dinosaur Training Blog.
Here's the link to Part 1:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
In other news, there's still time to get those
Christmas orders in. We ship books and DVDs
by Priority Mail, so they should make it to you
before Christmas if you are in the USA -- but
you need to place your order now.
And finally, we have something new and
fun for you -- with electronic delivery, so
shipping won't be a concern. Look for the
big announcement later today.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Chalk and Sweat has 50 terrific workouts
for beginners, intermediates, and advanced
Dinos -- as well as leg and back specialization
programs to build Herculean strength and muscle
mass as fast as possible:
http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Chestnuts roasting
on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose --
and squats. Lots of squats." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The Dinosaur Christmas story is a holiday
tradition here at Dino Headquarters -- and
it's always a big favorite with the Dinos.
I'm posting this year's Christmas Story at
the Dinosaur Training Blog.
Here's the link to Part 1:
http://dinosaurtraining.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-strongmans-christmas-part-1.html
In other news, there's still time to get those
Christmas orders in. We ship books and DVDs
by Priority Mail, so they should make it to you
before Christmas if you are in the USA -- but
you need to place your order now.
And finally, we have something new and
fun for you -- with electronic delivery, so
shipping won't be a concern. Look for the
big announcement later today.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Chalk and Sweat has 50 terrific workouts
for beginners, intermediates, and advanced
Dinos -- as well as leg and back specialization
programs to build Herculean strength and muscle
mass as fast as possible:
http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Chestnuts roasting
on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose --
and squats. Lots of squats." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
The Strongman's Christmas (Part 1)
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
The Dinosaur Christmas Story is a holiday tradition here at Dinosaur Training Headquarters. This is part one of the Christmas Story. Be looking for parts 2 and 3 tomorrow and the next day.
On Christmas Eve we'll share another Dinosaur Christmas tradition -- the ever-popular Dinosaur version of The Night Before Christmas.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Dinos everywhere! I hope you make 2016 the best year ever for strength and health.
Brooks Kubik
THE STRONGMAN’S CHRISTMAS
Part One
“BRRRR! It’s cold.”
The broad-shouldered man slapped his gloved hands together as he stepped out of the theatre and into the cold.
A sharp gust of wind hit him full force, almost pushing him backward despite his size and weight.
He lowered his head and shoulders and pushed his way forward, fighting against the cold and the wind. His hotel was seven and a half city-blocks from the theater. Even under his heavy German coat, he’d be half-frozen by the time he got there.
At least there would be a hot meal waiting for him when he reached the hotel.
He had gone about three blocks when another gust of wind tore his hat from his head and sent it sailing across the street and down the sidewalk.
It was an expensive hat. He didn’t relish the thought of losing it. Nor did he relish the thought of completing his trek with a bare head. Not on a day like this, when the wind blew out of the north with the full force and fury of an arctic gale.
And besides, he kept something very special inside the hat. His good luck charm. It wouldn’t do to lose a good luck charm.
He darted across the street, moving with amazing speed for a big man. But his hat was nowhere to be found.
He stopped, stood and looked down the sidewalk.
Where could it be?
He walked up and down the sidewalk, peering into every nook and cranny where the offending bowler might have hidden itself.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
He growled in frustration, muttering faint words in German.
“Dumbkopf!” he said. “You should have kept your hand on your head.”
He came to the entrance to a dark alley. Perhaps the hat was there.
He stepped into the alley, choosing his steps carefully to avoid the mud, the dirt, the filth and the garbage.
Ten steps into the alley, he stopped and shook his head in resignation. If the hat was here, it was as good as gone anyway. It would be ruined in any case.
He turned and retraced his steps.
Once he was back on the sidewalk, he took one last look up and down the sidewalk, then sighed, shook his head a final time, and turned toward his hotel.
He had taken perhaps a dozen steps when he felt a small hand tugging at the sleeve of his coat.
“Here, Mister,” said a young boy. “Here’s your hat.”
The boy held the hat in his pale, white hand, gloveless against the cold, and doubtless half-frozen.
The man reached down, took the hat in hand, turned it over, and peered inside.
His good luck charm was gone!
The small boy held up his other hand.
“This fell out of it, Mister,” he said.
He held up a small gold medal on a blue ribbon.
The man took the medal, and held it in his hand, feeling its weight, and reading its words. He already knew them, of course. He had read the inscription so many times since the day the King had pinned the medal on his massive chest.
“Thank you,” he said.
He reached in his pocket, and pulled out a handful of change.
The boy shook his head.
“No, Mister,” he said. “You don’t need to do that. I was just -- just being being a good Christian.”
He looked small and tired and hungry -- and very cold. His teeth chattered as he spoke.
The man looked at the boy silently.
“But you did me a kindness,” he said. “I should repay you.”
Once again, the boy shook his head.
“No, Sir,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right to take money for doing a kindness.”
“You must let me do something! This hat is very expensive – and this medal is – is very special to me.”
“Do you like chestnuts?’ asked the boy.
The man nodded.
“I sell hot chestnuts,” said the boy.
It was a way to repay a kindness.
“I’d like to buy some,” said the man.
“It’s right over there,” said the boy. “Where I sell them, I mean. That’s where your hat blew. That’s how I found it.”
“Thank you for being there,” said the man. "You must be my guardian angel."
Despite the cold, the boy smiled.
"Naw, I'm just -- just the kid who sells hot chestnuts," he said. "But I'm glad I grabbed your hat before it blew all the way to China."
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Dinosaur Christmas Story is a holiday tradition here at Dinosaur Training Headquarters. This is part one of the Christmas Story. Be looking for parts 2 and 3 tomorrow and the next day.
On Christmas Eve we'll share another Dinosaur Christmas tradition -- the ever-popular Dinosaur version of The Night Before Christmas.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Dinos everywhere! I hope you make 2016 the best year ever for strength and health.
Brooks Kubik
THE STRONGMAN’S CHRISTMAS
Part One
“BRRRR! It’s cold.”
The broad-shouldered man slapped his gloved hands together as he stepped out of the theatre and into the cold.
A sharp gust of wind hit him full force, almost pushing him backward despite his size and weight.
He lowered his head and shoulders and pushed his way forward, fighting against the cold and the wind. His hotel was seven and a half city-blocks from the theater. Even under his heavy German coat, he’d be half-frozen by the time he got there.
At least there would be a hot meal waiting for him when he reached the hotel.
He had gone about three blocks when another gust of wind tore his hat from his head and sent it sailing across the street and down the sidewalk.
It was an expensive hat. He didn’t relish the thought of losing it. Nor did he relish the thought of completing his trek with a bare head. Not on a day like this, when the wind blew out of the north with the full force and fury of an arctic gale.
And besides, he kept something very special inside the hat. His good luck charm. It wouldn’t do to lose a good luck charm.
He darted across the street, moving with amazing speed for a big man. But his hat was nowhere to be found.
He stopped, stood and looked down the sidewalk.
Where could it be?
He walked up and down the sidewalk, peering into every nook and cranny where the offending bowler might have hidden itself.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
He growled in frustration, muttering faint words in German.
“Dumbkopf!” he said. “You should have kept your hand on your head.”
He came to the entrance to a dark alley. Perhaps the hat was there.
He stepped into the alley, choosing his steps carefully to avoid the mud, the dirt, the filth and the garbage.
Ten steps into the alley, he stopped and shook his head in resignation. If the hat was here, it was as good as gone anyway. It would be ruined in any case.
He turned and retraced his steps.
Once he was back on the sidewalk, he took one last look up and down the sidewalk, then sighed, shook his head a final time, and turned toward his hotel.
He had taken perhaps a dozen steps when he felt a small hand tugging at the sleeve of his coat.
“Here, Mister,” said a young boy. “Here’s your hat.”
The boy held the hat in his pale, white hand, gloveless against the cold, and doubtless half-frozen.
The man reached down, took the hat in hand, turned it over, and peered inside.
His good luck charm was gone!
The small boy held up his other hand.
“This fell out of it, Mister,” he said.
He held up a small gold medal on a blue ribbon.
The man took the medal, and held it in his hand, feeling its weight, and reading its words. He already knew them, of course. He had read the inscription so many times since the day the King had pinned the medal on his massive chest.
“Thank you,” he said.
He reached in his pocket, and pulled out a handful of change.
The boy shook his head.
“No, Mister,” he said. “You don’t need to do that. I was just -- just being being a good Christian.”
He looked small and tired and hungry -- and very cold. His teeth chattered as he spoke.
The man looked at the boy silently.
“But you did me a kindness,” he said. “I should repay you.”
Once again, the boy shook his head.
“No, Sir,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right to take money for doing a kindness.”
“You must let me do something! This hat is very expensive – and this medal is – is very special to me.”
“Do you like chestnuts?’ asked the boy.
The man nodded.
“I sell hot chestnuts,” said the boy.
It was a way to repay a kindness.
“I’d like to buy some,” said the man.
“It’s right over there,” said the boy. “Where I sell them, I mean. That’s where your hat blew. That’s how I found it.”
“Thank you for being there,” said the man. "You must be my guardian angel."
Despite the cold, the boy smiled.
"Naw, I'm just -- just the kid who sells hot chestnuts," he said. "But I'm glad I grabbed your hat before it blew all the way to China."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Have You Seen These?
 |
| Philadelphia's Louis Abele was one of the world's strongest men in the late 1930's and early 1940's. He did it Dino-style -- with hard work and heavy iron. |
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Over the past year, we've been super busy,
and we've launched a ton of great new
training materials for you, including the
first three courses in a series of courses
that I'll be doing in 2015 and 2016.
The new courses update and expand
on everything I covered in Dinosaur
Training when I launched the little
monster back in 1996. They also
cover topics that I wasn't able to
include in Dinosaur Training, and
answer some of the common questions
that readers have had over the years.
They've been super popular with the
Dinosaurs -- and they've all been in
the Amazon Kindle Top 10 list in their
category -- and two of them have
been Amazon Kindle No. 1 in their
category.
Many Dinos have all three of the new
courses, but some don't -- and some
of you may not even know about them --
so I thought I'd give you a brief report
on them.
1. Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 1
This course covers exercises, sets, reps,
workouts, and training programs for
Dinosaurs. It's great for new Dinosaurs,
and it's a great refresher for longtime
Dinos.
It's available in hard-copy, Kindle
e-book or a PDF with immediate
electronic delivery.
Hard-copy
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets_01.html
Kindle e-book
http://brookskubik.com/dinosaursecrets01_kindle.html
PDF with electronic delivery
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaursecrets_vol1_digital.html
2. Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 2
This is the "How Strong Are You?" course. It
gives you real world, no nonsense DRUG FREE
strength standards in a wide variety of exercises
and lifts -- and then teaches you how to calculate
personalized standards based on your age and
bodyweight.
The strength standards also help assure that
you train for balanced development -- because
if you hit the top level on all of the different
exercises and lifts, you'll not only BE strong,
but you'll look like Hercules!
Hard-copy
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets_02.html
Kindle e-book
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets2_kindle.html
PDF with electronic delivery
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaursecrets_vol2_digital.html
3. Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 3
This is one of the most important and most
beneficial courses I've ever done. It teaches
you how to use old-school progression methods
for fast and steady gains in strength, muscle
and power.
In other words, it gives you a variety of
different progression systems that allow
you to make steady progress without
going stale, over-training, or setting
yourself up for an injury. And that's
the Holy Grail of Strength Training.
Hard-copy
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets_03.html
Kindle e-book
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets3_kindle.html
PDF with electronic delivery
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaursecrets_vol3_digital.html
NOTE: You also can order all three courses
together as Kindle e-books or as PDF's with
electronic delivery.
All 3 courses -- Kindle e-book
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016QAEIQE/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
All 3 courses -- PDF with electronic delivery
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaursecrets_vol123_digital.html
Any questions, shoot me an email!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
"How Much Can You Press?" He Asked
 |
| John Grimek shows his form in the military press. Grimek set official American records in the military press and on several occasions set unofficial World records in the lift. |
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
When I was in sixth grade, some of the
guys started to get hold of those 110-
pound barbell sets they used to sell.
In fact, most of us had one.
Some of us got them as birthday or
Christmas presents.
Others saved their money from cutting
people's grass in the summer and raking
leaves in the fall -- or from their newspaper
route -- or their weekly allowance.
One guy collected green stamps for an
entire year, and finally had enough of
them to get a barbell set.
And many of us got a free barbell from
an older brother who no longer used the
thing. In fact, that was probably the most
common way to get one. There were an
amazing number of older brothers who
started barbell training -- and then
stopped soon after and left the barbell
gathering dust somewhere.
Anyhow, there we were. all of 10 or
11 years old, and we all had access
to a barbell set somewhere or other.
So the question of the day became:
"How much can you press?"
Sometimes the question was "How
much can you lift?" -- but it was the
same thing, because the curl and the
press were the only exercises we knew,
and somehow we realized that you had
to lift the barbell over your head in
order for it to count as a lift.
I'd been training for awhile, and I could
only press 40 pounds.
I felt bad because all of my buddies could
lift more.
I never saw them do it, but I KNEW they
could all press 60 pounds.
We were talking about it at recess, and
one guy asked, "What can you press?"
"Sixty!" said one of the other guys.
The guy who asked the question turned
to the next kid in the group and asked
him the same question.
He thought about it for a second or two,
and then gave his answer.
"Sixty!" he said.
The first guy asked another guy. This time,
there was no hesitation at all.
"Me, too," he said. "Sixty!"
And that was what all the kids said.
"Me, too -- sixty!"
Years later, I realized that they were all
fibbing. Maybe one or two of them could
have pressed 60 pounds. The others
were more like me -- 40 pound pressers.
Maybe even less.
But that was okay.
Because I thought the other guys were so
much stronger, I actually trained with my
barbell set -- and they didn't.
Not long after, I was able to press 60 pounds
for real.
The other guys -- only in their dreams.
Barbells are funny that way. It doesn't matter
what you say -- what matters is what you do!
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a
good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Years later I worked up to 275 pounds
in the military press, and 320 pounds in
the push press. This course tells how I
did it:
The Dinosaur Training Military Press and
Shoulder Power Course
Hard copy edition:
http://www.brookskubik.com/militarypress_course.html
Kindle e-book edition:
http://www.brookskubik.com/militarypress_kindle.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Rusty pipes are
bad, but a rusty barbell is worse." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
10 Training Tips from Reg Park!
 |
| Reg Park -- one of the best developed and strongest men who ever lived. |
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Two quick notes, and then we'll talk training.
1. Get Those Orders In!
We're down to the wire to fill Christmas orders,
so please get them in as fast as possible. And
remember, if you want me to autograph a
book or course for you, all you need to do
is ask!
2. Physical Culture Radio
Yesterday's show on Physical Culture Radio
covered Reg Park, Bill Hinbern, Arnold S.,
generational differences between trainees,
why old school training materials are worth
reading and studying, and much more. Go
here to listen to the download:
http://superhumanradio.com/shr-1781-physical-culture-radio-brooks-kubik-charles-poliquin-have-in-common-theoretical-discussion-meal-frequency-muscle-growth-dieting.html
3. Ten Tips from Reg Park
I received a package from Bill Hinbern
yesterday. It contained THREE great
training courses written by Reg Park
in the early 1950's.
As you might expect, they're very good.
Bill outdid himself in putting together
a truly excellent modern reprint edition
of each course, with photos and bonus
material not seen in the original. For
example, one of the courses has Reg
Park's bench press program that let
him become the second man in history
to bench press 500 pounds! That's not
in the original course, but Bill thought
you might like to see it!
Anyhow -- here are ten tips from Reg Park
that I have taken directly from the new
courses:
1. Sometimes, a complete change of your
training routine is better than a lay-off.
2. John Grimek and Steve Stanko did lots
of dumbbell training -- follow their example.
3. Dumbbells have always played a big part
in Reg Park's training.
4. Wear a heavy track suit to keep your
muscles warm while training.
5. Wear lifting shoes or boots while training.
a. Park liked boots because of the added ankle
support.
6. Wear a lifting belt while performing squats.
7. Train deadlifts on a separate training day,
all by themselves.
8. Bodybuilders should practice strength and
power training, not pump their muscles with
light weights.
9. Focus on the big muscle groups, like the
thighs, hips and back, not on smaller muscles
like the biceps.
10. Reg Park always gave extra attention to
squats and shoulder training.
There are many more tips -- and some detailed
training programs -- in the new courses. You can
find them right here at Bill Hinbern's website:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/reg-park
There's also a great chapter on Reg Park
and his training methods in my book, Strength,
Muscle and Power. Go here to grab it:
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
The more you learn about the training
methods of the old-time champions --
men like Park, Grimek, Stanko, Davis,
Hepburn, Kono and so many others --
the better you'll do. In strength training,
knowledge truly IS power!
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a
good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here for a complete list of all of my
books, courses and DVD's -- including links
to my e-books on Kindle and links to our
new products with immediate electronic
delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "Whoever said
'all brawn and no brains' didn't know that
strength training is a smart thing to do!"
-- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Here's the Top Secret Christmas Schedule at Dino Headquarters!
 |
| A Christmas card from my good friend, Bill Hinbern. This is the best Christmas card ever. |
It Happened 43 Years Ago!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Charles Poliquin and I recently discovered
that we have something in common that
is very interesting.
It's also very old-school.
And very Dino.
And it involves someone who's one of the
very best people in the Iron Game.
The story begins 43 years ago,
when I was a skinny kid with big
glasses and even bigger dreams of
someday having some serious strength
and muscle.
I don't think you can guess what it is --
but you can read all about it at Charles
Poliquin's Blog:
http://www.strengthsensei.com/what-do-brooks-kubik-and-charles-poliquin-have-in-common/
I'll send you another email later today --
but in the meantime, head on over to
Charles Poliquin's Blog and see what
Brooks and Charles have in common.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Dinosaur Dumbbell Training,
Dinosaur Bodyweight Training, Gray
Hair and Black Iron and Knife, Fork,
Muscle have been the top sellers this
week. You can find them right here at
Dino Headquarters -- along with all of
my other books and courses:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 2. We're filling all orders as fast
as we can so we shoot them out the
door in time for Christmas. You can
help by placing your order as soon
as possible.
P.S. 3. If you'd like me to autograph a
book or course for you, please ask for
an autograph when you place your order.
And let me know who to sign it to!
P.S. 4. If you have a question about an
order, a product, which book or course
to order, or anything else, shoot me an
email!
P.S. 5. Thought for the Day: "Knowledge
is power, and when combined with hard
training, it can't be beaten." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Charles Poliquin and I recently discovered
that we have something in common that
is very interesting.
It's also very old-school.
And very Dino.
And it involves someone who's one of the
very best people in the Iron Game.
The story begins 43 years ago,
when I was a skinny kid with big
glasses and even bigger dreams of
someday having some serious strength
and muscle.
I don't think you can guess what it is --
but you can read all about it at Charles
Poliquin's Blog:
http://www.strengthsensei.com/what-do-brooks-kubik-and-charles-poliquin-have-in-common/
I'll send you another email later today --
but in the meantime, head on over to
Charles Poliquin's Blog and see what
Brooks and Charles have in common.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Dinosaur Dumbbell Training,
Dinosaur Bodyweight Training, Gray
Hair and Black Iron and Knife, Fork,
Muscle have been the top sellers this
week. You can find them right here at
Dino Headquarters -- along with all of
my other books and courses:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 2. We're filling all orders as fast
as we can so we shoot them out the
door in time for Christmas. You can
help by placing your order as soon
as possible.
P.S. 3. If you'd like me to autograph a
book or course for you, please ask for
an autograph when you place your order.
And let me know who to sign it to!
P.S. 4. If you have a question about an
order, a product, which book or course
to order, or anything else, shoot me an
email!
P.S. 5. Thought for the Day: "Knowledge
is power, and when combined with hard
training, it can't be beaten." -- Brooks
Kubik
***********************************************************************************
What Do Brooks Kubik and Charles Poliquin Have in Common?
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
What do Brooks Kubik and Charles Poliquin have
in common?
The answer may surprise you . . .
Read about it right here:
http://www.strengthsensei.com/what-do-brooks-kubik-and-charles-poliquin-have-in-common/
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
What do Brooks Kubik and Charles Poliquin have
in common?
The answer may surprise you . . .
Read about it right here:
http://www.strengthsensei.com/what-do-brooks-kubik-and-charles-poliquin-have-in-common/
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
A Great New Addition to the Dino Dungeon!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
We have a great new addition to the
Dinosaur Dungeon.
It's a Sutherland Utility Rack.
I bought it two years ago from John
Wood -- but not for me. It was a
Christmas present for my eldest
step-son, who wanted to set up a
home gym.
He's used it ever since, and loves it.
But recently, he asked for some help
with his training, so I told him to come
over and train in the Dino Dungeon.
Of course, that meant he had to bring
the Sutherland Utility Rack over here.
No problem.
The little monster is a portable power
rack. It's free-standing, but strong as
heck. You can set it up or take it down
in about 3 to 5 minutes.
I posted a photo on my Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter pages, so if
you follow or friend me, you can see
what it looks like out in the garage.
I'm at Brooks Kubik on Facebook and
Twitter, and at #brookskubik or
#dinosaurtraining on Twitter and
Instagram.
But to continue . . .
There's a great video of John Wood
setting a rack up and doing squats at
a busy street corner in Ann Arbor. That
shows you just how portable the thing
is. Go here to check it out:
https://vimeo.com/111544540
And as for strong -- well, we haven't
come close to testing it yet. The thing
would probably hold a couple of
elephants. John has loaded his up
to over 1,000 pounds.
Anyhow, we now have a great new
addition to the Dinosaur Dungeon --
and we're having lots of fun with it!
BTW, I was talking with John the other
day, and I understand that he only has
five or six of the Sutherland Utility Racks.
Once they're gone, it will be awhile before
he has any more in stock -- so if you want
one, grab it fast:
http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/products/sutherland-utility-rack
For details on power rack exercises, see
Strength, Muscle and Power:
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
Also, I have a brand new power rack program
in this little monster -- and I think you'll like
it a lot. We've been test-driving it on one of
our older Dinos, and he's been making GREAT
gains:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurtraining_archive.html
The only bad part is that my stepson is starting
to grow out of his clothes -- and that can get
expensive. Since I bought him the rack and
showed him how to use it, I'll probably get
blamed for this!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
We have a great new addition to the
Dinosaur Dungeon.
It's a Sutherland Utility Rack.
I bought it two years ago from John
Wood -- but not for me. It was a
Christmas present for my eldest
step-son, who wanted to set up a
home gym.
He's used it ever since, and loves it.
But recently, he asked for some help
with his training, so I told him to come
over and train in the Dino Dungeon.
Of course, that meant he had to bring
the Sutherland Utility Rack over here.
No problem.
The little monster is a portable power
rack. It's free-standing, but strong as
heck. You can set it up or take it down
in about 3 to 5 minutes.
I posted a photo on my Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter pages, so if
you follow or friend me, you can see
what it looks like out in the garage.
I'm at Brooks Kubik on Facebook and
Twitter, and at #brookskubik or
#dinosaurtraining on Twitter and
Instagram.
But to continue . . .
There's a great video of John Wood
setting a rack up and doing squats at
a busy street corner in Ann Arbor. That
shows you just how portable the thing
is. Go here to check it out:
https://vimeo.com/111544540
And as for strong -- well, we haven't
come close to testing it yet. The thing
would probably hold a couple of
elephants. John has loaded his up
to over 1,000 pounds.
Anyhow, we now have a great new
addition to the Dinosaur Dungeon --
and we're having lots of fun with it!
BTW, I was talking with John the other
day, and I understand that he only has
five or six of the Sutherland Utility Racks.
Once they're gone, it will be awhile before
he has any more in stock -- so if you want
one, grab it fast:
http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/products/sutherland-utility-rack
For details on power rack exercises, see
Strength, Muscle and Power:
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
Also, I have a brand new power rack program
in this little monster -- and I think you'll like
it a lot. We've been test-driving it on one of
our older Dinos, and he's been making GREAT
gains:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurtraining_archive.html
The only bad part is that my stepson is starting
to grow out of his clothes -- and that can get
expensive. Since I bought him the rack and
showed him how to use it, I'll probably get
blamed for this!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Shipping Madness at Dinosaur Headquarters!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Things are crazy here at Dino Headquarters.
If Santa's elves saw us in action, they'd run
in terror. That's because if Santa saw us in
action, he'd know the elves were moving
way too slow.
I'm signing books, writing notes, and tossing
books, courses, DVDs and other Dino goodies
into shipping boxes -- along with bonus
photos, which we always include whenever
we can.
Meanwhile, Trudi is printing address labels,
weighing boxes, running postage, and helping
me pack the shipping boxes.
When everything is packed, we race off to
the Post office -- and then we come back
and start all over again.
The goal is to get everything in the mail in
time for Christmas.
It's a lot of work, but it's for the Dinos --
and as I've always said, the Dinos deserve
the best.
Anyhow, if you want to place a Christmas
order, please do it now -- and if you want
me to autograph a book or course and include
a personal note, be sure to let me know who
to sign it to.
If someone orders a present for you, be
sure they give me your name and ask me
to autograph it for you (if it's a book or
course) or include a personal note (if it's
a DVD or DVD set).
And, of course, if you have any questions
about a book, course or DVD, send them
on in. We're getting a lot of emails asking
for gift suggestions, as in, "My 14 year old
son wants to start a weight training
program -- what book or course should
he start with?"
I'll send a training email a little later. Right
now, there's more packing to do!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My Dinosaur Training DVD's make a
great Christmas present -- and so does
my Going Strong at 54 DVD:
Dinosaur Training DVDs
http://brookskubik.com/dinosaur_dvds.html
Going Strong at 54
http://brookskubik.com/goingstrong.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Give yourself
and those you love the gift of strength and
health." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Things are crazy here at Dino Headquarters.
If Santa's elves saw us in action, they'd run
in terror. That's because if Santa saw us in
action, he'd know the elves were moving
way too slow.
I'm signing books, writing notes, and tossing
books, courses, DVDs and other Dino goodies
into shipping boxes -- along with bonus
photos, which we always include whenever
we can.
Meanwhile, Trudi is printing address labels,
weighing boxes, running postage, and helping
me pack the shipping boxes.
When everything is packed, we race off to
the Post office -- and then we come back
and start all over again.
The goal is to get everything in the mail in
time for Christmas.
It's a lot of work, but it's for the Dinos --
and as I've always said, the Dinos deserve
the best.
Anyhow, if you want to place a Christmas
order, please do it now -- and if you want
me to autograph a book or course and include
a personal note, be sure to let me know who
to sign it to.
If someone orders a present for you, be
sure they give me your name and ask me
to autograph it for you (if it's a book or
course) or include a personal note (if it's
a DVD or DVD set).
And, of course, if you have any questions
about a book, course or DVD, send them
on in. We're getting a lot of emails asking
for gift suggestions, as in, "My 14 year old
son wants to start a weight training
program -- what book or course should
he start with?"
I'll send a training email a little later. Right
now, there's more packing to do!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My Dinosaur Training DVD's make a
great Christmas present -- and so does
my Going Strong at 54 DVD:
Dinosaur Training DVDs
http://brookskubik.com/dinosaur_dvds.html
Going Strong at 54
http://brookskubik.com/goingstrong.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Give yourself
and those you love the gift of strength and
health." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Could You Lift Darth Vader's Dumbbell?
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Three quick notes, and then we'll talk
about Darth Vader's Dumbbell -- which
actually exists, and which I have actually
seen and held.
1. Reg Park Training Courses
My good friend, Bill Hinbern, has released
several new Reg Park Training Courses --
making a grand total of SEVEN Reg Park
training courses available in modern reprint
editions from Bill Hinbern. You can read
more about them right here:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/reg-park
2. Autographs for Holiday Orders
If you order a book or course from us as a
Christmas present, let me know who it is
going to and ask me to autograph it for
that person.
There's no charge for an autograph, and
it makes any gift extra special.
If someone is ordering something for YOU
be sure they give me your name and ask
me to autograph it for you.
3. The December Dinosaur Files
Is available with immediate electronic
delivery -- along with several other courses
that are available with electronic delivery.
We now have a special section on our
products page for products that feature
electronic delivery -- look for this section
at the very bottom of the products page:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
4. Darth Vader's Dumbbell
The World Premier for the new Star Wars
film, The Force Awakens, was last night
in Los Angeles, and by all accounts it was
quite an event.
And that reminds me of a Dinosaur Training
connection to Star Wars.
It involves Darth Vader's Dumbbell.
It actually exists, and it's one of the most
famous dumbbells in Iron Game history.
I actually saw it once -- and tried to lift
it -- but I couldn't budge it.
But that was okay, because a very long
list of famous strongmen have tried to
lift it -- and were unable to do so. Heck,
Arthur Saxon tried -- and failed. And
Arthur Saxon bent pressed more weight
than any man who ever lived.
Arthur Saxon? Darth Vader? What are
you talking about, Kubik? Have you
lost it?
Not at all. Let me explain.
In the first three Star Wars movies, the
character of Darth Vader was played by
two men.
James Earl Jones supplied the voice --
and a very large British weightlifter named
Dave Prowse supplied the body.
Prowse was an enormous man -- and if
Darth Vader looks BIG on screen, it's
because he really was.
Dave Prowse owned a gym in London --
and in the gym, he had the original Inch
Dumbbell -- the legendary "Unliftable
Dumbbell."
How Prowse ended up with the Dumbbell
is a long story. I'll share it sometime.
Anyhow . . .
I was in London once, on vacation, and I
went to Prowse's gym with fellow Hardgainer
author Mike Thompson.
We each tried to lift the dumbbell.
Neither of us could budge it.
And get this -- on the same trip, I trained
with Mike and made a 1-hand deadlift with
435 pounds. So I had a pretty good grip.
It just wasn't quite good enough to lift
Darth Vader's Dumbbell.
So there you have it: a Dinosaur connection
to Darth Vader -- and to Thomas Inch -- and
Artghur Saxon -- and a host of legendary
strongmen.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a
good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Speaking of dumbbells and old-time
strongmen, here's a terrific book on old
school dumbbell training:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_dumbbelltraining.html
P.S. 2. For more about old-time strongmen
and how they trained, grab these:
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_training.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Lightsabers
are great, but nothing beats old school
strength training." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Three quick notes, and then we'll talk
about Darth Vader's Dumbbell -- which
actually exists, and which I have actually
seen and held.
1. Reg Park Training Courses
My good friend, Bill Hinbern, has released
several new Reg Park Training Courses --
making a grand total of SEVEN Reg Park
training courses available in modern reprint
editions from Bill Hinbern. You can read
more about them right here:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/reg-park
2. Autographs for Holiday Orders
If you order a book or course from us as a
Christmas present, let me know who it is
going to and ask me to autograph it for
that person.
There's no charge for an autograph, and
it makes any gift extra special.
If someone is ordering something for YOU
be sure they give me your name and ask
me to autograph it for you.
3. The December Dinosaur Files
Is available with immediate electronic
delivery -- along with several other courses
that are available with electronic delivery.
We now have a special section on our
products page for products that feature
electronic delivery -- look for this section
at the very bottom of the products page:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
4. Darth Vader's Dumbbell
The World Premier for the new Star Wars
film, The Force Awakens, was last night
in Los Angeles, and by all accounts it was
quite an event.
And that reminds me of a Dinosaur Training
connection to Star Wars.
It involves Darth Vader's Dumbbell.
It actually exists, and it's one of the most
famous dumbbells in Iron Game history.
I actually saw it once -- and tried to lift
it -- but I couldn't budge it.
But that was okay, because a very long
list of famous strongmen have tried to
lift it -- and were unable to do so. Heck,
Arthur Saxon tried -- and failed. And
Arthur Saxon bent pressed more weight
than any man who ever lived.
Arthur Saxon? Darth Vader? What are
you talking about, Kubik? Have you
lost it?
Not at all. Let me explain.
In the first three Star Wars movies, the
character of Darth Vader was played by
two men.
James Earl Jones supplied the voice --
and a very large British weightlifter named
Dave Prowse supplied the body.
Prowse was an enormous man -- and if
Darth Vader looks BIG on screen, it's
because he really was.
Dave Prowse owned a gym in London --
and in the gym, he had the original Inch
Dumbbell -- the legendary "Unliftable
Dumbbell."
How Prowse ended up with the Dumbbell
is a long story. I'll share it sometime.
Anyhow . . .
I was in London once, on vacation, and I
went to Prowse's gym with fellow Hardgainer
author Mike Thompson.
We each tried to lift the dumbbell.
Neither of us could budge it.
And get this -- on the same trip, I trained
with Mike and made a 1-hand deadlift with
435 pounds. So I had a pretty good grip.
It just wasn't quite good enough to lift
Darth Vader's Dumbbell.
So there you have it: a Dinosaur connection
to Darth Vader -- and to Thomas Inch -- and
Artghur Saxon -- and a host of legendary
strongmen.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a
good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Speaking of dumbbells and old-time
strongmen, here's a terrific book on old
school dumbbell training:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_dumbbelltraining.html
P.S. 2. For more about old-time strongmen
and how they trained, grab these:
http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_training.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Lightsabers
are great, but nothing beats old school
strength training." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Attn Dinos -- It's That Time of Year Again!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
It's that time of the year again.
Christmas is right around the
corner, and we're working fast
and furious to fill all of the
orders we receive and get
them out the door and in
the mail in time for the big
day.
You can help us by doing
three things:
1. Get your orders in as soon
as you can -- today or tomorrow
if possible.
2. If you place a Christmas
order for someone else, give
us their name so we can include
a personal note for them.
a. If you order a book or course
for someone, be sure to give me
their name so I can sign it for
them. That always makes a
present extra special.
3. If someone else is going to
order something for you, be sure
they give us YOUR name so we can
autograph it for you if it's a book
or course, or include a note for you
if it's anything else.
There's no charge for an autograph.
It's an honor to be asked for one.
Thanks very much, and if you have
any questions, send me an email.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. You'll find all of our Dinosaur
Training books, courses and DVDs
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
***********************************************************************************
It's that time of the year again.
Christmas is right around the
corner, and we're working fast
and furious to fill all of the
orders we receive and get
them out the door and in
the mail in time for the big
day.
You can help us by doing
three things:
1. Get your orders in as soon
as you can -- today or tomorrow
if possible.
2. If you place a Christmas
order for someone else, give
us their name so we can include
a personal note for them.
a. If you order a book or course
for someone, be sure to give me
their name so I can sign it for
them. That always makes a
present extra special.
3. If someone else is going to
order something for you, be sure
they give us YOUR name so we can
autograph it for you if it's a book
or course, or include a note for you
if it's anything else.
There's no charge for an autograph.
It's an honor to be asked for one.
Thanks very much, and if you have
any questions, send me an email.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. You'll find all of our Dinosaur
Training books, courses and DVDs
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
***********************************************************************************
Great Feedback on the December Dinosaur Files!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
We've been getting great feedback on the
December issue of The Dinosaur Files
newsletter.
Readers are loving the immediate electronic
delivery, the cost savings compared to paying
postage charges for a hard-copy newsletter,
and, of course, the articles and information.
And they're loving the fact that we've switched
from a quarterly format to a monthly format.
Here's a typical email from a happy reader:
"I have been going over the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files for more than a few days
now.
First of all, thanks for the instant delivery and
cost savings it comes with. I loved the older
print issues as well, but in light of time and
cost savings, this works even better. I do
miss the nostalgic feel of the off white printed
edition, but I hope this makes for more readers
and more input from the Dino community.
Second, the Dinosaur Files are just jam packed
with real world information, and NOTHING beats
that in my book. I would encourage everyone to
get The Dinosaur Files. You can print them out
and write and scribble and reprint, the options
are endless. The December issue in particular
is huge. I have been at it for a number of days
now and still have much left to read. I loved
the article by Peter Yates on his comeback
after a leg injury, and also loved your "Back
to Our Roots" training article.
Three, it feels great to be able to interact and
listen to the current programs and experiences
of the Dino nation. It not only provides real
world examples of their training programs,
but also the motivation to keep training and
kicking in your workouts and life in general.
Thanks again for keeping this publication
alive. I believe it is the most important of
all the publications you do for us.
Ishinder Singh Sidu"
Ishinder -- Thanks very much. Your testimonial
made my day -- and it's quite timely, because
I'm actually working on (guess what) the January
issue of The Dinosaur Files! So this is some very
seriouslu good motivation for me.
To everyone else -- If you've read The December
Dinosaur Files, you know why Ishinder is so
excited about it. If you've NOT read the December
issue of The Dinosaur Files, you're missing something
very special -- but that's ok, because you can grab
it right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses are right here
at Dino Headquarters. If you need to place a
Christmas order, pls do it asap so we can get
it out in the mail:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you'd like me to autograph a book or
course for you, pls ask for an autograph in the
Special Instructions section of the on-line order
form -- and tell me who to sign it to. There's no
charge for an autograph, but you do need to ask
for one. If someone else orders a book or course
for you, be sure they ask for an autograph and
tell me who to sign it to.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "Fill your heart and
mind with thoughts and dreams of heavy iron.
It makes a difference." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
We've been getting great feedback on the
December issue of The Dinosaur Files
newsletter.
Readers are loving the immediate electronic
delivery, the cost savings compared to paying
postage charges for a hard-copy newsletter,
and, of course, the articles and information.
And they're loving the fact that we've switched
from a quarterly format to a monthly format.
Here's a typical email from a happy reader:
"I have been going over the December issue
of The Dinosaur Files for more than a few days
now.
First of all, thanks for the instant delivery and
cost savings it comes with. I loved the older
print issues as well, but in light of time and
cost savings, this works even better. I do
miss the nostalgic feel of the off white printed
edition, but I hope this makes for more readers
and more input from the Dino community.
Second, the Dinosaur Files are just jam packed
with real world information, and NOTHING beats
that in my book. I would encourage everyone to
get The Dinosaur Files. You can print them out
and write and scribble and reprint, the options
are endless. The December issue in particular
is huge. I have been at it for a number of days
now and still have much left to read. I loved
the article by Peter Yates on his comeback
after a leg injury, and also loved your "Back
to Our Roots" training article.
Three, it feels great to be able to interact and
listen to the current programs and experiences
of the Dino nation. It not only provides real
world examples of their training programs,
but also the motivation to keep training and
kicking in your workouts and life in general.
Thanks again for keeping this publication
alive. I believe it is the most important of
all the publications you do for us.
Ishinder Singh Sidu"
Ishinder -- Thanks very much. Your testimonial
made my day -- and it's quite timely, because
I'm actually working on (guess what) the January
issue of The Dinosaur Files! So this is some very
seriouslu good motivation for me.
To everyone else -- If you've read The December
Dinosaur Files, you know why Ishinder is so
excited about it. If you've NOT read the December
issue of The Dinosaur Files, you're missing something
very special -- but that's ok, because you can grab
it right here:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. My other books and courses are right here
at Dino Headquarters. If you need to place a
Christmas order, pls do it asap so we can get
it out in the mail:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
If you'd like me to autograph a book or
course for you, pls ask for an autograph in the
Special Instructions section of the on-line order
form -- and tell me who to sign it to. There's no
charge for an autograph, but you do need to ask
for one. If someone else orders a book or course
for you, be sure they ask for an autograph and
tell me who to sign it to.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "Fill your heart and
mind with thoughts and dreams of heavy iron.
It makes a difference." -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Old School Training with Reg Park
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
One of my all-time favorite weight
training articles is John McCallum's
account of watching Reg Park train.
This was in Vancouver, British
Columbia, and it happened while
Park was on a big tour of North
America. He gave lifting and posing
exhibitions at various shows, and
trained at all of the famous gyms
across the USA and Canada.
He also met all the top bodybuilders
and lifters, and all the famous people
in the Iron Game -- and was invited
to a gazillion or so dinners featuring
all the steak or roast beef the Iron
Gamers wanted. I think it caused a
trans-continental beef shortage.
Now, if memory serves correctly, this
was back in 1957 or 58 -- a long time
ago, and a time when bodybuilders and
weightlifters had much more in common
than they do today.
There were bodybuilders who placed
high in weightlifting contests -- and there
were weightlifters who placed high in
bodybuilding shows.
And then there was Reg Park. At almost
250 pounds of solid muscle, Park was the
top bodybuilder in the world.
He also was one of the strongest men in
the world. He proved it many times, perhaps
most famously by becoming the second man
in history to bench press 500 pounds --
shortly after the Canadian Hercules, Doug
Hepburn, had broken the 500 pound barrier.
McCallum's account of Park's training was
great.
Get this -- the workout lasted just one
hour and five minutes!
But it was one hour and five minutes of
hard, heavy training -- focusing on the
BIG exercises.
It would have been great to have seen
it -- or to have trained with Reg Park.
But here's the next best thing.
Reg Park wrote a number of great training
courses back in the day. The originals are
very rare and almost impossible to find --
but my good friend, Bill Hinbern, has
reprinted SEVEN of them in high quality
modern editions -- including many new
photos, some you probably have never
seen.
They're the next best thing to training
shoulder to shoulder with Reg Park back
in that gym in Vancouver -- and you can
find them right here:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/reg-park
Note that Bill is offering a special deal if
you order all seven courses together.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a good
one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. After you grab those Reg Park courses
from Bill, jump over to The Dinosaur Training
site and grab Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 1,
2 and 3. We offer them in hard-copy editions,
Kindle e-book editions, and e-books with
immediate electronic delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
We've added special sections to our products
page to make it easy to find the links to our
Kindle e-books and the links to the electronic
downloads. Of course, if you have any questions,
shoot me an email.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "Train hard and
make it count!" -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
One of my all-time favorite weight
training articles is John McCallum's
account of watching Reg Park train.
This was in Vancouver, British
Columbia, and it happened while
Park was on a big tour of North
America. He gave lifting and posing
exhibitions at various shows, and
trained at all of the famous gyms
across the USA and Canada.
He also met all the top bodybuilders
and lifters, and all the famous people
in the Iron Game -- and was invited
to a gazillion or so dinners featuring
all the steak or roast beef the Iron
Gamers wanted. I think it caused a
trans-continental beef shortage.
Now, if memory serves correctly, this
was back in 1957 or 58 -- a long time
ago, and a time when bodybuilders and
weightlifters had much more in common
than they do today.
There were bodybuilders who placed
high in weightlifting contests -- and there
were weightlifters who placed high in
bodybuilding shows.
And then there was Reg Park. At almost
250 pounds of solid muscle, Park was the
top bodybuilder in the world.
He also was one of the strongest men in
the world. He proved it many times, perhaps
most famously by becoming the second man
in history to bench press 500 pounds --
shortly after the Canadian Hercules, Doug
Hepburn, had broken the 500 pound barrier.
McCallum's account of Park's training was
great.
Get this -- the workout lasted just one
hour and five minutes!
But it was one hour and five minutes of
hard, heavy training -- focusing on the
BIG exercises.
It would have been great to have seen
it -- or to have trained with Reg Park.
But here's the next best thing.
Reg Park wrote a number of great training
courses back in the day. The originals are
very rare and almost impossible to find --
but my good friend, Bill Hinbern, has
reprinted SEVEN of them in high quality
modern editions -- including many new
photos, some you probably have never
seen.
They're the next best thing to training
shoulder to shoulder with Reg Park back
in that gym in Vancouver -- and you can
find them right here:
http://superstrengthtraining.com/reg-park
Note that Bill is offering a special deal if
you order all seven courses together.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a good
one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. After you grab those Reg Park courses
from Bill, jump over to The Dinosaur Training
site and grab Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 1,
2 and 3. We offer them in hard-copy editions,
Kindle e-book editions, and e-books with
immediate electronic delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
We've added special sections to our products
page to make it easy to find the links to our
Kindle e-books and the links to the electronic
downloads. Of course, if you have any questions,
shoot me an email.
P.S. 2. Thought for the Day: "Train hard and
make it count!" -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Grab Some Massive Motivation for Strength, Muscle and Power!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
About forty years ago, Bradley J. Steiner
wrote something in an IronMan article
that has stayed with me ever since.
Steiner said that the most important
function of a strength training magazine
is not to provide training advice, workouts
or other "how to do it" instruction.
That's important, of course, and any
magazine will have lots of training
advice (including, hopefully, some
that actually works!) -- but in
Steiner's opinion, it was not the
magazine's most important function.
Rather, he believed, the most important
function of a strength training magazine
is to provide a regular dose of motivation
and inspiration for the readers.
I remember reading those words, and
debating them back and forth. I wasn't
sure if I agreed with Steiner.
Today, forty years later, I know the
answer.
I agree with him 100 percent.
That's why we're doing the Dinosaur Files
on a monthly basis -- and why we're using
electronic delivery to make the Dinosaur
Files easy and affordable for all Dinos
everywhere in the world.
I want everyone to have a chance to hit
the "refresh" button every 30 days -- and
to stay focused and committed to hard
training and concentrated effort -- and to
be inpired to hit the iron harder than ever
before.
And the monthly Dinosaur Files is a perfect
way to do exactly that -- with no silly
supplement ads, and no goofball advice
about how Mr. Everything bombs, blasts
and blitzes for 17 hours every day.
Frankly, I'm tired of Mr. Everything and
how he trains. It's not motivating. It's
boring.
To me, it's motivatiung to read about real
people and how they train while living
and working in the real world. And that's
what you see in each and every issue of
The Dinosaur Files.
Of course, each issue of the Dinosaur Files
also provides plenty of training information.
And in that regard, note that the articles
and advice come to you from three sources,
none of which you're likely to see anywhere
else:
1. Your fellow Dinosaurs sharing workouts,
reports, updates and feedback on what works
for them -- in other words, it's real world
training for real people, not the Muscle
Beach fantasy stuff.
2. Training advice buried in my personal
collection of old books, courses and
magazines. Some of it is long-forgotten,
but it's literally priceless in value.
3. My own original training articles that
you won't see anywhere else. They're
Dinosaur Files exclusives.
Anyhow, I'm doing my best to do what
Bradley J. Steiner said to do so many
years ago -- I'm working hard to bring
you a monthly dose of motivation and
inspiration -- as well as the best training
information I can give you.
The goal is to make 2016 the best year
ever for strength, muscle and might --
and together, we'll make it happen!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab the December issue
of the Dinosaur Files -- with immediate
electronic delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters -- along
with my Dinosaur Training DVDs -- and
links to all of my e-books on Kindle:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "If you could
hit every workout with the passion, commitment
and energy you brought to your very first workout,
imagine what you would achieve!" -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
About forty years ago, Bradley J. Steiner
wrote something in an IronMan article
that has stayed with me ever since.
Steiner said that the most important
function of a strength training magazine
is not to provide training advice, workouts
or other "how to do it" instruction.
That's important, of course, and any
magazine will have lots of training
advice (including, hopefully, some
that actually works!) -- but in
Steiner's opinion, it was not the
magazine's most important function.
Rather, he believed, the most important
function of a strength training magazine
is to provide a regular dose of motivation
and inspiration for the readers.
I remember reading those words, and
debating them back and forth. I wasn't
sure if I agreed with Steiner.
Today, forty years later, I know the
answer.
I agree with him 100 percent.
That's why we're doing the Dinosaur Files
on a monthly basis -- and why we're using
electronic delivery to make the Dinosaur
Files easy and affordable for all Dinos
everywhere in the world.
I want everyone to have a chance to hit
the "refresh" button every 30 days -- and
to stay focused and committed to hard
training and concentrated effort -- and to
be inpired to hit the iron harder than ever
before.
And the monthly Dinosaur Files is a perfect
way to do exactly that -- with no silly
supplement ads, and no goofball advice
about how Mr. Everything bombs, blasts
and blitzes for 17 hours every day.
Frankly, I'm tired of Mr. Everything and
how he trains. It's not motivating. It's
boring.
To me, it's motivatiung to read about real
people and how they train while living
and working in the real world. And that's
what you see in each and every issue of
The Dinosaur Files.
Of course, each issue of the Dinosaur Files
also provides plenty of training information.
And in that regard, note that the articles
and advice come to you from three sources,
none of which you're likely to see anywhere
else:
1. Your fellow Dinosaurs sharing workouts,
reports, updates and feedback on what works
for them -- in other words, it's real world
training for real people, not the Muscle
Beach fantasy stuff.
2. Training advice buried in my personal
collection of old books, courses and
magazines. Some of it is long-forgotten,
but it's literally priceless in value.
3. My own original training articles that
you won't see anywhere else. They're
Dinosaur Files exclusives.
Anyhow, I'm doing my best to do what
Bradley J. Steiner said to do so many
years ago -- I'm working hard to bring
you a monthly dose of motivation and
inspiration -- as well as the best training
information I can give you.
The goal is to make 2016 the best year
ever for strength, muscle and might --
and together, we'll make it happen!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Go here to grab the December issue
of the Dinosaur Files -- with immediate
electronic delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters -- along
with my Dinosaur Training DVDs -- and
links to all of my e-books on Kindle:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "If you could
hit every workout with the passion, commitment
and energy you brought to your very first workout,
imagine what you would achieve!" -- Brooks Kubik
***********************************************************************************
Retro Lifting at Dino Headquarters!
Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Today's a training day at Dino Headquarters,
and I'm looking forward to it.
I'll be doing split style snatches, snatch high
pulls and front squats. That will make a long
workout. It will run about 90 minutes, and it
will work everything from the toes to the
eyeballs and back again.
Most of the workout will focus on the split
style snatch. I do plenty of singles to work
on my form and technique in the snatch.
The footwork takes lots of practice -- and
like anything else, to do it right you need
to keep on doing it.
Some people call the split style of snatching
or cleaning "old man lifting."
Others call it "grandfather lifting."
Jim Schmitz calls it "retro lifting." He started
out as a split style lifter back in the 1960's,
and then switched over to the squat style,
and today, at age 70, he's back to the split
style because it's easier on his body.
And he still lifts in competition once or
twice a year. At age 70, that's pretty
impressive.
Anyhow, I agree with Jim Schmitz. I think
"retro lifting" is the best term for split style
snatching and cleaning.
But whatever you call it, old-school lifting
it's fun to do.
And it's good exercise -- and it keeps you
young, fast, strong and powerful.
So does any kind of basic barbell and dumbbell
training -- especially the stand on your feet stuff
I write about in all of my books and courses.
So here's the bottom line:
I don't care how old you are in years, but
if you're standing on your feet and squatting,
pulling and pushing heavy iron a couple of
times a week, you're younger and stronger
than most people.
And if you keep on doing it, you'll stay
younger and stronger for a very long
time.
As always, thanks for reading and have a
great day. If you train today, make it a
good one!
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S.Here are some great resources to help
keep you healthy and strong at any age:
a. Gray Hair and Black Iron is a must-read
for any older trainee:
http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html
b. My "Going Strong at 54" DVD features
plenty of retro lifting for older Dinos:
http://brookskubik.com/goingstrong.html
c. I just did a terrific mini-course for older
Dinos -- with a brand new workout -- and
it's even available with immediate electronic
delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/minicourse_01.html
d. And last but not least -- each issue of the
Dinosaur Files newsletter covers effective
training for older Dinos -- and gives you
real life, real world workouts used by your
fellow Dinos. It's the stuff no one else ever
covers -- but it's standard fare for the Dino
Files.
You can grab the December issue of the Dinosaur
Files right here, with immediate electronic
delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_december2015.html
P.S. 2. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Stronger is
younger." -- Brooks Kubik
************************************************************************************
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