Three Questions About Everyone's Favorite Exercise

Philadelphia's Louis Abele was a huge fan of the exercise we're going to talk about in today's Blog Post - and it helped make him one of the strongest men in the world!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Two quick notes and then we'll talk iron - as
in, cover some questions I've been getting
about everyone's favorite exercise. (Can you
guess what it is?)

1. The September Dinosaur Files

I'm working on the little monster, and it's
going to be another great issue.

If you missed the last couple of issues, you
missed some good ones - but you can grab
them right here:

July-August Dinosaur Files

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-julyaugust2018.html

May-June Dinosaur Files

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-mayjune2018.html

I do need more feedback on these two issues -
as well as workout reports and training updates
from the Dinos - so don't be shy - send me a
short email and let me know how you liked
the last two issues - and how your workouts
are going!

2. Winter Is Coming!

And that's a great reason to grab a Bosco
hoodie from John Wood:

Bosco Hoodie (Grey)

 https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/boscohoodie-grey.html

BTW, I'm not sure, but I bet these will add at
least 20 pounds to your squats and deadlifts.

After all, Bosco has been helping trainees
build serious strength and muscle for a very
long time!

3. Some Squat Questions

It must be The Year of the Squat because ever
since January 1, I've been getting a ton of squat
questions.

So I thought I should cover some of them in
today's email. Here are three of them.

Q. Which is better - doing bottom position back
squats or bottom position front squats in the
power rack?

A. I like bottom position back squats in the
power rack - meaning that you set the bottom
pins low enough that when you set the bar on
them and get under it, you are at the same
position you would be at the bottom of a
parallel squat (top of thighs parallel to the
floor). From there, you drive hard and stand
up with the weight.

I don't like bottom position squats. They're
much more awkward - especially if you don't
have the super mobility of an Olympic weight-
lifter - and few of us do, especially if we're
older Dinos or have any dings and dents that
affect our flexibility.

If you like front squats, try pause squats where
you start in the normal top position, squat down,
and pause for a count of two in the bottom
position before driving back up.

Q. Do I need a cambered bar for squats?

A. No, not at all. They're a good training tool,
but they're not necessary.

Q. What do you think of the Dave Draper Top
Squat device?

A I like it a lot. As a 61-year old Dino with tight
shoulders, It's a necessary tool for me. I can't
do back squats without it.

That's three questions - but I remembered
another one I've been getting - so here's a
little bonus question . . . .

Q. Do any of your books or courses have good
leg training routines - or good programs for
gaining muscular bodyweight?

A. There are 20 programs for building strength
and muscle mass in Chalk and Sweat. 10 of them
are leg specialization programs, and 10 of them
are back specialization programs:

CHALK and SWEAT

http://www.brookskubik.com/chalk_and_sweat.html

Alternate between your favorite leg specialization
programs and your favorite back specialization
programs, and you will utterly transform your
body!

Make no mistake about it - leg and back training
is the Royal Road to Herculean strength and
development.

It's also what separates serious trainees from
the ones who aren't serious at all - as in, the
guys who do nothing but arm and chest work!

There are more questions, of course, and I'll try
to get to them in another email - but those are
enough for now.

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. If you're an older Dino, grab a copy of Gray
Hair and Black Iron - it's a must read for anyone
over the age of 35:

Gray Hair and Black Iron

http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html

P.S. 2. My new course on heavy partials is
selling like hotcakes - and readers are loving
it. Go here to grab a copy:

 Dinosaur Strength and Power - Course No. 2 - Heavy Partials

 

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurstrengthandpower-02.html

P.S. 3. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:

Hard-copy and PDF

http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html

Kindle

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

P.S. 4. Thought for the Day:

"First, last and foremost - SQUAT!"

-- Brooks Kubik

Before you leave, be sure to check out our Kindle books - we have over 25 now - with more on the way!

Brooks Kubik's Kindle Books

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

Where Did the Squat Racks Go?

The Dino Dungeon at our old house - out in the garage. I didn't have much equipment, but I did have squat racks - and I still do! And yes, they get lots of use in the new Dino Dungeon.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Two quick notes, and then we'll talk iron.

1. The July-August Dinosaur Files

It's a great issue - and you can grab it
right here:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-julyaugust2018.html

The 30 and 35 minute workouts for
those of you who are pressed for time
are well worth reading - and so is the
article about the old-school, "break all
the rules" training program that helped
one young lifter gain 35 pounds of
muscle - drug-free and supplement-
free.

By the way - if you missed the May-June
issue, you missed another good one -
but you can still grab it - right here:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-mayjune2018.html

This one includes, among other things, Bob
Hoffman's favorite workout - which I think
you'll find very interesting. But be warned:
it's tougher than it looks!

2. Heavy Partials

My new course on heavy Partials is getting
great reviews from Dinos around the world.

Many have reported new PR's after being on
the program for a short period of time -
including one Dino who set a new PR in the
bench press in just two weeks!

Go here to grab the little monster:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurstrengthandpower-02.html

3. Where Did the Squat Racks Go?

There's a story going around about how a
guy walked into one of those coast to coast
commercial gyms and the squat racks were
gone.

Apparently, someone decided to get rid of
them.

They were too dangerous, or too intimidating,
or too - heck, I don't know. Maybe too old-
school.

And besides, who needs to do squats when
you have 27 different leg machines to pump,
bomb, blitz, torture, finagle and bedraggle
your lower limbs from every possible angle?

I don't know if the story is true or not, but
I know for sure that the prevailing mentality
at most gyms is pretty much like that.

No squat racks.

No deadlifts.

No overhead lifting - including the good old
military press.

No heavy partials in the power rack. (And
usually no power racks.)

The original Dinosaur Dungeon featured York squat stands and a heavy duty York power rack - and they got plenty of use. That's 440 pounds going for a ride in the partial push press.

No Trap Bars.

No thick bars.

It's pretty much chrome-plated (or brightly
painted) machines and plenty of cardio
stuff.

That's why I train at home - and why many
other Dinos train at home.

It's one of the only ways to be able to use
the right kind of equipment - and to do the
exercises that give you the most bang for
the buck.

And please note - a good home gym does
NOT have to have very much in the way of
equipment.

For example, my basement gym is pretty
spartan.

The basement gym here at Dino Headquarters. Yes, we have squat racks - and I use them regularly. BTW, those towels are for front squats, not back squats. I use a Dave Draper Top Squat for back squats.

But it does have squat racks.

And they get plenty of use.

So does the Trap Bar - for both full range reps
and heavy partials.

And when the weather is good, I set up some
heavy mats out in the driveway, move the bar
and the weights outside, and do all of my over-
head lifting.

Of course, there are plenty of things I don't
have.

I don't have cardio theater.

Heck, I don't even have any cardio machines.
Or any other kind of machines - unless Trudi's
hyper-extension bench and inversion table
count as machines.

And I don't have any mirrors.

In short, my training is a heck of a lot different
than what you see at most commercial gyms -
and so is my equipment.

The outdoor workout area here at Dino Headquarters. In this photo, I'm getting set to do some front squats with those towels you saw in the earlier photo. Again, those are NOT for back squats.

And both my training and my equipment work
a heck of a lot better than the mass market
silly stuff that so many people seem to be
doing.

Anyhow, I hope that YOU train somewhere that
still has squat racks - and since you're reading
this, I'm willing to bet that you do!

As always, thanks for reading and have a great
day. If you train today, make it a good one!

When the weather permits, I set up shop outside so I can do overhead lifting.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Remember to grab the July-Aug issue of The
Dinosaur Files:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-julyaugust2018.html

P.S. 2. If you're a home gym fan, you'll love
Dinosaur Training:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_training.html

P.S. 3. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:

Hard-copy and PDF

The book that started The Dinosaur Revolution.

http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html

Kindle

Our Kindle books are best-sellers around the world!

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

P.S. 4. Thought for the Day: 

"It doesn't take much to get an effective
and result producing workout - but a barbell
and a set of squat racks sure as heck help!"

- Brooks Kubik

At age 61, I'm having more fun than ever in my workouts - and I plan to keep on doing them for a long time!

 BEFORE YOU LEAVE . . .

We have more than 25 Dinosaur Training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - here are several of them - head on over and take a look at the others:

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

Some Squat Questions - And My Answers to Them!

 

I've been doing squats for over 50 years now - and I plan to keep on doing them for a long time! Squats, front squats and other squat variations are some of the very best and most important exercises for any trainee.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Two quick notes and then we'll talk iron - as
in, cover some questions I've been getting
about squats and front squats.

1. The February Dinosaur Files

I'm working on the little monster, and it's
going to be another great issue.

If you missed the Oct., Nov, Dec, and Jan
issues, you can grab them here:

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_files.html

I do need more feedback on the previous issues -
as well as workout reports and training updates
from the Dinos - so don't be shy - send me a
short email and let me know how you liked
the earlier issues - and how your workouts
are going!

2. Brrr - It's Cold!


And that's another reason to grab a Bosco
hoodie from John Wood!

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/boscohoodie-grey.html


BTW, I'm not sure, but I bet these will add at
least 20 pounds to your squats and deadlifts.

After all, Bosco has been helping trainees
build serious strength and muscle for a very
long time!

3. Some Squat Questions

It must be The Year of the Squat because ever
since January 1, I've been getting a ton of squat
questions.

So I thought I should cover some of them in
today's email.

Q. Which is better - bottom position back
squats or bottom position front squats in the
power rack?

A. I like bottom position back squats in the
power rack - meaning that you set the bottom
pins low enough that when you set the bar on
them and get under it, you are at the same
position you would be at the bottom of a
parallel squat (top of thighs parallel to the
floor). From there, you drive hard and stand
up with the weight.

I don't like bottom position squats. They're
much more awkward - especially if you don't
have the super mobility of an Olympic weight-
lifter - and few of us do, especially if we're
older Dinos or have any dings and dents that
affect our flexibility.

If you like front squats, try pause squats where
you start in the normal top position, squat down,
and pause for a count of two in the bottom
position before driving back up.

The basement gym at Dino Headquarters is a great place to do squats and front squats in cold weather.

Q. Do I need a cambered bar for squats?

A. No, not at all. They're a good training tool,
but they're not necessary.

Q. What do you think of the Dave Draper Top
Squat device?

A I like it a lot. As a 61-year old Dino with tight
shoulders, It's a necessary tool for me. I can't
do back squats without it.

Q. Do any of your books or courses have good
leg training routines - or good programs for
gaining muscular bodyweight?

A. There are 20 programs for building strength
and muscle mass in Chalk and Sweat. 10 of them
are leg specialization programs, and 10 of them
are back specialization programs.

Alternate between your favorite leg specialization
programs and your favorite back specialization
programs, and you will utterly transform your
body!

Make no mistake about it - leg and back training
is the Royal Road to Herculean strength and
development.

It's also what separates serious trainees from
the ones who aren't serious at all - as in, the
guys who do nothing but arm and chest work!

There are more questions, of course, and I'll try
to get to them in another email - but those are
enough for now.

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. I almost forgot - there are some terrific leg
and back programs in Strength, Muscle and
Power:

http://www.brookskubik.com/strength_muscle_power.html

P.S. 2. If you're an older Dino, grab a copy of Gray
Hair and Black Iron - it's a must read for anyone
over the age of 35:

http://www.brookskubik.com/grayhair_blackiron.html

P.S. 3. My other books and courses are right
here at Dino Headquarters:

Hard-copy and PDF

http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html

Kindle

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

P.S. 4. Thought for the Day:

"First, last and foremost - SQUAT!"

-- Brooks Kubik

BEFORE YOU LEAVE . . .

We have more than 25 Dinosaur Training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - here are several of them - head on over and take a look at the others:

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html

http://www.brookskubik.com/kindle.html