The "What Would Happen?" Question

John Davis was the youngest man in history to win the World Championship in Weightlifting - and went on to win a total of six World Championships and two Olympic Gold medals.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

One quick note, and then we'll talk
training.

1. The March Dinosaur Files

The March Dinosaur Files is out, and
the little monster is getting great reviews.

Go here to grab your copy:

March 2019 Dinosaur Files
(PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-march2019.html

If you missed the January and
February issues, do not despair -
you can grab them here:

Feb 2019 Dinosaur Files (PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-feb2019.html

Jan 2019 Dinosaur Files (PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-jan2019.html

As always - pls shoot me an email
and let me know how you like this
issue - and what you'd like us to
cover in future issues.

2. The "What Would Happen?"
Question

On the training front, here's an interesting
question I received a while back from one
of our longtime Dinos. It's a question I get
fairly often.

This time it came from Chris Califano. He
wrote:

"Here is an interesting question: What would
the result/benefits be if a younger trainee
followed the exact same advice that older
trainees should employ regarding "making
every rep count" and "every exercise and
every set count"?

The mere fact that a younger dedicated lifter
can put more hours into his or her training
should not be a "license to waste energy."

Just that we COULD do it when we were
younger does not mean that we SHOULD
have.

In fact, I am sure that if I had applied the
same methods for Progression with
Recuperation when I was in my teens,
twenties and thirties, I would have
gotten further faster. And with less
if any injuries, nagging or small!

And I would have had more balanced
development, plus better health and
more free time, to boot!

Chris"

Chris -- Thanks for your email. The question
you pose is a good one. Most trainees follow
the over-the-top high volume workouts when
they are young -- and they end up wasting
what should have been the very best years
of their training careers.

It's a crying shame -- especially when it leads
them to quit training -- or to turn to steroids
and other drugs.

If everyone started training the right way from
Day 1 of their career, we'd see many more
trainees achieve great success -- and we'd
see many more trainees stick to their program
for their entire lives.

In terms of concrete results, let's look at
some real-life examples of young men who
started out training the right way from Day
One:

John Davis started training at age 15 -- and
won the World weightlifting championship --
beating not one but two former Olympic gold
medal winners -- at age 17.

John Grimek went from 120 lbs. to 178 lbs.
in his his first three years of training -- and
went from a clean and jerk of 95 lbs. to a
clean and jerk with 247 1/2 lbs.

Steve Stanko gained 80 pounds of muscle in
his first 2 years of training -- and won his first
United States Senior National title later in the
same year.

Frank Spellman worked up to a 240 lb.
military press at a bodyweight of 156 lbs
after just 1 1/2 years of training. He went
on to win an Olympic gold medal in 1948.

Tommy Kono entered his first weightlifting
contest in 1948. He improved his 3-lift total
(press, snatch and clean and jerk) by 195
lbs. over the next 2 years. He won his first
Olympic gold medal in 1952.

Obviously, not everyone is going to become
a World or Olympic Champion, or a Mr.
America.

But if more young guys trained the way
that Davis, Grimek, Stanko, Spellman
and Kono trained, they'd make much
greater progress than they're making
on the modern-day super programs
and typical bomb, blast and blitz
workouts.

That's why I continue to bang the drum.
It's an important message -- and so
many guys and gals need to hear it!

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Be sure to grab the March issue of
The Dinosaur Files - it's a good one!

March 2019 Dinosaur Files
(PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-march2019.html

P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters - including
links to my PDF courses and my Kindle
books:

Hard-copy and PDF

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

Kindle

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day:

"If you don't like the old-fashioned
stuff, try building a house without a
hammer and nails."

-- Brooks Kubik

Before You Go . . . . Take a Look at These:

Brooks Kubik's Kindle Books

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

We have over 25 books and courses in the Kindle store - including these little monsters:

 

For even more Kindle books by Brooks Kubik, visit:

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

As Promised - The March Dino Files!

New York gym owner and world famous strongman Sig Klein poses with some of his favorite old-school iron. Like Klein himself, these beautiful weights came from Germany - Prof. Attila, Sandow's trainer, brought them to New York!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

As promised this morning, here's the link
to grab your copy of the March 2019 issue
of The Dinosaur Files strength training
newsletter:

March 2019 Dinosaur Files

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-march2019.html

The little monster has plenty of great
training tips and workout ideas - and
features two killer articles:

1. A 48-year old Dino's detailed report
on how he trains to be stronger than
ever in his late 40's by using training
methods developed by John Davis and
Doug Hepburn.

and

2. A detailed review of Sig Klein's
training philosophy for older men -
with a detailed review of one of Sig
Klein's actual workouts after he
passed the "40 candles on the
birthday cake" mark.

Good stuff - fast and fun reading -
in a downloadable and printable
PDF format.

Here's the link again:

March 2019 Dinosaur Files

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-march2019.html

Happy reading - and be sure to let
me know how you like this month's
issue.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

How Long Should a Workout Take?

John Grimek always recommended the kind of workouts we teach here at Dino Headquarters - and you can't argue with his results!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Three quick notes, and then we'll talk
training.

1. The Dinosaur Files

The March issue of the world-famous
Dinosaur Files strength training news-
letter will be coming out sometime
very soon - probably later today -
and it's another great issue.

One of the feature articles covers Sig
Klein's training philosophy for older
men - and includes a terrific workout
that Klein followed back in the day.

I'll send an email as soon as we get
the links up. Be looking for it!

In the meantime, if you missed the
Jan and Feb issues, go here to grab
them:

Feb 2019 Dinosaur Files (PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-feb2019.html

Jan 2019 Dinosaur Files (PDF)

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles-jan2019.html

2.  Something for Older Dinos

Several years ago we did a great mini-course
on effective training for older Dinos --
with a brand new workout. It's available
in PDF with immediate electronic delivery:

Mini-Course for Older Trainees (PDF) 

http://www.brookskubik.com/minicourse_01.html

Many of you already have this little
gem, but if you don't, grab it now. I
Know you'll like it.

3. Dino Files Subscriptions

I forgot to mention - if you want to grab
a one year, 12-issue subscription to the
Dinosaur Files, we can make it happen.

Shoot me an email for details.

4. How Long Should a Workout Take?

I get tons of emails from readers who want
to know how long a workout should take.

They've read about two, three, four and
even five hour workouts -- and about
'"champions" who supposedly train all
day long -- and they wonder how they
can fit all that training into their schedules.

Some trainees even give up and QUIT
because they think they have to train for
several hours in every workout, and they
don't know how they can do it.

It's frustrating, because trainees have been
facing this issue for over 50 years -- and
the answer has been out there for just as
long -- but most trainees still don't get
it.

That's because the good information gets
lost in a sea of bad advice. Or nowadays,
in a cyber-sea of bad advice.

And that's why we all need to keep beating
the drum for sane, sensible, effective and
productive strength training and muscle
building.

So let me do exactly that.

Fifty years ago, Bradley J. Steiner, Peary
Rader, Arthur Jones, and a small handful
of other writers told their readers:

1. Long workouts are not necessary.

2. Most trainees actually do better on
shorter workouts.

3. You can get a terrific, result producing
workout in just 45 to 60 minutes.

a. You even can do it in 30 minutes.

b. Or 20 minutes.

4. Of course, you need to make every
minute count.

a. You need to focus on QUALITY in your
training.

b. Focus on the best exercises -- and follow
the best set/rep systems.

c. Train with concentration and focus.

5. Train for strength. Always try to get
stronger. Always work on improving your
performance from workout to workout.

My own workouts usually take 50 to 75
minutes. Most of them clock in at right
around one hour.

That's one hour, three times a week.

And it works great.

Give it a try, and see what happens!

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

And be looking for that soon-to-arrive
email with the link to the March Dino
Files . . . . you're gonna like it.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Chalk and Sweat has 50 terrific
workouts for trainees of all experience
levels, and none of them require you
to spend your life in the gym:

Chalk and Sweat

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

P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters - including
links to my PDF courses and my Kindle
books:

Hard-copy and PDF

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

Kindle

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: 

"It's not how LONG you train, it's HOW
you train that counts."

-- Brooks Kubik

Before You Go . . . . Take a Look at These:

Brooks Kubik's Kindle Books

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

We have over 25 books and courses in the Kindle store - including these little monsters:

 
For even more Kindle books by Brooks Kubik, visit:

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

How to Stay Out of the Danger Zone!

John Grimek shows what old-school strength and muscle looks like in action!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I saw an interesting article the other
day reporting on several recent studies
that looked at the effect of various factors
on injuries suffered by (1) runners and (2)
rugby players.

Now, I know that running and rugby are
different than strength training, but bear
with me. There was some very valuable
information for strength trainers like us.

In both studies, the researchers found
that the greatest risk of injury occurred
when there was a sudden increase in
the amount or intensity of one's
training.

An increase of just 20 percent was
enough to put an athlete into the danger
zone -- and an increase of 40 percent
or more increased the risk of injury by
about three to four times.

Now, you may think, "That's fine -- but
who would ever increase their training
volume or intensity by 20 to 40 percent?"

That's a fair question.

Here's the answer.

We've all done it.

Beginners do it all the time. They go from
no training to "lots of training" (usually far
too much). That's why beginners need to
start  light and easy and train progressively,
with slow and steady increases in both
volume and  intensity.

Other trainees do it when they come back
from a lay-off. Once again, they go from
zero training to "lots" of training, and
usually do it without any kind of break-in
period or any sort of slow, systematic
progression.

Many trainees do it when they go one a
specialization program. You see it happen
all the time.

Trainees do it when they go on a crash
weight loss program and start doing
high volume workouts to "burn off the
flab".

Trainees do it when they add cardio to
their strength training programs. They
go from three training days a week to
six (three days of strength training and
three days of cardio).

I could go on with many more examples,
but you get the point.

So how do you stay out of the danger
zone?

It's simple.

You follow old-school, "slow cooking"
progression methods.

You increase both your volume and your
intensity at a pace your body can handle.

You give your body time to adapt to any
increases in volume or intensity.

In other words, you follow the slow and
steady approach. Not the crash and burn
approach.

It sounds simple. But it works. And it's
one of the secrets of lifelong strength
and health.

As always, thanks for reading and have
a great day. If you train today, make it
a good one -- and stay in the gaining
zone, not the danger zone!

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. The progression systems in Dinosaur
Training Secrets, Vol. 3, will keep you
on the right track -- and keep you out of
the danger zone!

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

P.S. 2. My other books and courses are
right here at Dino Headquarters - including
links to my PDF courses and my Kindle
books:

Hard-copy and PDF

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

Kindle

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day:

"Do it one rep at a time and one pound at
a time."

-- Brooks Kubik

Before You Go . . . . Take a Look at These:

Brooks Kubik's Kindle Books

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

We have over 25 books and courses in the Kindle store - including these little monsters:

 
For even more Kindle books by Brooks Kubik, visit:

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