Can It Really Work that Fast?

Here's a video from back in the late 1990's - where I'm hitting a new PR in the push press with 302  pounds - a gain of 27 pounds in just two weeks after using a special program of heavy partials in the power rack.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Well, it never fails.

Whenever I write about something that
works - as in, it worked for me or it
worked for a great lifter from the past,
or it worked for one of our fellow Dino-
saurs - I get a dozen or so emails from
people who say:

"No, it doesn't."

"That's impossible."

"No one could gain strength that fast."

"No one could gain that much muscle
so fast."

And my personal favorite:

"Do you have any research studies to
prove that it works?"

As if doing it somehow doesn't count as
proof that it works.

During World War Two, General Patton
drove up to the front in his jeep and found
a group of GI's standing at the edge of the
Rhine River, looking for a place to cross.

"We can't cross here, General," they said.
"The nearest ford is 20 miles downstream."

"Then how did I just cross the river 200
yards back that way?" asked the General.

Anyhow, it happened again.

I wrote about one of our Dinos from
Texas - his name is Patrick, by the way -
who tried my new Heavy Partials course
and set a new PR in the bench press
just two weeks later.

I also noted that I did pretty much the
same thing back when I was competing
in bench press and powerlifting comps.

Two weeks on a special bench press
program - using heavy partials - and I
set a new PR - that also happened to
be a World record in my age group and
weight class in one of the two drug-free
powerlifting federations I lifted in.

And, of course, the doubters are having
a hey-day - and sending me emails telling
me that it's "impossible" to make gains
like that.

So here's something else to set their
hair on fire.

Heavy partial push presses in the power rack - with 440 pounds. These helped me push my full-range push press from 275 pounds to 302 pounds in just two weeks - and to 320 pounds after a few more weeks of heavy partials.

Back in 1997 or 1998, I did a special
program of heavy partials in the power
rack, with the specific goal of increasing
my push press from 275 pounds to 300
pounds as fast as possible.

I made it in just two weeks.

In fact, I did better than 300 pounds.

I made 302 pounds.

That's a gain of 27 pounds in just two
weeks.

And after a few more weeks, I made
320 pounds - a gain of 45 pounds.

So when I get an email from a reader
who says he set a new PR after just a
couple of weeks of heavy partials, I
don't doubt him for a minute.

I KNOW it's possible - because I've
done it.

And I invite you to do the very same thing.
Grab my course on Heavy Partials - and
give it an honest try.

See what happens - and how fast you gain.

Of course, you don't have to rush things -
you can start light and easy, break in
slowly and gradually - and then start
adding weight.

That's safer, and just as effective in the
long run.

And if it takes 6 weeks - or 8 weeks - or
even a whopping 12 weeks to hit a new
PR - that's pretty good, too.

So be sure to write in and let me know
about it.

You can grab the new course right here:

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

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

Two Weeks to a New PR!

Heavy partials build amazing strength - and they do it FAST!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I launched my new Heavy Partials training
course a couple of weeks ago, and many of
you have grabbed it and are giving the pro-
gram a try.

Which means we're getting a ton of great
feedback on it.

One of our many Texas Dinos has been
doing plenty of heavy bench press partials
ever since he got the course - and in just
two weeks he set a new PR in the bench
press.

Think about that for a second.

New course - do it for just two weeks -
and BOOM - new PR.

That's not too shabby.

It's also not a surprise.

Thirty years ago, when I was competing in
drug-free bench press and powerlifting con-
tests, I traveled from Louisville to Jackson-
ville to compete in a National bench press
contest.

My goal was to set a new age group World
record in one of the two powerlifting feder-
ations I lifted in.

Long story short, I won my age group and
weight class - but missed the World record
attempt.

I was steamed.

I drove back to Louisville cussing and fuming
the whole way.

I went on a special all-partials bench press
program for just two weeks - entered another
National Championship contest in Edison,
New Jersey - and set the new record.

When I set the record, I made an EASY lift
with the weight I had missed just two weeks
earlier in Jacksonville.

So in case you were wondering - yes, this
stuff works.

It works fast.

And it works great.

Go here, grab the new course, and see for
yourself:

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

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

And, of course - be sure to let me know
how you like the new program - and what
kind of results you get from it.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Last Chance for Dad's Day!

 

We're down to the last box of Strength, Muscle and Power, and I'm not doing another printing any time soon - perhaps not ever - so if you want a copy, grab it now.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

We're down to the last box of Strength,
Muscle and Power, and I'm not going to
do another printing for awhile - perhaps
not ever.

That means that this is the last time the
little monster will be available for Father's
Day - because they won't be around this
time next year.

Heck, they probably won't be around
much longer, period.

Anyhow, if you want a copy, grab it
now:

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

It's a great book that gives you tons of
hard-hitting workouts - including the
exact program I used when I won five
National championships in the bench
press.

It also covers:

power rack training

home gym training

heavy, awkward objects

thick bars

grip training

rest-pause training

specialization programs

building tendon and ligament
strength

abbreviated training

ultra-abbreviated training

and lots more!

Go here to grab the little monster -
and if you want me to autograph it
for you, be sure to ask when you
place your order.

Here's the link again:

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Grab Them While You Can!

We're down to the last box of Strength, Muscle and Power - and I'm not going to do another printing any time soon - so if you want a copy, grab it now. 

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

We're down to the last box of Strength,
Muscle and Power, and I'm not going to
do another printing for awhile - perhaps
not ever - so if you want a copy, grab it
now:

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

It's a great book that gives you tons of
hard-hitting workouts - including the
exact program I used when I won five
National championships in the bench
press.

It also covers:

power rack training

home gym training

heavy, awkward objects

thick bars

grip training

rest-pause training

specialization programs

building tendon and ligament
strength

abbreviated training

ultra-abbreviated training

and lots more!

Go here to grab the little monster -
and if you want me to autograph it
for you, be sure to ask when you
place your order.

Here's the link again:

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

A Power Rack Training Tip

Going hard and having fun after more than 50 years of old-school strength training.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

In response to my recent email on
isometric and isometronic training,
one of our readers sent in this
email:

Hi Brooks,

I'm new to your email list. I have
enjoyed the daily topics. The
information is encouraging.

My reply is in regards to isometric
and isometronic training.

In the mid 80's, I was a student at
Oregon State University, working on
my BS in Health and Human
Performance.

My favorite instructor was J.P. O'Shea.
Dr. O'Shea was a very accomplished
Pan American weightlifter in the 50's,
and the author of many books on
strength development.

He did research on "functional
isometrics." This was barbell
training in a power rack, where
near maximal loads were lifted
from a lower pin and held against
an upper pin for approximately
five seconds. 

The range of motion was only a
couple of inches. 

The position trained was usually
in the range of the least mechanical
advantage of the lift.

I had the privilege of training with
Dr. O'Shea for a 10-12 week cycle
of functional isometric squat training.

I would have to say this was some
of the most mentally challenging
training I have ever done.

I believe I still have a research
paper he wrote on the subject.

I will attempt to locate and pass
on to you if I find it.

Dan Morgan

Thanks for your feedback, Dan. That
method of training is a very good one.


I consider it to be isometronics rather
than isometrics, but the label doesn't
matter.

What matters is that it's a very good
way to build some serious strength
and muscle.

I cover this type of rack work - and
many other types of rack work in
Strength, Muscle and Power.

These methods are some of the toughest
and most effective training methods out
there - and for serious trainees, they're
hard to beat.

If you find that research paper, send it on
in - I'd love to see it! I have an autographed
copy of Dr. O'Shea's popular book, Quantum
Strength Fitness II, and I really enjoy it.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Go here to grab Strength, Muscle and
Power:

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

2.  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:

"Old gold still spends, and old iron still
builds plenty of strength and muscle."

- 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

Train with Doug Hepburn!

In the early 1950's, Canada's Doug Hepburn was hailed as the strongest man in the world - with record setting lifts and spectacular feats of strength - all due to his unique and highly effective training methods.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I mentioned Doug Hepburn the other day,
and of course, I got some emails asking
about how he trained.

So I thought I should mention something
for all of the new Dinos out there - and
for our longtime Dinos who may have
forgotten.

In 2010 I did a killer training course
that covers Doug Hepburn's life and
lifting.

It includes tons of training tips from
Big Doug - along with not one, not
two, and not three - but TWELVE
complete training programs.

The programs follow Doug Hepburn's
own workouts back when he was setting
records and winning championships -
but they're scaled for the average
trainee.

I like them a lot - and I think you will,
as well.

In 2016 we released a revised version of
my Doug Hepburn course as a Kindle
e-book.

We changed the title and the cover photos,
but otherwise, it's pretty close to the hard-
copy course.

And then, just for good measure, we released
the course as a PDF with immediate electronic
delivery. It's printable, so you can print it and
save it in your collection.

Go here to grab the course in whichever
format you prefer - and have fun training
with Doug Hepburn!

Hard-copy

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

Kindle

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

PDF

Go to our products page and look for the
section for PDF courses - and you'll see
the Doug Hepburn course close to the
bottom of the list.

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Dinosaur Style Powerlifting

An old-school, heavy duty power rack gives you some great training options for strength and power training. But amazingly, most modern trainees have no real idea how to use a power rack.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Several readers have asked for
Dinosaur Style powerlifting
programs.

You can find plenty of powerlifting
workouts in Strength, Muscle and
Power - including a detailed look
at exactly how I trained when I
was competing in powerlifting
and bench press contests.

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

There's also a terrific all-new
power rack training program
for powerlifters in The Dinosaur
Strength Training Archive, Vol.
1.

Why a power rack training
program?

Because power rack training
is far and away the best way
to increase your squat, bench
and deadlift.

It's how I added over 200 pounds
to my squat - and how I built my
bench press to the point where I
won 5 National Bench Press
contests.

Go here to grab the little monster:

Hard copy

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

Kindle edition

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurtrainingarchive_kindle01.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

And Then There Were None

 

We're getting near the end of the line for Strength, Muscle and Power - so if you want a copy, grab it now!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I want to make sure everyone knows that we're
getting near the end of the line for STRENGTH,MUSCLE AND POWER.

We have just 24 left - which sounds like a lot,
but it isn't - because they're going very fast.

I'm not going to do another printing in the
near future - and may not ever do one - so
for right now, this is it.

And I don't want anyone grumbling and com-
plaining when they're all gone - and asking:
"Why didn't you tell me that this was it?"

I'm telling you now. I'm telling everyone.

It's a great book, with tons of workouts and
some really great training tips. I worked long
and hard to pack it full of solid-gold advice
for building strength, muscle and power.

It covers power rack training, rest pause
training, training for advanced lifters, home
gym training, special grip exercises, sandbags,
barrels, finishers, specialization programs,
and much more.

It even gives you the exact program I
used when I was training for powerlifting
and bench press contests - meaning the
exact program I used to win five National
Bench Press championships (lifting in drug-
free powerlifting organizations, in the sub-
master's division, 198 and 220 pound
weight class).

Go here to grab a copy - and join the
thousands of Dinos the world over who
have used the advice in this book to build
some serious strength, muscle and power:

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Grab It While You Can!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

We have just three boxes of Strength,
Muscle and Power left, plus some copies
on the bookshelf by Trudi's desk.

Seven copies to be precise.

That makes a grand total of 67 copies -
which sounds like a lot, but really isn't.

They'll go fast.

And when they're gone, that's it, because
we not doing a second edition or another
printing anytime soon.

Remember, Trudi and I are planning to
move to the Pacific Northwest in the not
too distant future - and we can't take
thousands and thousands of books with
us - so we're not able to do a second
printing right now.

Anyhow, it's a great book - with tons of
terrific training programs and workouts -
including the EXACT programs I used to
win five National Bench Press Champion-
ships and set over a dozen American and
World records in the bench press (in the
submaster's division, lifting in drug-free
powerlifting federations).

The same programs helped me pack on
something like 40 pounds of muscle.
So it's well worth getting - and the
programs in it are well worth trying.

Go here to grab the little monster:

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

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Dinosaur Style Powerlifting

Masters powerlifter Rich Abbott pulls a heavy deadlift. 

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Several readers have asked for
Dinosaur Style powerlifting
programs.

You can find plenty of powerlifting
workouts in Strength, Muscle and
Power - including a detailed look
at exactly how I trained when I
was competing in powerlifting
and bench press contests.

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

There's also a terrific all-new
power rack training program
for powerlifters in The Dinosaur
Strength Training Archive, Vol.
1.

Why a power rack training
program?

Because power rack training
is far and away the best way
to increase your squat, bench
and deadlift.

It's how I added over 200 pounds
to my squat - and how I built my
bench press to the point where I
won five National Bench Press
contests - and set a number of state,
regional and National records in the
bench press - as well as age-group
World records in one drug-free power-
lifting organization.

Go here to grab the little monster:

Hard copy

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

Kindle edition

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurtrainingarchive_kindle01.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. I almost forgot - there's another
really good powerlifting  program in
Dinosaur Training Secrets, Vol. 1:

Hard copy

http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaur_secrets_01.html

Kindle edition

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


 

Look What I Found at Play It Again Sports!

I walked into Play It Again Sports the other day and spotted this little monster - and ended up taking it home!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Trudi wanted to get some kettlebells to use
in our apartment, so we headed over to the
local Play It Again Sports store to see if we
could find any for her.

We walked into the store, and the first thing
we saw were some power racks.

Most of them were modern racks, which I
don't like very much.

I prefer old school racks made from heavy
iron - the kind that can hold a ton without
complaining.

And, of course, I like them to be black iron.

Somehow, a rack doesn't have the same
look when it's painted fire engine red
or tangerine orange.

But the main thing you want is a very, very
strong rack - very solid - as in, more or
less bomb-proof.

Now, I have done plenty of rack training in
my life.

I used to train at a local gym that had a very
solid, super strong rack made by a retired iron
worker named Carl. That was my kind of rack.

And yes, it was black iron.

I more or less lived in it when I trained there.

Later, I set up a home gym in my basement,
and bought a rack from Jan Dellinger at the York
Barbell Company.

It was one of the last six they had in stock -
old school, solid, and strong.

And black iron, of course.

Giving 435 or 440 pounds a ride on my old York power rack.

I used that rack for a long time - but when we
sold our house in 2015, I sold the rack to a
young guy named Bobby. He's strong as heck
(he has closed the No. 3 gripper), and he puts
it to good use, which is what any good rack
deserves.

Meanwhile, I was doing a lot of Olympic lifting,
and didn't need a rack for it, and all was well.

But, as they say, things changed.

Last summer, I listened to John Wood give a
killer presentation on The Bone Strength
Project - and I decided to try it - but you
need a power rack to do it.

So I started to look for a used rack at a not
too steep price.

Of course, I wanted an old school rack.

Solid and strong.

And black iron.

Time passed, and I couldn't find what I
wanted.

But that changed yesterday - because one of
the used racks at Play It Again Sports was
EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Old school. Strong as heck. Solid and heavy.

And black iron.

And the little monster was listed at only $250.00.


Anyhow, I grabbed the rack. It's here at Dino
Headquarters now, and it's going to be getting
a lot of use.

Oh, about the kettlebells. We couldn't find any.

But that was okay. The trip was well worth it -
and, of course, Trudi deserves all the credit for
suggesting that we head over there.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. I cover power rack training in detail in
Strength, Muscle and Power:

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

And if you're interested in learning about John
Wood's unique and very effective Bone Strength
Project, grab this:

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/bone-strength-projectPDF.html

P.S. 2. 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. 2. Thought for the Day:

"Old school iron - in basic black - is pretty much
impossible to beat.

- 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

My Uncle Amos - National Champion!

I come from a family of lumberjacks and mountaineers in the Tatra Mountains of Slovakia - which probably explains why I got into wrestling and weight training at a very young age. But I only just learned about another Kubik who was seriously into strength sports when he was a young man. Here's the story of Amos Kubik.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

If you're a regular reader, you know
I'm very interested in my family
history and genealogy.

You may also know that my father's
family comes from Martin, Slovakia -
a small city in the Tatra Mountains
of north-central Slovakia, close to
the border with Poland.

My grandfather was born and raised
in a small village just south of
Martin - a village called Borcova.

He immigrated to the USA on January,
1907.

My grandfather came from a large
family that ran a big lumber camp
in the mountains. They cut the wood
and took it by wagon over the Tatra
Mountains into Poland - and then went
far into the Polish plains where wood
was scarce and they could sell theirs
for a higher price.

So the Kubiks were strong and sturdy
people - essentially, a family of lumber-
jacks and mountaineers.

Which helps explain why I got into
wrestling and weight training when
I was a kid - and why I won a State
Championship in Greco-Roman wrest-
ling - and why I won five National
National Championships in the bench
press.

My family has good genes for strength
sports - especially for sports that
require plenty of upper body strength.

And that brings me to my Uncle Amos.

I never knew I had an Uncle Amos -
but this past summer, one of my
brother's friends was vacationing on
Cape Cod, and saw a small weekly
local paper with some old photos
in it.

One of them was the Town Crier, Amos
Kubik - who dressed like an old-time
Puritan, and carried a hand-bell, and
walked through the town making
public announcements.

His voice was loud and so strong
that he got complaints when he
went by the courthouse because
he drowned out the judges and
the lawyers.

Apparently, he was very famous in his
day. There's even a video of him on
YouTube. And he was featured in many
photos and postcards back in the 30's
and 40's.

My brother's friend almost fell out of
his chair because Amos Kubik looks
very much like my brother - and like
me - so he saved the newspaper and
sent it to my brother, asking if Amos
Kubik was a relative.

My brother had no idea. He had never
heard of Amos Kubik - and neither had
I. But there was a heck of a family
resemblance.

My brother sent the newspaper to
me, and of course I fired up the old
Google and started to do some
searches.

And get this  . . .

Amos Kubik was a famous athlete
when he was a young man.

In fact, on Labor Day 1897 he won
the New England Amateur Rowing
Association Junior Singles Champion-
ship held on the Charles River in
Boston - and not by a nose, but by
two lengths.

In other words - Amos Kubik was the
rowing champion of all New England.

The following year - 1898 - Amos Kubik
won the National Intermediate Single
Scull Championship.

In other words, Amos Kubik and I
both won National Championships
in strength sports - and I think that's
a pretty good family tradition!

Of course, Amos Kubik is not my
actual uncle - but his family did
come from Slovakia, and there
are some clues and hints that he
might have hailed from Martin -
and that makes him a relative of
some sort, for sure.

There's also a Kubik-Grimek-Stanko
connection from Slovakia. I'll share
that in another post later in the week.

In the meantime, and as always,
thanks for reading. If you train today,
make it a good one - and do some
extra reps for my Uncle Amos!

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Genes aside, it takes plenty of
hard work and the right kind of training
to win a National Championship.

You can find the EXACT training program
I used to win five National Championships
in the bench press right here in Strength,
Muscle and Power:

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

P.S. 2. My other books and courses
are available at Dino Headquarters:

Hard-copy and PDF

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

Kindle

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day

"You come from a long line of strong
and sturdy people. Train hard, and
honor their memory."

- 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