How to Build Herculean Super Strength

 

Paul Anderson epitomized Herculean super strength. He won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympics.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

45 years ago, Bradley J. Steiner wrote
a great little book with one of the best
titles in the history of the world:

"Powerlifting and the Development of
Herculean Super-Strength."

Good title, huh?

England's Reg Park was one of the best built men in the world - and one of the strongest men in the world.

In the book, Steiner focused on building
four key areas:

1. Legs

2. Back

3. Shoulder girdle

4. Chest

The theory was, if you built plenty of
strength and muscle mass in those four
key areas, you'd end up with plenty of
strength and muscle mass from head
to toe.

And it's a valid theory. It works. By
focusing on these four critical areas,
you build maximum strength and
muscle throughout your entire body.

In his prime, Brooklyn's John Davis was hailed as the Strongest Man in the World. He won six World weightlifting championships and two Olympic gold medals.

And here's another tip. Or rather, three
of them. These come from me, but I
think Steiner would approve of them:

1. Power rack training

2. Rest-pause training

3. Heavy singles

Why do these help build Herculean
super-strength?

Because they let you train with HEAVY
WEIGHTS.

And make no mistake about it -- heavy
weights are what it takes to build
Herculean super-strength.

That was true 45 years ago - and it's
still true today.

And it will always be true.

Today, tomorrow, and forever.

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. You can learn more about rest pause
training, power rack training and heavy
singles in STRENGTH, MUSCLE AND
POWER:

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

P.S. 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. 3. Thought for the Day: "You
build strength, muscle and power
rep by rep, set by set, pound by
pound and workout by workout."
-- Brooks Kubik

We have more than 25 Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - head on over and take a look:

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

Does Strength Training Rewire Your Brain?

Front squats at Dino Headquarters. Strength training is a form of meditation - and like meditation, it rewires your brain.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I would LOVE to see someone do
some research about the effect of
serious strength training on
the human brain.

By "serious strength training," I'm
talking about the kind of training
that requires deep, intense, lost
in the moment, total, complete,
100% focus.

It's precise, perfect and controlled.

It is a unity of mind and body.

It is meditation while exerting
force against heavy resistance.

Researchers have studied the
effect of meditation alone, and
they've found that it can re-wire
the brain and the nervous system.

It literally builds your brain cells.

If 10 or 20 minutes of meditation
can have  THAT much of an effect,
imagine what 60 minutes of super-
concentrated focus with a barbell
in your hands can do for you!

Train with concentration, focus, and mindfulness.

By the way, this is one of the reasons
why I always emphasize the mental
elements of training.

The mental elements of training are
important because they help you build
more strength and more muscle.

But they're also important because
they help you build more brain-power.

Have you ever heard the old expression
"sharp as a tack?"

Maybe it should have been "smart as
a barbell."

Anyhow, it would make a great
research project!

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. For more about the mental elements
of strength training, grab these:

Dinosaur Training has been a world-wide best seller for over 20 years.

Dinosaur Training: Lost Secrets of
Strength and Development

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

Dinosaur Bodyweight
Training

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

Strength, Muscle and
Power

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Use
your brain to build your brawn,
and vice-versa." -- Brooks Kubik

We have more than 25 Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - head on over and take a look:

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

The Big Move (Part 2)

 

Trudi took this photo in Port Townsend, Washington, during her recent scouting expedition. She also got a great leg workout going up and down the steps in the back. We later learned that strength coach and BJJ champion Steve Maxwell used to train on those very same steps!

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

We got a ton of comments and
questions in response to yesterday's
email about our plans to move from
Louisville to the Pacific Northwest
next year.

Thanks to everyone who wrote or
commented, and please keep the
feedback coming in!

A number of you suggested moving
to certain places. We appreciate the
ideas, and will look into all of them.

Trudi explored Port Townsend, Sequim
Port Angeles, Whideby Island, and
Bellingham - as well as Salt Spring
Island - and those are all high
on our "let's look into them more"
list.

We might well be a bit nomadic and
explore different places, staying for
awhile and then heading somewhere
else.

Trudi has lived in Louisville for almost
50 years - and it's been 35 years for
me - so we're ready for a change of
scenery - or multiple changes of
scenery.

Wherever we go, the gym goes with us.

Many of you asked about the Dino
business and how we'll keep it
going.

The answer is simple:

1. We'll leave our inventory of hard
copy books with a friend, so that we
can fill orders without having to
bring the books with us.

2. We may switch to hard-copies
printed by Amazon - so you order
from Amazon and Amazon fills your
order.

3. We'll do lots and lots of Kindle
books and PDF's.

But in any case, we'll continue to
bring you plenty of Dino-riffic, hard
hitting, no-nonsense, sane and
sensible training  advice.

Yes, you can train anywhere.

That reminds me - I have a couple
of quick questions for you:

1. Do you want to see the Dinosaur
Strength Training Notebook series
in PDF and hard-copy as well as in
Kindle format?

Or is Kindle your preferred method
of reading them?

2. Same question for the Strength
Q and A series.

And finally - I'm working on the next
volume in the Q and A series - so if
you have a short training question,
send it on in!

If you're not familiar with the Dinosaur
Strength Training Notebook and the
Q and A series, click on the link for
my Kindle books and courses and
check them out.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Do you have the original "little
blue monster" - the one they call the
"Bible of Strength Training"? If not,
grab it now:

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

P.S. 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. 3. Thought for the Day:
"You're never too old to train,
and you're never too old for
adventures." - Brooks Kubik

We have more than 25 Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - head on over and take a look:

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

Big Changes at Dino Headquarters!

 

Having fun at the new gym. A barbell plus a place to use it is all the gym I need.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

I want to update you on some big
changes at Dino Headquarters -
and how it's going to make some
very interesting things available
to you over the coming weeks
and months.

Last year we sold our big, five-
bedroom house and downsized to
a two-bedroom apartment not far
away from where we used to live.

It was the right time to make the
move. The kids are grown up and
gone, and the house was way too
big for two people.

The apartment is great - and much
easier to maintain than the house.

Trudi loves it.

I like it, too, although I do miss my
garage gym. As gyms go, it was
pretty near perfect.

However, I've set up shop in the
basement and the drive-way, and
that lets me get the job done.

Anyhow, that move was step
one.

Step two is to move somewhere
we've been thinking about for a
number of years - the Pacific
Northwest.

Not to retire - but to find a new
place to live and work.

We're looking for somewhere small
and beautiful - with plenty of nearby
hiking and camping.

Trudi actually went up and scouted
around back in April - and found
some places that she really likes.

Trudi is a physical therapy assistant
with a lot of specialized training and
close to 40 years experience in the
field. Her job is portable, and there's
work pretty much anywhere.

As for me, the Dino Business is
pretty portable, as well. Have
laptop, will travel, as they say.

That will let me continue to offer
new books, courses, Dino Files
and other products for you -
which is something I plan to
do for a very long time.

And yes, the weights will be
going with us, as well. I also
plan to keep on training Dino
style for a very long time.

The timeline is - sometime next
year.

Before the big move, we're going to sell all of my duplicate copies of Strength and Health - as well as plenty of other good stuff.

In the meantime, we need to do
some things that will let us travel
more easily.

That means I'm going to be selling
a lot of duplicate copies of old books
and courses from my strength
training library.

I've been thinking about how to do
that in an easy way. I could always
put them on eBay, but I want the
Dinos to get them, so I'm going to
begin by offering them to the
Dinos.

I'll start by offering one a day, on a
first come, first served basis.

So be looking for the announcement
each day - and if you see something
you want, fire in an email right
away.

Anyhow, I wanted to give you a
heads up. Stay tuned for updates
and further info.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. Strength, Muscle and Power 
is one of our most popular books.

Go here to grab a copy:

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

P.S. 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. 3. Thought for the Day:
"The gym is wherever the weights
are - and wherever you are."
- Brooks Kubik

We have more than 25 Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - head on over and take a look:

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

How to Develop Speed and Smooth Lifting

Stepping up to the bar at Dino Headquarters.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Several of you have said you enjoy
watching my videos on Instagram.

And you've also asked how to to
develop speed, good form, and
smooth technique on the Olympic
lifts.

So I thought I'd share a new
video that answers that question.

It shows me working on speed,
form and smooth technique.

It's called drilling - and I do lots
and lots of it in my workouts.

I begin each workout with the
empty bar - and I use it to drill
whatever lift I'm training that
day.

If it's snatches, I drill snatches.

If it's clean and jerk, I drill clean
and jerks.

I do five singles, working for
perfect form and smooth
technique on each one.

Then I add 5 kilo plates and
repeat the process - 5 singles,
striving for perfect form on
each.

Then I use 10 kilo plates and do
another 5 singles.

And so on.

I video each lift, and watch it
to see how I did and what I
can improve in the next lift.

I do this for 30 or 40 minutes
in every workout - before I get
anywhere near a heavy weight.

It's a must for older lifters -
because it helps keep you
fast, mobile and agile.

And fast, mobile and agile is
a very good thing ta any age.

And an even better thing at
age 60.

Anyhow, here's what it looks
like:

https://www.instagram.com/brooks_kubik/?hl=en

By the way, let me repeat
something important. I do
singles - even when it's just
the empty bar.

Drilling isn't about doing lots
of reps - or as many reps as
you can, as fast as you can.

It's about single reps - making
each one as perfect as possible.

Enjoy the video - and hit the
LIKE button - and follow me
on Instagram.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. For more tips on effective
training for older Dinos, grab
this:

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

P.S. 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. 3. Thought for the Day:
"On every exercise, in every
workout, strive to make every
rep absolutely perfect."
- Brooks Kubik

We have more than 25 Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore - head on over and take a look:

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

More Feedback from the Dinos!

Philadelphia's Louis Abele shows what old-school, ground-based training can do for a man.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

Here's more feedback from the Dinos
in response to the guy who told me
I was "too old for Olympic lifting"
and I should stick to "bodybuilding
workouts."

By the way, I'm 60.

Is 60 too old for weightlifting?

I don't think so . . . you just have
to be smart about it.

And, of course, you don't have to
do Olympic weightlifting to get a
great workout. I do it because I
enjoy it. But any ground-based
workout with barbells, dumbbells,
kettlebells, sandbags or whatever
will work great - and so will old-
school bodyweight workouts.

The important thing is to train
hard, regularly, seriously and
progressively.

Front squats at Dino Headquarters. Train your legs for lifelong strength and health.

That said, here's more from your
fellow Dinos:

GIVE THEM TIME - THEY'LL
LEARN!

Those negative comments usually
come from young bucks who are
trying to find the easy way to a
great physique without realizing
that the stand on your feet work-
outs we espouse will get you there
and keep you there.

Years ago I could clean and press
two 105-pound dumbbells. 90's
are a chore now, at age 52, but
I'll take it.

Most young bucks struggle to put
weight over the heads these days.

They will learn in time.

You can't put an old head on young
shoulders.

John Grahill

Training hard and getting it done at age 60.

THE MAN WHO SAYS IT CAN'T
BE DONE

I don't remember the source, but
here's a quote your naysayer would
do well to remember:

"The man who says it can't be done
should stay out of the way of the
man doing it."

Michael Dumas

Thanks for the feedback - and
thanks for reading today's email.

If you train today, make it a good
one - and if you encounter a nay-
sayer, dropkick him into next week.

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

P.S. There are tons of terrific, old-
school workouts and old-school
exercises in Strength, Muscle
and Power:

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

P.S. 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

Do you have my Old-School Strength Q & A? You can grab it right here - along with more than 25 other Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore:

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

P.S. 3. Thought for the Day: "Stand
on your feet and lift heavy stuff -
and don't listen to the folks who
tell you not to do it." - Brooks Kubik

 

Bernie Baron shows terrific strength and development in this photo from 1940. Old-school training works!

The Dinos Roar!

 

I train at home - alone - in large part because I don't like the "advice" from gym members at a commercial gym.

Hail to the Dinosaurs!

As you might expect, there was a
ton of feedback to yesterday's email
about the guy who told me I was
"too old to do Olympic lifting" and
I should "stick to bodybuilding."

Here's what some of you had to
say:

GOING STRONG AT 59

I agree 100%.

These days, I focus purely on
athletic lifting because at my age
(59) I need that more than ever.

My preferred tools are double,
heavy kettlebells, and I focus
mostly on quick lifts for this
reason.

Studies have shown that Olympic
lifting, more than any other type
of strength training, carries over
into all other activities - therefore,
it makes perfect sense to do it
as we age.

Ruiseart Alcorn

Learn what to do and how to do it - and then do it - and don't listen to anyone who tells you that you're "too old" to do it.

MORE ADVICE FROM THE
PEANUT BRIGADE

Recently, I was lifting at a
commercial gym, doing squats
and deadlifts at my 1RM super-
setted for 5 reps each to focus
a little more on conditioning.

A younger guy approached me.
and said:

"Those two lifts are too intense
to put together - don't do that!"

I said, "Thanks for the advice" -
and continued to do what I was
doing.

I watched him go back to his
bench and struggle to bench
press 135 pounds - with wrist
wraps.

Dustin Jones

Training under the stars at Dino Headquarters.

AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER!

Great response, Brooks. Age
is only a number! It's a shame
that so many people don't get
that.

I didn't start strength training
until I was 50 years old. Now I
am 55 and I wish I had discovered
this type of training sooner.

Thanks for all your knowledge
and inspiration!

Fred Fenn

MORE TO COME

We have more feedback from the
Dinos, and I'll share it in another
email tonight or tomorrow. Be
looking for it!

Yours in strength,

Brooks Kubik

Having fun with Dino-style dumbbell training - and yes, that's 151 pounds on the dumbbell. This is another one the Peanut Brigade doesn't like.

P.S. Dinosaur Dumbbell Training is
great for Dinos of all ages - and it's
perfect for home gym workouts:

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

P.S. 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. 3. Thought for the Day: "When
you walk in the woods, you don't
keep jumping on and off the trail." - Brooks Kubik

Do you have the latest issue of the Dinosaur Files strength training journal? You can grab it right here - along with more than 25 other Dinosaur training books and courses in the Kindle bookstore:

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

Dinosaur Training books and courses on Kindle - go here to grab them:

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