Nothing I love more than people that sit back and tell you how to do things, yep, those same people who never get out and actually train. Those same people who hide behind keyboards and don't lift a single object. I love those people!!!
I have found that more and more popularity my Sandbag Fitness Systems receives, the more attacks I get. You know what that means? It means we are getting to the industry! Here are some of my favorite attacks that people say, btw, these are all real!!!
**Josh really isn't strong, he is just trying to sell sandbags! Heck, he probably couldn't lift even a 200 pound sandbag!
Right off the bat this shows me a lot of ignorance. Anyone that knows me knows my love of strength. I've put myself out there almost more than any other fitness professional with videos of myself lifting hard and heavy. Nope, not my best student, or pros that I know, that is me right at the forefront of lifting right in front of everyone!
My love of sandbags only came from my lack of money years ago to have useful strongman equipment. Sandbags were the most versatile and accessible pieces of equipment. The only problem is they did keep breaking and falling apart, I won't say they were responsible for the end of my first marriage, but probably didn't help:)
However, as far as the question of me really lifting, this was a great video that my friend Troy Anderson put together after my last strongman contest. You will see me missing a 263 thick bar clean and jerk (very disappointing as I had done 273). You will see me performing a medley of a 225 sandbag, 250 each hand farmer's, and 190 keg. You will finally see me flipping a 750 pound tire that I just got edged out on!!! I am excited that in just a few weeks I will be going to San Diego to do another competition. Dan John's first rule of success? Show up!!!
***Man, he looks fat!
I always, always love this one!! No, I don't think I will get mistaken for a Calvin Kline fashion model any time soon, but really this is of no interest to me. Yet, we have a very bad misconception today.....women are fat if they can't fit into a size zero even if they have a six pack, guys are fat if we don't have tiny little waists! The truth of the matter is I have never met anyone of great strength that is not THICK in the torso.
Now, there is a difference between being fat and thick. Yes, some powerlifters and other strength athletes do get heavy to lift more, but this is different. I don't understand how if we train hard for our arms, our legs, our shoulders to grow, how we can expect our torso not to do the same? Yes, the trunk grows in muscle as well. If you remember the classic Greek statues, they weren't of v-shaped men, rather more square.
Who usually criticizes people for this? It is pretty amazing I often find it to be people that don't lift much at all? To be honest though, it is ok if you don't want this to happen to you, guess what, don't lift heavy!!! That is why I created this system of training, there are programs for any goal to achieve great things through the implementation of sandbags.
One can still benefit greatly from strengthening their torso as real core strength isn't about a six pack, it is about being functional!! Try this workout I posted to see how you can challenge strength, endurance, and fitness with such a great tool!
In Strength,
Josh Henkin, CSCS
ps-next week is the start of our new exciting program that will make you rethink how you train!!!
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Note, Josh, this is a highly edited version of a post in this thread:
http://www.irongarmx.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=200998&start=0
Before IGx went down, and after you'd posted the competitive results and vids, I posted an apology. That post was lost when the database was restored.
I'll post it directly to you, here on your blog. My bad. Those were some nice feats. I take that comment back.
When I run my mouth excessively, and I'm wrong, I got no issues admitting it.
I'm not trying to be unusually adversarial here, either.
I've got an issue with these sort of "wah wah wah" posts about criticism. You are either entirely above them (reference all the ad copy guys who are completely unavailable online) or you are right down here in the nitty gritty. Since you posted on IGx, I'm going to assume you want to mix it up a bit. If you post a bit of hoo-rah ad copy, expect someone, somewhere to snicker and point.
I'd just like to comment upon some of your comments. I won't be nasty about it, I just felt some things needed to be clarified.
Quote:
Nothing I love more than people that sit back and tell you how to do things, yep, those same people who never get out and actually train. Those same people who hide behind keyboards and don't lift a single object. I love those people!!!
Josh: Just this year I've competed in 2 Highland Games, and 1 hybrid Highland Games/Strongman contest. Last year I competed in 3 Highland Games. I've competed in Strongman contest in the past, in Olympic Lifting competitions, in Grip contests and as a Powerlifter. I lift on a regular basis in my basement, and occasionally with friends. I have a blog and a video account on Youtube where I put videos...some instructional, some bullshit, some competition. I'm not Pudz, or Krozaleski, or even Vierra, and I've never said I was. I'm hardly the kind of guy who sits on the sidelines, though.
I have found that more and more popularity my Sandbag Fitness Systems receives, the more attacks I get. You know what that means? It means we are getting to the industry! Here are some of my favorite attacks that people say, btw, these are all real!!!
**Josh really isn't strong, he is just trying to sell sandbags! Heck, he probably couldn't lift even a 200 pound sandbag!
Please, Josh, lets post the whole exchange:
I said this:
"I've done sandbag workouts that would bury either Josh or Bill. If they could even get the 200# bag off the ground."
You adequately defended yourself, admirably providing both competitive results and video, and my response was reposted above. Getting a big knee jerk defensive reaction out of you is a bit funny, but you are now exaggerating claims in an attempt to sell more stuff or to claim being persecuted.
Right off the bat this shows me a lot of ignorance. Anyone that knows me knows my love of strength. I've put myself out there almost more than any other fitness professional with videos of myself lifting hard and heavy. Nope, not my best student, or pros that I know, that is me right at the forefront of lifting right in front of everyone!
This is all cool by me.
My love of sandbags only came from my lack of money years ago to have useful strongman equipment. Sandbags were the most versatile and accessible pieces of equipment. The only problem is they did keep breaking and falling apart, I won't say they were responsible for the end of my first marriage, but probably didn't help:)
I first used sandbags shortly after getting an original copy of Kubik's Dinosaur Training. I used some of his ideas, some of the ideas from John Jesse's book, and some of Steve Justa's ideas to formulate a minimalistic approach to training. If you want to see the culmination of that work, check out the thread on IGx. I posted it there.
However, as far as the question of me really lifting, this was a great video that my friend Troy Anderson put together after my last strongman contest. You will see me missing a 263 thick bar clean and jerk (very disappointing as I had done 273). You will see me performing a medley of a 225 sandbag, 250 each hand farmer's, and 190 keg. You will finally see me flipping a 750 pound tire that I just got edged out on!!! I am excited that in just a few weeks I will be going to San Diego to do another competition. Dan John's first rule of success? Show up!!!
That's all good. I wish you luck in your preparation for this contest.
***Man, he looks fat!
I always, always love this one!! No, I don't think I will get mistaken for a Calvin Kline fashion model any time soon, but really this is of no interest to me. Yet, we have a very bad misconception today.....women are fat if they can't fit into a size zero even if they have a six pack, guys are fat if we don't have tiny little waists! The truth of the matter is I have never met anyone of great strength that is not THICK in the torso.
Now, there is a difference between being fat and thick. Yes, some powerlifters and other strength athletes do get heavy to lift more, but this is different. I don't understand how if we train hard for our arms, our legs, our shoulders to grow, how we can expect our torso not to do the same? Yes, the trunk grows in muscle as well. If you remember the classic Greek statues, they weren't of v-shaped men, rather more square.
Who usually criticizes people for this? It is pretty amazing I often find it to be people that don't lift much at all? To be honest though, it is ok if you don't want this to happen to you, guess what, don't lift heavy!!! That is why I created this system of training, there are programs for any goal to achieve great things through the implementation of sandbags.
One can still benefit greatly from strengthening their torso as real core strength isn't about a six pack, it is about being functional!! Try this workout I posted to see how you can challenge strength, endurance, and fitness with such a great tool!
I know for a fact that I never criticized you for anything like this. Bald chubby dudes in glass houses don't throw stones and all that.
I would be interested in seeing how you address the following points I made in my original post. I understand some of them might be related to the military style duffles that I used to make my own sandbags over 10 years ago. They follow:
1. In my experience, sandbags have a steep learning curve, however once the stabilizers catch up they get no different than any other awkward object type training. Like this Week 1=hard, Week 2=hard, Week 3=hard...Week 5=easy...or something along those lines.
2. Sandbags are a massive pain in the ass to transport
3. Sandbags are a massive pain in the ass to store
4. Sandbags can and will leak...which can make a massive mess. Even the good ones. Even if you do an Enamait and pack it all in baggies.
5. Sandbags have a tendency to sand your knuckles raw. And forearms, and any other part of your body where friction might occur.
6. Sandbags didn't do anything for my maximal strength. When I went back to the gym I didn't deadlift more, or bench more, or squat more, or even press more. I will say that they did a good job in maintaining strength while away from heavy barbell work. The high rep work did improve my conditioning.
7. Sandbags are a hassle to add weight.
I do feel sandbags are a valuable tool to include in your workouts, and would even go so far as to say that they would almost be invaluable to those athletes in grappling sports, as throwing around a dead, awkward weight and grabbing loose cloth is very sport specific.
Feel free to contact me at SShafley AT Gmail DOT com if you with to make some private commnets.
Take care and train hard
Shaf
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