Strongman Competition Tips
Here is my video response to a question sent in by fellow strength coach and hulsestrength.com reader Mike Rojas owner of Strong101 in Cali.
Mike asks:
Hey Elliott,
It’s Mike Rojas, from Strong 101 Gym in Cali! How goes everything in Florida? I should have connected with you sooner, but it’s been crazy out here…
I had a few questions on your Strongman Training. I am entering my first comp. in July out here at the North San Diego County Contest. I was wondering if you can post up some helpful hints for the events we will be competing in. Like Technique / What to Wear / What to Eat during Comp…?
First Event: Press Medley
Secong Event: Sandbag Carry / Wheel Barrow Push
Third Event: Axle Deadlift for Reps
Fourth Event: Yoke Walk
Fifth Event: Stones
I am also training four other guys to compete there as well, should be a bad ass time!
Thanks bro for your help… Take Care.
P.S. let me know if you need anything from me, I will do what I can.
Elliott answers with:
HEY! Do you love Strongman Training?
Check this out ==> http://www.StrengthCampDVD.com
Powerlifting vs. Strongman Training
Lately, I have become intrigued by the idea of a truly HYBRID TRAINING PROGRAM! The idea of combining Strength, Power and Endurance (almost like Strongman Training) to develop a NEW type of muscle fiber and energy system that allows an athlete to display the quality of SUSTAINED STRENGTH!
In the next several months I am going to do a load of research in delve into this topic deeper. Stay tuned as I use myself as and athletes as “lab rats” for these experimental workouts!!!
This may very well change the face of Strength and Conditioning for ever!
Below is a video given to me by Jim Smith of http://www.AcceleratedMuscularDevelopment.com
This workout is a pretty good example of the type of Hybrid Training that I am talking about.
PS - Jim Smith has a great program at http://www.AcceleratedMuscularDevelopment.com that he is currently offering at a discounted price…
BUT THERE IS A CATCH!! – This program is ONLY available at this specical price for the next 14 hours or so, basically until early tomorrow. If you love strength training and are looking for a program that eliminates all of the “pretty boy” BS that most muscle building programs promote, than you’ll want to get your hands on this SOON!
Here’s the link again ==> http://www.AcceleratedMuscularDevelopment.com
Categories: Recent Posts, Strong Body, Strongman Conditioning Exercises, Strongman Exercises Tags: hybrid training, power lifting, strongman
Muscle Mass Training For Strongman
Since earning professional status as a Strongman through 2 years of intense training and mental labor, I am WHOOPED!!
Burned out physically and mentally! — I need a break.
Yet, every where I turn the number one question that is rifled in my direction is… “Elliott, when are you gonna compete in your first pro show?”
Now, if you have been reading HulseStrength.com for some time and have become familiar with my philosophies, you know that I acknowledge the rotation of “SEASONS” in life as well as in training. There are “SEASONS” for kicking ass as well as for recovery.
This PRINCIPLE is present all around us and in nature, just look… Night & Day, Winter & Summer, Planting & Harvesting, Rain & Drought, Anabolic & Catabolic — Yin & Yang! These opposites are expressed naturally in our surroundings and are dictated by “God” or “Mother Nature” (whichever you choose to call it).
The interesting thing about Man is that we have the choice to acknowledge and adhere to the eb and flow of this natural rhythm OR to completely ignore it and FIGHT nature (which is a battle we can NEVER win)!
So for right now, and perhaps for the next 2-3 months I will be taking time to mend my bones and joints, deload my nervous system and invite a more ANABOLIC state from my endocrine system.
But interestingly — My muscles will not get a break!
In fact, the kind of training I’m doing right now implements much higher volume and extremely short rest periods. As for the intensity, it’s completely different. At the end of the workout I’m exhausted, but I never push a set to muscular failure.
Like I said in my last video, this is burning fat pretty fast for me. It pays to be at the top of your weight class for strongman, but I don’t need to carry that extra weight all year long. I know, I know….pics are coming soon 
This style of training is nothing new and no it’s not something I invented. It’s based on German Volume Training techniques and a lot of the bodybuilders from the Golden Era swore by it.
I’ve been reading a lot about it lately the guy Doberman Dan’s Hyper Growth Program. He sent me a review copy of his “Hyper Growth Muscle Mass Training” program last week and so far from what I’ve read and tried out in my own workouts, it’s LEGIT!
http://hulsestrength.com/recommends/MuscleGrowth <<<<—— Check out the Hyper Grow Program
What the heck was the Golden Era?
The bodybuilders of the Golden Era from the 50s, 60s, and 70s produced bodies that resembled Greek Gods (or those guys in the 300 Movie)! The symmetry and proportion untainted by the humongous drug bloated waists of today’s pro bodybuilders explains why even young men of today’s generation are inspired by the men of this past generation.
NOT this…
I’ll be posting more videos and talking more about this kind of training. If you’re thirsty RIGHT NOW, than check out Doberman Dan’s new program called, Hyper Growth Muscle Mass Training.
==> http://hulsestrength.com/recommends/MuscleGrowth
You guys know I hate hype and this program has been getting a lot of it lately. But the truth is Dan’s offering it a discount right now during the Pre-Sale which is going on TODAY Thursday May 7th through May 9th.
So definitely head over and read his website ==> http://hulsestrength.com/recommends/MuscleGrowth
Strongman Log Clean & Pressing
It never ceases to amaze me how many sports and strength coaches think that they need to teach their athletes the incredibly technical skill of The Olympic Clean & Press! These well meaning coaches sometimes forget that exercises like the Clean & Jerk as well as The Snatch are OLYMPIC EVENTS!! — The men and women who receive the greatest benefit from executing these movements have generally spent several years, sometimes decades learning how to perfect their skills. Also, I have discovered that in order for our training programs to be effective, they have got to be FUN. No 16 year old football player, who is full of “piss and vinegar” is going to want to stall his strength efforts in order to “learn” how to execute a lift. He wants to “hit it hard… NOW”, and within the bounds of safety, it is our responsibility to let him go for it! This is why I love Strongman Training so much. The movements we use are very functional, based on “Primal Movement Patterns”, create incredible strength and explosive capacity AND it fun to do. Among several substitutions for Olympic Lifting movements like the clean and press is The Strongman Log Clean & Press. This movement requires very little skill but a SH*T LOAD of Attitude! Also, it puts such an immense demand on the bone and muscle tissue that it literally forces the body to release a flood of testosterone and other naturally produced anabolic hormones directly into your blood stream. Below is a video of me doing Log Clean & Presses with over 300 lbs. I move lots of weight with this movement, granted that I am a Professional Strongman . If you see me lifting like this and are thinking to yourself, “there is NO WAY that my that my young, skinny punks will EVER clean and press like that” — please rest assured that my athletes use about 1/4 of the weight displayed here and are usually performing sets of 5 reps.
One of the problems with Strongman Training and exercises like the Log Clean & Press is getting your hands on the equipment. Well, fret no more! — Below is a description of what I have discovered to be the Strongest and most Rugged Strongman Training Log ever constructed. Check it out. 
Click Here To Order Now ==> The Strongman Pressing Log
PS - If you order The Strongman Log by clicking the link or the images above before the end of this weekend, I will send you a FREE digital copy of my Gridiron Strongman Training System as well as 1 free month on our new Strength Camp Member’s Only website accessable only by our Strength Camp DVD Members… but, we’ll let you in for a few weeks — Just send me your receipt via e-mail and I’ll hook you up!
Click Here To Order Now ==> The Strongman Pressing Log
Farm Boy Strength
Joe Hashey – Synergy Athletics Workout
Here in New York, the weather just hit 80 degrees (after it snowed 3 days ago)! That only means one thing – time to get the strongman equipment out and head outdoors.
At Synergy Athletics, I work with athletes that play a variety of sports – soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, field hockey, basketball, and hockey. Many of the athletes here play at least two of these sports.
No matter the sport, nearly every athlete needs to be explosive. Try this full body workout to get explosive strength while increasing your general physical preparedness.
I also designed this workout for people on a budget. You could get EVERYTHING needed for this workout for under $10. You don’t need a fancy commercial gym to get in an incredible workout.
Equipment needed: Car tire (free), car tire sled (homemade with tow straps), keg optional.
1. Overhead Keg or Tire Throws – 8 x 1. Focus on exploding the hips through and maximizing triple extension. If you don’t have a keg, get a car tire for free from nearly any garage, just go ask for an old one. The weight isn’t as important as the rate of force development. EXPLODE. Measure your distance each time and try to beat it.
2. Explosive Scarecrows (sled) – 4 x 30 yards. Use a weight that is under your 50% max sled drag. Pull the slack out of the straps, sit back, and explode up into a scarecrow. Reset and repeat.
3. Hand Over Hand Sled Rows – 30 under 30. Start with one plate, row it 30 yards in under 30 seconds. Add a 45 and repeat until you can no longer row the weight in under 30 seconds. If you finish in under 4 sets, go up by 25’s next time instead.
4. Tire Clean and Throw – 3 x 10 – Clean a car tire from the ground up to your chest, immediately press throw it for distance. Keep your feet set! Do not step into it, use your chest and shoulders.
5. Chop Circuit 5 x 10 – Pick up the car tire and get ready to try to smash it. Find yourself a tree, and swing the tire like an axe into the tree, rotationally from the right. Repeat from the left. Next, overhead chops into the ground. Don’t worry your tree will be fine.
The chop circuit serves a greater scientific purpose other than just being grueling. When you hit the tire or ground the tire will compress briefly then pop back to its original shape. This will create an intense vibration through your fingers, hands, wrists, and all the way up to your shoulders and upper back. Your body has to instinctively brace itself to take this shock wave. This will light up your whole upper body, not just your core.
Joe Hashey is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and owner of Synergy Athletics. He has authored the Bull Strength Manual for serious strength and power development. Check out Joe’s work and get a hold of incredible free newsletter bonuses over at Synergy-Athletics.com.
Categories: Announcements, Motivation, Recent Posts, Strongman Exercises Tags: strongman competition
Should You Squat Below Parallel?
PS – The Strength Camp Clinic is like 2 Weeks away!!
http://strengthcamp.com/clinic-birthday-party.html
Categories: Recent Posts, Strong Body, Strongman Exercises, Uncategorized Tags: below parallel, squats, squatting
Kettlebell Workout & Free Report
If you are anything like me, you are SUPER addicted to lifting heavy weights. I wish I could lift HEAVY every day, all year round!
But the truth is that we’ve got to discipline ourselves to “de-load” every once in a while. Basically take a break from the nervous system frying exercises and training sessions that we so love.
Using kettlebell circuits to keep our work capacity high — but at the same time give the nerves and tissue a break from high intensities is what we do at Strength Camp every 4th or 5th week.
Here is a sample kettlebell workout that a couple of our high school football players completed yesterday as they were “de-loading”.
Hey! Wanna lean how to get started with Kettlebells?
This is the first book I ever bought on the subject.
Click Here => http://www.hulsestrength.com/recommends/Kettlebell_Basics
Want to get your hands on some discount kettlebells? How about 30% off?
Click the link below for a good deal on Kettlebells.
Trap Bar Dead Lifting For Football Strength
Below you’ll get a chance to take a look at some of the “young stud” football players lifting massive amounts of weight with the trap bar a Strength Camp.
But the truth is… I’m not super impressed with trap bar pulling. Yea, it looks great and it does offer the great benefit of putting the body under loads that force the production of growth hormones and testosterone.
BUT…
The fact remains that this movement is sort of a “cheat”. Because when you lift a weight that allows you to maintain your center of gravity over your base of support, you are less likely to recruit the often weak and under utilized musculature of the mid / low back and abdominals.
We use the Trap Bar to build egos and have fun… but when its all said and done, a truly strong and balanced athlete MUST learn how to dead lift with a straight bar.
PS – This “Secret” of weight training can add several pounds of strength and increased performance if used properly.
This is also only one of the several tips and secrets included in Strength Camp Principle #3 “Construct A STRONG Body”.
I will be unleashing everything that I understand and use at Strength Camp to construct strong and massive athletes and men on April 25th.
Learn more here: http://strengthcamp.com/clinic-birthday-party.html
Can’t wait to see you there!
Categories: Announcements, Dead Lift Exercises, Power Lifting Exercises, Strongman Exercises Tags: trap bar dead lift
Strongman Competition Training
I’ve got to be completely honest with you folks. I owe it to you!
Often I speak about putting forth 100% of your efforts 100% of the time to achieve 100% of your goals. I truly believe that anything less than 300% of our attention aimed towards our values is not worthy of our station.
But I have a confession to make…
I am BURNT OUT!
Yep, even energetic Elliott falls face first into the dirt and becomes overwhelmed with “to dos”.
It may sound crazy but this has forced me to add yet one more item to my list of values…
REST.
Yep, the saying, “You’ve got to leave room for God to help you.” has finally rung true for me. So, if you would excuse me… I am going to take a few weeks to reflect on this value and in the meantime will not be contacting via email and video more than 2x per week.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t love ya
I just means that I have to “Sharpen My Sword”, so to speak… so that I will be stronger in leading you in our crusade against physical sloth, laziness and irresponsibility.
On that note… I have committed to compete in a Strongman Competition this weekend and although I feel run-down and unfocused (needing more time to recover and reflect) I still plan on WINNING!
Check out this short film of my Strongman Training regimen leading up to this weekends show.
Categories: Announcements, Strongman Exercises Tags: elliott competition, strongman training
