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I get asked quite a bit about how we train and what we do. To sum up our strength training in one statement: “Bodybuild the Upper and Athlete the Lower.”

Attached is my plan of attack. I’m a full time firefighter, a Dad and I dabble in strongman. With my work schedule, 24 on 48 off, it can be difficult to find a solid schedule that works. After years of bouncing around trying to find a good fit, I finally sat down and laid out my goals.

I'm amazed at how many people train kids like they are Olympic level athletes who need some advanced programming/training.  It is also equally obnoxious to train them like they are elderly or made of glass, having entire workouts of pre-hab, rehab and balance work.  If you are an athlete who hasn't mastered basic calisthenics, running and bodyweight movements, you better build your base before you try to touch the clouds.  No base = no foundation.  And a proper foundation isn't built on a Bosu.

Question: I can only make it to the weight room one time per week. However, I have a chin/dip station at home and a weight vest. How can I make this work?

Athletes from The Past talk brazenly about their conditioning and workouts; all done supposedly to get them in great shape and turn them into stronger players (physically and mentally). There seems to be a premium on Mental Toughness amongst people from The Past.

You can't argue the benefits of picking up something heavy off the ground whether it it be a Trap Bar or straight bar, so who am I to say it's not good?  Also, if someone performs a Trap Bar Deadlift with 800lbs are they not strong?

Because no matter how much I learn, if I can't get people to do it, to believe in it, to embrace it...it is absolutely pointless.

The one big thing I've learned over the years from older lifters is this simple adage: Do not worry about what you can't do. Only worry about what you CAN do.

I love doing dips, although I'm 100% convinced they didn't help my bench press. I do think they helped my press, though.

I watched "average" teenage boys become headhunters; boys that are taking their first steps into becoming Men of Action.  In a few years, I hope they can take the lessons of aggression, leadership and action and put them to good use for themselves, their family/friends and where ever their lives take them. 

If you don't work with athletes there is still plenty to take away here.  If you do work with athletes and you're realizing that your entire strength training approach is a disaster, start with just one of the above and don't give up on the journey.

Athletes do not care about training as much as you do. If they did, you wouldn’t have a job.  Your job is less important than you think but more important than many coaches/admins/parents believe it is. Understand that there are a lot of moving parts to any successful season; just because you are a good strength coach doesn’t mean you will win. And just because you win, doesn’t make you a good strength coach. You can point to any dozen of things for reasons for success and failure.

Let's start with whether or not the Krypteia program is suitable for someone who is also doing Muay Thai 3x's a week. 

The thing you need to remember with your training is this: you are training to be a Marine Officer.  You are not training to become a Powerlifting Marine Officer or a Bodybuilder Marine Officer.

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