AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE
ISSUE 70 - 8/05/2005
1. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart."- Rickson Gracie
The fear of failure is one of the biggest mental obstacles that impedes people from taking action. I would venture to say that most successful people have learned more from their failures than from their successes. Success can often give one delusions of grandeur while failure can give success driven people the fire that they need to move on. The worst thing that can happen to you is to have everything happen for you easily. The second that a hardship comes your way, you will crumble. Failure if used properly can develop mental toughness. The key is how your interpret the experience of failure. Does it make you want to give up? Or does it make you want to move forward and show yourself and others what you are made off. If you want to be successful at anything, you need to be in the latter category.
Most things that you try in life will probably not work out. It usually takes a series of failures to acquire the life experience and maturity for the eventual success that will arrive if you keep persevering. What separates successful people from unsuccessful people is that successful people keep moving forward and try new things. Imagine a baby that took longer than others to learn how to walk. What do you think the baby's parents should do? Get the kid a wheel chair? Of course not. Any sensible parent will keep working with the baby until it learns how to walk as failure is not an option. Life is not any different. If one plan does not work out, try another plan. Imagine a salesperson that gives up after the first few rejections. Does that sound like a successful person to you? I do not think so. Any top sales person will tell you that you have to learn how to handle rejection to be successful. Even the top sales people get way more rejections than sales. Look at baseball as another example. If you hit three balls out of every ten, you are considered elite. That means that you are failing 70% of the time! Regardless, winning 30% of the time is enough to be considered a top player.
Most big successes usually occur after one major failure. That is when one is really tested. You have two paths that are presented to you. You can either take path number one and use the failure to fuel the fires to acquire success or you can choose path number two and get busy dying. When you stop challenging yourself, a part of you starts dying. You become another broken soul and an example of what not to do to become successful. I do not know about you, but I rather be an example of what to do to be successful.
Live Life Aggressively!
Mike Mahler
2. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING ARTICLE
Using "Visualization" And "Triggers" to enhance workout performance
One of the main reasons why many people have lackluster workouts is because of lack of preparation. Sure, lack of sleep and poor nutrition are certainly critical factors. However, mental preparation before workouts is also very important. If you just walk in the gym casually and start your workout, it is not going to be anywhere near as productive as it could have been with proper mental preparation. Part of being mentally prepared is knowing exactly what you are doing at the gym before you start your workout. Moreover, you should know what the goal is and be fired up to achieve the goal. In other words, achieving the goal should mean something to you.
In addition to being mentally prepared taking a few minutes to practice "visualization" before you start training will work wonders. Close your eyes and walk yourself through the workout from start to finish. Imagine yourself accomplishing all of the sets and reps and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with it. Imagine how great you feel after a solid workout. Senior RKC and Full Contact Fighting Champion Steve Cotter told me that when he really practiced "visualization" techniques before a match he was unstoppable. Steve is in good company, as top MMA champion Frank Shamrock has told me the same thing. He likes to imagine the fight in his mind before it happens. He imagines every move his opponent will make and what he will do to win the fight. Just as champions take their matches seriously, you should take your workouts seriously. Once your practice "visualization" techniques often enough, you will have feelings of deja-vu at each workout. In other words, you will feel like you have already done the workout successfully and this success mindset will carry over to your workouts.
Another technique that you can use to increase the odds of a successful workout is to apply a "trigger" before a workout. This is some kind of ritual that you do before each workout. It has to be something unique that you will notice such as clapping your hands forcefully before each workout. It could be pulling on your left ear three times before you start. Be creative and find something that works for you. Whatever it is keep it to yourself. There is no reason for anyone else to know. The last thing you need is some negative feedback from some jacks ass that wants you to be a failure like he or she is. Now do not just do a "trigger" before any workout. Wait until you have a great set in which you feel unstoppable. Right after the set, do your "trigger." Now do that "trigger" before every workout. It may take a while for you to notice a difference and you may even feel silly doing what seems like new age nonsense. Take a leap of faith and stick with it and you will be surprised with what happens.
Aggressive Strength Bonus Tip
This week's bonus tip comes from Sacramento Kettlebell Instructor Ken Black. Ken has a kettlebell seminar coming up on August 20th. Make sure to email him below for more info.
An excellent exercise for the hamstrings, glutes and abs is the one leg deadlift. Your balance is an important factor in this exercise. I like to start from the standing position, looking ahead and slightly down. Here is the way to find the best spot to look at. Without any weights and keeping your back flat go down to your bottom position. Look ahead of you, pick a spot that is level with your eyes (a spot on a wall would be good) remember it and stand up. This is where you need to look when you start this exercise. Whether you start from standing or bent over focus on that one spot and you should feel a lot more stable.
3. GET THE AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH DVD COMBO PACK TODAY
"Kettlebell Solutions for Speed and Explosive Strength is incredible! All of the exercises are explained and displayed perfectly and leave you with no questions. There is absolutely no filler and it gives so many options to add to your arsenal. Watching it gets me so amped up to train! One of the best things is the Free DVD User guide to set you on the right track. I love all of the exercises and together with Tke Kettlebell Solution For Size and Strength, I will never get bored of training!"
- Chris Pontius of MTV's Wildboyz and Jackass
Kettlebell Solution for Size and Strength
If you enjoy lifting light kettlebells and have no desire to be strong with a powerful physique, then this DVD is not for you. However, if you are ready for a new challenge with kettlebells and desire to maximize the benefits of kettlebell training, get this DVD today.
The Kettlebell Solution For Size And Strength will show how to get much stronger with kettlebells and build a muscular physique as well. This detailed DVD is for all levels and covers the basics enough for beginners and offers new challenges for experienced kettlebell lifters.
Kettlebell Solutions for Speed and Explosive Strength
Super comprehensive kettlebell training DVD that goes over how to build speed and explosive power in four different categories: Full body explosive power, Upper body explosive power, Lower body explosive power, and Rotational explosive power. Translation? You will be one explosive hombre after you practice the exercises on this DVD and follow the programs in the Free Kettlebell Training DVD E-book. I did not leave anything out on this DVD. Even if you do not care about getting faster and more explosive, you will love the wide variety of exercises that this kettlebell training DVD contains.
4. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH PERSONALIZED PROGRAM DESIGN SERVICES
"Lost 10 lbs and went down from a size 12 to a size 8 in jeans – that was something I expected not to happen for another 10-15 more lbs! So thanks for your guidelines – they really have helped a lot."
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5. NEW AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
I have just added some great new products to my website including: medicine balls, the ultimate portable gym, and some pull-up straps that allow you to do a pull-ups anywhere! Click here.
6. THE AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH SOLUTION FOR THE ROAD WARRIOR
Tired of terrible hotel gyms and getting out of shape on the road? Tired of doing bodyweight only routines in your hotel room because there are no other options? You need Lifeline's resistance cable products. Not only are they light and portable but they provide enough resistance to humble the strongest athletes around. Click here for more info
7. KETTLEBELL TRAINING INFORMATION PAGE (NEW)
http://www.mikemahler.com/kettlebell_info.html
8. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
http://www.mikemahler.com/newsletter
9. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH ARTICLES
http://www.mikemahler.com/articles.html
10. AGGRESSIVE STRENGTH TRAINING JOURNAL
http://www.mikemahler.com/journal.html
11. RECOMMENDED READING LIST
http://www.mikemahler.com/reading.html
Until next time.
Live Life Aggressively!
Feel free to email me with your comments and feedback at mahler25@yahoo.com
Mike Mahler