C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

     Do you want the two secrets that unlock massive strength and size gains?  Do you want the two keys to becoming the strongest and  all-around biggest mutha-trucker walking around in the gym?      Okay, here goes.  You ready for it?      Key #1: Heavy Leg Training      Key #2: Heavy Back Training      Did you expect something else?  Did you think I was going to talk about some new supplement that just came out on the market?  Or did you think I was going to lay out the latest "super-diet" to massive gains.      Well, some things never change.  People want the easy way—they want to take the road most-often travelled.  But it is the road least travelled that makes all the difference.      Your average gym-rat will gladly read the latest chest-training article or the latest gimmick for arm-training.  But it is the lifter who concentrates on heavy leg training and heavy back training who makes the most gains.      Now, I'm going to give you something that you probably want

     For those of you who don't know—and most of you who have read my training articles do  know—my primary inspiration in training and writing has always been Bill Starr.  Perhaps nowadays people—powerlifters, strength athletes, readers of the major bodybuilding magazines—think that Starr is too "old-school."  Well, old-school, in my book is just fine.  Bill Starr is still, and always will be, one of the best-of-the-best.      When I grow tired of writing training articles, I return to Bill Starr.  (Who writes damn good, by the way.)      When I grow tired of my current training program, I return to Bill Starr.      When I grow weary of all the modern gadgets—stuff like training balls, chains, bands, and one-legged whatever —I return to Bill Starr.      When I grow weary of all the modern "trainers" and all of their methods (like everyone that writes for T-Muscle, for instance—as much as I like that magazine), I return to Bill Starr.      And when I just need a

     I thought it would be good if—from time to time—I discuss what a training session looks like for me.  All of these will be under the heading of "Training Journal".      Enjoy. Bodyweight Conditioning and Awakened Training      Of late, I've been doing a lot of bodyweight training.  (Read my earlier post on bodyweight training to understand why.)  For today's particular session, I thought I would take the opportunity to also do what I call "awakened training."  If you want to understand more about awakened training, then I have a couple of past posts on the subject.  If you don't, then it basically goes something like this:  Awakened training is my take on what used to be called "instinctive training" and has been called by the bodybuilding legend Dave Draper as "freestyling."  For this kind of training to work, you must really know  your body.  You also need a firm foundation in "basic" training.  Basically, with Awaken

The Benefits of Full-Body Workouts       As anyone who reads this blog—or any of my articles—knows, I'm a big fan of full-body workout programs.  I'm a fan of them for a number of reasons: they allow you to train your muscle groups frequently (yes, dammit, that's a good thing!), they allow you to train your muscles frequently without  being in the gym all the time, and they act as a sort of anabolic "trigger"—stimulating muscle growth throughout your entire body better than split workout programs.      Don't get me wrong.  I am in no way opposed  to split training programs.  If you look throughout this blog you'll find a number of good workout suggestions and routines that use a split schedule.  Also, if you read past article of mine from 10 years back or so—mainly in Iron Man  magazine and MuscleMag International —you will discover back then that I recommended split workouts almost exclusively. Strength Coaches, Personal Trainers, Writers, and Their Perso

     Most of my posts are not links to other articles, but occasionally I come across an article that is so good—whether it's bodybuilding or Spirituality—that I have to post a link.      The following is the latest interview from T-Muscle (formerly T-Nation; see link to the right) with bodybuilding trainer Scott Abel.  If you're interested in solely building muscle—as opposed to strength and power—then Abel is definitely your man.      There are some really good "gems" in this article.      Here it is:     http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_interviews/sucker_punch_scott_abel

     Do you have a passion  in life?  If you do, why do you do it?  What drives you to excel at it?  What drives you to continue at it?      What drives you to do it?      I have a passion for lifting weights.  I have a passion for working out.  I have a passion for reading.  I have a passion for traditional martial arts—the kind that can take you from gross to subtle to Causal.  I have a passion for True Spirituality—the kind of spirituality (hence the capital "T" and "S") that transcends common, everyday run-of-the mill spirituality; the kind that transcends spiritual materialism in all of its maddening forms.  (And sometimes I even have a passion for writing.)      And, yes, sometimes I have a passion for things that I shouldn't necessarily have a passion for—women and beer; drugs, even, at one time in my life.  (By the way, there isn't necessarily anything wrong with any of these three things—or other things often thought of as "wrong"—don'

     In the last several weeks, I have received a few e-mails from lifters wanting to know what kind of routine they should follow if they have limited equipment.  As in very  limited equipment; as in just  a pair of dumbbells, or as in just —well—nothing but their bodyweight to be honest.  And I don't think these guys expected much of a response from me, especially when you consider some of the ultra-heavy workout programs I've advocated in the past.      Little did these lifters know that I actually had some routines which could really help them.  In fact, I'm going to give you—if you'll just be patient for a moment—a couple routines that require little more than just your own bodyweight.      But first a little detour (and a confession to make)...      About a year ago, my wife (of 12 years) and I separated.  Now, apart from the usual angst such a thing can bring about, it was also upsetting because I had a whole slew of weight equipment at our house.  In fact, our e