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Training for Battle of the Nations




I am one of those guys who does well when he had a big, gnarly, audacious goal to train for. This training cycle everything has been focused on preparing for Battle of Nations in Barcelona, Spain. Countries from around the world will be sending their best team to armor up and do battle at La Monumental which looks like the Colosseum from the movie Gladiator.  For me, I am fighting on the 'Royal Team' or better known as the 21 versus 21. I take pride that I am representing Team USA abroad, and I am doing everything I can to make sure I am bring my very best for myself and my team.


My coach Steve Slama and 10th Legion Fitness has updated my programming to some crazy hybrid workouts. He is creating me into a physical monster so I can deliver crazy hurt bombs upon my opponents, have agility and mobility, and the stamina to keep standing when your lungs scream for reprieve. With his programming, I have hit all new personal bests in bench and deadlift while my squats are about the same as my personal bests have been. The difference, this time I am doing it smarter and have no pain. Squatting 610, Deadlifting 600 for 3, and 405 bench is super exciting for me. I am crazy strong for what I need in this sport. If you are looking for some online programming from my coach, he is offering a special deal at $45 bucks a month. If you need nutrition programming, it is a little extra. Just message me or email me and I will hook you up.  


My typical workouts include some crazy crossfit wod for a warm up such as Cindy (3 rounds of 5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 airsquats). Then it is on to pure strength in a hybrid Westside Barbell and pushing either one rep max in a specific time limit, then followed by 3-5 rounds of sub-maximal lifts of my one rep max lift, as well as specific exercise targeting, the same muscles, followed by high intensity cardio such as rowing, elliptical, or running. My current schedule is Tues thru Saturday doing different workouts. Sunday is armored combat practice day, and Monday's become my day off. I will say that if I push myself too hard one day and I am sore the next, I don't risk injury this close to competition and I take the extra rest day. If I see a potential problem, I reach out to my PT for an adjustment and dry needling. I have also included weekly massages (hey, it's for performance gains, OK?)



In essence, warm up, power lift, then what I describe as transference of the max lift to actual work potential I will use in the sport. I had this idea posed to me by a different personal trainer years ago when I was ultra running. Basically taking a big complex lift such as a dead-lift or squat and then get on the treadmill right after. So taxing your legs in one dynamic and then forcing them to do it in another way so that you essentially are not just working strength, but how that strength translates to the movements you will be doing in your sport. 

The second piece is changing my diet up. There is no mistake about it, I am not going to be the tallest guy on the field, but I will be the biggest. I have spent the last four years in power lifting and strongman training and put on some serious size in order to get strong and compete. I have gotten really big and exactly the size and strength I was aiming for. I still am leaning out which is my major goal of this diet. I want to lean out and lose as much bodyfat as I can between now and BOTN so that I am more efficient in my movements and less taxing on my body to perform on the field. I am down almost twelve pounds but fluctuate depending on how bad I tear muscle up when I am lifting heavy. The solution is drinking lots of water, anti inflammatory meds, and rest when needed. 

So, in one month, I am heading to Spain. Fighting for Team USA and cannot wait to share more of these experiences with you.

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