Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Chicks Dig Scars

Yeah, as guys, we've all heard the old saying that "chicks dig scars".

Ever wonder why? I always thought it was kinda dumb. I mean, scars are ugly and funky to look at, right? Why would girls find them attractive?

Some say it's b/c it gives a dude a certain persona - makes him seem dangerous, 'naughty', a 'bad boy' or something like that.

Personally, I think it's something a little more primal.

I think it shows a girl that you're not afraid to bleed or get hurt. Regardless of what you were doing when you got the scar (unless it was a complete accident, b/c scars are only cool if you were doing something cool or heroic when you got them), it shows...at a basic level...that when you really want something, that you're willing to sacrifice even your own well-being to get it.

And girls are gonna think that's hot...especially if they think you'll have that same feeling (that you'd bleed) for them.

But here's the kicker - it doesn't really mean anything. It's all opinion of personality.

Kinda like why a girl will like a muscular dude. Sure, she'll find him attractive ('cause nobody likes a fat slob). But there's also that feeling that if the sh!t ever hits the fan, the dude with the good build will be able to take care of her.

But here's the kicker (again) - a muscular build doesn't necessarily mean anything anymore.

Now, I'm not talking about how 'tough' a guy is, whether he can fight, or any of that other stuff.

I mean whether or not a guy who has a nice looking body can actually do anything with it. I bet there are a ton of underwear models out there that the girls would drool all over...but I sure as hell hope that ain't the guy you're depending on to save you from a burning building or chase down that crook who just snatched your purse.

Back in the days of 'physical culture' - up until say around the 1940s or so - the idea of good looks and great performance went hand in hand. Along with a sound mind and spirit (which were all a part of physical culture), the idea was to train one's body so that it not only looked good, but was strong, conditioned, vibrant, healthy, etc.

But along the way, a line was drawn, and somebody thought you could only train one way or the other - for looks for for performance.

And that notion has just been furthered over the years...so much so that strength athletes (powerlifters, Olympic lifters, strongman contestants, etc.) and bodybuilders don't like each other...much less respect each other.

Then you've got fighters who don't like either one, but that's another story.

Why does it have to be that way, though? Personally, I don't think it does.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a good looking body that performs well. Many pro-athletes have physiques like this. And it's not just b/c of genetics, either.

And it doesn't take much. Just take a good, athletic, performance-based program, and add a little 'extra' to it (as long as it won't cause you to overtrain). A few sets of curls. Maybe some lateral raises. Even calf work.

Whatever.

I know that's how I design a lot of my workout programs.

(Quick plug - I've got a kickass sale going on. CLICK HERE to find out how to save 40%!)

I reminded of quick football story.

I used to be a big Notre Dame football fan back in the late '80s and early '90s. Before a big game, fullback Jerome Bettis wanted to tape up his shoes. Problem was that then coach Lou Holtz didn't allow it. Bettis asked Coach Holtz, and he wanted to know why guys wanted to tape their shoes.

Some guys said it kept shoe laces from coming untied, and others tried to say it gave them more support, but old Lou wasn't buying any of that crap.

Finally, Bettis piped up and said that taping his shoes just made him 'feel good'. And when he felt good, he played good.

Made sense to Lou. All Notre Dame football players were then allowed to tape their shoes.

There isn't anything wrong with wanting to look good - especially if it helps you perform good.

And then there is what that little cutie you've had your eye on will think the next time she sees you with your shirt off, or just a short-sleeved shirt stretched around a big set of 'guns'.

(HINT - it will likely impress her more than telling her your new squat 1RM).

And when that sh!t does hit the fan, and you can back up everything it looks like you can do...and more...well...

You look just that much better.

And you don't even need to bleed to do it.

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com

PS - that link again to Save 40% is HERE.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Who Do You Ask For Advice?

Hey gang,

Wanna get into a little something that might offend a few of you. Hope not, but if so, then oh well.

When you were a kid, and you needed advice, you likely went to your folks (your dad if you're a dude, and your mom if you're a girl). Or maybe you went to an older brother or sister. Or maybe even a good friend.

Whoever it was, you went to that person for one reason - not b/c you could count on them to listen, or b/c they wouldn't make fun of you, or b/c they were supportive. None of that B.S. Sure, all that stuff is great and all, but you went to who you did for one main reason:

To get an answer.

If somebody couldn't provide an answer...well...they ain't gonna do you a whole lotta good, now, are they?

Same goes for your training.

Yesterday, I answered an email from a customer who got my workout programs. In his email, he mentioned that he had done a bodybuilding type of program for a long time, even though his Muay Thai (kickboxing) coach had advised him to drop the weights and just do pushups and pullups for a number of years.

I told him that while a complete bodybuilding program wasn't ideal for what he was trying to do, that bodybuilding was *all* bad, either. The program has to be put together the right way. But that's a whole other topic.

The thing I mentioned to him, though, was that though his Muay Thai coach is one of the best in the country, his advice on a workout program wasn't exactly 'spot on' (as Gordon Ramsay might say).

The coach was right to say that a dedicated bodybuilding program wouldn't be correct, but to say that the trainee shouldn't lift weights at all was not only thinking that is fairly old an antiquated...it's just plain wrong. I could give you example after example of athletes - including fighters - who lift weights, and it makes them all that much better.

Sometimes it can seem a little strange - not taking advice from somebody that you trust. But if that person doesn't have the knowledge, then as well-meaning as that advice is, it's still not gonna do you any good.

Think of it like this - how many of you have taken a high school weight training type of class? More often than not, at least one of the teachers or coaches for one of these classes was probably a football coach, right?

Then lemme ask you something - did that football coach know how to put together a good workout? More than likely, the answer is...
Listen, just b/c the guy is a good football coach, doesn't mean he knows jack about putting together workouts...regardless of what most football coaches think they know.

So, if you need workout advice, then it makes sense to go to an authority, coach, trainer, etc...or at least somebody with some damn experience.

They say you can't get the right answers if you don't ask the right questions. Well, your answers will suck even more if you ask the wrong person.

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com

Friday, May 15, 2009

"No, 'Less' Isn't Always 'More'"

Hey gang,

My latest article, "No, Less Isn't More" is up at MMA Weekly.com.



Know how a lot of the fitness gurus always tell you that "less is more" when it comes to working out? That's not always the case.

Click on the link and find out why - http://tinyurl.com/ptr7vp

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Moving into a New House

Yeah, that's right. I recently moved. I spent all last Thursday moving into a new house.

Which sucked.

Thank goodness it wasn't me who moved, though. My bro-in-law just landed himself a sweet new job, and a new pad was part of the deal. So, like good family, I helped him move.

Too bad I absolutely hate moving. I've done so much of it in my life.

It wasn't bad as a kid (I only remember moving twice growing up, and the first time I was really too little to have to do anything...the second time was a beast, though). However, in college, I moved all the damn time. Being that I grew up in central Oregon, then went to college in North Carolina, there was a ton of moving involved...moving into the dorms in the Fall, out of the dorms in the Spring...into and out of storage garages and friend's houses during the summer, into my own place my senior year...

Then there's all the times I've helped various family members and friends move.

Ugh.

Needless to say, I freakin' hate moving. It almost disgusts me.

But, I was happy for the bro-in-law, and he didn't have a whole lot of help, and being that it's not just him (he's married and has two very little girls to look after), I didn't mind helping him out.

There's one thing I have to say...if you're somewhat big, and are a strong dude, I don't care who you are or what you've done...

You're the most popular guy in town on moving day.

And rightly so. After all, who else is gonna move that couch? Or bed? Or washer? Or dryer? Or bookshelf? Or...



Helping my bro-in-law move in, there were basically three of us doing all the 'heavy lifting'. There was me, my bro-in-law, and a guy from his church. And there was a ton of 'heavy lifting' to do.

Which I did the great majority of.

Now, in their defense, they had packed everything up the day before. Loaded up one of those giant U-hauls, a truck, a trailer, and a bunch of other stuff. I just helped them unpack it all at the new place.

But I still worked circles around them.

Which is cool. I work out a ton, and am in pretty good shape. I'm strong, am conditioned, and have pretty darn good endurance. And my work capacity puts a lot of folks to shame.

(All of these qualities, are developed like a mofo in the "Working Class MMA Workout Program - Championship Edition". By the way - had you heard? When you pick up the "Championship Edition", now you get a ton of FREE STUFF. Check it out HERE for the scoop.)

This is all a perfect example of being able to apply everything you do in the gym in real life.
We've all heard (said?) the old adage about "it doesn't matter how strong you are in the gym if you aren't strong on the mat". Well, this is another example.

Only instead of taking a guy down, or trying to sink in that submission, I was moving furniture, boxes, appliances, and a ton of other stuff.

Ever been in a situation where a big dude should've been able to really hold his own, but he gets just whipped by some little dude...or at least somebody smaller than him?

I dunno about you, but out of the two, I'd always be a lot stronger than I looked...instead of looking stronger than I was.

But sometimes, you can have both.

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Which is why you should check out the "Working Class MMA Workout Program - Championship Edition"...and get FREE STUFF while you're at it.

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All kidding aside, don't ever let yourself get in a situation where you're not as strong, fast, conditioned, or whatever than you look. It's ultra-embarrassing. Not to mention whatever you're doing is a lot more effort. While being made fun of.

No thanks.

I'll just be strong, thanks.

Just watch yourself - you never know when somebody is gonna ask you to prove yourself. Hell, I just might call you to come help me move...

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Lance Armstrong, Bikes, & MMA?


Yeah, it might sound crazy, but you could learn a lot about how to setup your MMA Workouts from Lance Armstrong - best Tour de France cyclist ever.

Sound crazy? It's not.



My new article at MMA Weekly tells you all about it - http://tinyurl.com/cnvtr5

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com

Monday, May 04, 2009

Hero Worship Doesn't Always = Great Workouts (explicit video)

(**WARNING** - there is some explicit behavior in this post. If you don't like that kinda thing, then you probably ought to just close this now and come back next time. Thanks.)

Well, unless you've been avoiding all the major sports news outlets as of late, you've already heard the results of the Hatton/Pacquiao fight this past Saturday night. And in case you haven't seen, oh, I don't know, a newspaper, TV, radio, internet, etc. - the Pac-Man won in convincing fashion via 2nd round TKO.


While I like Hatton - I'm a big fan of the "Hitman" - I didn't think he had a chance against the "Pac-Man". Manny is just too fast, hits too hard, and the somewhat intangible factor - Manny has (I believe) the best trainer in the game today in Freddy Roach.

Leading up to the fight, if you're any kind of fan, you probably watched at least an episode or two (if not all four) of HBO's critically acclaimed 24/7 series that they now do before every major boxing match.

One of the things I enjoy about 24/7 is seeing the training footage. (Guess that's no surprise, huh?)

I had to laugh during the 2nd episode. Ricky Hatton was shown working out, and at one point was cranking out reps on a pair of "perfect pushup" handles. I had to laugh because I was knew it wouldn't be long before I was seeing somebody, somewhere, think that if one of the best 140 lbs. boxers in the world was using these things, that they probably should, too.

Sure enough, the next day, I saw a thread on an internet forum I visit talking about how Ricky Hatton uses the "perfect pushup".

(Now, to the thread creator's credit, he wasn't asking if he should go out and buy a pair right away like many folks would - he was just pointing it out for conversation's sake. But still, Pacquiao was shown going for a jog...and nobody was posting about that.)

How did the "perfect pushup" fair for Ricky? Well, I guess you could say that Ricky...

(play below video)



Now, does that mean the "perfect pushup" was responsible for the outcome of the fight? Of course not - that would be a pretty stupid assumption to make.

Right?

Then why in the ever-living hell would you care in the first place? If the "perfect pushup" wasn't responsible for Hatton getting his clock cleaned, then would you say it could have been responsible had he beaten Manny?

Uhhhh....NO.

Too many people seem to have a complex about freakin' hero worship. In all my years of training, I can't tell you how many dudes I've seen or talked to that spent a ton of time trying to find the workout program of their favorite bodybuilder, strongman, fighter, football player, athlete, etc.

What a waste.

Now, it's not a waste to take find somebody successful, study what they're doing, and try to figure out how you can apply some of what they're doing to your own life. That just make sense. Studying what makes successful people that way (be they athletes, fighters, parents, managers, or whatever) is just plain smart.

But, just mimicking what other people do is kinda stupid. You're not a parrot. A parrot might repeat what you say, but it won't sound like you. It won't look like you. It won't have the meaning you do. In other words - it won't be you.

Well, workouts are the same way.

Knowing the workouts of Sean Sherk, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, Fedor, Floyd Mayweather, Wladimir Klitschko, Lyoto Machida, Brock Lesnar, or anybody else won't make you those guys. All of those guys have found great workouts that work, and work well...for them.

Not for you. For them.

Does that mean that you couldn't learn anything by studying habit of great people? Again, of course not. But that doesn't mean you should just go out and copy what they do, just because they're winning.

I remember some 10+ years ago, when Ken Shamrock's book Inside the Lion's Den first came out. Quite a few people I knew (including me) were anxious to get the book. Personally, while I was interested in the stories can had to tell, and the biographical information in the book, I was pumped to read all the training info in the second half of the book.

And I wasn't alone - I knew a lot of dudes that were amped to try out the MMA workout of the "World's Most Dangerous Man". After all, Ken was a UFC Superfight winner, former King of Pancrase, and had just signed a big money contract with the WWE (then WWF). Ken was arguably one of the most popular guys in the fledgling sport that was MMA.

Fast forward to 2009. Ken Shamrock lost three fights to Tito Ortiz, hasn't won a fight against a decent opponent in a lot of years, and was just busted for steroids.

I could be wrong, but I don't see anybody lining up to find out Shammy's workout anymore.

So, does that mean what he did then was great, and what he does now sucks?

Not necessarily. Something has obviously changed over the years (aside from Ken getting old), but I don't think Ken's workout had anything to do with it.

See what I mean?

There is nothing wrong with wanting more "tools" in your "toolbox"...but copying somebody else just for the sake of copying them is unoriginal, lackluster, and in the end...you'll only be short-changing yourself.

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com