There Are 2 Ways To Do Most Things

If you talk to a real strong man like Dennis Rogers, he'll tell you that there is only one legitimate way to rip phonebooks. That is to push with one hand and pull with the other (top to bottom). In short, flat out rip it!

There is another way that most people use to perform this feat of strength. It involves a "technique". You need to bend and pinch the book with your knuckles (see left). With all due respect to Dennis Rogers, although not as much of a true feat of strength, this method requires a significant amount of grip strength. It is a legitimate challenge for us newbies. This technique is how I learned to rip phonebooks. This method got me hooked. I also built more grip strength practicing the illegitimate method. During this time I've gained knowledge and experience, albeit minimal, in the the strongman game.

I watched Dennis Rogers' video A Grip That Rips - Legitimate Phonebook Tearing. I've been trying his method out. It's a challenge in every sense of the word. But if he can do it, so can I...eventually. My thinking on this: To test myself and my strength I need to rely on my strength not technique.

A month ago, I tried my current best torn with the non legitimate technique (1 & 3/4 inches). I tried 1/2 inch. Both produced the exact same results...an intact completely functioning phonebook. This morning after my "workout lay-off " I grabbed a 3/4 inch phonebook, because I now have them laying around. Thought thru the proper technique. Grabbed the book, got my head straight and bam! ripped it legitimately. It was more like baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam! I won't say I've mastered this size of phonebook but I did it.

THE POINT:
In what ever you do...Sometimes the "easy way" is the only way you know. Go with it. At least you're doing something. But be willing to learn and use the proper way so you can understand yourself and your true abilities.

-Strength and Honor-
Benny

Check Out:

Dennise Rogers - Grand Master Strong Man

Clay Edgin - An Upcommer in the Strongman world

Using My Mind Powers

So my workouts have been non-existent the last several days. I got sick...Niki and the kids got sick...aliens abducted me...all excuses. I should have been more disciplined! During that time I've ripped a few phonebooks, bent 2 nails, and tried to pick up everything the "hard way". I guess you could say I had worked out.

Wednesday the Dry Bones staff took some of our friends from the streets camping. We got to the campsite and lying beside the fire pit is a sledgehammer handle. This is how addicted to this strongman stuph I am; I pick it up and begin levering it. Then I get this idea for an elaborate contraption I could build to add a small amount of weight to the end. I could work my way up to a 6lb. Sledgehammer. Today, I go to the hardware store to see how much it would cost to build the rig and I see the real sledges sitting there. I pick up the 6lb. Sledge and actually lever it to my nose, easily! We'll I grab the 8 lb. and do the same...both hands. I try the 10lb but it felt a little wobbly. So I stop call Lennie and share the good news. This afternoon I'm at another hardware store to buy some junk for Dry Bones and I "accidentally" go by the sledges. I'm pissed I didn't lever the 10lb. Sledge. So I try it. But this time I get my head straight and believe I can do it. I slowly let it down to my nose and slowly raise it up. I was pumped! I don't think the kid working that isle was as excited as me, though

THE POINT---
I thought I needed to start off small and work my way up to a 6lb sledgehammer. I had it set in my mind that I couldn't possibly do it. But 10 minutes in the tool isle with no prep. or warm ups and I exceeded what my mind said I could do by 10lbs.! I'm excited about this stuph.

Passion + Knowledge + Belief in your self = POSSIBILITIES!

I'm passionate about this strength stuph, I've done some research on levering and after I did the 6lb. Hammer I believed I could do more. My possibilities are endless.

-Strength and Honor-
Benny

PS.
Thanks to Steve McGranahan for his encouragment, advice, and generosity. This brother rocks! You really need to check him out at www.stevemcgranahan.com and on "Country Fried Home Videos" on CMT.

for lennie 9-26-06

tuesdays workout felt awsome. this was my lower body workout

cardio - 6 laps in the pool

ab bench - back - 1 set of 50 - 1 set of 30
ab bench right side - 1 set of 30
ab bench left side - 1 set of 30
hip adductor (in) - 2 sets of 20 @ 202.5 lbs
hip adductor (out) - 2 sets of 10 @ 195 lbs
leg extention - 2 sets of 15 @ 215 lbs
seated leg curl - 2 sets 10 @ 245 lbs
seated leg press - 2 sets of 20 @ 320 lbs


knowing others means you are wise, knowing yourself means you are enlightened.

"monk" from the bullet proof monk

For Benny -- Wednesday 09.20.06

Another great one knocked out.

Dead Lift:
8 x 135 lbs.
5 x 155 lbs.
5 x 175 lbs.
5 x 200 lbs.
3 x 3 x 175 lbs.

Standing Curl w/ EZ Bar:
10 x 30 lbs.
5 x 40 lbs.
5 x 50 lbs.
5 x 60 lbs.
3 x 2 x 90 lbs.

Drag Curl:
3 x 3 x 60 lbs.

Hammer Curl:
3 x 3 x 35 lbs.

Push Downs:
3 x 3 x 120 lbs.

Machine Dips:
5 x 3 x 100 lbs.

Plate See-Saw Under-Hand:
5 x 3 x 10 lbs.

Plate See-Saw Over-Hand:
5 x 3 x 10 lbs.

Plate Hand-to-Hand Toss:
30 x 25 lbs.

Cardio:
Body For Life 20 min. Cardio

Monday

A great workout! It felt good. I felt strong.

Bench Press:
10 x 95 lbs.
5 x 95 lbs.
5 x 115 lbs.
5 x 125 lbs.
3 x 3 x 175 lbs.

Close Grip Bench Press
3 x 3 x 115 lbs.

dumbbell Butterfly
3 x 3 x 40 lbs.

Barbell Wrist Curl
3 x 95 lbs.
5 x 95 lbs.
5 x 95 lbs.

Cardio
Body For Life 20 min. Cardio

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child...or a Stronger Benny

So I've been nail bending and working on my grip strength. I can bend a 40 penny nail in 10 seconds. But thru all of this my hands ache (index knuckle and the back of my hand). I think it might be tendinitis. But I'm not sure. It could just be general exercise pain like when I bench real hard at a workout. I don't want to do any permanent damage but I want to keep training my grip and strength.

"Should I be concerned?

What can I do to sooth the pain.

Should I soothe the pain.

Am I just whining?"

Those are the questions I'm asking myself. I would ask someone here but everyone I know is just a "health club" lifters. You know pretty people making prettier bodies. I'm working on finding some local folks that are serious about real strength to buddy up to for these kind of thought tangents.

So here's what I done did. I emailed 3 real strong guys. Guys that have been at my level and surpassed me like all get out. Dennis Rogers - Steve McGranahan - Bud Jeffries. I asked them my questions and hopefully they'll respond with some great advice. So hopefully this village will help in the raising of "Big Popa" Master of Strength (double Ha!). Also I'd value any of this community's input.

Here's my quote from the trailer for Jet Li's movie Fearless. (Now you see one of the reasons Lennie is my favorite bro-in-law)

Mastering others is strength
Mastering yourself makes you fearless.
-Lao Tzu-

-Strength and Honor-

Small Steps

So today I'm getting some pics printed off. You know stuph to inspire me. Also I'm going to figure out how and where to display them and my "shrapnel" (souvenirs from the stuph I break and bend).

I'm not working out today. I did cardio and weights yesterday. It kicked my butt hard. So I will start off slow and ease my way back into 5-6 days a week rather that burn out before I really get started.

Also we need to figure out a way to log our exercise and our progress. Something that's simple and the same for both me and you.

-Strength and Honor-

About Benny...

"If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't..."

My father and 2 of my grandfathers died from heart attacks. I'm over weight and unhealthy (I'm 37 years old, 6' tall, 287lbs., and 32% body fat.) and I know that I'm next if I don't get my ass in gear. I need to change the way I move and the way I eat. But eating and exercising to be healthy is boring. So I will change my lifestyle to get healthy and possess "real" strength. I want to break cinder blocks, bend steel, bench 500 lbs, drive nails with my bare hands, and bend horse shoes. Something has kept me from making any significant lifestyle changes and attaining my goals.

I AM NOT beaten!
I WILL dare to dream big, set crazy goals, and make it fun!
I AM winning this battle!

MY GOALS:
1. Within 6 weeks I will be at 22% body fat.
2. Within 6 weeks I will bend a 60 d nail with my hands.
3. Within 6 weeks I will role a skillet up like a burrito.
4. Within 6 weeks I will legitimately rip a 1" phonebook with my hands.
5. Within 6 weeks I will bench 260 lbs.
6. Within 6 weeks I will deadlift 300lbs.
7. Within 6 weeks I will squat 300lbs.

Please pray for me. Ask others to pray for me. Encourage me. Send me quotes pics, stories, anything to encourage me. I have to win this battle! My wife needs me. My kids need me, and my ministry needs me. If I die, I am of no use to God or anybody.