Yielding vs. Overcoming Isometrics: The Two Types of Strength for Martial Artists

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Jon

Yielding vs. Overcoming Isometrics: The Two Types of Strength for Martial Artists

There’s a reason isometric training has quietly become one of the most powerful tools for martial artists, grapplers, and fighters who want to develop real strength without destroying their joints.

But here’s something most people don’t realize:

Not all isometrics are the same.

In fact, there are two fundamentally different types of isometric training, and each one develops a completely different layer of strength.

These are known as:

• Yielding Isometrics
• Overcoming Isometrics

Understanding the difference between these two methods can completely change how you train.

Because when they’re used correctly, they develop the exact qualities that traditional martial artists valued most:

• structural integrity
• tendon strength
• breath control
• whole-body power

Let’s break them down.

Yielding Isometrics

The Foundation of Structural Strength

A yielding isometric is when you hold a position against gravity or load without allowing your posture to collapse.

You are resisting the force and refusing to give up the position.

In other words:

You yield to the load, but you do not break.

Examples include:

• horse stance holds
• planks
• side planks
• push-up holds
• goblet squat holds
• wall sits
• suitcase carries

In martial arts, these positions closely resemble traditional stance training or zhan zhuang standing practice.

They develop something that most modern strength programs ignore – structural endurance.

Instead of building strength through movement, you build strength by learning to maintain alignment under pressure.

And that produces several powerful adaptations.

Yielding Isometrics Build Tendon Strength

When you hold a position for time, the load transfers directly into the connective tissue.

That means you strengthen:

• tendons
• ligaments
• fascia chains

These tissues adapt slowly—but when they do, the strength becomes extremely durable.

This is why old martial artists could train for decades without breaking down.

Yielding Isometrics Train Breath Control

One of the most overlooked benefits of static holds is how they affect breathing.

When you hold tension for time, the nervous system must learn to regulate pressure and breathing simultaneously.

If your breath panics, your structure collapses.

Learning to breathe calmly under load builds the same composure needed for:

• grappling exchanges
• striking under pressure
• resisting takedowns

Yielding Isometrics Improve Posture and Alignment

Static holds teach the body how to:

• stack joints correctly
• distribute tension through the body
• root into the ground

This is the foundation of what many internal martial arts call connected power.

The Limitation of Yielding Isometrics

While yielding isometrics are incredible for building structure and endurance, they have one limitation.

They do not train maximum force production.

In other words:

They make you stable and durable—but not necessarily explosive.

That’s where the second type of isometric training comes in.

Overcoming Isometrics

The Hidden Method for Building Raw Power

An overcoming isometric occurs when you attempt to move an object that cannot move.

Instead of holding a position, you push or pull against an immovable resistance.

Examples include:

• pulling against straps or chains
• pushing against a wall
• rack pulls against safety pins
• belt squat pulls
• towel pulls in horse stance

In these exercises, the goal is to apply maximum force.

The object doesn’t move, but the nervous system behaves as if it should.

This creates an extremely powerful training effect.

Overcoming Isometrics Train Maximum Neural Recruitment

When you attempt to move an immovable object, the nervous system recruits as many muscle fibers as possible.

This dramatically increases strength.

Even though the object never moves, the body learns how to generate maximum contraction.

Overcoming Isometrics Build Explosive Power

These exercises train the ability to produce force quickly.

That makes them incredibly valuable for martial artists who want to improve:

• striking power
• grappling pressure
• pushing strength
• pulling strength

Overcoming Isometrics Strengthen Tendon Elasticity

Short bursts of maximal tension also increase the spring-like behavior of tendons.

This creates the elastic recoil responsible for powerful striking and throwing mechanics.

The Limitation of Overcoming Isometrics

Overcoming isometrics are extremely intense.

If they’re used too frequently or without proper structure, they can:

• fatigue the nervous system
• create excessive tension
• encourage breath holding

This is why the best systems combine them with yielding isometrics.

The Real Secret: Combining Both Methods

The most effective strength systems use both types of isometrics together.

Yielding isometrics build:

• structure
• endurance
• tendon durability
• breath control

Overcoming isometrics build:

• maximum force
• explosive strength
• neural recruitment
• elastic tension

In traditional martial philosophy, this combination represents the balance of:

Yin and Yang.

Yielding training stores potential.

Overcoming training releases it.

Together they build a body that is both stable and powerful.

How I Teach These Methods

Inside my training programs, these two methods are integrated into a progressive system.

The Isometric Warrior Training Guide

This program teaches the foundations of structural strength through carefully selected yielding isometrics.

You will learn how to build:

• strong connective tissue
• stable posture
• calm breathing under load

👉 Learn more about The Isometric Warrior Training Guide here

The 21-Day Isometric Forge

Inside the private Isometric Warrior Brotherhood, we take the next step and begin integrating overcoming isometrics.

These exercises introduce:

• diagonal force
• rotational tension
• strap-based resistance
• martial power development

Access to the Forge is available as a free bonus program when you join the Brotherhood through the Isometric Warrior Training Guide.

The Iron Silk Method

For advanced practitioners, the Iron Silk Method combines traditional tendon-changing exercises from the Yi Jin Jing with advanced isometrics to develop deep structural power.

This program integrates:

• breath training
• tendon elasticity
• structural force transmission

👉 Learn more about The Iron Silk Method here

Final Thoughts

Many martial artists spend years training technique while neglecting the body that must perform it.

The result is predictable:

Skill increases.

But power becomes inconsistent.

By combining yielding and overcoming isometric training, you develop something different:

A body that can express technique effortlessly.

Stable.

Elastic.

Calm under pressure.

The way martial artists were meant to move.

—
Jon Haas
The Warrior Coach

The Five Pillars of the Iron Body

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Jon

How Martial Artists Build Lifelong Strength, Power, and Durability

There is a quiet truth that most martial artists eventually discover.

Technique alone is not enough.

You can know hundreds of techniques, understand strategy, and have decades of experience… but if the body itself is not developed correctly, that knowledge cannot be fully expressed.

The greatest martial artists throughout history understood something very important:

They didn’t just train techniques.

They trained the body itself.

They forged a body that was:

• elastic
• structurally aligned
• internally powerful
• externally durable
• and capable of integrating all these qualities into real movement

This type of body is what I like to call The Iron Body.

And over the decades, after studying internal martial arts, strength training, Qigong, and traditional conditioning methods, I’ve come to understand that the martial body develops through five essential pillars.

The Five Pillars of the Iron Body

Every powerful martial artist develops five core qualities:

Elasticity
Structure
Pressure
Durability
Integration

When these pillars are trained together, the body becomes both powerful and resilient.

Let’s look at each one.

Pillar One: Elasticity

The Spring of the Body

Muscular strength is useful, but true martial power comes from something deeper.

The body must behave like a bow.

When tendons and connective tissue become elastic, they store energy during movement and release it explosively.

This is why skilled martial artists often appear relaxed yet generate tremendous force.

They are not relying on muscular tension.

They are using elastic power.

Training methods that develop elasticity include:

• Yi Jin Jing tendon training
• structural isometrics
• slow movement exercises
• controlled connective tissue loading

This is exactly the focus of my Iron Silk Method program.

Iron Silk is designed to restore the elastic connective tissue qualities that allow martial power to feel effortless.

When elasticity develops, many practitioners notice:

• strikes feel heavier
• movements become smoother
• the body feels springy instead of stiff

Elasticity is the engine of martial power.

Pillar Two: Structure

The Frame That Carries Force

Power does not come only from the muscles or tendons.

It must travel through the body.

Structure is what allows force to move efficiently through the skeleton into the ground.

When structure is correct:

• the body becomes stable
• pressure flows through the frame
• muscles remain relaxed

When structure collapses, power disappears.

This is why many internal martial arts emphasize standing practice.

Standing training teaches the body to align:

• feet
• hips
• spine
• shoulders
• head

When these elements are stacked correctly, the body becomes capable of carrying tremendous force without strain.

This is the focus of Zhan Zhuang training.

Zhan Zhuang develops:

• posture
• root
• internal connection
• relaxed strength

Over time, standing practice creates a body that feels heavy and stable under pressure.

Pillar Three: Pressure

Breath-Driven Internal Power

Breathing is far more than a relaxation tool.

In traditional martial arts, breath is used to create internal pressure.

This pressure stabilizes the body and fuels movement.

Practices that develop internal pressure include:

• dantien breathing
• whole-body breathing
• compression and expansion drills

When breath and structure work together, something powerful happens.

The body begins to move as one connected unit.

This type of breathing is a key component of both Iron Silk and Martial Qigong training.

Pillar Four: Durability

The Armor of the Body

Elasticity creates power.

Structure directs power.

Breath fuels power.

But the body must also be able to handle power.

That’s where durability comes in.

Durability refers to the strengthening of:

• bones
• tendons
• muscles
• skin
• connective tissue

Historically this was developed through hard Qigong training.

Practices included:

• static posture strength training
• tendon conditioning
• iron body methods
• breath-powered tension

This is exactly what is taught inside my Martial Qigong course.

Martial Qigong develops the external strength and durability that allows martial artists to remain strong and resilient as they age.

Without durability, elasticity becomes fragile.

With durability, the body becomes capable of absorbing and delivering force safely.

Pillar Five: Integration

Turning Training Into Martial Power

The final pillar is integration.

Integration is where everything comes together.

Elasticity, structure, breath, and durability must eventually become one coordinated system.

This is what allows martial artists to move naturally and generate power without thinking.

Integration is developed through:

• slow martial movement
• striking mechanics
• grappling pressure drills
• standing meditation

At this stage, the body begins to express power effortlessly.

Many practitioners describe this as:

• heavy hands
• relaxed strength
• effortless issuing

This is the stage where training becomes true martial skill.

The Foundation of Everything: Daily Practice

All five pillars rest on one essential foundation.

Daily practice.

The martial body is not built through occasional effort.

It is built through consistent, intelligent training over time.

Even short daily practice sessions can create profound changes in the body.

A simple daily structure might include:

Standing practice
Iron Silk tendon training
Breathing exercises
Martial Qigong conditioning

Over weeks and months, these practices gradually transform the body.

This is how martial artists develop strength that lasts decades instead of years.

Bringing It All Together

When the five pillars are trained together, the body begins to change in remarkable ways.

Elastic connective tissue creates explosive power.

Structure carries force efficiently.

Breath generates internal pressure.

Durability protects the body.

Integration turns all of this into martial ability.

This is the essence of The Iron Body Protocol.

And it is exactly what my training programs are designed to develop.

• Iron Silk Method builds elasticity and tendon power
• Martial Qigong develops durability and external strength
• Zhan Zhuang standing practice creates structure and internal connection

Together, they form a complete system for building a powerful, resilient martial body.

Train for the Long Path

Martial arts are not just about fighting.

They are about developing the body and mind over a lifetime.

When you train the five pillars consistently, the goal is simple:

To become stronger, healthier, and more capable every year.

Not weaker.

Not slower.

But better.

That is the path of the Iron Body.

Train with intent.

— Jon Haas
The Warrior Coach

Living the Warrior Lifestyle

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Jon

Years ago I wrote down what I considered to be the essence of living the warrior lifestyle and I called it “The Warrior Code” – original, I know! 🙂

Just so you are aware, here is my original “warrior code”:

Warriors train to push their body and mind to the limits, and find new ones
Warriors are strong to protect and defend self and others
Warriors know that not fulfilling their utmost potential is cheating themselves and robbing the world of their brilliance
Warriors are knowledgeable knuckledraggers
Warriors strive to always become stronger every day

Not bad, right???

But in the past few years I’ve taken it even further.

From the very start of my warrior journey, I’ve always held that the martial arts are a microcosm of life.

And now, my own personal warrior training has become a metaphor for how I live my live. Essentially, my warrior training has become the overarching guiding philosophy in my life, my business, my teaching, and my interaction with all those around me.

I have reaped the benefits of living the warrior lifestyle and would now like to share them with you.

So I am introducing a brand new coaching program…

Warrior Lifestyle Coaching

We are always told that we have unlimited human potential. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.

How do we access it?

One of the hallmarks of many warrior cultures is their ability to delve deeply into the psyche and access the full range of human abilities.

How would it feel to be able to access your full human potential in mind body and spirit?

That’s the goal of this coaching program.

Some of the areas we will cover are:

How to motivate yourself for best possible results
Ninja tactics for goal setting and attainment
Warrior time management – How to get incredible results in your training even on the busiest of schedules. Or perhaps you have too much time on your hands and can’t figure out how to organize it
The Warriors mental training – sharpening your mind to a razors edge to be able to handle and instantly respond to any stress or challenges life can throw at you
Essential Warrior Philosophical principles to incorporate into your life that will guide & streamline your thinking and decision making ability to rapidly and correctly chose the right path for your life
Walking meditation exercises with breath work for problem-solving, deep thinking, rapid change of your energetics state
The Warrior’s Mindset training – the happiness principle]
How to stop the demon of distraction dead in its tracks and really get shit done
And, of course – a completely individualized personal warrior program to get you in the best shape of your life

Sound like something that’s been missing from your training and that you absolutely NEED in your life?

Would you like to reap all the benefits of my 30+ years of knowledge and experience without having to make all the mistakes I made to get here?

Go HERE and complete this uber short application. I’ll review and get back to you within 24 hours!!

(Side-note: if you are unwilling to take the 2 minutes to fill out a short form, are you really ready to make a change in your life? Fill out the damn form like the action-taker I know you are, and let’s kick some ass together!!)

Energy Exercises for COVID Recovery

Posted on September 4, 2022 by Jon

When I first tested positive for COVID back in May of this year, I thought to myself, “this is going to be a cakewalk.”

After all, as a strength coach and martial arts teacher, I I was highly fit, in robust health, exercised daily, ate a very nutritious diet, and got plenty of fresh air and sunshine. And, at 49, I was relatively young.

I figured being quarantined would let me catch up on my reading, get some work done, and watch more Netflix! 🙂

Boy was I wrong!!

COVID literally knocked me on my butt.

Day 1 Started Out Fine

The first day I felt fine and then suddenly woke up in the middle of the night with a high fever, alternating sweats and chills, and feeling like I got hit by a train.

Damn… this wasn’t going how I imagined.

Luckily the fever only lasted about a day a half. But after that I was weak and totally exhausted.

I literally had no energy to do anything but sit on the couch and nap. It was scary.

In my haze of extreme fatigue and covid-brain (yeah, it’s a real thing!), I realized I had to do something to help myself get back on track.

Rebuilding My Health and Energy

I began following the qigong (energy work) program I created several years ago as a way to energetically cleanse my body, re-build my internal energy, and improve my breathing and lung capacity.

And it worked!

I followed the Vital Force Qigong Program daily for 2 weeks, especially focusing on the Bone Marrow Cleansing exercises and the Wuji Standing exercise.

The Bone Marrow Cleansing exercise includes healing postures, low-impact movements, and visualization techniques to cleanse the marrow of toxins and strengthen the bones. It also works to strengthen the internal organs and immune system, and stimulate the flow of healing energy throughout the body. This exercise also includes an extremely beneficial detailed visualization for removing negative energy, negative thoughts, and old, stale energy from the body.

Wuji Standing Exercise:

This daily protocol revitalized me by boosting my overall energy, and quickly bringing me back to a state of vibrant health and wellness.

I’m utterly convinced that this daily practice shortened the recovery period and helped me to get back to my full health and strength.

If you have had COVID, or are currently dealing with the long term effects of it, I highly recommend starting this daily protocol and seeing how it can help you get back on the road to strength, vital health, and getting your life back!!

You can grab Vital Force HERE (use the code LABOR30 to save 30%) <<==

Disclaimer: It should be obvious, but please note that none of the above constituted medical advice. This is just based on my over 30 years of experience in teaching the martial arts and energy work with hundreds of clients worldwide.

5 Ways to Increase the Effectiveness of ANY Exercise

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Jon

Last night at the gym as I was having a post-training conversation with one of my students, and he asked me – “how do you know how to make every single exercise we do more challenging???”

It’s a good question, is it not?

How do you take ANY exercise and make it more effective?

Well, there’s 5 different ways to do that…

Use a heavier weight. I always say – everything is easy until it gets heavy! This however is not a factor in bodyweight exercise since the weight is always the same. You can however adjust the leverage to make the exercise easier or more challenging.
Add more sets or reps. This, unfortunately, is what most bodyweight exercise programs do – continue to add sets and reps. While it works for a little while, overtime, the workouts simply become monotonous and boring.
Reduce or eliminate the rest periods between the sets.
Adjust the tempo (the speed at which you do the exercise) – making it faster or slower can change the effect and the level of difficulty
OR…. and this is a BIG one ….. Increase the sophistication of the exercise so it creates a greater demand and thus a greater training effect on the nervous system

Inside the brand new Bodyweight Mastery Program we focus on the last type of progression. We incrementally increase the level of sophistication for each new movement to focus on the most effective way to create lasting change in your strength, endurance, mobility, energy levels, and body composition.

Each of the 6 movement patterns have 6 progressions that move in sophistication from basic to advanced over the course of 6 weeks.

6 Movement Patterns Trained in Bodyweight Mastery:

Push-up x 6 Levels
Squat x 6 Levels
Lunge x 6 Levels
Frog Press x 6 Levels
Core x 6 Levels
Isometrics x 6 Levels

Inside the Bodyweight Mastery Program you will progress through 6 unique variations of the 6 foundational (notice I did not say ‘basic”) movements to build a very unique type of strength and flexibility that builds muscle, burns fat, and increases your daily energy all at the same time!!

Which Warrior Fitness Program is Right for You?

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Jon

I get asked this question all the time – Jon, which one of your programs should I start with?

And the answer is, it depends on your goals.

So in this article I’m going to give you a set of general guidelines to help you decide which program is right for you.

Quick disclaimer before we get started: ALL of my programs are designed to increase functional strength, improve mobility/flexibility, and build your health and energy reserves.

Even though my training is forged in the crucible of martial arts, you do NOT need to be a martial artist to reap all the benefits from any of my programs.

So here goes…

If you are a martial artist looking to unlock the methods of internal power which make ANY art powerful and useful then I recommend starting with Integrated Strength, Shadow Strength, or The Power Protocol.

Each one of these looks at the secrets of internal power and strength from a slightly different perspective to guide you into becoming an all around power house in your respective art.

If you are a weekend warrior looking for the edge in your strength and conditioning training, I suggest the WarFit Program or Sledgehammer Domination which are designed to build superior levels of functional strength, burn fat, and increase all around endurance.

If you are looking to build up your energy reserves and recover faster from all your training and life stress, I suggest Evolve Your Breathing or Vital Force. Both these programs will balance out your workouts and help build health, energy, and give you the edge in your recovery.

And lastly, if you are a man in the over 40 crowd, I highly recommend Strong(er) Over 40 and Dad Strength. These programs will guide you to growing stronger as you get older, along with building and keeping your levels of testosterone high!

At any age and in any life circumstance, keep training, keep pushing, keep growing, and always keep challenging your perceived limits!

If you want all the best that Warrior Fitness has to offer, then I highly recommend all 12 issues of the Warrior’s Inner Circle. Here is where you get my most up to date training information taken directly from what I’m working on in my own training right now!

Hope that helps guide you in your decision making process! If you have any questions let me know!

Grab my entire training library of 29 programs plus a free 30 minute coaching call with me and save over $500 here <<==

This Mistake will Tank Your Fitness Training

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Jon

We all know people who think they can continue to grow and continue to make gains indefinitely by simply pushing harder and harder in their training day in and day out.

But what always happens to them?

Injury, burn out, sickness, stagnation.

Then what?

Well, once they get back on their feet they start the same cycle all over again.

Why?

Because maybe, just maybe they weren’t pushing hard enough or using enough brute force last time to succeed and this time will be different.

Riiigghhht… How about this instead?

Train Smarter AND Harder.

Bring the intensity every workout, yes. Push the limits, hell yes. Keep moving forward, always. But not always in a straight line.

What do I mean?

Training smarter involves the usage of planned back-off workouts and deload weeks which, in effect, allow the body to take a step back in order to spring forward again with greater energy and intensity.

Additionally, it is of paramount importance to have a properly structured strategy in place for recovery and restoration.

Continued progression and development demands it. Without a recovery strategy, the gains in fitness slow, plateaus are hit and NOT overcome, injuries occur, and as we said earlier, progress sputters to a screeching halt.

Learn how to train smarter AND harder here <<==

The WarFit Combat Conditioning program is on sale for just $4. Nope that’s not a typo.

Get all the details HERE.

The Paleolithic Origins of Standing Postures

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Jon

The origins of standing practices are lost in the mists of time, but one can easily imagine that they began with ancient hunters as a way of attuning to their surroundings and gathering deep reserves of energy and strength while becoming invisible to the prey they hunted.

As they were used by hunters, warriors, and healers they began to be further refined, developed, and codified into the powerful practices we have today under the broad heading of zhan zhuang or standing meditation.

The Paleolithic Posture

“In the Paleolithic Posture, the knees are slightly bent, the spine is straight and long, the breath is deep and quiet, the eyes are open and alert. The body feels like a tree standing with deep roots for balance and tall branches for grace… The Paleolithic Posture is an attitude of mind and body that was a matter of instinct and survival among ancient hunters, warriors, mothers, and healers.”

– Honoring the Medicine by Kenneth “Bear Hawk” Cohen, M.A., M.S.Th.

I researched, studied, and practiced these postures for well over a decade plumbing their mysteries and making them accessible for anyone who wants to understand and experience the tremendous benefits for themselves.

You can apply all that I teach to your own health, strength, and energy here or here.

“In ancient times great masters stood on earth, supporting heaven, controlling yin and yang, breathing with essence of qi, standing alone, guarding spirit, with body being as one.”

The health preserving and sustaining effects of zhan zhuang have been documented in hospitals and medical clinics across China. The reason this practice has such a profound impact on health and recovery from exercise is that standing meditation acts like a system-wide reboot for the whole body. It stimulates the nervous system, increases circulation, and raises energy levels, while providing deep relaxation for both mind and body.

There is No Off Season for Warriors

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Jon

Get ready stay ready.

There is no such thing as an off-season for a warrior.

As a warrior, we don’t train with the goal of “peaking” for a particular event, fight, or game. That being said, our training requirements are also a little bit different than the average athlete.

We must consistently train for multifaceted development of all-around fitness, conditioning, and readiness rather than training specific strength qualities, or body parts, individually on a cycle-by-cycle basis.

As a warrior, we need to be in a constant state of preparedness, ready for whatever real life may throw at us. Otherwise all of our years of training are no good to us when we actually need them.

No Warm-up!

When a sudden, violent encounter happens, or in the event of an emergency, you don’t have time to warm-up. You have to be able to act immediately.

But how do you prepare yourself to move into action without the benefit of your joint mobility routine, foam rolling. preparatory stretches, and warm-up reps????

I keep a 400 lbs tire in my garage gym. Several times a day, with zero warm-up or preparation, I will just flip the tire a couple times and then walk away.

What if you don’t happen to have a 400 lbs tire handy?

Simple.

Here’s a list of a few things you can do to stay ready at a moment’s notice:

Load a barbell with a challenging weight and keep it in your basement/garage/living room. Lift it several times. day with no preparation
Install a pull-up bar in your house. Every time you pass it, do several pull-ups with zero warm-up
Every time you enter a certain room in your house (I use the kitchen), drop down and do a random number of push-ups, squats, or bodyweight exercise of your choice.
Keep a heavy kettlebell next to your desk. At random intervals throughout the day, do 10, 20, 30 swings. Try to get to 100 a day.
Shadow box during the day.
When walking outside, suddenly sprint to a telephone pole or randomly execute some rolls/breakfalls.
Show up late to your martial arts class once in a while and skip the warm-ups (tell your teacher I said so!) 🙂

This stuff is not hard. You just have to be aware of it and do it on a regular basis.

“The warriors heart is ruled by preparedness, and nature’s heart, or God’s heart, is fundamental. The heart also governs the Warrior’s physical kamae. Therefore, if there is no unity in spirit and body, you will never understand the reason for being a martial artist.”

– Masaaki Hatsumi, Bujinkan Soke

Wow – what an awesome idea!

Read it again.

You must train so that you are more prepared than any challenges you have to face in life.

Enhance your own physical preparedness and gain an unfair advantage in your training HERE.

How to Train for the Zombie Apocalypse

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Jon

If I were to train you to survive the zombie apocalypse, how would I do it?

Well, you will need to be all around functionally strong, possess no-quit endurance, and incredible amounts of sheer grit, or mental toughness!

What determines whether or not you survive the approaching zombie horde?

To me, it comes down to 3 things.

1 – Training/Preparedness

2 – Mental Toughness

3 – Luck

Training/Preparedness

Are you strong? And not just one rep max strong – that won’t serve you too well when fighting a horde of zombies all night long or when they are chasing you and you need to carry your kid or spouse, or best friend to safety.

Do you have strength endurance? Do you possess a high level of work capacity?

Are you able to perform at peak levels for an extended period of time?

Do you have usable, functional strength?

Strength that integrates the entire body and allows for strong, 3 dimensional movement across all planes and throughout all ranges of motion?

Or do you train in isolation?

What tools would I pick to develop this type of strength and conditioning?

My top 3 would be kettlebells, sandbags, and some sort of club/mace/sledgehammer.

Why?

Because all are extremely versatile, super low-tech tools that build raw, rugged, all-around enduring strength. And also they are all a hellova lotta fun to train with at the same time!

Mental Toughness

Mental toughness, simply put, is the resistance to failure. It is a series of qualities that allows you to persevere through adversity without giving up. When we are being overrun and the dead are turning into newly minted zombies at an alarming rate all the while trying to kill you, this is an extremely necessary quality to possess!

Luckily, mental toughness is a quality you can develop with the right training.

Doing feats of strength endurance like high rep kettlebell swings or snatches or long distance heavy farmer walks interspersed with high rep body weight exercises or other kettlebell work will build that mental fortitude.

Pushing the threshold of the body requires pushing the mind since the mind navigates the body.

One way to train for this is to put yourself through a severe challenge test of strength endurance/work capacity once a month or at least once a quarter. Pick a goal and just go with everything you’ve got!

At the end you will be spent physically, but will feel great about all that you’ve accomplished!

Luck

Sometimes just being in the right place at the right time is a factor in survival as well. Let’s face it, not everyone who is the most prepared survives all the time. Usually, in war it’s the bravest warriors who die first since they are at the front!

Although, I do think that being physically strong, mentally tough, and having a positive mental attitude that things will work out in your favor goes a long way in creating your own luck.

The “Unofficial” Zombie Apocalypse Workout

Day 1 – Combat Conditioning – This workout will test your physical limits and mental fortitude!

Sandbag Shouldering with Burpee x 10
Rope Pull-ups x SM
Sandbag Zercher Squats x 10
Sandbag Rows x 10
Med Ball Slams x 10
Sandbag Clean & Press x 10

Protocol: Perform 3-5 rounds. Rest 30-60 seconds between rounds.

Day 2 – Bodyweight Conditioning – Not for the faint of heart!

Alternating Lunges (Jump Switch Lunges for a greater challenge)
Hindu Push-Ups
Bear Crawls
Sit Thrus
Sprawls

Protocol: Each exercise is done for 90 seconds followed by 30 seconds or rest. Repeat 2x’s.

Need more?

Apply HERE to work with me one-on-one through my Warrior Distance Learning Program!!