Finding role models when you are deciding to get into shape is a good way to get started. Do you have any fitness role models? Is there a certain physiques that you would like to create? Whose training philosophy most closely resembles your own?
Finding a Fitness role model can give you a blue print to follow and give you limitless motivation. But if you make the wrong choice you’re asking for frustration.
An example of a ‘wrong’ fitness role model might often be found on YouTube. But be careful of who you decide to follow. There are more of those whose training is all wrong and can lead you to injury. Remember, nothing beats science, dedication, and determination.
Several of these Socially ‘famous’ fitness people will tell you that you can look like them by training like them. Fitness is a very personal thing and it starts by having a program personally designed for you, your body type, and your goals. Several of these people may look good on video or in photos but have zero ‘functional fitness’.
Why Old-Time Strongmen Are Great Fitness Heroes
So if finding a fitness role model can be difficult who might you want to look up to? A good alternative might be one of the legendary ‘old time strongmen’. These strongmen are people who trained long before we had protein shakes and designer supplements – let alone steroids and yet they achieved physiques that are well beyond many of our modern YouTube stars!
They could actually use that strength and would be able to do incredible things like bending iron bars and lifting huge amounts of weight. These strongmen trained using completely different tools and methods and the results more than speak for themselves.
So if you want muscle that’s not just for show and that has an amazing historical heritage, that is a much better way to train.
How to Train Like an Old Time Strongman
So with all that said, how do you go about training in such a manner? What tools and techniques did they use that you could replicate?
The first trick is to use functional tools that train your body from multiple angles and that require you to use supportive muscles and balance in conjunction with brute strength. These force us to use our bodies as intended: as a single unit, working in unison. This is how we are able to generate the most strength and actually use it in ways that are useful.
Some tools that you can use to train this way include kettlebells, Indian clubs, ropes and barbells with especially thick bars. Training with one handed movements is also a particularly useful exercise, as well using more unconventional lifts, like the Turkish get-up and ‘anyhow lift’.
Another tip is to make sure that you are training your grip. This is the secret weapon of any old-time strongman and anyone interested in building truly functional strength needs to give it serious consideration in order to ensure no energy is wasted and that all of it is directed at moving the wei
ghts.
Finally, combine this with a protein rich diet and if you want to go truly old-time: lots of raw eggs!
(Although maybe a little cooking to avoid a biotin deficiency… not everything was better back in the day!)
There is no better training program that increases your functional strength and gives you a complete full body workout than Kettlebell Training! If your goal is to increase your fitness levels and make everyday tasks easier then you must include some type of kettlebell training.
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