In case you missed it yesterday, my new article "Strength Routine or Circus Act" was posted at MMA Weekly.com. Go take a look:
link
After that, head to my site and, if you haven't already, get in on the 'pre-sale' price of my new "Working Class Cardio Workout". I already sold out of the original 17 copies I was gonna let go, but I decided to sell 3 more...
...and after that, NO MORE!
CLICK HERE NOW FOR THE SCOOP
More real soon.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
Monday, November 02, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Bruce Lee's Running Workout
Bruce Lee was probably one of - if not the - most influential martial artists of all time.
First, he was really the first martial artist to ever embrace aspects of many different martial arts at the same time. Using his notion that "no way" was the one true "way", many consider Lee to be the first ever Mixed Martial Artist.
Lee also brought martial arts (esp Chinese) to mainstream media in the US via his role on TV's "The Green Hornet" as well his many kung fu movies (with "Enter the Dragon" arguably the most popular long-term) to Hollywood's big screen.
One of the things Bruce Lee was most known for was amazing physical strength, conditioning, and physique.
Lee spent countless hours on his physical development, and studied countless books and courses, trying to learn as much about training as he could.
As diligent as he was with his martial arts training, he was just as diligent with his physical training.
In fact, as known as Lee was for being "ahead of his time" in the realm of martial arts, he was really just as "ahead of his time" in physical training.
Know how popular interval training (also known as "HIIT") has become in recent years? Well, Bruce Lee was doing it back in the 1970s!
In fact, one of Lee's favorite interval training programs (as described in the John Little book, "The Art of Expressing the Human Body") was as follows:
-jog x 60 seconds
-run (sprint) x 30 seconds
-walk x 60 seconds
Build up to 10-20 rounds, and you've got a helluva workout - one I use pretty often myself.
However, the two different interval times for this workout can make it a real pain in the ass. Because I don't know about you, but when I'm running, I don't like having to watch a stopwatch all the time.
I'd rather just use a timer. Makes things a lot more simple, and I don't have to worry about watching the clock - I can just worry about running.
But most timers won't let you use two different time intervals.
What a pain.
Enter the Gymboss.
The Gymboss is a cool little timer that lets you program it with two different interval lengths, up to 99 rounds, act as a stopwatch, act as a countdown timer, is small and easy to carry, water and shock resistant...
(...the list of benefits goes on for quite a while...)
The best thing about it is the price - you can pick up this cool little gadget for less than $20!
Hell, a wall clock is gonna cost you seven or eight bucks by itself...and it can't touch everything the Gymboss can do.
What are you waiting for? CLICK HERE for more info on the Gymboss.
...and get to work kicking ass on your own interval workouts!
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
First, he was really the first martial artist to ever embrace aspects of many different martial arts at the same time. Using his notion that "no way" was the one true "way", many consider Lee to be the first ever Mixed Martial Artist.
Lee also brought martial arts (esp Chinese) to mainstream media in the US via his role on TV's "The Green Hornet" as well his many kung fu movies (with "Enter the Dragon" arguably the most popular long-term) to Hollywood's big screen.
One of the things Bruce Lee was most known for was amazing physical strength, conditioning, and physique.Lee spent countless hours on his physical development, and studied countless books and courses, trying to learn as much about training as he could.
As diligent as he was with his martial arts training, he was just as diligent with his physical training.
In fact, as known as Lee was for being "ahead of his time" in the realm of martial arts, he was really just as "ahead of his time" in physical training.
Know how popular interval training (also known as "HIIT") has become in recent years? Well, Bruce Lee was doing it back in the 1970s!
In fact, one of Lee's favorite interval training programs (as described in the John Little book, "The Art of Expressing the Human Body") was as follows:
-jog x 60 seconds
-run (sprint) x 30 seconds
-walk x 60 seconds
Build up to 10-20 rounds, and you've got a helluva workout - one I use pretty often myself.
However, the two different interval times for this workout can make it a real pain in the ass. Because I don't know about you, but when I'm running, I don't like having to watch a stopwatch all the time.
I'd rather just use a timer. Makes things a lot more simple, and I don't have to worry about watching the clock - I can just worry about running.
But most timers won't let you use two different time intervals.
What a pain.
Enter the Gymboss.
The Gymboss is a cool little timer that lets you program it with two different interval lengths, up to 99 rounds, act as a stopwatch, act as a countdown timer, is small and easy to carry, water and shock resistant...
(...the list of benefits goes on for quite a while...)
The best thing about it is the price - you can pick up this cool little gadget for less than $20!
Hell, a wall clock is gonna cost you seven or eight bucks by itself...and it can't touch everything the Gymboss can do.
What are you waiting for? CLICK HERE for more info on the Gymboss.
...and get to work kicking ass on your own interval workouts!
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
WWE and desire?
Are you a pro-wrestling fan? It's Ok...you can tell me if you are.
WWE. TNA. NWA. ROH. IWGP. NJPW.
There is plenty out there for the pro-wrestling...or 'sports entertainment' (if
you wanna call it that)...fan these days.
Of course, the WWE is the 800-lb gorilla in the market (at least here in the US, anyway). Kinda like Dana White and the UFC, Vince McMahon has built a veritable empire with his WWE, pretty much steamrolling any other fed that tries to make a name for itself on the national market.
Just like the UFC buying out Pride, WWE has bought out much of its competition over the years, including WCW and ECW.
Though, as good as a promoter Vinny Mac is, he hasn't had a whole lot of success
outside of the squared circle.
Remember the XFL? Oh boy. What a mess that was. "He Hate Me." LOL.
Before that, Vince tried his hand at pro bodybuilding, starting up the WBF. Like in the "Monday Night Wars", were pro-wrestling feds were jockeying for talent, Vince started up the WBF and immediately signed a number of high level bodybuilders from the IFBB.
(The IFBB is the Weider-run fed that contests the Mr. Olympia, Arnold's Classic, and other such prominent shows.)
The WBF did a little better than the XFL - it took 2 years to fold instead of just one. ;-)
Along with the WBF, Vince tried his hand at the supplement market - IcoPro.
Remember that stuff? The best thing about them was their slogan:
"You've gotta want it!"
And as hokey as the rest of all of Vince's undertakings have been, I'm a big fan of that tagline.
Really, b/c it's so true.
Take case in point - my long-time customer Aaron Bonafede.
I've written about Aaron before. Aaron is a kickass trainee who has spent LOADS of time on my programs, had physical setbacks, and come back to overcome the adversity. Time and time again Aaron has emailed me to tell me about a new PR or accomplishment he's done.
This morning, I got another email from Aaron, telling me how well he's doing. But that wasn't what caught my eye about Aaron's email.
This time, it was how he's trying to help others...but they just don't want to seem to put in the work.
"They see the work I put in and the results and want the same thing. I have been steering them towards your website...Some of them may try it but most of them aren't willing to put in the work... can't tell you how many people I give advice to and they all just look at me like I'm crazy or that there is no way they could stick to a program like that."
What a damn shame.
Here Aaron is, trying to help people accomplish the exact same thing he's done...but they're too damn lazy to do it. I mean, Aaron has been busting his ass on my programs for going on 2 years now.
You ain't gonna turn into a stud like Aaron overnight with some pansy-ass program.
Like the old IcoPro slogan used to say..."YOU'VE GOTTA WANT IT!"
Do you want it?
If you do, then check out "Working Class Fitness - The Programs", and get on your way to being the same kinda badass Aaron is. 6 workout programs - all 8 weeks each - for one stupid low price. CLICK HERE and get my MMA Championship Edition Program with it and Save 40%.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - That link again to SAVE 40% is HERE.
WWE. TNA. NWA. ROH. IWGP. NJPW.
There is plenty out there for the pro-wrestling...or 'sports entertainment' (if
you wanna call it that)...fan these days.
Of course, the WWE is the 800-lb gorilla in the market (at least here in the US, anyway). Kinda like Dana White and the UFC, Vince McMahon has built a veritable empire with his WWE, pretty much steamrolling any other fed that tries to make a name for itself on the national market. Just like the UFC buying out Pride, WWE has bought out much of its competition over the years, including WCW and ECW.
Though, as good as a promoter Vinny Mac is, he hasn't had a whole lot of success
outside of the squared circle.
Remember the XFL? Oh boy. What a mess that was. "He Hate Me." LOL.
Before that, Vince tried his hand at pro bodybuilding, starting up the WBF. Like in the "Monday Night Wars", were pro-wrestling feds were jockeying for talent, Vince started up the WBF and immediately signed a number of high level bodybuilders from the IFBB.
(The IFBB is the Weider-run fed that contests the Mr. Olympia, Arnold's Classic, and other such prominent shows.)
The WBF did a little better than the XFL - it took 2 years to fold instead of just one. ;-)
Along with the WBF, Vince tried his hand at the supplement market - IcoPro.
Remember that stuff? The best thing about them was their slogan:
"You've gotta want it!"
And as hokey as the rest of all of Vince's undertakings have been, I'm a big fan of that tagline.
Really, b/c it's so true.
Take case in point - my long-time customer Aaron Bonafede.
I've written about Aaron before. Aaron is a kickass trainee who has spent LOADS of time on my programs, had physical setbacks, and come back to overcome the adversity. Time and time again Aaron has emailed me to tell me about a new PR or accomplishment he's done.
This morning, I got another email from Aaron, telling me how well he's doing. But that wasn't what caught my eye about Aaron's email.
This time, it was how he's trying to help others...but they just don't want to seem to put in the work.
"They see the work I put in and the results and want the same thing. I have been steering them towards your website...Some of them may try it but most of them aren't willing to put in the work... can't tell you how many people I give advice to and they all just look at me like I'm crazy or that there is no way they could stick to a program like that."
What a damn shame.
Here Aaron is, trying to help people accomplish the exact same thing he's done...but they're too damn lazy to do it. I mean, Aaron has been busting his ass on my programs for going on 2 years now.
You ain't gonna turn into a stud like Aaron overnight with some pansy-ass program.
Like the old IcoPro slogan used to say..."YOU'VE GOTTA WANT IT!"
Do you want it?
If you do, then check out "Working Class Fitness - The Programs", and get on your way to being the same kinda badass Aaron is. 6 workout programs - all 8 weeks each - for one stupid low price. CLICK HERE and get my MMA Championship Edition Program with it and Save 40%.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - That link again to SAVE 40% is HERE.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Are You Better Today?
What have you done to make yourself better today?
Last weekend, the weather was pretty nice (but of course, living in North Carolina, the weather is never too out of whack the entire year). I got up early on Saturday morning to get a workout in.
I grabbed some DBs, and took them outside to my back yard and got to work. The air
was still cool from the night before, there were few people out and about yet, the sun wasn't even completely up and the grass was still wet with the early morning dew.
It was so beautiful, quiet, and serene - PERFECT for getting a kickass workout in!
And a kickass workout it was, too!
Started off w/GPP rounds of jumping jacks, skier shuffles, and mountain climbers. Then it was onto strength work of heavy DB snatches, presses, and rows. Conditioning was done with circuits of bench jumps, burpees, swings, more burpees, and more bench jumps.
(BTW - if you're a fan of workouts like this, then "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" is for you. Program #1 is made up completely of workouts just like this. And if you CLICK HERE, you can save big $$$$!)
Halfway through my first conditioning circuit, my 9-year old daughter stumbled her way onto the back porch. Having just woken up, she stood there quietly, rubbing her eyes, still trying to 'wake up', watching me jump, burpee, and swing my way around our back yard.
After my last circuit, I stood there, bent over, hands on my knees, trying to suck as much oxygen as my lungs would take in.
She looked at me, and asked me a pretty simple question:
"Daddy, why are you up so early?"
I thought this would be a good time for my little girl to learn a lesson about life.
"Well," I said between gasps of air, "I wanna be better than everybody else. I wanna be bigger, stronger, in better shape, smarter, a better dad...you know?"
She nodded.
"That takes a lot of work, right?"
She nodded again.
"Take a look up and down the street. Do you see anybody else up and around?"
She shook her head.
"Right. While everybody else is asleep, and resting, I'm out here working. Making myself better. It's early in the morning, and I've already done more than many people will do all day long."
I asked her if she understood, and she said she did, but I wasn't sure. I was hoping that this would be a lesson I could reinforce over time.
The next morning, I arose to find my little girl had been up for quite a while already. She was dressed, bed made, room cleaned, and reading a book about animals.
"Why are you up so early?" I asked her, not even thinking about our exchange the day before.
"Because while you were in there sleeping," she said, "I was out here getting smarter," and she tapped her book.
That's my girl. ;-)
Have you done anything to make yourself smarter, stronger, richer, more spiritual, or
better in any way yet today?
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - Don't forget that link to "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" is HERE.
Last weekend, the weather was pretty nice (but of course, living in North Carolina, the weather is never too out of whack the entire year). I got up early on Saturday morning to get a workout in.
I grabbed some DBs, and took them outside to my back yard and got to work. The air
was still cool from the night before, there were few people out and about yet, the sun wasn't even completely up and the grass was still wet with the early morning dew.
It was so beautiful, quiet, and serene - PERFECT for getting a kickass workout in!
And a kickass workout it was, too!
Started off w/GPP rounds of jumping jacks, skier shuffles, and mountain climbers. Then it was onto strength work of heavy DB snatches, presses, and rows. Conditioning was done with circuits of bench jumps, burpees, swings, more burpees, and more bench jumps.
(BTW - if you're a fan of workouts like this, then "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" is for you. Program #1 is made up completely of workouts just like this. And if you CLICK HERE, you can save big $$$$!)
Halfway through my first conditioning circuit, my 9-year old daughter stumbled her way onto the back porch. Having just woken up, she stood there quietly, rubbing her eyes, still trying to 'wake up', watching me jump, burpee, and swing my way around our back yard.
After my last circuit, I stood there, bent over, hands on my knees, trying to suck as much oxygen as my lungs would take in.
She looked at me, and asked me a pretty simple question:
"Daddy, why are you up so early?"
I thought this would be a good time for my little girl to learn a lesson about life.
"Well," I said between gasps of air, "I wanna be better than everybody else. I wanna be bigger, stronger, in better shape, smarter, a better dad...you know?"
She nodded.
"That takes a lot of work, right?"
She nodded again.
"Take a look up and down the street. Do you see anybody else up and around?"
She shook her head.
"Right. While everybody else is asleep, and resting, I'm out here working. Making myself better. It's early in the morning, and I've already done more than many people will do all day long."
I asked her if she understood, and she said she did, but I wasn't sure. I was hoping that this would be a lesson I could reinforce over time.
The next morning, I arose to find my little girl had been up for quite a while already. She was dressed, bed made, room cleaned, and reading a book about animals.
"Why are you up so early?" I asked her, not even thinking about our exchange the day before.
"Because while you were in there sleeping," she said, "I was out here getting smarter," and she tapped her book.
That's my girl. ;-)
Have you done anything to make yourself smarter, stronger, richer, more spiritual, or
better in any way yet today?
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - Don't forget that link to "Working Class Fitness - The Programs" is HERE.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
How Much Can You Get Done?
My new article - "Get More Done in Less Time" was just published at MMA Weekly.com.
CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Quote of the Date - 22-Sept-09
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
Christopher Reeve
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
Christopher Reeve
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sean Sherk's Workout SUCKS!?!
Ok, time for a little bitch session...
A while back, former UFC LW Champ Sean Sherk detailed his workouts in a bodybuilding rag. It was pretty much bodybuilding - 4 sets of 10 reps, bodypart splits, supersets, using machines, etc.
This is the complete opposite of what many coaches say MMAists should do. There were no full body workouts, no olympic lifts, no complexes, no "sport specific"
exercises,etc.
Just plain old bodybuilding.
When this came out, all the keyboard warriors were blown away. Yeah - I know - nobody ever argues on the intrawebs, right? LOL.
"Just how good could Sean be if he used Program X, Program Y, or Program Whatever..."
*sigh*
Let me tell you something that might have slipped past a few people...
Sean Sherk fights for the UFC and is a former Champ.
He's fought all over the world. Though he lost, he was the first fighter ever to take Matt Hughes a full five rounds...back when Hughes could do no wrong in the cage.
Put simply - there's a darn good chance that Sean is a better fighter and athlete than you are, and has accomplished more than you have. After all, YOU are the one watching HIM on TV and PPV, right?
Sean isn't plunking down $50 to watch you is he?
Didn't think so.
Right now is when the internet quasi-gurus will say, "Well, this is a perfect case of somebody succeeding in spite of his training - not because of it."
*rolls eyes*
Listen, I've heard the whole "in spite of" quote, and many times, I highly agree. However, before you can pull that card, you might wanna take a look at what they're doing, and see what kind of success they're having.
EVERYBODY can improve, so don't go down that route with me. But, if something is working - and working well - should a fighter want to be so quick to change it?
It's "cool" to not like bodybuilding. As MMAists, all we care about is becoming better fighters, so the idea of training just for looks is a little "foo-foo."
But you know what, I'd bet that most bodybuilders think that rolling around on a mat between another guy's legs is a little...
...well, you know.
MMA and bodybuilding aren't alone. Most "cliques" in the S&C world - powerlifters, Olympic lifters, strongman competitors, kettlebell'ers, crossfitt'ers, S&C coaches, etc. all have somebody (and some training method) that they don't like and/or don't agree with. And most of the time, it's everybody besides their own little clique.
And that sucks.
I'm not a fan of the sport of professional bodybuilding. I'm not going to get into why, because this is not the time or place. However, this doesn't mean that bodybuilding training is not useful.
When I say bodybuilding training, know that I mean training programs/methods that can be employed by natural trainees for the sake of looking better. The programs that the pros use are pretty much useless to the "regular joe" because one would have to be on insane amounts of drugs for them to work effectively.
Do I think bodybuilding training is optimum for MMA?
No - I think there are plenty of ways to train that are better.
(=> Check out my "Working Class MMA Workout Program" - at 40% off no less - for an example of how I like to train fighters.)
But that doesn't mean it can't work. Sean Sherk, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, Mark Kerr, Mark Coleman, Frank Shamrock, and several other fighters used it at one point or another in their career...and it just so happened to be when they were WINNING BIG...
...as in when they were CHAMPIONS.
In the end, this is what I want you to take away from this little rant:
Before you start dogging somebody because of their training program, take a look at not only what they do, but why they do it. Are they winning? Why? And if not, why not?
Only then can you begin to ponder ways to improve training methods.
Try to learn something before you start telling somebody they're automatically wrong.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - Don't forget to check out that MMA Workout I mentioned above...
A while back, former UFC LW Champ Sean Sherk detailed his workouts in a bodybuilding rag. It was pretty much bodybuilding - 4 sets of 10 reps, bodypart splits, supersets, using machines, etc.
This is the complete opposite of what many coaches say MMAists should do. There were no full body workouts, no olympic lifts, no complexes, no "sport specific"
exercises,etc.
Just plain old bodybuilding.
When this came out, all the keyboard warriors were blown away. Yeah - I know - nobody ever argues on the intrawebs, right? LOL.
"Just how good could Sean be if he used Program X, Program Y, or Program Whatever..."
*sigh*
Let me tell you something that might have slipped past a few people...
Sean Sherk fights for the UFC and is a former Champ.
He's fought all over the world. Though he lost, he was the first fighter ever to take Matt Hughes a full five rounds...back when Hughes could do no wrong in the cage.
Put simply - there's a darn good chance that Sean is a better fighter and athlete than you are, and has accomplished more than you have. After all, YOU are the one watching HIM on TV and PPV, right?
Sean isn't plunking down $50 to watch you is he?
Didn't think so.
Right now is when the internet quasi-gurus will say, "Well, this is a perfect case of somebody succeeding in spite of his training - not because of it."
*rolls eyes*
Listen, I've heard the whole "in spite of" quote, and many times, I highly agree. However, before you can pull that card, you might wanna take a look at what they're doing, and see what kind of success they're having.
EVERYBODY can improve, so don't go down that route with me. But, if something is working - and working well - should a fighter want to be so quick to change it?
It's "cool" to not like bodybuilding. As MMAists, all we care about is becoming better fighters, so the idea of training just for looks is a little "foo-foo."
But you know what, I'd bet that most bodybuilders think that rolling around on a mat between another guy's legs is a little...
...well, you know.
MMA and bodybuilding aren't alone. Most "cliques" in the S&C world - powerlifters, Olympic lifters, strongman competitors, kettlebell'ers, crossfitt'ers, S&C coaches, etc. all have somebody (and some training method) that they don't like and/or don't agree with. And most of the time, it's everybody besides their own little clique.
And that sucks.
I'm not a fan of the sport of professional bodybuilding. I'm not going to get into why, because this is not the time or place. However, this doesn't mean that bodybuilding training is not useful.
When I say bodybuilding training, know that I mean training programs/methods that can be employed by natural trainees for the sake of looking better. The programs that the pros use are pretty much useless to the "regular joe" because one would have to be on insane amounts of drugs for them to work effectively.
Do I think bodybuilding training is optimum for MMA?
No - I think there are plenty of ways to train that are better.
(=> Check out my "Working Class MMA Workout Program" - at 40% off no less - for an example of how I like to train fighters.)
But that doesn't mean it can't work. Sean Sherk, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, Mark Kerr, Mark Coleman, Frank Shamrock, and several other fighters used it at one point or another in their career...and it just so happened to be when they were WINNING BIG...
...as in when they were CHAMPIONS.
In the end, this is what I want you to take away from this little rant:
Before you start dogging somebody because of their training program, take a look at not only what they do, but why they do it. Are they winning? Why? And if not, why not?
Only then can you begin to ponder ways to improve training methods.
Try to learn something before you start telling somebody they're automatically wrong.
Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard-
Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins
http://www.workingclassfitness.com
PS - Don't forget to check out that MMA Workout I mentioned above...
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