A decade ago, Zach Even-Esh was asked to describe his training philosophy. A devotee of odd-implement training, including sand-bags and tractor tires, he said, “If it produces results, I use it.” It wasn’t a popular answer then, but he’s now known as a man ahead of his time.
“Remember, in 2004, people would say, ‘I’m only a kettlebell lifter,’ or ‘I’m only a strongman.’ I said, ‘I’m not going to discriminate if it works.’” The Underground Method involves constantly varied mini cycles with an emphasis on mentally grueling workouts.
“You want some perfect scientific program? Science happens in a perfect world, and there’s nothing perfect about an athlete’s life. Train the mind, not just the muscles.”
Top 3 Tips
Go Out
Don’t do gym workouts exclusively. Train outdoors once a week, such as doing a park run with tree pullups and stone carries.
Stick With the Lift
If you plateau on a lift, do 2–3 heavy sets, decrease weight by 50 percent ,and do 3 speed sets of 2 reps, then 3 sets of 10–15 reps.
Get Focused
Get training partners. If you can’t, find things, such as music, that motivate you to lift heavier and kick ass in the gym.
