Weight Equals Cruelty?

Andrew Stutts

I was watching videos of a dogs competing in a weight pulling competition.  These canine athletes are admirable to watch.  I was surprised to read some of the negative comments mostly centered around allegation of animal cruelty.  Some people's opinions make me question if we are all from the same planet.

 A Pitbull competing in a competitive canine weight pull. 

I began to ponder the root of these people's perception of cruelty.  Then the reason became crystal clear to me.  This is due to people's misinformed perception of heavy resistance training.   In their warped sense of reality hard work is cruel.  They view it as cruel and unusual punishment for people so by default it must be cruel for dogs to be forced to do it.  Here is the part they are missing; the dogs are not forced to do the work.  They actually enjoy the work.  Imagine that, they actually enjoy hard work.   I know for some that is hard to believe.  These dogs like people need a physical outlet that light cardio just can't provide.

It is also interesting to note the types of dogs that usually excel at the sport of weight pulling.   They are usually the breeds of dogs with an abundance of drive, courage, and tenacity.  One of the most notable breeds exceling at this activity are Pitbulls. Many of these types of dogs and their owners are vilified, even when their energies are channeled into a positive activity like weight pulling. 

Why do some people automatically assume that just because one chose to own a such a canine, they must by default be a low brow thug or overcompensating for something?  Likewise, why is there this "meat head" stereotype associated with those who are interested in strength training?  Exactly when did it become unfashionable to admire attributes like strength, power, and tenacity?  Like all people who are interested such things are not well balanced and have nothing of significance to contribute to society...Right!!!!

Ukraine's Oleksii Novikov wins 2020World's Strongest Man 

Let me share something with you.  Strength is awesome!  It is something to be admired and emulated.  Strength of body, mind and character should be continually cultivated.  

 

Muscle Apocalypse

Deadlift The Exercise You Should Be Doing

Andrew Stutts

The deadlift is unfortunately the second most avoided exercise after the squat.  Maybe this is due, in part, to its name.  It was once known as the health-lift and I for one think this name is still appropriate.  However, for the sake of simplicity I shall continue to refer to this exercise by its commonly known name.

For reasons that escape me, it has become the norm for ego-driven gym rats to compare maximum bench press number.  This holds true even in this day and age when there is ample information concerning true functional strength training.   I am not saying that the bench press does not have its place in a strength training arsenal, but it should not hold the sway that it currently does.  If you place strength training exercises in a pyramid with the most important and fundamental movement at the base, then the deadlift would be at the base and the bench press near the top. 

Definitely overemphasizing the bench press in one's strength training program will create imbalances in one's physique and the ability to express power.  I've met many men that have an impressive bench press and their max numbers definitely eclipsed mine.  However, they were unable to express as much power as me on the football field, the mat, the construction site, and you get the idea.  Why is this?  They neglected the more fundamental, albeit pain in the ass, strength building exercises.  The best analogy I can think of when they tried to express power is like shooting an oversize canon from a little canoe.  There is no base or foundation.

Think of it this way.  How would you lift an extremely heavy object that was trapping a loved one? Let us put aside the fact that you are an extremely intelligent person and would probably pull off a MacGyver, constructing a crafty lever of some sort.  To manually lift the object in a hurry would you first lie prone, wedge yourself under the object and attempt to bench press it?  I don't think so!  You would do so from of lifting motion similar to the deadlift exercise.  The reason being is this is the most logical and natural way to express your body's full power lifting an object off the ground. 

Take one day and observe all your activities and see if they do not fit the above-mentioned paradigm.  The deadlift is the most natural weight training movement you can do and the most transferable to everyday life skills.  Picking up everyday objects from your shoes to your groceries involve this fundamental movement. 

As I have previously pointed out you cannot avoid lifting movements similar to the deadlift in your everyday life.  Therefore, does it make sense to avoid this exercise in the gym?  This movement pattern should be perfected to prevent injury and improve the quality of one's life.  This idea can be considered the foundation of my philosophy of fitness or self-defense against injury.  Martial artist constantly strives for perfection by meditatively practicing the most basic technique over and over.  This allows them to execute these moves naturally, safely, and effectively.   Strength and movement are important skills that have direct correlation to the quality of one's life.   Bearing this in mind, one should constantly perfect this skill set just as the martial artist perfect his punch, kick, throw, etc.

As with any physical activity, individual circumstance will vary, and you may have to modify/scale your workouts.  Remember the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day".  This basic movement can be practiced with light everyday items such as soup cans and broomsticks and gradually built up from there.  However, when training, your mind needs to give that object the same respect, concentration, and effort in lifting/movement you would give a barbell set weighing hundreds of pounds.  This is essential to dial in the technique.  Look, I am not suggesting everyone wants or needs to be a world class power lifter,
but this lifting movement is essential to health and quality of life. Strength IS a skill that needs perfecting.

Muscle Apocalypse

The Benefit of Walking and Fitting it In

Andrew Stutts

My walk with the dog today reminded me of the time my impatience turned into a good workout.   It was a day I decided to save some gas money and have my wife drop me off at work since she was going to be on that side of town running errands.  When I called her to pick me up, she informed me she was going to be another thirty minutes.  My work was finished, I earned my money, and I felt no need to linger around.  I must admit I was aggravated at the prospect of waiting and my patience did get the best of me.  I work for some nice folks at the time and their company was a blessing, but it was such a nice day that I wanted to be outside without delay. 

Well, I decided to channel that energy in a positive way and started to walk towards home and rendezvous with my wife along the way. So, I texted my wife the location I'd be heading, and I did just that.  I walked for approximately twenty minutes before we met up and man did, I cover some ground.  It felt good to be outside and walking was the perfect way to unwind after work.

The energy I had from this walk put me in a great mood and motivated me to get in a good workout as soon as I got home.  Normally it takes me a while to get in the mood to exercise and I end up doing it later in the evening.  Not this day, I got right to it and found myself with so much extra time in the evening that I sat in my porch swing and enjoyed watching the sunset over the Rockies.

Walking is so beneficial for your health and so easy to do for most of us.  It is the most underrated exercise, and the ability most able-bodied people take for granted.  There are those that lack the ability to walk or their ability to walk is encumbered for reason beyond their control.  However, there is segment of the population, in western society, which have allowed their physical fitness to deteriorate to the point where they have lost much of this basic function of life.  This is a crying shame!  Unfortunately, mobility is one of the first things to go when one leads a sedentary lifestyle.  However, walking is the cure and the foundational exercise to begin reclaiming your health and mobility. 

There is little excuse for not beginning a walking routine or to add one into your current fitness regime.  Walking requires no expensive gym membership or equipment.  You can do it almost anytime and anywhere.   In fact, with a little preparation most weather should not be a deterrent to this essential activity. Walking is one of the most primal and instinctual movements one can do.  It is a basic inherent function of the body that does not require one to pay for the service of a personal trainer to do safely and effectively.  It should be understood as an obvious fact that humans were design to do lots of walking.  One just needs to look at the lifestyle of primitive societies to find numerous examples.  This fact holds equally true to some extent for both hunter-gather group as it does for agrarian societies.  Our human ancestors have done vast amounts of walking and there are a variety examples in recent American History to support this notion.  In fact, there were a group of American Pioneers that migrated through the Mid-West walking and pushing their belonging in hand carts.  If this curious fact is of interest to you just do a Google search on the topic of Mormons and hand carts.  On a side note, there are actual places in Nebraska and Wyoming, just to name a few, where you can touch the tracks of American Pioneers that are still embedded in the ground. 

Oregon Trail Wagon Rut in Wyoming

Now if you've let your health deteriorate to the point where you can no longer do this activity or you have a medical condition affecting your ability that is a different story.  In this instance you need to consult the advice of a medical professional and enlist the services of a good physical therapist.  However, I bet dollars to donuts they would set goals to get you moving again and that would probably include walking in some capacity.

Now those that reside in the realm of elite fitness should not disregard walking.  Walking has many advantages that supplement more extreme fitness regimes.  Also, there are numerous was to amp the intensity of the simple act of walking and the military has made an art of this concept.  Don't worry you don't have to enlist to take advantage of this principle.  Furthermore, walking is a great way to work around an injury while recovering.  Lastly, light walking is also one of the best cures for DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

Yearly Fallen Defenders Ruck March, Joint Base San Antonio Texas

Life is busy for us all, but I bet like me you can find these opportunities to exercise.  Don't let them pass you by.  The human body was designed for work and movement.  Every little bit of activity you do in a day adds up in the bank for your overall health.  Time management is important in every aspect of your life including health and fitness.  Do not let these opportunities pass you by get outside and get moving.

Muscle Apocalypse

What is Muscle Apocalpse

Andrew Stutts

What is Muscle Apocalypse?  Well, for starters it is my personal brand name. However, it is more than a brand name.  It is a martial arts, fitness, and lifestyle guild for those seeking continual physical cultural refinement.  It is a state of mind.  It is an attitude. It is a battle cry!

My name is Andrew Stutts.  In 1990, I enlisted in the military when Desert Storm was in full swing and so would begin my 21 years of service to my country, which would end in a final tour in Afghanistan.  Mental and physical readiness became a way of life and as a military leader I encouraged this in others, preparing many for their Physical Fitness Test and the rigors of deployment. 

MacDill Airman Complete PT Test

Air Force Times

My personal time I spent pursuing my Black Belt in Judo and constantly refining my methods for general physical preparedness.  Judo is a martial art that I have used for not only self-defense but as a means for mental, physical, and character development.  Since the age of twelve I have been interested in physical culture and the various means to perfect the human body and bring it to its fullest potential.  However, Judo more than any other activity has taught me the lessons of perseverance and the importance using one's power in the most efficient way possible.

Judo Dojo

I believe a human being needs to be as multi-faceted as possible and prepared for any danger.  Self-defense is not just about defending yours self from your fellow humans but being prepared as possible for anything life can dish out.  What good does it do you to know the most super-secret ninja squirrel technique if you are not physically able to execute it against a more athletic adversary.  Physical fitness is a tool in the self-defense arsenal and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is not giving you the "Real McCoy".  Physical fitness is a skill that constantly needs to be refined just like any martial art technique.   Bottom line, for a complete self-defense system one needs to be able to walk, run, jump, climb, swim, and fight their way out of any unforeseen danger. 

The end goal is a balance of a prepared mind and body.  This does not mean living a paranoid life that lacks joy.  To the contrary, living prepared allows one to live life to the fullest and contribute something of value to society.  Question is what are you training for?

Muscle Apocalypse