Hocevar Performance

Growing up in Slovenia where there is a lot to do in the outdoors and the fact that I loved training, it was only a matter of time before we started training outside a lot, as there is nothing better than fresh air, the “wild” and lifting heavy stuff, throwing it and sprinting up hills. We started gathering in groups and going to Tivoli, which is a park on the outskirts of the city,  where we would bring our kettlebells, ropes, kegs and we had some heavy logs and stones already there.

Even though we didn’t have the best programming back then, that training produced some of the best gains in strength, speed and resiliency that I have ever got through training. Part of it was the actual environment as it was a group of dedicated athletes that really pushed it, but much of it was also the strongman training and odd object training that we used. More and more people joined the group and the results were always crazy because of the combination of the environemnt, like minded individuals and training methods.

Today, I still use a bunch of strongman training in my athletes (and my own) training. Many cycles will see a whole day involving strongman implements and odd objects such as tires, ropes, kegs, sandbags, kettlebells, etc. The training is great for sports performance as the movements are open loop so it prepares the athletes for the chaos they will encounter on the court/field.

Here are a couple more reasons why you should include strongman training in your programs:

- You will train multi joint movements which has a functional carryover to sport.

- As I mentioned earlier, the akwardness of some of the lifts compares to the unpredictabel nature of sports

- They WILL build mental toughness as strongman training is no joke and it is definitely challenging.

- Even though it’s tough, the athletes love it! It is very important that even though the training is hard it still ends up being enjoyable for the athletes, plus it will create a ruckus when we throw in some strongman competitions that get the athletes revved up and build unity.

- If you look at many of the strongman exercises they blend strength training and metablic conditioning. 2 for 1, you gotta love it.

- Just because it works and nothing feels better like being able to toss around heavy shit and not care if it gets smashed!

By the way, are you still wandering who is Big Al?

Thanks to Big Al Brewery For The Indestructible Keg!

Sometimes we get lost in all the information out there and try to include everything and anything in our training forgetting what got us the best results in the first place. Are you using strongman training in your programs, if now why? If you do then let me know what type of results have you been experiencing!

The comments section should be full with this one!