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Below is an excerpt from Elliott Hulse's article,
Gain 31 Pounds Before Football Training Camp, Part 1, regarding
developing a training intensity that is unparalleled and is inspiring for
those looking to develop this intensity:
Attitude is the driving force behind this program.
The techniques contained in it come from a variety of sources, but the
only source that really matters is the one beating in your OWN chest. No
one can give this to you. You must seek and use it on your own. I’ve
trained several athletes who are physically gifted but never amounted to
very much because of a lack-luster
attitude. I have also worked with athletes who were not super strong or
fast by nature but excelled in their sport due to a championship attitude.
Now, when I speak of attitude, it isn’t the same attitude that your
parents, teachers, church leaders, or mentors refer to. This generally
conjures up ideas of a “nice young man” with his hair neatly combed to the
side sitting upright in a church pew. When I speak about attitude, I’m
referring to the rebel that spits in the face of convention because he’d
rather die than be average. He despises the mediocrity that he sees around
him and is willing to stand out (if he must) to make sure that his life is
different.
Most people you know are sheep, and they are just following all of the
other sheep off of the cliff. They may look OK right now or even for a few
years, perhaps well into adulthood. However, they are going to fall and
fall hard because most people follow each other rather than their hearts.
Most people are cowards. Notice that I didn’t say “afraid.” Everyone is
afraid at one time or another, but cowards run away from their fears. This
isn’t for you. You do what your heart tells you to do no matter what or
how crazy it may seem to others. There is another word that I want you to
remember. It is the foundation on which your attitude stands. The word is…
Responsibility
Again, I don’t mean this word in the conventional sense, such as making
sure you take the trash out on time or snitching when your see someone
cheating on a test. When I use the word “responsibility,” I’m speaking
about holding yourself 100 percent responsible for all of the results in
your life.
We live in a time when everyone is looking to blame someone or something
else. Ether you’re too black or you’re too white, too fast or too slow,
too short or too tall. You can blame your genetics, your parents,
teachers, coaches, and even God. Just watch TV. Fat people blame the fast
food restaurants for their fatness, smokers blame the cigarette companies
for their smoking, and people blame their kids and boss for their
depression or even their so-called chemical imbalances.
I accept none of this. I believe that everything that happens to you—good
or bad—is a result of some choice that you have made in the past. Sure,
freak things happen like accidents. However, even then, you have a choice
about how you’re going to react to it. You can fold up, get depressed, or
start drinking or doing drugs. Or you can “man up” and turn your tragedy
into triumph. Join a wheelchair basketball league or dodge ball team! Just
get up. It’s your choice. It’s your responsibility.
You want to be stronger, you want to win more games, and you want your
team to respect your wishes to “not party” during the in-season. Whatever
it is that you want, you can get if, and only if, you take full
responsibility for the results or your reaction to it. “Within a desire is
the seed for its creation.” You create your life.
Choose to be a victor, not a victim. And notice when those options are
being presented. Most people aren’t willing to take responsibility for
themselves because of one simple and very sneaky behavior—laziness. Most
people are downright lazy and in various forms. They would much rather be
victims of their circumstances than take the time to look at what they
have done to create their situation or how they can change their behaviors
to create a better future.
How to be a beast in the weight room
I sum it up with on phrase—turn off your brain. I learned this trick when
my college buddies used to come and train with me and my brother in our
basement during the summers. One day, we were performing back squats for
reps, and I told everyone that I had an idea. My idea was to continue
performing reps beyond what we normally did (8–12) to see how many we
could do. The way we were going to make this happen was by reminding the
guy performing the set to turn off his brain when he got tired.
The results were amazing! What would normally be a 15 rep set turned into
a 25–30 rep set! Why did this happen? Because when you remind yourself to
turn your brain off, you destroy two things. The first is the ego. That
little voice telling you what you should or shouldn’t do or the remnants
of your mommy’s voice saying, “my poor baby is going to get hurt, come
here let me
kiss you.” The next is inhibition. This again is a little voice warning
you that you’re getting out of your comfort zone and that it may be scary
out there. This voice is not you friend. He aims to keep you mediocre,
normal, and sane.
Remember this—the same old thing equals the same old thing. You’ve got to
get uncomfortable if you want to be the best! Discomfort will become your
friend because it is a reminder that you are getting better. Something new
is on its way. You've got to break a few eggs to make an omelet.
Shut your brain off whenever you hear a voice tell you that you can’t,
that it’s too dangerous, or you’re not smart enough or good enough. Sure,
your body can get tired, but a heart full of intensity of purpose never
grows tired.
Scream and shout when you train! I do. That’s why I train in a warehouse
hidden deep in the Florida swamps. When we train, we make so much noise
that alligators run away afraid. Why do you think Bruce Lee made all of
those wild Kung Fu noises when he was kicking some poor guy’s butt?
Don’t be afraid to make noise, literally and figuratively. Shut your brain
off and do what needs to be done. Notice when the ego or momma’s voice
gets in your way. Then shut them out fast (sorry mom). Know exactly what
you want, keep your thoughts focused on it, and be thankful for it as if
it were already at hand.
Stay tuned for part two—eat iron and lift food.
Elliott Hulse is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and
owner of Strength Camp, a sports performance service in St. Petersburg
Florida. He trains athletes to get stronger and faster in a “warehouse
gym” with about $1000 worth of equipment. Lean more about Elliott and get
his “Top 10 Gym Exercises for Explosive Football Speed” by visiting
http://www.FootballStrengthProgram.com.
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