Strength Conditioning

For the last two years, my entire strength-conditioning program has been placed on its head and spun, with the twist of transition continuing daily. Below are several persons who have played a major factor in my recent metamorphosis of becoming wiser and stronger. I invite you to open up your mind to a new way of thinking and expect strange looks from those who just don't understand.

To Kevin Fulton, Steve Justa, Brooks Kubik, Richard Soren, Pavel Tsatsouline and Randall Strossen, Ph. D., "Thank you for not hiding your talents under a bushel basket. Your ability to share thoughts and ideas has been invaluable to so many. May blessings be returned seven fold".
Kevin Fulton
RR 2 Box 23
Litchfield, NE 68852
E-mail: kevinnamy@nctc.net

Kevin Fulton, whom I met in March 2000, has taught me the true meaning of "The more you give - the more you receive". Kevin who is the same age as myself, attended Kansas State University at Manhattan, Colorado State University at Fort Collins and several camps at the U. S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs while coaching and competing in weight lifting. Serving as the Head Strength Coach for the University of Massachusetts and in charge of 24 varsity athletic teams, was both very rewarding and extremely challenging. Kevin is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).

Within the last 7 years, Kevin returned to central Nebraska to enjoy a life of farming and family. Raised in a rural community, Kevin worked with his hands a number of times, while growing up. Grip strength has been one of Mr. Fulton's specialties. While thinking he was closing the #2 Captain of Crush gripper (IronMind Enterprises), Kevin shut the #3, in May 1999. To date, he is working on the ability to slam the #3 on any given day. He is one of about two dozen men who have ever officially closed the #3 gripper. Kevin has also done a middle fingers dead lift of 400 lbs. on an Olympic bar. This was done in an official USAWA competition.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with Kevin at his farm. His huge barn has been converted into a wonderful training center for both young and young at heart. It is the home of the Braveheart Barbell Club. Training is available for anyone who may be interested. The area high school kids seem to be taking the best advantage of the expertise. The only thing, which is asked in return, is a hard workout and an occasional helping hand on the farm. Kevin's a good man; he gives endlessly to his community and he has been happy to give me ideas on training for additional strength for arm wrestling.

 

Kevin - lifting a 6" 50 lbs scale weight,
he did this with both hands

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Teresa Holeman using perfect form in overhead squats.

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Kayla Holeman doing ab crunchers from the rack. Note her thumbs on the back side for additional finger strength.

Steve Justa
PO Box 97
Harvard, NE 68944

Years ago, Steve Justa quietly started to train his entire body with barrel lifting. But that was just the beginning. If you don't have a barbell set then simply left the car, which should tell you a lot about the no nonsense kind of guy Steve has made me a true believer of "Functional Muscle".

I first saw Steve in 1985 at the Nebraska State Arm Wrestling Championships in Lincoln, NE. Jerry Janing, seven times National and four times WAF Champion (all undefeated, matches) had just picked up sponsorship with VISE GRIP. Trying to make a good impression on the new sponsor, Jerry entered the 154 lbs class and the 199 & over class. Needless to say, no one was going to stop The Vise Grip in the lighter class; however, there was this one guy, whom no one knew, gave Jerry all he wanted in the super heavy weight class.

Now keep in mind, Jerry Janing was a World-Class arm wrestler and no one including some big farm boy from Harvard was going to beat or even slow Jerry up in the matches. Well, I guess no one told Steve Justa he couldn't beat the little guy Mr. VISE GRIP. What a match! It was long, grueling, surprising, unbelievable, and history in the making. I have never seen such a battle. Jerry won the match, but we talked about it for years. Then in 1999, during a phone conversation with Steve, I realize who and where we had met before!

Steve is a great man, a mammoth man, and an incredible man! He has authored a book, "Rock, Iron, Steel: The Book of Strength", IronMind Enterprises, Inc. It is a collection of intense training! So intense, unless you are ready to think outside the box, stay away! His training works, he is a living testimony that real results come from real effort.

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Steve Justa - who put barrel lifting on the map - takes around 480 pounds of water for a ride.
Brooks Kubik
4101 Hycliffe Ave.
Louisville, KY 40207

Email: bkubik@stites.com
Web Site: www.dinosaurtraining.com

The evolution of my own training really kicked into gear, when I snagged a couple articles written by Mr. Kubik in the publication MILO, quarterly publication dedicated to strength training, IronMind Enterprises, Inc. The spark turned into a fire after I read Brook's book, "Dinosaur Training", IronMind Enterprises, I also have taken advantage of Brooks monthly newsletter, "The Dinosaur Files".

I have always been able to go to the gym and get a good work out, but now realize there is a world of opportunity for more functional workouts, right under my nose. Dinosaur Training was the beginning of a wonderful two years of progressive improvements and "PULL like your life depends on it!" attitude. The success of my last two Nationals and World title is hinged on the fire Brooks Kubik lit. If you got the viscera to really become strong and make progress, then visit the site, order the books, and make huge advancements.

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Brooks completes a one-arm dumbbell overhead press
Richard Sorin
PO Box 121
Irmo, SC 29063

Email: strong-one@sorinex.com
Web site: www.sorinex.com

Who was the first guy to close the #3 Super Gripper or pinch 45 lbs plates together? Have you ever had the opportunity to experience #3 gripper in your hands? Do you know what it takes to close them? I mean really close them, making the handles touch long enough to be documented.

There are great Grip Masters in USA; John Brookfield, Joe Kenney and others, but I think it was Richard who set the bar for us! The picture of Richard pinching the 45's together or closing the #3 with a smile, burned in my memories years ago.

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Richard Sorin mashing the #3 Crush Gripper

For Christmas 1999, Richard won my heart by giving me my first #3 gripper! One week later, my family gave me the entire gripper collection for my 40th birthday! I'm within a 1/4 inch from closing the #2. My goal is to slam it shut by WAF Worlds this October 2000.

Richard's last quote to me on March 20, 2000 was, "Be as strong as you can, as long as you can!" Now, that's a man who knows what he is talking about!

Richard's company Sorinex; designs and manufactures work out equipment. He has one of the best machines I have seen for grip strength. You have to see it, check out the site! www.sorinex.com

Pavel Trsatsouline

Advanced Fitness Solutions, Inc.
PO Box 65472
St. Paul, MN 55165

Email: pavelizer@aol.com
Web Site: www.dragondoor.com

While, Randall Strossen, Ph. D. and the MILO journal provide the opportunity for serious strength training to come to my door, Pavel and his "Power to the People" philosophy has been my catalysis for the last few months. His logical concepts have given me sleepless nights; it has been some time since I have been so excited about a work out program.

Pavel Tsatsouline, Master of Sports, is a former physical training instructor for Spetsnaz, the Soviet Special Forces, an articulate speaker and an iconoclastic authority on flexibility and strength training. Pavel was nationally ranked in the Russian ethnic strength sport of kettle-bell lifting and holds a Soviet Physical Culture Institute degree in physiology and caching. Tastaouline has authored three books, Beyond Stretching, Beyond Crunches and Power to the People! I have read all three, start with Power to the People, Dragon Door Publications*.

Pavel pulled at the Iowa State Arm Wrestling Championships, in Hampton, Iowa on April 1, 2000, the photo is below.

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The above books and training materials can be purchased from:

 

IronMind Enterprises
PO Box 1228
Nevada City, CA 95859
530-265-6725
Fax: 530-265-4876
Website: www.ironmind.com
Email: milo@ironmind.com

 

* Dragon Door Publications
PO Box 4381
St. Paul, MN 55104
Tel: 651/645-0517
Fax: 651/644-5676
Credit Card Orders: 1800/899-5111 (24 hrs)
Web Site: www.dragondoor.com
Email: Dragondoor@aol.com

(Please, let them know Heartland Armwrestling sent you!)