Train Like a Madman

Workout Of The Week

“The real drug is to train like a madman, really like a madman.”

• Aleksandr “The Russian Bear” Karelin

We have multitudes of means to assess and manage training volume and I think sometimes those metrics get in the way of producing the best results.

Not always, but sometimes.

Training like a madman doesn’t mean the training has to be stupid, but the intent should be vicious. Nobody epitomized relentless work ethic like 3x olympic, 9x world, and 12x European champion Aleksandr Karelin.

Soviet training methods used highly diverse training to create freak athletes. Body weight exercises, running on uneven surfaces or snow, calisthenics, kettlebells, partner work outs, and traditional barbell or dumbbell exercises were all included in a typical athletes regime.

On off days athletes would often play other sports like basketball, jog, swim, or do light calisthenics.

Karelin Carries

Training was literally a lifetime practice.

Maybe you don’t want to be an olympic wrestler or world class athlete, but you still want to train hard and make good gains. You can probably train harder than you currently are, not only that, you could diversify your training to make yourself more physically robust.

Today’s session is about just that. Try some movements you haven’t been exposed to and push the pace.

I’m going to lay out a kettlebell and calisthenic routine below. Feel free to sprinkle it in on off days. Go lighter for more recovery or add tools like sandbags and weight vests to spice up the body weight movements.

Don’t be afraid of the work.

“The work is the gift” - Zach Even Esh

Training

Warmup

800m Jog with nasal breathing only. In through the nose and out through the nose. Easy pace.

Movement Flow 3 Rounds No Rest

Bodyweight Squat + Frog x 5

Squat Jumps (Full range) x 5

Alligators x 5/e

Pushup + Upward Dog (wassup dog) x 5

Inchworm + Pushup x 5

Activation

Russian Lunges 5 x 3/e

Double Leg Bounds 5 x 3

Clapping Push-up 5 x 5 with 30 sec rest between sets

Training: Heavy KB Complex

10 Rounds Every Minute on The Minute

As heavy as possible. Work up in weight.

Double Kettlebell (DKB) Clean x 1

DKB Front Rack Squat x 1

DKB Thruster x 1

Accessories: Armor Building

KB Front Rack Lunge x 8/ea

Gorilla Rows x 8

Pushup w/ Band x 15

Dumbbell / Sandbag Carry x 30-40 yds

5 Rounds For Time. Use as heavy bells as possible.

Core Finisher

Single Arm Kettlebell Carries x 20-30yds/ea (HEAVY)

Medicine Ball Chop Slam x 5 /ea

Leg Lift with Hip Raise x 15

Rounds no rest

Train Hard. Comment any questions below.