The Breaking Muscle Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Fight Strength NSFW: Ask Daru Dec 07, 2017

Show notes

On the latest edition of Fight Strength NSFW we switched things up a bit from our usual format of having on a guest. Instead, co-host Phil Daru and I took our weekly "Ask Daru" segment to the next level. Listeners of the show have sent Daru a whole pile of questions lately, and we felt the need to dedicate an entire episode to deliver answers for these aficionados of fitness.

Daru recently returned from a two-week stay in Russia, where he conducted exclusive seminars for the talented fighters at the ACB Berkut gym in Grozny. Before getting to our listener's questions, I chatted with the strength and conditioning expert on his visit to the former Soviet Union, and some of his personal methods that he imparted on the athletes and trainers he got to work with.

The questions asked in this all "Ask Daru" episode of the show ran the gamut of training levels. The topics included programming hypertrophy for various weight classes, cardio routines that can burn fat while retaining muscle, conditioning techniques for Muay Thai fighters, methods to improve punching power and speed, and more.

Survive and Thrive Through Menopause Hell with Amanda Thebe Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

Of all the misconceptions that exist in western society, perhaps the hardest to overcome is what aging should look like. This is especially true for women, who face a mountain of cultural nonsense when it comes to their bodies in general, and in particular once they reach age 40.

Amanda Thebe has rejected those societal norms outright. A born natural skeptic and voracious learner, she has turned the breadth and depth of her experience into a formidable set of tools to reach post-menopausal women with physical and mental empowerment.

Amanda sits down with me to give a frank account of how menopause affected her, and reveals that the turning point came when she started reaching out to others about their experiences. She details how she decided to take charge of her circumstances through social support, nutrition, and setting aside time for herself.

Undeterred by the lack of information out there for women who want to become fitter after 40, she works tirelessly to change the mindset of women when it comes to strength and resistance training, fat loss after menopause, and what aging can, and should, look like. We cover the power of scoring that first win to unlock your potential for progress, how to find balance between getting the work done and listening when your body says to stop, and her advice for women who are struggling with fitness with no athletic background to fall back on.

Saving Youth Athletics From the Adults with John O'Sullivan Nov 30, 2017

Show notes

If the statistics surrounding the obesity crisis weren't scary enough already, all indications are that our kids are going to fare even worse. Ubiquitous technology and a society that has long neglected and forgotten the needs of the body have created the unhealthiest generation in American history.

One of the greatest challenges we face as a nation in turning the tide is getting kids active, and we're losing that battle as well. Kids are leaving youth sports in droves, and it isn't just because they'd rather play games on their phones.

John O'Sullivan founded the Changing the Game Project after he discovered that the main reason kids stop playing is that we adults ruin the fun. He sat down with me to discuss how we need to create a national movement toward physical literacy as a crucial life skill. We cover the obvious positive health and academic results from a robust physical education program, and how we should create a system that encourages the transition from team sports on school to individual athletic pursuits as an adult.

John also weighs in on the role the NCAA should take in de-professionalizing youth sports, the risks and benefits of elite youth sports leagues for kids and families, and strategies to raise the level of coaching for all youth sports. He contends that, if we wish to meet the physical needs imposed by our modern lifestyle, we must start by shifting our emphasis from business interests, to the kids' best interest.

Fight Strength NSFW Podcast with Nicholas Davenport Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

On the first edition of Breaking Muscle Presents: The Fight Strength Podcast (NSFW), hosts Phil Daru and Jason Burgos interviewed strength and conditioning coach Nicholas Davenport. Davenport is the founder and director of programming at Mind Body 1. He is also an adjunct professor at Broward College. As a longtime friend of Daru's—they played collegiate football together—the pair have recently started working together to bring fighters at mixed martial arts (MMA) gym American Top Team (ATT) a chance to partake in some new strength training techniques.

Davenport is a part of a quickly growing trend in the strength and conditioning industry. His work for Mind Body 1 focuses on blending cognitive exercises with an assortment of traditional techniques. The methods he has developed in his Gym-R training center have been blended with the strength training programs Daru implements for several of his MMA athletes, including the recent headliner of UFC Norfolk, Dustin Poirier.

Along with interviewing Davenport, Burgos posed a few training-related questions to Daru on the topics of fasting, and developing strength and conditioning programs for Thai boxers.

The Fight Strength Podcast is a weekly show that focuses on the training strategies used to develop elite fighters. Phil Daru is the lead strength and conditioning coach at ATT. Some of the notable fighters he currently works with are former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the aforementioned Poirier, Colby Covington, and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. Co-host Jason Burgos is an MMA journalist who is currently the senior editor of MMASucka.com, and a member of the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association.

Extreme Calisthenics: From the Playground to the Silver Screen with Rain Bennett Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

A decade ago on YouTube, one of the very first viral videos was of an impossibly muscled man who called himself "Hannibal for King." In that video, he does equally impossible things on pull up bars and playground equipment in a park in Harlem. Five hundred miles away in North Carolina, a young, aspiring filmmaker watched in awe at the power, fluidity, and control on display.

Rain Bennett knew this was a story that the world should hear, so armed with just a backpack and a camera, he began traveling the globe. His feature-length documentary Raise Up uncovered a sport in its infancy, just as it began to coalesce into an international sensation. He sat down with me for today's show to tell the story of how he discovered a movement that was about more than fitness; it was the engine of positive social change in every city and town where it sprang up.

We talk about how boredom with traditional gym routines has led to the resurgence of calisthenics, and the challenges faced by the community as it struggles to get off the ground as a commercial enterprise. We also cover what the discipline of calisthenics can bring to anyone seeking physical improvement, as well as the perils and pitfalls of the democratization of fitness, which has an increasing number of people learning new sports through social media.

The Greater Purpose of Strength with Sean Griffin Nov 17, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to the second installment of the Socially Conscious Squatter Show. Here we examine the intimate link between fitness, health, and the issues of our time.

Our society is in deep need of authentic support systems and outlets that promote physical expression and health. In a world increasingly at odds with adult play and communities that bond through activity, Chicago Primal Gym is an oasis.

Sean Griffin is the founder of CPG, and he's created a masterful example of a fitness tribe. His kettlebell-based gym has thrived as an inspired community dedicated to a belief in strength with a greater purpose. Sean and Shane Trotter explore the elements of a strong, attractive, and passionate community. Sean contends that it starts with the team, the values, and the vision, and makes a strong case for why you must be willing to identify and stand by your beliefs.

They also discuss the intentional climate of support, landmark celebration, and challenge that form the backbone of building a tribe. For Chicago Primal Gym, kettlebells are the tool of choice, but people come away with so much more. They feel strong, connected through a common cause, and pulled towards a lasting, positive community. They are drawn into a deeper conversation about all elements of their life. CPG has mastered culture and this episode is sure to inspire and direct the discussion as to how these most necessary communities can flourish.

The ThinkReps Podcast Ep. 1 Nov 07, 2017

Show notes

Antonio Squillante, Giulio Palau, and Ted Sloan - 3 young stars of the coaching world - talk about the topics and subjects that matter in strength and conditioning. For athletes, enthusiasts, and coaches alike.

Motivation Is Garbage; Discipline is Freedom with Jocko Willink Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

What would your life look like if you had the freedom to do whatever you want? Would it be all relaxation and goofing off? Spontaneity and fun? Probably not. In fact, it would probably involve a greater degree of discipline and structure than you have previously imagined. If that sounds counterintuitive, you're going to want to keep listening.

Former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink's third book, the Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, is a tactical guide to the practices and philosophies he has employed in his own life. Through them, he has thrived in his combat career, excelled in civilian business, run a successful gym for a decade, and rocketed to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Jocko sat down with Pete Hitzeman to talk about how his experiences in Iraq as a SEAL task unit commander allowed him to distill the fundamental tenets of leadership that are applicable to all organizations. We also explore how some of the messages and products the fitness industry pushes aren't helping people get to their goals, and how his acceptance of the inherent nature of struggle in life has allowed him to never cease striving.

They touch on the practical benefits of constant discipline as well: since time and money are finite, you have to spend what you have wisely, if you want to have more. Finally, Jocko gives his take on what's behind the paradigm shift in fitness from Jazzercise and Richard Simmons to Spartan Races and CrossFit.

Although it does contain a comprehensive workout guide, Discipline Equals Freedom is more than a workout book. It is a manifesto against personal weakness and excuse making; a step-by-step guide to reshaping the person you are into the person you wish to be. Jocko even used the book himself after the recent passing of his best friend in a tragic accident.

If you need more Jocko in your life, you can check out his podcast, follow him on Instagram, have him revolutionize your business, or even put his face on your chest.

The Sixty Year Fitness Challenge with Ben Rollenhagen Oct 31, 2017

Show notes

For all our advances in medical technology and understanding of how the human body works, we don't seem to be getting any healthier. In fact, the first generation in American history with a shorter life expectancy than their parents has already been born. Lousy diet choices and a culture that demands sedentarism from cradle to grave have spawned a health crisis that costs us $147 billion annually and is the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and worldwide.

The answer to all of this, according to Ben Rollenhagen, is how we equip people from an early age to manage their own health and fitness. Ben's job is to create future physical education instructors at Central Michigan University, and he believes that a move away from the current emphasis on sports and performance is crucial to creating a population that doesn't require personal trainers, much less bariatric surgery.

Ben and Pete Hitzeman discuss the foundations of his lifelong fitness philosophy, how we can decide for ourselves how strong is strong enough, and the current threatened state of physical education in America. He unpacks the mindset behind many of the excuses people use not to get fit, and discusses the nature of the challenge we face in helping people overcome those excuses. He illustrates the danger of blind adherence to arbitrary performance benchmarks, and talks about how he's working to save physical education through his work at the Specialized Foundation.

The Costs of Being Less Human Oct 23, 2017

Show notes

Most of our societal problems stem from not respecting our nature, chiefly our natural inclinations for movement, nutritious food, and time outdoors away from digital stimulation. There is a community role in fitness and promoting healthy lifestyle change. Eating healthier and working out are far harder to do against the tide of a culture that doesn't value these things, and our education system fails to create any understanding of competency in physical literacy or nutrition.

Justin Lind and Shane Trotter explore these issues and more. They make a case for shifting your training mindset toward skill acquisition, and examine why kettlebells and calisthenics are ideal tools for this approach. They discuss the societal causes of poor mental health that may relate to the rise of mass shootings, exploring the role of an environment devoid of outlets for physical, mental, and emotional health. This is a thought-provoking discussion that touches on everything from the relative academic performance of boys and girls, to play, rites of passage, and physical education.

Mental health and physical health cannot be conceived of separately. We should seek to train the whole person with an understanding of the inseparable dependency of our physical, emotional, and mental states. People are starving for what the fitness community offers. It is up to us to bring them in the door.

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