The World's Best Hand & Grip Strength Training Instruction
"Training Secrets of a Dying Art" - Revealed!-
Dear Friend,
In the late 80s, Sport Psychologist Edward W. L. Smith published (self-published
I think) an extremely interesting book entitled “Not Just Pumping Iron.” In it,
Smith examined many of the deeper meanings of strength training. He called
lifting weights the “Hantha Yoga” of the West.
It was his feeling (and I agree) that lifting weights was not just something that
you “do” but a way of life, like a martial art it was a path of personal and
spiritual growth. Much like any analysis based on Gestalt methodology, many
things are revealed and can be concluded by the way someone trains.
Building on this theme, Smith came to several conclusions:
1. The lifting of weights, in its several forms can be a path for enlightenment,
a “way.”
2. The amount of growth one realized from the path of lifting weights depends on
the degree of discipline and the length of time one spends on the path.
3. Lifting weights is a path particularly suited to a Western worldview.
4. Lifting weights is not a path for everyone, and is of value only for those
who, traveling it for a while, find it has “heart.”
This is an extremely valuable book (from a knowledge standpoint) and an extremely
rare one. If you have or can even find a copy, count yourself lucky.
Now, I found it very interesting that Smith compared weight lifting with Yoga,
itself a form of training which involved not just the physical but mental and
spiritual development as well. I think the analogy stands up very effectively.
Yoga, of course, has roots in India where physical culture has been practiced for
thousands of years.
Understand, I am always interested in learning about “strength training” in other
cultures. Every culture has its own ideal and personification of “strength”-
from the Russian Kettlebell masters, to the Doors of the Shaolin Temple, from the
Basque stone lifters to the Scottish Highland Games Athletes…
I have and have seen a fairly large amount of material on these subjects but it
has been the Physical Culture tradition of India that has always fascinated me
the most…and it is this subject on which the least amount of training information
can be found.
There are bits and snippets here and there of Indian athletes swinging Joris
(Heavy Clubs), Gadas (maces) and Nals (Stone Weights). To my knowledge there
had never been any footage of these ancient training tools in action…that is,
until now.
I recently ran across an amazing DVD (more like a documentary) where a
researcher traveled all over India documenting all of these ancient training
tools.
Yes, that’s right, there is an actual hour long DVD showing all of these
implements being used by modern day wrestlers. You can actually see the way
that wrestlers in the Akharas (Wrestling Gymnasiums) train and prepare
themselves. Huge Indian clubs swung in the traditional manner, nail studded
clubs, maces, the wrestler‘s pillar and much more. ..prepare to be amazed.
I was so impressed with this DVD that I knew I had to have it as my next featured
product here at FHS. (See, I told you we were going to start off the month on
the right foot.)
This DVD is a unique look at the dying art of Kushti, India's indigenous form of
wrestling and once royal national sport. This one-hour video shot on location in
Northern India closely examines the mechanics and regimens of physical
development adhered to by wrestlers during their intense training routines.
Training with total devotion and intensity that goes beyond the mere physical…
P.S. A friend of ours told us there may be a few copies of Not Just Pumping Iron
left on Amazon.com. Click that link to check it out. Maybe you'll be lucky and find a copy...
left on Amazon.com. Click that link to check it out. Maybe you'll be lucky and find a copy...