In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris and Mike will talk about the power of focusing on the “Big Rocks” that create the most change in your strength training process.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:30) Remembering our last interview with Hector Gutierrez

(1:30) The long game approach

(3:30) 100 Snatches a day + walking

(4:00) Everything that you do, it takes energy

(4:40) Remembering Tim Almond’s interview

(7:45) The power of doing something that you feel passion for

(8:20) Focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses

(9:20) Definition of passion

(9:35) Think Like a Monk Book by Jay Shetty

(14:00) Our system, get more results by training 15 min a day 3 days a week

(14:20) “It’s so simple you won’t do it” - Dan John

(20:00) If you don’t love it you will quit

(23:00) What is your focus in your strength training process?

(23:40) Our next guests

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris, Mike and our special guest Senior Instructor with StrongFirst and Director of Operations with Hardstyle Kettlebell, Hector Gutierrez will talk about how Kettlebell training matches perfectly with Jiu Jitsu when trying to become physically and mentally stronger.

Discover how doing 100 Snacthes a day can make you stronger with less exercise and change your life forever. 

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:30) Introducing StrongFirst Senior Instructor and Director of Operations with Hardstyle Kettlebell, Hector Gutierrez

(1:15) Hector’s story with sports

(3:10) Hector’s story with Martial Arts

(6:00) Hector’s transition from Jiu Jitsu to Yoga to Kettlebell strength training

(6:20) How did Hector get started in kettlebell strength training

(9:00) About Mike Mahler and Steve Cotter

(10:40) What strength method was hector using before Kettlebell training

(12:50) Hector’s story with Kettlebells

(14:00) Dragon Door website

(18:30) Enter the Kettlebell! Book by Pavel Tsatsouline

(21:10) Is “The Clean” one of the hardest exercises to do?

(23:10) The Clean and Jerk program

(23:45) Jake Garcia “The Clean” story

(27:00) The Clean and Jerk and Jiu Jitsu

(30:30) Strength and longevity

(31:30) Remembering Brett Jones - What does strength mean to you?

(33:25) Mike’s certification story

(35:15) “Finding something that is worth suffering for”

(37:30) Chris's sister story - training less for more results

(38:40) Is it possible to workout for 45 min a week and be in shape?

(39:50) What is Hector working on right now?

(41:30) Doing 100 Snacthes a day

(43:10) Minimizing stress in working out

(44:15) Walking 3 - 4000 steps a day: The power of movement as a method to get in shape and stronger

(46:30) Positive and Negative Stress Balance: Chris’ Precision Nutrition Level 2 Course Story

(49:45) 300 workout story

(50:30) Grit - remembering the talk with Derek Toshner

(51:25) The importance of focusing on the skil

(53:00) On the Sumo deadlift

(54:40) Getting stronger only with Kettlebells

(57:15) Find the stance that works for you

(59:15) Hector’s Aha moment with kettlebells

(1:01:50) Strength is a Skill

(1:06:50) Where to contact Hector for his coaching http://bit.ly/2NFd8O9  

(1:08:15) The Better Man Blueprint: The 5 elements of a strong man https://bit.ly/2O711cj 

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris and Mike will talk about why Kettlebell training will involve grit, passion and perseverance and how this will make you stronger not only physically but mentally as well.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:30) Remembering out last interview with Senior Instructor with StrongFirst Derek Toshner

(1:45) What does TSC mean?

(2:00) Derek Toshner and Tim Almond TSC

(2:50) Snatch test requires grit

(3:20) Lia’s deadlift story

(4:30) Grit is healthy for everybody

(4:35) Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Book by Angela Duckworth

(6:45) Mike’s certification story

(8:00) Chris’ certification story

(10:15) Chris’ Snatch test story

(11:20) “Conditions are never gonna be perfect”

(12:00) The Strength Mastery Challenge in our Studio

(13:15) Kettlebell Training will challenge you, will make you become stronger physically and mentally

(15:30) The power of Community and Grit

(19:50) Once your mindset is being expanded, it won’t go back to its original dimension

(20:05) Hector Gutierrez our next guest

(20:25) Grand Re-Opening in our studio in Saratoga Springs

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris, Mike and our special guest Senior Instructor with StrongFirst, Derek Toshner will talk about the energy systems of the body and how kettlebell training influences positively your energy levels.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:20) Introducing Senior Instructor with StrongFirst Derek Toshner

(1:00) What did get Derek started in strength training?

(3:30) On Wrestling and it’s benefits for your mind and your habits

(5.00) Derek’s wrestling and baseball background

(5:40) Derek’s study on the energy systems of the body

(10:20) How did Derek start training with kettlebells

(11:30) The efficiency benefits when training with kettlebells

(13:45) Snatching for 5 min requires grit

(15:05) Derek’s first snatch story

(15:30) On the Secret Service Snatch Test

(17:30) On Tim Almond and the Hardstyle Method

(18:00) Can you get stronger with lighter bells?

(18:30) The 3 energy systems of the body

(18:45) On different snatching methods: Heavy weight

(19:00) On different snatching methods: Long period of time

(19:20) On Snatch walking

(21:00) Derek sees everything in seasons

(21:45) Building the capacity in strength training

(22:30) 64 mile trail run in the middle of January in Wisconsin

(22:50) Can't Hurt Me book by David Goggins

(23:28) Derek’s training protocol

(25:00) The transferability of your physical performance when snatching with kettlebells

(28:00) Derek training athletes - On energy 

(28:50) On the Altering Conditioning

(32:15) Pavel Tsatsouline and Derek Toshner

(33:15) “My training has to be my practice”

(34:20) Breathing is the key

(38:00) Using your breath as recovery method

(39:10) The beauty of being a climber

(40:00) Technical language in climbing

(42:20) What is Derek working on these days?

(47:20) TSC - “Once your mind is stretched it can never goes back to its original size”

(49:50) Chris and Derek deadlift story

(53:00) What is Derek training for currently? 

(53:20) Follow Derek Toshner training work @tnt_adventure_fit

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris and Mike will talk about the importance of having a great community around you when trying to get stronger and why you shouldn’t be a lone wolf in your training process.

Join us in this fun and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:45) Remembering the last episode with Senior String First Instructor Tim Almond

(2:00) The Hardstyle Method goes beyond snathces

(2:30) The importance of culture and community in Strength training

(5:55) How the Kettlebell can be your best teacher

(6:30) How important is a community in the middle of a pandemic

(8:00) The concept of compound interest in strength training

(9:40) The kettlebell forces you to have a community naturally

(10:30) In kettlebell training you can’t help but get stronger

(13:15) What does Chris love about Strong First

(14:30) The beauty of pushing yourself beyond

(15:15) Strength is a way of living

(16:00) Getting certified alone VS getting certified in a community - Chris story about TSC certification with Chris Cook

(16:50) When did Chris get certified as SFG level 1?

(19:50) Our NEW studio and the Grand re-opening in Saratoga Springs

(21:20) Rate us on Apple Podcasts

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast Chris, Mike and our special guest, Senior Instructor in Strong First: Tim Almond, will reveal what is the Hardstyle Method system and its amazing community

Join us and discover why the Hardstyle method goes Beyond the physical strength training.

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:15) Introducing our guest Senior Instructor in Strong First: Tim Almond

(1:20) Tim introducing himself + Tim’s story

(6:45) Tim’s personal record of Pull-ups

(7:00) When did Tim get introduced to kettlebells?

(9:00) Tim and the secret service snatch test

(12:40) How did Chris meet Tim Almond

(13:10) Tim snatching 48K kettlebells

(13.45) On The Hardstyle Method by Tim Almond

(14:50) The power of asking the why in strength training

(15:10) How goals can be very distracting sometimes

(16:30) Snatching: The focus on the few not the many principle

(17:00) The power of Snatching

(19:30) Snatch strength training it’s a never ending process of improvement

(21.20) The power of simplification in strength training

(24:50) On The Scratch The Itch program

(26.30) Scratch the Itch: giving variety while keeping focused on the main objective

(27:40) Adjusting the method to the people receiving the coaching

(28.20) The hardstyle method is more than just Snatching

(30:20) What is Tim focused on right now

(32:50) Tim Almond and his Yoga background

(33:20) “Health and vitality is the master of physical quality”

(33:50) What yoga did for Tim

(34:45) “I practice my health the same way i practice my strength training”

(35:00) Ayurveda: the oldest medicine in the planet

(35:10) “The Yoga is for the mind what the Ayurveda is for the body”

(35:40) What kind of culture is the Hardstyle Method?

(36:50) What other topics are discussed in the Hardstyle Method community 

(38:10) On the ability to be vulnerable

(40.00) “More does not equal more, less equals more in a lot of situations” 

(40:30) Powerful story: Stick to it and stop chasing the rainbow

(42:00) What is Chris’ current program?

(43:30) On being comfortable with being uncomfortable

(43:50) Asking yourself and trusting your intuition

(46:15) Listening to your body

(47:00) How to contact Tim Almond for his coaching https://www.instagram.com/hardstyle_method/?hl=en 

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, Chris and Mike will share the value of your failures and how you can turn them into lessons for life.

Join us and discover some of their interesting failure stories in strength and in life!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:30) Remembering our last podcast with Coach Karen Smith

(1:30) Today's topic: Failures in strength and in life

(1:50) Article: “4 Essential Mental Tools for Passing the SFG Level I Cert” https://www.strongfirst.com/4-essential-mental-tools-passing-sfg-level-i-cert/ 

(2:30) Powerful quote + Mike’s story about failure

(7:40) Chris Sinister project

(9:00) Strength does have a greater purpose in many aspects of your life

(9:40) Failures are lessons, what do you learn from them?

(9:55) “The kettlebell, if you allow it, will be your best teacher for life”

(12:50) Ego Is the Enemy, book by Ryan Holiday

(13:50) Why the Kettlebell is humbling

(15:20) “Failure is exciting because it does give you the opportunity to look back and learn from it”

(17:30) “It’s ok if you don’t get it right away”

(19:00) “Change happens in an instint but it takes a long journey to get there”

(21:00) Tim Almond: Next guest in the Breakthrough Secrets Podcast

(21:30) Grand Re-opening of our Studio in Saratoga Springs + Our online program

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, Chris, Mike and our special guest Coach Karen Smith will reveal the power of Strength training. Discover why you shouldn’t underestimate bodyweight training.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(1:05) Introducing Karen Smith

(1:30) How Mike met Karen

(3:30) How did Karen get started in Strength?

(5:40) Do women get bulky by training with Kettlebells? 

(6:00) What did Kettlebell training do for Karen in 5 weeks?

(8:30) On Pavel Tsatsouline

(13:35) Getting strong for life

(14:17) On The Fighter Pullup Program by Pavel Tsatsouline https://www.strongfirst.com/the-fighter-pullup-program-revisited/ 

(20.30) The 4 levels of the Strength Mastery System and the Strength Mastery Challenge

(25:55) “Being able to stand on one leg and balance for 10 seconds it’s a standard you should have until the day you die”

(31:20) Bodyweight strength training vs kettlebell strength training

(32:25) Karen story on bodyweight, Pavel and the pushup

(34:40) Bodyweight is basically the Mastery of your muscles

(36:20) What exercises do women mostly struggle with?

(37.40) Benefits of bodyweight

(38:36) “You can’t build fitness on top of a disfunction”

(39:50) The setting up is as important as the exercise

(42:10) Bodyweight is the basics

(42:50) Do people underestimate bodyweight training?

(44:10) On the One-arm pushup and the Single-leg deadlift

(47:08) “People who have their health, they have 1000 wishes, people who don’t have their health, they have 1 wish”

(48:30) Karen’s story about good and bad doctors

(50:30) Mike’s story about good and bad doctors

(52:50) Karen’s coaching before and after COVID

(54:00) How to contact Karen’s Smith for her coaching https://coachkarensmith.com/ 

(54:20) What is next in Karen’s training

(59:50) Who’s gonna be our next guests

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, Chris and Mike will reveal the power of Carry Work and other uncommon training styles.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:50) What is Timeless Sinister

(2:20) Today’s topic: Uncommon training styles

(3:50) “The farmers carry” exercise

(4:35) Great Cook and the carry work

(5.25) Mike’s story - The elite hockey team

(8:30) The importance of self limiting exercises + Jump rope

(11:50) “If you focus on carries for a year you will be amazed at your strength and athleticism”

(12:00) Never Let Go by Dan John

(13:00) Hardstyle Method by Tim Almond - “Scratch the itch day”

(15:20) “The more you own your rack position the stronger your military press is gonna be”

(16:50) Doing random reps throughout the day

(18:35) What could be the next topic

In this episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, Chris, Mike and our special guest Psychotherapist  Diane Webb will reveal the power of Brainspotting, self awareness and changing undesired thought processes.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:55) Introducing Diane Webb

(1:45) Today’s topic: Mental health and self confidence when it comes to strength training

(2.20) On self confidence

(4:30) The importance of baby steps

(5:10) Diane’s story

(7:15) “We suffer more in imagination than we do in reality”

(9:10) Enjoying the ride

(10:25) The importance of verbiage and meditation

(12:00) Training as a Lightweight beast tamer 

(15:35) Hugh Jackman’s morning routine

(16:45) Human beings are creatures of habit

(17:50) It takes a lot of intentional effort to change habits and ingrained thought processes

(19:55) The importance of self awareness

(20:10) On “Waking Up” app by Sam Harris (meditation app)

(21:00) Meditation is like bread

(22:00) Meditation is for the brain what the gym is for the body

(22:50) Meditation as a task vs meditation as a lifestyle

(25:00) You have to start somewhere - Building consistency

(26:50) Coach Karen Smith visualization exercise

(28:10) Diane’s son story

(30:30) Kettlebell training as a form of quieting and focusing your mind?

(32:00) When you find that you can focus intensely in 1 thing and block distractions, you can move that focus to a different areas of your life

(34:20) You can’t think you’re way out of a feeling problem

(36:25) On Brainspotting

(38:00) Applications of Brainspotting

(41:50) On mental blocks - Diane's speech anxiety story

(44:45) How to start being more self aware

(47:00) How to contact Diane for her life coaching services  .

(47:40) Who will be the next guests