Here Be Monsters: Body Building in London
In training for Adventurethon 2013, I decided I needed some help. Some advice. Some (dare I say it) training.
You see, no matter what I do to train for my Enduro Adventurethon (14km of open sea kayaking, 21km of mountain biking and 12km of off-road running) I will be totally and utterly unprepared for it, for three key reasons:
1. I don’t believe in being prepared anyway.
2. I own neither a kayak nor a mountain bike with which to train.
3. I arrive in Australia, after a 30 hour journey, less than 48 hours before everything kicks off!
Whatever I do, it is going to hurt. A lot. I therefore feel the best thing to do is accept it will be agonising and dedicate some time to learning to push myself through this inevitable pain. If I can get stronger and more powerful in the process – all the better!
Now, whatever you have read online about training and whatever little pamphlets have fallen out of Men’s Health recently, there is only one real way to get bigger and stronger. There is certainly only one way to increase your sheer grit and determination. You find what you think are your limits…and you shatter them.
How do you go about pushing yourself harder than ever before? Simple. You seek out the biggest, strongest and meanest sonovabitch you know…and try to match his workout, set for set.
That’s why I went hunting for monsters. Specifically, Robster…Le Monster.
[youtube height=”360″ width=”640″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LED6_x65Drk[/youtube]
I found him at Body Works Gym in Tottenham Hale, hanging out and being enormous. After a quick chat about what Adventurethon involves, Robster had a plan for me. Bring on the pain – then see how I deal with it.
Like he says: the way people cope and react to extreme physical pressure can be quite telling about them as a person in general; do they quit right away and give up, or do they push themselves as hard as they possibly can? A healthy normal is somewhere between the two.
…what maketh a monster, however, is not a healthy normal.
What amazed me most about Rob’s training (and there were many things that amazed me about Rob’s training) was the sheer, unrivalled intensity. I know body builders train hard. It’s obvious. What I didn’t realise about Rob’s training in particular, however, was how hard.
Trying to keep up with Le Monster, even at the lower weights he generously allowed me to use, was agony. Not only were my muscles working as hard as they physically could – to total failure – I was also gasping for air at the same time, my head was pounding and my lungs felt close to exploding.
I’m quite a fit guy, generally speaking. After 45 minutes with Le Monster, I couldn’t stand up. I then threw up, four times, into a bin.
But please, let me defend myself. This wasn’t a “one weird old tip for getting abs in 10 days” session – this was Le Monster MV3 extreme training. This wasn’t “three sets of ten” or “five sets of five” – this was sets of 30, 40, 50, 60 – 100 reps! This was combining two exercises into one and then doing two sets of both back to back. This was lifting until your arms are numb, stopping for five (FIVE!) seconds, then lifting again.
If you’re thinking “that’s not an effective way to get big, strong and fit”, I advise you take a look at Robster – his physique, his sheer cardio fitness and the monstrous weight he is capable of shifting. If you’re still not convinced, go and work out with him – try and keep up, or show him a thing or two.
Body builders have a reputation for being mountains of semi-functional muscle, constructed by performing impractical set movements over and over again for years, until they grow. Not so, Le Monster.
Sure, he uses traditional exercises in his workouts – but often in untraditional ways. His incredible background in martial arts and sports means he is also a huge fan of what he calls “real world exercises”; movements that develop functional, practical strength as well as his colossal size.
Overall, it was the hardest gym workout I have ever had and, when I consider that is how Le Monster trains every single day it was a humbling and inspiring experience – one that I look forward to repeating…when I can walk again!
Feb 25, 2013 at 9:16 PM /
Hey Ed, it’s the guy who gives you more pain than a rusty nail in the rectum. I’m glad you enjoyed the workout. It gave me great pleasure in puttiing you through the most uncomfortable workout of your life. What I loved about it was the fact that you are a very fit individual who knows all about tough training with all the events you enter. Like I’ve always said to you… “Every guy wants to be you and every girl wants to be with you!”
What my training is all about is being dragged kicking and screaming out of your comfort zone. Those that remain there, will always be there and never really progress. Those that can take the pain and push themselves beyond the limitations of their bodies are the ones that will be Champions. Pain is a great equaliser. It shows us who we really are when we are under severe pressure or stress. I remember my girl once said to me that her stress was different to mine as it was mental and psychological. I replied “Well my stress is physical, if I lose concentration for just one second under an 800kg leg press then my life is literally over!”
You pushed it to the limit my friend and I was very impressed with your effort although I have to admit, I want to hurt you an awful lot more. In terms of difficulty out of ten, the workout we did was roughly a three. Please, please, please let me put you through a Monster Extreme Training session. I’ve had guys crawling out of the gym, changing addresses and telephone numbers just to avoid me. I love the fear and the confidence that training gives you. If you can achieve the impossible in the gym, can you imagine what you can achieve in the real world. The best example of this is Arnold Schwarzeneggar.
If you want to see more of me then check out YouTube ‘LeMonsterTube’, facebook Robster Le Monster and facebook Robby Anchant. It’s always a great pleasure hooking upwith you my friend and when you’re ready to face Robster Le Monster in the ring or in the gym, I’ll be here ready and waiting!
Peace Le Monster