Here Comes The “Predator”…

Yusuf Clack — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:01:18 +0000

“Beware how you take away hope from any human being” -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

You know that guy in the office who thinks he’s really cool? The one who uses aggressive body language to make his status known, yet his contribution to the organization and company culture don’t live up to his own idea of himself? He’s overestimated his status in a BIG way and a rude awakening is about to besiege him…

It’s been a huge mistake, his confusing your humility and cooperative nature for weakness.

Enter the “Predator”:

Starting April 15th, GutCheck Training will offer a ground breaking program combining advanced Kettlebell training with Close Combat/MMA drills and instruction. Only those who have completed level 3 can attend unless

(cotton_man: flickr.com)

you can pass a functional movement screen and have a decent level of conditioning. This promises to be a game changer for humble family guys all over the Silicon Valley who’ve tolerated jerks just a little more than they should have.

Until NOW.

Ushering in a new level of justice in the corporate culture…

Strong Dads to the rescue: of that secretary that gets berated, of the honest sales guy that gets made fun of, of the family man who is marginalized for skipping out on the strip club or passing on the hookers in Vegas, or of the whistle blower engineer who alerts his manager about a shortfall in standards when the team wants to bury it and push forward. Our time has come to wrestle back the culture from the weasels and make it a better world for everyone.

To get on the private invite list for the “Predator” or our next round of trainings for the beginner, go here: http://gutchecksv.com and complete the brief form.

“Every Muscle Rippling, Every Sinew Straining…”

Yusuf Clack — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:55:44 +0000

In GutCheck Training, we serve and cater to a very high caliber of man: thought leaders and heavyweights in their respective fields, lions in the corporate jungle who then magically morph into fun-loving husbands and fathers upon returning home each day from work. While each of our members has his own personal reasons for wanting to endure the GutCheck experience, it’s become clear that a system of measurement and recognition of achievement is needed. Most agree that having tangible, concrete, milestones are essential to the ambitious seeker in the pursuit of any goal. They help you get objective feedback about how effectively your current approach is leading you to your desired end.

And so under the consultation of Jeremy Layport (Assist. Strength Coach of SJSU) and RKC Jason Agrella of JAKT, and drawing inspiration from the RKC minimalist benchmark approach, I’ve developed a level system to serve as signposts by which our members can recognize their progress.

I also believe that introducing this matrix can serve to raise our standards, changing our belief of what’s even possible in terms of our physical destinies. Once something is broken down into chunks, it’s conquerable. Suddenly by having a formal progression, watching your peers ascend it’s levels in front of you, you’re then not only empowered to do the same, but eager to lead the pack or at least keep pace.

The theme pays tribute to the most electrifying, athletic, powerful, and ferocious class of beast on the planet:

Felines…

…a living, breathing, yin-yang of grace and terror.

Before opening up the PDF, watch this 2 minute clip which illustrates why the Tiger has been selected as the top of the terrestrial predators.

Now that you’ve watched the clip, you’re ready to witness the…

…Evolution of a GutChecker

I wrote about the importance of having empowering references in Part II of “Lifestyle Change”…No Thanks. The RKC snatch test is another example of that, even though it is simply a test, not an actual person. The very fact that dozens of new people (who weren’t all life long athletes) pass this test nearly every month, raised my standard for myself. If this benchmark (100 Snatches with the 24 KG Kettlebell in 5 min.) never existed, I don’t think I’d ever have set it as a goal for myself.

Looking back to when I first heard about it, it seemed waaaaayyy out of reach. But since so many people pass it, I allowed myself to keep it as a goal, suspending my disbelief. And that is sometimes the hardest part, suspending disbelief, getting true emotional buy-in deep within yourself, as opposed to a shallow, forced affirmation that never penetrates your actual view of what’s really possible.

It is my sincere hope and intention that just how the RKC snatch test raised my personal standard, so too will the GutCheck framework raise the standards of thousands who would have otherwise settled for less. Maybe not everyone has a desire to go as far as the RKC snatch test. But instead of settling for losing a little weight, a Bobcat now aspires to grow into a Panther one day, achieving the vaunted GutCheck echelon of “Tier II.”

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More About the Method Behind “Evolution of a GutChecker”…

The approach behind the GutCheck Level System is one of minimalist General Physical Preparedness (GPP) Metrics. In other words, how can we best measure overall strength and conditioning with the fewest metrics? The metrics are not sport specific but weighted toward the strength, conditioning, and athleticism we need to thrive in the game of life.

The cats progress in terms of size and ferocity. I know a Cheetah is a pretty darn athletic animal to be listed first, but I weighted ferocity ahead of athleticism because our training is about heart more than athletic gifts. If you feel a terrible injustice has been done in the ordering of the cats, please state your argument and cite your sources.

Yusuf Clack - A Better World Through STRONG Dads » GutCheck Training

Here Comes The “Predator”…

“Every Muscle Rippling, Every Sinew Straining…”

…Evolution of a GutChecker