Man, you're a brute and an inspiration. I'm so glad I stumbled on to your RUclips from Alan and Omar. Great content! And I still hate you for about 2 hours every other day... day three and counting on you free L.P. This keeps up and I'll be hitting you up for some training. Thanks again!
Hey bud. Great content and well presented. Thank you for the instruction. I really appreciate the basics and advanced (EFFICIENT) movements. Keep it up bubba.
2:58 - "A squat is more of a Core exercise than anything." Hmmm, I wonder if this has something to do with my Squat being sooo weak. 3:42 - "If I could give you one piece of advice, about the Squat, it'd be to get your breathing and bracing down...." Interesting, I'm going to focus on that, and I'm going to watch your breathing and bracing related video soon. Thanks for sharing what you do, Brian.
Quality workout and quality videos as usual! I am following your YT channel for a couple of weeks now and starting to implement some of your tips in my workouts. However you are a living encyclopedia in strongman stuff and can't keep track of all the info you put up there. For every simple part of the body you have a ton of tips to improve the power strength mobility explosiveness and speed! Awesome stuff! Cheers from France Brian!
Really been enjoying your channel Brian. Alan Thrall introduced me to your stuff and I'm really happy he did! Keep up the hard work and good luck with Nationals.
+Zach Uttke Yea man, I just think it is different for everybody. I need to get my breath up top on deadlifts before I bend down or I don't have any air to brace against at all
Nice! Cool stuff, Im learning the breathing and is way harder than what I thought lol. My ass winks too much so I cant add much weight yet... Great channel, you are a monster!
i am really trying to copy your squat form, as much as possible. i have trouble knowing where the bottom of a squat is by feel. thank for all you do man!
I just found your channel by way of Alan Thrall. Loving the content, presentation, and the inspiration. You sir, are a beast! As a trainee, relatively new to strength sports, I would like to see more content on conditioning and programming. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Good luck, going forward.
very pleasant and insightful , to the point. easy to digest. unlike some channels like Bradley Martyn who is all over the place if u know what I mean..good job
Pause squats are AWESOME. Added a good 50lbs to my squat after 6 weeks of doing them. Plus my core is pretty strong and after the first time I did them my abs were on fire. LOL
Regular viewer of ure videos now brian. Content is brilliant and genuinely helps me alot. It seems u somehow know the exact issues i have with old injuries n stuff and have a video for me. On top of this u seem a legit dude. Keep up the great work mate.
Thanks man, i am trying with Alan Thrall and the super training guys, but most channels won't even get back to me since they really wouldn't gain much from the collaboration. I can understand that. And it is super expensive to take off work, fly out, stay in a hotel...etc. I am a struggling gym owner. So i can only do it so often, sadly
Brian Alsruhe my friend i am in the same boat, got myself a gym franchise which is taking its time breaking even. last 10 months i have maybe had 5 days off in total! but u r super knowledgeable n come across as a real nice guy. crazy that guys like kali muscle get 200k plus views a video regular yet u r still building but these things can take time. i wish u well my brother and pray you get all the success u deserve. just dont forget us guys when u get over a million subscribers ;-)
This may have come out a year ago, but with all of that stuff about bracing, and your core being the weak link when you fail, it's like you made a video just for me. My numbers aren't great, since I'm still kind of a novice, but right now my squat, deadlift and OHP seem to be struggling because my core just isn't strong enough (my form in general probably has issues I need to work on as well, but the core weakness is what I really notice). I really need to start focusing more on breathing and bracing during the main lifts.
Thats awesome!! I personally enjoy glute ham raises i feel that just by putting my arms either out in front all extended it makes it a lot harder and adding weight to that is almost impossible for me atthe moment haha. Really enjoy you channel!
That was a real nice training session Brian! Nice new PR on the squat. You should consider wearing safety glasses when you pull this band behind your neck, can't imagine the damage if it breaks towards one eye.... Take care bro. Regards from Paris.
I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one struggling to hit below parallel. Each time I get too low I have pain in my hips. If that depth you have is acceptable then I'll be at peace.
Hey Brian, if your ankle injury was very low on your Fibula or Tibia it may be that effecting the tissues adjacent to the Talus bone will give you the most ROM and healing over time. The easiest way to do this is use the movement that you are performing in the beginning of this video, but raise your ankle up off the ground so that you can pull the band low down your ankle, onto your Talus. This will pull the Talus bone backwards creating space in front of the ankle joint. Placing your heel on a 45# plate should give you the proper height for this.
Man, i just discovered your channel couple of days ago and think i have watched all the videos already, cant actually wait to get to the box and give all the tips a try, specially those for the military press, by far my weakest lift. Also one question, any particular reason why you choose low bar squats over high bar? Thanks and keep going!
Thanks so much for doing that brother! And i juts find that low bar allows me to move more weight. I stay pretty upright with both versions so i just went with the one that is heavier, but I think both are great!
I usually hear all the cues people giving for squats/deadlifts, but I too only think about bracing with all I got. By the way, today was my first day deadlifting while following your strength program. Feeling strong!
First saw some of your videos on the strongman PR thread over at T-Nation, nice lifts in the video above! I rolled my ankle a couple summers ago, and what really helped clean up the scar tissue and regain my lost dorsifelxion was wrapping my ankle with a voodoo floss band and working it through it's ROM same as you are doing. Not sure if you have ever tried that, but if you haven't, give it a shot for a few weeks. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. BTW how long have you been lifting for?
+stradevarius Man, I LOVE flossing things that are hurt. I just didn't mention it in that particular video. Really good suggestion. And I have been lifting for almost 20 years now. (I'm 35...man that's old)
Hey Brian, great content one query though seeing your squat form I observed that your torso is upright like in high bar and bar is placed a bit lower like in low bar. Is it ok for beginners to go by your comfort and go hybrid of high bar-low bar or go STRICT conventional?
I think they help absolutely. I don't train mine specifically because they get so much work with heavy yoke walks, farmer's walks, keg/sandbag carries etc...But if i didn't have access, i might throw them in. But as far as trying economy, I think you would get more out of those strongman movements or front squats, bulgarian split squats, GHRs, rev hypers etc.
The stretch with 135 looks interesting, I might try that sometime with the Bar. I usually do Paused Breathing Squats with super light weight, and that gets everything warm for me, for Squwwwats and Deads.
you squatting high bar or low bar brian? i cant tell since your traps are huge!. im curious to know for if you are low bar squatting wouldn't flat shoes be more beneficial for your ankle mobility and you're scared ankle? maybe help it strengthen with the added range of motion with flats. or do you low bar squat with elevated shoes to avoid injuring it since its less range of motion needed. awesome video btw.
I saw your blog on T-Nation and I loved your type of training. Full-body, brutal workouts. Do you still do it? And btw, what are you training for? I mean are you are a powerlifter, strongman, etc..?
+bjnbs Thanks brother. And yes, i still do Full Body every day. I keep a Log at T-Nation (Link is in the description of every Video) and put out the daily workouts at NEVERsate.com every day. Right now I am training for my pro card in Strongman. (I have been maryland's Strongest man since late 2013) and and going to do a Powerlifting meet. I just need to figure out when I can get away with it because it is tough to peak for a meet when I have important Strongman Contests coming up.
My powerlifting program has abs in it after squat and deadlift days what are some ab exercises that carry over to my main lifts I don't care about looks thank you your videos are very entertaining
Thank Ryan. Some of my favorite ab variations are planks, weight planks, toes to bar, knees to elbows, hanging windshield wipers, standing cable crunches, Dragon flags and ab wheel roll-outs. I have found this are the best one for carryover. and setting a weight on your stomach and bracing out would definitely help you develop your brace that will be used during you lifts so i would count it as one!
you ever beat the crap out of your feet with a lacrosse ball? it's like magic man I swear it. run it over the plantar surface and flex/relax your foot and it'll crap and pop and shit but it'll do er
I'm new to your channel and boy are you strong... I really enjoy your down to earth videos...
thanks...
That is an awesome thing o say, thanks man!
Man, you're a brute and an inspiration. I'm so glad I stumbled on to your RUclips from Alan and Omar. Great content! And I still hate you for about 2 hours every other day... day three and counting on you free L.P.
This keeps up and I'll be hitting you up for some training. Thanks again!
your breathen and braising info is really helping me add weight to the bar each workout!! thanks
Hey bud. Great content and well presented. Thank you for the instruction. I really appreciate the basics and advanced (EFFICIENT) movements. Keep it up bubba.
Finding these videos, even years later, is great. Seeing this man do this stuff helps inspire me to work toward similar. If he can do it, so can I.
Great Video! I have learn something ! thank you Brian!
2:58 - "A squat is more of a Core exercise than anything." Hmmm, I wonder if this has something to do with my Squat being sooo weak. 3:42 - "If I could give you one piece of advice, about the Squat, it'd be to get your breathing and bracing down...." Interesting, I'm going to focus on that, and I'm going to watch your breathing and bracing related video soon. Thanks for sharing what you do, Brian.
Sure thing man and I swear by those comments! If you bring up those areas, you squat will progress at a MUCH faster rate!
I'll pipe back in after I exercise your advice for the next few weeks.
Right on man!
So happy I found this channel ... thank you for the on point content .
Thanks so much for checking it out!
Can't thank you enough for the tips! awesome about T Nation they put out good stuff. congrats on that and bustin those PR's. Quality man!
+Mike Connor Thanks Mike, I really appreciate that!
Great content, you’ve changed my perspective on this old guys lifting. Breathe and brace!
Great info as always Brian! thanks
+Maximumsmash Thanks brother!!!
Quality workout and quality videos as usual! I am following your YT channel for a couple of weeks now and starting to implement some of your tips in my workouts. However you are a living encyclopedia in strongman stuff and can't keep track of all the info you put up there. For every simple part of the body you have a ton of tips to improve the power strength mobility explosiveness and speed! Awesome stuff! Cheers from France Brian!
That is awesome man, thank you!
Just came across your channel!
Love it man!
Such great info and motivation!
That is great man, thanks for checking it out!
Really been enjoying your channel Brian. Alan Thrall introduced me to your stuff and I'm really happy he did! Keep up the hard work and good luck with Nationals.
Thanks so much Caleb, I really appreciate that!
Looking forward to the next video, I've found it much much easier to brace for deadlifts than for squats
+Zach Uttke Yea man, I just think it is different for everybody. I need to get my breath up top on deadlifts before I bend down or I don't have any air to brace against at all
There’s fitness channels out there, with way more subs but crappier content, I can’t work that out. Keep up the great work Brian.
Nice! Cool stuff, Im learning the breathing and is way harder than what I thought lol. My ass winks too much so I cant add much weight yet... Great channel, you are a monster!
i am really trying to copy your squat form, as much as possible. i have trouble knowing where the bottom of a squat is by feel. thank for all you do man!
I just found your channel by way of Alan Thrall. Loving the content, presentation, and the inspiration. You sir, are a beast! As a trainee, relatively new to strength sports, I would like to see more content on conditioning and programming. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Good luck, going forward.
Thanks Scott, i have plenty of more coming! i just need more hours in these short little days!
very pleasant and insightful , to the point. easy to digest. unlike some channels like Bradley Martyn who is all over the place if u know what I mean..good job
Thanks man, i really appreciate that!
kas0016 that guy went from being informative to a narcissistic grunt talking about picking women in the gym
love the video brother make me want to work on my legs more I used to hate it but thanks to you....
Thanks so much man!
Congrats Brian!
Thanks man!
Pause squats are AWESOME. Added a good 50lbs to my squat after 6 weeks of doing them. Plus my core is pretty strong and after the first time I did them my abs were on fire. LOL
Thanks Brian, i have the exact same problem with my ankle mobility. i really hope this helps!
+TheWise Owl It definitely helps me man, I can't see it hurting you if you give it a try.
Hey Brian, where can I get some cheap bumper plates. another great video , thank you
Regular viewer of ure videos now brian. Content is brilliant and genuinely helps me alot. It seems u somehow know the exact issues i have with old injuries n stuff and have a video for me. On top of this u seem a legit dude. Keep up the great work mate.
Thanks so much for saying that man, this is really awesome!
Brian Alsruhe how come you channel isn't bigger dude, gets some collabs in to blow it up. you deserve all the success. top bloke?
Thanks man, i am trying with Alan Thrall and the super training guys, but most channels won't even get back to me since they really wouldn't gain much from the collaboration. I can understand that. And it is super expensive to take off work, fly out, stay in a hotel...etc. I am a struggling gym owner. So i can only do it so often, sadly
Brian Alsruhe my friend i am in the same boat, got myself a gym franchise which is taking its time breaking even. last 10 months i have maybe had 5 days off in total! but u r super knowledgeable n come across as a real nice guy. crazy that guys like kali muscle get 200k plus views a video regular yet u r still building but these things can take time. i wish u well my brother and pray you get all the success u deserve. just dont forget us guys when u get over a million subscribers ;-)
Hahah thanks man and yea I look at it just like lifting. i want the progress right NOW, but it takes time. We will see where it is in a year!
This may have come out a year ago, but with all of that stuff about bracing, and your core being the weak link when you fail, it's like you made a video just for me. My numbers aren't great, since I'm still kind of a novice, but right now my squat, deadlift and OHP seem to be struggling because my core just isn't strong enough (my form in general probably has issues I need to work on as well, but the core weakness is what I really notice). I really need to start focusing more on breathing and bracing during the main lifts.
Thats awesome!! I personally enjoy glute ham raises i feel that just by putting my arms either out in front all extended it makes it a lot harder and adding weight to that is almost impossible for me atthe moment haha.
Really enjoy you channel!
Get tips brother and I am really glad you are liking the content!
Amazing form
Great tip. I do this for the same reason. Badly messed up left ankle.
Thanks man, great minds think alike!
That was a real nice training session Brian! Nice new PR on the squat. You should consider wearing safety glasses when you pull this band behind your neck, can't imagine the damage if it breaks towards one eye.... Take care bro. Regards from Paris.
Hahaha thanks man, i may just do that!
Dude! You are an animal. Cheers from holland
Thanks man, I am really glad to have you here!
I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one struggling to hit below parallel. Each time I get too low I have pain in my hips. If that depth you have is acceptable then I'll be at peace.
Hey Brian, if your ankle injury was very low on your Fibula or Tibia it may be that effecting the tissues adjacent to the Talus bone will give you the most ROM and healing over time. The easiest way to do this is use the movement that you are performing in the beginning of this video, but raise your ankle up off the ground so that you can pull the band low down your ankle, onto your Talus. This will pull the Talus bone backwards creating space in front of the ankle joint.
Placing your heel on a 45# plate should give you the proper height for this.
Man, i just discovered your channel couple of days ago and think i have watched all the videos already, cant actually wait to get to the box and give all the tips a try, specially those for the military press, by far my weakest lift. Also one question, any particular reason why you choose low bar squats over high bar? Thanks and keep going!
Thanks so much for doing that brother! And i juts find that low bar allows me to move more weight. I stay pretty upright with both versions so i just went with the one that is heavier, but I think both are great!
Love that you have Gimme Shelter playing!! Great song
Hahaha yea man! Thanks!
I usually hear all the cues people giving for squats/deadlifts, but I too only think about bracing with all I got. By the way, today was my first day deadlifting while following your strength program. Feeling strong!
That is awesome feedback man, thanks!
I like doing speed work for my warm ups
First saw some of your videos on the strongman PR thread over at T-Nation, nice lifts in the video above! I rolled my ankle a couple summers ago, and what really helped clean up the scar tissue and regain my lost dorsifelxion was wrapping my ankle with a voodoo floss band and working it through it's ROM same as you are doing. Not sure if you have ever tried that, but if you haven't, give it a shot for a few weeks. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
BTW how long have you been lifting for?
+stradevarius Man, I LOVE flossing things that are hurt. I just didn't mention it in that particular video. Really good suggestion. And I have been lifting for almost 20 years now. (I'm 35...man that's old)
Hey Brian, great content one query though seeing your squat form I observed that your torso is upright like in high bar and bar is placed a bit lower like in low bar. Is it ok for beginners to go by your comfort and go hybrid of high bar-low bar or go STRICT conventional?
Sankalp Arora always do What freels right for you. With correct form, that is.
Gotta love those split second in the moment rep decisions. Ya win some, ya lose some lol
Absolutely man!
Great advice as always! Do you think calves are worth training and if they help at all with squats?
I think they help absolutely. I don't train mine specifically because they get so much work with heavy yoke walks, farmer's walks, keg/sandbag carries etc...But if i didn't have access, i might throw them in. But as far as trying economy, I think you would get more out of those strongman movements or front squats, bulgarian split squats, GHRs, rev hypers etc.
515 for 15 reps..... holy shit
I do what i can...
The stretch with 135 looks interesting, I might try that sometime with the Bar. I usually do Paused Breathing Squats with super light weight, and that gets everything warm for me, for Squwwwats and Deads.
Right on man, well definitely keep what works from my videos and discard the rest. Hopefully there is more you can keep than not though!
Copy that, right on.
you squatting high bar or low bar brian? i cant tell since your traps are huge!. im curious to know for if you are low bar squatting wouldn't flat shoes be more beneficial for your ankle mobility and you're scared ankle? maybe help it strengthen with the added range of motion with flats. or do you low bar squat with elevated shoes to avoid injuring it since its less range of motion needed. awesome video btw.
wow man you're built like the hulk
+jokur Hahaha Thans man!
I saw your blog on T-Nation and I loved your type of training. Full-body, brutal workouts. Do you still do it? And btw, what are you training for? I mean are you are a powerlifter, strongman, etc..?
+bjnbs Thanks brother. And yes, i still do Full Body every day. I keep a Log at T-Nation (Link is in the description of every Video) and put out the daily workouts at NEVERsate.com every day. Right now I am training for my pro card in Strongman. (I have been maryland's Strongest man since late 2013) and and going to do a Powerlifting meet. I just need to figure out when I can get away with it because it is tough to peak for a meet when I have important Strongman Contests coming up.
+Brian Good luck in both then!
+bjnbs Thanks brother!
What you think about high bar vs low bar?
Going for a pr is humbling..so hard not to get greedy especially if you're feeling good ish 😅
I still try to learn something from every fail so it is not a TOTAL loss, but you are absolutely right...They suck!
Brian any advice for good core exercises for building stronger Abs?...Tks!
Yep, made an entire video about it called "breathing and bracing"
My powerlifting program has abs in it after squat and deadlift days what are some ab exercises that carry over to my main lifts I don't care about looks thank you your videos are very entertaining
Like would setting a weight on my stomach be considered an ab exercise for bracing I saw you do it in another video
I'm running wendler 531
Thank Ryan. Some of my favorite ab variations are planks, weight planks, toes to bar, knees to elbows, hanging windshield wipers, standing cable crunches, Dragon flags and ab wheel roll-outs. I have found this are the best one for carryover. and setting a weight on your stomach and bracing out would definitely help you develop your brace that will be used during you lifts so i would count it as one!
Brian Alsruhe
Planks and Ab Wheel Roll outs and Leg Raises my top 3
DUDE U LISTEN TO SLIPKNOT I LOVE YOU
4:40 Is that Roy Brown?
Sorry Brian...Just noticed you answered that question in previous comment..
No worries brother!
how did the ssb good mornings end up going building the deadlift?
Well, it got me to 710, so they definitely helped. They are one of my favorite assistance exercises for the lower body
Is that gimmie shelter? But amazing brother!
Hahaha good catch man!
Brian Alsruhe gotta love old school rock!
Hahaha i'm an old man brother!
Brian Alsruhe I just have an old soul!
What do you do for core work
A lot of stuff man, I have a video called "My favorite core exercises".
What kinda shoes are ya wearing?
In this video Freis OLY shoes, but now I use Adipowers.
kelly starlet stuff here :P
Yea man absolutely. Most of what i know about mobility comes from that guy. He is definitely the subject matter expert
!!!
6:43 empty walls
you ever beat the crap out of your feet with a lacrosse ball? it's like magic man I swear it. run it over the plantar surface and flex/relax your foot and it'll crap and pop and shit but it'll do er
Yep, do it all of the time man!