http://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/learn- to- train-seminar-weekend/ June 6, 2013

Part I: Learn to Train IV Seminar Weekend

Learn to Train Seminar Weekend

Chad SmithWell, my f irst t ime heading out for a Learn to Train Seminar started out rough. I had a red eye f lightout of L.A. on Thursday night. Af ter being selected for the private room security screening (a.k.a.groping), my f light was delayed about an hour. This caused me to miss my connector f rom Chicagoto Columbus. After running around O’Hare airport for a while, I found out the next f light I wantedto get on was full and the one af ter that was four hours later…awesome. I f inally made it to Ohio,working on about three hours of sleep, one hour of which came on the f loor of the ChicagoAirport . The total t ravel t ime from my front door in California to the elitef ts™ compound in Ohio,was just shy of 15 hours. I missed the morning speakers (Steve, Frey and John Meadows) andmore important ly, I missed lunch.

I jumped right in with Josh Bryant, Andy Deck, and Stevie P., to coach some strongman events. I’mnot sure if I’m exact ly qualif ied to coach any strongman events yet , as I’ve been doing them foronly two months and the majority of my technique for Strongman events, relies on just being a“Strong Man.” Hopefully I was st ill able to of fer the groups some good help.

We all headed to dinner on Friday night and I got talking a lit t le t raining and most ly bullshit with thealways entertaining Stevie P and Joey Smith. Because I was deloading this week, I was gett ing myballs busted for not squatt ing. My fans were clamoring for things like 1000-pound reverse bandsquats and what not, but luckily Bryant was there to tell me not to do it .

Saturday morning I did a lit t le t raining, just some single deadlif ts with 550-600 pounds, while Bryanthelped me with technique. Since I t rained by myself for almost my whole life and was never reallytaught how to squat, bench or pull, it ’s always nice to get some high-quality coaching. We movedmy foot posit ion out a lit t le bit and the bar was moving faster. Af ter that , I worked up to 850ish onthe Yoke for 50-feet..nothing too excit ing.

I spoke on Saturday about how we [at Juggernaut] organize our athlete’s t raining. With only anhour to speak, it was kind of tough to cover all of the things I wanted.

Steve, Murph and I coached some squatt ing and deadlif t ing the rest of the day.

We grilled at elitef ts™ that night and then Al Caslow, Mick Manley, Molly Galbraith and I stayed uplate eat ing pizza and talking nonsense.

Sunday was kind of boring for me since I had no lif t ing to do while Joey, Marshall Johnson andBrandon Lily (big ass dude) benched. Luckily, I kept myself busy by helping the lovely Molly Galbraithhit a 10-pound squat PR, so I probably actually got the best deal out of everyone that day.

It was a great t ime in Ohio and it was nice to meet Joey, Marshall, Harry Selkow, Mick, andpart icularly Josh Bryant who has been helping me with my programs for over a year, but we nevermet in person. It was also good to catch up with guys I already knew like Kroc, Al, Steve and Murph.Thanks to Dave and the whole gang for putt ing on such a great event and thanks to everyonewho invested in their knowledge and came out to learn.

Juggernaut ’s Website JTSstrength.com

The Juggernaut Method E-Book

The Juggernaut Jiu-Jitsu Physical Preparat ion Manual

Julia LadewskiI’m going to recap the rest of the weekend with all the awesome that happened. But, I f igured I’dstart with all the t raining that I did.

ThursdayI didn’t get to t rain due to the fact that I had the privilege of arriving early and working with 11 kids,ages 6-13 doing some speed training technique and medicine ball work. After the t raning session, Iended up doing a quick impromptu photo shoot. Had I known about the shoot, I would’ve gotten atan. Haha! But, we got some great shots and I’m very thankful to Ken for taking the t ime to do theshoot.

Thursday was a backload night for me. I wasn’t t raining Friday morning, but it was Day 7 of goingult ra low-carb. Plus, it allowed me to have a normal dinner with f riends (burger and sweet potatofries).

FridayWe spent the af ternoon coaching the bench stat ions with our groups. No formal t raining going on.

SaturdayBefore Seminar Day 2 started, all of the lif ters and coaches got together for a UGSS (UndergroundStrength Session). These are always a good thing to be around…not only to see some wickedlystrong people, but to see how they train and get some new ideas.

I used the safety squat bar and worked up to 305 in my Jack Briefs…used my favorite orange

and black walk-through monolif t .

95 x 5

135 x 5

165 x 3

185 x 3

205 x 1

225 x 1

255 x 1

275 x 1

295 x 1 (plus the extra weight of the SSB… roughly 305)

down set of 225 x 5, medium stance. These have been feeling really good lately. Not surewhat it is, but I’m loving this stance.

KB Goblet Wall Squats

4 x 15 with 24kg

45-degree Back Raise

3 x 12 with 25lbs

1 x 12 with bodyweight

Abs

3 x 10

Saturday af ternoon, Doc Ryan Smith worked on my back…a lit t le myofacial release and anadjustment. Def initely needed, but lef t me sore and achy.

SundayWith my back feeling a lit t le under the weather, I opted to just do some rep work.

bar, 2 x 10

95 x 8

115 x 6

135 x 5

155 x 3

165 for 3 x 3

these felt good and strong, especially since I didn’t arch much and kept my feet out in f rontto save my back

Pullups

5 x 6

1 x 5 with chain around neck

Rolling DB Extensions

4 x 12

Mini Band Pull-aparts

4 x 20

Ultra Fat Grip t ricep pushdowns

6 x a bunch

BB Curls (Kroc was in the house, and I couldn’t let him show me up…suns out, guns out)

3 x 10

Great t raining sessions, great f riends…awesome weekend…more to come.

Al CaslowI’ll get the t raining out of the way f irst .SaturdayWarmed upA&C

Squats

bar x 10

155 x 5

Reverse Bands

335 x 2

425 x 2

Franken-Jack suit on

515 x 2

605 x 2

Straps Up

695 x 2

745 x 2

785 x 2

835 x 2

*Suit is f—ing money.

After this, the seminar was gett ing started fairly quickly, the Compound was gett ing packed fromthe at tendees. So, I shut it down.

SundayWarmed upA&C

Deadlif ts with 80-pounds of Chain*tested a new chain product for Dave (bad ass little tool)

135 + chains x 10

225 + chains x 5

315 + chains x 5

Jack SUMO suit on (sz 48)

405 + chains x 2

495 + chains x 2

545 + chains x 2

*Suit pops hard. Had the straps loose, about 2″ above my shoulders and the suit was still nasty.Might turn out to be a great product.

Bench

bar x 30

95 x 20

135 x 8

185 x 5

225 x 4

275 x 2

315 x 1

King Bash Bencher on

405 x 2 @ 3 board

455 x 2 @ 2 board

495 x 2 @ 1 board

*I’m developing some tendonitis on my forearm so shut it down there.

SeminarThe Seminar turned out to be a blast this go around. I missed John Meadows presentat ion whichreally pissed me of f , I was really want ing to hear him talk about his ideas/philosophies. He showedup Sunday so I was extremely happy to meet him then and watch him train. Seeing what he andDave do is a hell of a lot nast ier live than on paper…it ’s something else.

Besides John, I did have the opportunity to hear Chad Smith, CJ Murphy and Josh Bryant present.It was awesome, the informat ion shared was very high-level, but understandable and helpful. Thispart of the seminar is always worth its weight in gold.

After the presentat ions, the LTT Seminar became a hands-on workshop. I took a crew with Joshand Mick and worked on the squat and deadlif t . The coolest compliment we got was from a few ofthe sponsors let t ing us know that af ter we f inished the sessions, everyone from our group lookedident ical in technique and form. Which is a huge representat ive of the group’s willingness, responseand ef forts. The group was awesome, great individuals, good spirit and at tent ion, but the bestwas watching a few PR…that kicked ass.

SocializingOn the other side of the equat ion, was the opportunity to get together with the teammates andfriends/wives/teammates that Dave provides us with. Meet ing these guys, gett ing to know themand train with them is always just a blast . It ’s an incredible environment and a perfect plat form toexchange knowledge/advice.

This go around, I spent a lot of t ime with a completely dif ferent group of people. I got theopportunity to hang out with the Ladewski’s over ice cream Friday night. This was a fun t ime, Juliawas actually someone I followed on the logs consistent ly when I f irst got started in 06′. I also gotto stare, sorry, I mean meet and hang out with Molly Galbraith. She’s super cool, experienced in theindustry and driven. Saturday, Kirschen, CWS, Manley, Molly and I got t ied up shoot ing the shit , and

before we knew it , it was 2AM.

Something I thoroughly enjoy when around folks I’m normally not in a gym with, is observing. Ispent a good deal Saturday watching Kirschen, Joey and the newb Marshall squat. They’re threecompletely dif ferent squatters with Kirschen looking like a robot (every set and rep looks ident icalalmost f lawless), Joey Smith just sucking in the informat ion (looking ready for his f irst gear fullmeet) and Marshall, looking weird as hell with all kinds of colors and rings, bandanas, tat toos, weirdhair and gasoline jugs. Haha! Pret ty cool shit . He actually had great squat technique with a superwide stance, but he consistent ly hit good depth and was a strong kid to boot.

On top of all that , I got to hang out with one of my best f riends, Mick Manley, for a full weekend,doing what we love to do.

It ’s absolutely necessary to thank the elitef ts™ team and group for set t ing it all up and givingeveryone amazing hospitality. I got to spend t ime with my buds Ted and Molly Edwards, meet bigass (Lil’) Stevie and get poked and scratched by Dave’s lit t le son. It ’s always a blast shoot ing theshit with Ken as well, it ’s a good laugh and exchange of clever pokes.

To cap this of f , each and every t ime, I’m always impressed more and more with Dave’s generosity,direct ion and mot ivat ion. The seminar was all for the Make-A-Wish Foundat ion. Just the thoughtof doing something like this is worth recognit ion. Traci and Dave are just damn good people. I lovebeing a part of their team and direct ion and I could not be more thankful for the opportunity.

Alright , f light ’s boarding. Next t ime, I promise to not be such a “turd and douche” by forgett ing mycamera. I need to collect memories at these things…