A few weeks ago I was fortunate to check out Henry Rollins spoken word tour up at Brisbane. Ironically enough I happened to stumbled across this interesting article penned by the man himself. Rollins has been called a modern-day renaissance man: singer, spoken word artist, movie actor, and TV personality.

I’ve met more than a few athletes that could relate to it. I trust you learn something as well.

Iron and The Soul

By Henry Rollins

I believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. Completely.

When I was young I had no sense of myself. All I was, was a product of all the fear and humiliation I suffered. Fear of my parents. The humiliation of teachers calling me “garbage can” and telling me I’d be mowing lawns for a living. And the very real terror of my fellow students. I was threatened and beaten up for the color of my skin and my size. I was skinny and clumsy, and when others would tease me I didn’t run home crying, wondering why. I knew all too well. I was there to be antagonized. In sports I was laughed at. A spaz. I was pretty good at boxing but only because the rage that filled my every waking moment made me wild and unpredictable. I fought with some strange fury. The other boys thought I was crazy.

Henry Rollins Before and After Years of Grueling Work Outs in the Gym!

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I’d say that more than 50% of an athletes performance is based upon the voices in their head. No, I don’t mean they are crazy, I mean as an athlete you are what you tell yourself. The 6 inches between your left ear and right ear will drastically affect your performance success and results. That’s why we coach our athletes to be aware of what they tell themselves. Every Elite Athlete I’ve ever worked with and coached has had an inner voice of pride.

PIT athlete and World Champ Matty Parks Takes Great Pride in His Preparation! (more…)

Whilst travelling through the USA I met a strength coach by the name of Zach….he showed around his underground facility and we had a training session there. At the end of the session we spoke about business, athletes and everything in between. His training facility is intense and nothing fires him up more than when athletes slacken off. This is what he told me, ”I try not to take it personal when I see athletes slack, lose the eye of the tiger and walk around as if they have no heart beat – unfortunately, that shit pisses me off”. How does one go from being hungry for victory go to being a non-caring, excuse maker??!! For all the knuckleheads who think they’re gonna get a starting position in their sport without working for it, without EARNING it and without having the eye of the tiger, think again! There are NO handouts in life. Sport IS life.

 Joey and Zach after the training session! (more…)

On the weekend I ran into an old friend of mine that also happens to be a current Olympic Champion. It was interesting hearing them talk about their preparation for London and when I asked them if they was nervous or felt more pressure about defending their gold medal…I was blown away by what they said,

” I don’t feel any pressure at all, if anything my competitors should be more scared and nervous….In my mind-No one has worked as hard as I have, no one has had the expert coaching, elite nutrition and recovery protocols that I have! It is my belief that I am superior in every facet both physically and mentally, because that is the way I train and the way I live my life. (more…)

I was purchasing a notepad from the newsagency the other day and I couldn’t help but notice the woman in front of me…purchasing a gold lotto ticket and some instant scratchies….

Normally I couldn’t care less…but the women was incessant about her luck and kept saying, “I hope I get lucky and win a million dollars….you know I’ve spent so much money on these lottery tickets…I deserve to win”…(whilst she probably said it tongue in cheek)..

I instantly thought how many people and athletes think this way and how applicable this mindset is to society in general and contributes to laziness, dissatisfaction, depression and unrealistic dreams and expectations.

Many athletes hope to get lucky…..I hope this super charged adrenalin pill gets me faster….I hope this magic lettuce leaf diet drops fat…I hope this miracle training program builds muscle….

Unfortunately, ultimate sports performance, building a great body or a successful business has nothing to do with luck and has everything to do with hard work.

This lady was a scavenger… (more…)

Whilst in Melbourne last week I caught up and had dinner with a good mate of mine who also happens to be one of Australia’s most successful AFL Premiership Winning Strength and Conditioning Coaches.

Over dinner it was evident to see why he has attained a reputation as the secret weapon! His attention to detail and standards of excellence are what set him apart. When you see him work you realise that he is at another level and what he does is 24/7. (more…)

I hate hospitals!

I spent much of last week up at the hospital. It’s amazing; some of the things you see in that place-I see hospital patients in wheel chairs or with their IVs outside smoking!

Unbelievable! When I was consulting with the doctors, they told me that almost 80% of their patients diseases are self inflicted-meaning their laziness and ignorance and refusal to exercise, consumption of copious amounts of alcohol, smokes, drugs or crap foods is to blame for their current state of health. (more…)

Congratulations to Claye Beams on his round 1 AFL Rising Star Award. He picked up 25 touches and made 5 tackles. He busted his arse over the summer time and has been rewarded accordingly.

Brisbane Lions Claye Beams Cranking out the Chin Ups in THE PIT Summer 2012

Picture this….its 45 degrees and its not that warm moist humid heat….its that sickly dry heat….

The dirt is red….

It stinks like a festering pile of S%@t

PIT Athletes and Elite AFL Footballer Callum Carseldine and Queensland Cricket Player Bryce Carseldine Training in a Stable Filled with S%$t!

The Closest Gym is more than 10,000km away….

You’re on holidays…..

You aspire to be a professional and elite athlete….

It’s too hard…
It’s too hot….
It smells like horse s%^t
There’s no gym close by… (more…)

Back when I was a young athlete….one of my most influential coaches taught me an extremely valuable lesson…

He called it My Word!

Every time you make a promise to yourself or others you keep it!

He said this could be about any and everything in sport training, business, relationships whatever!

Your word is the LAW!

I am going to follow the nutrition plan 100% of the time.
I am going to complete every single one of my training sessions with 100% effort this week.
I am going to complete my home training program.
I am going to perform my flexibility program once per day.
Every time you promise to help someone or accompany them anywhere you do it!
Every time you tell someone you will do anything for them, no matter how great or small. (more…)

After a solid pre-season in THE PIT Kurts voracious work ethic has been rewarded with NAB Cup Grand Final Victory.

Adelaide Crows Kurt Tippett putting in the hard yards in The Pit Gym during the pre-season. (more…)

I’ve coached some extra-ordinarily talented athletes that unfortunately didn’t amount to anything.

Conversely I’ve trained ordinary athletes that have become world class!

What’s the one thing that that separates the ‘winners’ from the ‘losers’?

Action!

We take actions and are responsible for the outcomes in our lives.

How we look, how we feel and how we perform is a direct consequence of our actions or lack thereof.

Martial Arts World Champion Matty Parks Physique and World Class Achievements are the direct result of his ACTIONS! (more…)

On the weekend I was fortunate to catch up with one of Australia’s leading holistic functional medicine doctors that also happens to be a close friend of mine and asked about her motivations for elite health and performance-she said one resounding thing that rang true that is relevant to everyone.

She said that anyone that accomplished anything worthwhile has a very high sense of the way to do things.

They have not been content with mediocrity. They have not confined themselves to the beaten tracks; they have never been satisfied to do things just as others do them, but always a little better.

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Here’s a checklist to see exactly where you’re at..

Do you possess a strong work ethic?

Are you somewhat selfless?

Are you able to handle adversity and overcome it.

Brisbane Lions AFL Player Bryce Retzlaff overcoming adversity in The PIT as a youngster!

Are you able to prioritise and focus on what’s important?

Are you committed to continually improving?

“Are you doing what it takes to be a champion?”

Bryce Retzlaff doing what the others aren’t! Interval work on the tredsled during Pre-season training in THE PIT! (more…)

I love it when people break through their barriers or self imposed perceived limitations. Former PIT athlete and Strong Man camp member Jesse Cooper is the embodiment of breaking through barriers! Diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemo he has never whinged or complained once. Instead of being bed ridden and letting life pass him by he has refused the cards that have been dealt to him and is back tearing it up in the gym….only a week after chemo.

Jess Cooper back in the gym for some light training a week after chemo! (more…)

“How you do anything, is how you do everything,” has to be one of the most profound quotes I’ve ever heard.

I think about my best athletes or most successful clients.

How they do anything, is how they do everything!

You see my most successful athletes apply themselves 100% to whatever it is they do and almost become obsessive in the process, they have to, if they are to succeed!

Obsessive about the food they put in their mouths to fuel their bodies. Obsessive about doing their recovery work to accelerate progress made from training and to prevent injuries and poor performance! Obsessive about taking the correct supplements at the right time for rapid performance gains. Obsessive about their training, following their training program to the tee!

They don’t take short cuts anywhere…or in any aspect of their lives….

Take former PIT athlete Carlton Rookie Matt Lodge-He undertook 7 subjects in yr 12 instead of the mandatory 6, he captained the under 18 NSW AFL Team, School Captain at one of Australia’s most exclusive Schools in Sydney, flew up from Sydney to train in THE PIT every few weeks, before that he traveled from Byron Bay twice a week to train in THE PIT the other 3 nights a week he traveled to Brisbane to train with the QLD state team. He was offered a recording contract from Sony for his musical abilities. He got straight A’s in his school work and finished in the top 1% of year 12 scholars. Impressive!

How you do anything, is how you do everything!

How we train in THE PIT is a metaphor for how we go in life-if you rock up go through the motions don’t put in any effort will pretty much mirror your life. As a PIT Athlete you’re held accountable to a much higher standard than that, you’re expected to put forth 100% effort, intensity and commitment and great things happen!

As they say obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated!

All the best for the week,

Joey

At the completion of one of The Pit sessions last week, I was having a chat to one of the most disciplined and committed Pit Athletes I have ever coached; Southport Sharks Senior Footballer-Callum Carseldine.

During our conversation Callum came up with this gem,

‘Joey most people don’t succeed because they can’t say no! They cant say No Because they don’t know what their priorities are’! (more…)

Greatness: Its your birthright!

I just finished reading a great book recommended by Adelaide Crows Superstar Kurt Tippett titled The Monk who sold his Ferarri by Robin Sharma here is an excerpt from the book.

“Push yourself to do more and to experience more.

Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams.

Don’t accept a life of mediocrity when you hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind.

Dare to tap into your greatness.

It’s your birthright.” (more…)

At Strongman Camp last Saturday morning we were fortunate to have one of Australia’s leading Mental Skills coaches address the athletes after the session.

It never ceases to amaze me that almost every athlete is well aware of the importance of their physical preparation and training, yet so few do anything to improve their psychological skills.

It’s simple you are what you think about and you are what you tell yourself.

So it better be positive and empowering! (more…)

Get out of your comfort zone!

Yesterday I decided to jump and parachute out of a perfectly good plane…

Why?

Because I can and to get out of my comfort zone…

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