James Pieratt from Wild Hunt Conditioning joins us to share what he learned on an expedition in which he ran 802 miles through nearly the entire state of California. James is unique in the ultrarunning community because he also lifts heavy weights and trains in BJJ.

We looked at the mindset and philosophy required for ultrarunning, the emotional journey of endurance athletes, and the importance of strength training for overall health and performance. We also covered training regimens, the science behind strength and endurance training, and shared insights for athletes looking to enhance their performance.

Check out James' training programs at https://wildhuntconditioning.com/ and follow him on Instagram at @wildhuntconditioning

And if you're interested in adventures and the mindset required to keep going against all odds check out my own book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Thanks!
Stephan Kesting

Record-setting powerlifter and freak athlete Chris Duffin discusses the intricacies of hybrid training, focusing on the balance between strength and endurance. He shares his unique qualifications, including his experience with elite athletes and his world record feats.

Chris breaks down the relative importance of skill, and the mechanical, neurological, and metabolic factors that influence power output, and the often-overlooked role of the diaphragm in performance. Duffin also provides insights on training for generalists, emphasizing the need for injury mitigation and effective training strategies.

Check out Chris's site at https://www.chrisduffin.com/ and his LiftLab App that helps athletes optimize their training using tools that previously were out of range for most recreational athletes:

And check out my own book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, on Amazon or anywhere books, ebooks, and audiobooks are sold! https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Thanks!

Stephan Kesting

Mike McCastle smashed David Goggins' pullup record by doing 5,804 pull-ups in 24 hours while wearing a 30-pound backpack... and pulled an F-150 pickup truck 22 miles through Death Valley... and flipped a 250 lb tire for 13 miles... and climbed a rope for the equivalent distance of Mount Everest... and has trained MMA fighters, alpinists, and extreme adventurers like Colin O'Brady, the first man to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported.

As such, he's the perfect person to kick off our 4-part series on hybrid training, where we'll delve into the art and science of maximising strength AND endurance at the same time.

Some key areas covered include:
- How hybrid training is about giving yourself options
- Why strength training builds durability in joints and tendons
- How to achieve your goals by reverse engineering the outcome
- How to build mental toughness through conscious choices
- Exactly how training should be tailored to individual needs and goals
- Why recovery is crucial for optimal performance.
- How to include skill development within your sport into your training phases
- The methods Mike has used to create chaos in training to prepare for unpredictability
- How training often and testing rarely is key to success.

Subscribe to this channel to be notified of new episodes in this series when they come out!

Check out Mike's website at https://www.mikemccastle.com/ and his Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/mikemccastle/

And check out my own book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, on Amazon or anywhere books, ebooks, and audiobooks are sold! https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Martial arts pioneer Tom Callos came onto The Strenuous Life Podcast to discuss the California martial arts scene in the wake of Bruce Lee, the importance of taking your training out of the dojo and into the world, how your students can become your school's most effective advertising, being BJ Penn's first BJJ instructor, and his thoughts about BJ's current struggles.

Tom has owned several martial arts schools, worked as a business and curriculum consultant to the international martial arts community, competed regionally, nationally, and internationally, and was a member of an internationally renowned demonstration team.

Follow Tom on Instagram @tomcallos.

Today let's learn from sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlis, who delves into the competition mindset, developing mental toughness, managing stress, avoiding burnout, the psychology of extreme sports, and how your core values shape your life and sport.

Find out more about Dr Perlis at https://drhaleyperlus.com/

And to get a glimpse into the mental aspect of dealing with suffering and self doubt check out my book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Thanks!
Stephan Kesting

Today I'm joined by wrestler, jiu-jitsuka, and author Chris Jessulat (https://www.thewrongsideof35.com/) to discuss the best practices for staying relevant on the mats as you enter your fourth decade and beyond...

00:00 Training as an Older Grappler

02:48 The Transition from Competitive to Recreational Training

05:46 Physical Changes and Changing to a Mobility Focus

08:34 Quantifying Progress in Jiu-Jitsu

11:47 Breaking Through Training Plateaus

14:23 Comfort in Unfamiliar Positions

17:11 Training Strategies for Older Grapplers

29:35 Creating Positive Training Environments

31:12 The Impact of Focussing on Recovery and Positive Lifestyle Choices

33:41 Proactive Injury Management and Recovery Strategies

37:44 Navigating Injury Diagnosis and Treatment

40:51 Adapting Techniques and Mindset in Training

44:22 Reflections on Writing and Sharing Martial Arts Experiences

48:26 Lessons Learned from Martial Arts Training

51:20 The Importance of Community in Martial Arts

If you've read this far down then check out my best-selling book Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, available everywhere including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Rob Biernacki has some very impressive competition victories, including black belt masters gold at both No Gi Worlds and ADCC.

In this podcast episode he reveals...

• Why people sometimes just don't perform up to their potential and how to fix it,
• How to reframe tournament nerves,
• The optimal state of arousal for competition,
• Building and executing on gameplans,
• Why some people just shouldn't compete,
• His best advice for first-time competitors
• And more.

If you compete (or are thinking about competing), then this is a must listen!

Resources referred to in this video include:

• Gripfighting and Kuzushi with Rob Biernacki: https://www.grapplearts.com/gripfighting
• Omoplata 2.0 with Stephan Kesting: https://www.grapplearts.com/omoplata/
• Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, by Stephan Kesting https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/
• BJJ Concepts by Rob Biernacki: https://www.bjjconcepts.net

Please pass this episode on to someone you think would like it - that really helps us grow!

Thanks,
Stephan Kesting

It started as an April Fool's joke and then morphed into a BEAST of a book complete with 967 illustrations called "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Ultimate Illustrated Guidebook". In episode 424 I chat with renowned BJJ black belt, illustrator and designer Seymour Yang (better known as Meerkatsu) and his partner in crime Graham Barlow (the creator of the Tai Chi Notebook) about the core techniques of BJJ, modern vs traditional jiu-jitsu, and the process of bringing a new book into the world.

Check out the book here: https://www.meerkatsu.com/product/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-the-ultimate-illustrated-guidebook/

Cheers,
Stephan

P.S. And while we're on the topic of books check out Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic. While this isn't a BJJ book specifically, it does contain many of the lessons I learned about endurance, perseverance, and grit on the toughest expedition of my life.

Available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/