Ya’ll will probably get tired of me saying this, hehe.

And rightfully so in this regard. I’ve said it so many times already that sometime even yours truly “from the gut” guy stops and thinks about if he should post it – yet aGAIN.

And while I do stop and think, it’s only for a nanonsecond, or perhaps less.

Always a “from the gut” kinda guy, and while that might turn off a lot of people, ‘tis what it is. With me, what you see is truly what you GET, my brother.

And I just pictured myself doing pull-ups out there a minute or so ago in somewhat inclement weather.

IN nasty, stick, hot and humid weather.

You’ll remember the post I wrote a year or so, or perhaps before that about doing pull-ups in the RAIN no less.

And while that isn’t the case today, the point is this – pull-ups are pull-ups, my friend. There truly is NO OTHER exercise like it.

Much like there’s no other exercise like pushups done right!

But for me, pull-ups have always been about core strength, low body fat and SOLID upper body strength, and of course, most of all grip.

Not for me the silly preening and posing while people “swing their way up halfway to the bar”.

Certainly NOT any kipping as apparently advocated by Crossfit etc. If there ever was a worse thing for your shoulders than kipping (other than the bench) I;m yet to see it.

(Sure, if you’re already built yourself up to sets of 10 pull-ups and more then it might not hurt you – but it won’t benefit you in any damn way, I’ll tell you that! And for most people I do NOT recommend kipping of any nature, shape or form. Do them naturally, and do ‘em right, and you’ll see how quickly you progress).

Now, here is the reason I bring this up again.

A reason that I’ve often stated before.

And a reason that is roundly ignored, so I’m just gonna say it YET AGAIN.

That being, WHERE you do your pull-up has a huge, huge impact on both your performance and strength levels.

Don’t get me wrong. Doing them on regular pull-ups bars is perfectly fine.

Or regular chinning stations.

But you really, really start to benefit once you do ‘em on THICK bars.

And no, not the kind of thick bars you fashion out of those grips etc that they put on the regular pull up bars.

Those are great, sure, but the real Mc Koy as it were in fitness (when it comes to pull-ups?)

It’s doing them on ULTRA thick bars.

Like iron pipes.

Bars so thick even those of you with big hands can’t get your hands more than halfway around ‘em.

And you do DEAD hangs GALORE on these too!

Those two things, my friend are truly what will get you to “brute strength” status, along with the FEELING that goes with being TRULY STRONG and PREPARED FOR ANYTHING, which is what ultimately counts at the end of the day.

And it probably will also be the most ignored, which is fine.

Hey, Rahgul Mookerjee ain’t everyone’s cup of tea.

Especially after the mis spellings etc you routinely see in my emails and that people (some) point out on occasion.

But for those of you that train the REAL way – well – guess what. I’m here for ya – and always WILL BE!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Go HERE to pick up the best damned manuals on pull-ups (again I CHALLENGE you to find something better) on pull-ups!!

When I was learning how to box WELL (still very much a work in progress! ?) Marc the African Silverback Gorilla, a high level boxer who was training me gave me a brief “mini trap massage”.

The kind where you slap the traps around a little, pinch a little, and I knew what he was trying to do (and he said it, of course).

“Loose, Rahul! Shoulders are too tense there!”

And he was right, of course. And that happens often times if you’re really “straining” to get it right, but as Marc righly said.

“Snake’s tongue, Rahul!” (when jabbing).

This afternoon while jumping rope, this truism came home to me again,

I was hitting 750 jumps without a break when it’s normally 500-550.

And in the middle of it all I noticed myself subconsciously getting tense in the shoulders and traps, and arms “raised up slightly”.

And I don’t care if you’re doing pull-ups, pushups, boxing or jumping rope – keeping the upper body – and especially shoulders, traps and upper BACK loose, limber and flexible is of key.

The exact OPPOSITE thing that happens when you train with heavy ass weights (for the most part if you don’t do it right).

The emphasis during all these exercises should be on the GRIP, forearms and – get this – and YES – CORE!

Yes, my friend.

It’s your forearms and wrists and calves and core than power you through when you’re jumping rope, NOT the extra shoulder movement!

And the arm positioning while jumping rope is also key. You do NOT want to be either too narrow or too far for one . . .

Lots of people do pull-ups where they don’t go all the way down into a dead hang.

These dead hangs have a bad rep for whatever reason, even amongst real fitness experts.

And my take on this is as such – unless you can go into a dead hang and hold for time you’re not fully relaxing either the shoulders/traps, and you ain’t unlocking your full potential by FAR.

Neither do you have a very strong grip for that matter . . .

Anyway, grip is something I focus upon a lot my friend, and with good reason.

You on this list probably see why I’m writing to you about it too!

And in terms of building your grip to the max level possible, insane levels at that, go right HERE my friend.

Truly the best grip compilation ever, and as for core?

Go right HERE – Corrugated Core.

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Remember, folks. Shoulders loose! Shoulders loose!!!

I just saw something.

A Chinese couple dining out in one of the roadside B BQ (I presume) restaurants I enjoy going to so much.

Nothing fancy.

Just a few stools and a “stall” with all the meat you can eat and all the beer you can drink, and believe it or not, I’ve had some of the best “parties” of my life in places like that!

(health hazard yes, I know, but this isn’t about that).

A certain Ann Lee would remember those joints as well, but this ain’t about her or anyone in particular! ?

Anyway, the girl was digging into some vegetables, and the guy was munching on some lamb I believe.

Or perhaps rat that passes off as lamb. LOL.Hey, it’s true. Anything is possible in mainland China, and that has happened in the past in Shanghai and other places!

And even that isn’t the point of me writing this.

It’s well known, for instance, that fiery drinks (Chinese baijiu – – their traditional liqor – -is to, to me, the equivalent of ENGINE OIL being poured down your throat!) and meat make for a great combo for some people, but both these things increase body heat a lot, and sitting outside with no A/C, the one thing it DOES make EVERYONE do is SWEAT.

Gallons.

I still remember the waitress once attempting to “fan me” as I sat there before I waved her away. Made me uncomfortable for whatever reason, but hey, again, that’s China!

And the guy was doing what I’ve seen so many people do in the mainland, and what to me screams out COUNTRY BUMPKIN louder than just about anything else.

What that be, yer ask?

Well, he was sitting there with his shirt hoicked up to mid chest, ugly rolls of fat clearly visible. In fact, the world MULTIPLE love handles came to mind when I saw all them rolls . . .

. . . But truth be told, though this looks nasty and uncivilized, it does have it’s benefits while working out.

The core is the part of the body where the most heat should be generated in order to lose weight and build muscle effectively, my friend.

It’s also the part where most MEN sweat most (by the way, I’m yet to see a single Chinese WOMAN do the same) when working out . . . or even sitting on a chair.

And while I’ve never adopted this technique of cooling off for the long term, I’ve tried it.

And it does work to an extent, more so than taking your shirt off, period.

Or at least it gives the illusion of your core being cooler while the “upper body” soaks up all the sweat.

To me, what I liked was I could literally see my stomach expanding with each deep gasp of breath I took when I did this (which wasn’t often at all! ?).

And the feeling of literally BURNING FAT – – right there – – BEFORE YOUR eyes, and believe me, if you trick your subconscious into believing that and then backing that up with actions, then guess what will happen.

You’ll get in the sort of shape I talk about in Advanced Hill Training, for one!

Yes, I’ve kept my shirt on throughout the filming for the book. With a good reason. I am NOT interested in preening and posing, but the results are there for all to see my friend.

And that’s today’s message.

Work the core hard – so hard that you feel like it’s on FIRE. Quite literally!

And keep doing it as often as you can.

Waist whittling as Brooks Kubik once told me, is indeed what it’s about – for me – you – and judging by the growing number of lard asses out there (wait for another post on this) . . . it needs to be done, and how!

Get on the train HERE.

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – And yes, the results I mention on the sales page are REAL, and NOT just marketing!

Folks have often asked me “why I do what I do”.

And beyond the obvious, that being to work on my own terms and live life on my own terms, there is another very good reason.

SATISFACTION, and no, I don’t mean just monetarily.

Sure, money is damned important, and sure, that’s one reason my products are more expensive than a lot of other people (along with the little fact that I deliver VALUE, my friend, REAL WORLD value! ?) . . .

. . . but it ain’t the only thing by far.

Neither is it what motivated me to start all this in the first place.

It’s the satisfaction of knowing you are helping people globally my friend.

It is the satisfaction of knowing that you, as a person recently wrote in on Twitter – “motivate thousands” of people.

It’s the sheer satisfaction you get when customers tell me “I’m the real McCoy” int erms of fitness (paraphrased, I borrowed that from Napoleon Hill’s “Outwitting the Devil”) . .  .and with good reason, and not because I like to blow my own bugle, but because I can tell I’m inspiring THEM to do the same!

And so forth.

What truly makes life worth it my friend?

As Rambo said in the fourth part of the series.

“Live for NOTHING, or die for something”.

And he’s right.

Life has to have SOME purpose. SOME goal. Something always to keep the fires burning, and motivating you, and for me, it’s doing this sort of thing and keeping YOU on your toes my friend.

And that, my friend, along with the satisfaction I get from being able to help others reach THEIR goals is what makes it truly, truly worth it!

What do YOU Do, and what made it all worth iut?

Write back, and let me know!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Here is where you can pick up our very first, and still bestselling course – Gorilla Grip.

Often times, people that are overweight, or not even truly fat, but “Skinny fat” have a problem with the “jiggles” as it were.

The fat jiggling up and down as you do rope jumps, for one.

Or the man boobs shaking galore while doing sprints . . . not to mention your love handles . . .

Or, but you get the picture!

Bingo wings and so forth.

It ain’t just limited to adults either. A few weeks ago, my daughter was getting self conscious about some lard she’s recently managed to put on, mostly due to inactivity.

Or, I should say less exercise, and being cooped up at home a lot due to the ongoing and incessant bally lockdown . . .

And I noticed her one night, jumping up and down and seeing her little tummy wiggling away.

Cute as heck for me, but I could tell she was self conscious about it, and getting increasingly grumpy about clothes not fitting etc and no-one helping her about it (for what it’s worth, yes, workouts were going on, but not the right sort, and I’llg et into that at a later date!).

And I had the following to say to her.

Honey, don’t be conscious. The more you shake it, the more you LOSE!

And I didn’t mean shake as in flaunt, obviously.

But really, it’s those fat cells MOVING that really generate heat in the body and get rid of them my friend.

In Corrugated Core, for one, I give you some exercises in the beginner section that even fit people cannot do at times.

Exercises that make that belly jiggle and wiggle for all it’s worth.

Exercises yours truly used when he had a massive bloated belly, a lard ass and man boobs.

And as I told my daughter, so long as you workout, it’s all good.

“Honey, I had a more massive stomach than you a while ago. I shook it regularly, and . . .”

She grinned at me.

“When I was born, your tummy was massive!”

“10 times my size!”

And so it was my friend. So it was.

So if you are afflicted with something similar – – well – – here’s the deal.

Do exercises, and do those that make you GET OUT of your comfort zone.

If bear crawls for one get you winded and out of shape fast, then do ‘em.

If sprints get it all moving “uncomfortably” and out of breath in a raging manner as they should, well, do ‘em, and do more of ‘em!

And so forth.

Jump rope. Do squats. Everything and anything to move that fat as much as you can, and believe me, “move” it will, and quick, if you keep that sort of thing up!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Here is where you can pick up Corrugated Core.

Oh boy.

This morning I wrote about the hellatious day I had back in December last year, and yesterday.

And I did not really go into much detail about yesterday, so let me do so NOW.

Let me just tell you that a certain person who I wont name for the nonce (but WILL later) has been doing everything in her power to get me down.

Including things you would normally never think of.

Such as no power the entire day (and no, it ain’t a power failure we’re referring to here either), and no internet (and yet, yours truly managed to hammer out them emails and send them to you!).

I love my list, my friend.

YOU are what make it truly worth it!

And I’ll write about that later, but yeah, everything was thrown at me except the kitchen sink and perhaps even that.

And perhaps that WILL be thrown at me down the road. Can’t never tell these days! ?

And yet,I came out tops in more ways than one.

A goddamned survivor, as a friend from the US Marines likes to call me.

And I’ve written galore before about how anytime someone says you “cannot” do something is a time you should rejoice and be happy, because guesss what.

They’ve just given you a giant massive boost on the way to GETTING there!

But of course, they don’t realize that.

The worse the no is, the more challenging your circumstances are, rest assured, as Napoleon Hill said, an “equivalent or greater benefit” awaits down the road.

It may not and likely won’t feel good when you’re going through it, but when it’s said and done with and over?

You’ll feel on top of the world like I am now.

Many people out there hate me. Even more dislike me.

I could probably count on the finger of one hand and then some people who I’d consider true friends (and one of these said the following yesterday – “Man, I hope you survive!”).

You’re damn right Ricky.

And for someone that knows me since the age of 17, you know goddamn well I will! ?

And have . . .

Anyway, point of all this?

That when people dislike you, put you down, or tell you that you cannot do something – – the first reaction is to snarl back.

Or perhaps get irritated, and annoyed.

But the BEST thing to do is to (in most cases) smile and take the insults on board.

“Hide your strength, bide your time!”

And as you do so, you’ll notice a certain strange power and assurance come over you.

And it is this power that will eventually sweep you to success at whatever it is you want.

Am I saying don’t get mad?

Hell no.

Do so But do so silently!

And then set out getting even.

The results of doing something like this will ASTOUND you, and I ain’t kidding one damned bit.

Oh my!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – For more such motivational tips, pick up Gumption Galore right here – https://0excusesfitness.com/gumption-galore/

This is something I haven’t written about a lot, if at all.

Actually, I can’t remember ONE time that I wrote about it, but here is a fact my friend.

I’m well known for my pull-ups and other pulling movements, and of course thick bar work.

And monkey bars.

But did I mention ROPE – and CHAIN – training?

Probably NOT.

And I’m rectifying that today. Out in the park this afternoon I grabbed a couple of sturdy chains on a swing set (the SAME one I use for my thick bar pull-ups) and pulled myself up.

Now, I didn’t get the full pull-up but that’s not because I couldn’t.

It’s because I was worried the hinge would snap (it wasn’t meant to hold my weight obviously) but I got until a mid point hold and held for time, so it would probably hold up fine for pull-ups as well, at least for a while.

But hey, here is the point.

ROPES and chains can give you some of the best upper body workouts of your life, and (again, much like thick bar training), in a manner that you just CANNOT replicate.

As I did these out there today, I felt my “pinch grip” being worked (quite literally!) to the bone as it were!

And if you do these with fingertip pushups – oh MY.

And there is a reason why men in the army – special forces – athletes – or anyone into any sort of physical activity train on ropes often, and a LOT of times.

Climbing a rope is one of the most functional movements you can for one, for obvious reasons.

And much like the much vaunted pull-up done right, most guys (even so called “fit” guys) cannot even begin to climb a rope the right way, let alone do it for reps etc (or come DOWN, which is an entirely different exercise unto itself!).

Maybe I’ll put out a book on this if there is enough interest, so let me know! ?

For now though, remember that while it’s great to train with ropes and chains (the latter preferably THICK chains for obvious reasons, and also to wrap around your waist etc for added weight “hardcore style”), remember that the regular pull-up or any of it’s variants is enough to give you some of the best workouts you’ve ever had . . . if you do ‘em right.

Jump rope and do pull-ups (and do both RIGHT), and you won’t need another exercise for the rest of your life.

Not to say that pushups aren’t great.

But that combo above – – try it for a couple of months straight, or a year straight without missing a day.

And then report back and let me know how you feel!

And at that point, YOU will be the one writing emails about it and telling ME, as opposed to the other way around.

Well – – maybe both of us will, but you get the point! Hehe. ?

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – HERE is the definitive course you really DO need to grab in terms of getting better (or getting STARTED) at pull-ups: https://0excusesfitness.com/pull-ups-from-dud-to-stud-within-a-matter-of-weeks/

I cannot BEGIN to explain the way I felt today when I looked at the mirror.

I was watching a re-run of Gladiator, and for some reason I felt compelled to stop the movie right before the fight scenes.

Right before Russell Crowe gets to Rome . . .

For what it’s worth, Gladiator is and always WILL be my all time (or one of my all time) favorite movies. Not just because of the blood and guts and sheer visceral qualities the movie has (that is probably last on the list), but the REALISM behind all this.

The GRIM reality depicted for the slaves, and the JOY of freedom finally and so painstakingly WON.

The SCREAMS of battle, and the cries of “KILL” – and more than the “kill” part, it’s the excitement that the movie is able to whip up in me (and apparently the ROW as well given the smashing hit it was)  . . .

Anyway, where was I?

Ah yes. How I felt.

Today was one of my very rare off days from working out, my friend.

Or, I should say it is until NOW.

I don’t know what will happen later this evening (at the time of writing this I’m writing it, but not sending, but I will soon!) . . . but suffice it to say it’s a well deserved break.

And for some reason, the words of a certain “Rajinder Chawla” (I don’t know why I’m naming him, perhaps because it stood out in memory!).

“Make yourself so that no-one can hurt you!” were the exact words, I believe.

And no, I don’t mean “not culpable” by “not touchable”.

I mean, make yourself such that NOTHING can hurt you!

Anyway, again, where was I?

Ah yes, how I felt . . .

. . . Despite what you might think not working out for a day or some time for me doesn’t mean I “treat” and “gorge” myself on my days off.

NO.

That would wasting all the effort I’ve been putting in as of late.

I do what Stallone did when getting in shape and probably still does, that being in his own words to treat his body like a “Ferrari” (I can’t remember if it was him that said that or who, but the gist was that you fuel your body accordingly).

If you’re not doing much, you put LESS fuel in it.

Ah yes. Finely turned machine I think Stallone said and I can’t be arsed to Google it right now!

And if you’re doing a lot, put good high quality food in it, and a lot (and not junk!).

And as I do accordingly, I feel GOOD.

The kind of good that comes from being in SHAPE.

The kind of STRONG feeling that comes from being TRULY strong (no I don’t mean “weight lifter” strength!).

The kind of “I can BEAT the world at anything I want to”, or perhaps just, I don’t know, a GOOD, EXHIILIRATING FEELING!

Strong traps. Strong chest. A core than can take punishment, and thighs that can go forever and more.

And while this may sound like I’m tom tomming myself, truth is I ain’t.

Truth is, we can ALL be all what we want to be, and then some, if we only apply yourself.

And no matter what it pays to be in shap my friend. There is truly no other way you can get this sort of a FEEL good feeling going through you.

No other way!

And on that note, I’ll leave you be. Back soon!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – EXTRA thick bar work and PULL-UPS done for high reps are part of the reason for my “extra, more than usual” feeling good feeling. To learn how to GET there, THIS is the course you need – https://0excusesfitness.com/pull-ups-from-dud-to-stud-within-a-matter-of-weeks/

PS #2 – And for you advanced guys out there, HERE you go : https://0excusesfitness.com/pull-ups-stud-to-super-stud-within-weeks/

I’ve spoken about it a few times.

Although the “battle of the bulge” is most often characterized by the EXTERNAL bulge (and rightly so in many regardS), that ain’t the real fat you need to be worried about.

And THAT fat isn’t the first to go either with intense workouts.

It’s the SUBCUTANEOUS FAT that really needs to go first, and asap.

That nasty fat overlapping your intestines, liver, and entire core for one . . .

And usually and most of the time (and perhaps funnily enough) that fat is ALWAYS the first to go.

Remember, you can be “bloated from the inside” and have way more fat there than you should, and not on the outside, and still have the (and therefore) “skinny fat” look to you if you get my drift.

But once you get rid of the internal fat, or start to – – well, different story.

As Aamir Khan, an actor in Bollywood that achieves seemingly miraculous body transformations for each of his movies said, when you’re fat, you just MOVE differently.

You FEEL different.

And it’s a subconscious kind of feeling, and I can relate.

There is NO feeling comparable to having those pillars for legs, a rock solid and fat free core and a bear like GRIP my friend.

You’ll walk differently.

Head held up HIGH.

People will LOOK at you differently.

Perhaps most important is the feeling of OVERPOWERING CONFIDENCE you will have all day long!

And so forth.

I know this, and so do those of you that actually DO the thing.

A long time ago, I used to sweat after taking a cold shower and applying lotion to my (genetically) dry skin.

I have extremely dry skin, so that isn’t for purposes of vanity.

As for now, no longer. Not unless it’s really hot to the point an AC is required right outta the shower, and even then, usually not.

And I used to sweat the most around the core as well.

And for good reason.

Nowadays, nothing doing my friend.

And that’s just another example of FEELING different with less fat, especially around the midsection.

Get on the train NOW my friend.

It truly is well worth it!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Here is the best damned HOME BASED fitness system out there that WILL get you in the sort of KICK ASS, RAMBANCTIOUS, ass kicking (again! ?)shape mentioned above – The 0 Excuses Fitness System.

If you’re well versed with Raul (as a friend said recently, hehe, a TRUE friend) Mookerjee’s writings, you know where I’m headed with this.

OK, it’s Rahul. Raul is the Spanish version of it! ? But hey. Abla Espanol, ya’ll??

Anyhow, I’ve often written about the SAGE comment Sly Stallone made when shooting the Expendables (I believe it was).

If you look at Sly’s look in the last two Rambo series, and the three Expendables, movies, he looks bad ass to say the least.

Looks about 20 years younger than he is, and much like yours truly, NO, that ain’t make up that causes the effect. It’s a lifetime of working out and taking care of your body, and how!

And the thing that stands out MOST about Stallone? Who isn’t the biggest guy to start with . . .

. . . to me, it’s his FOREARMS.

And his TRAPS (especially in Rambo).

And if you see the side on and back shots, they make sure to emphasize those two areas of his body to max effect, and he not only looks bad ass, but he’s HUGE.

This from a man whose handprint (I think they took it in a NY museum or perhaps Madam Tussad’s, I don’t know ,can’t really remember . . . ) is SMALLER than an ex girlfriend’s of mine (who was admittedly a tall girl, but her hands weren’t bigger than yours truly, and I’ve got small hands, I’ll say that!).

And the quote?

Stallone, who “wanted to look like a lumberjack for Rambo”(hey, guess what. I once had an idea for “Lumberjack training”, an idea I have NOT yet completely dismissed! ?) said the following.

Not verbatim,  but the gist is as follows: for those of you not genetically gifted in terms of being big, the BEST thing you can do is to work your forearms and traps hard.

Add some serious SIZE to ‘em, and you’ll look a heck of a lot BIGGER!

Not to mention FEEL and BE a heck of a lot STRONGER!

The back is truly the foundation of the human body, and the grip is obviously always the LAST thing to go on a REAL strongman.

And looking at Stallone, he sure took his own advice to heart, and the results SHOW for ALL To see.

I’d add shoulders into the mix.

Massive, brawny shoulders that you can get from doing the BEST exercises there is for shoulders, for one, but also from PUSHUPS and PULL-ups done right!

And truth be told, if you work the forearms and traps hard, you’ll get mammoth shoulders anyway.

Shoulders like Boulders, as it were!

And my own personal favorite part to work obviously amongst all these isn’t the shoulders as you might think.

IT’s the GRIP.

The forearms, and as I sit here a couple of hours after my workout, still sort of unable to twist that pesky little doorknob at the front of the apartment, I feel compelled to tell you this.

My forearms feel and look as if they’ve blown up to DOUBLE their size.

OK, they feel MORE than they look, but you get the point!

And the great part is, I got a fantastic trap workout WHILE at it. Not to mention shoulders!

Truly some good advice there by Stallone, and one YOU too should take to HEART!!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

PS – Don’t forget that along with pull-ups, fingertip pushups are a SECRET weapon in terms of getting that rock solid, cast iron grip. Dan Hodge for one did plenty of these and he can literally crush APPLEs at the age of 80 plus with his bare hands! And some of the exercises he used are detailed right HERE – – Gorilla Grip.