True Strength

“A strong body makes the mind strong.” -Thomas Jefferson

You may already know that I wasn’t always “the fitness guy”. Unlike most fitness professionals I didn’t excel in sports from an early age. I remember very well the embarrassment of hanging from a bar in PE lessons, desperately trying to overcome the gravity. It didn’t help with my popularity at school, as respect often is earned by physical prowess amongst boys.

For women also strength is playing a vital role in our society. With the popularity of female athletes, and slogans like “Strong Is The New Sexy” finally it’s becoming widely accepted for women to get involved in strength exercises and not just stick to yoga and cardio machines while not getting much results.

Have you ever thought about what being strong really means? And why it should be high on your list of desirable characteristics? I’m talking about being physically powerful, and also having great force of character, will, morality, or intelligence. Because true strength manifests itself in many different forms, and improvements in physical strength will also show in the mental side, and vice versa.

In the early civilisations strength wasn’t optional. It was a matter of survival. We don't NEED to be as strong as our ancestors. We get food from the supermarket instead of hunting and gathering. We drive in cars, we have all of our medical needs quickly met, and jobs that require physical labor are of the least paid and least valued in our culture.

So why would you want to get stronger?

When we look at the history of mankind's evolution on this planet, we see that as a race (interesting that we call ourselves a "race") we are ever more rapidly moving towards some unknown destination. I am personally less interested in why we are "racing" and where we are going, than much of the wisdom that has been lost in this race. I am fascinated by the ideas, foods, and habits that helped our ancestors propel us into the "Golden Age" that we are just NOW entering.

The reason to get stronger is so that we can carry the ancient virtues such as courage, commitment and discipline into future generations that might otherwise have forgotten them completely. In fact, some would argue that we have ALREADY forgotten these virtues.... and with one look at your average high school boy, in comparison to the average Spartan boy, it would be hard to disagree.

Get stronger, not just for yourself.

Not so that you look sexy on the beach.

Not to win fitness model contests.

Not even just for your own health and functionality.

Get stronger for your children, and your children's children.

Get stronger for all of mankind; from the age of the Spartan to the "advanced" civilizations ahead.

Get stronger so that we never forget what true strength is.

Train hard, eat well, and be safe,

Ru “The Sculptor” Wikmann

P.S. Coincidentally the slogan of Optimum Nutrition is TRUE STRENGTH. They have given me a 40% discount code so that you can make a great saving when shopping online for supplements. Just type WIK40 at checkout :)