“The Secret Of Steel Has Always Carried With It A Mystery, You Must Learn It’s Riddle Conan. You Must Learn It’s Discipline.” Conan The Barbarian (1982)
To date, I can not take my eyes off of this movie. Maybe a part of it has to do with all the good memories I had watching it growing up. It is still one of the greatest of its time and genre. There were so many messages that can be compared to strength training and life.
Athlete, Fighter, Warrior, whatever. Like the Secret Of Steel, everyone is searching for a better way to get strong and be ultimately conditioned. With this search comes a flawed idea that there is not only a better way, but a convenient and easier one. A magical program that will make you great.
This may hit a sore spot with some, but there is no easy way or answer to making gains in the gym. There is no easy answer to becoming a better fighter. Why? I will tell you why, because training, making personal gains in the gym, and becoming a better fighter is not easy! It's a hard road with a lot of trial and error. Blood, sweat, tears, and a hell of a lot of soul searching! There is no cookie cutter training program that works for everyone and no body is going to motivate you , but YOU. Even a great training program must be adapted to the person and a great training program will never work unless you give it 110%. You and every other fighter/athlete are individuals with individual needs and weaknesses that must be addressed in a training program. The only way to make yourself better is through identifying these individual needs and weaknesses and attack them through dedicated, hard training.
Toward the midway part of the movie, "The Secret Of Steel" was revealed by the villain Thulsa Doom. He pretty much hammers home my point of what I am trying to relay here.
Thulsa Doom: Yes! You know what it is don't you boy. Shall I tell you? It's the least I can do. Steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger!Look around you. There, on the rocks; that beautiful girl. Come to me my child... (Women throws herself off the cliff) That is strength boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it? Look at the strength in your body, the desire in your heart, I gave you this! Such a waste. Contemplate this on the tree of woe. Crucify him!The "Secret Of Steel" wasn't about the steel it's self, or in your case a "magical training program" or results, but it was about the person. Their drive, determination, passion, will power to be strong and powerful. Conan found out the hardest way which nearly brought him to death (luckily this is just a movie), but the hard way is the only way to excel in the gym, sport, and life. This is where you learn about what works for you and your body and what doesn't. You can be implementing training programs from a B.S. body building magazine, using the Skinny Bastards program (WS4SB), German Volume Training (GVT), or making crap up as you go, but a great or not so great program will never work unless you give it everything you have.
Quick story. Matt Kroczaleski is a professional power lifter who I had the honor of meeting. He shared a story that hit close to home, especially for me. He spoke about his childhood and the power of the human will. He was told at a very young age by a girl on the school bus that he would never be big and strong. He says it sticks with him to this very day because he knew she meant it. He also spoke about his high school wrestling coach. The day of the match his coach told him he was up against an easy opponent that he should beat. When the kid from the opposing school pinned Matt within a few seconds, he approached his coach, after being beat, and asked why he said it would be an easy opponent, and the coaches reply to him was "He was easy, you just suck!" To this day Matt says this is the fuel that fires his training sessions. In my opinion, this is what makes Matt so great. I think he proved them wrong, take a look:
Every top athlete or powerful lifter I have ever met had a few things in common. They were not successful at their sport by taking short cuts. They did not posses a 800 lb. deadlift because they knew something you don't. It had to do with the type of person that they were. Each of them possessed an unbelievable work ethic in their training. A will power that was fueled from with in that would never quit until they achieved excellence. Steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger!
A Side Note:
Michael Jordan:
Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, 1st round, 3rd overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.
His Records:
Most scoring titles—10
Most NBA Finals MVP awards—6
Highest career scoring average—30.12
Highest career scoring average playoffs—33.45
Most consecutive games scoring in double figures—866
Highest single series scoring average NBA Finals—41.0 (1993)
His Awards:
14 time All-Star Olympic Gold Medal Winner—1984,1992
Five time MVP—1988, 1991, 1992, 1996,1998
7 time The Sporting News MVP Rookie of the Year—1984
Defensive Player of the Year—1988
11 times All-NBA—10 times first team, 1 time second team
9 time All-Defensive First Team
Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year"—1991
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
Personal Quote:
"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
His Desire:
Do you think his life was a walk in the park? Was he great because of great genetics Or did he dedicate himself to be great? Make your own decision, but don't forget that he was cut from his high school basket ball team. He didn't even make the team! He could of threw up his hands and used this as an ultimate excuse, but he didn't. He chose to let nothing stop him. He chose to be great.
Another Side Note:
Jordan wore his North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls shorts every professional game he played.
