I Will Be Iron

by Bud Jeffries

Both eBook and print formats available

I had met Bud Jeffries this past summer after one of the sessions of Andrea Du Cane’s Ageless Body Workshop.  Being local to the area, he showed up to say hello etc.  He’s a BIG guy – but that’s to be expected since he’s very well known in the world of extreme strength, and strongman feats.  What I didn’t know at the time, was that he had been a MUCH BIGGER guy before I met him.  And even though he has lost the weight equivalent (ok add like 7lbs) of MY WHOLE BODY, he has retained his super duper strength.  Actually, from what I can tell, he’s been able to get even stronger.

Something unique about this book is there are NO fitness model types pictured – everyone in the book is someone who really trains with kettlebells – and all sizes – from Bud Jeffries to super strong pint-sized powerhouse, Melody Schoenfeld who weighs in at a triumphant 100lbs.

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about this book is that it cuts through the all the typical crap we get from the modern fitness industry – so much of this is super basic, and really exemplifies the power behind a simple movement like the kettlebell swing.   You don’t need all those goofy little isolated exercises – just the kettlebell swing.   Bud presents the entire way that he lost those 120lbs – has examples of the super simple programming – week after week – it’s a blueprint you can follow and adapt to your size/ability/etc.   A lot of the example weights he has will be daunting to most mere mortals, but again – remember, you can always choose what is appropriate for you.

Bud also has a great section devoted to some good common sense guidelines on food – stressing the importance of eating real, whole and natural foods – not pre-processed boxed junk.

Likewise, something that I’m REALLY looking forward to at the upcoming Super Human Training Workshop is further discussion of the mental strength Bud mentions in the book.  The ideas of Qi, Chi, or as the old time strongmen apparently said “Vital Energy” are forever fascinating to me – and I love to see them in very “non-hippy” contexts (no offense to my flower-people friends).  These ideas are very central to my own training, and are not always discussed outside a dojo.  To me, kettlebell training, bodyweight training, heavy lifting, qigong, tai chi, etc. are all strongly linked.  When I first began to study kettlebell training, I kept finding myself in the same mental space as when I was first trying to learn Yang style Tai Chi.  The idea of balance, of transfering power – kinetic and otherwise, of being present, of being aware of connecting to the ground with your feet.   Very powerful stuff – I could go on and on.

Also in the book – using other basic tools like battling ropes, flipping giant tractor tires and other super fun, empowering and fat destroying activities.  This book is really great for someone who is content to learn the right way of performing the kettlebell swing, and who just wants to go in the backyard and fix themselves.  No pink leg warmers, no complicated routines, no dance steps, just barebones basics on how to undo the damage of overeating over time.

Bud’s plan works…

Do you have what it takes?  Will YOU be iron?

(Video “Book Report” coming soon!)