Where’s Your Anger?

Todd Bumgardner
About the author

M.S./ CSCS/ Owner of Beyond Strength Performance/ Ginger
4 Responses
  1. Bill Huling

    Its all within the person. Rage works as well as anything. When I prepare for a big lift I think of Billy, my son, or something else inspirational to get the adrenaline up. Todd has been at a meet with me and I refer to it as goose bumps. If I get the goose bumps the lift is MINE!! Huff amonia, concentrate, get the goose bumps and grip and rip!!

  2. Barath

    A very nicely written article, Todd! Unfortunately, this anger thing has never worked for me. Believe me, I tried (at some point, I stared hard at the bar and ran through Mohammed Ali quotes). But I later realized that I could not cheat my brain with manufactured anger. Now, before I lift, I calmly go through the steps in a “firm” manner: hold the bar tight, engage your lats, tighten your back etc. Picturing the deadlift prior to pulling this way has proven to be more useful to me.

    Of course, I totally understand how aggression would work for some, though. Different strokes for different folks, I presume!

    1. Todd Bumgardner

      Barath,
      Different strokes for different folks! If you’ve found your system, that’s great! I need to breed the anger, get it out and then I’m calm again.

      But you’ve found your system, and that’s all that matters.

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