1996 I tore my right hip squatting. Rehabbed it for 6 months , It wouldn't come around . Westside's phone number was in one of Louies articles in PL USA , so I figured what did I have to lose . I called and asked to speak to Louie and he said THIS IS LOUIE . I explained my injury and said I was calling for help/advice . He spent 5 minutes talking to me and couldn't have been nicer. Told me he had done the same thing and how to get it better. After I hung up I was still kind of in shock , here was the most famous P L coach in the world helping someone he'd never met on the phone , with no hesitation. I'll never have anything bad to say about Louie Simmons .

Awesome story! I love Louie. I met him at one of my first meets, I introduced myself to him and told him I had bought and studied all of his west side training dvds. To my surprise he told me that he had watched all of my lifts from that day and was impressed with my performance, I was competing as a junior at the time. He took me to the lobby of the hotel and sat and talked to me for over an hour, just us. He treated me like a friend he had known for years! I got him to sign my belt and I still wear that lifting belt today. One of the coolest, most respectful and knowledgeable men I’ve ever met! Made a huge impact on me.

Even if you've got 0 interest in athletics or lifting, Louie is just an interesting dude. Insanely sharp and intelligent, he can rattle off numbers and percentages like nobody's business. Ridiculously motivated, who else would've had translations done on Russian textbooks, *pre-internet*, for something he wasn't making a living from. Plus the physical tenacity, dude has an injury list longer than the first testament but he keeps going. You get people that have one, maybe two of those qualities, but for someone to have all of them is extremely rare.

I remember in your bro’s movie, “bigger, faster, stronger” when Louie said stopping gear would be “the death of Smelly”

I watched it on Netflix a few days ago.. loved every minute of it.

Hi Mark I'm glad you're doing so well. I remember you from Westside. Your sense of humor and personality is off the charts! As always your a class act. Your review of W.S.A.W. was spot on. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to train at Westside before it was really "WESTSIDE BARBELL" at the first location off Demorest road. It was never in the cards for me to be on the "board of fame" but Louie helped me train just like the phenoms. Anyone that hasn't had the opportunity to step foot into this gym can't speak on it. People like yourself, Louie Simmons, Dave Hoff, Kenny P, Jimmy R, Chuch V., Jerry O., are now and always will be Westside legends. Especially the old school guys that were there in the beginning. Pioneering powerlifting and bringing it into mainstream culture. In the 90s when a person saw a guy in a "westside barbell" black and white T you knew what he was about! Serious dangerous and strong as f$#k! I think some of that's been lost over time because of the diversity of the people getting involved in the sport now. And its not a bad thing because powerlifting is the greatest, most intense sport on earth. A way of life that few can endure. Best of luck Mark in all you do. Sincerely, Dennie Little Sr.

I feel like Louie is the Professor X of powerlifting and he had this gym that was like the school for gifted children where he recruited exceptional lifters and turned in into powerhouse beasts and then they went out on they're own to form their own teams just like the X-men. Louie's all old now and he should be protected at all costs.

Louie: You are off the Team Mark!

Thank you! I always, always appreciate your candidness! It may just be simple words coming from your mouth to our ears, but these words carry memories and emotions.

Wow, to have been told by Louie that you'd never make the board, and then fired by him you show no resentment or anomocity whatsoever: impressively humble.

This is what I wanted to see as well. Louie has a great tree and would be cool to see and hear more about that

Way to show respect. Says a lot about you

Kudos to Mark Bell, too. He spoke from the heart here. And it was Truth! 🙋🙏

Sounds like the push you needed. Louie Simmons is a master manipulator in a good way. Loved the movie and he definitely knew how to get under people’s skin but it pushed them to be better. That is a good or even great trait of a master coach!

Great talk Mark. Documentary is on Netflix now!

You and Dave Tate are great ambassadors for Louie and Westside. Thanks for the movie update. Perfect date night movie 🎥 🍿 !

Thank you for this great tribute and review Mark! Even though I've never met the man or never even been to Westside Barbell it's been a huge influence on everything that I do in the gym and with the people I help! You, Dave Tate, Jim Wendler, Matt Wenning, Donnie Thompson have all been very big influences as well but it started with Louie! Thank you!

Agreed. Trained there in the early 90's with Lou, Doris, Amy, Chuck,Jeff Chorpenning and others. I learned a lot and Lou is a very gracious and kind person. I haven't seen him in many years; however, am too very grateful for all that I learned there.

Videos like this are why I watch your channel! I appreciate a successful person being humble and not being afraid to show it.

the supertraining DOT tv shit made feel nostalgic as hell

Great video Mark. I thought the documentary was great, but one of the things that I think was misrepresented was the "thug" mentality at the gym. In all reality that was about 10% or so of the people in the gym. Many of us, as you stated, were highly successful in our professional lives as well.

Glad you put this out. Not that it's mine or anyone else's business, but it looked like there might be a bit of hard feelings from the movie. I was glad to watch this and hear you speak positively about Louie and your time at Westside.

You went on to be your own man Smelly and have done great things love the podcast

Awesome video, I gotta say Mark witnessing your weight loss/transformation is mind blowing. Keep up the great work.

Smelly beat Hoff? Further proof of being a monster, Smelly.

I love listening to you talk because you keep it 100 % honest. There is always something to take away from our life experiences good or bad.

You look so much better now and are definitely more healthy. Powerlifting is ok but I never got the suit stuff.

Well put Mark(Smelly)! Glad I got to know ya a bit and train with you. I wish you continued success brother!

When you said that beating David Hofs record being because of Lou's inspiration early on telling you, you'd never get on the board. I felt that. Beautiful story, thanks for giving us this one.

That’s cool you did that Mark!💪🏼💯

Its always interesting to hear from someone who actually was there.. so many people talk Shit about west side but never actually set foot in it.. cheers smelly!

Terrific job Mark! Nice to see a very successful man, give credit to others who provided the drive to be so successful!

Mark looks great. I was first introduced to him by his brothers documentary. He seems a nice man.

Saw it the day it came out on Amazon. It was surprisingly good!

Great stuff Mark. Honest and humble!

Honesty and respect, you’re a class act Mark

So I'd venture to guess when you guys joke to one another saying "you're off the team" it's a throwback to you being fired from Westside?

Louie Simmons has a "theory" of strength training. In short, it is just a theory and no more than that. Many theorists do not agree with him about the best way to increase power and strength. Personally, I learned a lot from Louie. I spent 17 months talking to him from about 2009-2011. He was fantastic. He was motivational, instructive, and thoughtful. But most of all, he was reliable. When Louie was away from the gym and I left a message, he was certain to respond. Now that's a professional. That's a man. A person you can rely on. Louie's one of a kind. There's nobody like him. C.H.

Great Video & Even Better Story! Thanks again Smelly 💪🏼🤜🏼💥🤛🏼💯

Mark and seem like a very genuine person. I wanna thank you for being the inventor of a piece of equipment that’s allowed me to go back to bench. I have every one of your slingshots, I haven’t been able to see an orthopedic yet I’m a disabled veteran and I’m waiting. But by using the slingshots it allows me to be able to at least bitch even though I’m not doing it on my own. I love your elbow sleeves and your knee sleeves also. Thank you for giving me something back that I love!

westside is the best side..i am from croatia but we all know about westside barbell..louie is the man,also mark you are awesome ,intelligent and i wish you all the best!

One of your best videos Smelly....

Really great story telling. Super hearing this side of you. Thanks for sharing.

Great review Mark. Along with some personal input. I could see a few times you were getting a little touched just reminiscing ✌🏼

I am Size Master, bow before me simple peasants.

That's the best video that you've ever done. Well done.

It was amazing. My gf actually picked it out on Amazon. I ended up buying it on blue ray.

Classy way to approach this experience, Mark. Well done.

Rip Louie. What a guy

Great video, Mark.

You can rent it on Amazon for $0.99!

you inspire as always Mark!

From the 4 seconds hearing you on the mic it seems like you would make a heck of a pro wrestler.

You can watch it on Amazon prime right now for $0.99 I'm going to

Great title 👍

Great tribute video to Louie and WSBB. I felt the authenticity.

Great Video. Very inspiring. Thank You.

Nice video. Looking forward to seeing the movie.

such great reflections on simmons from bell. really interesting.

Available on Netflix now

Well spoken Mark (AKA Smelly). Will go ahead and watch that movie boss!

Great video. Thumbs up!

Interesting story Mark! Keep it Up!

Dan Green's Boss Barbell Club is in the West also. ;) He was on the Westside Barbell podcast. Would be awesome if you did a Westside podcast with Louie!

That was a great and honest video. Thank you!

Doesn't Louie fire everyone though?

Great insight. Thanks much.

I do REALLY recommend this movie. i've seen it and i was amazed, one of the best movies i've ever seen

FYI-Movie is available to stream on amazon Prime

Mark "Wrestling Barnies, California stump Jumpers" Bell!!! Gotta do a shirt.. LMAO 😂🤣

That's why I fuk with ya Mark , you speak from the Heart kid

Perhaps Louie didn’t attend Matt Dimel’s funeral because he died of a heroin overdose

Just found out that westside barbell is actually on the east coast

Hell yeah. It is a great movie.

Watched it a few weeks ago on Netflix. Now I listen to it during my workout.

Fantastic tribute to Da Man!

Great post....by the way, if I'm ever on the West Coast, do I need to inoculate myself against California Stump Jumping?🤣

Great video

Wow! Keep inspiring!

Apparently they had some major problems with the funding for the movie. I even paid into the GoFundMe or whatever it was for it and I guess some other guy made off with that money so I never got shit back.

Jesse!!!! I love that guy. Nice video.

Very classy video. Well done.

Great video bro

California Stump Jumpers!!! Ha,ha That was a Great Documentary.

That clip of you as a wrestler makes me so happy lmao

Cool video Mark

Great vid!

Great movie! I wish they would've had Chuck V on there more.

I bought a copy, but was pretty disappointed overall. After all the hype, it didn't live up. There's not enough footage of lifting, not enough interviews with the players, and a whole lot of repeating of segements Louie's done a dozen other times in other formats.

Been trying to find it on iTunes but it’s not coming up. Just podcasts

Good film glad I backed it. Still pissed that they have been fudging around our bonus content for doing so.

Thank you.

I bought the movie and love it!

Louie Simmons is a fucking CRUSHER. They really don't make them like Louie nowadays.

Worth every penny!

Cool introspective video ! Just getting back into following the scene. What's everyone's opinion of Larry Wheels - he seems to be on a another level for 24 and raw lifting (at least from a novice ( me) perspective)

Watched it a few times now and loved documentary.

The documentary was ok... Kinda sad though 😔

Movie was FUCKING PHENOMENAL

I wonder how much someone over 450 could total if they concentrated on it like if Shaw or Thor type of size