The best form of self defense is a good 100 yard dash.

Better to be a Warrior in the garden then a Gardener in a war...

Loved the Wall-E example! Ive been doing parkour for near 9 years now and ive dabbled into other practices like weightlifting climbing biking ect. All beneficial to me and my physical and even mental capacity. RESPECT ALL DISCIPLINES. Never limit yourself.

Explosiveness and speed are so overlooked these days it's plain sad.

Hell ya bro, 10/10 rant. This philosophy is lost on so many people and probably years away from becoming mainstream if it ever does. Life is more than how much can I bench, can you move? Can you get out of bed without pain? Can you enable your body to age in a manner that promotes longevity and avoids a wheelchair or a scooter or surgery as you get older? These are the things that bring quality of life. obviously it's possible to look great while training this way, but I find the satisfaction of my body functioning better and better more appealing than mere appearance as I age. Subscribed

Sprinting is more likely needed in a dire situation than pressing, or picking up a perfectly symmetrical bar with perfect grip shape.

These are the videos i love! They really make me rethink my life.

Humans are born to run, for a long time.

"Man, mother fuxker" yes that describes OHP perfectly. Another great vid!

10/10 rant. I spend most of my time in the gym bodybuilding because I'm vain. But being able to run fast and perform CPR has let me save someone's life. Athleticism always has value.

I love these old videos man where it's so movement focused. I used to be one of those types of people who would of thought something similar to the guy that commented. And thanks to watching your videos a couple years ago and the motivation it gave me to train my movement, lift weights, go for runs and train BJJ and shadowboxing i feel so much better. Dude your channel has so much potential. You're the only fitness guy on youtube who gets it. Get back to this shit, man you were so on point. Fuck all this athleanx shit. I need your help to get my body where it needs to be to move like a fucking animal. And alot of others do too even if they dont know it. My apologies for forgetting about this channel but it came to mind the other day and man i'm just grateful for you and to have found my way back to the channel. Thankyou!

I think some people, especially elite powerlifters and strongmen are just wired differently. They know the health risks that comes with carrying excess body weight and heavy drug use but do it anyways, they dont care that it will shorten their life they just wanna chase numbers and titles. Each to their own but I’d rather have a decent level of strength (340lb bench, 550 dead, 500 squat) and a good level of conditioning than put my health at risk to chase a 400+ bench etc. Rather be a jack of all trades than a master at one

Thank you for pointing out the obvious truth which most of us are actually missing... In a world where people are "walking dead", one can be a leader by simply remembering to be alive. God bless you!

You're doing the right thing, I usually do more athletic movement drills but I'm specializing on pure strength at the moment,however our physiques and health reflect our training methodologies. You look jacked & fit because you ARE. You're taking the road less travelled,which always separates the wheat from the chaff.

Definitely on to something here. I’d take it a step further and say what’s the point of athleticism if you have no capacity for violence. Protecting ones family and fighting for those you love is the most primal use of human physicality. I’m not saying I have it all figured out or anything, but I definitely think it’s odd how there’s so many “#beastmode #warrior” guys out there who also work a 9-5 and have no idea how to fight or anything they’d even fight for.

It is not, no. The real pinnacle of physicality is getting the wife to put out more than once a month without using the I'm tired' 'the kids this or this kids that' or I've a headache' excuses. *Any man in a 5+ year relationship with multiple kids immediately relates to this whether you admit it or not.... LOL*

Strength is what facilitates movement.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but don't forget that stimulating neural pathways through athleticism makes you mentally sharper and wards off disease of the brain later in life.... Perhaps a clip on this???

Awesome video man! Positive af message.

I'm glad you made this video. I see too many powerlifting youtube personalities who seem to believe that a big total is the be all, end all of athleticism. I even see that, amongst powerlifters, that many scoff at Wilks percentages and bodyweight to lift ratios. Absolute strength is the only thing that counts. Great info.

I've been saying the same thing for years, Physical culture has basically always been associated with strength and aesthetics. Zass and Atlas are considered paragons of the human condition but would probably barf if they had to sprint up and down a track. They were great, but not complete in their fitness. I'd rather be a circus acrobat or gymnast than a strongman as they come much closer to the standard.

Respect man, have you thought of implementing some parkour in your routine. Your training really would have some serious carry over. Just a thought.

Well said mate👏👏👏

My point was more to do with you not playing a sport. As I said in another comment replying to someone else, I was just wondering why so much energy would go into that kind of training without some other sort of incentive like a sport. I train Brazilian jiu-jitsu and I can see how explosive movement would be good for that. I used to play other sports as well, but my point is that I myself would justify that kind of explosive/agile training with its use for a sport. Your videos make me feel inspired to do more of that kind of training, but only because it would give me a competitive advantage. I definitely understand now after watching the video though. Keep up the quality content, underrated channel for sure!

Hey Alec, so well said. You are 100% on point with everything you said beginning with how polarized weight training has become with regard to the goal of athleticism vs the goal of aesthetics. The truth is, as you clearly articulated, personal goals and endeavors should provide the impetus for athletic style training. If only those who make it to the pros in a specific sport train to be athletic, our society would become even more sedentary than it already has. The ability to move freely and gracefully, without any pain is by far one of the most under appreciated gifts we’re born with. Much love and respect brother.

"All it does is make my neighbors gawk and think I'm a weirdo." There is no better reason than this!!!

I actually started following you because of the sprint, sled, GPP and explosive type training featured on your channel. I'm 40 years old and I'm sure as $hit not contemplating becoming a professional athlete in any way shape or form. However, I want to stay as athletic as possible for as long as possible. I also train my kids, both of whom play middle school basketball and run track; and, I want to provide them with the best training methods. Dr. Yessis (a contemporary of Dr. Verkhoshansky) was probably 80 years old when he made most of his training videos. At the time, Dr. Yessis probably could not have jumped or ran at all, but I watched all of his videos.

You are amazing Alec. You should be role model and an inspiration to every guy. Love your videos and love your advices on everything. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Europe, Macedonia.

No idea why but i really enjoy your videos

Power training or "athleticism" won't help prevent sarcopenia. Strength is one of the few athletic qualities that you can keep with yourself for the vast majority of your life, which is where the concept of dad strength or old man strength comes from. Unlike power, speed, explosiveness, agility or whatever which begins a downward slide once you are past just 30, which is why you don't see many succesful 40 year old sprinters, football players or whatever in mainstream sports. On the other hand, old strong dudes like David Ricks and Odd Haugen are much more common in strength sports like powerlifting and strongman. So my line of thought is basically, why the hell should I waste my time training something that I am gonna begin to lose no matter what once I am only JUST 30? That is still so young. I want to devote my life to a physical quality I can keep for the majority of my lifespan, and strength is just that. If Usain Bolt and Christiano Ronaldo could do in their own sports what David Ricks does in his own sport when they are both in their 60's like Dave, then perhaps maybe I would care about this "athleticism" thing you speak of more. But we both know they can't, Bolt is already washed up and gone, and Ronaldo will also be considered washed up and done in a few years. Also the part where you say humans are "hardwired" to appreciate feats of athleticism and agility more than feats of strength, I couldn't relate to that. I've always been annoyed when people couldn't stop talking about the football game next weekend, the FIFA, Olympics or whatever, none of those ever interested me, but ever since I was a kid I was always attracted to feats of strength and sports like powerlifting. To put it simply, if I were given the choice between being Usain Bolt or David Ricks,I I would choose Dave every single time, even though most people have no idea who he is and most likely never will know who he is.

This is my fav vid of alec by far!

I agree, honestly I have been slacking on that part my training but I’m back. 💪🏽

Wow man, rim touch at 5'6" is bloody fabulous

Keep them coming brother 💪💪💪

Movement is life... nice video man.

Self defence is a good enough reason. Still need that as much as ever.

Being an athlete is better than a strong person who cannot really move no mobility etc...

I train to be strong and athletic. Just because the world loves in anomaly and can change at any time. If it ever does, and I hope not in my lifetime. I'll be ready to defend myself and loved ones if need be

i got inspired by you and some other guys to do the sprints and jumps 1-2 times a week, also started doing the weighted sprints in the woods with a cheap weightliting belt, a rope and anything i can find there xD

Still rehabbing my knees so i can get back to sprinting. It SUCKS to know you couldnt move fast if you needed to.

1:17 Not having to worry about your ability to deal with a multitude of situations that have not presented themselves yet.

Revisiting this video almost a year after its inception. Ive cut down on the lifting and increased loaded carries and movement. Annnnnd i feel better and move better than i have in years. Thanks as always for the great fuckin content man.

great speech as always

dabbing into some parkour has kept me lively

Thank you truly I appreciate everything you say

Excellent video! Subscribed!

This is the kind of thing I aspire to do with training. I do more acrobatic arts like street gymnastics or parkour but not parkour just martial arts/gymnastics mixed together but want to add strength training into it because I see the value in being strong but still agile enough to do flips and kick combos.

Nice video bro!!! Thanks

I think endurance was much more important in our evolution as a species, but I agree, athleticism is vital.

Hmm, trying to figure out how to subscribe to you twice.

Also, I doubt that these low rep sets with long rest periods that some of us do provide enough stimulus to the cardiovascular system. Down in Charlotte at Freedom Park they had a 40 yard dash track which measured your time. I did a 5.9 in 2015 when I was 46. Not exactly world class but many Americans would have a heart attack trying that. Now I like to do sprints when the weather permits here in Columbus OH.

athlethicism is something that is developed rather quickly compared to strength. Gaining strength takes many many years while it only takes a couple of months of sprinting to become good at it.

Big love

Loved the video

That one hit me hard, as someone who trains solely for strength. Probably should start practicing movement more seriously, as it is more important than high total. An off topic question, if you don't mind: What does the Arabic word tattooed on your left arm say?

Training is fucking awesome. That’s why.

You are a bright man dude

This is like the people who say money isnt everything, well no its not but its basically an essential to survive and be comfortable. Same with strength, its not everything either but it certainly makes doing things you enjoy much easier and allows you to do more stuff. Same with athleticism....I would rather have the abilities available to me in case i do need to use them, than to not have them.... Also improvements to your health can def help in every single aspect of life.

Cool vid Alec

You're right Alec. Strength needs other features like muscle health and the ability of longevity, just like your mind and the rest of your body.

That guy might like biceps curls and AthleneX. It’s amazing to me someone says that on your channel and Jeff is recommending body building for athletic training. Inverse statements for opposite channels

“Why walk when you can ride?”

I would love to coach you on the pads and teach you some boxing. I bet your power would be unreal p4p. Would be good fun.

What are your thoughts on the sprints vs. endurance running debate? I love plyos, sprints, HIIT, and complexes for building athleticism and VO2 max but I absolutely hate running distance. Do I need to endurance run? Should I bite the bullet and add in a bit of distance running?

It's not the pinnacle, the pinnacle is doing each of those activities.

Great video. Running away top skill :P

great video, I agree completely! Power and athletisicm are king, and the people that say things like that are *usually* lazy or are salty that they can't be athletic as well

Well said, subscribed :)

This video has singlehandedly convinced me to actually try and train power and explosivity and overall athleticism instead of just the lifts. I realize that I identify a lot with how you view fitness.

Completely agree and have slowly shifted my training from strength and aesthetics to being athletic. Don’t get me wrong, I still strength train but it’s limited and I’m not trying to bulk up past a point as it hits diminishing returns, and for me, I feel heavy and sluggish past 165lbs “I’m 5’8”” No point on being able to lift a bit more at the cost of being slow and not being able to run a mile easily or work for an extended period of time without tiring

you are the real world one punch man!

Well said brother. Strength is not a big part of being physically fit. Cardio vascular endurance is a lot more important as well as balance.

That was your most intense intro yet. *WHATS UP GUYS*!!!! *ALEC ENKIRI HERE*!!!!😼

Have you ever tried tricking?

In a word, the problem is specialization (mostly in the bench press). This mirrors the much broader problem of specialization that characterizes industrial societies. Humans were never meant to be specialists. Our entire system is a betrayal of our nature.

Hi yes can we take a look at ur diet plz?

Do you follow Mike Guadango from Freak Strength? You and him have similar philosophies. Movement is everything!

I really agree with you and admire your sentiment, bit like to add on something. I believe the primary human physicality is endurance, especially long-distance running, paired with explosiveness like sprints. I would like to ask why you focus so much on the latter and aren't that interested in running for example a sub-three-hour marathon? You at least seem to have performed pretty well on your last mile run, I remember watching a video by juji and tom where huge bodybuilders and strength athletes, extremely imposing people, attempted the presidential fitness test and their running was just hilarious if it even can be called that.

Totally agree

this vid is fuking gold, stay real enkiri

Doesnt strength increase athleticism?? Just asking

Why don’t you touch your chest on OHP?

Hey Alec, regarding the strength topic: Whats your opinion about people saying that you need to hit 225x5 bench, 315x5 squat and 405x5 deadlift in under a year? I mean under this type of videos you always have a couple of dudes claiming "yeah bro I hit all those numbers after like 4-6 months, super easy" but then I go to my gym and NOBODY there can reach those numbers.

I like your videos and your content. However you lost some street cred when you were wearing that Maryland terrapins t-shirt. Not sure if you were ever a College Park student. Anyway, I agree that pushing your ability regardless of age of career is a good thing. If it helps one do things like run from Price George's police , then that's definitly a value add worth money :-) Will incorporate more movement based work in my training too

Do you feel like getting stronger even at the more advanced levels provides any "functional" advantage in life? Key point in the more ADVANCED levels, obviously a novice would benefit from strength training in almost every aspect.

Thinking about buying a heavybag..did Muay thay for a few years but stopped because of university

Achillies vs borigus.

Tell this to the starting strength community.

For college sports any coach in any sport will never ask you how much you can bench or squat. They only care about your movement skills... how fast you are, how high you can jump, how well you can change direction...

i always want to do sprint but im not sure how i would add it to my program

Is there an effective way I could add some Oly lifts like hang clean or the high pull to my routine? I run the Madcow routine for 3 days a week and have speed training twice in between those days.

What an amazing message man. I agree 100%, especially with the bit from 5:48 to 6:46. (although the title, power and explosiveness is technically still strength hehe. GP doesn't rly know that tho so I get it)

just think the government doesn't want you to move well, they want to depend on them throughout your life, why let them when you can improve your life worth and move!

Did you go to UMD?

go Terps 💪

0:34 fuk yea go Terps 20yrd sprints are useful getting the mail lol you do an actual sport though or just train strength and conditioning? adding some other skills could add something to your athleticism. You work on boxing endurance/power or bjj/wrestling takedowns? Your hip explosiveness could be huge in those disciplines and they are lifelong skills to sharpen too. Have you given strongman a try?

Sprinting is also not the pinnacle of human physicality lmao

should a competetive powerlifter ever do touch and go bench?

How many days a week do you train?

Belt while pressing?