

The Hammer Cast
Aleks Salkin
A show about strength, health, fitness, learning languages, and becoming a more interesting person.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2023 • 6min
Ep. 408: Tamers of the Lost Arc (my new kettlebell training book)
Get your own copy on Amazon here! https://a.co/d/faMep2Q For centuries the kettlebell has been the trusty “secret weapon” of athletes, wrestlers, soldiers, professional strongmen, and physical culturists the world over. In addition to forging hard bodies, fearless minds, and indomitable spirits, the kettlebell holds the key to unlocking a rare and potent set of movements known as ballistic lifts – exercises that use momentum to forge brute strength, raw explosive power, and next-level cardiovascular conditioning and stamina. Or at least that’s how it was supposed to be. As kettlebells faded into ancient history with the rise of exercise machines, health clubs on every corner, and Western civilization’s slow but decided turn toward easy living over a rugged existence, knowledge of how to use this tool slowly declined and disappeared. Then, with its triumphant reemergence onto the world stage at the dawn of the 21st century, collective interest in the ancient “weapon against weakness” once again surged forth, bringing with it a flood of new strength enthusiasts from all walks of life looking to reclaim their birthright of a mighty physique, brutishly powerful and resilient body, and a sleek, athletic frame – and the ballistic kettlebell lifts have once again reclaimed their throne. But there’s a problem: For most trainees – who are used to slow, linear movements with barbells, dumbbells, and machines – one element of the kettlebell ballistics continues to confuse, frustrate, and hinder even the most dedicated of kettlebell fanatics: THE ARC. The Arc describes the quick, curved path the kettlebell must travel during a ballistic lift. And unlike many other elements of weight training, the Arc cannot be conquered, it cannot be captured, and it cannot be controlled. It can only be tamed. Even for experienced instructors the process of teaching budding kettlebell enthusiasts how to tame the arc has been more trial and error than it has been a precise and detailed treasure map. Until now. In this book, I will show you how to use a skeleton crew of tools – gymnastics rings, some floor space, and your own fair flesh – to unlock the secrets of ballistic strength in less time than you thought possible. And by the end of this bold and epic journey, you, too, can be a tamer of the lost arc!

Jun 14, 2023 • 11min
Ep. 407: A Users Guide to Dealing with Trolls
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Ever have to deal with trolls on social media? If you've been on it long enough you probably have. So what SHOULD you do with them? Ignore them? Troll them back? Mock them until they slink away back to the dark, dank hole from whence they came? I dish on my thoughts from my own hard-won experience in this fine episode.

Jun 12, 2023 • 43min
Ep. 406: The Iron Tamer Dave Whitley on Training Like the Old Time Strongmen
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I'm joined once again on this fine episode by none other than performing strongman and kettlebell master David Whitley - known also as The Iron Tamer. On this episode we talk about: The "final frontier" of strength, and how the old school strongmen built usable, real-world strength to last a lifetime The secrets of old time strongmen's methods that often allowed them to do insane feats of raw strength and brute power all the way up until mere MINUTES before their deaths How YOU can learn the old school secrets, strategies, and methodologies practiced by some of the strongest men in history Much, much more And be sure to check Dave out online at https://oldtimestrongmanuniversity.com

Jun 9, 2023 • 24min
Ep. 405: Past 50? Here is some FAKE NEWS about strength that YOU need to unlearn
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com In this episode I tackle head on some FAKE NEWS about strength training past 50 - or heck, really at any age - and I think you're gonna wanna sit down and take heed. It might just be the best episode of mine you've listened to yet!

Jun 7, 2023 • 1h 15min
Ep. 404: Yours Jewly Spills the Beans on How (and Why) To Become a Personal Trainer (feat. Brenda Peters)
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com On this fine episode I am interviewed by Brenda Peters - a gal who reached out to me with all sorts of questions about what it takes to become a personal trainer, as well as a few probing questions about myself and my own background. Tune in, chill out, and enjoy!

Jun 5, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 403: Mat Roberts on overcoming 'Manorexia"
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I'm joined on this episode by Mat Roberts: a fitness business owner in the UK and trainer seeking to help his students form a better relationship not just with their bodies, but with their food. A former suffer of male anorexia, he talks about how he overcame this debilitating condition and has used his struggles to help others lead healthier, fitter lives. Check him out online at https://www.evolve-pt.co.uk

Apr 7, 2023 • 34min
Ep. 402: Danny Kavadlo on Capturing the (Human) Flag
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.AleksSalkin.com I'm joined on this epic episode (epicsode?) by none other than Danny Kavadlo - long-time personal trainer, world-renowned calisthenics expert, and all-around entertaining dude. Danny has a new book out on how to capture the human flag - one of the most epic of all calisthenics feats. In this episode we talk about not only his methods for attaining this most gravity-defying feat, but how he's written what may well be the single most DETAILED account of how to perform this movement ever put to paper. If you're a newbie, you'll no doubt find this chat riveting. And if you're advanced, you're gonna be chomping at the bit to know more. To learn more about Danny's methods for flag mastery, go here: How To do The Human Flag by Danny Kavadlo – Strong And Fit And be sure to follow him online at Danny The Trainer | On that note, if you like training that: · Gives you more strength than it takes from you · Improves your stamina and resilience simultaneously · Powers-up every nook, cranny, crevice, and corner of your Soft Machine Then you just might like my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge. As the name indicates, it’s just 9 minutes long, and it’s designed to be done WITH your current workouts – NOT instead of them. Even cooler: Many find that it actually amplifies their strength in their favorite kettlebell and bodyweight moves, like presses, squats, pullups, and more. And best of all, it’s free. How free? I’m talkin’ freer than the 4th of July, my friend. Get thee thine own copy here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Have fun and happy training! Aleks Salkin

Mar 31, 2023 • 9min
Ep. 401: From Bodyweight to Heavyweight Pt. 2: Calisthenics for Iron Domination
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Oh, so you think Calisthenics is just a backup plan for when you have no access to weights? THINK AGAIN, PAL. If this episode doesn't convince you, nothing will.

Mar 30, 2023 • 9min
Ep. 400: Mining the One-Arm/One-Leg Pushup for a Heavier Military Press
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com If you've ever wanted to jack your military pressing strength through the roof (and I know you have) then you owe it to yourself to learn the one-arm/one-leg pushup.

Mar 27, 2023 • 39min
Ep. 399: Tim Anderson on The Joys of 'Be(ing) Naked'
Get my 9-Minute Kettlebell & Bodyweight Challenge FREE here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com I'm joined on this episode by my friend Tim Anderson, where we dive deep into the mission and philosophy behind his new book, Be Naked, available on Amazon starting April 1st. Pre-order or go get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Naked-Tim-Anderson-ebook/dp/B0BYJSV3LD?ref_=ast_author_mpb On that note, if you like training that: · Gives you more strength than it takes from you · Improves your stamina and resilience simultaneously · Powers-up every nook, cranny, crevice, and corner of your Soft Machine Then you just might like my 9-Minute Kettlebell and Bodyweight Challenge. As the name indicates, it’s just 9 minutes long, and it’s designed to be done WITH your current workouts – NOT instead of them. Even cooler: Many find that it actually amplifies their strength in their favorite kettlebell and bodyweight moves, like presses, squats, pullups, and more. And best of all, it’s free. How free? I’m talkin’ freer than the 4th of July, my friend. Get thee thine own copy here: http://www.9MinuteChallenge.com Have fun and happy training!