Mike Israetel - sage or egomaniac??

[Phisher]

Israetel is funny and mostly gives good advice, but I think that the "technique cyborg" stuff is bullshit.

You should be more focused on training to or near failure than maintaining "perfect" technique.

That said. That's my only real criticism of him. He's much more credible than most of the other fitness industry people who are big on YouTube.

 

[usernamee]

Rest and stretches. Surgery doesn’t help unless it’s a full rupture anyways.

But usually the problem is just going to recur and worsen if you subject the tendon to the same stresses over time. Being too old, too heavy, and running too hard are just not positives for tendon health. The tendons get stiffer and shittier over time. Just as your eyes lose elasticity and you start to need reading glasses. Aging process is bs from top to bottom.

You need to strengthen too. The Alfredson Protocol can be used for example. It's essentially a bunch of eccentric straight and bent leg calf raises done morning and night for X amount of weeks. (can't remember how many weeks)

 

[maximus__]

Yikes, the achilles is my biggest fear, I've had tendonitis in both and just that can be debilitating. Air bike for the win, got one of those as a real luxury purchase but it's been invaluable. Only way I can get cardio without damage to something.

I am so close to pulling the trigger on an assault bike. I just need some funds to free up.
I always hated indoor cardio but I am doing max effort intervals on this thing and the carry over to MMA and JJ has been insane.
It's been incredible for those 6-12 sec bursts you sometimes need to grab a takedown or sub. I can overwhelm people and then recover.

 

[maximus__]

I developed tendonitis recently and it is total BS. Running is over for me, just as I was making great progress. I’m going to try using a rowing machine. I can’t deal with an Achilles rupture.

Smash as many iso exercises as you can. There are some really good free resources on YouTube.

I do a heap of my rehab in the shower with isos and pronation reps. The only way to fix it is heaps of blood flow. Stretching is the real killer that causes me pain on it.

 

[Phlog]

I am so close to pulling the trigger on an assault bike. I just need some funds to free up.
I always hated indoor cardio but I am doing max effort intervals on this thing and the carry over to MMA and JJ has been insane.
It's been incredible for those 6-12 sec bursts you sometimes need to grab a takedown or sub. I can overwhelm people and then recover.

Exactly that. I don't think it's possible to do max effort on it for more than 10 seconds or so. I do 8 rounds of 10 sec on 30 sec off and I'm absolutely fucked for the next couple of hours. I feel it the next day! Rogue echo 3 is what I got and I can only say good things about it. Gym grade equipment.

 

[deadshot138]

Idk, this one was particularly hilarious to me lol

 

[ssBaldy]

Soo I watch some training related stuff on youtube to get some ideas on workouts, mixing things up, etc. I cam across this Dr. Mike Israetel guy - who apparently has a Ph.D in sport physiology from Lehman college (which is hardly a prestigious school here in NYC but I digress)

He legitimately has some great videos and advice- like the following



Here he breaks down the myths and limitations of body types



Here he has some good dieting advice



Here's some great info about form and targeting musicles- there's a whole series of these.

BUT THEN

As chill and smart as he comes off in those videos, he has a whole series of videos bashing people. Mostly celebrities, but he bashes other youtubers as well



Here he is tearing down the V shred guy. I mean- if he has found that the guy is selling snake oil, then fine- criticize the method, break it down, and explain why someone should not follow it. However, in that video- he lets the V Shred promo video play and Mike just basically makes fun of the guy. It was so annoying I couldn't finish watching.

There's a whole series of him just going off on athletes and celebrities



Really dude?



Here he's going off on Tom Brady. Where are YOUR superbowl rings Mike?



And here he's going off on Chris Hemsworth, possibly the hottest actor in Hollywood at the moment. Where are YOUR blockbuster movies Mike?


In the end I suppose what I am saying he's useful, but he's a bit of a smug prick too.

Now excuse me while I go do upright rows for the next 6 hours.

Criticism is fair. Most hollywood actors are hot because of the huge doses of roids and regular proven excercises, not that weird stuff their trainers show off in those videos. Hemsworth (with all due respect to him, I genuinely like the guy) shrinks to half his peak size between filming which just does not happen unless you're off cycle.
As for criticism of greats like Dorian or Ronnie there is little else apart from respect in those vids and the most criticism is pointed towards why normal people should not train exactly like Ronnie because they are not freaks of nature like he is.
Also Dr. mike sure knows a thing or two about training.

 

[ssBaldy]

He is trying to become a pro bodybuilder. He isn't really close. It is just to validate his dogmatic training methods but also earn a lot more money. Most of the professionals don't have a cult following like him. I heard some people who compete say he is a bit overrated. This stuff doesn't really apply to me since I am a lifelong intermediate.

He already left those efforts and lowered the doses of roids considerably. He said openly he was not responding well to huge doses needed to be at a pro level , had agression problems, suicide thoughts etc.

 

[NoSmilez]

He already left those efforts and lowered the doses of roids considerably. He said openly he was not responding well to huge doses needed to be at a pro level , had agression problems, suicide thoughts etc.

Yea part of having "good" genetics is the ability to tolerate the drug use. It is crazy how that his protégé Jared is pro and that big Korean person who used to be in their crew is also a pro now. I think they all at some point used the same coach with mixed results.

 

[ssBaldy]

Yea part of having "good" genetics is the ability to tolerate the drug use. It is crazy how that his protégé Jared is pro and that big Korean person who used to be in their crew is also a pro now. I think they all at some point used the same coach with mixed results.

Yeah. Genetics are unpredictable.

 

[maximus__]

Exactly that. I don't think it's possible to do max effort on it for more than 10 seconds or so. I do 8 rounds of 10 sec on 30 sec off and I'm absolutely fucked for the next couple of hours. I feel it the next day! Rogue echo 3 is what I got and I can only say good things about it. Gym grade equipment.

Yeah my most recent programmed workout was 12 sec work/48 sec active rest for 15 rounds. It's only 15 mins, but by about round 8 I am hanging on.

I was thinking of the Rogue echo but will probably settle on the assault bike. I can get an assault bike delivered for about 1k vs 1400 for the echo (with $300 of that being delivered). I have used echo bikes before and the handles are a bit off for me but the quality is awesome.

 

[NoSmilez]

Yeah my most recent programmed workout was 12 sec work/48 sec active rest for 15 rounds. It's only 15 mins, but by about round 8 I am hanging on.

I was thinking of the Rogue echo but will probably settle on the assault bike. I can get an assault bike delivered for about 1k vs 1400 for the echo (with $300 of that being delivered). I have used echo bikes before and the handles are a bit off for me but the quality is awesome.

If you want to be a cheapo you can probably pick up an old used airdyne for the 1/10th of the price of the assault bike. They all pretty much work off the same design.

 

[maximus__]

If you want to be a cheapo you can probably pick up an old used airdyne for the 1/10th of the price of the assault bike. They all pretty much work off the same design.

Sadly not where I am. They never really made it over here. I have seen 3 in my entire life.

I can get one for about $700 secondhand though. I am using a different brand one primarily at the moment.

I may just hold out for the echo though.

 

[Poon Goon]

Sadly not where I am. They never really made it over here. I have seen 3 in my entire life.

I can get one for about $700 secondhand though. I am using a different brand one primarily at the moment.

I may just hold out for the echo though.

If you're going to spend the money I'd recommend going with a belt drive over the chain drive like the classic assault bike. Rogue's is belt of course, but assault has a belt drive version now as well. Limited experience on both, but I liked the belt drive better and long term chain drive may have more maintenance issues.

 

[deadshot138]

Okay the man is hilarious

 

[maximus__]

If you're going to spend the money I'd recommend going with a belt drive over the chain drive like the classic assault bike. Rogue's is belt of course, but assault has a belt drive version now as well. Limited experience on both, but I liked the belt drive better and long term chain drive may have more maintenance issues.

Yeah this seems to be the consensus. I think I might try and do a full refresh of my home gym soon anyway.
I wouldn't mind a new rack with inbuilt weight storage and an air bike.

 

[maximus__]

I am 85% through the Modern Wisdom podcast with Israetel at the moment. Nothing ground breaking, but he is definitely better in long form media as opposed to short Youtube videos.

Nothing he has said has been groundbreaking info, but some good solid fundamentals reiterating actually taking time to recover, both mentally and physically.

On Youtube in 5-10 min appearances, I find him hard to listen to sometimes. The knowledge is there when he isn't acting like a Youtuber.

 

[zapataxiv]

I am 85% through the Modern Wisdom podcast with Israetel at the moment. Nothing ground breaking, but he is definitely better in long form media as opposed to short Youtube videos.

Nothing he has said has been groundbreaking info, but some good solid fundamentals reiterating actually taking time to recover, both mentally and physically.

On Youtube in 5-10 min appearances, I find him hard to listen to sometimes. The knowledge is there when he isn't acting like a Youtuber.

yea he also shines when he is with other guys to reign him in
his table talk episode was pretty good

still I find myself going to Alexander Bromley or Brian Alsruhe for more technical stuff like for accessory work etc..
though I have been doing some of mikes hyper trophy stuff and I will say it has been having some effect I believe

I do an arm routine he shared once a week and my arms are getting bulkier

 

[maximus__]

yea he also shines when he is with other guys to reign him in
his table talk episode was pretty good

still I find myself going to Alexander Bromley or Brian Alsruhe for more technical stuff like for accessory work etc..
though I have been doing some of mikes hyper trophy stuff and I will say it has been having some effect I believe

I do an arm routine he shared once a week and my arms are getting bulkier

I quite liked the podcast I was referring to. He basically just covered how things like hiking and cardio etc aren't really recovery for bodybuilding.
He definitely a little bodybuilder focused for my preferences, but it was an enjoyable podcast to listen to. Sometimes he was a bit cringe though.

Yeah I really like Alsruhes stuff, especially on Sandbag carry work.

 

[zapataxiv]

I quite liked the podcast I was referring to. He basically just covered how things like hiking and cardio etc aren't really recovery for bodybuilding.
He definitely a little bodybuilder focused for my preferences, but it was an enjoyable podcast to listen to. Sometimes he was a bit cringe though.

Yeah I really like Alsruhes stuff, especially on Sandbag carry work.

he is too body building focused

but he was pretty strong back in the day I saw a vid of him squatting 500 for 10

so he does have some legit power lifting and lifting experience