Convict Conditioning

     It has been just over eleven years since the publication of Convict Conditioning by the good folks over at DragonDoor. Since then a series of books and a bodyweight training certification has followed as well as an entire culture, within the already blooming wider bodyweight fitness movement. And I wont leave you in suspense, I love this book, In fact I am very surprised that Convict Conditioning isnt more popular. Well I am and I’m not, you see the cover has a gentleman doing a one armed handstand push up while prison walls crumble around him. Dont get me wrong, I think it is mad cool, but it would lead any normie, the kind who need this book the most, the kind who will certainly judge a book by the cover, to think its is only for dangerous tough guy gymnasts, which most people dont want to nessecarily be, nor could they ever. That is where the injustice lies. This book has more for the completley untrained person than maybe any other book out there, while not leaving anyone who is intermediate or advanced wanting either. You can follow the book to the letter, and get a lifetime of results, or you can apply the training principles in Convict Conditioning to any other training modality.

So, what makes this book so special? The training templates and insights, but the philosophy and anecdotes as well. This leads to the other reason this isnt the most popular training manual of all time, the dubious identity of its author. Paul “Coach” Wade, allegedly spent a couple of decades behind bars in some very serious institions. During this time he focused his addictive personality into bodyweight training and seeking knowledge from all of the prison masters. Men who often had expertise from the civilian world, doctors, olympians, soldiers, and an aging oldtime strongman. His colorful stories, along with his claims of physical feats such as nine one arm handstand pushups appear to have been too much for the standard American to believe, so thus they threw the baby out with the bathwater. Could Paul Wade be a real person who actually did all of the things he claims? Sure, I say this, echoing a line from The “Coach” himself, that the best athletes in the world are in prison, or something like that. But its true, now I cannot testify as to who might be in prison other than what I have seen on TV, I have however spent my life on construction sites, in factories, kitchens and medical facilities, where I have met some absolute mutants. Guys and gals who will never play ball or get to do anything on a stage, but have strength of the bear, unlimited energy or hypermobility all without training specifically for any of these things. Could a man with an addictive personality, locked in a cage affraid for his life, hyperfocus and accomplish near superhuman feats strength,? Yeah, I think so, but perhaps my mind is a bit more open. Truly though, it really doesnt matter, whether or not Paul Wade is real. Someone who knew what they were doing wrote a brilliant training manual.

So what makes this program great for everyone but especially the untrained? Aside from never needing a gym again, there is the emphasis on “baby steps”. This would be great for anyone in any stage of training, but many gym veterans will train their ego first. Where as a beginner, will actually listen to the prescribed training methods. Staying with an exercise, until you can no longer benefit, as oppossed to moving on as soon as you can to the next progression. This principle alone, can change the way you perceive training. As I am certain many dont want to give up the barbell or kettlebell or any other external training method, you dont have to. Once you understand how the “Coach” does things, you will be able to apply his methods broadly and absolutley add benefit to your game, whatever it may be.

In closing, I like this book so much, I have bought seven copies and given away six of them. If I were you, I would buy a copy of Convict Conditioning as well.