High Intensity Training Interview of the Month: Matt Brzycki
Our High Intensity Training Interview of the Month features one of the top writers in the field of exercise–none other than Matt Brzycki of Princeton University.
Matt Brzycki (rhymes with whiskey) is one of the foremost authorities in the world on productive exercise. He has written a TON of fitness books, including the Holy Grail of strength training books, “A Practical Approach To Strength Training” (required reading for all of our interns and personal trainers), and the hugely popular “Dumbbell Training For Strength And Fitness” (with co-author Fred Fornicola-available on our Products Page).
As you are about to discover by listening to this interview, Matt is not only one of the smartest guys around (they don’t let dummies into Princeton, FYI), he’s also one of the funniest. You’ll hear about some eye-opening (and HILARIOUS) stories of Matt’s experiences with HIT over the years, and I’m talkin about a lot of years. NOTE: make sure you stick with the interview until the end, where Matt reveals the truth about what it’s possible to accomplish in sports with very, very brief training. Talk about an eye opener!
Listen in now as Matt reveals:
- How he got into training in the first place, and what attracted him to HIT
- How he ended up under Congressional investigation while in the Marines
- How he met Arthur Jones, and what their meetings were like (I’m jealous)
- The only man Arthur Jones ever feared
- Who the biggest human he ever met is (not who you think)
- Why Matt went to prison
- The Epiphany that changed his attitude toward training (this is HUGE)
- What smoking, baby food, and Preparation H have to do with bodybuilding
- SPECIAL BONUS– Matt’s current training routine, including how he is training for track competitions in the over 50 age group–DON’T MISS THIS
- And much, much more!
To hear the Matt Brzycki interview, just click on the play arrow (the little triangle on the left) below:
Leave comments for Matt below…
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hi guys,
nice interview, some great funny stories,
if i may just make a few points regarding the idea of the 3×3 workout; i personally find the idea somewhat arbitrary, whats makes the number 3 so magical or scientific. if your using a big 3 workout and preform each exercise to failure (true failure), then there’s no way in hell your gonna be capable of returning to those same movements 2 more times (nor would you need to, it would be counterproductive.
best wishes
butcher
@Butcher-don’t you know 3 is a magic number?
Of course you can return to those movements 2 more times, but you will get far fewer reps. That is why you have to start a 3×3 with much higher reps and lighter weights. Also, if you are just going for metcon, going to true failure is not even necessary or desirable (depending on your weekly workout schedule). Notice Matt does traditional HIT on two other days of the week. If that were me, I would not do a 3×3 to failure AND two more weekly, full body workouts. But, everyone has a different recovery threshold so maybe it works for him.
hi thomas,
lol, one of the main characteristic’s of hit….is training to failure, hense why its refered to as “high intensity training”, training to failure is (in the opinion of arthur jones and mike mentzer) a requirement, as long as the indivivdual properly regulate’s his or her volume and/or frequency, then he or she WILL continually make progress.
understand, am merely giving my opinion toward the idea of the 3×3 workout (in general), am not saying anything negative or attacking matt personally.
yes of course you can return to those to movements to 2 more times, however, it would be counterproductive, as all youll be doing is digging a deeper hole into the bodies limited recovery abilty.
Good interview with Matt. I call him the “Energizer Bunny” he never seems to wear out. I myself use the 3X3 and have been using it for many years. It’s a hard, time saving workout. No more, no less. Fact is Matt uses it weekly. Now that is something.
A GREAT interview with Matt.
The first strength and conditioning seminar I went to was at Rutgers in 1989 where he was an assistant to Dr. Paul Kennedy. I saw many great speakers that day and can say that was one of the first strong influences for me to learn more about sensible exercise. I was very new into the industry and the information presented that day made my head spin off into a different direction. That seminar started the desire to leaner more about HIT. I have been a sponge for information ever since. My goal is to one day give back to the industry what I have learned over the years from Matt and many others, like those speakers did for me that day. Thank you Matt and all of the other speakers that day, many have been interviewed here on http://www.Highintensitynation.com
Dwayne Wimmer