IamA (The Marine on the Rowing Machine) AMA!

How long until you fully conquer gravity?

Couple months

When you're doing those pull-ups that landed you on the front page, which muscles are you NOT working out?

My calves... lmao

No

Hahaha that's why I said it!

As a former really fat guy but still currently kinda fat guy who goes to the gym 4-5 nights a week, pull ups are the one thing I cannot succeed at. Do you have any recommendations from a broader view of what I can do to get to a point where I can do real pull-ups? Killer videos tho man keep it up!

Try doing negatives but for those of a heavier stature need to focus on building the tendons and muscles in isolation first because you'll get injured if you don't.

How long has it taken you to build your strength as you have?

Since High School, I am 26 now so I would say about 10 years or a little more.

How was your strength in high school?

My brother was a rower and I competed against him doing pull-ups all the time, I would say about average for that age. Nothing special.

I'm 20, not fit nor overweight. Just soft. I've been wanting to be toned for awhile now but I've always had issues with excersize commitment. Until recently (past 3 weeks) I've been doing 2 set of sit up, 15 reps morning and before bed. Along with multiple reps of 10 push-ups throughout the day. I usually just do them when I think about it, so about 50-70 push-ups a day, give or take. It's been keeping me on track. Do you think this is adequate for tonnage? I can't find much on Google.

It's not about reps for tonnage, you really need to get into doing high interval training. It's all about intensity not quantity.

What is your drive to stay in shape? What goes through your head in those difficult moments when you don't want to work out but you have to?

Oh shit this is a good one. My drive is for the people who can't do it. A best friend passed away about a month ago who I served with. He can no longer do it, so I do my best to go harder for the both of us. I am not perfect but I try as best I can.

Sorry for your buddy, man. Great reason to keep on keeping on - I'm super jealous. You look fantastic!

Thank you!

From the looks of things, you do it well enough for every fallen brother of America. :)

Never. Enough. If you get too good, inspire others.

How long have you had your dog for? Could you tell us more about the dog?

Lol he's not mine!!

You can still post pics and share info on the dog. We'd be okay with that.

http://imgur.com/gallery/oqXlK

Do you have a story about a time when your muscles and ability to lift your body/ do crazy athletic shit came in handy in the real world? It looks cool in the gym and all, but has it ever come in clutch falling off a cliff or something practical? Thank you for your service !

Actually the opposite, my over confidence got me a broken wrist 3 months ago...

Were you doin flips and shit or just fast pull ups for the ladies? Glad to see you can grip and everything well again it seems

Competing my third year for Ninja Warrior and they had this local competition where I just muscled up onto the thing and fell onto the concrete from about 14 feet up. The exact wrong way to do it!

3rd year? what's the farthest you've gotten and what are your weak points on the course?

The JUMPING SPIDER 3 times has taken me out. Hip flexor flexibility.

Can you confirm this redditors comment about Ninja Warrior: This show is bullshit.

Nothings perfect. It rained right before I went and I still had to go.

Good attitude here I like it

Nope!

hello ridiculously-photogenic-pull-up-rowing-machine-marine-guy! here are some awkwardly forward questions:

How tall are you and how much do you weigh?

What's the best fitness advice you've ever received?

What's the best fitness advice you'd give someone working on getting in shape?

Thanks!

5'11" 175

Remember the guy who quit? No one does...

It's going to be hard at first and you'll want to quit but don't.

What is the hardest exercise you do that appears easy to the average person, and what is the easiest one you do that looks hard?

Well I broke my wrist 3 months ago and so doing a handstand is super difficult for me to do.

Those sideways pull-ups and front-levers are easy for me but look really hard! Because if you haven't trained for it they kind of are.

Any advice on getting strong enough to front lever? How long can you hold one? Also do you rock climb at all? If you built up finger strength i feel like you would crush it.

I climb v6-v8 and I can hold a 20 second front lever. Get ab slings and realllllly push your core on those!

Are you single?

Nope!

Do u even lift bro?

I partake, on occasion.

Uhhhhh, do you fuck with the war?

Lil Dicky!

How do you like your coffee?

Lots of cream and sugar

What exercise regimen would you recommend to get close to the shape you are in now?

• What's your diet, routine, etc.?

My diet is just don't eat shit all the time. Put down the cookies once in a while but I don't count my Macros or get too into it.

Right now I am on a routine that is 500 pull-ups, 1 gallon of water, and 500 crunches a day for 30 days.. lol today is day 1 but successful so far!

What are you favorite basic exercises?

Pull-ups, I hold the world record for most in 60 seconds

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-pull-ups-in-one-minute

Wow man...

lol yeah I had inflamed tendons for a week after that one!

What's your favorite flavor of Crayola?

Red Brick Shit House

Get ready for this one. Favorite supplement?

Amino Energy

Have you ever been approached to make a ridiculous infomercial for like Mike Eckert's totally insane ridiculous rowing in the air workout?

Hahaha no but I think you're on to something!

If you had one story to tell people what would it be?

My dad once told me while I was competing, he said, why not you. I couldn't give him an answer and I wound up winning.

Do you have any gymnastic, dance or performance background?

Some of the moves in the longer video where you show some amazing locking of position (fake stairs/steps) are the kind of moves people practice for ages.

You're like a super mime!

Haha I am an amateur rock climber so that helps!

When's leg day?

I just yawned.... I can't do leg day today...

What's a song that you sing along in secret but never in public?

Let it go... I don't really know why.

What exercises do you do for the legs?

Pull-ups

How long have you been a Marine?

4 years

Do you recommend rowing machines as an "at home" exercise? I do Jiu Jitsu, and do a little mountain biking, but I'm still in need of more core strength and (a lot of) conditioning. I'm 41, 6'3", about 240-250 lbs.

Get some ab straps. I owe a lot of my core strength to them!

Have you or will you be deployed? I've been curious if all marines just get deployed or if they just hang out and work out all the time or something....

I actually don't know much about what the military does when they're not working out or doing some sort of combat or combat training

I was "forward deployed" to Japan, but not everyone deploys and I wouldn't call mine a deployment either.

What running regimen do you do/use?

Who is your inspiration for being a better athlete or person overall?

And what is your favorite base you've been stationed at?

Thanks!

I am not the best runner but I can still make around an 18 min 3 mile. Short interval training to get the HR up helps!

I have met a lot of good and bad people and I choose to take the best qualities from them and try to inspire others. My dad would be someone I would like to be like as a person.

Iwakuni Japan!!

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Consistency is key because you start to not see instant results and get discouraged. So stick with it!!

Does Gunny know you're famous?

LMFAO, that was funny.

Hello Mr. Eckert! I'm about to head into my freshman year at college and want to put my time in summer to good use, physically. I've gone to the gym to work out 4x a week but want a better routine instead of what I'm doing now. Could you share your routine me/ what you think would be good for an 18 year old guy? You look amazing btw holy moly

I personally use Time as my coach. Everything is at the top of the minute and you just go till you drop. Specifically though it would take me a while to make a specific routine for you because I am a personal trainer as well. My website will be up soon and that will help you a lot so keep in touch!

Does your dog enjoy showing off his bunghole as a general rule or was this a special treat just for us? 😜

Just for you all ;)

You know none of those counted for your PFT, right?

I could still push out 23 after that set.

tits or ass?

Both?

How much can you bench?

275 was my max, but now... after a broken wrist I haven't even tried.

What levels do you do in rock climbing? Is it possible to do what you do/look like you through just rock climbing workouts? Any advice for beginning rock climbers?

Weight lift and cross train with climbing. Also Yoga! I climb v6-v8

Are you an ectomorph? What would your advice be for someone who struggles with gaining weight/getting fit while living with depression?

Use working out as your release, it helped me get through tough times!

Hey dude youre goals how much do you squat?

375 I rep

What is it like to have women splooshing all over you 24/7?

Hah it's not bad but I can't even reply to a lot of the messages I get. I am glad I am doing this!