We live in a world where specialization dominates nearly every aspect of our lives. Work forces demand its members to specialize in one particular area of expertise. High school students must often pick which one sport they like the most so they can focus all their energy in one specific place. Even lifters are often focused on a particular philosophy of lifting, so much so that I have seen many shun away even the idea of entertaining a new philosophy towards their training. Now I am obviously not some all-knowing lifting entity that passes judgment on those that train a specific way I just whole-heartedly despise a culture of specialization. Specialization is for fucking insects, you are a HUMAN BEING, you can be a power lifter/finger painter/ screen writer/ or even a damn under water basket weaver. We are not defined or confined to one specific form. Fuck all that noise, rejoice in the limitless potential of your creative mind and apply it to every facet of your life.
Here I am flexin on the 2014 Armenian Emcee Cypher
I do understand however the power of specialization and how if you want to get good at one specific thing you have to focus all your energy on that specific thing, and while that is absolutely true I disagree with the application of it. There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. If I want to be a powerlifter my training should take about 2 hours. After that the meals are just like any other meals, what the fuck else can I do in the 22 remaining hours? Let’s say we sleep for 8 hours that leaves us with 14 remaining hours (I know my math is really fucking impressive). You can do whatever the fuck you want! Do you like movies? Try writing a screenplay. Do you like poetry? Write a fucking poem. Now I understand these disciplines aren’t something you can just pick up but if you dedicate yourself to them on a daily basis for a couple hours a day you’re going to get pretty damn good at writing mother fucking haikus.
I am often asked, “so what is it you do” I fucking HATE that question. It’s not what I DO its who I AM. While I am at the gym I am a fucking decedent of Valhalla praising Odin with the holyiest of lifts. When I am in the studio recording I am the best rapper you have ever heard of. If I am on a movie set I am the character I am playing. When I am playing with my nieces and nephews I am their big uncle they love to terrorize. When I am helping my mother in the kitchen I feel like Bobby Flay. I remember growing up I was fascinated with the founding fathers of this country, hell I still am. One of the things that intrigued me the most was how well rounded and diverse their lives were. Take for example Benjamin Franklin, he was a polymath, author, printer, political theorist, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, diplomat and he plowed more French girls than Ryan Gosling and Justin Timberlake combined. So what did he do? Grab a fucken seat because that would obviously take a while.
Here Is Ben “Mr.Hundo” Franklin in all his G’d up glory
Listen, you are POWERFUL. Strong enough, creative enough, good enough, fast enough, strong enough to be whoever the hell you want to be. Do not try and box yourself in to one particular position or categorical person in order to make life simple. Once I realized that I can never be one kind of person I was liberated. With that being said try different things in the gym as well. Go for a hike, lift some weights, do some powerlifting routines, strongman routines, play basketball, and take tap dance! Well maybe not the last one, unless you’re into that. Whatever the case may be specialization is for insects, we are all diverse and multi-talented human beings. Do not be afraid to explore all of your interests. Happy Liftin’
Here is Thor Bjornsson one of the strongest men on the planet on the set of Game Of Thrones.
