Building Fitness Community, Mobility & Longevity My Conversation with Bradford Shreve

In this episode of Mind Body Method, I sit down with fitness coach and community builder Bradford Shreve to talk about something that’s missing in modern fitness: connection.

I met Bradford in New York City through FitNut Collective, and from the start I was drawn to how intentional he is — about form, precision, mobility, and building real community in fitness spaces.

We get into his journey from musical theater and theater school into personal training, and how that performance background shaped the way he coaches today.

We talk about:

• How gym culture has shifted from social connection to phone-focused isolation
• Why training with other people (like those COVID park workouts) leads to better results
• The importance of proper form and precision coaching
• Training for longevity vs. ego lifting
• Working with older clients who want pain-free movement and mobility
• “Yoga snacks” and how to build up to advanced stretches like the wheel/bridge
• Why handstands can be powerful for long-term strength and joint health
• Starting Tug-of-War Fight Club NYC to bring back in-person fitness community
• Staying consistent: tracking progress, having a weekly plan, and training phone-free

We also get real about ego in fitness, steroid temptation, fixing pain before adding weight, and why most people plateau because they repeat the same routine over and over.

If you care about:

• Mobility and flexibility
• Longevity training
• Community-based fitness
• Strength training without burnout
• Building sustainable workout habits

This episode is for you.

You can find Bradford @BradfordFitnessJourney.

Or if you are interested in The Tug of War Fight Club go to  @TWFC NYC  

You can write to me at: Questions@MindBodyMethodPodcast.com

You can follow me at @JoshGrimm_FITNUT

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Mind Body Method, the podcast where health and fitness go beyond the weights and the workouts. I'm your host, Josh Grimm, and every week we'll dive into what it truly means to build strength, not just in your body, but in your mind and your life. From movement with purpose to building a resilient mindset, this podcast is about empowering you to thrive in every aspect of your life, inside and outside of the gym. So let's get started. Hi, and welcome back to the Mind Body Method podcast. And I am your host, Josh Grimm. Today I'm really excited to be talking with one of my buddies named Bradford Shreve. Um, Bradford and I met each other in the past couple of years here in New York City. He is also a fitness and wellness instructor, and he and I have collaborated a few times with FitNight Collective. The one thing I really, really enjoy about Bradford is his ability to coach with um precision and community building, and he really has a passion for that. So I'm excited to talk to him today and kind of pick his brain where that all came from and see what his journey is. So thank you for being here. Hi. Happy to be here. How's it going? Good, good. So thanks for dropping in. Um, I want to start with kind of the basics. Who are you? Tell us about your background and a little bit about like what you're doing today.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

So uh I arrived in New York back in 2007 and it was straight out of theater school. And I was like, you know, uh, you know, gonna be a gonna be a theater star. Uh that I pursued that for about a year and a half, two years, and then um initially got into training as like, you know, the side hustle, and then it became like my my main my main thing. Uh so I kind of stumbled into it, but then I I realized I really enjoyed it. I got to control my schedule. Um, and and I, you know, I liked the whole um well, I liked bossing people around. And then uh and then so I was supposed to be a good thing. That's a different word for that, baby. Right. So then I just poured myself in the training and uh and that was like, you know, what uh almost 20 years ago. Um and haven't really looked back. It's so it's it's been it's been uh it's been a like a I stumbled upon it, but now I I'm I'm really glad that that has been my main my main focus. You know, now I uh as far as theaters goes, like I go see theater all the time, but um to perform like eight shows a week, oof, uh um I'll I'll pass on that one.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

What do you think in the years of your experience being here in New York, um have you seen evolve? Because you are from the from the amount that I know you, you're a very precise individual, like you um, you're very intelligent, and so I think you're a good observer. What do you think changed the most or over the past like 15 so years that you've been here? Yeah, in the fitness industry.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

For sure, like like community. That's that's like um, you know, when I arrived, uh Jim was a much more social scene. It was like you know, people chatting, you know, taking up space, you know, like hey, kind of use this machine, you're talking too much. Now I notice everyone is just on their phones and there's and it's like everyone's kind of like locked in their in their own little world. Uh and then uh so I train a lot of older people that are 60 in their 60s and 70s. They talk about the Goodle days of like Jazzer Size and Jane Fonda workout, and that that was like the community, that was like the town square or whatever. And so, you know, came I came across you know Fitnut and I was like, this is this is what's missing. We need we need more community. We need, you know, we all work out by ourselves, but we work out uh the results are so much better when you're working out with somebody. When you're like you know, when you're when someone else is depending on you, you know, like if you have to hold a plank while I do a you know a certain exercise, you're gonna apply yourself a lot more than just by yourself. So that's why I loved uh it's like we you know we connected that way. And uh and I I so that's basically what I'm trying to um uh I'm trying to create those opportunities or seek those opportunities out and and because it's not impossible. It's like like we all have that in us. We just we you kind of have to like you have to like make it happen.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

We're gonna get we're gonna talk a little bit about what you have going on because it's really exciting. Um, but what where do you think that need and that want for community comes from? Like, you know, is it something ingrained in you from when you were younger? Is it just a yeah?

SPEAKER_01 4:27

I mean, um, you know, coming at it from so my my athletic background, uh so I was a you know skinny late bloomer in high school. Um, I went out for the wrestling team because football was gonna be too too like I would just get destroyed in football. So I'm not doing football. Uh I decided wrestling, I'll go out for wrestling. And and um I lasted like two weeks, didn't even, didn't even get to any sort of meat, we're just like, you know, conditioning. And then I auditioned for the school musical Anything Goes. Once I got into that, it was like, you know, end of my athletic career. However, let me tell you, musical theater, that is an athletic, you know, I stand by it, like flexibility, cardiovascular, like so, so you know, there's there's uh that is an athletic uh pursuit for sure. But I missed out on the team sports part and all the rest of it. Um but because of that, I think because of that was so you become a you you become a family, like each show you do, you know, you think about it, you're getting up in front of an audience, and that's like a very scary, you know, thing. And so you you really bond with with your you know fellow castmates, whatever. And so when I got into fitness, I thought, you know, can can I help create that same sense in in fitness? Because you know, uh go back to COVID times, everyone's kind of isolated. I learned at first I thought, oh, this is great. I have no distractions, I can be at home, I can get I can get in the best shape of my life. And I could not motivate myself to do anything. The isolation completely, just like like you was like, oh. So what one of the great things that happened about that is everyone went to the parks, you know, went to the turf fields or whatever, and suddenly there was that sense of community. Like everyone, you know, people bring their barbells to the to the park. That was me.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

Yeah, barbells, and kettlebells.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

And and you know, now we're back to like business as usual. But I I man, I wish I wish we could keep some of that of the of that because it was so much fun. Everyone, everyone was like, you know, we're all on the same page here, and and then there's a bit of like competition is good.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

So uh even watching the other trainers on the field, right? So it's like that's how I met like Trevor Franklin, Kenny Santucci, other guys I've had on this podcast. What are they doing? And like, oh, I want to do that. We're always on the same turf. Yeah, totally. Probably all like kind of judging at first, but then becoming for the first time.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Well, there's like it's like you know, you're looking through a filter of like there's a little bit of competition, but you know, uh like with anything, a little bit of a tool can be very useful and too much can be toxic. So you kind of kind of like gauge, you know, like okay, I need to need to be a little more. Uh but so so that um that's kind of what as we kind of got back to our regular gym routines and training and stuff, I was I missed that sense of like, let's all meet up and and you know, uh, you know, like I mean, groups do it like with your um, you know, ultimate frisbee groups and rugby groups, you know, the it exists, but but I just want you know, I'm not a team sports guy. I didn't, I didn't uh I dropped out of all that stuff. So finding other opportunities to be athletic around other people.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

Um, but you you like I mean I've seen you work, right? And it's like even whenever we were on the retreat and you were coaching the stretching class and we've done um boot camps, things like that, you are a leader in the way that you coach people and like you always have some sort of motivational story or quality about yourself. You're always able to attach something with words too, which I think is really cool.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Well, what I what I um kind of I guess I maybe kind of came at it from the perspective of of performing in shows, you have to perform choreography. The choreographer is very specific, and so form is like is everything. So if you're like sloppy on your form, you stand out and like you we don't want that on our stage, whatever. So I learned how to you know be precise in the movement, and but then that also I think that applies to strength training and like you know, form on a squat or a bench press is super important. And then you see when you're at the gym, you see, you know, there'll be you can have big muscles and have bad form, it's not like a mutual exclusive thing, but eventually that guy's gonna get injured and then he's gonna be not, you know, so so I learned very early on that okay, form is is is important, and the the closer you get to good form, the harder it is, which is why it's it's like such a like a big reach. It's like you know, top shelf thing. So not everyone, you know, it and there's no there's no thing as perfection. It's like you're striving towards, but you never quite get there, which is what I love about about strength training. Um also handstands, I got into handstands um about 10 years ago. It's like uh the closer you get to the good form, the the harder it gets, but then the the but then you want you it makes you work harder. It's just a constant it's like you're on like the hamster wheel and you have to wheel, yeah. But that's you know that that's fitness, like you want to you know keep keep engaging, you know.

SPEAKER_00 9:28

Do you feel like you your client base looks at you? I'm sure a lot of your clients go to you because of your motivation and your ability to attach um you know their work towards future results, things like that. Sure, yeah. I mean you are I mean, as a good trainer should do, but I mean you do take it to another level with your stories and and the way you speak.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

Uh I I'm lucky enough to to train a lot of older people, um 60s, 70s, even even 80s. And what's what's interesting about training someone in those in that period of life is they don't care what they look like. They're not they're not trying to get likes and follows. Yeah, you know, they just want to be pain-free. They want to be able to get up, you know, uh, you know, chase around the grandkids, all that stuff. So um, so for me, like focusing, you know, I'm not I'm not gonna come in there with the latest bicep exercise. Like, no, they want, they want, you know, how do I get rid of this this pain or how do I get so most of the time I've noticed that it's like mobility and stretching is is like way more at the you know priority of things. So and then I realize looking around at at everyone at the gym, you know, very few people have a stretch routine, unless you're a dancer or you know, that there's definitely those categories. But more often than not, I think that's where people kind of and you see it in groups classes, like you know, a couple of stretches and you're done, you know, probably basic cac cow and like farm roll there. You know, exactly. Um, but uh if you spend, you know, like 15 minutes like deep stretching and really brief, you know, now you're getting into yoga territory, which which which you know, so I like to kind of take like the advanced skills from one discipline like yoga and then kind of like package it and distill it so that people that don't do yoga can still get the benefits of it. That's kind of it's kind of like um, you know, because every every advanced skill is kind of like um some people really respond to it, and people are like, oh, I don't do that. So how do I get the person that doesn't do yoga to get the benefits of yoga without them knowing it? You know, it's like kind of like sneak it in. So I call them like yoga snacks. We like we'll do like just we'll work on one of the poses and we'll just really dig in and and hold it for you know 10 breaths or whatever. And and that person is not a yogi, but they just did yoga and they got the benefits of it. So that's kind of like I feel like I'm like the um the middleman trying to kind of bridge the gap between.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

I mean, when I did your stretching um class or um session, I guess. The the group session at my retreat um upstate last year. Is that last year, I guess? Yeah, last summer. Um tough. I mean, yeah, really, really beneficial. Yeah, and that was probably 40 minutes, 45 minutes. That'll make you sweat. Yeah, and it felt amazing. So, like you really, really, you mean I I like to think that I'm a pretty mobile person. I stretch enough. Right. But I learned that day, I'm like, oh, the worst in the room is on these things.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

That's the thing, you're gonna be uh you're gonna be advantaged in in some of the moves, but then you're there gonna be your weak weak point. And of course, the weak point, that's where you need the most, you know, like that's that's the hardest part.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

And now do you curate your um your stretching programs all yourself? I mean, is it uh is there a rhyming reason why the order you go in and the way you go?

SPEAKER_01 12:41

So um I, you know, over the course of working with you know theater dancers, yoga, uh handstand slash circus, there's a lot of like you know, advanced disciplines that all kind of overlap a little bit. Um I kind of distilled down like what are the main important stretches that's gonna for longevity that's gonna be basically you know keeping your spine from like seizing up. So, like for example, uh the the wheel in yoga, that's where you're on your back, you press up, arms and left. Yeah, that was the one I had trouble with. That was the one.

SPEAKER_00 13:12

That's the one where at the end of the day I was like, mmm.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Uh there's this there's this book uh from Dragon Door called Convict Conditioning. This this guy, he uh allegedly, he's like this mysterious um backstory. But anyway, he he spent like 30 years in San Quentin and he he's he got strong bodyweight exercise only. That was his like whole thing. Anyway, he he said, uh, you ask him what's the single most important um exercise to do for strength. He said, it's the bridge, it's the wheel. It's the and and you're like, well, that's that's pretty obscure. No one's doing that. But if you think about it, to do to do the wheel properly, you need to be flexible in the shoulders and chest, which is where we're all tight from slouching and and bench press, uh flexible in the in the front of the hips, which is again where we're all tight from sitting, and then on the back end, you're actually holding yourself up with all those muscles that are weak. So your shoulder blades, your glutes, all those things. So if you have one exercise that that loosens up what's tight and strengthens what's weak, that is that is it. That's the exercise. So, so it makes perfect sense. Like, oh, that is important. Now the problem is nobody can do this thing because it's so so the kids can do it, right? Yeah, because they're not so then you, you can do it. You're right. Well, so my job is to okay, how can I regress this? How can I, how can I um, you know, uh put up like scaffolding around it and get in that direction. And that's basically like find out where you are on the journey and then and then start, you know, start doing it, but then start making little adjustments. And then, you know, three months, six months, a year, suddenly that thing starts to take take shape. So, so um, so for me, uh, you know, I was always like like more more flexible than the average person, but but definitely not, you know, you put me in a room of dancers and it's like, oh, forget about it. But um uh it took me like six months of like consistent, you know, dedicated at least five minutes in end of each workout. Um, and I I got myself down to like the splits where you got one leg in front, one leg back, all the way down, uh pancake stretch, all those, all the big, you know, big showy stretches. And so it is it is possible. It just takes it takes a long time.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

I think that's the thing. I think a lot of people don't have the patience when they don't see the results or they don't see so you need you need someone to keep you accountable.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

You need someone to be like, do this every time because it's not comfortable. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:37

I mean, I again I'm my hip mobility is amazing, but it's just like I think it's my shoulder and learned that we've got to be able to do that. We could work on your roof doing, but when we were doing that, we were always like, oh, there's just uh eight of us in this room, and I'm the only one who's like really not that great.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

The nice thing is like once you start unlocking that, it's like it it's like seeing going from black and white to color. You start to see all these possibilities.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

And I know where mine is in my shoulder. I can feel it when I was doing it. So that's interesting. Um, do you have clients that um kind of get frustrated with it right away and just kind of stop?

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Um I mean, you oh sure, yeah. Like the the problem with stretching is that you are putting yourself in the most uncomfortable position um and holding it there, which which your body is your body's programmed to get out of get out right away. That's why when you really deep dive into yoga, it's not so much about the the body positions and the stretching, it's about the mindset, it's about the breathing, it's about the releasing, and so so all that kind of stuff kind of feeds into it. But um, you know, once you start unlocking that, it it is more than more so the the mental benefits is what you kind of really start to feel more so than the actual physical benefits. And look, some people are mobile, some people are not, like like everyone kind of has their kind of range and not everyone's gonna get to you know contortion level. Right. But um, you know, be where you are and then and be the best version of yourself. That's that's you know, that's everything.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Have you ever had um have you ever been with a client and um they were you were doing a stretching session or something and they like tweaked something or injured something?

SPEAKER_01 17:05

No, and uh that's because if you if you're coming into it with the right approach, then it's safe. That's that's the thing, is like if you're uh I I was actually um I can say injured, but so I was in a stretching class, I was trying to show off for the instructor, and uh he like give me an assist to like you know jammed me into this like pancake stretch, and I was like, Oh yeah. And then for like three years, I had this clicking hip. Oh my gosh, three years. So uh and that's that's ego. You know, it's like I wanted to I wanted to, you know, like if I was being, and of course, you know, when you're younger, you're like whatever, everything's ego. But anyway, um uh so but if you again come at it, uh usually injuries happen, overstretching happens when it when you're not thinking about it, when you're like, you know, um, you know, doing something uh well, sports a lot of times, like you know, diving, tackling, whatever. But in the in the in the controlled environment of a gym, uh it's it's it's a safe environment. And and I I can't think of uh a time where that created a negative.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Yeah, I feel like you and I probably I'm the same way. I get injured more for um things that I do that are silly and my ego because you know I want to show off or I don't know, some handsome dude or a bigger trainer than me down the street, right? Or like in a gym and I'm gonna go.

SPEAKER_01 18:23

Everything I do with the gym, I hope someone's watching because I'm really showing off.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

And now my romboid is like seasoning up all the time. But I did good five. He did the best, he did the heaviest. Now I'm down to four. I'm like, well, well, five.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

I can't get back up to six. You know, look, um, ego is a is a valuable tool if you use a little bit, a little bit of it, but too much is toxic. That's like kind of like a uh ongoing thing. Is like like um look, we're all working out to look better. Anyone that tells you we're doing for the health is full of shit. Like like we're all here to look better. Combo. Right. Yeah. I mean, if the the health benefits are nice side effects of it. You don't think many people choose health benefits first? Well, no, we're we're too, we're like we're all um well, sorry, narcissistic. I'm I'm vain and narcissistic, but I like to kind of keep it in check. But uh, you know, a little bit of that is it can be useful, like it's motivating. Um, but then you know, when you take that to uh, you know, when it starts being harmful. So like if I start taking steroids or something, then I'm now I'm actually harming my body to get short-term results, whatever. And then is that no? It is it is that worth the cost. Right. And and for someone, they're gonna be like, yes, I I want whatever it takes, I want this. And I look, I I was there. I um I tell this story to everyone. Uh way back back in the day, there was this uh doctor, notorious in somewhere near here in Chelsea, he was notorious for prescribing steroids. I know you're talking about I have an idea anyway. So you would like go to him, you do your blood work, and he'd be like, it's like in their normal range, but if you want to look for a little like extra. He hands me the pamphlet and was like, oh my god, I can get steroids, I can like I don't have to go to the black market, I can get this, you know, prescribed. And and I'd like I pictured uh you know my big rippling muscles and all the all the fantasy of all the things I've ever wanted. And it's like I can do this. But then I thought, no, but you know, it's gonna, it's gonna, you know, it's bad for your body, your heart, you know, all the all the side effects and like you know, balls shrink, all that stuff. So I was like, no, no, no, no. I tore up the pamphlet of not doing that. So um six months later, I go back in for another, you know, blood work. And during that time, just by coincidence, I was really going hard on squats. I was like small protocol, like three times a week, heavy squats, bam, bam, bam, because I was trying to gain, you know, gain mass. And uh, so he does my blood work and he says, Oh wow, the the shots really increased your testosterone by like this, you know, this much. And I was like, You didn't you didn't give me the shot.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

You mean just from your own work that you're producing?

SPEAKER_01 20:54

By by really going hard on compound heavy lifting, that um that activity was the equivalent of a steroid shot. It was it was a lot more work, you know, one shot uh and working out versus six months of like of like being sore and getting heavy or all this thing. You know, it it it's it's a lot more work. But the results were comparable. And so that's when I realized, okay, you can have the effect of steroids if you're willing to do the work, the work. Yeah. And so so that's that's when I was like, okay, squats and deadlifts, that's that's the equivalent of doing steroids. But but but then you get the benefits of strong bones, ligaments, to all all the benefits of strength training. Um, and so that that's so that's why I feel like that's um that's like that's the most important thing is is you know, heavy, heavy lifting, uh, heavy lifting. And now inevitably, oh, but it hurts my knees. Oh, it hurts my back. Okay. Well, then now that's a that's a that's a puzzle we have to solve. Like, why did you knee here? Why is your back hurt? It's because, oh yeah, it's because my hips are tight. Great. So let's start. Stretching and then if you exactly if you can solve that that puzzle, that pain is a puzzle, then then you've you've made yourself stronger, and then you can lift heavier, and then you can get more testosterone, more muscles, and yahtze, everyone wins.

SPEAKER_00 22:13

You you have a well understanding, a well-rounded understanding of how the body works and what clients need. You know, you were at my um collective talk a few months ago. We were talking about the acronym SMART SMART for goals and things like that. Um, it sounds like you probably practice that for yourself, for your clients, all the time. Now it's just ingrained in you. Yeah. Um, so you're a um a handstand guru. And um how where did that start from and where is it now?

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Uh so what's crazy is um I didn't even consider handstands a like a thing to do at the gym uh until like after I was like 40. Like like uh I would do it like against the wall sometimes, and like and I mean back then, it's a while ago, um you know, CrossFit was was you know on the up and up and and handstands are part of CrossFit. So so then you start seeing more handstands at the gym. So so I would do it, and you know, I thought I was I was pretty good at it. And then um through a friend, I met this handstand coach, Virgil, uh Virgil Paramour. He uh so I I do a session with him, and I and uh boy, I thought I thought I knew how to do handstands, like oh, I'm you know, like we got so long, but then I I kind of saw you know, he he's coming at it from um literally, so he he he was 16 years old and he got into circus school in France. France, their government subsidizes a circus school, isn't that wouldn't that be nice? So um he he gets into circus school uh and like the the resident handstand coach kind of like you know like I'll I'll take he didn't have a handstand practice, but he's like I'll take this guy. So he spent what three or four years uh uh eight hours a day working on freaking handstands, like like what would and uh and so that's that's where he's cut his background is is very just like almost like like a boot camp, kind of like these are the drills, you do this, you do this, do this, and voila, you have a handstand. So before that, it was always like a little side thing off in yoga class or like or gymnasts would do whatever, but but he's like literally like like a vocational, like you know, so he kind of provided the structure, and it was just a matter of am I willing to do the work? And so then I kind of just like I got addicted to like oh I I I want to be better at this. And the thing about handstands is as you as you do make progress, you unlock the next level, and then then you go on and do that one and then that and and and you never you never arrive.

SPEAKER_00 24:42

So it's like that in this video game, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

And and then it and not only do you not arrive, it gets harder the closer you get to the next skill. But um, I decided that this is a good skill for longevity. Um his his handstand coach, he he um he was doing handstands up into his 80s. Like he he you know, he he died in his 80s, but he was doing handstands to the very end. And like that's that's that's someone I want to follow. That's someone I want to like follow in his footsteps. Uh and it makes sense. Like you're you're building up, um, you have to be super flexible. Uh, if you think about it, how uh can you can you fold forward and put your palms on the floor? That's that's okay. Are you asking me?

SPEAKER_00 25:20

Yeah, yes, I can.

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Okay, so so that's that's just that's just setting up for it.

SPEAKER_00 25:24

After like two breaths. I mean, it takes like like it takes like inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

That's where handstand starts. So so if you if you can touch your toes, uh fine, but can you actually put your palms on the floor? And then can you put weight into your palms? I see. And and so so that's and that's just where the handstand starts. You're not even getting into the rest of it. Right, right, right. So, so that's where, oh, I need to start stretching. I need to, I need to like, so if you think about it, if I get really good at my forward fold, if I can get my chest all the way down to my thighs, you know, you know, uh holding that, now I've freed up all this space where I can then fill it in with handstand strength or whatever. But so many of us don't have that flexibility, and uh and you know that it's like it just shows you like how how far you have in the handstand journey to get there. So anyway, I I just thought, okay, this is something that's gonna be good for my longevity, and I and I'm gonna just commit to this. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

You have a very specific um like hobbies or skill sets and things that you're like you like to focus on.

SPEAKER_01 26:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

What is it about, which I think is really cool, um, the tug of war fight club for New York City. Uh yes, tug of war. You know, you did the the FitNet um uh field days, yeah, which were super fun um on the piers last summer. Uh so but talk to us about it.

SPEAKER_01 26:42

It actually started from from field day. So field day was basically like let's let's do a workout where it's all team and partner based, where it's like fun, collaborative, and and that was kind of get getting back to that um COVID feeling of like community. And you know, one of the most primal things uh that you can do is you know pull a rope against another person, and it's like one person wins, one person loses. That's that is it's like so um so polarizing and binary, like one, you know, uh but it I feel like in our oversensitized or desensitized world, overstimulated, overstimulated, yeah. Like there's no participation trophy. Like you either win or you lose. And and and that is very uh it feels great to win and it sucks to lose, but that's that's the that's how you get better. You have to like so uh so that was one of the little stations in the in the uh field day. And uh I saw, I saw just like, oh, this is one, this is really fun. What also, man, it's a great, it's a great workout. You're working posterior chain, grip. Um, you need full body strength.

SPEAKER_00 27:44

Definitely community.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

Yeah, yeah. So so uh to promote FitNut, um, I would go to uh Second Sundays, Sheep's Meadow Central Park, and I I would bring my tug of war rope, set it up on the grass, and just like it's like solicit people to like, hey, you want tug of war? Which let me tell you, that is like Uncomfortable, so uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

But once they see a couple of guys doing it, everyone wants to jump in.

SPEAKER_01 28:06

It reminds me of like being um being on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, and they're trying to sell you blankets and trying to sell you, you know, like everything. Like no gracias, no gracias, but now I was selling this, you know. But anyway, eventually a couple of people, you know, will we like all do it. And then all of a sudden, all of all of us that are sitting here, like not talking to each other, are like are like cheering on, you know, they're cheering on their friend, whatever. And then I saw total strangers high-fiving each other, hugging each other, talking shit. And I was like, oh, this is this is what we need. So um, so I've always been a fan of Fight Club, the both the book and the movie, and I've always wanted to like be in one, but I don't want to get I wanna, I'm not a good, I'm not good at fighting and I want to get I don't want to get beat up. So if you can if you substitute out the beating the shit out of each other with tug of war, but it's it's the same experience.

SPEAKER_00 28:55

And it's still grit and it's still yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

I mean you feel you do feel like you you've been through a fight, like like soar in all different places. Uh you know, you're gonna you're gonna uh you're gonna rip it. You're gonna rip and bleed and like have some calips.

SPEAKER_00 29:06

That's like fun. I'm with you. I'm all into that.

SPEAKER_01 29:09

And if it's not fun, then don't don't come. You know, go to go to Equinox. Exactly. This podcast is not sponsored by Equinox. I mean, I started there, so it's like, you know. But um, so so that kind of like set off a light bulb. And then I just I just loved the um just the the idea of like getting together as a group, starting off as strangers, and then literally at the end of class, just inevitably we would we would all like spontaneously go out and hang out and and talk about things. So so like more for me, it was like I was feeling kind of socially isolated, I was feeling kind of um just drained from all like the apps and everything that like this is I need this for me, but I think people can benefit from it too. So are you bringing it back? Yeah, it's been in hibernation for the winter. Uh but as soon as so basically uh the Christmas Street Pier is we need grass, we need that like grip. So once once the once the weather is is like stable, um it'll be back on the pier.

SPEAKER_00 30:07

And that's what you you like it there better than the park.

SPEAKER_01 30:09

Uh uh yeah, I mean the the park park is this fun little thing, but the the pier is nice because it's um it's less like the well one thing is all the people that are on the pier are are working out. They're the runners and things. So it's a very fitness, it's like a fitness pier. So it's it's a great, it's it's like a great vibe. And it the grass helps. Um and uh yeah, and it's it's just a really so what what we do is um the first first section is uh strength and conditioning, and it's everything you get to use each so we use other use each other as weights. So like um, like I'm I'll be in a plank and you have to like pick me up and row me. So so it's so it's it's that sense of of like everyone has something to do. And then once we're all kind of warmed up and conditioned, then it's like one on one, two on two, three on three, and then you know, get like a big four on four, it's great. Uh you keep track of your wins, you keep track of your losses. But then, because this is my my little thing, we spend 15 minutes at least at the end stretching and and partner stretching. So what you know, if I'm having if I like if we like lock arms and you're pulling me into a forward fold, uh that's a good, that's a feels good, it's a good stretch. So, so we get a solid, good um stretching session in. And because no one stretches on their own, that's I I think that's actually the best part of the of the experience, is like you get this really thorough stretch. And then, yeah, and then I mean that's a it's a great idea.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

Yeah, people are getting the entire thing, the community, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:36

We I did it like once a month, um, and it got it got really great, um, really good feed feedback. So I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm bringing it back. We'll bring it back. But uh it's also I don't want it to be like this like thirsty, um, you know, like uh, you know, so I'm trying to be as minimal as possible on social media and let it be word of mouth. Just like the fight clip rules, we don't talk about it. We're like we keep it to ourselves. So it's word of mouth. Um we're not we're not here to take videos of each other, we're here to like work. It's not about social, exactly. It's like letting go of that's the other thing is like getting off of devices, just you know, just person to person, you know. That's that's that's kind of like what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to give be less on my phone, less on the apps, and more in person.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

So it's also kind of like you know, well, people can learn a lot from you from their teachings, yeah. Um hope so. I was just gonna say, like, how how do you keep um or ask how do you keep fitness exciting not only for yourself but for your clients too? Because you know, you may be this person that believes and practices trying not to be on devices so much on the same way, but it's hard for us to get other people to do that, yeah. So, how do you try to get your clients to stay focused and contribute more to their fitness, get a little bit more present in their workouts? Is there something specific?

SPEAKER_01 32:53

So, this is a really controversial take here. Um uh when I go to the gym and I work out, I put my phone and lock it in the locker, no headphones. I'm raw dog in it. Raw dog on the gym floor. I know that uh nobody does. I like look around the floor as like one other person. I do like I listen to podcasts, but no music. Yeah, yeah. No, I mean like like everyone does their own thing. Uh so the reason why uh I do this is now my brain is not distracted by other things and it it has to sit in the it sit in the, you know, so when I finish an exercise, I'm like replaying my head and processing all that failure. Whereas if I'm like just on listening to music or trying to distract myself, I'm I'm like I'm just totally missing, you know. So um once you kind of like lock in and get in, get into your body and get into that sensation, it really um it really just locks in the practice. So so that that's kind of like um again, not popular, uh, very hard to do. But if if you're it maybe just try it like you know, once a week or once a month, whatever. But um so when I'm when I'm at the gym, I'm I'm uh focusing on I have a plan when I come in, I'm there to execute the plan, I'm here to you know make sure the form is good, get everything in there. Uh uh I've decided I gotta do these stretches, get in, get out, and done.

SPEAKER_00 34:12

I talk a lot about segment intending, and that's exactly what that is. And I I I practice that myself or myself, my clients, and I've been also talking and thinking a lot about um this thing called Parkinson's theory and Parkinson's principle, which is basically like you get your job done in the amount of time that you allow it to happen. Right. And I've been listening to a lot of podcasts about it. So, like if you're gonna go and say, I only have 55 minutes at the gym, I am gonna get my stretching in, I'm going to get my workout in. And if you have to break it down into segments, then that allows you to actually get it done. If you don't do that, then you're just kind of in a free space. Yeah. It's like floating around.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

Yeah, my uh I've I've my workout, my personal workout program is basically like a weekly checklist. Um so I've decided I need to do squats 100%. I need to do squats once a week, at least. Once a week is enough. Once a week is enough. So I do squats once a week, uh deadlifts once a week. Um, then I have a regular pull-up practice. So I pull up pretty much every time I'm at the gym. Once a week, I will do multiple sets of pull-ups, and then once a week I'll do weighted pull-ups. Otherwise, I just do one set, just kind of keep it fresh. Same thing with push-ups. I do push-ups, um and then, and then like handstand practice. So I kind of have my little weekly checklist. And then um week by week, I'm keeping track of where I am and how can I progress that. Am I gonna increase the weight five percent or am I gonna increase the reps? And I kind of decide um that. And I actually have a on one of my walls is just a big whiteboard with with the cat with a four-week, you know, four-week calendar. And uh I track, I track my track all my skills and and like am I am I progressing the right way? Um and what I've gotten in the habit of doing now is once I finish four weeks, I will, I will plan out the next four. And like, okay, this should be doable. And then if I execute that plan, perfect.

SPEAKER_00 36:02

I think that's that's something that's another skill that it's important to teach clients and and show people what you do because not a lot of people track anymore. Or if they do, I mean, I like old school stuff. Like you're writing on a whiteboard, you know, that to me makes much more sense than just keeping track on your phone.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

That's the thing devices, like ooh. I know. So also I just love I have this like fan, I'm like a caveman, and I'm like like I my theory is like the first cave paintings were like caveman keeping track of his push-ups and like and like throwing rocks or whatever.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

Yeah, I know I'm the same way. I like organic, I like raw, I like things like that.

SPEAKER_01 36:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:36

Um, what do you think? I'm gonna ask you a few questions that are a little bit more like rapid okay. So a couple of things. I'll try to keep it succinct. Yeah, you're a chatter. So that's that's this is gonna be a little bit more like um what is the biggest mistake that you think people make in their fitness journey?

SPEAKER_01 36:52

I think it's repeating the same thing over and over again. Um, push pull, three sets of 10. Um, it's just so boring, so damn boring.

SPEAKER_00 37:01

So and it has a shelf life.

SPEAKER_01 37:03

That's right. Um now you may have the willpower to just keep doing that. And and and like I said, you look great, you know, good for you, but you're you're bored, you're not inspired. Yeah. So uh there's rapid fire. I've already failed. It's okay. Uh uh. So I would replace that with like, what's my plan? How can I, you know, I want to hit this and then next week I'm gonna get a little bit better. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:25

What is the the best way to stay consistent?

SPEAKER_01 37:28

Have a plan, have it mapped out. There we go.

SPEAKER_00 37:30

That was rapid fire. What is one word to describe your personal training style? Not for yourself. Uh training for, I'm sorry. Yeah, I I guess training for your clients.

SPEAKER_01 37:39

Uh like functional. I I I as as cliche as that is, I I'm okay with that. Like, like um functional meaning, um, it's it's for um form form is key and like how it feels in the body is is important. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:54

And what is one thing that everyone should stop doing right now?

SPEAKER_01 37:57

Put your phone and your headphones in the locker and and go out there without anything in your ears.

SPEAKER_00 38:02

I always love to do that. I dare you. I dare you. I always love talking to you. I think that you are such a smart, intelligent person. We've had a lot of good conversations, so I appreciate you being here. Um, it really means a lot. If you want to learn more about thank you for joining me today on Mind Body Method. This podcast is part of Pride House Media, hosted by me, Josh Grimm, produced and edited by Josh Rosensweig, original music composed by Mel Balabin. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And while you're there, leave us a rating and review. It really helps others to discover the show. I'd love to stay connected with you, so join the conversation by following me at Josh Grimm underscore fit that on Instagram and by emailing me at questions at mindbodypodcast.com. Bradford and his um his background and who he is, and look at his training and his skill set. Um, you can go to Bradford Fitness Journey on Instagram, and then you can go to the Tiger War Fight Club, which is TWFC N Y C. Um for this is Mind Body Method Podcast, and you can look at me at uh Instagram at Josh Grimm underscore fitnut. And if you have any questions, it's questions at mindbodymethod.com. Thanks for being here, and we'll see you next Wednesday. Thank you for joining me today on Mind Body Method. This podcast is part of Pride House Media, hosted by me, Josh Grimm, produced and edited by Josh Rosenspweig, original music composed by Mel Balabin. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And while you're there, leave us a rating and review. It really helps others to discover the show. I'd love to stay connected with you, so join the conversation by following me at Josh Grimm underscore fit that on Instagram and by emailing me at questions at mindbodypodcast.com.