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QUESTION: You mention combining two different exercises to eliminate the weak points of both and put more tension on the muscles. Is this just a fancy way of teaching me supersets? ANSWER: Nope! While supersets do have their place in training, "Hybrid Training" goes one better than regular supersets (where you do two separate exercises, one after the other). With "Hybrid Training," you do BOTH at the EXACT SAME TIME. For example, we will combine dumbell bench presses with cable flyes. If you were to do them as a superset, you would do the presses THEN you would immediately do the flyes. With "Hybrid Training," you'll do cable flyes WHILE you're doing dumbell presses. I was doing these just last night and I thought my chest was going to explode by the time I was done! The effects of the double-resistance has to be felt to be believed. ----- QUESTION: What equipment do I need to have in order to perform "Hybrid Training"? ANSWER: Since "Hybrid Training" is a more specialized type of training, there are a few basic requirements. The good news is, it can be very easily adapted to just about any setting, whether you're working out at home or at a gym! Because you'll be combining two different types of resistance, you will need to have access to two different types of resistance. Makes sense, doesn't it! What this means is, at the very least, you'll need free weights (dumbells or barbells) and either cables (meaning the high and/or low pulleys) and/or training bands. A power rack is optional, though very helpful. In the book, I'll give you very detailed instructions on how to best attach the cables and/or bands to your free weights in order to really maximize the effects on the muscles. Training bands, which I talk about much more in the book, are EXTREMELY useful for "Hybrid Training". To be honest, even if you don't get the "Hybrid Training" book, I'd strongly encourage you to check out this site for getting some high-quality, reasonably-priced training bands (and not the skinny "aerobics" elastics but the thick "take a beating" type of bands that powerlifters use): http://www.fitstep.com/goto/ironwoody-bands.htm This is the source where I got my bands from. Bands are a PHENOMENAL way to add variety to your training and dramatically increase the effectiveness of every rep you do. ----- QUESTION: Can "Hybrid Training" be done using home exercise equipment such as the Bowflex or Weider Crossbow? ANSWER: You can definitely use equipment such as the Bowflex with the "Hybrid Training". The only thing to keep in mind (as I mentioned just above) is that you will need free weight to provide that second form of resistance. The Bowflex/Crossbow would be used in place of the cable or band to give you the combined resistance. The nice thing is, since you are using combined resistance, you won't need a whole lot of weight to use with your free weights to get great results. Just same basic dumbells and a barbell will get you results. ----- QUESTION: Do I need to be an advanced trainer to use "Hybrid Training"? ANSWER: Not at all! The concepts in the book can be used by almost every level of trainer. The only exception would be complete beginners, whom I would recommend get a handle on the basic exercises before trying "Hybrid Training." If you've had some training experience, this book will help you along tremendously. And if you ARE an advanced trainer, you're going to LOVE how the "Hybrid" techniques put incredible mass-building tension on your muscles. Let me put it this way...I've been training more than 16 years and "Hybrid Training" techniques WORK LIKE CRAZY for me. They really help pile on the muscle and strength (in one "Hybrid" exercise, I've used 100 lbs MORE than my barbell bench press 1 Rep Max over a full range of motion). Yet I've used some of the techniques with others who've been training less than a year with great success! ----- QUESTION: Are "Hybrid" exercises difficult or time-consuming to get set up? ANSWER: Only if you don't know what you're doing :) As I mentioned above, in the book, I'll give you very detailed instructions on how to best set up the "Hybrid" exercises. Once you know how to do it, the setup is very quick and very easy, no matter which exercise you're using. In fact, you'll not only get videos that show you how to perform the majority of the exercises in the book, I've included videos that show you exactly how to set everything up as well! One of the greatest benefits in this book is the huge number of videos (88, to be exact) demonstrating practically EVERYTHING.From setup to exercise technique, there won't be a single moment where you don't know EXACTLY what you're doing. ----- QUESTION: Are "Hybrid" exercises hard to incorporate into my current training program? ANSWER: Completely the opposite, in fact! A "Hybrid" exercise can be directly substituted for a regular exercise in whatever program you're using right now. A "Hybrid" barbell curl can easily be done instead of a regular barbell curl. The only thing to keep in mind is this...since "Hybrid" exercises are that much more effective at putting tension on the muscles, you most likely won't need to do as many sets to get a full workout. Case in point, I'm currently working with my "Metabolic Surge - Rapid Fat Loss" program, incorporating ONLY "Hybrid" exercises into it. http://www.fitstep.com/metabolic-surge/metabolic-surge-rapid-fat-loss.htm In every single workout, I've had to reduce the number of sets that the workout has called for simply because my muscles are completely shot before I'm able to finish all the sets. This combination is working like a charm, in case you're wondering! And once I'm through with this cycle, I'm going to be sending along those workouts to everybody who has previously purchased a copy of "Metabolic Surge." So if you've got the "Surge" program, keep your eyes peeled for it! ----- QUESTION: Are "Hybrid Training" exercises really 2 to 3 times more effective than normal sets? ANSWER: In my experience...yes. And let me give you an example. When you're doing a lying tricep extension with a barbell, you get plenty of tension as you're bringing the bar down to your forehead. No argument there. But as you come back up to the top, the tension gets less and less until, at the top, you get practically nothing because the bones of your arm are supporting the weight. So how much more effective do you think the exercise would be if you didn't lose ANY tension as you came to the top? If, when you got to the top, you also had resistance pulling directly backwards instead of just pushing straight down (like with just the bar). Your triceps get NO break and the muscle-building tension is TREMENDOUS. This change in directions of resistance really makes a big difference in the results you'll get in your training, both in terms of muscle-building and strength. The bonus is, because the exercises are so effective at working the muscles, I believe they also give the metabolism a bigger boost, helping to increase fat loss! I'm basing this on my current work with the "Metabolic Surge" program. The bodyfat is practically falling off - I had just cut a new notch in my belt because my waist was tightening up so much...but now I think I might have to cut another one even smaller! ----- QUESTION: Is this just a gimmick, i.e. is it just different for the sake of being different? ANSWER: Definitely not. In fact, "Hybrid Training" isn't even "thinking outside the box." I've made a whole new box and I'm thinking outside that one! (a little poetic liberty there :) Let me put it this way...there are plenty of ways to do crunches that are all slightly different from each other but give you the same basic results. You can read entire "special editions" of magazines based on that concept. That's NOT what I'm all about. I do "different" for the sole purpose of getting better (and faster) results. This is a whole new way to train that give you a much better understanding of how your muscles work AND how to apply extraordinary tension to them. -------- QUESTION: I train at a gym with a lot of people around. Will I look like a complete idiot when I'm doing these exercises? ANSWER: You WON'T look like an idiot but I can promise that you WILL look different than everybody else. And I'm guessing you're not training because you want to look like everybody else! "Hybrid" exercises are actually based on standard gym exercises, e.g. barbell curls, bench press, squats, deadlifts, etc. In that respect, you'll be doing exercises you already know and that everybody will recognize. It's when you apply the "hybridization" to the exercises that you'll see the eyebrows go up. Once you start using these exercises, you most likely WILL have people coming up and asking you what you're doing. Or, as time passes, you'll start to notice other people doing the very same things you're doing because they'll see the results you're getting and how effectively your muscles are getting worked.
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