Interview By Julianne Van Valkenburg
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If you missed Part 1 of Jules'
interview with Charles, click
here. In Part 2, Charles answers the same questions as
Part 1 but 5 years later...
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Jules:
I guess first off I will ask you this again as a lot has changed
for you in the past 5 years: "Growing up you really didn't
have an athletic background… are you still surprised at where
you have ended up… does all of this recognition still amaze
you?"
Charles:
Hmm…well I gotta say I'm not terribly focused on the recognition
aspect of it, except from a business perspective. But I'd just say
that if you knew me as a teenager, you'd be surprised for sure.
I was very involved in the martial arts- obsessed would be a better
term- but I had no appreciable talent, that's for sure.
But I was always a good communicator
and a good teacher. Even when I was struggling in martial arts class
as a 12-year old, I'd be thinking "I wonder why he doesn't
teach it this way" or "If he would only explain it using
a different analogy…" So for whatever reason I've always
been very aware of, and interested in, teaching, and better methods
of teaching.
Jules:
Charles, you still have a very extensive library- share a few of
your very favorites and new books written in the past 5 years. Also,
if they could only choose one of them (outside of Muscle Logic),
which book do you think is the "must have" for anyone
in this industry?
Charles:
Well, it depends on whether you're talking about training information
of business information. But for training, you must have Science
And Practice Of Strength Training by Vladimir Zatsiorsky. It's honestly
the best single-book education you could ever get. (By the way I
didn't bother to even check my responses to the first interview,
so if I don't say anything new here, just take it as a sign that
I'm very consistent!). For business/marketing, anything by Seth
Godin. Start with Permission Marketing.
Jules:
Share with everyone here what is now your favorite workout, as well
as what has now become your best "moment" in the gym?
Charles:
My best moments in the gym generally involve Phil and some stunt
he's come up with in order to make a good video. Obviously one of
these days he'll take it too far and that'll be the end of it, but
until then, it's always entertaining. As for workouts, I rarely
repeat one, but any pain-free workout is a favorite for me. I must
say I love to snatch and squat. There's an addictive feedback about
certain lifts- when you snag one just right- that keeps me coming
back for more.
It's like a perfect golf shot. When
you hit one, the World is perfect, just for that brief second. Then
life sucks again until you can get another one. Lifting's like that.
That's why I think a lot of us are manic-depressive about lifting.
We depend on it for our sanity. At least I do.
Jules:
I used to see you now and again with your spoon in your hand (yep-peanut
butter but not so much anymore), but tell me what is the ultimate
cheat meal for you now? Also, what is the staple that you still
could not do with out?
Charles:
Yeah as I get older my cheat meals become less and less egregious
and frequent. Plus I find the reward/consequence ratio less and
less worthwhile these days. Lately I'm big on steak & eggs at
Skippys (down the street from Bed
& Barbell). Honestly, if you had that every day,
you'd guarantee yourself catastrophic cardiovascular problems within
two months- it's that good.
Jules:
What's a typical day for you food wise now-what's on your plate?
Charles:
Well lately, after Matt Lisk showed me his new book The Burrito
Diet ( http://www.burritodiet.com)
I've been starting the day with an egg, chorizo and cheese burrito.
That usually takes me to about noon, when I'll have maybe a small
steak with some veggies. Then a post-workout shake with Whey protein
and Vitargo (link: http://www.vitargo.com/)
and some type of meat and veggies again for dinner. I know, not
very exciting! I actually try to make eating an autonomic function
as much as I can- the less I think about it, the better I tend to
do.
Jules:
Charles, I know how much you still like to go out and play with
all your friends. Here on a weekend you can find a whole gang at
the B&B on Saturday mornings. Tell about some of the fun things
you guys and gals do out here.
Charles:
We all compete in one or more sports, so our requirements are all
slightly different, but we basically all focus on the 3 power lifts,
the 2 Olympic lifts, and the various strongman events. So as a weightlifter,
the Olympic lifts are my staple, but I use the power lifts and strongman
events as supportive drills. Phil's primarily a powerlifter, but
he uses the Olympic lifts and strongman events as assistance exercises,
and so on. There's an amazing synergy between these 3 disciplines,
and plus (most importantly) they're all fun.
Jules:
A lot is going on for you as always (some BIG THINGS coming soon)
between traveling and writing yet another BIG Book this year what
is keeping you grounded and what is the most exciting to you?
Charles:
Hmm, I never thought of myself as "grounded." But if I
am, I guess training is the constant feature in my life, and it's
the common denominator I share with my friends. It's what we all
have in common, and it's the lens we view our World through. So
for example, if I have to travel, the first think I think of is
"how will it affect my training?" It's basically pretty
dysfunctional but what else am I gonna do?
Jules:
Ok, let's say Charles that you have now been deserted on some tropical
island - you can only bring like 5 things. I'm assuming you going
all Gilligan would take care of the strength training part but what
are the 5 things to keep you busy?
Charles:
A golf club and an endless supply of balls would be a good start.
And my iPhone. Is that 5 things?
Jules:
and finally, here we are years later. You are now trying to qualify
for the Masters Worlds. We didn't see Bed
& Barbell back then and that's been a huge success.
We were looking at doing certification and that is ALMOST here.
We didn't have Phil and now I can't imagine this place without him.
So Charles, tell me, what other tricks have you got up your sleeve
and in 5 more years will I at least get my cruise?
Charles:
What cruise??! I need to be a best-selling author within 5 years,
I can tell you that much. I have too much good stuff in my head,
and I'm too good of a teacher not to. I'd also like to see if we
can get Phil to set some raw World records in that time (he currently
holds all of the National records). And I'd really like to expand
Bed & Barbell
so that we can have several guests here simultaneously. Kind of
like a lifting resort. You come in, de-stress from life, and learn
how to do all the hard-core stuff your mother and doctor always
warned you about. How cool is that?
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