I just interrupted my jump rope workout to tell you this, 1000 reps in, I'm barely warmed up, but I have to tell you this, friend. 

I can just hear Rocky telling his son ... 

"I'm going to tell you something you alrrady know. 

The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, it will beat you to your knees, and it will keep you there if you let it. 

You, me, nobody will hit as hard as LIFE. 

It's not about how HARD you can hit. 

It's about how hard you can GET hit, but still keep moving. THATS how winning is done!

Now if you know what you're worth, go out and get it. 

But you can't keep blaming people, making excuses . 

Thats what losers do. 

And that in't YOU!": 

Old Rocky is almost in tears as he finishes (I quoted him almost verbatim). 

But I feel his pain!

His son knew it, but needed it to hear it anyway. 

Thats my whole point for this email. 

A lot of what I say - you know. 

But sometimes all of us need to HEAR it - from another person, if just to validate and emphasize the truism of the statements. 

The wise will always preface advice with "as you already know" or a derivative therein, instead of trying to "teach upfront" or lecture like a Bozo. 

I've had this said to me back in the day, still sometimes happens when I need it. 

We all do. 

And we all need that kick up the ass sometimes. 

Speaking of which ... 

How high and hard can you kick, friend?

Simple question, but most cannot do it without tearing a quad - or hamstring - or more. 

I keep saying this, you probably know it, you will find it inscribed on my very large tombstone when I go ...(with everything else I keep repeating). 

Hamstrings are a CRUCIAL and critical part of the body to stretch, strengthen and train. 

In Isometric and Flexibility Training I give you a "hamstring" stretch (though it stretches the entire core, lower back, shoulders, traps, sides, all of it) which is simple - you put your feet up on a high surface, one at a time. 

You keep both legs STRAIGHT while doing it!

(I can almost hear and feel a certain Carol slapping my then loose thigh when I was doing it. 

"Hey, Michael!" (she got the "hey" from me. Hehe. So cute). 

"Keep those legs straight!") 

That was at the top of the hill. 

That is a great stretch for your hamstrings, you could work them your entire life and never go wrong. 

When you open - loosen the hammies - you literally TRANSFORM your life with all the GOOD that flows into it!

You feel better, you perform better in all your exercises and workouts , if you've got tight hamstrings like I do, many of you do too, you'll just feel awesome, like you accomplished something. 

In the advanced book on isometrics, I'll be talking about an advanced version of this stretch I did yesterday. 

oh my. 

this one takes that previous stretch to a higher level - literally. 

And you'd be best warmed up well before doing it, unless you're already loose and limber - it's martial arts level (advanced) - this one. 

Look for that in the upcoming advanced book on isometrics, for now, as you know, but you need to hear it, a lot of you AGAIN - GET THE BOOK on ISOMETRICS! (the one out now)

Do so now. 

And something else you need to hear, as I finished my cross over jump ropes this morning (an advanced variation I did not put in Jump Rope Mania!) ... 

Cardio - the right form - I cannot overemphasize just how important it is. 

Lots of you think "pah, I just need muscle and strength". 

Folly, friend. 

You need BOTH. 

One doesn't go without the other. 

And you ain't gonna look like an athlete if you've got a huge belly spilling over "the cup that spilleth over" - simple as that. 

And jumping rope is an ancient technique that has been used by martial artists, wrestlers, swimmers, nigh everyone who does it to get in top shape - and quick. 

And you'll get all the cardio and muscle building you need with this one workout - especially lower body. 

It leaves you with no excuses either - how many do you need to pull out a rope and start doing the thing? 

None, I bet .. 

So get that course NOW too, my friend. 

Really, now. Lots of you keep putting it off - please dont. 

Back soon!

Best, 

Rahul Mookerjee

PS - you know it's important, when I interrupted my workout to tell you this!

yes, another one of those "you already know it, but you need to hear it anyway".