Page 20 - Men’s Health - USA (December 2019)

BODY

Licis began his strongman quest two
decades ago. Born in Latvia and raised
in Massachusetts, he fell in love with the
training as a teenager, when he returned
to his homeland to visit his grandfather
and was introduced to stone lifting.
Always a large athlete (he played football
briefl y in high school), he was fascinated
by the sport. Every summer, he’d visit
Latvia and lift stones. At age 20, Licis
told his parents he wanted to move to
California to train with Odd E. Haugen,
a strongman legend who co-owns the
Training Hall, and he gradually began
climbing the strongman ranks.
Almost a decade later, he says he won’t
do this forever, and he doesn’t expect The author battles one
of Licis’s arms in Mas
you to ever squat 500 pounds. He’s been
wrestling—and loses.
battling knee soreness for the past few
weeks. That’s partly why he’s tweaked NO MAS!
his training this year. Since August, he’s
Two years ago, Licis was the world champion of
fasted once a week in an eff ort to slim
down while maintaining his strength. something else: “Mas wrestling.” What is Mas wrestling?
It’s a sport that fuses raw strength, wrestling, and a stick.
“Lifting the heaviest weights takes a toll
on the body,” he says. “But you can do the
strongman moves with lighter weights How it works: Two competitors brace their feet against opposite sides of an ultra-
and still get strong.” strong wooden board, hands grasping a wooden stick. They try to wrestle the stick
No matter how much weight you use, away, never losing grip. The match ends when one of three things happens:
strongman exercises push your body to
build fundamental strength. Your legs
and core get stronger as you pull things
off the ground, and you build durability
and resilience in your back. And all that
strength translates into your everyday One competitor One competitor pulls One competitor
wrestles the the other completely over removes his feet
life. Strongman farmer’s walks and holds
stick away. the wooden board. from the board.
will make it easier to carry groceries into
your house, and all the log work will help
Mas wrestling (which is an event at the Arnold Sports Festival) is more than a grip-
you lift heavy boxes. strength test. As I battle Licis for a (very quick) round, I feel my glutes and ham-
You’ll do more than pack on muscle strings light up, and my lats light up, too. Oh, and Licis isn’t even trying. —E. S.
with strongman training. You’ll pack on
muscle and know exactly how to use it.

GET DON’T START
1 ROUND 2 FEAR REST 3 LIGHT
Traditional thinking suggests You may be used to getting Yes, Licis squatted 605 pounds,
you should never round your minimal rest between sets in and he can do more, too. But
back. But remember that Licis order to break a good sweat. when we warmed up, he started
squat? Rounding your back is Rethink that if major muscle’s with only a 45-pound bar—and
more natural than you imagine. the goal. During our first work- had me do the same. “You
“Rounding your back can make out, Licis does 8 deadlift reps learn technique by warming
LESSONS you stronger,” says trainer Dan with 706 pounds, then rests up light,” he says. “And some-
5 minutes. He does another
times it’s harder to do it light.”
John. “It gives you a chance
FROM LICIS to fill your torso with air, like a 8 reps. “Do a set, then take Licis is right: A heavy weight
tire.” Build that strength with
a nap,” he jokes. “I need the
can force your body into the
bear-hug farmer’s carries: Hold recovery.” If you do exercises right positions. Start with a light
Three things Eb learned a heavy sandbag or med ball with fewer than 3 reps per set, set of any exercise you do, to
training with the World’s at your chest. Walk for 30 to 45 don’t race to go into your next make sure your body can mas-
Strongest Man. seconds; do 3 sets. set; listen to your body. ter the form.

18 December 2019 / MEN’S HEALTH