Heavy Clubs

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Dan John has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.

Dan spends his work life blending weekly workshops and lectures with full-time writing, and is also an online religious studies instructor for Columbia College of Missouri. As a Fulbright Scholar, he toured the Middle East exploring the foundations of religious education systems. Dan is also a Senior Lecturer for St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London.

His books, on weightlifting, include Intervention, Never Let Go, Mass Made Simple and Easy Strength, written with Pavel Tsatsouline as well as From Dad, To Grad. He and Josh Hillis co-authored “Fat Loss Happens on Monday.”

In 2015, Dan wrote Can You Go? on his approach to assessments and basic training. In addition, Before We Go, another compilation akin to Never Let Go became an Amazon Bestseller.

In early 2017, Dan’s book, Now What?, his approach to Performance and dealing with “life,” became a Bestseller on Amazon. Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge became available in September 2017, too.

[ScottieBeans]

I got to disagree with you on heavy clubs and maces. My shoulders have always been my weak point thanks in part to sports injuries 20+ years ago. Clubs and maces are a tonic to my shoulders and they've built size and strength in them. For the first time my shoulders look like I work them lol. Also, I know you're a big kettlebell guy. I'm always told the "magic" in kettlebells is its off center weight. Clubs and especially maces the weight is far more off center and the leverages are killer. To each their own I guess.

[zachupton]

Heavy clubs are just another tool for my swiss army knife of fitness 💪

[jvm-tv]

People are different and there's no hard science on a lot of aspects of fitness. Just try things, listen to your body and see how it responds, if you like them then asks other coaches who also like them for more advice.

[unicornwranglerspace]

would you explain why you "just don't like them."?

[richardcaro]

Some people like it and some people don't just do what you love to do

[XxANXxful]

Hello Dan,
As always, love your content and approach to teaching. You're a huge inspiration to me!
I wonder what your take is on the range of motion the club takes your shoulder through, and whether you think it is necessary for a stronger and healthier shoulder? From following your material, it's become apparent that you sometimes tend to not advocate certain movements(i.e goodmornings), if the risk to reward ratio isn't in line with the needs of the group.
Question: Is this part of your thought process on why you don't like heavy clubs?

[InternetGoSchool]

I do respect you saying you don’t like Heavy Clubs, but I had hope you could had given us a bit more on your reasoning. I had the impression this is not just a hunch or personal preference, but you didn’t elaborate on it, which would had been nice to hear.

[fishtung]

I get you dont like them. but is it because they carry more risk for injury's? or do you think they are ineffective?

[jimjohns]

Awesome! Thanks for speaking to my questions.

[IndustriousGourmet]

Dan it's funny, the older I get the more I appreciate you're raving. Lunges feel okay until they don't, rucking with more than 35lbs in a back pack could place too much pressure on the spine just ask the Romans, swinging heavy isn't necessary.

However, Dan the only thing I think you're training is missing is arm and hand strength. Easy strength Omni book literally gave me a world class engine relative to my weight class, however outside of the world of track and field exists a need for manipulating odd objects, wrist tendons like steel cables, and grip endurance. Now do I think swinging a 45 pound club will give you practical worker strength? No. However, swings and Olympic lifting won't either. Is there something modern lifting is missing? Will swinging an Axe not make someone stronger?

[barriestrengthcoach]

Thanks Dan! As always great content.. I’ll never understand the need for people to shoot for the answer they want. I’m not into clubs either… between calisthenics, kettlebells, the odd heavy lift, and playing with some odd objects (carries and walks) I genuinely think that covers it. Personally I’m finding most value in Bodyweight feats at this particular time in my life.. PS.. I own and operate a Kettlebell Club (my gym business)..

BUT if someone uses clubs maces and really enjoys it or find it helps - Way to go!! Good for you.. coaches are allowed not to like things based on their experience and expertise. It is what it is. Done

[sammiebradford]

Guys... it's okay! Coach doesn't like clubs and it's going to be okay lol.

Just do what you like!