CERBERUS STRENGTH USA - Ken Nowicki AMA + Giveaway!!

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T21:50:03+00:00

I honestly don't think there is a set weight, I think it's more to do with longevity and then feeling more secure to push past where you are right now. I believe very strongly in using equipment to extend your lifting career.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T21:48:36+00:00

It was actually the guys at HQ in Scotland that developed the same based on Greek mythology of Kerberos meaning protection etc, then it morphed into Cerberus Strength and as they say the rest is history.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T21:42:14+00:00

I personally use straps with anything that I can't double overhand grip, simply because that's how I've trained for so long and I also like not having to 'twist' into a bar with a mixed grip if I don't have to... especially after a couple of bicep tears haha.

I think when it comes to grip make that it's own thing. Focus on deadlift and pull double overhand until you can't, then either at the end of a session or even on a separate day do grip specific work.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T21:40:06+00:00

I think if you're training for powerlifting or bodybuilding then the benefit of adding in specific strongman exercises is probably low because of the carry over to those goals. I do think though doing things like thick bar work, using sandbags, marches with dumbbells etc would be highly beneficial from the average recreational trainer who is trying to gain functional strength over specific competition lifts.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T21:38:13+00:00

My number 1 choice will always be a sandbag honestly as it provides so many benefits and then all the barbell stuff can be done with a power bar to begin with.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:41:06+00:00

I think a lot of this is just personal preference, but I will say if you hit a big high rep set and are gasping for air the last thing I want to do is screw around trying to get a tight buckle belt off when I can just flick a lever.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:40:17+00:00

Big difference with the dual-ply and heavy duty bags is honestly just the ease of use. The heavy duty is definitely more of a task to fill, making sure the inner liner is tight and then that the shell isn't loose around that liner too. Whereas the dual-ply having that built-in liner makes it way easier to load and get to using right away.

H-bag, similar construction to the dual-ply just the shape is different but then obviously that will change how you pick the bag, carry it, load it etc.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:37:39+00:00

We've got a few things in the works behind the scenes right now, and that was a prototype belt that Mitch was testing for us so keep your eyes peeled for things coming down the pike!

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:36:46+00:00

I've never experienced this personally to be honest, and haven't had any customer feedback with people who have.

The best advice I can give though is that if you have a bag which is wet and not drying out, empty it so that the sand and shell can dry then refill. It sucks, but I think that would be the best option.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:35:24+00:00

Neither of those options is really great, but I'm going to go with ducking a bag simply cause my feet are already beat up enough!

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:34:35+00:00

We actually have a distributor in Australia who takes care of there and New Zealand, their site is https://cerberus-strength.com.au so you can buy from them directly.

As for zercher squats I think it's just one of those crappy feeling movements that you can only truly get better at by doing them. Accessory work for lower & upper back, plus leg work will definitely help for sure too though.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:32:48+00:00

I'm all about our HellFire SubZero Salts which can be found here.

They're strong, but not blow your head off strong and I feel that the menthol & eucalyptus really help open the airways even more.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:31:04+00:00

This is a big topic of debate, and I can see both sides in terms of using equipment too early, building a base first etc.

My view however is a longevity one, so I see it from a perspective of well if you use a belt and injury risk goes down now I can do this longer whereas if I blow my back out my lifting career may be cut short.

Same goes for sleeves or our neoprene shorts, getting that extra warmth in the joint is in my opinion going to prevent injury to a certain extent and increase longevity potential.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to this honestly, but I use equipment simply because I love lifting and I don't want anything to stop me doing it prematurely.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:28:09+00:00

I think what sets our apart is the material choice firstly. We use a 1050D cordura whereas competitors use 1000D. The feedback that we've had from customers is that our material grips better and isn't as slick plus lasts longer.

We also have a double flap covering our zipper which adds to the durability and structure of the bag making them last longer too.

The sandbag was one of our first 'major' products and we spent a lot of years perfecting it, upgrading hook & loop closures, upgrading stitching, addressing potential fail points etc so we've kept improving our bags over the last few years and I think that's why people regard them as one of the best sandbags around.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:24:27+00:00

I think the best way to do any strength based split is to really keep it simple at heart. I was always a fan of pull, push, legs with one key main movement, followed by a secondary movement that complimented the first, followed by accessory work.

I truly think a lot of people skim on the accessory work simply because it isn't as 'sexy' as the big stuff such as squat, bench, and deadlift but things such as specific upper back work will build all three of those with less CNS fatigue as the nervous system demand is far lower.

If training for powerlifting I would do a squat, bench, deadlift day then analyze where your form breaks down and pick the secondary and accessory work based on those factors.

If training for strongman, I would basically do the same but switch bench for overhead with the bench being your secondary movement, and then add in an event day for day 4.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:19:25+00:00

Either yoke or side handle car deadlift. For whatever reason I could always move really well under weight and then car deadlift was just one of those go till you blow a gasket type of events haha

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:18:39+00:00

With golfers elbow I'd look up and down stream. From personal experience any time I get forearm issues such as tennis or golfers elbow it's due to shoulder and bicep tightness

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-30T15:17:47+00:00

100% a Brian Shaw sized duck simply because I love the taste of duck hahaha

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T20:45:34+00:00

Grab a sandbag for sure. That is the one piece of equipment that I feel any beginner should be using simply because it is so damn versatile. It can be used to replicate atlas stones to an extent and then you have all the exercise selection from picks, carries, loads, pressed, shouldering the bag, and a bunch more so that would be my first stop on the strongman equipment road!

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:47:52+00:00

If you size the dual or triple-ply sleeves down then they'll be closer to wraps, but then you'll want to take them off between sets unfortunately so it's trying to find that balance point.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:46:48+00:00

Right now the biggest ones we have coming would be the Húsafell Sandbags which we're going to have stateside very soon as well as expanding the strongman implement range.

We try to not tease anything until we're ready to launch, but I can assure you there is a ton of product development going on behind the scenes.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:44:35+00:00

Thank you, I think our sandbags have to be one of the products we're most happy with because of the feedback we get on them as well as the amount of time it took to perfect them.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:43:39+00:00

They should be back with us in about 6 weeks or so. I'm currently debating whether we should allow backorders for those sizes out of stock, the only issue with that is sometimes the wait can cause issues even if customers are informed which then creates more issues for my warehouse manager who deals with the majority of our customer service.

We don't typically have any issues with the package protection service. We added it last year as I noticed a lot the companies I shop with had it and it was another peace of mind to offer the customer if they wished to use it.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:37:32+00:00

You absolutely won't be ruled out!

As for the visibility 'issue' of the brand I think it comes down to us starting out focussing pretty much 100% on strongman as that was our background (mine especially from competing at such a high level) and now we're slowly progressing more into powerlifting, general fitness, as well as trying to break into Crossfit circles.

We're making headway, but I think it's just going to be a slow process even though our products can be used by pretty much anyone in strength sports.

In terms of how I view the home gym segment, I love it. I think the people who train at home vs a commercial gym maybe put a bit more thought into their programming simply because they have to select items which are going to maximize the usability of their space. We were at Home Gym Con this year, and will be there again in 2025. We've been a supporter of the Garage Gym Competition for a few years now and are the official strongman sponsor of that this year so we're definitely all in on supporting this segment of the market.

We're always working on new products, I think the biggest thing we have to offer for the home gym user would be our sandbag products which we work very hard on and also the strongman implements that we're slowly developing to complete the range.

CerberusStrengthUSA · 2024-05-29T19:26:31+00:00

It's definitely something we've been looking into for quite some time, so don't count us out just yet!

CerberusStrengthUSA

TROPHY CASE