METTLE

It goes by many names, but your grit, resilience, heart or mettle, will be the most significant factor in whether you succeed or not. The “success” spoke of is also not limited to the gym and whether or not you pull a new “personal best” deadlift, but also life in general. Whether you live a good productive life, obtain that promotion, maintain that valued relationship or raise decent human beings, perseverance will be the most significant factor. As we all are aware, anything worthwhile doesn’t come easy… so do not be scared of the trials and look to develop traits that will help get you through the hard shit.

“Its far easier to strengthen yourself than to attempt to take the teeth out of the world that is around you.” -Ryan Holiday

When looking to build mettle in the gym we should commit to constant improvement.

To forge iron, we place it into the fire to the point of being red hot, pound it with a hammer, and then repeat till we have the desired shape and strength. How we build our own character is not much different. We as many others, use the gym and physical effort to build, forge and hone our mettle. The more time we think of and practice the virtues we seek, the more likely we are to attain or improve them. The physical world of effort is a great medium to do this, it’s quite easy to push ourselves physically to the point of wanting to quit… The iron pushing into your neck, the feeling of acid being accumulated in your legs and your lungs starving for oxygen and wanting to turn inside out are all things that hurt; and with pain being the best deterrent there is, it is very effective. If we can push through these things, then we can push through other things. In a controlled environment like the gym, we can get ourselves to these points quite easily and despite the temporary discomfort, we will generally be just fine. If done correctly the risk is minimal while the return is maximal.

To be worth your mettle you need to be disciplined and never conform to complacency. You build it by showing up, by doing hard things, and above all else being consistent. Some days we need to immerse ourselves into the flames and hammer out the inconsistencies of our character. Other days we need to let it cool and solidify, but the point is to keep the cycle repeating.

I want people to feel the urge to give up and give in, then to feel the sense of accomplishment when they don’t.

“When you keep searching for ways to change your situation for the better, you stand a chance of finding them. When you stop searching, assuming they can’t be found, you guarantee they won’t” -Angela Duckworth

Doing these things have more to do with attitude and action, than specific movements and output. It’s about deliberate practice towards achieving your goals. It’s about having a purpose, being focused, reflecting and then repeating. Rather than focusing on your strength, try focusing on your weakness, you may not look as cool to those around you, and not get as many “likes” on Instagram, but in the end, your training will pay dividends that far exceed the gym. What you are currently good at will eventually stagnate and fade… and if that’s all you’ve practiced, you will not have trained the ability to move on, to learn something new, to persevere.

————————–

Although someone’s mettle can be seen and trained in how they approach most things, specifically static holds prove to be a great indicator and training tool for building mettle. People rarely fail a static hold due to a physical weakness, we fail because of metal ones. An example of this is the Front Leaning Rest or “FLR,” Most of us, choose to stop holding and drop because its uncomfortable and it sucks, not because we are physically unable, but rather mentally weak. Geoff Vincent pictured below held the position for 22 mins straight and strict, people have held longer but he was not trained to do so, he simply possesses mettle that others do not. Another individual, Tim Lawrence, who on paper has a “disability” (Cerebral Palsy) but is way stronger than most of us mentally, held the same position for 12min.

Geoff Vincent shortly after holding an FLR or plank for over 20min

There are smart ways to build mettle in the gym and very dumb ways… In general pay attention, listen to the warnings and don’t be stupid.

The problem often isn’t the movement, it’s the man.

Don’t let ego run the show, learn when to push the boundaries and when to hold back… sometimes going easy can be the hardest thing to do. Think about the long term and have patience; Character isn’t built over night or even in six weeks. Having an experienced coach or friend by your side to provide honest outside perspective is often the best resource to have. There is undoubtedly a point of diminishing returns, and pushing through shitty reps for “mental fortitude” is not the answer. Generally, in our experience it all comes down to intensity and volume. Both have their place and can be used for this end but when we start wanting to ride both lines is when we really need to pay attention.

With things like anxiety, depression and suicide steadily climbing, it’s obvious we are losing a war. We’re not claiming to know the cause nor antidote for the epidemic, but we all could use more mettle and, in my opinion, physical effort is the best way to gain it. Strive to persevere, to be worth your mettle; and when doing so… commit to resist complacency.

*Photos by Tobi Macphee and Zeb Watson

* Recommended reading: “Obstacle is the Way” Ryan Holiday; “Grit” Angela Duckworth; “Endure” Alex Hutchinson