Woodgym With Petrone

Charles laid down the gauntlet with the conclusion episode of the Woodgym's Mental Toughness series, calling out our youngest athletes and claiming that it's "easier than ever before to be great." Well, folks, in perhaps the quickest and most fortuitous instance of pod feedback to date, it only took a couple days for someone to retort, and this young woman even lives in his neighborhood! What?! Brinley Murphy is Bearden's star competitor. Whether she's on the court or the field, she has the makings of a champion, and the accolades to back it up. She's joined on the pod by her mom, a distinguished lecturer teaching nutrition at the University of Tennessee. Having led both her basketball and soccer teams to serious championship wins, she is now focusing fully on soccer and has her sights set on continuing her domination at the University of South Carolina. Get listening and get on Brinley's level! 

Beloved VFL and cerebral pro LB Daniel Bituli returns to the Woodgym office for his debut podcast! Listen along with Chaz and the crew for an expedition into the mind of an elite athlete. Daniel plans to launch a digital training platform that transmits honed expert knowledge of sports and situational awareness to young athletes -- augmenting and supplementing what they learn from their coaches and physical trainers. Daniel saw a need for availability and immersion that went beyond what he could accomplish in traditional private lessons with his students, and we look forward to his work on his new online training implementation. 

What did the Woodgym learn from our series of deep dives into mental fortitude? Dr. James Choo and Charlie sit down once more at the round table to try and put a final pin in it! 

Summer break comes to an end with the Woodgym finally at a cool 86 degrees, so we had to return to podcasting. Couldn’t have asked for a more special guest than an OG Woodgym-er from back in the Homberg days: Nick Evennou. Nick is a born racer and athlete who started training with Charlie at the age of 14. He’s raced motorcycles and bikes all around the world, and shares some stories and insights. This one will need a part 2 . . .

Vinicious "Draculino" Magalhães graces the Woodgym with an extensive collection of insights gleaned throughout an unbelievable career in martial arts.  Learn how dispirate communities of Brazilian surfers and martial artists coalesced in a pivotal moment and changed Jiu Jitsu's evolution.  Finally, hear a definition of mental toughness from a modest but implacable athlete and competitor who has seen success both on the mat and as a trainer and mentor. 

Chaz, Choo, and the crew continue to explore the topic with Knoxville's resident biking bad*** Kaysee Armstrong.  Kaysee's story is awesome and left us all astounded and inspired. We explore the roles of heredity and childhood in mental toughness, and hear how she transformed adversity and trauma into fuel for her outdoor adventures and stellar performances on the trails.  Listen up and get learned! 

Charles and James get to chat once again with ten time World Champion Jiu Jitsu master Sam about mental toughness, whether it's something that can be developed. Finally, they talk about what it's like to train others across a spectrum of disciplines.

Charles and Dr. Choo get to work grilling two combat veterans about what led them to pursue military careers. Were they mentally tough when they enlisted? Did their time at Parris Island augment their temperament? Finally, what's it like experiencing combat and dealing with the memory when they're expected to plunge back into civilian life?  We get Zach and Derek to take a break from their jiu jitsu training and answer these questions and more in this special Mental Toughness episode. 

Charles and James are joined by golf pro Alex Fourie, a guest who literally traversed the world and overcame some of the bleakest conditions imaginable to end up in the US competing in a sport he loves. 

James and Charles blast into the second half of the series with an incomparable guest appearance by James Arthur Haslam II, the founder of Pilot Corporation and much more.  

Charles and Dr. James Choo pause three episodes in to reflect on what we've learned about the mind, perseverance, and success. Is the Woodgym any closer to defining what mental toughness is?

James and Charles welcome Justin Sims, an original Petrone guy, to the show to continue the round table discussion on mental fitness. Can "manufactured" adversity shape someone's mental toughness? What role do positivity and perspective play? 

Woodgym favorite Freddie Smith helps expand the dialog on mental toughness. What roles do preparation and determination play in overall fitness? 

Chaz, Choo, and the crew are joined by the parent whose question sparked the series. We can describe or picture mental toughness, but can we agree on a definition? Listen as the guys and Joe talk it out!

New deep dive series from the Woodgym. What do the words "mental toughness" mean to you? We ask Woodgym veterans what they think. Series premiere coming soon!

Charles is joined by world champion boxer turned coach Frank Eppolito, owner of Eppolito Boxing Gym in Knoxville. Choo, Chaz, and Frank talk about training, their influence on the youth they work with, and what sports can reveal about character. 

Jets WR Josh Malone takes a short break from training to talk to Chaz with alacrity about working with multiple trainers in different states. He's staying sharp and prepping for yet another NFL season! 

Charles sits down for an impromptu talk with Samuel Braga, an athlete that forged his own path to becoming a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and TEN times world champion.

Pier-Olivier Lestage sits down in the Woodgym office to review his 2 week training with Charles.

What if you're not one of the Woodgym's "Type A" personalities? Charlie and Choo are joined by "Diamond Dave" one year after the Lost Generation series to revisit the pursuit of fitness by the average American.