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The definition of the word Mecca: Any place considered to be a

very important place to visit by people with a particular interest OR a place

This stint of the Iron World Tour was meant to discover and take part in exactly what makes Armburst Pro Gym (aka the Mile High Mecca) and the crew behind the massive success of what has become the Armbrust brand.

The atmosphere of Armbrust Pro Gym is very potent, motivating and hits you as soon as you walk through the doors. As explained by Dylan Armbrust, it is not something that came or developed over night. Born from passion and through years of grit, sticking it out through tough times, Armburst Pro Gym is now the home of 7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, every serious competitor in Colorado, and a true global destination for all iron addicts alike.

GASP CEO Michael Johansson, 2x Arnold Classic Champion Branch Warren and National level bodybuilder Joe Robinson set out to Denver to meet up with Armbrust Pro Gym owner Dylan Armbrust, and IFBB Pros Brett Wilkin and Adam Young. Among the Denver stops were Union Station in downtown Denver, Red Rocks and Outdoor Amphitheater Tour and a stop at Buffalo Bills grave. Check it all out here and stay tuned for East Coast Iron World Tour part 2 at gaspofficial.com.

Born From Passion - Armbrust Pro Gym

More in Real and Raw

Fresh off a great comeback to competition post burns and double shoulder surgery competing in Chicago pro Guy Cisternino keeps the momentum going working towards an Olympia qualification in 2019.

Here Guy trains at the massive Metroflex Gym in Fort Worth Texas known as The Castle. Owner Rendy Delacruz, explains that the massive space that is now the biggest Metroflex gym in the world, complete with strongman implements, crossfit cages, powerlifting platforms and MMA octagon used to be a bomb factory during WWII.

Lat pulldowns: 4 sets 10-15 reps (pyramid up in weight each set)

Nautlius Machine Pullovers: 4 sets 10-15 reps (pyramid up in weight each set)

Deadlifts: 2 warms ups then 3 pyramided sets up to 405lbs

Unilateral Hammer Row: 4 sets of 10-15 reps

Underhand Grip Machine Pulldowns: 4 sets of 10 reps

Neutral Grip Pull downs: 4 sets of 10-15 reps

Back In The Heat - Guy Cisternino at The Castle

More in Events

Big Tex Gym meets DESTINATION Dallas in a true Iron World Tour fashion. Complete with a 20+ iron addict crew from Big Tex Gym owners Rob and Esther made the 4 hour road trip up to Dallas from Austin.

The mission: 4am wake up and haul ass to Dallas for breakfast, fit in an epic lifting session, catch a breath. Then chow down with GASP CEO Michael Johansson's NOW world famous barbecue. Mission accomplished and next stop for GASP is IRON WORLD TOUR Austin, Texas.

The mission of the Iron World Tour is to document and show our community how the rest of the world stays inspired, how we share ideas, successes and failures. As well as how we through different languages, landmarks, religions, and cultures are loving the process, and the iron – and that the journey is what makes life worth living.

Big Tex Gym meets ...destination Dallas Texas

The east coast is known for being more abrasive, forward and anti "beat around the bush." Boston, New York, New Jersey all have a "say what you mean and mean what you say"attitude and this carries over into the gym. No bullshit, let's get it done!

Hardcore mentality is part of why the east coast is home to some of the best hard core training facilities in the world to name a few Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym in Long Island, New York, Apollon Gym in Edison, New Jersey and a brand new gym that meets the approval of Guy Cisternino, Shaun Clarida and Vlad Petri; Iron Culture, New Jersey.

We take Derek Lunsford from sunny Tampa Florida to the backyard of east coast residents Chris Pantano, Vlad Petric, Shaun Clarida, and Guy Cisternino.

Check out all the sights, conversations and training from this installment of the Iron World Tour and stay tuned for New Jersey, Denver and a 4 city tour coming up in China!

Don't Beat Around The Bush - IWT New York Recap

More in Training

"Training for Nationals will be tough this summer. I will do a lot of the training outside."

Things are heating up for Texas Strongman Austin Haye here in Dallas, Texas. He qualified for Nationals twice in the beginning of 2019 at the Ronnie Coleman Strongman and then again at the Texas strongest man event at the Europa Games.

A real motivating factor this go around was the fact that his son, now 2 years old, was old enough to attend and understand the competition. Now he is accompanied by his wife Mary, son Jack and soon on the way daughter as well. "Jack's favorite time is to go into the garage with dad and lift weights."

Check back for more updates and some how-to information on strongman training from Austin Haye.

Austin Haye - Strongman Nationals Prep

Kevin Ofurum is a 212 IFBB Pro bodybuilder who has built notable density especially in back development. Courage Opara is a very quickly rising classic physique pro who is preparing for the 2019 Olympia.

Courage's number 1 priority for improvement for this year's Olympia is BACK! Here he teams up with Kevin Ofurum for a few pointers and techniques that have worked to build his size and thickness.

Bodyweight Pull-ups: (Pull body as high as possible at least forehead to bar)

Prime Neutral Grip Pulldowns: (Pyramided up in weight)

Rope pulldowns: (Pull rope down and out at the bottom)

Ofurum Shrugs: (Start with dumbbells in front of thighs and pull up and back and try to touch dumbbells together in back)

Stay tuned for Olympia progress and more old school real and raw training from Kevin and Courage.

Kevin & Courage - Classic Back Training

We do this to ourselves so we must love it. Kevin Ofurum has drive that transcends the gym environment with raising his children and running a successful chiropractic practice in Dallas, Texas. Currently he is preparing for his next competitive outing in the Pro 212 category.

Consistency is definitely a commonality in the iron sport and Kevin has been competing every year since 2000. He describes what drives him as the continuous pursuit to improve, to beat himself and to win! All in all it is "self torture," driven by "self satisfaction or success."

Kevin Ofurum - Self Torture or Satisfaction

Change is inevitable. Adapting to change is crucial for survival. However, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Joar Fällmar from Jönköping Sweden established his roots in the iron game early on in powerlifting and then transitioned to classic bodybuilding. In the fast paced, ever evolving, world of social media and bodybuilding vs classic bodybuilding one thing remains the same - accomplishing goals in this arena is done with laser focus and no compromises.

Check out Joar Fällmar in this segment of LIFE of IRON.

Joar Fällmar - Life of Iron

We are not all equal. When it comes to resources, genetics, perspective or even work ethic, we are all different. Given that fact, we can all ADAPT.

Ed Brown is an example of not having the best genetics for bodybuilding but he studied the best, learned from the best and had the determination and grit to outwork many of his peers in the competitive bodybuilding circuit.

"You have guys like Lee Haney. He could paint his toenails and lift half the stack on a row machine and look better than me. I have to out work guys like that." - Ed Brown

Currently Ed Brown is in his offseason implementing some lifts and training technique here to improve his back development. See what you can learn from him and stay tuned for more real and raw training at gaspofficial.com.

Rack pulls: 4 warm up sets x 10, 8, 6, 6 reps

Dumbbell rows: 100lb x 10, 130lb x 10, 160 x 10

drop set 200lb - 160lb - 130lb 10 reps each drop

Hammer unilateral row: 4 pyramided sets x 10-12 reps

Ed Brown - We Can All Adapt

To be like everybody else is the worst thing to be. We hit the road up to Oklahoma City from Dallas with NPC Nationals Overall bodybuilding champion Shaun Vasquez and learn how he adapted to stay uncomfortable with mediocrity at a young age. From the people who influenced him at a young age to the circumstances that shaped who he is today and who he surrounds himself with now, Shaun shares everything.

"It doesn't matter if it is with bodybuilding or with my job, I won't settle and be mediocre."

Shaun Vasquez - Life of Iron

"End on a high note." This is a common phrase and action recommended to repeat according to Josh Bryant.

Johnnie Jackson missed the world record but hit a new high from his 705lb pull after his return to deadlift training.

Check out Johnnie's attempts here and listen in on the commentary from Josh.

Johnnie Jackson - End on A High Note

Johnnie Jackson is going for a world record in the 242lb masters category at the Europa Games June 8th, 2019.

He has hit his mental stride this last heavy workout before the meet and it definitely showed in his lifts in terms of speed and aggression towards the bar.

"He didn't think. You have to get to that point when you aren't thinking. Its automatic. When you are in the zone, you exist outside of time and space. It's like you exist in a quantum realm where there is no problems, only possibilities and you don't think to make it happen!" -

 Josh Bryant referring to Johnnie Jackson's automatic mental game clicking in this workout.