Here is the interview I did recently with Jackson Monk from Never Enough Health and Fitness about how I got started in strongman. A link to original article can be found at the bottom of the post as well as a link to the Never Enough website.
Looking for a Strongman Gym in Melbourne? Aaron is Head Strongman Coach and co-owner of Iron Revolution, the premier Strength Sports gym in Melbourne’s north west and home of Strongman in Melbourne.
– Name, where you’re from, a little bit about yourself
My Name Is Aaron Scarborough and I’m from sunny Melbourne….. I like to lift heavy things and my friends call me Grimlock because I have a unique way with words.
– What do you do for a job?
I am co-owner of Iron Revolution where I work as a Strength Coach and Sports Nutritionist. I am also part owner of Elite Supplements Australia. I have been working in the Health and fitness industry for a little over 10 years now and have a fairly diverse background working with a wide range of clients from post rehab and fat loss through to bodybuilding/fitness modelling and sports of all kinds. These days my focus is on sports nutrition and the strength sports, in particularly strongman.
– How did you get into strongman?
I have always been a massive fan of strongman since I was a kid. I idolized people like Bill Kazmaier and the late Jon Pall Sigmarsson. 2 years ago I started training seriously with plans to start competing in powerlifting and attempting to do some strongman training when I could with the limited equipment I had access too. Around 18 months ago I finally went to a REAL strongman training session. After that I was hooked! I was fortunate enough after doing my first strength grading to be invited to compete at The Southern Hemisphere Strongest Man Competition under 105kg at FitX because some athletes pulled out last minute, and then also at the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix Strongman under 105 kg 6 days later! So I decided to man up and go for it even though I had never handled those sort of weights nor done some of the events before. It was a great experience and I learned so much from it. I haven’t looked back since. I competed in 7 strongman competitions and events in 2013.
– What you enjoy about the sport and what is most challenging thing?
You have to be great at everything to be competitive in strongman. You need to be strong, explosive, have good athleticism, great strength endurance, good mobility and a willingness to go out there and have fun. This makes it challenging to program for as there are so many aspects you need to focus on all the time. Often we will turn up to events and the equipment will differ from the stuff you have used in training which makes a big difference too when you are dealing with maximal weights.
– What you want to achieve in the sport
I want to be as big and strong as I can be for as long as I can be. 105-110kg and sub 10% body fat would be fine by me 🙂 I would love to be travel internationally to compete as I grow as an athlete. I’m always out to better my previous efforts first and foremost. If this results in me winning that would be great. I know I will hit personal bests and achieve my life training goals. It’s only a matter of time for me and I love what I do so I’m just enjoying the ride and having fun competing with great athletes and making some friends along the way. Strongman is about putting on a good show too
– How could someone get into Strongman if they wanted to start up
Just start! Find a gym that is set up for Strongman and contact them. Find a place that actually has athletes who have competed before too. There is no better experience than learning technique from people who are proficient at them and regularly train and compete. Learning the implements in strongman is as much about technique as it is strength. Check out Strongman Victoria website or on Facebook to for frequent updates. There are different weight categories for both men and woman so don’t worry, no one needs to be a big gorilla to start strongman. From under 80kg through to heavyweight there is a place for every one to get started. I run daily strongman training groups at Iron Revolution where I program and coach all our lifters. From beginner to elite everyone has a place and is welcome at our gym!
– What are your PB’s for all the lifts
In conventional lifts they are as follows;
Squat= 220kg
Bench press= 160kg
Deadlift= 275kg
In Strongman;
Super yoke= 385kg for 20m carry and a 430kg yoke pick up and hold
Max Log Clean and Press= 120kg
Max Axle Clean and Press= 130kg
Max Axle Deadlift= 285kg for 3 reps (40cm bar height)
Farmers Carry= 135 kg for 30m carry and a 145kg pick up and hold (each hand)
Atlas stones= up to 150kg over bar
– When are you competing competing next?
My Big focus will be preparing of the 2015 Arnold Sports Classic Australia u105kg Strongman competition in March 2015. It will be either a combined Australias Strongest Man/Southern Hemisphere Strongest Man competition or an International 105 tournament with competitors from around the world! Either way I can’t wait as it will be a fantastic experience and a great challenge for me. I will also be completing a powerlifting competition in December 2014 and at this stage competing in Victorias Strongest Man 2015 in January.
– Your favourite highlights in the sport so far
By far it was being able to compete at FitX and the F1 GP events in March 2013. I got to meet some of the worlds best Heavyweight competitors as part of the WSM qualifying tour Giants Live. It was a great few weeks and I had an absolute ball even though I was a ring in competitor I gave it my all and got to hang out with some cool dudes and learn a bucketload.
You can find the Original article here
