244: how I've been able to do 20+ strict pull-ups for 20 years
Sep 17, 2025
The Strike Zero Method: Simple Bodyweight Training for Real Results
When people ask me how I got good at pull-ups—or how I stay consistent with bodyweight training after more than 20 years of working out—I always point to one method: the Strike Zero program.
It’s simple, scalable, and brutally effective. Whether you’re an entrepreneur pressed for time, a busy parent, or just someone who struggles to fit fitness into your day, bodyweight training can be the key to building strength, stamina, and resilience. And with the Strike Zero approach, you’ll never have to overthink your workouts again.
Why Bodyweight Training Works
Bodyweight training has always been one of the most underrated ways to build real strength. Unlike machines or heavy barbells, bodyweight exercises demand balance, stability, and core strength. They also travel well—you don’t need a gym, fancy gear, or even much time.
When your fitness is dialed in, everything else improves. My business grows more smoothly. I think more clearly. I show up better as a parent, a leader, and a friend. That’s why I never stop preaching the importance of prioritizing fitness.
The Backstory: Learning from a Marine
When I first started working out, I couldn’t do a single pull-up. Not one. A Marine I trained with introduced me to a program that pushed me to failure, over and over again. It was painful, humbling, but incredibly effective. I wrote it down and never let it go.
Years later, after becoming a strength coach and running multiple fitness businesses, I refined that program into what I now call Strike Zero.
How the Strike Zero Program Works
Here’s the basic idea:
Pick a rep target (say 100 push-ups or 50 pull-ups).
Go to failure on your first set.
If you get 12 reps, cross off 12 from your total.
Rest 60 seconds.
Go again to failure.
Repeat until you’ve struck your total down to zero.
That’s it. Simple, brutal, and tailored to your current ability.
Unlike “3 sets of 10” programming, Strike Zero forces progressive overload, time under tension, and muscle failure—all critical for growth in bodyweight training.
Programming It for Results
I typically structure Strike Zero three days per week with:
Lower Body: Air squats, lunges, or glute bridges.
Upper Body Push: Push-ups, handstand push-ups, or dips.
Upper Body Pull: Pull-ups, chin-ups, or ring rows.
Rotate through these three movements with your chosen totals, resting only 60 seconds between sets. A session will take 30–45 minutes depending on your numbers.
And if you’re slammed for time? Do just one exercise. One hundred push-ups using Strike Zero is still better than nothing.
Why This Method Sticks
Bodyweight training isn’t about equipment. It’s about momentum.
Busy day? Knock out a quick Strike Zero session at home.
Low motivation? Commit to just one movement and you’ll still build progress.
Scaling ability? Total reps adapt automatically to your level.
The program removes excuses while building strength and consistency.
Timestamps:
00:30 – Why bodyweight training matters for busy people
01:45 – My early struggles with pull-ups
03:10 – Learning from a Marine and discovering the method
04:25 – The Strike Zero program explained
05:50 – Why failure and volume matter in bodyweight training
06:45 – How to structure the workout (lower, push, pull)
07:40 – Short sessions: one-exercise Strike Zero for busy days
08:20 – Fitness as the foundation for business and life
