SGPT interviews Bar-Barian Rick Seedman

SGPT: Tell us about yourself?

RS: My name is Rick Seedman, I’m 28 years of age and I’m a Bar-barian.

SGPT: Do you have a background in sports?

RS: My background is mainly in martial arts. That was my original passion. I also participated in some team sports throughout school.

Now mostly kickboxing, rock climbing, snowboarding, parkour and of course Bar-barians!

Video Bar-Barian Rick Seedman

SGPT: Tell us about the Bar-Barians.

RS: Well Bar-barians was founded by Zef and Jude in 2004. They were working out for many years before that, though that is when the name was created. The years to follow, they were in the lab coming up with new moves and training routines.

Zef posted some clips on his Zakaveli Youtube account  using just a razor cell phone camera which had attracted many people to his style of training. Meet ups started taking place.

Requirements were created. The website went up. And the rest is history.

SGPT: How did you get involved?

RS: Well when I got involved with Bar-barians in ’07 it was just Zef and Jude, the two originals. I was the third member to come along. We were emailing for a while, so by the time we met up and worked out it seemed as if we already knew each other for years, as if we were long lost family or something. We clicked and connected immediately, and went from there.

SGPT: Do you all meet at the same place to workout – or in different areas?

RS: There are a number of parks we workout at across the city. The main ones are Wingate, Lincoln Terrace and FDR, but the Bar-barians home is TSP.

SGPT: What are the standards for becoming a Bar-Barian?

RS: RS: The current physical requirements for Spring ’11 is 5 muscle ups, 45 dips, 25 pull-ups, 55 push ups and 5 muscle ups within 6 mins. Being a Bar-barian, it’s something you’re born with, it takes more than just physical abilities, it take heart, determination, modesty and the hunger to achieve all of your goals in every facet of life.

SGPT: What are some of the workouts that the Bar-Barians and yourself do to improve pull-up strength?

RS: For strength I would use a technique I learned from one of the Bar-barians Eric Rauch. Its a one rep max pull-up, without the use of added weight. The form is completely strict and VERY very slow. From the dead hang, your body stays completely straight as you go up, almost as if you’re trying to keep your entire self back behind the bar, so when you pull-up (slow throughout the entire motion) you are continuously fighting the legs and waist from coming forward. It builds maximal strength and control.

RS: It takes hard work. To be a Bar-barian in anything in life takes hard work. Another aspect of great importance to understand are your goals as well your passion. It really comes down to what you’re trying to achieve and where your passion lies. That determines your direction and how much your really going to put into it. Understand your goals, work hard towards them and put your heart into it, and you’ll be amazed at the outcome.

SGPT: Do you do additional workout with free weights or machines to add to your pull-up power on the bar?

RS: I just do bodyweight training. I’ve done weights in the past, and they do have their merit, but my passion lies in bodyweight training. Also I feel as if I’ve kind of out grown the gimmicks in the form of expensive, fancy or unnecessary equipment. When you get to a certain level I feel it’s all gimmicks. Everything. None of it is really necessary. Same goes for nutritional/supplemental products in a very similar way.

We are stretching in between and throughout the workouts so towards the end we’re pretty toasted and don’t really do many stretches. Besides you’re not allowed to leave the park until you “buy your way out.”

SGPT: Have you ever had any injuries from working out?  If so, what do you do now to prevent future injuries?

RS: I’ve actually had more injuries than I can count. I broke a lot of bones growing up because I was always climbing everything and doing crazy things. I’ve had some sport, competition and training injuries. I’ve kind of developed a high pain threshold to go along with the mental toughness learned from martial arts, fighting and from my personality.

I’ve learned the hard way through experience. Now things are much different. I take very good care of my body. Luckily those old injuries as a kid have healed nicely. I have been injury-free for a while now, and am on the path of injury prevention, warming up and stretching thoroughly daily, and just playing it wiser overall.