Review: Ross Enamait's Infinite Intensity

**MikeMartial** · 04:02 PM

So I recieved a copy of Ross Enamait's Infinite Intensity a few days ago...and I am totally blown away. I had ordered a copy of his Never Gymless about a month or so ago, and was totally impressed. In fact, I really had no intentions of getting Infinite Intensity, because NG was so complete. But damn I'm glad I did get a copy.

Simply speaking, Infinite Intensity is written by a fighter, for any fighter. Every drill, exercise, set and rep has the combat athlete in mind. Not that it wouldn't benefit anyone, but you can tell just by reading that Ross is thinking about the ring, preparing any athlete that would even consider fighting to have the top notch conditioning.

He covers everything from the different types of strength, periodization, set/rep numbers, to the different type of conditioning. This is one area that I was extremely happy with. While Never Gymless did cover conditioning, it never covered it to the extent that Infinite Intensity did.

And if you think you've "seen it all", or you have the best trainer in the world, I can tell you right now you are dead wrong. I swear, there's workout samples in there that make me nauseated just looking at them. I think Pat Miletich and Billy Rush would learn a thing or two. In fact, they probably read both II and NG under their covers with a flashlight at night.

If I had to criticize, it would be on recovery and nutriton---nutrition he covered in NG, and recovery is just an area of mine I'm highly interested in. These are topics that are so vast and broad that even the experts can write single books. Ross didn't touch either in Infinite Intensity, which wasn't a bad idea. He also doesn't cover flexibility, which is usually an issue with kickboxing and any leg-dominant martial arts. This topic has been covered completely by other authors, so once again, Ross has wisely left this out.

Now, while I may be harping on this book, there one thing that really backs it all up. Ross himself. If you haven't seen his videos, hit his website and check them out. That's actually how I found out about Ross---a buddy sent me a video of "some dude skipping like a madman and throwing shit around". He said "Check this out, it has some good ideas". Understatement of the year. This is a guy that practices what he preaches. If Ross competed in the UFC, I bet money Chuck Liddell would fill his drawers.

For those that are unaware, Ross Enamait is a boxer and trainer. He has two websites, Ross Boxing and Ross Training. Both are fairly closely interconnected, with articles and videos linking back and forth. The video section is highly recommended.

By far thee best book I have ever read on strength and conditioning for combat athletes, hands down.

EDIT: Index for Infinite Intensity now included:

http://www.rosstraining.com/Infinite...sity_Index.pdf

Thanks to Dan Slobodin for finding this.

deadlyshaolin · 08-30-2006, 10:12 PM

Nice review. Big fan of Ross' (how can you NOT be?), love his vids. They inspire me to do badass things.

krellik · 08-31-2006, 02:33 AM

The best thing with Ross (besides that his books are the -best- on conditioning for combat sports!) is the things hes not, hes not a money hungry charlatan, he is not trying to start a cult and he is not dependant on certain "magic tools" and he is not overly dogmatic.

Basic Ross philosophy: Its not the implement that is important, it is the hard assed work you put down and doing it in an inteligent and researched way that is important.

**MikeMartial** · 08-31-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krellik

Basic Ross philosophy: Its not the implement that is important, it is the hard assed work you put down and doing it in an inteligent and researched way that is important.

And then he backs it up by shooting a wicked workout video in his basement, using stuff he built for pennies. It cracks me up because in the background you see the same shit he used for a previous video from over a year ago.

Speaking of which, I have to email him about the specs on that reverse-hyper table/Glute-ham thing he built out of 2x4's and plywood...

Brandon MacRea · 08-31-2006, 11:45 AM

Great review, Mike, I agree about the nutrition section, too. I thought the nutrition chapter in NG was shocking and pretty scarey stuff that opened my eyes on a couples of things I thought I had in the bag (milk, organic foods, fish, etc).

MisterSambo · 09-13-2006, 06:54 AM

Is there a big difference between that book and the Underground guide to Warrior fitness? Or to ask it otherwise, if you got the underground guide is the infinite intesity still worth buying?

krellik · 09-13-2006, 07:20 AM

Yes! On an entirely new level. Ross dont even sell his old books any longer for this whery reason.

MisterSambo · 09-13-2006, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krellik

Yes! On an entirely new level. Ross dont even sell his old books any longer for this whery reason.

And what are the differences between the old ones and the new ones?

**MikeMartial** · 09-13-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterSambo

And what are the differences between the old ones and the new ones?

Old and new info. Think of Infinite Intensity as the "new and improved" Underground Guide To Warrior Fitness. I think Ross also wanted to change up his website and marketing a bit---I remember reading a post from him saying something along the lines that he "didn't like the term "underground"".

Art Vandelay · 09-13-2006, 12:42 PM

I like the rossboxing site, so I am tempted to pick up Inf Int. My expectations of the book preclude me from purchasing it, and it'd be the type of book I'd have to read or skim before purchasing.

I simply can't think of anything the book can provide that would simply blow my mind or I'd have to incorporate into my training. I would definitely recommend his writing to the clueless or new trainees based on the quality of information he provides for free on his boxing website, as well as his active participation in answering his user's questions.