Getting Started with the Tyson Grind – 2024 Style
Alright, so I saw some footage of Mike training again, looking mean for 2024. Got the old gears turning, you know? Made me wonder, what would happen if I tried to get a taste of that kind of intensity? Not pretending I’m him, obviously, that’s crazy talk. But just to see what that level of work feels like these days.
So, I decided to give it a whirl. First step? The damn alarm clock. Set it for stupid o’clock, way before sunrise. That first morning, dragging myself outta bed felt like lifting concrete. Seriously rough. Then, laced up and hit the road. Just some light jogging, maybe a couple of miles. Nothing like his crazy runs, but enough to shock the system awake in the cold air. Felt good, but tough.
The Core Stuff – Bodyweight Hell
Got back, quick splash of water, then the real business started. This is where I tried to mimic that relentless volume he’s famous for. It wasn’t pretty.
- Push-ups: Man, so many push-ups. Tried to bang out sets of 50. First few sets were okay, then the arms just turned to jelly. Had to break ’em down into smaller chunks. Felt pathetic sometimes, but kept grinding.
- Squats: Just air squats. But again, numbers. Aimed for hundreds. Legs were screaming after the first hundred or so. Like, deep burn. You just gotta shut your brain off and keep moving.
- Neck Work: Okay, I was careful here. Saw him doing those neck bridges back in the day. Tried a few, very gently. Felt kinda risky, honestly. Switched to just holding my head against resistance with my hands. Safer, but still worked the muscles.
- Sit-ups: The classic. Just kept banging them out. Trying to hit big numbers like you hear he did. Hundreds and hundreds. Core felt like it was ripping apart by the end.
Adding Some Fight Moves
Didn’t have a fancy gym or anything. Just my garage space. But tried to incorporate some boxing-specific stuff.
Shadow Boxing: Spent a good chunk of time just moving. Throwing punches in the air. Tried focusing on speed, slipping, moving my head. Looked like an idiot at first, probably still do. But you get a sweat going, work the shoulders, try to feel explosive. It’s harder than it looks to stay sharp.
Bag Work (sort of): Don’t have a heavy bag right now. So, I just imagined one. Focused on putting power into the shadow boxing combos. Really tried to snap the punches, turn the hips over. Did some drilling against the wall pads I have. Just hitting something helps, even if it’s not a proper bag session.
How It Felt (and Still Feels)
Man, the first week was pure survival. Every muscle ached. Getting up that early felt unnatural. There were days I seriously considered just sacking it off. Just pure grind, day in, day out. No fancy machines, just pushing your own body until it begs you to stop.
But stuck with it, mostly. Had to adjust the volume sometimes, listen to my body. I ain’t 20 anymore, and definitely not Mike Tyson. But after doing it for a while now? Feel tougher. Sharper, maybe? The discipline of the early start, the sheer volume… it changes something in your head.
Didn’t magically get his power or speed, lol. But I got a real appreciation for that old-school, relentless work ethic. It’s brutal, it’s simple, and damn, it’s effective if you can survive it. It’s humbling, really. Gives you respect for what guys like him put themselves through. Yeah, it’s something else.
