- Nationality: American
- Height: 1.98m
- Weight: 182kg
Powerful pink shoes! If there’s one sure-fire sign of a man who believes in his own strength, it was Mike’s decision to wear some excellent pink Converse shoes within these competitions.
Jenkins exploded onto the strongman scene in 2011 when he secured second place position, beating Big Z within the process at the Arnold Strongman Classic. He’d won the amateur equivalent a year earlier but had otherwise been in the shadows on the international circuit. This second place led to a series of excellent performances, culminating in victory at the Giant’s Live Event & The Arnold Strongman Classic within the following year of 2012. Jenkins was a favourite coming into the 2012’s World’s Strongest Man but narrowly missed out on a podium finish after superhuman performances from Big Z, Lalas and Brian Shaw.
He passed on his place in 2013’s Arnold Strongman Classic due to an injury. A wicked combination of static strength and speed in the moving events made Jenkins an awesome competitor. Sadly, Mike passed away aged 31 in November 2013. Although sadly this respectable man has passed on, he is still remembered today to have made a great impression within the strongman industry. His determination and drive still lives on within many of the strongman competitors today.
Mike will be greatly missed, this came as a shock to so many people but this just goes to show that even the strongest and nicest guys sometimes run out of luck. R.I.P Mike, being an inspiration to many of us and others. He will be greatly missed!
See also Jean-Francois Caron – From Stats to Stamina: Mastering the Strongman Workout for Success
Most recent achievement: Mike Jenkin’s most recent achievement was at The Arnold Strongman Classic in 2012 and also The Giants Live competition within the same year. Taking his victory within both of these events was the highlight in Mike’s strongman days.
Here is Mike’s awesome Dumbbell win at the 2012 Arnold Strongman Classic:
Mike Jenkins Strongman Workout for Unleashing Strength and Power
Mike Jenkins, a formidable strongman competitor, left a lasting impact on the strongman scene with his incredible strength and power. To tap into his training methods and unlock your own potential, consider incorporating the following elements into your workout routine inspired by Mike Jenkins:
- Heavy Compound Lifts: Prioritize heavy compound exercises to build overall strength and power. Include movements like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, overhead presses, and rows. These exercises engage multiple muscle groups and promote functional strength development.
- Strongman-Specific Training: To excel in strongman events, incorporate exercises that simulate the challenges faced in competitions. Focus on tire flips, farmer’s walks, atlas stone lifts, log presses, and yoke walks. Train with event-specific equipment to improve technique, strength, and familiarity.
- Explosive Power Training: Strongman events often require explosive power. Include explosive movements such as box jumps, power cleans, kettlebell swings, and medicine ball throws in your training routine. These exercises target fast-twitch muscle fibers and enhance power output.
- Grip and Forearm Strength: Developing a strong grip is crucial for strongman success. Incorporate grip-specific exercises like farmer’s walks, heavy barbell holds, axle bar deadlifts, and plate pinches. Focus on improving grip strength and forearm endurance to handle heavy implements.
- Core and Stability Work: Strongman events demand stability and core strength. Include exercises such as planks, Russian twists, heavy carries, and anti-rotation movements to strengthen the core and improve stability under heavy loads. Focus on rotational exercises to replicate the demands of strongman events.
- Conditioning and Cardiovascular Training: Strongman competitions require endurance. Include cardiovascular conditioning exercises like sled pushes, battle rope workouts, rowing intervals, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to improve your cardiovascular fitness and overall stamina. This will help you sustain high-intensity efforts throughout the competition.
- Periodization and Progressive Overload: Utilize a periodized approach to your training, alternating between phases of heavy lifting, hypertrophy, and peaking for competitions. Gradually increase weights, repetitions, or intensity to challenge your body and stimulate growth. Incorporate progressive overload to continue pushing your limits.
- Rest and Recovery: Allow your body sufficient time to recover and adapt to the intense training. Prioritize quality sleep, adequate hydration, and include rest days in your routine to avoid overtraining. Listen to your body and adjust your training as needed to prevent injuries.
Remember, Mike Jenkins’ workout routine was tailored to his specific needs and strengths. Adjust the intensity, volume, and exercises based on your own fitness level and goals. Prioritize proper form, warm-up adequately, and cool down/stretch after each workout to prevent injuries and optimize performance.