The Iron by Henry Rollins, a Reading and Inspiration

[@wgec8]

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength." - Frances de Sales

[@behroozshahdaftar4209]

But what if gentleness invites bullying.

[@Cemetery_Metalhead97x]

I started "working out" around 13. I started "going to the gym" at 19... I didn't really MEET The Iron 'til I was 21 and it's my best friend now.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

Respect the Iron and they will be your friend for life.

[@enriquecoscarelli712]

This year I commited to the iron, it's been an average of 3 to 5 times a week in the gym for the past 6 months. I'm starting to understand.

[@patrickfoley7702]

Yes

[@vladmirepoutine545]

Hope you're still going strong bro!

[@enriquecoscarelli712]

@@vladmirepoutine545 stronger than ever, biggest change of my life. it's starting to change a lot of things in my life beyond my physical and mental health.

[@iker8010]

@@enriquecoscarelli712 congrats bro. Hope all is well and still going strong

[@MrRMA2]

"The iron never lies" this couldn't be more true, absolutely beautiful.

[@BodyByBenSLC]

This article changed my life. Its standard reading for all weight lifters. Its the closest thing to a bible I've ever had.

[@automatedcomment]

Calm down

[@tommygrowls7894]

@@automatedcomment you sir are an idiot

[@MiggsMultiple]

@@automatedcomment 😂

[@beattrixkiddo2725]

Power to the people by Pavel is the Bible of the iron.

[@santiagoserna4]

Same here fella.

[@illusions46n2]

I get tears when I hear this. My lessons with the iron helped shape my young life.

[@tommygrowls7894]

The iron is my friend and my enemy. My means of competing with who I am today, surfacing who I will be tomorrow.

[@UDT116]

Learning about what you're made of is always time well spent.

[@Sweet3532]

Haven't been to the gym in about a year. This shit is getting me off my fat ass!

[@DiogenesOfCa]

It's been 5 years, how is that going?

[@KM-je6bf]

@@DiogenesOfCa i see the algorithm brought you here too

[@DiogenesOfCa]

@@KM-je6bf No, I have been a big Rollins fan since the Black Flag days.

[@adamwalker1707]

Been lifting for 10 years now, started as a toxic relationship until I found pure joy out of the journey. I will NEVER QUIT

[@vasilisv2337]

6:20-6:50 This is so powerful guys!! I almost cried I have the same feeling... 'Iron' is teaching us so many lessons and we have to be ready to learn from them

[@automatedcomment]

Calm down

[@patrickcolford5827]

Brilliant writing, the Iron helped me in my early teens and once again in my 40s in recovery from addiction.

[@westernslopestuff6693]

Beautiful. Tears in my eyes.

[@user-fe5cj3hq6u]

Powerful Henry Rollins

[@88wizeguy]

This is the best gym motivation ever

[@chrissullivan8879]

*life fify

[@GRAFFDEMON]

Cheers for this. I'm not into lifting much but this helps me stay on track with my workouts.

[@Anton-os5lk]

This feels like my life. Unfortionately i never Had that Male role model. I Had to find out myself. Had to go through a lot of shit to find out about lifting.

[@JCxVONxDOOM]

“Friends may come and go… but the 200 pounds is always 200 pounds.”

[@wayneknight26]

This poem started me down my path from 308 to 200 changed my life. We life the iron to become the iron

[@santiagoserna4]

If you wonder why Henry talks so passionate as to why weightlifting changed his life, I recommend you to check his podcast on Mr. Pepper man. He even goes to far as to call him his 'first real male figure' in his life.

[@michaelh2935]

Awesome reading dude. I'm not into lifting so much, but martial arts. It's a great story.

[@johnnyscifi]

Michael H As of right now, im just working out. Mostly workouts i can do surrounding a set of monkey bars, but ill start lifting again here soon. I had to walk away from lifting about 9 years ago, i couldnt manage my emotions, and the more i lifted, the more i actively sought violence in my life. I hope this time will be different

[@mchaggis32]

this is great! thanks for putting this together. we made your opening footage around 10 years ago, pretty cool you found some inspiration from it. Rollins rocks!

[@tanit]

Who is we?

[@mchaggis32]

Krause I'm Josh, the skinny guy. My friend Danny Ledonne made the video: "I Know You", by Rollins

[@tanit]

mchaggis32 awesome I hope it's Ok I sampled that video. It was amazing work!

[@darnerllim4318]

god damn, screw motivational videos of people training with hardcore metal musics and shit, this is the real deal.............. 5:50am now, not yet slept but this makes me look forward to my workout tomorrow!

[@michaeldevereux7862]

Was looking for an audio reading of this... Great job!

[@WreathStorm]

This. Wow. Just wow. Thank you so much for sharing this video. ^_^ 8:11 "There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength."

[@justintaylor9871]

Awesome video. The the mind and he body are not dichotomous, physical strength is the foundation of mental strength.

[@ZEvenEsh]

Good reading, brotha!

[@tommiethrash]

Oh man, Now I just wanna go to the gym when I'm supposed to be getting some shut eye. Thanks for the insomnia! Great video. Such inspiration.

[@bleakforecast9906]

I gotta say this guy is very motivational.

[@jacksonian71]

“Strength reveals itself through character.”

[@ryancarranza2240]

We all should aim to be more like Mr Pepperman.

[@gc7782]

First time hearing this. Amazing

[@rathgarredbeard4808]

"The secret of steel (iron) has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn it's riddle, Conan. You must learn it's discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. Steel (iron). This you can trust." ~ Corin, father of Conan the Barbarian 💪⚔👍

[@domranson5222]

Thanks so much

[@Geo-cf7fx]

Thank you !!!

[@Micksprint]

I'd like to know 10 basic exercises Mr Pepperman showed Henry.

[@TheDndemon]

This is brilliant!!

[@user-fe5cj3hq6u]

"You couldn't say sh!t to me." Powerful stuff.

[@machinehead3097]

Wow just wow

[@jr74518]

Very good reading Krause

[@MiggsMultiple]

I was hoping for motivation to remove creases from my shirts...

[@andrewrentuaya9510]

Henry rollins is the real natty

[@utharkruna1116]

Rollins for president.

[@ketoking9435]

AWESOME,,,,,

[@ericpirillo7260]

Yeah small again now lol but this mentality got a lot of us through our youth. Taught nice guys how-to negotiate the bullys and ignorance. Why Henry is forever the man!

[@bigwave25]

Amazing !!

[@davidjon3009]

henry fuckin rollins!!! gotta love that dude!

[@mowglimenschenkind4437]

Dear Mr. Rollins, although you will probably never read my thank you note, I want you to know that your essay literally saved my life. And I mean that exactly as I write it. Why? My entire life I have been struggling with a severe depression, probably since childhood. I have always felt lost, sad and out of place. The first time I felt strange was in elementary school - I always thought I was like everyone else (which I certainly was) - until others made me feel like I was not. I always felt like I had to hide, to mask myself - and dance to choreography I didn't know. And so I got myself a mask, a shell. As a teenager, I discovered the raw energy of punk and started a vegan/straight edge lifestyle (and of course, I stumbled upon Black Flag). But still I was the outsider. The guy no one wanted at their party or on their team. And somehow I always was fascinated by people who committed suicide (Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Yukio Mishima, Dalida, Julee Cruise,...). My depression got worse and as a teenager I made my first suicide attempt. My dad found me and immediately took me to the hospital (and I've never really been able to thank him for that - and it still bothers me a lot because my dad died in 2011). Somehow I survived school, then my studies and I became an architect. I married my girlfriend and I'm a father of two girls - but my depression kept coming back to haunt me. And I hate it! There is no romantic or cool aspect to it. Some people think a depression is the feeling of longing you get when you attend a sunset on the beach. It is not! It's a fucking freezing rain! Cold, gray, merciless. I hate the feeling of being paralyzed, waiting for sirens that won't call. It's gotten better since I became a father, but it takes a lot of energy to hide my depression - especially from my daughters (but of course they sense how I'm feeling. My daughters often ask me why I am so sad...). They know it and I have a hard time hiding it. At some point I started exercising my body because I felt how good exercise does. When I was younger, I used to ride my bike and swim regularly, but everyday life took that away from me at some point. But after I started seriously exercising my body again, I suddenly got a sense and a feeling for myself again. Mens sana in corpore sano! A healthy mind in a healthy body - that became my motto. And I felt myself getting better! My thoughts have changed - and I have asked myself the question of who I want to be. How I want to live. I used to think that I was a depressed person. But if I really think that, then I will never be anything else! Suddenly I felt a new strength in me, which went hand in hand with sensitivity and kindness. I learned patience and perseverance. I can listen... I changed my profession and now I work as an art teacher in a small school. The best aspect of my new job is that I can work with students and hopefully be a perspective and inspiration to them. And to answer my question to myself: Who do I want to be? A depressed person? No. I want to be light and happy, a loving father, a caring husband, a friend - someone to rely on, a helping colleague, and a reasonable man. Is it desolate? Hell yes! It is a kick in your guts! Every single day! - Do I hesitate? No! Not anymore! Your thoughts and the things you wrote about workout helped me a lot to concentrate and focus. I can't thank you enough for that! But I'll do it anyway: Thank you, Mr. Rollins, for saving my life.

[@tanit]

Nice work bud

[@beattrixkiddo2725]

All these comments motivate the fuck out of me. I’ve been mostly running this year, doing weights maybe twice a week. I shall go back to the way, the only way. I will lift iron nearly everyday until I find solitude in my own puddle of sweat. Get some

[@t3rdeyevisual]

the version written in is book is better. Check it out.

[@miguelbenitez4548]

Which one?

[@stuartjohnston4044]

OH YES ....... OH YES .

[@victorprokop9343]

Its a mindset

[@babydoll69jh]

Always the motivation I need before days I feel like blowing off training. The iron never lies.

[@danielknower4774]

WHAT WERE THE 10 BASIC EXERCISES HENRY?!?

[@danielsosinski9383]

Daniel the Dude 1 biceps db curl 2 biceps barbell curl 3 incline dumbell curl 4 hammer curl 5 cable hammer curl6 cable curl 7 concentration curl 8 alternating dumbell curl 9 preacher barbell curl 10 preacher dumbell curl

[@danielknower4774]

Daniel Sosinski I don't know, is that enough arm work?

[@danielsosinski9383]

Daniel the Dude no, I'm doing only these movements and I'm ripped trust me bro

[@ashtona2404]

Daniel Sosinski no benching or deadlifts or squats....?

[@tommygrowls7894]

@@danielsosinski9383 no Deadlift? I'm out

[@johnc7801]

Cool.

[@ubermenschbrent]

What’s the song playing from the start of the video?

[@tanit]

Zuhn- pyre

[@CDArnoldMusic]

Solid.

[@jessepriest307]

I'm a failed athlete who ONLY knows this trade, if You, my rocker bros need any advise, "Holla" @ Ur boy here \m/ up the fucken irons, and bless You ALL

[@rolandbacon3906]

7i

[@nickarchuleta8001]

Arlo?

[@213spaceforce]

Good shit

[@rdpainting801]

Is this the notorious christoper Krause?

[@tanit]

Yessir! What's up my straight edge brother?

[@rdpainting801]

​@@tanitthis is rad. How long has it been? 10 years? The iron brings us together😂💪

[@notsurprised1589]

Jesus! I really identify with you SO MUCH. (For real though). And I'm a 👩. Luv ya.

[@fenryx0]

5:20-8:33 permabulkers. Some I'd say are clearly juicers. Their feats are indeed commendable but it's not the type of body I want. Also 5:46 it is VERY ironic how the video has Arnold, who clearly trained solely for cosmetic reasons, and you have Rollins right here criticizing it big time.

[@witzerdog]

He also mentions how the weight and sheer will can help you carve the body you never thought you could have... Arnold was the embodiment of that combo. Sounds like you want an "aesthetic" over a powerlifting physique, no problem with that. Guys can be both. Look at Stan Efferding, Larry Wheels, or even Mark Bell on a keto cut. Happy lifting.

[@tanit]

Well said.

[@KM-je6bf]

Arnold, although he trained with appearance in mind, was extremely strong.

[@andrewrentuaya9510]

200 pounds is 200 pounds

[@tommiethrash]

Alright kids, yah gotta get steroids like Arnold and you'll be just fine 😉