Testimonial | Chris Frappier | True North True Strength
I had an absolute blast today at Barbarian Bar Fitness with Joe Venditti, playing around with the Barbarian Long Bar! And when I say "playing around," I mean it in the best way possible—it was pure fun! This tool is deceptively challenging in the most rewarding way. Even though I didn’t explore all the countless moves you can do with it (and trust me, the possibilities are endless), I quickly noticed how incredible it is for core activation.
Whether you’re working in the lateral plane, transverse plane, or the front plane, the Barbarian Long Bar has your core firing on all cylinders. Another surprise was how much it tested my grip strength and endurance. Just doing simple arm curls—be it reverse or regular—was a whole new experience. Depending on how low the plates hang on the chains and the speed of the curls, it challenges your forearms and grip muscles like nothing else. Slow it down, and you’ll really feel every muscle working to stabilize the bar as it rocks back and forth.
And get this—I got to use it outside in the snow! One of the coolest things about this versatile training tool is that you can take it outdoors, even in the Canadian winter, for a fresh and invigorating workout experience.
At 60 years old, having started my fitness journey at 16 with a mix of running, track and field, biking, and of course, lifting weights, staying strong and healthy has always been a priority. Over the years, I've shifted between endurance sports like marathoning and strength training, but lifting has always been my foundation. Who would have ever thought that at my age, I’d still be setting records, even a world record in the IAWA in my late 50s and now at 60? Thanks to Joe and the innovative training at Barbarian Bar Fitness, I’m continuing to push my limits and have fun while doing it!
Chris Frappier