Bodybuilders Attempt Europe’s Toughest Assault Course | Mike Thurston vs Rob Lipsett

That was fucking shit!

I call it the gladiatorial arena. Once you step in, you never know whether you're going to step out.

Oh my God, fucking hell, Rob!

Pick the fucking things up, Rob! Oh my God, fucking 2 minutes in there, fucking ruined! Oh, sorry about that.

Probably not going to go well.

Let's see.

Fucking useless.

We are back with Mr. Mikey T, and today we're getting assaulted, taking on Mike's gym. Been meaning to go here for a long, long time, but I needed someone to do it with. So today's the day.

We've got the physiques, we can lift the weights, but can we manage getting around an assault course?

Probably not. Probably not. Bodybuilders, fitness models attempt functional exercise.

Right, am I talking to the wrong fucking person? I'm getting very confused.

I messaged you on Instagram and then we spoke on the phone.

No, Coach Kieran. No, I am so confused. I thought this was you.

They all look alike. Anyway, sorry about that.

What's up, Rob?

How's it going?

Nice to meet you, Rob. And these two boys here, you're on camera.

You gadget fuckers.

Yeah.

Fucking brilliant.

Hola.

I thought he was going to be Spanish or something. He's speaking our lingo. That's what he means.

I thought he was a character.

Yeah, yeah. Mike told me, he was like, he's an interesting guy. And I was like, yeah, yeah, we'll see. And I'm like, this guy's providing the whole vlog entertainment. This guy's the best.

I messaged him on Instagram. He's like, I'm a bit old school. Do you want to just give me a ring?

Yeah.

So I spoke to him. From now on, you have to call me gadget fucker.

Gadget fucker, yeah.

There was no master plan, there was no 'I want a gym and turn it into a fucking monster' like it's turned into. Do you remember the Tough Guy? Wolverhampton? It's the original OCR course. I've done that 2 or 3 times and that gives me the inspiration for outside because we had the gym and one day I just decided to go running in on the land. From running around it, we just put all the obstacles out there and I've just built it. I've built every single one. All the bars. I make everything from scratch. I very rarely buy anything. So yeah, never have a master plan, then you can't get it fucking wrong. Hey, I'll just walk you through the gym. Yeah, you might as well see what the fuck goes on. And so this is where we do circuits and they have boxing training. And yeah, we do all sorts of circuit stuff in there. All my stuff is really circuit-based, really, not bodybuilding or aesthetics, only the need like that.

That's what we're here for, something new.

I can see, I can see what you're fucking like. That's why I'm going to have so much more fun. Yeah, so there's something for everybody. There's nothing specialist, but something for everybody, do you know what I mean?

Yeah, I love the old school equipment.

Yeah, do you know what, I do think I want to do this, want to do— but you know what, do I know, do I follow? Just leave it as it is. Do you know what happened in COVID? I lost my confidence with the product, if I'm honest. Because we was flying before and I'm thinking, fuck me. And then you look at all these new gyms around there, all this, all that, all that, thinking, Jesus Christ, they're gonna rinse me.

Yeah, trying to compete with them.

Yeah, I lost my path.

Yeah.

And I'm thinking, do I need to do something else? And then all of a sudden the penny dropped and just thought, no, just fucking stick to what you're doing, leave it as it is, and it will come back. But it was a hard thing to do. Yeah. Do you understand what I mean? Financially, I was struggling. Yeah, and, um, I just had to keep my feet on the fucking floor and not start. Yeah, I listen, I'm a very simple person and everything I do is very simple, but it's still fucking effective if you like that kind of thing, do you know what I mean? It's not for everybody, but for the people that like it, it's all right. And we've been doing it, listen, we've been opening since 2010 and we're still, uh, we're still going, so it's not so bad. But our biggest thing is the camps. Obviously it is a gym and a general gym But the camps, we've got cabins here. We can accommodate up to about 40 people. So look, you can just poke your nose in there. I don't think it's made up, they've been used. People have just gone out. So you can live here. Yeah, shower, toilet, air conditioning, and 4 bunks. And as you see, lots and lots of things to hang and swing. So we'll get you doing some hill sprints. Yeah, but we just do short bursts. We do 2 or 3 minutes and then we'll move on. Yeah, so you're not going to get bored and you can just experience a little bit of everything that goes on. And then you can race on that. We can go down onto the obstacles, we can just choose some obstacles and you can fuck about on them, and then we'll go into the combat zone, which is the strength conditioning zone. I can give you a couple of little strongman exercises to have a little fucking race on them, and then we can finish across the pool.

Sweet, perfect, unreal.

Yeah, definitely.

All right, let's do it.

Now we've got a plan. Yeah, let's go. Course is split into 3 parts. The first part we just call the top section because it's at the top of the course, but it's all cardio-based, so it's just basically hill sprints. It's like, I don't know, 7 or 8, 8 or 9 hill sprints there that you're going to go up and down. Then we're going to go on to the fun part, as I call it, the obstacle part, and we'll just pick some of the favorites that I think is going to be good for you boys to have a go at, and we'll have a go at them. Then down, I call it the gladiatorial arena. Once you step in, you never know whether you're going to step out. And if you, if you was to have done the whole lap, you'll know fucking why. Especially you, boy. I wish I could put you through a lap. Let me fucking tell you something. The whole thing. So it's 5 kilometers around and there's 150 elements. So an element could be running up and down the ladder, it could be running up and down a hill. It could be swinging across the pool, it could be lifting out of the stones, it could be farmers carry with logs, it could be any part of that, you know what I mean?

Best time, you said?

Best time, yeah.

Who's got—

Alvaro Colma, hour and 16 minutes. Unbelievable.

If this video gets 10K likes, we'll do the full thing, promise.

And he'll be here on the day, let me tell you, he is the Universal soldier around this place. Nobody can fucking beat him around there. Fuck, I'd put him against fucking anyone.

Yeah, I think I've seen him in Padel. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he's got shaved head.

Yeah, he works at Padel and then he comes and trains here for 4 or 5 hours.

Yeah, no, I've seen him. He's an animal. Yeah, it's funny how I know exactly who you're talking about.

It's him, mate. He's just don't fuck about, toad on his shit.

We need to get them anyway.

So that's the story. Come on then, follow me, boys. You're going to go up here, you're going to come down there, you're going to go around to the right, up to the top, follow the ropes and the post. It goes up, it goes down, it goes right down into the river. There's some ropes there to abseil down type thing, back up the other side, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, and then you're going to finish here. Should take you boys. It's going to be interesting. You warmed up?

Yeah, always warmed up.

This is going to throw your heart rate through the fucking roof. This is where I'm going to be laughing.

Come on, you fucker! Follow it all the way up. Let's go!

Finish, finish, finish, finish, finish! Yes! Walk that park! Good work! You need to earn the right to get on this course, I'm afraid to say, and that's how you earn it.

All right, legs like jelly.

Exactly, does it? Knocks the knackers out of you. Evil man, horrible, innit?

Yeah, all good, all good. There we go.

Fucking sit down. Get in a wheelchair. We put John out of the fucking wheelchair. Come on, let me cool you down. Fuckin' hell!

Wet T-shirt Competition!

Hey, fuckin' hell!

Oh my God!

Right then, boys, grab your shit and we'll go and have some nice fun.

Let's do it!

It's a bit of agility and balance, and let's see what it's all about.

Yeah, you are!

Try not to look too far down, try and keep your upper body relaxed, all right? When you get to here, you push your weight forward, you let it bounce. Soft legs, soft legs, and carry on. You want to be centered so the hips are in line with the shoulders. You're not forward, you're not backwards.

Oh, my legs are like jelly as it is.

Oh my God, yeah, fucking 2 minutes and they're fucking ruined. Fucking useless. Yes, like that. That's how to look under the low, over the high. Hello! Fucking hell, he's got his own race there! What the fuck are you doing, you dickhead? Fucking get back here! Grab it there, grab it there. Rope under tension, yeah? Sit back. 3, 2, 1, pick your feet up and let go. In a competition situation, you need to be able to keep calm. All right, so we do the balance beams. You're going to go directly down, over, under, over, under, over, under, over the wall. First one that gets here is the campeones. Hey, all right, are we gonna get fucking redemption? This is what I'm saying. There we go. What you fucking—

now's my time, now's my time. We got this.

Probably not even as big.

The first one was— I tasted like blood in my mouth, like iron, you know, that taste.

So how we feeling, boys?

Feeling good.

Ready to rumble? Yeah. So round number 2, just be careful of something here. If you're off balance on the downslope, I will say people crash when they try to run it out.

Yeah, there goes my tactic.

Exactly. Please be careful. We had a guy fall down straight on his fucking knee, mate. Not nice. It's not worth the fucking risk, is my point. You're here to have fun, not to fuck yourself up. Do you understand what I mean?

Got it.

And this is where it happens, on silly little things fucking like this. The calmer you are, the faster you go. 3, 2, 1, don't fuck about!

We came for the title, killing the game, dead on arrival. No mercy for rivals, this is for glory. This is our story, this is the future. This is my time, grind to shine. I put in the work and push the line, holding my crown, never back down.

Get going, get going, get going, get going!

Oh my God, yeah, at this stage everything is tough.

Oh my God, that is so difficult.

Got my win back though, it's 1-all.

Stairway to Heaven.

Tell you what, he's still got it, he's still got it.

Jesus Christ.

Jump over the beam and you'll see what's coming. Go on, off you go.

So I have to take a run and jump?

Yeah, just run and leap up there. All you need to focus on is your arms grabbing that beam. And when you land with your feet like this, not like this, in a deep squat position. All right, this is one of these headfuck obstacles. Physically, you will be shocked at how easy it is. This is a pure mental game. But exactly what you say, it looks very far, doesn't it? Trust me. It's easy. This is where you have to put your faith in someone else.

Ah, you're up!

Just tell him how easy that is. It was right.

Come on, come on, big man, come on, come on, come on! Keep going.

Yep.

Come on.

And now stop going.

Come on, quick. Go. Don't look at it this time.

Just go.

Quick to the box.

Very good. That's fantastic.

Now look at that knee drop. Come on, let's go.

Get it.

Go. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.

2, 1, go!

Come on, come on, Rob!

Come on, you look like fucking Spider-Man!

Careful! Come on, come on, focus, focus!

Go!

Come on, Ed! Come on, Ed! Come on, Ed! Come on, Ed! Let's go! Come on, Ed! Come on, Ed! Come on! Come on!

Fuck me! 31 seconds!

31! Oh, mate! Oh, mate!

Oh, mate! Fucking good, Rob! Redemption! Oh my God!

That's my excuse for not hitting lags for a few weeks. I'm injured, my knee hurts.

3, 2, 1, go!

Perfect fucking video.

You need to respect this, all right, as it pulls your shoulders and pulls hips and fucking all sorts, all right? Particularly when you try to— I call it bullying it. I'm not going to talk you through this, I'm going to demonstrate, so you need to be fucking watching.

Oh my God, oh my—

dried sweat is not good at all. It be sweaty.

This is how you stay so young looking. Okay, so like that.

Yeah, yeah.

Let me get over here a little bit. All right. Okay. Oh my God, good work, boys!

I swear to God, these gaps are getting bigger as well.

Oh my God!

I tore one blister off at least, so I got a blister and then it went, so that's productive.

Come on! Come on, matey!

Amazing work, you two!

Amazing! Good, nice.

Thank God there's no splinters on that.

Yeah, yeah.

1 minute 12.

Oh, nice.

This is the bit where you need to get as high as you can with your feet.

No way.

Get your waist on, rest here. Can't be yourself down. Arm goes over, hand comes under. Look at my legs. Yeah, look, no problem.

You were secretly in the SAS, weren't you?

Down, go. Nice, that's what I'm talking about. Fair play. Go on, Mikey. Great work, man. That's pretty fucking high, that. Relax, relax. Now go. Hand, remember arm first. Put that left arm under the beam. The left, left arm. Nope, nope, as you had it. Now, that's it, like that. Yeah, there you go, there you go. Yes, nice. Fucking gone, man.

Nice.

All I've got to say is, what a fucking coach, eh? I'll fucking have that.

Yeah.

Look at that big guy. Come on, he's gonna smoke me on this. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Grab the rope with the right. That's it. Hold the beam. Hug the beam. Hug the beam with your left— right arm. Arm under.

No.

Oh yeah, fair enough. Fuck me, done it the sketchy way. Never mind. Get some more blisters in here. Don't burn, don't burn, don't burn, don't burn.

31.

Hey, fucking 3-1, dude.

Ninja mode, baby, let's go! I've got 2 reins of blisters.

And we do a little time-lapse, so what you have to do is You have to pick the logs up, you have to run, run up to the end and then slalom through all the posts and tires. All right, farmer's carry, stopwatch on. Ready?

Okay, go! Come on!

Oh God, is it the grip?

Is the grip definitely grip?

Oh no, fucking don't fucking stay out, no lifting Get on with it, fucking get on with it, done them fucking briskets, boy, come on.

Oh my God, fucking hell, Rob, get your hand in the fucking sand, boy, come on.

He's trying to put his hands in the fucking dirt. Jesus Christ, get them fucking dirty.

Oh, come on, fucking 10 meters, look. I don't know why I'm laughing.

Come on, pick the fucking things up, Rob!

Go on, go on, go on, back to where you got them from. Ah, fuck's sake! Yes!

Can I ask you a question? How much do you bench press?

One rep, 145.

You can't even carry fucking 100 kilos around there.

50 kilos, you're fucking soft arse. Oh, that was fucking killer.

I'm glad we put you out on the rope first. 2:03, that was.

The first one and that one, fucking hardest.

Oh my God. Go! Go, Mike! Off to work!

This is Mike carrying his briefcase into the office on Monday.

Nice! Come on, come on!

Oh, fair play, mate. Sick, boy.

I think Mike got that one anyway.

Now what, we on 3-2?

I need to get one back.

That's it, getting fucking close, lads.

That's it, today's over.

Right, we're doing a nice— we got to do a strongman tire flipping competition. We just do 5 reps for time. Going to flip the tire, jump in, jump out. Turn around, flip the tire, 5 reps. You want to have a little practice?

Which one?

The big one, of course.

Stupid question.

This is gonna gas the fucking life out of you. This is about— I'm going to tell you what this one's about. It's about your technique lifting that tire, all right? Fast is not going to be a fast time. Technique is going to win the race. Off the floor, rest, 3, 2, 1, and go. If you power it, you're gonna gas out, you're not gonna be able to continue. 2 or 3 movements for each lift and you'll be able to keep going. Just cuss the life out of it and we go to the girl's tyre. Right, so right, I just want to get this on fucking camera please. Yeah, Rob, muscle man, man's tyre, he has to now go to the girl's tyre.

Wait, wait, no, I'm not taking that, I'm not taking that. Okay, I'm fucking doing it.

Listen, what the fuck then? And we're only fucking practicing. That was fucking rubbish. Fuck yeah, that was fucking shit. I got girls in my fucking classes make it look 10 times easier than that. What the fuck you saying, huh? Come on, right, I will have to say, just for safety purposes, we need to go to the girly way, all right? So we'll go to the girly way and we'll do the same thing, all right? This is just for Rob, by the way, because Mike flipped that quite easy. So we'll start the game now then with the girl— with the girly tyre at Mike's gym. All right, this is what the girls have to do. No discrimination against girls.

I identify— I identify as a female for this challenge, just so you fucking know.

So 5 reps per tyre. Ready? Don't forget, jump in, jump out. Ready?

Go! That's been better.

Come on, jump in, jump out, turn. Let's go! One, come on, there's two, let's go! Jump in, jump out, there's three, come on, come on, come on, let's go! Last one!

Jump in, jump out to finish.

Bang on 30 seconds. Nice deep squat, lean in, drive through the hips onto your knees, and then just a big massive hip extension. Yeah, ready?

Yep. Go!

Come on, Mikey, come on!

One!

There's one, let's go! Come on, big man! Yeah, monster! Look at that! Yeah, beautiful power! Two complete! Breathe! Oh, that is animalism! Come on, that's what I'm talking about! Is that 3 complete?

Come on, Mike! Last one, come on!

Fucking animal! Nice! Come up!

Amazing!

I just want to put this on camera, so this game was won by my fault because, uh, Rob here, um, couldn't manage the man's tire and he had to go to the ladies' version. And Mike absolutely smashed, uh, the big tire.

I think, I think that's the ladies' one. I did the kids' version. Guys, don't blame Mike.

Right, so we're on 3 each, boys.

3 all.

Go across that swimming pool, let's go!

This is it, boys and girls. So we're both 3 all. It's gonna be decider. It's to failure, so So whoever gets the farthest wins and buys everyone around.

Yes, Mikey!

Little dick.

Oh my God, fuck! Oh no!

Oh fuck, the lips of doom! Oh my God, he lost a tiny little bit of focus and boom! It's there for the taking now, Rob.

If I get on that, if I get on that, I win. Okay, okay, this is it. All I got to do is make it across once and it's 4-3. 4-3.

All right. Oh, oh, that's slippy. Oh my God, come on! Oh, come on, Rob!

Remember, it's not over till it's over.

Holy shit! Fucking close!

2 more, 3 more rings and you would have nabbed him. Oh my God, oh my God, looks like I'm buying the round.

If people want to come down and give this a go, how do they get in touch with you?

Basically, yeah, message on Instagram or on, um, the website, or email is probably best, info@mikeskinbarber.com.

All right guys, so that is the big finale. Mike got it by about 2 meters, so that means I'm getting the round. And now we're gonna head down to El during Guido. But guys, Mike's Gym Marbella, thank you so much for that. We had the best day ever. All the details are in description box. If you're in Marbella, take care for a day out, you'll guarantee to have a good time. And, uh, make sure this man is here because he's the star of the show. Honestly, you made our day. Thank you so much. And again, guys, 10K likes on this video and we'll do round 2. We'll do the whole course.

Yeah, the whole course.

Yeah, yeah, my channel likes to punish me, so It should get there.

And he's worrying about little blisters. Tearing his hands to pieces next time.

Are we coming back with gloves on?

Jesus Christ, a lot of people use gloves.

All right, nice.

All right, let's go have some fun. So we done the hard part of the day. Amazing workout. Mike's gym and Mike himself— not this Mike, the other Mike— he made it. He was just like so much fun and really put us through our rounds. So feeling great after that. Now we're going to reward ourselves. We're going to have maybe a few drinks here. This is El Chiringuito. I'm going to dig into this bread. They put it down in front of me and I'm like, it's just— we're staring at each other. There's sexual tension between me and this piece of bread right now. It's crazy. So we're going to get some food. I'll show you when it arrives. But this is one of my favorite spots in Marbella, El Chiringuito. Cheers!

The next one.

Cheers, gang. Work hard. Good day's work. I love when Mike has a beer. I love it. It's hard to get him to do. All right, so pretty much the first meal I've ate today. We went for the marinated chicken salad. It looks very good, fellas. What did you go for? That looks quality.

Full sea bass, 1 kilogram, split into 2. Bam! Nice and lean, lots of protein.

Exactly what we want.

All right, guys, so we are calling it a up here. Epic day, very productive. Got a workout in, and some workout that was, and also a nice little group dinner. So I'll see you in the next video. Keep it real, we're out of here. Who knows what's gonna happen now. Yeah, you're too pissed then. I'm like, order another one. Keep it real, man.

Here.