During a late-night doom-scrolling session, I came across another video from Diamond Gym. They are among the most driven athletes in this space. Many people witness their intensity and mock it or label it as fake, but there might be genuine science behind their approach. If you watch Diamond Gym videos, you’ll notice that regardless of the lift or strength level of the guest, friendly competition is always present—and that’s the key. There’s always someone stronger than you there, so breaking your limits becomes second nature. A study from Kansas State University observed a dramatic increase—up to 200%—in both workout length and intensity for people training with a slightly more skilled partner. A difference of about 40% in ability is optimal according to the full results. Additionally, a separate study from the University of Oxford found notable gains among participants who exercised in a supportive, social environment. So, the yelling and encouragement may genuinely help.
If you make it to the end, you’ll find those same people who were just pushing their limits and shouting at each other moments ago now gathered together, reminding everyone that training and videos aside, they’re a family. They live for it as brothers and sisters. All with different backgrounds and different struggles. They stress that no matter what, your best asset is your community. I refer back to the Oxford study: those training in a positive social setting perform better and longer. So not only does the sense of camaraderie and brotherhood humanize the primal drive within each person, but it also boosts their athletic gains. I think it's safe to say, we are who surround ourselves with.
