The appearance of these two athletes in a "Judgment Free Zone" serves as a stark study in the evolution of gym culture and the specific requirements of the strength sports community. Most professional strongmen utilize specialized facilities equipped with Atlas stones, heavy-duty yokes, log press bars, and specialized deadlift platforms. Planet Fitness, by contrast, is a franchise known for its accessibility, low-cost memberships, and a strict "No Lunk" policy that discourages loud grunting, the dropping of weights, and the presence of bodybuilding-specific equipment such as heavy dumbbells or traditional squat racks.
The Physical Constraints of Commercial Equipment
The session began with an attempt at Smith machine squats, a staple of the Planet Fitness equipment lineup in the absence of free-weight squat racks. For athletes of Shaw and Hall’s stature—Shaw stands at 6 feet 8 inches and weighs approximately 400 pounds, while Hall stands at 6 feet 3 inches—the Smith machine presented immediate ergonomic difficulties. The fixed path of the bar and the narrow frame of the machine were not designed to accommodate the sheer shoulder width and torso thickness of these individuals.
Despite these limitations, the duo proceeded to load the machine with five 45-pound plates on each side. This total weight, while significant for a commercial gym setting, represents a fraction of the maximum capacity these athletes typically handle in a professional setting. Observations from the session showed Shaw having to stabilize himself by holding the outer edges of the machine’s frame, a necessary adjustment to maintain balance within the cramped confines of the equipment. This highlights a recurring theme in high-level strength training: the necessity of specialized equipment to ensure safety and proper biomechanics when moving heavy loads.
Progressive Loading and the Leg Press Challenge
Following the Smith machine squats, the pair moved to the abdominal crunch machine and subsequently to the leg press. The leg press is often one of the few machines in a commercial gym that can be loaded to a level that provides a stimulus for a professional strongman. Hall and Shaw eventually reached a load of six 45-pound plates per side, with an additional plate placed atop the sled for added resistance.
While the weight moved with relative ease for both men, the exercise underscored the "maxing out" phenomenon often encountered by elite athletes in public gyms. When a professional athlete can reach the mechanical limit of a machine during a standard workout, the utility of that facility for long-term strength development is called into question. However, the session demonstrated that with enough creativity, even the most basic equipment can be utilized for high-volume or metabolic conditioning.
The workout continued through a series of isolation movements, including leg extensions, adductor machines, and abductor machines. These movements, which target specific muscle groups, are less dependent on the massive stabilization required for compound lifts, making them more compatible with the Planet Fitness environment.
The Competitive Circuit: A Test of Speed and Adaptability
The climax of the visit was a head-to-head challenge involving the gym’s designated circuit training room. This area typically consists of a series of stations designed for general fitness enthusiasts to perform a full-body workout in a timed sequence. Hall and Shaw adapted this for their own purposes, performing one repetition at maximum weight on each of the 20 available stations.
The competition was a test of anaerobic capacity and movement efficiency. Eddie Hall completed the 20-station circuit in 1 minute and 15.09 seconds. Brian Shaw followed closely, finishing the circuit in 1 minute and 19 seconds. This four-second margin of victory for Hall highlights the competitive nature that persists between the two, even in a casual training environment. The challenge also illustrated a key component of modern strongman training: the ability to move between different physical demands with minimal recovery time.
Historical Context and Athlete Backgrounds
To understand the significance of this event, one must look at the careers of the two participants. Brian Shaw is widely considered one of the greatest strongmen of all time. His four WSM titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) place him in an elite category alongside legends like Žydrūnas Savickas and Magnús Ver Magnússon. Shaw’s training philosophy has traditionally centered on massive volume and a meticulously controlled environment, often within his own private, world-class home gym in Colorado.
Eddie Hall, known as "The Beast," achieved global fame by becoming the first person to deadlift 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) in 2016, a feat that was long considered impossible. After winning the World’s Strongest Man title in 2017, Hall retired from the main WSM circuit to pursue other ventures, including a high-profile boxing match against rival Hafþór "Thor" Björnsson.
At the time of this Planet Fitness session, Shaw was in a scheduled off-season, focusing on maintenance and longevity. Hall, however, was preparing for a return to competitive strongman as the captain of Team UK for the "World’s Strongest Nation" contest. This event, scheduled for November 26, 2022, at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, represents a shift toward team-based formats in the sport. Hall’s preparation for this event involved a transition back to the explosive power and endurance required for strongman, making the circuit training at Planet Fitness a relevant, albeit unusual, part of his conditioning.
The "Lunk Alarm" and Gym Etiquette
A central point of interest for many observers was how the Planet Fitness "Lunk Alarm" would factor into the session. The alarm is a siren and flashing light triggered by gym staff when a patron is perceived to be breaking the "Judgment Free" rules—usually by grunting loudly, dropping weights, or acting in an "intimidating" manner.
While the video documentation of the session included lighthearted moments and "funny noises" pranks by the athletes, it also touched upon a serious tension in the fitness industry. The "Judgment Free" philosophy is intended to make beginners feel comfortable, but it can often exclude those who have reached a level of physical development where intense effort naturally results in noise and heavy weight usage. The presence of Shaw and Hall, who represent the literal ceiling of human strength, provided a comical but insightful contrast to the typical Planet Fitness demographic.
Implications for the Fitness Industry
This event highlights several trends within the broader fitness landscape. First, it demonstrates the power of social media and "crossover" content. By placing elite athletes in an everyday setting, Shaw and Hall generated significant engagement, bridging the gap between niche strength sports and the general public.
Second, it underscores the limitations of the "one-size-fits-all" gym model. While Planet Fitness is highly successful as a business—boasting millions of members and thousands of locations—it is not designed to support the upper echelons of athletic performance. For the general population, the equipment is more than sufficient, but for the "top 1%," the lack of free weights and specialized racks necessitates the use of private or "hardcore" gyms.
Finally, the session serves as a reminder of the versatility required in strength sports. Whether training in a state-of-the-art facility or a budget-friendly commercial club, the principles of mechanical tension and metabolic stress remain the same. While Shaw and Hall may have been limited by the machines, their ability to adapt the environment to their needs is a testament to their experience and professional approach to training.
Future Outlook for Hall and Shaw
As the strength sports world moves forward, both athletes continue to influence the industry. Brian Shaw has transitioned into a promoter role with the "Shaw Classic," an event designed to provide better pay and conditions for strongman competitors. His focus has shifted toward legacy and the growth of the sport.
Eddie Hall’s return to the competitive arena via the World’s Strongest Nation contest marks a new chapter in his career. Facing off against Team USA, captained by 2019 WSM winner Martins Licis, Hall is once again under the spotlight of international competition. His training journey, including unconventional stops at gyms like Planet Fitness, continues to draw the attention of millions of fans worldwide.
In conclusion, while the Planet Fitness leg day may have begun as a lighthearted video concept, it revealed the practical realities of elite strength training. The mismatch between the athletes’ physical requirements and the gym’s infrastructure provided a clear look at the specialized nature of professional strongman, all while maintaining the competitive spirit that defined the careers of Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall.
