BECOMING THE ICEMAN PUSHING PAST PERCEIVED LIMITS WIM HOF JUSTIN ROSALES EDITED BY JUSTIN ROSALES AND BROOKE ROBINSON Copyright © 2011 by Justin Rosales MIll City Press 212 3rd Ave North, Suite 290 Minneapolis, MN 55401 612.455.2294 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author. ISBN: 978-1-937600-53-2 Table of Contents FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: BREAKING THE ICE ..................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2: PHILOSOPHY - THE LOVE FOR KNOWLEDGE ....................................................... 5 CHAPTER 3: THE ROAD TO DAKAR ................................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER 4: A STATE OF MIND ...................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 5: GROWING UP ............................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 6: THE SEARCH BACK TO MYSELF ............................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 7: SUOMALAINEN SISU - FINNISH POWER ............................................................... 19 CHAPTER 8: SUPER POWERS .......................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 9: EL GLOCES - A CANYON IN THE SPANISH PYRENEES ...................................... 24 CHAPTER 10: FEAR .......................................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 11: CAMP JUDSON ........................................................................................................ 29 CHAPTER 12: HALF MARATHON IN LAPLAND ......................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 13: FROSTBITE ............................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 14: WHO IS THE ICEMAN? ........................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER 15: EVEREST .................................................................................................................. 41 CHAPTER 16: CALIFORNIA ............................................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER 17: USA ............................................................................................................................ 52 CHAPTER 18: THE CABIN ............................................................................................................... 58 CHAPTER 19: KILIMANJARO ......................................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 20: HELLO ICEMAN ...................................................................................................... 63 CHAPTER 21: MARATHON BEYOND THE POLAR CIRCLE ..................................................... 68 CHAPTER 22: HM… HOW CAN I TRAIN? .................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER 23: CONTROLLED TRAINING ..................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER 24: RESEARCH ............................................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 25: THE INVITATION .................................................................................................... 90 CHAPTER 26: WORKSHOPS ........................................................................................................... 94 CHAPTER 27: PATIENCE ................................................................................................................. 97 CHAPTER 28: TEXEL ..................................................................................................................... 100 CHAPTER 29: ALMOST THERE… ................................................................................................ 103 CHAPTER 30: WELCOME TO POLAND ...................................................................................... 107 CHAPTER 31: GOING HOME ........................................................................................................ 145 CHAPTER 32: THE ENDOTOXIN EXPERIMENT - A GREAT FIGHT ...................................... 149 CHAPTER 33: THE WIND TUNNEL EXPERIMENT ................................................................... 151 CHAPTER 34: PREPARING FOR MOUNT BLANC ..................................................................... 154 CHAPTER 35: HELLO… SPAIN? ................................................................................................... 158 CHAPTER 36: THE SPANISH PYRENEES ................................................................................... 163 CHAPTER 37: RETURNING HOPEFUL TO AMERICA .............................................................. 170 CHAPTER 38: LECTURES FROM THE ICEMAN ........................................................................ 172 CHAPTER 39: THE NEW YEAR .................................................................................................... 177 CHAPTER 40: STRENGTH AND HONOR .................................................................................... 181 CHAPTER 41: FINLAND ................................................................................................................ 184 CHAPTER 42: NEW ADVENTURES ............................................................................................. 188 CHAPTER 43: THE FINAL CHAPTER .......................................................................................... 191 CHAPTER 44: INTRODUCTION TO THE METHODS................................................................. 193 CHAPTER 45: WIM'S METHOD .................................................................................................... 194 CHAPTER 46: THE FOUR STAGES OF THE COLD .................................................................... 199 CHAPTER 47: JUSTIN'S METHOD ................................................................................................ 201 ABOUT THE AUTHORS........................................................................................................................ 218 FOREWORD Becoming the Iceman is a project inspired by Wim and Justin to show the world that anyone can adopt the ability to become an Iceman or Icewoman. The project's goal is to show that the ability to control the body's temperature is not a genetic defect in Wim, but an ability that can be adopted by anyone. For many generations, we have been taught to fear the cold: "Don't forget your jacket! You don't want hypothermia, do you?" "Put your gloves on before you get frostbite!" Of course, these are consequences of extreme cold exposure, but with the proper understanding, anyone can learn to use the cold as a natural teacher. You may have seen Wim running around on television, barefoot in the snow or swimming in ice-cold waters. While he is doing those incredible feats, he isn't worried about how cold it is; he is enjoying himself. Like any new tool, you must understand how it works before you can use it efficiently. This pertains to the cold as well. Wim is the epitome of what can happen if someone uses the cold to train the body. You might ask, "How can you prove that anyone can learn this ability?" We're glad you asked... As of Fall 2009, Justin Rosales had no experience with the cold whatsoever. He was a college student attending Penn State University. After Justin's friend, Jarrett, showed him one of Wim's videos on YouTube, they became exceedingly interested in understanding this ability. They wanted to see if it was possible for anyone to learn. So they thought, "Why not test it on ourselves?" In Spring 2010, after speaking to Wim for several months via email, Wim invited Justin to attend a workshop in Poland for ten days. After many days of working as a dishwasher, Justin was able to pay for his trip to Poland and learn the technique of the Iceman. With more training and countless experiences with the cold, Justin began to slowly adapt. The length of time he could remain exposed to the cold increased dramatically. He quickly realized that the technique to withstand the cold was, indeed, an ability that could be harnessed by anyone. This book tells the tale of Wim and Justin's journey to Becoming the Iceman! 1 | Pa ge CHAPTER 1: BREAKING THE ICE "Just do it! Right on!" That's what I always say. I have come to a point in my journey where I can finally say, "I did it." Now is the time to write about my experiences. I have been a pioneer all my life and I think it is best to finally share my wisdom with the rest of the world. Fear and trust are the components of the human psyche. Though the path may be to ascend up steep mountains, I use no auxiliary tools, only my mind. Many years ago, I lived in the Spanish Pyrenees, making money by working as a canyoning instructor. The beautiful canyons that surrounded me were made when water excavated natural doorways into the massive mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees. To go canyoning safely, you need ropes, wetsuits, watertight buckets, backpacks, and a lust for adventure. These are the essential things needed to safely guide people through the labyrinths of rocks and steep walls. The feeling is always good after a strenuous day in the canyons, simply because you have to comply with whatever nature dictates. The aching muscles are signs of a hard day's work. When traveling through the canyons, it's important to stay centered and focus within. Don't worry about the fear; embrace it. Centering, instead of thinking too much, creates a physiological process that affects both the body and the mind. If you're centered, vertigo is controlled and every descent teaches you to trust the equipment and yourself. There comes a point when the vertigo is nothing but a mathematical problem within the mind. Once you know the proof, you can reach the solution with practice. Doing this gives control over the mind and an understanding of your limits. Using that serene point of view, anyone can begin to enjoy the grandeur of their surroundings during their descent. This is the moment that most people enjoy when they come to the Pyrenees. I know the paths through mountains like a child knows the shortest and nicest way to his favorite spot. During our expeditions, I would point out the flora (plants), fauna (animal life) and the geological structures of the Pyrenees. In a way, it soothed the people that I led because it gave them an understanding of my experience and hopefully gave them more of a reason to trust me. When we would finally reach the upper part of a canyon by focus, concentration and strength, my followers would begin to feel the fear inside of them. It is at this time that I would explain to them that the journey was about overcoming that fear and becoming stronger. Overlooking the mountains, there are many beautiful monoliths standing alone, as if an enormous artist sculptured them. In my mind, one monolith stands out among the rest: El Huso (The Spindle). To me, it looks like one of the Stone Heads on Easter Island. It is the mysteriousness that catches my attention. Like a magnet, it draws me in. One day, while I was traveling through the Pyrenees alone, I decided to examine the behemoth. As I got closer, the rock seemed bigger and bigger. Touching it from all sides, I calculated her height and the possible climbing routes. I then decided that I would soon tackle this majestic entity and climb this amazing rock with no rope or safeguards. 2 | Pa ge My fear and trust began to initiate their irrational beliefs of a near-death reality. My body tightened at the thought of falling. Now was not the time to climb. Descending back the way I came, I contemplated how I would approach my climb. I went deeper into myself as I felt my determination growing stronger. I told no one of my plan to ascend the mysterious rock. It was my challenge and I had hoped that it would help me look deeper into my soul. I began to train my body, doing pushups on my fingertips, pulling myself up on doorways using only my fingertips, and meditating on the single thought of climbing. That's when the nightmares began. I dreamt that I was climbing El Huso and I was controlled by fear. It was an overwhelming sense of powerlessness that seemed too impossible to overcome. Fear does not go away by itself. You have to confront your fear, mold it, then learn to control it in it's own irrational reality. Every human being has the power to do just that. To go deep within and confront your inner being is a powerful act. Going deep and developing the will power is the only way. For days I continued training, visualizing the climb, concentrating on the hunger inside of me. I developed a determined focus that I knew would only grow stronger. The nightmares slowly began to fade, telling me that it was almost time to climb. The day my nightmares stopped, I realized that the fear was gone and my trust had replaced it. Trust is the element needed to conquer fear. I went to where El Huso was located and eyed up my worthy adversary one last time. It was at that point that I realized I forgot my climbing shoes, but there was no turning back now! I emptied my mind and just let go. It's important to be mentally prepared before beginning. Being badly prepared or not confident in something this dangerous could lead to serious injury. As I started to climb, I realized a light feeling of being inside of me. I had a powerful grip in my hands and there were no anxious thoughts holding me back. Just do it, I thought. Silence and emptiness aided my conquering of fear. These elements are also present in meditation. In a way, this was my own form of meditation. After reaching the top I felt a wave of self-worth and excitement! I climbed down and back up several more times. I felt like a child and El Huso was my playground. A couple of years later my photographer, Henny Boogert, traveled with me to the Pyrenees to do some solo pictures for an outdoor magazine. We went back to El Huso and Henny began to take many pictures as I climbed without the aid ropes or gear. He took a lot of beautiful shots, but I asked him if he thought anything could be done better. He mentioned that the lighting was a bit off, so the pictures were a bit dimmer than he would have liked. So I said, "Then I will climb it tomorrow!" The next morning we returned and I prepared myself as I had before. After climbing for a bit and reaching a height that would definitely kill me if I fell, I developed a cramp in my right calf! I was rendered motionless as the pain quickly became crippling. I really could do nothing but hold on to the rock for dear life. I tried to shake my leg, but there was no space, only a few centimeters. I had no room for error; otherwise, I would quickly meet my demise. I was on the edge of losing control and one mistake could end it all. 3 | Pa ge Out of options, I tried something new. I tried to think my cramp away. Visualizing the part of my leg that was throbbing, I began to loosen that area in my mind. Soon enough, the muscle in my leg began to relax. For the first time ever, I realized that I could consciously think away a muscle cramp. I believe it was a direct result of knowing the body with my mind. That experience made me realize that overcoming fear, by trusting the body and mind, can increase the potential for success as long as you just do it. 4 | Pa ge CHAPTER 2: PHILOSOPHY - THE LOVE FOR KNOWLEDGE When I was thirteen, I spent my autumn holiday reading a book about Psychology. It was a book with mysterious concepts that I hoped I would soon understand. I knew the text held value, so I committed my time and separated myself from the world to gain a better understanding. The psychological terminology gave birth to my inquisitive mind and the urge to philosophy everything around me. It was then that I began to see the world in a different light. All at once, I wanted to learn about different cultures, traditions and new languages. I applied for a passport as soon as I was of age, excited when I finally received it. I packed my bright orange backpack and with my thumbs up, I hitchhiked to Morocco. When I was traveling through Belgium, I thought it would be helpful to learn a few catch phrases that would help me survive. I was taught French in school, but it wasn't enough to get by. Luckily, the people I met while traveling were willing to teach me a few important phrases, like: "Are you going to Paris?" "Thank you." "Where is the bathroom?" "Where am I?" Using this method, I progressively learned French. Later on in my life, I came to learn many other languages through similar methods, such as Spanish; Portuguese; Italian; Japanese; Sanskrit (from a teacher), and Polish. I had also learned German from living one kilometer away from the border of Germany. Dutch, however, is my native language. I've come to understand that if you want to learn something badly enough, you'll find a way to make it happen. Having the will to search and succeed is very important. Even though I had learned many languages, I still felt like there was something missing. As I approached my adolescence, I became more inquisitive. I knew about the great philosophers, the seers, traditions, cultures and esoteric disciplines, yet, something was still missing. I believe an inquisitive mind always finds what it's looking for. It's the irrational curiosity that ultimately stumbles upon the answer. I found my answer in December when I was seventeen. I was home thinking about this hole in myself when I suddenly noticed the snow outside. As the snowflakes began to cover the multicolored environment in a beautiful white blanket, a warm feeling washed over me. I watched until the snow grew thick on the ground. I embraced the white desert as the snow began to fall harder. I needed to go out into it. So after I put on my shoes and a thick pullover jacket, I was off. That crispy sound when walking over a new lair of snow filled my ears as the strange, but beautiful, white blanket changed the appearance of the land. There was intimacy and a sort of mysticism that filled the cool air. Nearby, a couple of kids were rolling around in the snow, wrestling with each other. This moment called me to reminisce about my past. When the first snow fell three years prior to this experience, I had a similar urgency to go out into it. I took off my shoes and began walking around the nearby park with my wife and son. 5 | Pa ge After about an hour of walking around, Noah, my son, bent over to make a snowball. Noah finished his creation and we continued walking while he held it at his side. My wife and I laughed and talked as we admired the newly covered Amsterdam. An hour later, we returned home. I went to take off my son's jacket when I realized that he was still holding the ball of snow in his hands! He told me he wanted to put it in the fridge and store it. Like most children, they want things to last forever. So, we let him cherish the memory by storing the snowball in the freezer. I grew curious as to how he was able to hold onto the chilled ball for that long and not complain about the pain. I asked Noah to show me his hands so that I could see if there was any damage. To my surprise, his hands weren't cold at all. In fact, they were incredibly warm! I'll never forget my son's first experience with the cold. Anyway, there I was in the snow-covered pasture, when I felt an irrational urge to take off my socks and shoes. Barefooted, I became strangely aware that it was not cold, just soft. There was an absence of pain. Instead, I felt a great feeling of joy and power. My conceptual being was flabbergasted. I wandered around in the snow for hours, taking in the vast whiteness. It inspired me. Whenever something touches me in a way that makes me reflect, I don't feel like quitting; I don't feel limits, just a greater sense of being. That is the essence of meditation, where thoughts are no longer consciously driven. That moment made a monumental impact in my life. The experience changed the way I thought about the cold. At the time, I couldn't understand how, but it changed the way I perceived it. It was my new friend. To me, expanding consciousness is the path to true knowledge. The material you learn from books ultimately leads to an expanding consciousness. That experience finally quenched my thirst for knowledge. I now felt peace within and my mind was still. Everyone will experience theses moments at some point in his or her life. I am convinced that these moments are meant to show us that there is more to life than satisfying our desires. Sometime after this experience, I traveled 200 km up north to Amsterdam, the cosmopolitan city. I wanted to meet fresh, new minds. I had hoped to meet poets, writers, painters, Holland's best yoga teachers, karate experts, and more. The thirst for knowledge continued to grow inside me and Amsterdam couldn't fix it. I was clueless as to how to quench that thirst. I quickly became lethargic. That's when I began to think about challenges. I wanted to conquer something that would make me feel more productive. That's when the idea came to me. I would travel from Amsterdam to Dakar Senegal on bicycles with my brother, Andre. The idea had the potential to break the pattern, yet powerful enough to get me back on my feet. I had found hope. 6 | Pa ge