Finding Depth In The TGU and 2 Handed Swing--a workout with David Whitley, Sr. RKC.

I had the great fortune of seeing both David Whitley, Sr. RKC and BJ Bliffert, RKC II this past weekend. Needless to say, it was great seeing them again after a little over a year. It makes me eager to get back to another Cert. very soon.

I also got a little taste of a workout known as "The Furnace". A simple ass kicking meant to teach the participants the power of the TGU and Swing. I knew this already, but it didn't make it any easier. Take a look for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKV9a0p1m7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjpeYB3zsAk

Snow Day

We're getting the first significant snowfall of the season here in North Jersey. When I was a kid there was nothing better than hearing the phone ring or the blare of the fire siren signaling that the day was yours. The excitement of flying down a hill on a sled or starting a wicked snowball fight with the older kids in your neighborhood (usually a guaranteed loss) was pretty hard to contain.

That fresh excitement of the snow day pretty much captured my feelings after becoming and RKC last April. I honestly felt like the world of physical endeavors was my oyster. I had some personal bests after the RKC, but some nagging injuries eventually crept up on me. I did what I thought I needed to do to work through them, but I never took the time to fully correct what was needed. The injuries returned, I put my training on hold, and I watched the RKC world pass me by. I was upset that I wasn't able to put up the numbers I thought I should be putting up compared to my contemporaries.

What a stupid fucking move.

The other thing about winter is that it's a period of dormancy. Without going through the cold of winter, seeds won't sprout and bulbs won't flower. Under that blanket of frozen snow, much needed and great things are happening. I guess that's how I feel about my current regimen of the Program Minimum. I started with the 16, and I'm currently using the 24. It's not as exciting as press ladders, monster swing sets, or Max VO2 snatch work, but it's what I need to do to get where I want to be. Now my goals are measured in months instead of weeks, and I really don't care about comparing my performance to the numbers of others. This period of "dormancy" will surely make me stronger.

Goals for 2009
Pullup with 24kg (very doable)
Press the 32kg for reps on L/R (doable)
Break the 200 snatch mark with the 24kg in 10 minutes (painfully doable?)

Happy Holidays to everyone reading! All the best to you and your families! I hope 2009 finds you healthy, strong, and happy.

In some sick way, I love the VO2max protocol!

I love it! That's all I'll say. I love the burn in my lungs and the pain in my forearms. I love the metallic taste in the back of my throat that I get when I'm finished. I especially love the great workout I get in minimal time. I love the looks I get from people walking by the studio.

Still fighting a bit of a chest cold, but here's what I did:
16kg VO2Max Snatches
36:36, 17 Reps X 20 Sets
340 Total Snatches
No blisters, No gloves
I will only improve on this in the next few weeks.

Quality Time

This weekend, I was able to spend some quality time with my family hiking over some of the great trails that are in my town. One of the best things about Ringwood is that there are lots of outdoor activities to choose from to occupy your time. I hope my kids grow up to enjoy where they live as much as my wife and I do.

Run of Rotten Luck

Training has been pretty messed up for me the past few weeks. I went from a great week to getting some kind of stomach bug that made me feel nauseated 24/7 for about 2 weeks. I got over that and was about to celebrate with a session of V02Max Snatches, but I had to end the workout at 10 sets because of a blister. I felt it happen during the 10th set, but I was lucky it didn't tear. So I guess my luck wasn't too rotten. It's my own damn fault, though, I should have shaved my callouses down last week, but I didn't. Hopefully the blister fluid will be absorbed by Thursday, so I can resume my V02Max work. I really like the protocol in a sick way.

Vo2Max Snatches
36/36
17 Rep Cadence
10 Sets
A Measly 170 reps.

Time to Rebuild

My left side has gotten dumber since I last did the ROP. I'm having trouble pressing the 24 for more than 3 rungs on my left side. My right side is solid, but I keep lifting my shoulder and opening my ribcage when I try to move to a fourth rung on my left side. This really sucks, considering that when I last touched the KBs I was making great progress. I'm going to drop down to the 16(!) for my press ladders in an attempt to re-pattern my pressing groove, as I think that the side-presses from my PTTP experiment funked up my nervous system. I'm sure I could get all soft and cheat the 24 up, but I've chosen to live the life of hardstyle. Nothing good ever came from cheating, you pansy. Plus, I'm scheduled to complete an FMS this Sunday, so it should be interesting to see what it turns out.

My conditioning has also taken a dive, so I decided to figure out my VO2 cadence. It turned out to be 28, so 15/15=7 reps and 36/36=17 reps. I can't wait to explore this protocol! Well, sort of.

That's all for now...I've just been really busy.

Exciting Times

A few months ago, I sent out a story proposal to a major local newspaper with the hope that they would feature us in their "Better Living" section. A little less than a month ago, I received a call from one of their reporters asking when we could meet to go over some KB stuff and discuss these "kettleballs" further. After a few weeks of worrying whether or not the interview/session went well, the article was in yesterday's paper.

http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/recreation/27729849.html

I was quite happy with the article and honored to do my part in spreading the gospel of Hardstyle. KBs continue to change my life and help me change the lives of others. From a career standpoint, I can't think of anything that could make me happier. Boy, I can't wait to go to the next CK-FMS!

The article also elicited responses from three RKCs that I admire tremendously. Steve Freides, Doctor Cheng, and Mike Stehle had positive things to say. Basically, Steve is one of the main reasons why I picked up a KB, so his comments hold as much weight as a "Beast". When I sink into the lonely depths of the introspective journey that is Hardstyle, I'm reminded by Doc's blog that I'm not alone, so his kind words were greatly appreciated. I basically owe my decision to open my own studio to Mike and Jim at Jersey Shore Kettlebell. Mike's willingness to share his time and knowledge is something to experience. Those guys are a huge inspiration to my wife and me as we find our way as studio owners. Another great reason to be an RKC is to share the distinction of being associated with these fine people. It's just another reason to continually work to be the best RKC I can be.

Pavel even congratulated me. Talk about feeling great. By the way, did I ever tell you that I shook his hand one time?

Anyway, I got back to work with the KBs today. It looked something like this:

24kg C&P Supersetted with BW Pull-Ups

1-2-3 X 5

24kg Snatches

5(l-r) on the minute X 5

I rolled a 9, but I was cut short by a gentleman that came into the studio after seeing the article. While doing these, I felt like a newborn fawn taking its first steps, so it was pretty embarrassing to have a fellow KB enthusiast walk into the studio during these. Just give me a week, buster, and you'll see how we kick it Hardstyle!