Swing On, Johnny!

Yep, I'm finishing up my block of swing training today. I'll be working on my Bottoms Up training for the next two weeks after today. I am digging the block training for right now. I get to really work on a few exercises every two weeks or so and then I get a break from those while I focus on some other exercises. For the past two weeks, I've really been focused on my swings. Two weeks from now, I'll get focused on them again.

The cool thing is, with block training, I am really "focusing" on my skills. Well, maybe it's just me. But whatever the case, lately, I'm really trying to dial in and learn from my training.

This week Betsy and I get to go look at a rough edit of our video. The camera won't lie, so this could be interesting! We've also been working on a manual to go along with our video. The cool think about that is my typing skills are really improving.

Today's training looked like this:

7 step TGU practice w/ 16kg x 5/5 for each of the 7 Steps

TGU w/ 16kg x 5/5 - basically i did about 20 minutes of Turkish Get-up work.

Swings w/ 16kg: 15/15 x 4

Snatches w/ 16kg: 10/10x 5

2H Swings w/ 16kg: 25 x 4

As you can see, today was my light day. The load was light, the focus was high! And, when I was done, I felt great. Thats the sign of a good session.

Have a good week.

Back in the Swing of Things

I am finally getting well from my Battling Rope-itis. Or whatever it is I caught two weeks ago. My training over the last few weeks has just consisted of trying to get good at the basics like swings and get-ups. I've also been doing a great deal of "self limiting" excersices (term by Gray Cook) such as double bottoms up cleans to a squat to a press.

I'm focusing on these simple moves because they are not simple. And I have plenty of room for improvement... I want to get as close to "mastery" as I can, so for me that means lots of the basics and lots of filling in the gaps. My get-ups have really taken on a whole new feel since I read Kettlebells from the Ground Up, The Kalos Sthenos Method. That is to say I'm really trying to make performing the get-up like performing an art. The cool thing is, I'm getting stronger. I'm also getting one inch closer to mastering my craft.

The weather did not cooperate this week for our DVD filming, so now we try again next week. Oh well, one more week to prepare. I did get to hang out with Betsy though and that is good. Hanging out with RKC's is also an excellent way to improve your skills. It never hurts to have another set of eyes on you...

Training today looked like this:

TGU's with 32kg: 1/1 x 8 -> 10 minutes
Swings with 32kg: 10L/10R x 7 sets, 15 seconds b/w hands
2H Swings w/ 32kg: 10 x 10 sets, 15 seconds b/w sets
SLDL w/ 32kg: 5/5 x 4 sets

Today was my heavy day. Thankfully it is over!

And ACTION!

Well, yesterday Betsy Collie and I started filming our kettlebell DVD. If nothing else, this is turning out to be an experience. It is amazing how much brain power I lose when I am supposed to talk in front of a camera. Even though I thought I was relaxed, words could not come out of my mouth in the right way at the right time. Oh well, I hope the producers are great at editing. If the weather cooperates, we should finish filming next week. Betsy is a blast to work with. She is good people.

My workouts have not been great since I attempted my Battling Ropes Level 2 cert. My body is trashed. I even got sick with a wicked head cold. Even the little bit of training we did for the DVD wiped me out. Now that the Ropes cert is over, I plan on focusing on Kbells and sprints a little more. We will see. Shiny things distract me.

Battling Ropes Level 2

Well, yesterday was the day. My Battling Ropes Level 2 certification with John Brookfield. All I can say is that it is quite possibly the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. It was also the most mentally challenging.

For example, I had to perform alternating velocity waves with a rope for 20 minutes. That was tough. I'd been practicing that fairly extensively but John's rope felt so much heavier than mine. But, I made it. Then came the fun part; pole pulls for 1 mile. This took an hour and twenty minutes. My body didn't feel like it was my own after that. This actually felt like torture. But with a lot of praying and some pulling I finally made it. I almost started crying but I was too dehydrated for the tears to flow. After that, John gave me one more 15 minute test involving towels. Last night when I got out of the shower and reached for the towel to dry off, I had a wicked flashback...

After all of that, John "showed me the ropes" with several more drills intended to forge a body of steel. John has an amazing wealth of knowledge for simple, effective, "functional" training. John's style of training doesn't just build the body though, it strengthens the mind. I think John truly believes the body will follow where the mind is capable of going and that the only limitations a person has is inside their own head. I am truly fortunate to be able to work with him and learn from him. I have learned a great deal about training from John, but I've also learned something about myself.

Oh yeah, right before I stepped outside to begin John's test I saw a box in his house that said "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me." Reading it made me feel good, remembering it while I was struggling helped me push on. Or pull on... Anyway, I passed, but not from my own strength.

I can't wait to be able to use my arms again!

Back Again

It seems the summer makes it difficult for me to blog. But I will try to work harder at it. Anyway, here's the news:

1) I have learned how to use facebook! Yeah...
2) I am training to attempt John Brookfield's Battling Ropes Level 2 cert on Friday July 31st. Lots of pain to be enjoyed!
3) Betsy Collie, of Rapid Results, and I are working on a kettlebell video project. Stay tuned for that!
4) OPT, our personal training studio, has been running quite smoothly. That has been a pleasant surprise. We have been blessed with great clients so far.
5) Both my kids are now in school. Cool but sad.

Finally, my own training has been going quite well. As far as kettlebells go, I've been working on the basics and self limiting exercises. I was doing well at sprinting for a good while until I went on family vacation. Haven't gotten back into it yet. Mostly because i'm spending so much time on my Battling Ropes training. That has been a true learning experience. Not about the ropes, but about myself. I have to perform velocity waves for 20 minutes nonstop, and then pull a mile (5280 ft) of rope around a pole. I can do it. Whether or not I can do it friday remains to be seen. But, I can do it.

I have read "Born to Run," a book about ultrarunning. Believe it or not, after I read it, I wanted to be an ultrarunner. That didn't stick though... I also read "Kettlebells from the Ground Up," it was great; Devoted entirely to the Turkish Get-up. If you are serious about your training and want to posess real strength, it is a must have.

Alrighty then, that's the meat of everything. I'll post back soon and more often!

Slacker

It would appear that I'm not such a good blogger. Unless once a month blogs are normal... A little bit has has happened since I last posted. I was able to go back and visit John Brookfield, the father of Battling Ropes. He was kind enough to let me play with the ropes once again. That was fun in a sick, twisted sort of way. He's a great guy. If you're ever able to check him out, you should.

May 1st was my birthday. I'm getting old. I got to hang out with Geoff Neupert. Another great guy. Smart too. I gained 10 lbs of muscle following his training protocol. That was cool.

One of the coolest things that has happened is that I figured out wearing sunglasses causes my hamstrings to shut off. Yes, I know that sounds as crazy as it looks, but for me, its true. Since I've stopped wearing shades, my hamstrings are firing and I am finally able to sprint again without pain. Also, my workouts are going very well; no pain. Sunglasses, who knew? Learning is fun.

I also bought some vibram 5 fingers. I wanted to be like all the other cool kids. They get attention. Kinda comfy though... That's about all that has happened in the last month. For now, as far as training goes, i'm playing with double kettlebells and practicing the bent press, pistols and TGU's. I've also started sprinting twice a week. I love doing that, especially when it doesn't hurt.

RKC Weekend

Is it April already? I missed half of it...

Just got back from an RKC cert in Minnesota. It was an awesome weekend. The RKC is the ORIGINAL kettlebell certification. There are now many competing kettlebell certs out there. Many of those certifications take shots at the RKC, saying their certs are better, not from Russia, or whatever... Funny thing is I've never noticed the RKC as an orginisation to ever retaliate. The Pavel and the RKC always seem to take the higher ground. I think that speaks volumes about the character within the RKC. I really don't know if I've ever met a finer group of people. All dedicated to helping and improving their fellow man. Its really a beautiful thing.

As far as educational content, the RKC is loaded. And, it's not just about kettlebells. Its about the body and how to use it. Its about strength; both physical and mental. Its about the quest for perfection and how to persue it. Because the swing is not just a swing and a press is not just a press. They are skills that are to be mastered.

Anyway, there are lots of choices out there when it comes to kettlebells. And as time goes buy, there will be even more. But wouldn't you like to learn from the best there is? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it is still just imitation. There would be not other KB certs out there if it were not for the strength and quest of perfection in Pavel's RKC.

In training news, I've been following I workout routine Geoff Neupert gave me to try. It involves lots of double kettlebell work. I even got to do the workout with Doug Nepodal over the weekend. It's a smoker. But it is making me lean and mean. Well, not so much mean... Doubles rock!!