This week Merk Reifkind Senior RKC hit yet another milestone in a long and yet to be finished journey. A year ago he started in on the kettlebell snatch Max VO2 protocol. After a year of hitting it hard and sticking with it rain or shine he achieved this.
This is important because it displays something that many in our society have lost, and that is the ability to stay on task and finish the job. I recall the day I walked in to Girya to discuss the poossibility of my working there. I was mentally prepared for the coming onslaught, I had war gamed every possible scenario. I walked in, steeled myself up, and... was instructed that the thermostat is behind the refrigerator. :)
However, the following discussion left me with something to think about. It was something to the effect of: "People come up with all of these complicated training plans. What I want to see is them come up with something simple, and stick to it."
It was one of those things that was right in my face, but I hadn't focused long enough to see it. If I believed ADD existed, I would have it. I just see it as not paying attention, or letting your discipline slip.
It's easy to just do whatever or not follow any specific plan. The challenge I faced and found to be harder than anything else was to construct a plan, and as long as I felt it was working, stick with it. I have done so, and have made great progress in the past six weeks because of it. Next weekend I will pull a new PR on the Deadlift, and we will see just how much progress I have made as that has been my primary focus, closely followed by upping my 5 minute snatch numbers.
Another skill seemingly lost in society these days is the ability to shut your mouth and listen, not just spend your time while the other person is talking by thinking of what you'll say next. I do my best to accomplish this every day. I wake up each morning assuming I will learn something, and am often rewarded with new knowledge. There are many out there who don't do that, and that's kind of a bummer of a gig to have. I've been fortunate enough to have some pretty bright people take me to the curb every so often, and I'm glad that I generally shut my mouth and listened to what they had to say instead of just arguing what I believed to be true. It helped me to grow a lot.
That's all.
I just posted this because it's so bad ass.
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thank you for that post Jordan, it is greatly appreciated.Sorry i didnt put you through the ringer more when you arrived at Girya but controlling the temp in the studio is crucial,lol.my best clients are next door.
ReplyDeleteAs far as sticking to game plans I see that, absolutely, as the number one reason 99% of trainees,AND trainers, go nowhere with their progress.
when you look at me,who could barely snatch once a week without getting wrecked just a short while ago to now being able to snatch two plus days a week AND push harder than ever while doing so is testament to what plugging along slowly, yet tenaciously, will get you.
People are information junkies. they want more and more and more info while really never putting what they have to good use.
the bottom line, to me,is that simple movements,done PROGRESSIVELY and CONSISTENLY, over time are all most people need.
thanks again for being such a standup guy. I waited for you to come to Girya for a long time and it was worth the wait.
ca't wait to see you go through the cert, too.
as you say, hard training changes, you. same goes for the RKC :))
Thanks Rif. I get the temp thing. If it drops below 70 degrees I turn into the biggest sissy on the planet. :)
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