Exciting stuff for the DVD

I'm waiting on the transfers from the copy place to get into the editing as I write this. Now is the point of DVD production where I would normally be opening my wallet a lot for sound, editing, DVD packaging and design, but... I'm a multitasker! Now is where my ADD finally pays off since I've already done editing jobs with Final Cut, I have a stack of original music I've recorded over the years, and in a previous life I was a graphic artist and did a lot of project layout.
Unless something causes this to change the DVD will be available in three formats.
1. The physical DVD. I'm not sure on this, but the DVD will probably also include a compressed file for use on the iphone.
2. Downloadable files to burn your own DVD. Don't want to wait for delivery and want to save $5? Download the files from my site and burn your own.
3. Downloadable quicktime movie. Cheaper still, and not the quality of the DVD, but fast delivery and... did I mention cheaper?

If you have a website, mailing list, or blog I am going to be setting up an affiliate program where you can make money by simply putting up a link for this DVD. If you would like more information on this e-mail me jordan@averagetoelite.com
Put 'Affiliate' in the subject line.

The video shoot has wrapped

Today I shot the footage for the DVD. It went very well, aside from the fact that we had to kill the AC due to the background noise. So I was in a hot box sweating bullets for about 5 hours.
I'm very overly critical of myself with these sorts of things, but I have to say I honestly don't see how we possibly could have done this any better. The gentleman who shot the thing was very professional and came in with an arsenal of video equipment on these two giant carts. Nothing was left to chance, and that's the way I like it. Now on to the editing.

New Article up on Dragondoor.com and big stuff coming

Check it out: How to change the game: The art of not tearing your hands

Lots of other big stuff going on. Next weekend I shoot the DVD and pre-order will begin July 15th.
I've also been laboring away on the members section of Avergaetoelite.com
I'm adding an average of two videos a day and want to get up to a couple dozen before I open it up. This is the section my online training clients currently only have access to, but I had enough people ask about opening it up as a subscription service that I decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on it. I don't think there is anything else like it online, and I'm looking forward to getting it up and running.
In training news today I took down 14 Grade 5 bolts in a row. I only stopped because I ran out of bolts. I'm not sure if I'm going to try some stupid 50 bolts in a row challenge, or just work into the Gr8's. We'll see. At least I acknowledge that it's stupid. :)

I have finally bent a horseshoe

Today I bent my first horseshoe. It was surreal when it actually moved. This was a St. Croix Forge Ultra-lite 0 that I have had for about 8 months, and until today was never even able to move it. This is quite an accomplishment for me as it's been a goal for a long time.
Thanks to Adam, Zach, Dave, Rif, and everyone who has helped me along the way.

I teach the snatch in six minutes and fifteen seconds.

First let me clarify that this is not a race, and I don't intend it to turn into one. This is solely about efficiency. At one point I was being goofy and said I could teach a monkey how to snatch a kettlebell in five minutes. Well what about a person? Was I just full of it or could I actually get it done in five minutes?
Today I had one of my newer clients in, and it was time for her to learn the snatch. So what the hell? I fired up the video camera and timed myself.
In retrospect I think if I had just started her on the 12 kg. I would have been under five minutes. You see some instances where the twenty pound bell is clearly too light for her.
I have embedded the video below, as well as the following seven minutes where we refined the movement and hit it for reps.
Below that I have embedded my original videos where I demonstrate how I teach the snatch. The sound sucks. Sorry.
I do want to point out that there is nothing new here. This is all stuff I've learned from the RKC. I may cue a little differently, but I'm playing the same game everyone else is.

New Video: Lat activation via the military press negative and pull up

Today I put together a video in response to some specific questions on how to feel you're activating the lat in the military press and pull up.

Cycle of training and nailing the pull up

Just a little training update on my slow march to the Beast Challenge. I feel I've really nailed the pull up consistently now. It only took me 13 years.
I had to drop to bodyweight for my high volume pull up day, but that turned out to be the right move. Today I feel like someone actually tried to rip my lats off my body. Not just the upper lat but all the way down my back. 80 pull ups will do that to you. So if you're doing pull ups and you don't feel your lats, that might be a good indicator that you've got some work to do. I think I'll pull the 32 kg. within a month or so.
My cycle of training this time out is going much better. I've set my ego aside and dropped the weight where necessary. Everything is strong and I seem to be hitting PR's bi-weekly.
This coming week I'll be getting serious again with my steel bending and card tearing. After my rampage of PR's culminating in a 60 card tear and bending 50 Sixty Penny nails in a row I backed way off. Now I'll be working on Grade 5 bolts and harder decks of cards. I'm consistently tearing decks of Motor Brand playing cards now, I just can't quite quarter them.
I've been working my suitcase deadlifts as well, and am hitting 135 lbs. each hand for three easy reps. Time to bump up the weight.

Announcing the Hard-Style Kettlebell Certification

The Hard-Style Kettlebell Certification is a new Cert just announced by Dragondoor. This is a one day cert based on getting trainers and average folks safe with kettlebells via a thorough grounding in the basics. Furthermore the cost of this one day cert will be deducted from your RKC cert should you choose to attend. I think this is a great move as it will be much more widespread than the current RKC. Plus, let's face it- There are a lot of trainers out there who just can't make it through the RKC, yet will still use kettlebells with their clients regardless. This is a way for them to learn the basics from the best without feeling like they have to go through the 'gauntlet'. I'm just guessing, but I bet you'll see an HKC popping up somewhere near you soon.

Click here for more details.

Snatch PR- 32 kg. 20R/20L

Today I hit 20 reps each arm on the 32 kg. I took a short rest between the two. In retrospect I should have gone for 25/25 and canned the break. This was relatively easy. A big difference from last time's lopsided attempt.



This is the previous one. I remember that I was breathing like a race horse after this one.

New website and DVD release date

For those of you that didn't catch it in the newsletter my new website is up. Check it out at http://www.averagetoelite.com
I'm working to make this a more complete resource with information in the FAQ, article and video section, and RKC blog directory, and more. I was also able to import this blog into the site, so when you hit the search feature in the side bar you're able to search everything on the site as well as everything I've ever written in this blog. Not sure that's a good thing.
I've set a release date of August 1st for my DVD. It's called backing yourself into a corner. More to come.

A 95 pound pistol, pressing two 32 kg. kettlebells, and taking off the brakes

This past week I military pressed two 32 kg. kettlebells for the first time. I recall when I first tried doing this they didn't move an inch. I was pretty surprised they went up this time. I did it twice, and the second time was easier than the first. The 40 kg. is coming.
I also pulled off a Pistol with our 95 pound kettlebell. To my surprise it was actually Beast Legal in terms of touching the hamstring to the calf. However on the way back up I almost lost the bell and it got ugly. I think it's now more of an arm strength challenge for me to hold it out vs. leg strength.
I've been really delving into CK-FMS and all things flexibility lately as I know my poor shoulder mobility and anterior pelvic tilt are probably the main things holding me back in regard to pressing and pistols. I did an FMS today and was a 15/21. I probably shouldn't be allowed to walk down the street without someone holding me up. :)
I'm going to have someone else do this in the next month as you cannot FMS yourself. However, as I'm practicing the procedure I fired up two video cameras at different angles and did the best I could. It'll be interesting to see how on the money it was when someone else does it.

A new barbell and big stuff on the horizon

This weekend I picked up a new 1500 pound test barbell that I found on craig's list for $125. Good deal.
I've also been handed the ability to bring something to fruition that I conceptualized a long time ago and have been gradually working on since then. I was just suffering from a technology/ability gap that kept it from happening. I'll keep you updated as the release date approaches. Some of you may be left thinking "So... what?" Well, it's cool to me. :)
Training is going well and I'm full steam ahead with KJ's Beast Tamer protocol. I am practicing more intelligent loading this time and will be gradually building up and dropping back using volume and intensity.
I've definitely had to put aside the ego lately and deal with the reality of the numbers. I had a grueling TGU session with a 16 kg. on Saturday that put me in my place. The same thing that affects my presses on my left side inhibits a full posting of both ASIS to the ceiling when doing get ups with my left hand, so I'm working through that. Like Grey said, I don't need any more resistance, I have plenty in my own body to work against.
It's important to suck it up sometimes and deal with reality. I see people who don't make any real observable progress, but have a million excuses for it. I've seen a real trend toward randomized training, and I'm going to call a dog a dog here and say it's pretty convenient that you have no way to measure progress. This isn't a crossfit bash, because crossfit does have a way to measure progress. You have the Crossfit Total (which I like), you can compare Fran times, whatever. That works. What I'm saying is if you don't establish some manner of testing yourself that can be compared against past results how can you know you're progressing? You can think you are, but do you really know?
I guess part of this is to beware of making up workouts too often. As in ever, in my opinion. I design workouts based on study and experience. There is a system to this type of thing, and the idea that you can just come up with something off the top of your head and get the same results you would if you put time and study into it is just a little silly, and let's face it: offensive.