When I started tearing playing cards I must admit to being a little bummed that I couldn't take out the whole deck. I worked my way up to 35 cards and was stonewalled a little. I knew Adam or Jedd or someone was coming out with a resource on card tearing, so I decided to put it aside until then.
Jedd Johnson recently put out an e-book on card tearing so I picked it up. The first thing to hit me went something like this: "Trying to start out tearing decks of Bicycle playing cards is rough as they are one of the toughed decks of playing cards to tear in the world."
I went to my desk and pulled out the deck of playing cards I had been tearing.
Bicycle.
Duh.
At least I feel a little better now.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Solid pistols on the left leg.
I'm not getting too excited yet, but I pulled off four solid pistols on my left leg with a 12 kg. kettlebell today, no pain. I think all of my flexibility work is finally paying off.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Show them what they can do, not what you can do.
When I do workshops I go out of my way to try not to do a bunch of feats of strength. Some stuff can't be helped, but me running around snatching the 40 kg. and bent pressing two 20 kg. bells in one hand isn't doing much to serve to serve those trying to learn from me. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to do that stuff at the appropriate time, but when it's the running theme that's when I see a problem.
I find it much more entertaining to unlock potential and get people doing things they didn't think they were capable of.
I did a workshop today and had a number of PR's get pulled off. One of the attendees pressed out a 32 kg. kettlebell, and I believe he had only ever pressed the 24 kg. He also came close to pressing the 40 kg. at a bodyweight of 155 lbs. I know he'll get that press soon.
If you asked me why I became a trainer the answer would be "Because I have no job skills."
Answer number two though would be stuff like this. Putting people on a path and seeing them achieve things they otherwise might not have been able to, or would have taken much longer to achieve.
I find it much more entertaining to unlock potential and get people doing things they didn't think they were capable of.
I did a workshop today and had a number of PR's get pulled off. One of the attendees pressed out a 32 kg. kettlebell, and I believe he had only ever pressed the 24 kg. He also came close to pressing the 40 kg. at a bodyweight of 155 lbs. I know he'll get that press soon.
If you asked me why I became a trainer the answer would be "Because I have no job skills."
Answer number two though would be stuff like this. Putting people on a path and seeing them achieve things they otherwise might not have been able to, or would have taken much longer to achieve.
Friday, March 20, 2009
I pledge myself to a life of struggle...
Recently I was talking to someone about how I use self-hatred to drive myself to correct problems. I think she thought I was joking, but I really wasn't. I reached a point with my general nutrition where I really was hating myself. I knew how I was consuming was counter-productive not just to training, but to my general health and happiness. Humming to myself and telling myself that I am on a peaceful path and am a gentle spirit in need of guidance was out, so I decided that self-loathing and shame were good options.
If you embark upon my two fold path of self-loathing and shame, you have to understand that it is a tool, and you have to understand what it is.
What is shame? I had this conversation with a group of people years ago. The general consensus was that shame was bad, and you should never be ashamed of pretty much anything. This kind of thinking to me is insane. There is a good reason for the things we feel. What kind of tool is shame? Unless you're just suffering from a psychological disorder, generally shame keeps you from doing things you know you are not supposed to be doing. However, if you simply push it away and declare shame is always bad, what is to stop you?
Many of us are driven by compulsions, and generally they are things that feel good, at least momentarily. After the act we may hate ourselves. If we push that hate away and try to demonize it, we may just fall back into that pattern. If we acknowledge that there is a valid reason to hate ourselves and accept it, we are more likely to correct it. Once we do, we become better, and the self-hatred falls away. Not because we wished it away, but because we have earned freedom from it.
My two fold path of self-loathing and shame leads to happiness. You have to go through hell to get to heaven. I went through my period of struggle, and now that I have acknowledged and corrected the problem I am much happier.
Many seem to have a sense of entitlement, that struggle is bad, that everything should be serene and peaceful. This isn't a bad idea, but the struggle continues whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.
"If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War."
-George Washington
If you embark upon my two fold path of self-loathing and shame, you have to understand that it is a tool, and you have to understand what it is.
What is shame? I had this conversation with a group of people years ago. The general consensus was that shame was bad, and you should never be ashamed of pretty much anything. This kind of thinking to me is insane. There is a good reason for the things we feel. What kind of tool is shame? Unless you're just suffering from a psychological disorder, generally shame keeps you from doing things you know you are not supposed to be doing. However, if you simply push it away and declare shame is always bad, what is to stop you?
Many of us are driven by compulsions, and generally they are things that feel good, at least momentarily. After the act we may hate ourselves. If we push that hate away and try to demonize it, we may just fall back into that pattern. If we acknowledge that there is a valid reason to hate ourselves and accept it, we are more likely to correct it. Once we do, we become better, and the self-hatred falls away. Not because we wished it away, but because we have earned freedom from it.
My two fold path of self-loathing and shame leads to happiness. You have to go through hell to get to heaven. I went through my period of struggle, and now that I have acknowledged and corrected the problem I am much happier.
Many seem to have a sense of entitlement, that struggle is bad, that everything should be serene and peaceful. This isn't a bad idea, but the struggle continues whether you choose to acknowledge it or not.
"If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War."
-George Washington
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A subject matter expert eh?
The other day I received a certificate of commendation from USMC 1st ANGLICO. That's pretty cool. I thought my days of getting commendations from the Marine Corps were over. I have been declared to be a 'subject matter expert in strength development through the use of kettlebells.'
The Camp Pendleton RKC really was the culmination of something I've been wanting to do for a long time, namely getting back to my roots and schooling my military descendants in some hardcore job specific training. Like I've said before, I wish I'd had these tools and methods back when I was on active duty.
The Camp Pendleton RKC really was the culmination of something I've been wanting to do for a long time, namely getting back to my roots and schooling my military descendants in some hardcore job specific training. Like I've said before, I wish I'd had these tools and methods back when I was on active duty.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New article up on Straight To The Bar.
I have a new article up on straighttothebar.com
Perfect technique through pain compliance.
Perfect technique through pain compliance.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Re-wiring the military press
Yesterday at Rif's RKC II Prep course I tweaked my back out pretty bad. It was one of those pains where you break into a cold sweat the second it happens. I had to work through it and it was fine, but still present when I went home. I took some time to soak, do some extensions, stretch the tight flexors out, and relax. This morning I felt better and decided to do a light workout.
Yeah... anyway. 15 Grade 2 bolts and 15 sets of 5/5 military press on the 20 kg. I feel better. Not quite a 'light' day, but the results were good.
Using the technique corrections Rif gave us my press is so much stronger it's absurd. Looking back I shudder at how many junk reps I put up that just meant absolutely nothing. I understood pulling my shoulder in the socket and tightening up, but what serves me better is using the pulling down of my shoulder not just to get it in the socket, but to wedge my entire body into the ground. I was so tight my calves cramped. After the set my legs are smoked. I have to say I felt the press more in my abs than in my shoulders. The 20 kg. felt like a toy and practically pressed itself.
Rif pulled out a copy of the original 'Russian Kettlebell Challenge' book and pointed out that just the photo of Pavel pressing on the cover pretty much said it all. Every muscle tight, forearm vertical, shoulder packed, hip out. Now I am basically pressing exactly as it is seen on the cover, and it makes all the difference. My free hand pushes my hip out, and importantly I am also crush gripping my hip bone.
I have also found an easy way to track my sets of presses by bending a bolt in-between each set.
Yeah... anyway. 15 Grade 2 bolts and 15 sets of 5/5 military press on the 20 kg. I feel better. Not quite a 'light' day, but the results were good.
Using the technique corrections Rif gave us my press is so much stronger it's absurd. Looking back I shudder at how many junk reps I put up that just meant absolutely nothing. I understood pulling my shoulder in the socket and tightening up, but what serves me better is using the pulling down of my shoulder not just to get it in the socket, but to wedge my entire body into the ground. I was so tight my calves cramped. After the set my legs are smoked. I have to say I felt the press more in my abs than in my shoulders. The 20 kg. felt like a toy and practically pressed itself.
Rif pulled out a copy of the original 'Russian Kettlebell Challenge' book and pointed out that just the photo of Pavel pressing on the cover pretty much said it all. Every muscle tight, forearm vertical, shoulder packed, hip out. Now I am basically pressing exactly as it is seen on the cover, and it makes all the difference. My free hand pushes my hip out, and importantly I am also crush gripping my hip bone.
I have also found an easy way to track my sets of presses by bending a bolt in-between each set.
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