Swinging double 40's

I've had an interest for a while in swinging double 40 kg. bells, as I had a notion this would mean I had developed a good base of strength. I finally pulled it off at the TSC.



I have to admit it wasn't really that tough, though my technique could be better.

I am learning to understand the difference between 'goals' and 'interests'. This helps avoid having too many goals and spreading yourself too thin.

The Palo Alto TSC

The competitors at Palo Alto this year killed it!
I struck up a deal with Chris Gaines RKC (Equinox PT Manager) that if he goes Elite next time I will compete as well.




Open Division
Name/ Weight
Deadlift
Pull Ups
Snatches

Kai Johnson/188
315
12
95

Michael Corrales/198
360
11
125

Ian Droze/149
405
29
104

Shaun Eagen/ 225
505
22
131

Billy Bybee/159
430
20
130

Chris Gaines/235
505
16
131
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Thanks to everyone for coming out and to Equinox Palo Alto for hosting.

First try double snatching 28's

This went okay, but as soon as I looked at the video I realized my hips weren't really snapping, I was definitely muscling these up. Back to the 24's for more sets and reps. This isn't really any kind of goal, more of an interest. I'd like to be able to smoothly put up 32's.
I'll steer clear of the 28's until I can get 10 solid reps on the 24's.

Dead start one arm/ one leg push up

I don't think I posted this before. Max Shank RKC brought up doing a one arm/ one leg push up starting from the floor.
How hard could it be?



Pretty damn hard. I think this is a great expression of tension. If you don't get tight you ain't moving. I can't do it on my left yet, but I'm working on evening out.

Palo Alto Tactical Strength Challenge at Equinox

Next Saturday 9/26 I will be holding the Palo Alto TSC at Equinox Fitness in Palo Alto.
Weigh ins start at noon and lifting begins immediately thereafter.
Equinox Fitness, 440 Portage Ave, Palo Alto, CA 9430

Are you legit, or are you full of... well you know.

I recently watched this three part interview by Ron Jones on Dr. Rusty Smith.

I've run into Rusty three times now. First he was inextricably hanging around the UCLA RKC. Then I ran into him at Pavel's stretching workshop in Sacramento. Then last month he was on my team at the San Diego RKC. I didn't really get Rusty at first, and then he said something that connected a lot of dots for me.
"Living like this... in cities is very counter to our nature."
Some of you may not get that, but it hit me like a ton of bricks.
Many people know I'm not a big fan of the tree huggers or the shrub humpers, but they mistake why this is. It's not because I'm against eating organic, protecting the earth, etc. It's because so often these people come off as so fake it leaves a taste of plastic in my mouth. I can tell when you're doing this stuff because you're legit, and when you're doing it because you want to communicate what a good person you are. You don't perceive the value within yourself, so you seek validation from others by trying to become a reflection of what they wish they saw in the mirror. It's a viscous cycle.
This is like people who are constantly spouting lessons learned from a life they never lived. Okay I get it, you read a book. Here's the problem. When you haven't lived that life, when you haven't truly suffered and shouldered responsibility and had leadership thrust upon you, it sounds fake. It's like a five year old walking around in his father's suit and trying to convince everyone he is the real deal. Stop worrying so much about the next brilliant thing you're going to say and just frigging BE!
Stop worrying about trying to attain enlightenment in this life, it's a cheat! You haven't done the time, so you don't get to pass go, you do not get to collect $200. Go get beaten for a few years and get back to me if you want your hall pass.

The more I watch this the more amazed I am by it

Do you have any idea how hard it is to do that just once?