A Day Of Thanks

Thanksgiving is a day to relax, eat, watch football, but most importantly reflect and thank those who have impacted our lives. It’s a day off for me, which is great because it means I actually have the time to update this blog. Some strength and conditioning coaches I see are able to write 2-4 times a day. I don’t think they actually train anyone ;) For those that know me, know that I can be stubborn. I like to do things myself even if it means doing it the hard way. I don’t ask for anyone else’s help but I am so thankful to those who give it. This year has been absolutely amazing. I opened up UA in Fairfax, Virginia after a lot of disappointments, headaches, and a couple temporary locations. In less than a year the gym has really transformed. Every week there is something new. Literally it has been a dream come true.

Growing up my mom kept a journal / photo album called “school days.” It included every grade from kindergarden to my senior year. Each year had topics like teacher, best friends,pets,sports, and dream job. Each year also included a school picture (man I had a couple awkward years). Looking back through the school days album I realized a couple things.. 1) I had an almost unhealthy obsession with He-man and Alf. 2) I always loved sports and music. 3) I had a lot of the same friends from kindergarden to 12th grade. 4) I wanted to be a lot of things growing up, a police man, an astronaut, a teacher, a professional baseball player, but then 10th,11th,and 12th grade all I wanted was to own a gym. I’ve read several books that said “have a dream, write it down, think about it everyday, and it will happen.” Apparently that stuff actually works! So there, dreams actually do come true, and I am watching mine in real time, but I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for some very special people. So I would like to take this day to specifically thank David L. and Lisa W., Taylor C, Sara M, and Cristal S for all your knowledge, patience, and support! It would be impossible to pay you back for everything you have given me, but I will try. Also, thank you to everyone that trusts me with your health, wellness, strength and conditioning. And of course, thank you Diesel for making me laugh everyday, keeping my stress level low, and making sure I get my exercise.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Review: World Kettlebell Championships 2009 - Chicago

UA's own team Giryafit brings back 3 medals from the 2009 World Championships in Chicago! It was our first competition since the Arnold Classic in March. Although we weren't rolling quite as deep this time around we had a great showing.  I could not be more proud of Sara and Cristal for qualifying, ranking class 1, and doing an amazing job at the world championships. More importantly everyone showed noticeable improvements since the last competition and now we have another block to build upon. I have to give it to the World Kettlebell Club, the event was well organized without too much down time. The only negative thing I could say is the weighins were the same day as the event. I would personally prefer a weighin the night before. On the other side a big plus was the massage therapist they had on staff for competitors between events. It is a sport, and yes we are all competing against each other, but you have to love how supportive and embracing everyone is. We met great coaches, amazing athletes, and even some fans?! Personally I am more motivated than ever. There is going to be some great training going on at the Underground Athlete gym between now and Vegas. Join us! Join the Underground Athlete's kettlebell team, Giryafit.

Results

Sara Moore- Silver medal

60kg wt class / 16kg kettlebell: Jerks- 40/40 Snatch- 32/32

Total: 5,040lbs lifted

Cristal Siscar-Silver medal

55kg wt class / 16kg kettlebell: Jerks- 32/55 Snatch- 23/23

Total: 4,655lbs lifted

Justin Case- Gold medal

85kg wt class / 2-28kg kettlebell: Jerks- 70 Snatch- 45/55

Total: 14,880lbs lifted

Inch by Inch Rep by Rep

Recently hard times are falling on many of the people I care about most. Everyone is feeling the effects of this financial crisis, stress is high, injuries are occurring, sick family members are taking turns for the worse. Times like this make it tempting to turn off the lights and crawl in bed and stay there. It's hard to believe that the pain will end, but it will. If you can reach down deep and convince yourself to keep moving forward inch by inch; if you can bare the pain and continue doing the things you need to do, you will embrace and eventually overcome the pain and be a stronger person because of it. It's amazing the similarities between life and girevoy sport. In both it's the little things that matter most. If you can endure the pain, do those little things, and keep moving forward inch by inch, rep by rep, you will be succeed.

BACK in the saddle

First of all I'd like to say how proud I am of myself for coming up with such a clever title. :) My back is starting to come around. I'm learning what I can and can't do with it. After several days on ice I can bend over without much problem now. So against my better judgment, I started training again last week. I'm starting with the basics and just working at getting my strength back up. Last Thursday I threw in a 10 minute jerk set with 2 20kg. Saturday's workout was a basic upper body strength / hypertrophy day. Monday I hit the legs pretty hard with 450lb hack squats / 1025lb leg presses / bulgarian squats / calf raises. Tuesday was the first time I really touched the 32kg since the arnolds. It felt good to hold that familiar piece of steel again, and hold it I did, for a long time because it wasn't going up that often haha. I decided on a 20 minute OAJ set to get used to the feel of it in the rack again without putting too much load on my back or my still recovering legs. After the jerk set I just did 20 minutes of freestyle with the 16kg. Stay tuned, better workouts to come.

Rest is Stress!

Rest is stress..
It shouldn't be, but for me, right now, it very much is. As I take this time to recover I get more anxious everyday. It's kinda like that R. Kelly song "my mind is tellin me no, but my body, my body is tellin me yeahhh" except for me it's my mind telling me "yeah" and my body tellin me NO! You know the popular saying "plan your work and work your plan" right? Well I've got the first part done. I've come up with a great plan, but it's not doing me any good just sitting on my desk. I'm going to take one more week to rest and then hopefully it's on! To everyone I train, know this; I push you because I care, and because I'm passive aggressive and extremely jealous that you're training and I'm not. :-)

Eat right, rest, drink water, stretch, sleep, repeat. Eat right, rest, drink water, stretch, sleep, repeat.