There are two lines you might come to in any workout, or in anything else you do. The first line, the good line, is where you just don’t think you can handle any more. The Q is doing a cadence count on KB swings, blows through all the predicable stopping points, and goes on-and-on-and-on. However, it is exhilarating and empowering to come to this line, power past it and realize you can do more than you think you can. Much, much more. (Take note: This is true about all of life)
The second line, the bad line, is where you think you can do more than you can. You grit your teeth, you strain, you sacrifice sense and form and grind out a few more reps: This is where injuries happen. You must learn to distinguish between the two lines. Sometimes the smartest, most resilient, most effective course of action is to take a knee or ask for help. (This is also true about life)
Slashers. Death Crawls. Simple but Sinister. Kettlebell exercises have some of the best names and some of the most intimidating. And so they should. Few things offer as complete of a workout – high intensity, endurance, stamina, raw strength, cardio. Every exercise keeps you off balance and causes you to engage your core.
In the same sense, if you are not attendant to the second line, kettlebells can lead to injury. You might strain to push out a couple more merkins, or grit through another set of burpees. However whenever I Q the Blitz, I always stress that the PAX really listen to their bodies and pay attention to form. If I call out 50 KB swings, I would much rather someone do 20 properly, then abandon proper form trying to meet my arbitrary number.
YHC was proud to see that today that the PAX took his cue. Several modified certain exercises as needed, including that beast-of-a-man Cinderella. Listen to your body. It will teach you to distinguish between the two lines.
Disclaimer given, 24 PAX (including three 1st time Kettlebellers) began:
Warm-up
- 20 x SHH,
- Twist (OYO)
- KB one-armed twist (OYO, reverse)
- 20 x goblet squat
- Halo (OYO)
- 20 x two handed swing
The Thang
Simple but sinister
- 100 x one armed swings
- 10 x Turkish Get Ups
- “KB Karate kid” recovery – (Stand one knee raised, KB in opposite hand)
- 10 x Slashers (left)
- 10 x Slashers (right)
- 40 x two handed swings
Mosey to the field and partner up
Death Crawl/Suicide combo
- Partner 1: Sprints to midfield, returns to partner
- Partner 2: Merkin walks with Kettlebell until partner arrives
- Flapjack until both reach midfield
- KB Karate kid recovery
2 rounds
- 10 x snatch (right)
- 10 x snatch (left)
- 40 x two handed swing
- Repeat
Mary
- 20 x 4 count dying cockroach (w/KB)
- 20 x heals to heaven
Announcements
- Next Kettlebell Eclipse: Evening of Tuesday June 2/Morning of Wednesday June 3 Midnight.
- Memorial Day Convergence at Carrol Middle school w/pre-ruck
- Hush Puppy leads a discussion on race today – (good stuff. let’s do more of these)
- I missed a few – sound off below
Prayer requests for several brothers
Nice work today. With gratitude. Cut Me Mick
