Lol. I spent a lot of time reading old strongman books and thats what I thought every time they talked about front holds and crucifix holds.
Some of the books went into nuances even of “here’s how the English do it, and here’s how the French do it, and here’s how the Germans do it”. Boring stuff.
Good luck, lol
What kind of books are that?
Are we just doing it with a higher blood alcohol percentage, haha?
Thanks!
26.03.
1 deadlift
10 x 2 @ 130 kg + blue band
2 single leg box jumps
3 x 5 per leg
Notes;
There used to be a few sites with a bunch of old books on them. Stuff from Arthur Saxon, Eugen Sandow, Earle Liederman, George Jowett, Alan Calvert.
There was one really good site that had a ton of books, but I think the owner died and it disappeared. It might still be in the Internet Archive somewhere.
Calvert’s Super Strength talks about “the crucifix lift”. In this PDF it’s in the chapter about “The Shoulder Muscles”. Bottom of Page 51 of the PDF (page 47 page numbers).
One of the most popular of all strength tests is to hold a weight straight out from the shoulder in one hand; and it is a common thing to see a group of workmen or athletes in an impromptu competition with the object of seeing which one of them can “muscle out” the heaviest weight. In some parts of the country they allude to this stunt as “off-arming.”
No matter what you call it, it is a fine test of strength, because anyone can do it without practice, there being little skill required.
And then it goes into details of technique for some long long paragraphs.
I think the answer is always yes 
28.03.
Still under the weather but not really sick either. Back still annoying me but getting better. Still deloading this week. Worked out the next few week’s protocol. Depending on if I have a shot at the stone, I am gonna do the comp.
Started out with back rehab stuff. Ending on:
1 reverse hyper
3 x 15 @ 40 kg
2 zercher jefferson curls dead stop from blocks
3 x 6 @ 60 kg
3 keg c&p
3 x 1 @ 87 kg
2 x 2 @ 87 kg
Dusting this off. Lots to be done but only plan on doing it once per week and trusting myself to be able to bring it back quickly.
4 front hold
2 x 15-18 sec @ 21 kg
5 long paused axle incline bench press
3 x 3 @ 85 kg
2 x 5 @ 85 kg
6 seated btn press, no back support (5 sec eccentric; weights dangling on bands)
1 x 6 @ 30 kg
2 x 6 @ 40 kg
This session was a lot better. A feel good session that felt productive and yet I feel refreshed leaving the gym instead of exhausted. Sweet spot for today’s Intention.
29.03.
Yesterday was really good for the back. Hopeful it’s gonna be 100% next week.
1 front squats (beltless)
3 x 5 @ 80 kg
2 atlas stone over bar (1,20m) - spray tacky
3 @ 80 kg
2 @ 103 kg
0 @ 128 kg - hm…
3 arm over arm sled pull (lane = like 8m)
1 @ 5 plates
1 @ 8 plates
1 @ 8 plates + 1 strongman (280 kg + sled)
Super set with pushing it back obv.
Need to try the stone with taped arms.
31.03.
2 longer walks + ergometer cycling: 30 min @ 120 watts and 65-70 rpm
01.04.
1 log lift
Complex: 1 clean - 2 press - 1 clean - 1 press
Top set of:
111 kg
Back offs
FTOH EMOM 8 x 1 @ 108 kg
The 111 kg was a close call today. Turned into a death grinder for the triceps. But did it and the rest of the week isn’t too bad for the shoulders.
The EMOM was crazy hard somehow. Maybe coming off of the deload or something?
2 btn split jerks
3 x 8 @ 77,5 kg (deload)
3 front hold
21 kg x 19,5 sec.
4 btn neutral lat pull down
3 x 8 @ s14
5 face pulls
3 x 10 @ S4
I think I should maybe drop log lifts or reduce the intensity significantly.
It won’t be contested in my next competition. It does have a carry over to keg clean and press but it does take up a lot of recovery space and currently is quite hard on my lower back. I fear I’m trying to do too many things at once right now, so I need to be a litte more sensible.
I could either swap out log for something else like push press or strict press or something else.
02.04.
1 deadlift (deadlift bar)
5 @ 185 kg
4 @ 195 kg
3 @ 205 kg
5 @ 195 kg
2 @ 205 kg
Dropped it here bc it felt god awful.
2 carry medley
4 rounds of:
3a explosive med ball ghd back extension (mimicing a stone extension)
3 x 6 @ 9 kg
3b reverse hyper
3 x 12 @ 40 kg
3c cable row (with spine flex and ext)
3 x 8-10 @ s12
Notes:
04.04.
1 keg c&p
EMOM 12 x 1 @ 87 kg
2 x 2 @ 87 kg (no EMOM)
2 front hold
3 tries with new setup closer to what I anticipate for comp. Sucks bad. Can do like 6 seconds…
3 axle incline bench press
6 @ 95 kg - left arm done
2 x 8 @ 75 kg (paused)
4 oh triceps extension
3 x 12-15 @ s4
05.04.
1 high pull from high blocks (bar below knee)
5 @ 80 kg
5 @ 90 kg
2 x 3 @ 100 kg
5 @ 100 kg - added straps
2 power clean
2 x 1 @ 100 kg - from hang
3 x 1 @ 100 kg - from block
1 x 2 @ 100 kg - from block
I realized I needed more explosiveness and compared to what I was doing last year, so I added some low stress olympic lifting. It was pretty fun!
2 front squats
3 x 5 @ 105 kg
3 stone over bar (spray tacky)
3 @ 103 kg - tape malfunctioned.
3 @ 103 kg - no tape
5 @ 103 kg - spray tacky PR
I suck at stones, especially without real tacky. I can do 3 to the shoulder at this weight but 4 over bar is a fight.
4 arm over arm pull with sled (unfortunately only 7 meter)
1 @ 200 kg
1 @ 260 kg
1 @ 340 kg
1 @ 365 kg
08.04.
1 btn split jerk
3 @ 132,5 kg
1 @ 132,5 kg
2 @ 132,5 kg
2 @ 132,5 kg
1 @ 132,5 kg
Back to old grip. Planned 3 x 3.
Bunch of fails because I couldn’t lock out my right arm for some reason. Not in best shape here but it’s okay. Want to stay somewhat close to where I’ve been, so I can push this once again after comps.
2 keg clean and press
2 x 3 @ 87 kg
1 x 4 @ 87 kg
3 front hold - yet another setup.
20 sec @ 20 kg
Much better setup.
In comp we’ll be holding a ring and on that dangles a Thor’s hammer replica. Looks cool, would look cooler to just hold the handle, I think 
4 btn neutral lat pull down
3 x 8 @ s14, s15, s15
5 face pulls
3 x 10 @ s5, s6, s6
Notes:
Back looking beefy in that vid!
09.04.
1 deficit deadlift (on 20 kg plate; wl bar)
5 x 5 @ 170 kg
2 loading medley
2 rounds of:
1 fail @ the same but 130 kg sandbag
1 round (success):
3a chest supported db rows
3 x 10 @ 30 kg
3b explosive med ball ghd back extension
3 x 6 @ 9 kg
3c hammer curls
3 x 10 @ 17,5 kg; 15 kg; 12,5 kg
Setting up and putting everything back for the medley + doing 4 rounds without any help takes me close to 1,5 hours.
This sounds like pure hell. Love it
Absolutely is mate. Training right now is self inflicted torture.
11.04.
Warm up
3 x (2 snatch + 2 c&p) @ 40,50,60 kg
1 keg clean & press
3 x 2 EMOM @ 87 kg - this was going terribly so I abondoned the EMOM
6 x 2 @ 87 kg
1 x 5 @ 87 kg - one off my PR.
2 front hold
24 sec. @ 20 kg
3 axle incline bench press
4 + 1 @ 100 kg (rest pause)
3 x 5 @ 90 kg
4a mdb windmills
3 x 6 @ 35 kg
4b oh triceps extension
3 x 10 @ s6, s5, s5
12.04.
1 power clean from tall block (right below knee)
5 x 1 @ 100 kg
2 stone over bar (spray tacky)
Few sets @ 103
A lot of fails @ 128 kg…
3 @ 103 kg
4 @ 103 kg
2 @ 103 kg
3 arm over arm sled pull
330 kg
405 kg - hands were giving up at the end but pretty cool still
4 front squats
3 x 3 @ 110 kg
Notes:
Do you think not getting the stone and the second bullet might be related? And if so presumably you’ll have a back off week before competing? In which case given how close you were, with real tacky and on a competition day, you’ll probably get it, right?
