People mock crossfit a lot, but I’ve felt the lure many times. Maybe just because Rich Froning is cool as fuck.
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@mattjp Time consuming isn’t the issue, so much as it’s just not something I’m passionate about. I like being big and strong, and that goes in the opposite of it. If I WERE to invest that much training time into something, it’d be martial arts again. I still have the itch to get back into it. If my wife ends up working at our new location, I might sign up for a local school, since I’ll have a little more downtime. But otherwise, I’m good to casually compete in strongman, I just don’t see myself over doing weightlifting. A bodybuliding comp MIGHT happen at one point in my life, but I basically have to be at a point in my life where I’m willing to be incredibly selfish. Maybe when I retire.
@idontbrag123 50lbs is where a lot of people tend to quote it. Since there’s no eccentric load at the start, you can’t get quite the benefit out of them as you can with a squat suit/bench shirt.
@dagill2 Elite crossfit dudes are legit. Yeah, your local dudes that go a few times a week are goofy, but people seem to lack the self-awareness to note that this is true of EVERY sport. Seeing local powerlifters who train 3 times a week to “win” in a class by themselves making fun of crossfitters is seeing people missing a lot of irony. Same is true of “strongmen” who do events once a week and eat at a buffet for the other 6.
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I’m a little jealous of the camaraderie CrossFitters share. My wife has a circle of running friends. I haven’t found anyone like me except here on the forums.
For sure. Dan John talks about this a lot as well and the older i get the more that kind of intentional community appeals to me. I’d love to do a bars and BBQs day where a group of people meat up, grill meat, pick up heavy stuff and have a good time.
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I think about this too. CrossFit seems to have gotten one thing right and that is the inclusive nature of the training. I think this is also a thing in strongman and in some PL gyms too. It is just that those type of gyms are quite rare, whereas CrossFit boxes seem to be popping up everywhere.
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I’ve always thought some type of T-Nation get together would be cool - maybe having a few comps at their HQ with some more unusual movements, like Wendler’s NOV meet, and just some outdoorsy activities. Main problem is just that everyone’s so spread out - it’s not a group who go to the same gym or something.
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I’m expecting a bit more free time next summer and I’m genuinely considering doing this for all the British guys. Having said that, I don’t think I know any British guys on here, we seem to be a tiny minority.
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I’m British!
I lived in Bristol for a year, does that count?
I enjoyed this post immensely
@Frank_C I wonder if you’d appreciate combat sports. Your ability to manhandle folks based off size/leverage would play to your advantage, and the camaraderie you talk about is definitely there. In truth, I always found it off putting, and would be the same with crossfit. Whenever I have to pay money for something, it sours my camaraderie. I figure, at that point, I’m the customer and I set the terms of the agreement, and if they don’t like it, they’re free not to take my money.
@dagill2 Definitely elements of that with strongman comps. I tend to bring enough food to feed everyone when I go, haha.
@jshaving Martial arts site I used to go to would have get togethers just like that. Called them “throwdowns”. Could probably work something like that.
PM WORKOUT
SUPERSETS (press-pulldown)
Axle strict press
5xAxle
5x66
5x146
5x166
11x191
9x191 (push press)
Lat pulldown 100
6x10
GIANT SETS (press-dip-raise-pull aparts: odd set behind the neck barbell, even sets axle strict)
Behind the neck barbell press 105lbs
2x10
1x8
Axle strict press 146
1x10
2x8
Dips
6xF
DB lateral raise 20lbs
6x12
Band pull aparts
6x12
Run the rack curls (no rest between sets)
30x10lbs
25x15
20x20
15x25
10x30
5x35
Notes: 3:45 between heavy presses, 2:00 between giant sets. Bringing in the push presses this cycle in case the comp in Oct pans out. I had more in me on that set, but ended up running the plates into the garage door engine/motor, so needed to adjust midset. Strength on presses in general is almost all the way back.
Wore a hat this session to try to keep the sweat out of my eyes. Soaked the brim and had it all run out like a funnel. Honestly thought my roof had sprung a leak for a second.
Behind the neck presses are still causing no issues. Just gonna keep riding it out.
Toward the end on the curls, I went with alternating arm rather than both at the same time. Made it more viable. Currently enjoying this method, as it’s letting me get in good volume without going high on the weight.
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Another Brit checking in, from the Sheffield area!
Think I owe you a thank you. Asked you about gyms in San Diego months ago when I found out I was moving, my wife and I just signed at Grinder Gym out here. Owner is an awesome dude, and I am really looking forward to playing around with some strongman equipment. Thanks for the recommendation!
@atlas13 Hell yeah dude: that’s awesome. You’re talking about Dave right? Dude is huge, haha. That gym is still an awesome environment. Next time I’m in San Diego, I gotta hit you up. We can grab some Rubios. Or In n Out. Or Jack in the Box. Or Carl’s Jr. …god I miss San Diego fast food, haha.
PM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS (squat-stone-hyper)
Buffalo bar squat
Barx8
140x8
230x8
320x8
390x8
320x8
Stone of steel extensions (loaded w/20lbs and spacers)
6x3
Reverse hyper 430
6x10
Notes: 3:45 between sets. 390 was just right for the topset. Super challenging, but got it done. The stone was getting slippery at the end from all the sweat. I may need to wear one of my ghetto grip shirts next time. Might just cut off the sleeves to make it viable. Still, it was good practicing it under poor conditions, as I’m still hitting the triple extension pretty well. Back was super blown up when all of this was done. Thinking I may throw in axle continentals in place of the stone on a few workouts just to keep that grooved.
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Yeah! And honestly, I love the guy. My wife was crazy nervous about leaving Crossfit, she had never worked out without a coach and was worried about a big lifter gym. We get there, out comes Dave with a big old beard and traps up to his ears, wearing a wife beater while someone in the background screams as they deadlift. All I think to myself is “shit, she’s definitely getting scared off”
Fast forward half an hour and the three of us are all cracking up as Big Dave is telling stories about tearing up at hallmark movies and his kids making fun of him. Just a 100% nice, genuine dude. No ego, went out of his way to make us feel comfortable, honestly probably my favorite part of the gym at this point. Either that or the stones… or kegs… yoke… farmers… god I love this place
Definitely hit me up when your in town! In N Out is slowly leading me to an early grave, come share in the gluttony haha
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@atlas13 That’s fantastic dude. The outdoor environment is pretty damn cool too. Beach isn’t too terribly far either. Really glad you are both getting taken care of. San Diego has a fair strongman scene too. Good place to get into some comps.
PM WORKOUT
Axle bench press 306
1x10
1x9
1x6
Close grip axle bench 256
1x10
1x9
1x7
Swiss bar incline bench 200
3x10
Dips
1x40 (not a PR, but that’s still pretty cool)
2x30
Notes: 2:45 between sets of benching, 2:00 between dips. Moving up on the flat bench was the right call. 306 was challenging but managable. I re-tapped my j-hooks to make the lift off smoother too. My shoulders are feeling a bit beat from training 3 days in a row with behind the neck pressing and squats, but now I’ll have at LEAST 1 day off, if not 2, so that should be good.
Not nearly as hot today. Hopefully I still have a few more crazy days this season.
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Is this 306 pounds? That’s freaking insane
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Appreciate it man. Yeah, 306lbs. It’s stupidly specific of me, but because I’m mixing kilos and pounds with the bar and plates, I figure I might as well keep track as best I can.
EDIT: Damnit, saw it says strict. That’s supposed to be bench.
Still impressive, but the press was a little more jaw dropping lol
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