Until the Wheels Fall Off

2012-8-17

SN
135 1x5

CJ
185 1x5

CL+3Press
160 3x3

SQ
287 3x3

CGBP+Pendlay Row
201,228 3x3

SN Pull from hang
185 3x3

Right knee was upset that I was doing full cleans again so soon. Too bad. Made SQ challenging, but I got 'em done. Tried to catch the snatches at the bottom rather than riding them down. Lost about 3 or 4 out front due to rocking over my toes. Practice, practice, practice. Jerks were crisp and I was landing at lockout, nice and stable. Gotta strengthen the rack portion though. It was kinda mushy.

Oly lifting has got to be very addicting. More athletic.
Any joint or tendon issues? I’m really desiring to try it.

[quote]Oldman Powers wrote:
Oly lifting has got to be very addicting. More athletic.
Any joint or tendon issues? I’m really desiring to try it.[/quote]

It is. I really like the full range of motion movements.

When I first started my knees would ache, but they eventually adapted. Now they feel better than ever since I’m starting to squat correctly. I do have a bit of floppy cartilage in my right knee from pushing the poundage higher too quickly, but overall I feel much better than when I was doing more powerlifting-style training. I’d really like to start adding in some technique training on the ā€œoffā€ days, if I can manage to restrain myself from adding weight to the bar. I think that they’d be good ā€œflushingā€ workouts.

2012-8-19

SN from high hang(hips)
115 2x3

CJ from high hang
165 2x3

FS
245 2x3

PP
185 2x3

CL pull
261 3x3

BB Curls
121 3x3

Only lost 1 SN and had to run after one I almost lost out front, but I’m finishing the pull better and catching at bottom. Going to try pulling from low hang next time. Gotta stay on the heels and pull BACK, not up. Physics will take care of the rest.

FS was a little disappointing - cleaning my front squat has brought my FS strength down due to having a weak clean. It’ll come back.

Gassed out on PP, but the clean pulls were snappy and going higher than ever. Rack is feeling more solid, hope it keeps improving.

2012-08-21

SN
135,145x1
155x0,1,0
145 1x3

CJ
165,185,205,215x1
195 1x3

Clean and Press
162x3
175x1
185x1
190x1

SQ
290 3x3

SN pull
187 3x3

Pendlay Row
232 3x3

Really starting to understand the second pull. Not pulling back far enough, but I’m on my heels and the bar is getting into the hip on snatches.

Heaviest CJ was mushy. Small muscles are out of condition in the shoulders. I had to jerk it twice since I missed on the first try and my split was back to it’s old flat footed style.

Need to freeze weight on SQ until they get faster. I’m grinding a bit.

Almost blacked out on the last CL+Pr. Was a race to lock it out before I got too dizzy. That was fun.

The Oly work is going great Tony, you still kicking the sandbags around?

[quote]JoeGood wrote:
The Oly work is going great Tony, you still kicking the sandbags around?[/quote]

Thanks Joe. I hope to get back to par (SN 175, CJ 225) and start hitting some PRs.

I actually haven’t touched the sandbag since I carried it back into the house after making it. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to make it to the gym this last week or so so I haven’t needed it. I suspect that it will be used pretty soon, though.

I think I’ve hit the volume/intensity just right this last cycle. I was almost fully recovered yesterday evening and I’m feeling pretty bulletproof right now, but I’m going to take another recovery day since I’ve done 3 sessions on schedule.

Back to 5 singles on SN & CJ with a slightly higher weight next time, assuming I can get to Strongside Friday…

2012-08-24

SN
145 1x5

CJ
195 1x5

FS
215,235,245x3
255x2
265x1
235x5

Power Clean + Push Press
195 2x3 sets

Clean pulls
265 3x3

CGBP + NG Pullups (Back to back)
205,BW+55 3x3

Clean is good, rack and dip and drive are mushy. On PP I was putting the bar out to the front because my rack is mushy. Solution: 2 jerks per clean and some heavy static holds in the rack position.

2012-08-26

SN (triples from High hang, low hang and floor)
135 3x3 (baseline PR)

CJ (doubles from high hang, low hang)
185 2x3

SQ
225x3
255x3
285x2
315x1
335x1
285x5

Pendlay Row
235 3x3

Clean and Press
155 5x2 sets

Snatch High Pull
190 3x3

BB Curls
125 3x3

Overhead DB extension
30 10x3 sets (rt arm only)

Snatches went really well. I was surprised at being able to do 135 for a triple at all. Most I figured I was good for was 115.

CJ was okay. Rack is getting better, but I have trouble with the pull from the low hang. More of these I think.

SQ was not to a max, but my form was so terrible that I think I need to quit working the clean and snatch pulls and put RDLs in instead. Its’ definitely hamstring-related.

Snatch High pull was hitting just below my collar bones when I wasn’t catching my belt on the way up - which is actually a good sign that I’m keeping the bar close, but distracting on the second pull.

Snatches

[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
Snatches[/quote]

Those looked great. I would definitely cause some major damage to my body and/or the walls if I tried those.

God, those Oly lifts are so impressive. You’re one of the few.

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
God, those Oly lifts are so impressive. You’re one of the few.[/quote]

Are you making fun of me? I’m willing to laugh along, but I honestly can’t tell. I mean, I know it’s only 135, but I hope to make it a bigger lift soon.

[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
God, those Oly lifts are so impressive. You’re one of the few.[/quote]

Are you making fun of me? I’m willing to laugh along, but I honestly can’t tell. I mean, I know it’s only 135, but I hope to make it a bigger lift soon.[/quote]

The point is not the weight. The point is so few people can even do Oly clean/jerk and snatch. I can assure you that I’m 100% sincere!

Nice. Form looks good to my inexperienced eyes.
I wish I had a facility to come up to speed.
Wazzup with the shoes?

[quote]kpsnap wrote:

[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:

[quote]kpsnap wrote:
God, those Oly lifts are so impressive. You’re one of the few.[/quote]

Are you making fun of me? I’m willing to laugh along, but I honestly can’t tell. I mean, I know it’s only 135, but I hope to make it a bigger lift soon.[/quote]

The point is not the weight. The point is so few people can even do Oly clean/jerk and snatch. I can assure you that I’m 100% sincere![/quote]

Then my ā€œThank youā€ for the compliment is 100% sincere!

[quote]Oldman Powers wrote:
Nice. Form looks good to my inexperienced eyes.
I wish I had a facility to come up to speed.
Wazzup with the shoes?[/quote]

You mean the floppy bits on the side? Those are velcro closures over the instep that go waaaaay over because my feet, like the rest of me, are unrelentingly skinny.

The solid, elevated heel on the shoe makes it easier to catch cleans and snatches at the bottom. I’ve actually been wishing for an even higher heel. That would make squats harder though. They took a while to get used to, know I can’t imagine squatting without them. I feel even more rock solid than when wearing my Chuck Taylors.

Or do you mean those ratty blue things next to the platform? That’s a pair of Merrells I bought 10 years ago and wear to the gym because they’re easy to get on and off. Can’t wear my WL shoes out of the gym - it ruins then.

335 squat. Cut it a bit high, but it’ll get better.

[quote]DaCharmingAlbino wrote:
335 squat. Cut it a bit high[/quote]
Now that’s a good joke!