u/Few_Abbreviations_50

Hey guys! Ended up doing a pentathlon with /u/toughlovekb on Thursday. Had zero desire to do one beforehand, but zero regrets when it was over 😊 Those are the best days.

I went super light (like probably the lightest I’ve ever gone 😔) but it was definitely the right choice. Used a 16 for cleans and 12 for everything else. Hit max reps on everything -

120 cleans
60 c+p
120 jerk
108 half snatch
120 push press

It’s funny how those numbers will be forever embedded in my brain. I see them in my dreams.

And it sounds like we might keep pent in rotation so maybe next time I’ll use a 14. I have an adjustable that I ALWAYS forget about, that would let me get some work in with the in between sizes. Oops lol.

Finally got around to using the the kb sport pro app too, and I’m loving it! Still getting used to paying attention to it talking to me, but it’s a legit lifesaver for counting reps. It also shows you your score against the different ranking tables which is such a time saver. I used to have to sit there and look up all the tables individually which was such a pain in the ass lol.

I know I keep complaining about being out of “GS shape,” but this feels like my baseline. Like something I could do without any hassle on any random day. Light pent, 10’ of LC/biathlon/DHS with the 8s and probably any half marathon with a 12. Pacing is obviously an issue, but surviving is feasible. Anything heavier would require some work, but I’m happy with that standard. No idea why, but I’ve become obsessed with establishing baselines lately 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣

Anyways, this post was really just supposed to be your weekly reminder about KettleZoom tomorrow. 8 am Pacific Time, with a sport focus but anyone is welcome to come 😁 Link with more info here!

Thank you /u/LennyTheRebel for the meme!

I can’t ever decide which way I want to write the date to make it fair for everyone lol.

We won’t do DHS half marathon tomorrow, please don’t get scared away 🤣🤣

Credit to @finestkettlebellmemes.

This is the truest shit ever. ASK ME HOW I KNOW.

Come lift with us so you don’t have to force your loved ones to watch your sets!

Credit to @finestkettlebellmemes 😊

I’M BACK!

The heavier the bar, the louder the music and the weirder the noises. I think my neighbors must know when it’s PR day at this point 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣

106 lb is fucking insane. Wasn’t even supposed to max out today but I was in the mood. 98.5 didn’t move very well which pissed me off so I tried 101 (old PR) and it went up way better than I thought it would. Then 103.5 went up way too easy so I said fuck it.

I’m figuring out how to hype myself up before these heavy reps so I can use the adrenaline. I come from an endurance background so it’s way different than I’m used to but it works so well? How much of this is just in my head? Now I just need ammonia or whatever people use and then maybe I’ll be a real lifter 🤣

Busy weekend and I forgot to let everyone know 🤣

Credit to @finestkettlebellmemes

Took a poll on IG and the consensus is that it’s socially acceptable to use that as the title of my post LOL.

This is why I love Kettlebell Sport though. There’s no one right way to lift. The basics will always be the basics, but the only way to become a decent lifter is to discover what works for you personally. This is perfect for our self-obsessed society, so why aren’t more people doing GS?? Just kidding, I know why 🤣

Over the years I’ve tried so many different techniques to figure out what works best for me. It’s fun to experiment with different things, but you do eventually land on something that feels right. There are these moments in your training career where things just click into place and it’s the fucking best.

I took a class with Alexander Khvostov a while ago, and his advice was to not imitate other lifters, and just figure out what works for you instead. Good advice but we all know that I do what I want 😎 Ironically I always try to imitate HIM because he’s one of my favorite snatchers. It’s still turned into my own version though lol. But in general yes, you can imitate but understand that everyone’s body and leverages are different. And their conditioning too. That affects technique as well. There’s just so many things - limb lengths, lateral vs vertical, thumbs forward/back, where you grip the handle, undersquat vs no undersquat, etc. It’s a giant moving puzzle and I love it 🤓

I just mentioned this to /u/curwalker earlier but I also think all my DHS work has improved my single bell snatch. DHS forced me to work on my backswing because you have to get deep in order to get good power. I always used to stop my backswing a little too early before. Also DHS requires extra precision with your insertion since there’s no switch. One of the biggest things to improve your snatch is to work on the timing of your insertion. And that was another thing I really struggled with. Now that I’m thinking about it, DHS has essentially forced me to do all of the long light sets that I always procrastinated on before LOL. It just makes it interesting because there’s two bells instead of one 🤣

Anyways, I did another 5’ single switch set yesterday. Who knows why I’m in the mood for these lately. Pace was 14,14,17,17,20. Managed to last 2:30 with my left hand which feels good. Maybe I’ll end up trying to work towards a 10’ set? Not sure. My training is all over the place but I’m still having fun fucking around and that’s what matters 😇

But seriously though, is 10’ long as fuck or nothing at all? I can’t ever decide.

This is just a gentle reminder to myself that I’m still way out of sport shape 😇 And single switch is a different beast. I was getting too cocky with all the military snatch lately lol. It’s GS too, but you don’t get the real suffering.

I ran out of time while training today but I wanted to get a tad bit of snatching in so I decided to do a quick 5’ set with a 16. Originally planned to do multiswitch but randomly changed my mind during the first minute and decided to do single switch instead. 0/10 would not recommend that strategy lol. I paced wrong and didn’t start relaxed enough so I only lasted 2’ on my left but did manage the 3’ on my right. It sucked pretty bad. I also did a set of 50 deadlifts beforehand so that probably didn’t help. I’m still trying to figure out how to make all my training fit together and I’m not sure I’m very successful at the moment LOL. Looks like I’m gonna have to add some single switch stuff back in the mix too 🙄

I did pretend like I was survival snatching like Johnny Benidze at the end but upon further inspection I just look silly. He looks badass though lol https://youtu.be/6WoDQp-lvoo?is=R34bX-GdUJkHpb90

***ALSO KETTLEZOOM TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE 30 MINUTES LATER THAN NORMAL. It’ll be UTC 10:30 am! I forgot the kids are back in school now. Oops.

1’ 24 kg snatch. I actually tried /u/Prokettlebell’s Infinity Gauntlet but I ran out of time so only made it up to 24 and had to call it quits 😔 I did do a bunch of barbell pressing beforehand at least. I’m definitely going to try again though! I love ladders of all shapes and sizes.

I haven’t snatched the 24 in a really long time, but I figured if I can press it for two reps I can definitely do some snatching and the gauntlet looked like fun!

I actually did a 24 kg 5’ comp set once long ago, so this feels like a step backwards but my technique is a lot better now. I don’t know what my problem is, but the heavy bells keep calling to me 🤦🏽‍♀️ I’m still on the DHS train with the 8s but every day I walk into the garage lately I accidentally pick up something heavy instead of those LOL.

Here’s one of my bells because what else am I supposed to post on these reminders?

I’m proud of how much paint I’ve chipped off of it. That was a lot of work.

Also I totally tripped over it after taking this picture 🤣

Can’t figure out how to repost something that’s pinned already lol.

Courtesy of @finestkettlebellmemes.

I don’t know what I’m gonna do today but it’s definitely not gonna be bumps 😇

Also QOTSA. Super fucking sloppy but this is just about max effort for me lol. I could maybe eke out a few more reps with better sprint technique. I had to try though since everybody else did so many more than me ☺️

Please enjoy 3 minutes of me looking like I don’t know how to snatch as I try to figure out what will help me go faster 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣 Thumbs forward helped, as well as a speed switch on the upswing. Still can’t do hand to hand like bpeezer. I’m too clumsy. It was really hard for me to not revert back to what I’m used to at any rate.

Thank you to everybody who’s tried! Hopefully you felt like you needed to puke as much as I do right now. And now I need to DHS 😔

I thought this was interesting. It’s been years since I’ve used a cast iron bell but I do remember how differently they swing. I love high pulls and I do use them to teach the snatch but now Lorna’s got me thinking 🫠

Full post here - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db5pbYIo\_4M/?igsh=MWVrcW54dXE1Zm04bA==&igsi=MWVrcW54dXE1Zm04bA==

Anybody??? I got 64. Whoever wins gets bragging rights and gets to pick another challenge. I don’t care what weight you use and I don’t even care if you put the bell down 🤣

I know I keep periodically posting trying to make challenges a thing again and they’re not happening. But I’m exceptionally good at doing the same shit over and over again if no one noticed LOL.

Also yes, this set was terrible. I’m really out of GS shape and it shows. I need to start running again. So so so bad.

Hi guys. I’m back to continue documenting my OHP journey. I’m So. Fucking. Stoked.

It was 101 lb to be exact. I was planning for 100 but it was too much mental energy to add up the plates so I guessed LOL. Math is hard.

I was so in the zone as I was adding weight to the bar, I didn’t want to lose the emotional momentum by thinking too hard. I have no idea if that makes sense? My kids were fighting and trying to talk to me about it and I was like you guys SERIOUSLY need to leave me alone this is really important 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣

I’m not sure I had more in me today, but hitting this and it feeling that good just means I’m moving the goalpost now 😇 105? 110? Whatever it ends up being, I feel like I’ve finally earned the right to call myself strong. So now I’m never gonna shut up about it. Sorry to anyone who knows me 🤣

Hey fellow GSers, I am finally making good on a blood oath I swore years ago as a birthday present for our very own FewAbbreviations, to finally make a post! Sorry Few for the foot dragging, I’m self conscious.

This past NorCal was my second in person comp and I think my fourth overall. Denis and his team put on a great event as always. I shared the platform with some excellent lifters, am on the far left in this clip. I was hoping to improve my rep count over last year and I did, 209 @8kg vs 203, and I’m told with much better fixation than last year - bell wobble at the top being one of my hobbies.

Some audience members seemed astonished by my performance as a 71-year-old (or more likely, by the fact I’m still breathing at all). And they were unconvinced when I truthfully told them it’s never too late, if I can do it anyone can. Multiple setbacks have forced me back to the starting line but I’m stubborn and keep returning for more punishment. 😊

I would be remiss not to thank all of you for your informative and entertaining posts these past years. I admire and learn so much from you, especially FewAbbreviations, without whom I would not be in this sport at all.

PS: feedback on my technique will be gratefully received 🙏🙏 unless you tell me the movement is dangerous with a low risk to reward ratio 🤣

Anybody is welcome to join!

Link Here :)