Rope Climb

12-15 Minutes Not for Rounds:
130m Jog
1-3 Rope Climbs 15′

Post work to comments.

_____________________

AMRAP 21 Minutes:
18 Burpees
15 Russian Kettlebell Swings 24/16kg
12 Box Jumps 24/20″

Post rounds, reps, and Rx to comments.

Our annual Memorial Day “Murph” event, one of our biggest and best events of the year, is just over a week away. Go HERE to sign up for a heat or to the event page for more info! 

This Week at CFSBK in Review

It’s almost summer, and there’s lots happening at the gym. Let’s recap!

1. We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle to this Monday, so you know what that means: There’s still time to register! See this post for details, and go HERE to register.

2. Register for our upcoming Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fundamentals class with Coach Callie Brennan! Fundamentals is your jiu-jitsu starter pack. The course is geared towards anyone intrigued by BJJ but unsure where to begin, anyone who wants to become better acquainted with dynamic movement on the ground. By the end of the course, you will be at the point where you can walk into a live-sparring Jiu Jitsu class without reservation.

3. “The Stay Strong Scholarship means a second chance for me. This scholarship has opened up doors for me that I never thought would be open.” On Tuesday, we talked to Stay Strong Scholar AS. For the 3rd year in a row, Iron Maidens lifters will raise funds for the Stay Strong Scholarship, which supports students at Bronx-based Grace Outreach. This year, our goal is to raise $40,000 to continue supporting these students. Right now we’re at $8,673 raised. Can you help us get there? Show some love by donating to your favorite CFSBK lifter(s) through the 2018 Crowdrise campaign here.

4. Coach Whit is a longtime client of Zach Dacuk, who is offering a workshop from June 21st to the 24th. “Mapping the Body: Recognizing Successes & Principles in the Application of Fascial Movement” is of interest to massage therapists, fitness instructors, and movement professionals.

5. In this week’s installment of Humans of Starting Strength Program, we talked to longtime CFSBKer Rob Underwood. It’s a great insight into one of our cornerstone programs. Check it out!

6. Today’s 11am Active Recovery class is cancelled. Coach David is serving his 8th year as the Competition Director of CrossFit’s East Regional!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Rest Day
10 Things You Don’t Know about Yourself Scientific American
Making Time to Switch Off BarBend

Register for Active Life Strength!

We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle to Monday, so there’s still time to register! Get out of pain, stay out of pain, strengthen your weaknesses, and improve mobility and movement patterns, all while getting stronger! This is a predominantly strength-based class very specifically programmed to strengthen movements and improve positions based on your individual needs.

The Active Life methods help athletes of all levels identify the root causes of their pain, injuries, and plateaus, and provide solutions for alleviating and eliminating those limitations through strength training, hands on treatment, corrective movements, and program modification. As the Head Coach at Active Life Athletics, Coach Keith worked closely with the Active Life doctors as they developed the system and led the charge to incorporate it into a gym model. Using those principles, this program will help you identify your individual weaknesses and limitations, guide you through the necessary strength and mobility exercises, and get you moving and lifting more efficiently, with less pain. A pain-free athlete is a confident athlete, and a confident athlete is a dangerous athlete. If your goal is to look better, feel better, and go hard into your 80s, this program will help you set and maintain the foundation.

For more information on The Active Life, check out:

• @activeliferx on Instagram
• www.performancecarerx.com
• The Active Life on YouTube

Schedule

PM Cycle
May 14th, 2018 – July 5th, 2018
Mondays from 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
2x per week for 8 weeks
Register Here!

Cost

The cost is $160 per month ($320 total plus NY state sales tax). The first charge will occur at the time of registration and the second payment of $160 will occur automatically 1 month later. This cycle is open to all CFSBK members as well as CrossFitters from other affiliates.

(Please note that you are committing to specific days and times and there be no refunds for any missed classes or late cancellations.)

What happens in class?

We will start with testing your single leg strength relative to your Back Squat, your Deadlift stamina relative to your absolute strength, your 1-arm carry ability, and your upper body pressing and pulling. You will then receive progressive strength work during each class to address your weaknesses based off of your test results.

In addition, we will identify your general movement limitations through mobility and flexibility assessments. Each athlete will receive an individualized “Not for Time” piece to complete as a warm up/cool down for CrossFit group class or during standardized warm-ups to address these limitations through corrective movements, stretches, and holds.

News and Notes

• Tomorrow’s 11am Active Recovery class is cancelled. Coach David is serving his 8th year as the Competition Director of CrossFit’s East Regional!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Snatch | Double-Unders, Deadlifts
Broke Your Right Arm? Exercise Your Left. It May Help, Really NY Times
When Should You Use a Weightlifting Belt? Girls Gone Strong

Snatch Complex

Every Other Minute on the Minute x 16 (8 reps):
Snatch Pull (4 seconds down) + Snatch Pull + Hip Snatch

Build to a heavy but perfect load on the complex. No misses, no press outs. The Hip or “Power” position is one where the knees and hips both flex. While the torso may lean forward a small amount, the barbell remains in the crease of the hip and does NOT travel down the thigh into a Mid-Hang position. The limited travel off the bar into the Hang doesn’t allow for maximal loads to be used.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 7 of 8

_____________________

For Time:
50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders
21-18-15-12-9
Deadlifts 185/125

Post time and Rx to comments.

Tom S. having some fun with the yoke at Strong Fit. Check out more recent photos by Thomas H. on our Flickr account!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at CFSBK

Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) is a full-contact grappling style that prioritizes strategy over brute force. Literally translating to the “soft” or “pliable” (jiu) “style” (jitsu), it is often thought of as the chess of martial arts. BJJ is, at its core, a self-defense system that employs positional advantages, joint locks, and chokes to defend against an opponent or attacker in an assertive and elegant manner. You needn’t be stronger than your opponent to subdue them, which makes BJJ one of the most practical and effective martial arts for all ages and sizes. There is no striking in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This is a submission grappling art based on efficiency of movement, leverage, and timing.

Fundamentals is your jiu-jitsu starter pack. The course is geared towards anyone intrigued by BJJ but unsure where to begin, anyone who wants to become better acquainted with dynamic movement on the ground, and anyone who could use a review to jump back into it. This will be an 8 week course with 1 class per week. Classes will cover the basic body mechanics and techniques used in Jiu jitsu. Come dressed in standard work out garb (leggings, spats, shorts that won’t fall off) and be advised that the sweat you leave with may not be your own. No zippers, no claws, no jewelry! By the end of the course, you will be at the point where you can walk into a live-sparring Jiu Jitsu class without reservation.

Days & Times

June 3rd to July 22nd
Sundays from 1:30 to 3:00pm

Pricing

$200 ($100 will be charged when you register and then again at the 4-week mark of the cycle)

About the Coach

Callie Brennan is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Team Fabio Clemente. Callie has been training and competing for the past 7 years. She began teaching beginner and intermediate students under the guidance of Pan American champion Babs Olusanmokun and multiple time World and Pan American champion Dominyka Obelenyte. Callie has competed locally and internationally winning gold at American Nationals as a white belt, the Montreal IBJJF Open at blue belt, and New York IBJJF Open at purple belt in her weight. She also medaled in the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials at blue belt.

Callie recently founded Rag Doll Camps with her training partner and coach, Dominyka Obelenyte, with a mission to close the gender gap in the sport. She also teaches privately. Callie initially began CrossFit to supplement her jiu-jitsu practice, and she is looking forward to sharing it with the CFSBK community!

Feel free to contact Callie directly with any questions!

REGISTER HERE!

News and Notes

• We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle (but not AM) to next Monday, so you know what that means: There’s still time to register! See this post for details, and go HERE to register.
•  Missing something? It might be in our most recent lost and found dump! You can also now see photos of our lost and found clear outs via the link under Member Resources. Be sure to claim your stuff at the front desk before we donate it to CHIPS!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Front Squat / Ring Row | Pull-Ups, KB Swings, L-Sits
Why We Love Chuck Taylors for Weightlifting Wirecutter
You and Mat Fraser Vs. Linda and Triple 3 CrossFit Journal

FRONT SQUAT / SINGLE-ARM RING ROW SUPERSET*

A1) Front Squat:
4 x 8-10

A2) Single-Arm Ring Row:
4 x 8-10

Use a heavy load (or degree of difficulty for the Ring Row) for the rep range that allows you to move with perfect form, heavier than last week. Keep rest to a minimum, 30-60 seconds between movements.

*Warm up and then perform a set of Front Squats, followed by a set of Ring Rows, heavier than last week. Repeat for 4 work sets of each, resting 30 seconds to a minute between movements.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 7 of 8

_____________________

20 Minutes or 5 Rounds:
3-6 Strict Pull-Ups
12e Single-Arm Kettlebell Swings
20 Second L-Sit

Use assistance or add weight to the Pull-Ups as appropriate. The Kettelbell Swings should be heavy for 12 reps. Scale the L-Sits to Tucks or Half-Tucks as appropriate, or accumulate 20 seconds in a few sets.

Post work to comments.

Humans of Starting Strength: Rob Underwood

A new round of CFSBK’s Starting Strength Program cycles just started! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you some Humans of New York-style interviews with our Starting Strengthers. Who are these intrepid powerlifters? What brings them together? What is Starting Strength Program like? How is it different from other classes?  What kind of funny stuff does Coach Jeremy say in class? Let’s find out! For last week’s first installment, we talked to Bridget M. This time it’s longtime CFSBKer and Starting Strength mainstay Rob U.!

What are some differences between Starting Strength Program and CrossFit group class? Were any a surprise to you?

​Starting Strength made me a lot more hungry, which was dangerous as I put on weight, both fat and muscle, easily. I had to really watch my intake of protein and overall calories so that I was making good of all the strength training I was doing but also not just getting fat. Generally I found I had to think more about diet or I would use SS as an excuse to eat anything and everything.

SS also seems easier in the moment, since you take longer breaks between sets. But, a day after, I found I need a bit more rest than with regular classes​. Sleep, as always, is key.

What are a few of the biggest things you took from or accomplished in SS?

​I got a lot stronger! Before my first SS I was at something like a 200 lb Squat, 250 or so on the Deadlift, and maybe 115 or so on the Press. Now my PRs on those are 372, 435, and 177 respectively. It’s no joke. It works.​ You will get much much stronger doing SS.

How has Starting Strength affected your capacity in CrossFit group class? 

​From a pure ego perspective, I like that when we do power lifts in group class I might be one of the top lifters in a given day. I know we’re only competing against ourselves, but as an overweight, unathletic 45-year-old man it is definitely a boost to feel like you can be one of the stronger people in the room from time to time, especially as I tend to come in “last” in virtually everything else we do, especially the WODs (except the marathon, though I’m not exactly fast there).

Overall, I just feel a lot more confidence when we’re doing lifts in group class, whether on their own or in a WOD. I’d also note than an adjustment going back to group classes is less time between sets. I learned I had to adjust my weights on, say, a 3 x 5, down 10-15% to account for that when going back to group class.

What’s the culture like?

​Very supportive. Lots of friends. Feels like a community within a community. Margie and Jeremy are the best. ​

Some of the other over-the-hill dads who do SS and I also created an informal group within the SS community called “Slippery Slope,” because we’re on the slippery slope to death now and SS is one of our last defenses. I think our motto was “Park Slope dads with an overenthusiastic obsession for CrossFit and Phish.” Just writing down that motto made me throw up in my mouth a bit, by the way. Our aim was to be the total opposite of the show “Girls”: boring, ugly, old men doing nothing interesting other than squatting and listening to “Fluffhead.”

Were there any major challenges (physical or mental) that you had to overcome?

Even now when I go heavy on a Squat, I get scared even though I only very rarely miss a lift. But overcoming that mental challenge, the fear, each time is really empowering. ​I also learned that it’s really important to learn how to spot correctly and to ask for a spotter early and often.

News and Notes

• Registration for our annual Memorial Day “Murph” is open. Head over to the event page for more info and to sign up for a heat!
• Saturday’s 11am Active Recovery class is cancelled.

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Rest Day
Fiber Could Save You from the Flu The Outline
Chakera Holcomb Sets Highest All-Time Wilks Score BarBend

An Interview with Stay Strong Scholar AS

You probably know that The Iron Maidens Raw Open, a women-only powerlifting meet slated for Saturday, June 2nd, is one of our most anticipated events of the year. 60 women, from CFSBK and beyond, will test their strength at Back Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift. You won’t want to miss it!

For the 3rd year in a row, Iron Maidens lifters will raise funds for the Stay Strong Scholarship, which supports students at Bronx-based Grace Outreach. This year, our goal is to raise $40,000 to continue supporting these students. Right now we’re at $7,128 raised. Can you help us get there? Show some love by donating to your favorite CFSBK lifter(s) through the 2018 Crowdrise campaign here.

Today we’d like to bring you a brief interview with AS, a Stay Strong Scholar since September 2016. So far, AS has completed an Associate’s degree from Bronx Community College!

What has the Stay Strong Scholarship meant for you?

The Stay Strong Scholarship means a second chance for me. This scholarship has opened up doors for me that I never thought would be open. The Stay Strong Scholarship has also been the biggest financial help, because without it, I honestly wouldn’t be able to afford college on my own, especially since I am not eligible for financial aid. I can honesty say I am a example of what wonders this scholarship can do for you if you too are in need of help to get through college.

Did you try to find other ways to pay for college before you received the SSS?

Yes, I did try to find other ways, but it’s not easy applying for scholarships when you’re competing against thousands of other students hoping that your essay will be chosen. With the Stay Strong Scholarship, I fit the criteria, and being an alumna of Grace Outreach, they helped me through the process of applying.

How has your college impacted your life so far?

College has impacted my life in such a positive way. It has opened up so many doors for me through which I can network and meet people who can be beneficial to the career path that I want to take. I’ve already completed my my associate’s degree, and I’m currently working on my bachelor’s. Even being able to say that is surreal to me because I have come so far in my life, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have a college education as well experience.

What are your goals for the future?

Once I finish college, I want to work with the federal government. My mind so far is set on Homeland Security. In my career field, I want to build a foundation for myself so that everything I’ve learned in college can be applied to my job as well as my life.

Thanks, AS! 

News and Notes

• Coach Whit is a longtime client of Zach Dacuk, who is offering a workshop from June 21st to the 24th. “Mapping the Body: Recognizing Successes & Principles in the Application of Fascial Movement” is of interest to massage therapists, fitness instructors, and movement professionals. Check it out!
• We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle (but not AM) to next Monday, so you know what that means: There’s still time to register! See yesterday’s blog post for details, and go HERE to register.

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Bench Press / Lateral Lunge | Row, Dumbbell Thrusters
Memorial Day Murph: Who? What? Why? Beyond the Whiteboard
The Surprising History of Swimming’s Suffragists Atlas Obscura

Single-Arm Dumbbell Bench Press / Goblet Lateral Lunge Superset*

A1) Single-Arm Dumbbell Bench Press:
4 x 8-10

A2) Goblet Lateral Lunge (not alternating):
4 x 8-10

Use a heavy load for the rep range that allows you to move with perfect form. Keep rest to a minimum, 30-60 seconds between movements. Prioritize range of motion and stability over load on the Lateral Lunges. Good range of motion would have the femur of the “lunging” leg hit below parallel depth while maintaining a neutral spine. The foot of the opposite leg can stay flat or rotate up onto the heel, whichever feels more comfortable.

*Warm up and then perform a set of Bench Presses, followed by a set of Lateral Lunges. Repeat for 4 work sets of each, resting 30 seconds to a minute between movements.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 7 of 8
_____________________

AMRAP 12 Minutes:
12/9 Calorie Row
12 Dumbbell Thrusters 50/35

Post rounds, reps, and Rx to comments.

Our CrossFit Preteens and Teens taking off at Murph Day 2017. “Murph” is for everyone!

Murph Day 2018: Register Now!

On Monday, May 28th from 8am to 1pm, we’ll be doing our annual Memorial Day “Murph” workout. This is a great community event where we perform this classic CrossFit benchmark workout followed by some grilling, side dishes, and beers. The workout is tough—very tough—but it can, of course, be scaled to meet everyone’s capacity.

For the 3rd year in a row, we’ll be raising money to benefit K9s for Warriors, an organization that provides service dogs for veterans suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11. Founded in 2011 by Shari Duval with the hopes of pairing 12 Warrior-Canine teams a year, the program has graduated over 300 Warrior/canine teams. 90% of the dogs in the program come from rescue shelters or are owner-surrendered. Donations will be accepted the day of the event!

“Murph”

For Time:
1 Mile Run
100 Pull-Ups
200 Push-Ups
300 Squats
1 Mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike’s favorites and he’d named it “Body Armor.” From here on it will be referred to as “Murph” in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the Pull-Ups, Push-Ups, and Squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you’ve got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it.

There is no charge for the workout, nor will it be deducted from your weekly class limit, though we do recommend donating what you would have paid for the class to K9s for Warriors.

Sign up for a heat below!

Register Here!

News and Notes

• We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle (but not AM) to next Monday, so you know what that means: There’s still time to register! See yesterday’s blog post for details, and go HERE to register.
• Interested in volunteering to help out at Iron Maidens? Fill out this form!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Clean | Burpees, KB Swings
An Open Letter About Female Coaches The Player’s Tribune
You Were 308 Pounds? Really? CrossFit Journal

Power Clean

Every Other Minute on the Minute x 12 (6 sets):
2 Power Cleans

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 6 of 8

_____________________

Sarah C. and her brother competed at Barbells and Beer at CrossFit 908 in Berkeley Heights, NJ yesterday. Katie E. and Phil were also there to represent CFSBK! 

Register for Active Life Strength!

Get out of pain, stay out of pain, strengthen your weaknesses, and improve mobility and movement patterns, all while getting stronger! This is a predominantly strength-based class very specifically programmed to strengthen movements and improve positions based on your individual needs.

The Active Life methods help athletes of all levels identify the root causes of their pain, injuries, and plateaus, and provide solutions for alleviating and eliminating those limitations through strength training, hands on treatment, corrective movements, and program modification. As the Head Coach at Active Life Athletics, Coach Keith worked closely with the Active Life doctors as they developed the system and led the charge to incorporate it into a gym model. Using those principles, this program will help you identify your individual weaknesses and limitations, guide you through the necessary strength and mobility exercises, and get you moving and lifting more efficiently, with less pain. A pain-free athlete is a confident athlete, and a confident athlete is a dangerous athlete. If your goal is to look better, feel better, and go hard into your 80s, this program will help you set and maintain the foundation.

For more information on The Active Life, check out:

• @activeliferx on Instagram
• www.performancecarerx.com
• The Active Life on YouTube

Schedule

PM Cycle
May 14th, 2018 – July 5th, 2018
Mondays from 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
2x per week for 8 weeks
Register Here!

Cost

The cost is $160 per month ($320 total plus NY state sales tax). The first charge will occur at the time of registration and the second payment of $160 will occur automatically 1 month later. This cycle is open to all CFSBK members as well as CrossFitters from other affiliates.

(Please note that you are committing to specific days and times and there be no refunds for any missed classes or late cancellations.)

What happens in class?

We will start with testing your single leg strength relative to your Back Squat, your Deadlift stamina relative to your absolute strength, your 1-arm carry ability, and your upper body pressing and pulling. You will then receive progressive strength work during each class to address your weaknesses based off of your test results.

In addition, we will identify your general movement limitations through mobility and flexibility assessments. Each athlete will receive an individualized “Not for Time” piece to complete as a warm up/cool down for CrossFit group class or during standardized warm-ups to address these limitations through corrective movements, stretches, and holds.

News and Notes

• We’ve delayed the start of the upcoming Active Life Strength PM Cycle (but not AM) to Monday, so you know what that means: There’s still time to register! See yesterday’s blog post for details, and go HERE to register.
• Interested in volunteering to help out at Iron Maidens? Fill out this form!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Team Metcon
Three Major Muscles to Always Keep Loose Breaking Muscle
Creating the Time to Do What You Love Every Day zen habits

Team Metcon

30 Minutes:

1 Mile Team Run Buy-In

Then, in teams of 3 with one partner working at a time…

AMRAP:
90 (30ea) Double-Unders
30 (10ea) Knees-to-Elbows
15 (5ea) Overhead Squats 135/95

Once all three partners are back from the run, Partner A completes 30 Double-Unders then, Partner B, then Partner C. Partner A then moves on to 10 Knees-to-Elbows, then Partner B, then Partner C. Then Partner A moves on to 5 Overhead Squats, then Partner B, then Partner C. This is one full round. Continue in this fashion for the 30 minutes. Score TEAM TOTAL rounds completed on the AMRAP. See scaling options below.

Double-Unders: 60 Singles or 10 Attempts
Knees-to-Elbows: Knees to Triceps, Hanging Knee Raises
Overhead Squats: Load or Front Squat

Post total rounds, Rx, and teammates to comments.

Ali C. on Active Life Strength

Coach Keith‘s next Active Life Strength class  starts Monday! Still need some persuading before you smash that REGISTER button? Here’s a testimonial from Ali C., who did a previous cycle:

I decided to sign up for Active Life Strength because of nagging neck pain and knee pain that were preventing me from getting better at CrossFit. I had been following Active Life on Instagram and knew that they addressed deficiencies in a way that was different from physical therapy, which I’ve never had success with.

Keith started the cycle with an assessment that pinpointed everyone’s weaknesses and sources of pain. Over the next 8 weeks, we all had our own plans on how to improve and get pain-free.  For me, that meant incorporating a progression of Presses and Step-Ups. After 3 weeks, the herniated disc in my neck was totally pain free. When I retested my Step-Ups, it was clear that I had gotten stronger and the “weak leg” was no longer so. Most importantly, I don’t feel broken down and decrepit like I did 8 weeks ago! I definitely recommend anyone who feels stalled in their progress or always feeling like they’re on the verge of injury to give it a try.

So what are you waiting for? Go HERE to register!

Active Recovery Is On Today!

We (Josh) made a mistake on the blog this week. 11am Active Recovery is not cancelled today! That’s next Saturday. Forgive us (me)!

_____________________
Why Probiotics Are Extra Beneficial for Athletes BarBend
What Happens in the Brain When Music Causes Chills Smithsonian

A post shared by CrossFit South Brooklyn (@crossfitsouthbrooklyn) on May 9, 2018 at 1:35pm PDT

A sneak peek at this year’s Murph shirts. Save the date: Murphy Day 2018 goes down on May 28th!

This Week at CFSBK in Review

1. Coach Keith’s next Active Life Strength classes start Monday. Get out of pain, stay out of pain, strengthen your weaknesses, and improve mobility and movement patterns, all while getting stronger! This is a predominantly strength-based class very specifically programmed to strengthen movements and improve positions based on your individual needs. There are still spots open! See Monday’s post for details…

2. Charles S. is CFSBK’s May Athlete of the Month. Congrats, Charles! If you ask nicely, maybe he’ll teach you how to capture a laptop thief.

3. Missing something? It might be in our most recent lost and found dump! You can also now see photos of our lost and found clear outs via the link under Member Resources. Be sure to claim your stuff at the front desk before we donate it to CHIPS!

4. “My biggest takeaway from Starting Strength is that I do belong at this gym. I don’t have an athletic background and have not been ‘fit’ for most of my life. I had only been a member at CFSBK for less than 6 weeks before starting SS.” That’s Bridget M. in the return Humans of Starting Strength, a feature in which we profile the intrepid powerlifters of Coach Jeremy’s Starting Strength Program. Look for more of these in weeks to come!

5. Interested in volunteering to help out at Iron Maidens? Fill out this form!

6. Tomorrow’s 11am Active Recovery class is NOT cancelled, its on as normal. There will be No AR on 5/19 though!

_____________________
Yesterday’s Results Board: Snatch | NFR Work
Strategies to Better Fuel Your Workout Athlete Daily
Sometimes Things Have To Get Worse Before They Get Better

Snatch Complex

Snatch Pull (4 seconds down) + Snatch Pull (4 seconds down) + Snatch

Build to a heavy but perfect load on the complex. No misses, no press outs.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 6 of 8

_____________________

20 Minutes Not for Rounds:
600m Row/1 Mile Bike/550m Jog

then, either…

A)50′ Handstand Walk
B) 3 Wall Walks + 10 Shoulder Taps at the top of the wall walk
C) 100′ Bear Crawl (with hips higher than shoulders)

Choose a Handstand Walking practice option that is suitable for you, and perform the mono-structural movement at a recovery/conversational pace. If you choose the 50′ Handstand Walk, you should be able to complete the distance in 1-3 sets.

Post work to comments.

Register for Active Life Strength!

There are still spots left in Coach Keith‘s next Active Life Strength class, which starts this Monday! The Active Life methods help athletes of all levels identify the root causes of their pain, injuries, and plateaus, and provide solutions for alleviating and eliminating those limitations through strength training, hands on treatment, corrective movements, and program modification. As the Head Coach at Active Life Athletics, Coach Keith worked closely with the Active Life doctors as they developed the system and led the charge to incorporate it into a gym model. Using those principles, this program will help you identify your individual weaknesses and limitations, guide you through the necessary strength and mobility exercises, and get you moving and lifting more efficiently, with less pain.

Here’s what Colleen M., who just did a previous cycle, had to say about the class:

My pain was being caused by shoulder impingement and a labral tear of the hip. At my wits end with my shoulder, I thought, “I will go back to HSS and ask them to do surgery.”  I was just sick of it.  Just as the surgery idea was taking hold, Active Life was offered at CFSBK.

Putting an Active Life program in a regularly scheduled group class was the magic formula for me. I find it very difficult to work on my own. I need the guidance of a coach, the structure and dynamics of a group class combined with individual program tailored to each participant’s needs. This saved me and my shoulder.

I know, disclaimer, not meant to diagnose or treat, etc., etc., but this is my experience. Looking into surgery was the next step for me if Active Life didn’t work, and it DID work. I have mobility now and I’m happily working pain free.

As for my hip (a two year old injury) HSS and NYU hip center both said that the cartilage could not be repaired on its own or through surgery, but if I could strengthen my core I could relieve pressure on the joint. Strengthening the core works, but doing self-guided extra work outside of group class is just not my strong suit. Flash forward to Active Life About half way through, I had a revelation–my individual program was forcing me to use all the muscles on my back, and on the back of my legs!  There’s an inner hamstring muscle that I didn’t even know I had, from that to my lats and up and down, shoulders to heels, all those muscles woke up and I learned how important they are. It was just so extraordinary. Strengthening everything behind me I was relieving the injuries on the front of me.  WOW.  I’m so happy.

I’m now adding some weight to the bar and I have a few post-injury PRs. I can also tell you that I can now bound up the subway stairs two steps at a time – a first for this New Yorker of 26 years! Having fun with my new superpower.

Sound like something you need? Check out the options below!

 

Register Here!

For more information on The Active Life, check out:

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