Partner WOD

With one partner working at a time, partners alternate full rounds in this workout to complete 10 total rounds for time of:
8 Hang Squat Clean Thrusters 135/95
270m Run or 300m Row
First partner completes a full round, then second partner starts on the Hang Squat Clean Thrusters when they finish the run or row.

Post time and Rx to comments. 

Griselle O. and Jason M. were all matchy on Wednesday night. Get it? Because their shirts match and also it’s called a rugby match. I’m sorry

Interested in Working Among CFSBKers at a Part-Time Workspace?

Brooklyn Creative League offers part-time workspace to independent workers, creative freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small-shop companies across Brooklyn and NYC. Several CFSBKers, including Richard G., Rob U., and Joe M., work there and can attest to the great environment. Get the details about availability and amenities over at brooklyncreativeleague.com.

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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Rest Day
What I Paid To Be A Division I Athlete Vice 
13-Year-Old Maryana Naumova Benches 240lbs Raw YouTube 

More photos from the Community Potluck, including the aftermath of this one, are now up on our Flickr account. Check ’em out! 

This Week at CFSBK in Review

1. In our continuing Iron Maidens of CFSBK series, we heard from Jenna J. and Worm. We’re a little over 3 weeks from The Iron Maidens Raw Open, and we just hit 81% of our fundraising goal. We need your help to reach it! Can we make it past 100% by next Friday? Hell yeah we can. Go here to donate to your favorite lifter’s (or lifters’) campaign(s). 

2. Also, over at the Iron Maidens main site, Coach Margie wrote a very useful post about weight class considerations for those competing. Not competing but interested in volunteering on the day of the meet? We are still in need of spotters and plate loaders. Please fill out this form if you can help out.

3. Coaches Chris and Jess Fox threw down in front of the Eiffel Tower. It’s okay to take a break once in a while, guys. 

4. Coaches McDowell and Noah traveled to Arizona for James FitzGerald’s OPEX seminar and are looking for volunteers to do a free consultation. 

5. We gave you a rundown of all the recent gymprovements we’ve made at 597 and 608. What else what you like to see?

6. There are just 13 days until the annoucement of CrossFit Open Workout 16.1. Holy crud! Have you registered for the Open yet? Here’s why you should. 

7. The fourth LFPB Q&A Info Session, “Adjusting Nutrition to Meet Your Goals,” will happen Thursday, February 18th at 6:30pm. 
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Snatch | Row, Power Snatch, Burpees
Why Men Fight: An Empirical Investigation of the Extremes of Masculinity Quartz
Your Sorry Ass: Door Holding The Baffler 
FDA Recommends Adding Little Tabasco To That Bad Boy 

Power Snatch

Power Snatch:
Take 12 minutes to warm up to a Power Snatch slightly above your work weight for the metcon. Everything about the Power Snatch should look exactly like the full Snatch with the exception of the receiving position. Don’t default to sloppy mechanics.
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For Time: 
1000m Row
30 Power Snatches 135/95
50 Burpees Over The Bar 
Don’t sandbag the row here. Stay at a pace that allows you to come off feeling fresh. The Power Snatches should be a medium heavy load for you, so scale as necessary. If you can organize sets of 2-5 touch-and-go Power Snatches, then try to stay with that. Otherwise, singles with quick resets can keep you moving through. Burpees over the bar suck, we know. Full extension is not required and these are not bar facing. Set a pace that keeps you moving, and don’t take any long breaks. If you have a little bit left in the tank, then sprint for the last 10 reps.  

Worm driving to the top of a Thruster

• The fourth LFPB Q&A Info Session, “Adjusting Nutrition to Meet Your Goals,” is next Thursday, February 18th at 6:30pm.
  
• Interested in volunteering for Iron Maidens? We are still in need of spotters and plate loaders.  Please fill out this form if you can help out. Thanks!

The Iron Maidens of CFSBK: Sara Widman

The Iron Maidens Raw Open is less than 4 weeks away. Leading up to the event, we’ll be posting brief interviews with CFSBK lifters to help you get to know our team and give you a sense of what these women are doing to prepare. This year, through competitors’ fundraising efforts, Iron Maidens will create the inaugural annual Iron Maidens Stay Strong Scholarship. Our goal is to raise $20,000 to pay for 70% of college tuition for 10 women in the College Prep program at the Bronx-based Grace Outreach. Right now we’re at $15,550 donated, and we need your help to reach the finish line! You can donate to a lifters’ campaign by going here.

Worrrrrrm! (Did you know she’s had that nickname since summer camp?) What’s your favorite powerlift? 

I have to say, my favorite is definitely the Deadlift. The fact that I can lift well over 200 pounds makes me feel fierce. If my back is strong and my core is tight, I can safely lift 2 times my body weight, and that is amazing.

What’s your motivation for competing in Iron Maidens?

My main motivation is the comradery. I’ve competed in Iron Maidens for the past 3 years, and each time I am amazed by the amount of praise everyone gives to one other. Everyone is clearly respected and encouraged, no matter what her size or skill level. As a young woman growing up in Long Island, New York, I saw a lot of women around me working out to lose weight. They were always talking about the number on the scale, and they seemed to think of success as being skinny. At CFSBK, and more specifically at Iron Maidens, women clearly workout to get strong. For men strength is important, but for women, I believe it is a must. Feeling strong on the outside makes me feel strong on the inside and enables me to face all of the things in my life that are difficult. 

Any advice for first-time competitors? 

My advice is to just come and experience it. You will have so much fun, and really I think that’s the most important part—to have fun! 
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Open Workout 15.4
Frinkiac: A Searchable Database of Simpsons Screencaps
How to Reboot Your System Breaking Muscle

Open Workout 15.4

Complete as many reps as possible in 8 minutes of:
3 Handstand Push-Ups 
3 Cleans 185/125 
6 Handstand Push-Ups 
3 Cleans 185/125 
9 Handstand Push-Ups 
3 Cleans 185/125 
12 Handstand Push-Ups 
6 Cleans 185/125
15 Handstand Push-Ups 
6 Cleans 185/125
18 Handstand Push-Ups
6 Cleans 185/125
21 Handstand Push-Ups 
9 Cleans 185/125
Etc., adding 3 reps to the Handstand Push-Ups each round, and 3 reps to the Clean every 3 rounds.

The Cleans can be performed in any way. Prior to starting you will need to establish the foot line for your Handstand Push-Up. Stand facing the wall with your feet at hip width and your toes touching the wall. While standing tall, reach your hands over your head with your elbows straight, shoulders extended and your thumbs touching. From here, mark the height of your wrists, then measure down 3 inches and create a line on the wall. Mark your line with a permanent marker, chalk or tape. Judges may restore the line between rounds as needed. Each Handstand Push-Up begins and ends with the heels in contact with the wall and above the pre-marked line. The athlete may place their hands however they choose, as long as their heels are above the line.

Evan and Michelle at the Community Potluck this past Saturday. Pics from the Potluck are now up on Flickr! 

• Are you on the list to get our newsletter? You can sign up using the widget to the right, just above the link to CrossFit Journal. Don’t miss out on important news and events!

Gymprovements! 

Here are some recent additions to our equipment arsenal! 

• 3 new 10kg/22lb barbells for 608
• 6 Pairs of 15lb bumper plates for 608
• We ordered a new set of six 20″ and six 16″ stackable plyo boxes like the ones we have in 597 to replace the ones in 608 that stick together and make you say swear words. 
• 10 beaded jump ropes. These are a heavier than our speed ropes and make even Single-Unders feel harder.
• We put pop pins in the Crossover Symmetry stations in 608 so that they can be placed in any available rack instead of whichever ones happen to have the grey straps on them.
• We replaced the Assault Bike monitor since the last one was glitchy and kept resetting.
• We ordered 3 new back lit Concept2 PM5 rowing machine monitors.

What equipment would you like to see or see more of at CFSBK? Tell us in the comments!
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Rest Day
Brooke Wells Does Grace Scaled Up to 155lbs in 3:18 YouTube
We Are Hopelessly Hooked The New York Review of Books 

Noah and McDowell with James FitzGerald at the OPEX seminar

Coaches Noah and McDowell Go West!

While CFSBK hunkered down under the gale of Snowstorm Jonas a few weeks ago, Coaches Noah and McDowell traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona to absorb a storm of knowledge from veteran athlete, coach, and educator James “OPT” FitzGerald.

FitzGerald has been a name to know in CrossFit since the early days, when his posted scores and times on the CrossFit main site were consistently top 5 worldwide. Already a veteran trainer, “OPT,” (his forum handle and the original name of his business) went on to win the first CrossFit Games, and has since trained 50 Games athletes,over 500 Regionals athletes, and countless people looking for science-based, individually tailored training under the aegis of his new coaching company Optimum Performance Experience (OPEX).

Noah and McDowell have been working towards becoming OPEX Associate Coaches since October. Having already completed their Assessment and Program Design modules online, in Arizona they completed their Life Coaching and Nutrition modules live and hope to share their experiences and insight with the CFSBK community.

To that end, Noah and McDowell are looking for 6 brave souls to volunteer for a free consultation, which will look to help optimize lifestyle and nutrition factors to better support progress and performance in the gym. The initial consultation will be 45 minutes long and will be followed with bi-weekly scheduled check-ins for 3 months. They are looking for people with a mixture of fitness levels, dietary styles, and lifestyles and will make selections accordingly. Fill out this survey if you are interested! 

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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: “Morrison”
How Would You Hold Up to a Lesson from Dmitri Klokov? The WOD Life 
Natural History Museums Are Teaming With Undiscovered Species The Atlantic 

“Morrison”

50-40-30-20 and 10 rep rounds of:
Wall Ball 20/14 to a 10′
Target Box jump 24/20″ (jump is Rx’d, step-up is scaled)
Kettlebell Swing, 53/35
*40 minute cap
As Rx’d, “Morrison” is 450 total reps (that’s a lot!) and is often reported as one of the hardest WODs people have done. Set a steady pace for yourself and try to stick to it. Definitely don’t blow up in the 50s.  

B Scale: 40-30-20-10 reps for time (100 reps of each movement, 300 total).
C Scale: A partner version is appropriate for newer folks, and it’s still a hell of a workout. Split the work evenly in sets as desired (75 reps each movement, 225 total).

U.S. Army Specialist Scott Morrison, 23, of Blue Ash, Ohio, assigned to 584th Mobility Augmentation Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, based out of Fort Hood, Texas, died on September 26, 2010, from injuries suffered on September 25 when insurgents in Kandahar, Afghanistan attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He is survived by his father Donald, mother Susan, brother Gary, and sister Katie.

Post time and Rx to comments.
Compare to 4.5.2014, 5.23.2012, and 7.13.2011

Coaches Jess and Chris Fox love to travel far and wide. Here are nos Renards visiting the Eiffel Tower on a beautiful day in Paris. Très bien! | Photoshop by Cam C.

• Do you store your lifting shoes in the closet at 597 or the loft at 608? If so, please make sure they’re marked with your name. Unlabeled shoes will be removed on February 21st. Space is getting tight!
• There are just 17 days until the annoucement of CrossFit Open Workout 16.1. Yikes! Have you registered yet? 

The Iron Maidens of CFSBK: Jenna Jerman

The Iron Maidens Raw Open is less than 4 weeks away. Leading up to the event, we’ll be posting brief interviews with CFSBK lifters to help you get to know our team and give you a sense of what these women are doing to prepare. This year, through competitors’ fundraising efforts, Iron Maidens will create the inaugural annual Iron Maidens Stay Strong Scholarship. Our goal is to raise $20,000 to pay for 70% of college tuition for 10 women in the College Prep program at the Bronx-based Grace Outreach. Right now we’re at $13,765 donated, and we need your help to reach the finish line! You can donate to a lifters’ campaign by going here.

Last week we heard from Rachel Hsiung. Next up: Jenna Jerman…

JJ! Tell us about your training program. 

For the past few months, I have been exclusively Olympic lifting, 2-3x per week in Frank’s program (plus the occasional yoga class). In the Olympic class, we only High-Bar Back Squat, but doing so has really allowed me to focus on busting through a lot of my old mobility issues and correct some old bad habits in my form. So even though I have had to keep my weights lower than I would have if I had been Low-Bar Back Squatting on my own (and probably sacrificing form for the sake of heavier loads), I am hoping that the new strength I have developed through my fuller range of motion in all of the positions will translate to a stronger Low-Bar Squat. Same goes for my Deadlift—I haven’t been training this lift, but I expect that all the pulling we do will yield some strength gains at the meet. Starting in February, I also plan on devoting more OG sessions to powerlifting, to work on a linear progression for my bench and deadlift and to reacquaint my body with the movement of Low-Bar Back Squatting.

What’s your motivation for competing in Iron Maidens? 

I mostly just love the super-supportive and celebratory environment of Iron Maidens (and CFSBK in general). I don’t consider myself to be a very competitive person (at least not athletically), but there is nothing like getting up on the platform and getting to feel like a TFBA, and having that feeling validated by all of the other strong, TFBA women around you. A week or two ago I was looking at the video posted on the @ironmaidensopen Instagram account of Bethany E. Deadlifting, and I thought to myself, “Shit, I can’t compete with her! She’s too strong!” Then I realized that I won’t be competing against her, really. I will be competing with her, and I really like that. (It also helped that I was discussing weight-class strategy with KMo one day—I am right on the cusp of two weight classes—and she laughed at me and said, “I’m sorry, you don’t think you’re going to win this event, do you?” I had to laugh, too. Sometimes it helps to be reminded to take myself less seriously and that I am only doing this for fun.)

But really, it does feel like a privilege to get to lift with all these strong women. I think the saying, “a rising tide lifts all boats” fits here somehow. It makes me a better lifter (person?) to lift with all these supportive women, and I want to contribute to that. I am really grateful to Margie for creating this awesome event, and I hope to participate in as many of them as possible, because they’re just really fun. I will never be good enough to compete in any kind of CrossFit competition, (or maybe I just don’t want to because seriously, fuck Burpees) but this event is accessible to all people at all levels. 

I also like that the event is focused exclusively on strength, full stop. Not: “strength is beautiful!” I like participating in a women-focused event that celebrates strength as the end goal, not as a means to acceptable physical appearance.

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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Clean | Open Workout 11.3
“Morrison” Hero WOD Demo WODwell
The Final Comeback of Axl Rose GQ

Clean

Clean: 
1-1-1
Warm up and perform 3 attempts at a max for the day.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 16 of 16.
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Open Workout 11.3

AMRAP 5 Minutes:
Squat Clean 165/110 
Jerk 165/110 
In this movement, the barbell goes from ground to overhead with the athlete passing through a full squat position while the barbell is racked on the shoulders. This can be a Full Squat-Clean Thruster, a Power-Clean Front Squat followed by a Split Jerk, or anything in between, as long as the three key positions are reached. The barbell begins on the ground. Touch-and-go is permitted. No bouncing. The athlete must pass through a full squat with hips below knees. The barbell must come to full lockout overhead with the hips, knees, and arms fully extended, and the bar over the mid-line. Score a point for each Clean and a point for each Jerk. So, 1 full clean and 1 jerk = 2 points.  

Post Rx and points to comments.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Community Potluck last night. What a feast. Full success!

Zen and the Art of Crush Week

By David Osorio
Originally posted 10.17.11 

In traditional meditative disciplines, you aim to cultivate mindfulness in a physically neutral setting. Often the practitioner sits in a comfortable position and tries to bring attention toward their breathing.   In Yoga, we see a more dynamic approach where rhythmic breathing becomes interwoven with a controlled flow through a series of postures .  In both of these instances, the intention is for the pilot to become more tuned into the “now”.  At CrossFit, we achieve something very similar through a very different approach.   During an intimidating lift or difficult conditioning piece you’re forced to deal with the moment at hand. The high discomfort level of what we do takes that moment and amplifies the physical inputs to the point where you can’t help but focus on what’s happening. You know this intuitively and it’s why you get nervous before a 500m erg test or 3 rep max Back Squat attempt.  You know that once you start you’ll be forced to deal with the “now” until it’s all over. Every second gets dragged out and every moment to rest or doubt yourself becomes amplified against what needs to get done.  Take this opportunity to set your intention for the approaching workouts.  Whenever you find yourself deep in the agonizing “now” embrace it and stay on task.  Don’t look around the room to see where everyone else is, don’t check the clock to see how much time has gone by and don’t make excuses to try and avoid what your feeling. Just keep fighting the barbell up or chipping away at reps until you’ve completed the task.  If you lose focus and get derailed, don’t let it mess with your head, just come back pushing harder. Remember, you’re here to get stronger, both physically AND mentally.

Enjoy Crush Week!

How do you mentally prepare for Crush Week? Tell us in the comments! 

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Yesteday’s Whiteboard: Squat | Burpees, Toes-to-Bars
Donny Shankle Hang Cleans 200 Kilos YouTube
Schoolhouse Rock, the Foundation of This Country The Hairpin

Back Squat/Front Squat

Performance
Back Squat 75% x Max Reps (1-2 shy of failure), FSQ 75% x Max Reps (1-2 shy of failure) 
Rest as needed between sets.

Fitness
Back Squat 80% of 5RM x Max Reps (1-2 shy of failure), Front Squat 80% of 5RM x Max Reps (1-2 shy of failure)
Rest as needed between sets.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 16 of 16.
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AMRAP 12 Minutes:
3 Burpees
3 Toes-to-Bars
6 Burpees
6 Toes-to-Bars
9 Burpees
9 Toes-to-Bars
… Add 3 reps per round until time is called
Standard scaling applies for this gymnastics couplet:

• Burpees: Squat Thrusts
• T2B: Hanging Leg Raises, Hanging Knee Raises

In its best capacity, this couplet will be completed steadily and unbroken until somewhere after the teens. If that’s nowhere near your capacity but you’re planning on doing the Open Rx’d, then consider slogging your way through the Toes-to-Bars as Rx’d anyway and see how far you can get. 

Put on your potluck face because it’s time to party

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME POTLUCK?!

The CFSBK Community Potluck is finally here. Things will kick off tonight at 7pm and end around 10pm. We can’t wait to break bacon and celebrate the new year with you. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come! There will even be a mini bounce house to entertain the kiddos. Guidelines on food and drinks are below. 

Your dish doesn’t have to be paleo, but please use whole foods where possible. We’ll vote on the top 3 dishes, so bring your best recipe! You may, of course, opt to bring a healthy dessert. 

Gerry M. dropped into Max Oxygen CrossFit in Ames, IA to stay on track with his LFPB training while he was in town for the Iowa Caucus. Way to go Gerry! 

This Week at CFSBK in Review

1. The CFSBK Community Potluck is tomorrow at 7pm! Full details and guidelines, including a call for volunteers, are in yesterday’s post. 

2. We interviewed our favorite badass gymnast, Rachel Hsiung in the first installment of “The Iron Maidens of CFSBK.” Speaking of which, we’re just a little over 4 weeks from The Iron Maidens Raw Open, and we just passed 50% of our fundraising goal. We need your help to reach it! Go here to donate to your favorite lifter’s (or lifters’) campaign(s).

3. Coach Frank Murray answered questions about Next Level Weightlifting Club at CFSBK. Things just not clicking with the Olympic lifts? Ready to seriously hone your technique? Don’t hesitate to sign up!

4. We learned all about Monique L. in the inaugural edition of our new feature, “Better Know a Member.” Keep a look out for another installment next week. 

5. Our most recent “Etiquette Tip of the Week” was punk, nerdy, and, uh… etiquette-y, all at the same time. We do it all here!

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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Snatch | “Amanda”
Twitter Drove Me Crazy, So I Stopped Using It Deadspin 

Snatch

Every 2 Minutes for 14 Minutes (8 reps):
1 Snatch
Start at about 70-80% and build to a max for the day. Press outs are no reps. Be sure to hit reps cleanly and balanced before adding weight.

Post loads to comments.
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Performance

“Amanda”

For Time:
9-7-5
Muscle-Ups
Snatches 135/95
Rx for the snatch is a full squat. If it’s caught high there should not be a discernible pause before riding to the bottom of a squat. Power Snatches are considered scaled.

Fitness
For Time:
21/15 Calorie Row
15 Power Snatch 95/65
15/12 Calorie Row
10 Power Snatch 95/65
19/9 Calorie Row
6 Power Snatch 95/65
The barbell weight should be light enough to perform Snatches unbroken or with minimal rest.

Post time and Rx to comments.
Compare to 10.21.15

• SCHEDULE CHANGE: 9am Yoga with Jaclyn is cancelled today
• The third LFPB Q&A Info Session, “How Active Recovery Techniques Aid Fitness and Body Composition,” is tonight at 6:30pm.
• There are just 21 days until the annoucement of CrossFit Open Workout 16.1! Have you registered yet? We want you to join Team CFSBK! Here’s why you should register. 
• Are you on the list to get our newsletter? You can sign up using the widget to the right, just above the link to CrossFit Journal. Don’t miss out on important news and events!

This Saturday at 7pm! The annual CFSBK Community Potluck

CFSBK Community Potluck this Saturday from 7pm until about 10pm. Our annual potluck is a great way for the CFSBK community to break bacon and celebrate the new year together. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come! There will even be a mini bounce house to entertain the kiddos. Guidelines on food and drinks are below. 

Your dish doesn’t have to be paleo, but please use whole food where possible. We’ll vote on the top 3 dishes, so bring your best recipe! You may, of course, opt to bring a healthy dessert.