• Due to the plowing on Degraw Street, our bike rack is currently buried under a mountain of snow. We can’t offer bike storage inside the gym because it has the potential to create a fire hazard, so please make alternate plans until the snow melts and/or we’re able to dig it out. Sorry for the inconvenience! 

January Athlete of the Month: Asha Banker

By Chris Fox

You may know her as the gal who spends time on the mat before and after class, stretching and prepping or cooling down. Or as the gal getting after it when the WOD gets tough, throwing down hard while still encouraging her classmates. Or maybe just as the gal with the perennial smile on her face. Asha has been training regularly at CFSBK for a few years now but has really progressed in leaps and bounds lately. Let’s spend some time learning a bit more about her.

Fox: Hey Asha, congrats on being our next featured AOM! When and how did you first start CrossFit?

Asha: Thanks! I’m surprised and excited! In 2011, a co-worker first told me about CrossFit. Although he was really into it, I was hesitant, having heard stories of injuries and such. In July 2012, my mom broke her ankle in a bicycle accident in the Boston suburbs, where I grew up. I went home to help take care of her and it turned out that her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Rockett, (who also happens to be part of the CrossFit Games Medical Team) did CrossFit! I was sold and signed up for Foundations at CFSBK before even returning to Brooklyn. I realized later how fortunate I was that CFSBK happened to be the box closest to me. I did Foundations and have been hooked since! Because I like to stick to our programming, when I travel, I try to change things up, getting in running, yoga and AR. I did go to CrossFit Original Addicts in Paris last March so I could do 15.5, and over Christmas, tried out classes a couple classes at boxes near my parents. I may convince them to start training!

Fox: Those are all such great compliments to the SBK staff and community alike! I’m glad we’re filling those roles for members. You were sort of coming in and flying under the radar for a while, but at some point you really kicked it up a notch. Was there something that changed? 

Asha: I did 3x/week until the summer of 2014 when I took Coach Frank’s Next Level Olympic Weightlifting Cycle and added on the 2x/week CF option. The combination upped me to 4x/week, which was a good transition. After Frank’s class, I felt ready to become a 5-time-a-weeker. In 2014, I also started putting in additional time for skill work. Getting my first strict chin-ups that summer became a gateway to work on more bodyweight movements.

Fox: That’s great! I love to see people get their “firsts” in the gym. Can you tell us a bit about your life outside of the gym? Family and hobbies? 

Asha: My family is Indian. My mom grew up in Mumbai and my father in Sri Lanka; they moved to the US right after they got married. I was born in Chicago, but we moved to the Boston area when I was two and a half. The year after we moved was the Blizzard of ‘78 – I remember seeing snow higher than me! Fun fact: CFSBK photog extraordinaire Thomas Hinton was in my fifth grade class. I also have an older sister who lives in Manhattan. Our parents always encouraged us to be active. We started skiing when I was three and my sister was six. My parents and sister were good role models for being active and healthy. I love cooking (and eating) good food and am fortunate to have friend groups in New York from different chapters in my life. I’m in a book club, and last summer, I took an improv class just for fun. And I am doing a ski trip to Italy in March, right around the Open. 

Fox: Tell us about your work life. What do you do?

Asha: I studied economics in college and was always interested in social and economic development. I have been working in education since 2009, but my path there was not typical. After college, I worked in finance in New York and then London. It was tempting to stay but I wanted to channel my analytical and people skills to help build organizations. So after business school, I worked first as a product manager in open source software, and in 2005, volunteered in Gujarat in India, working with a women artisan non-profit. Being able to apply my different expertise towards truly tangible work was exhilarating. I moved to India for three years, transitioning to the education sector while there. I then came to Brooklyn to develop the K-12 school turnaround practice for Wireless Generation/Amplify. After subsequently working for Newark Public Schools, I started an organization last year, Verdant Learning. Having seen top-down approaches to school improvement fail, I wanted to support schools hungry for grassroots change. Verdant helps middle schools (as CFSBK parents know, they are in particularly high need in New York), make parent engagement a core driver of school improvement. We help schools link parent engagement to learning outcomes, make communication easier and more meaningful, and build capacity within their community. Quick plug to our highly talented CFSBK peeps: I am looking for a visual designer to help with my website and some marketing docs, and am always looking to brainstorm with interested educators and philanthropic investor folks.

Fox: Sounds like you’re doing worthwhile work. Can you tell us one odd thing about you?

Asha: Hah! Ask me in person about all the cities and apartments I’ve lived in. Until finding my apartment in Brooklyn five years ago, I had moved a lot! 

Fox: Alright, last question. What should we look for in a future AOM?

Asha: Humility, perseverance, and someone who is quietly progressing while genuinely cheering for the success of others. Also, they should have a sense of humor. We’re in this for the long haul!
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Push Press | Push Press, Row
When Is It Enough? YouTube
This Is No Game The New Yorker 

Push Press

Push Press
5-3-3-2-1-1-1
Work up to a heavy single for the day. Practice cycling the barbell from overhead directly to the front rack/dip and drive in your early sets. Work hard to stay braced, especially on the heavy singles. 

Post loads to comments.
____________________

5 Rounds for Reps: 
1 Minute Max Push Press at 70% of your heavy single
Rest 1 Minute
1 Minute Max Calories Rowed
Rest 1 Minute
Aim for consistent reps/cals on all rounds.

Post Rx, reps, and cals to comments. 

Miami sounds real nice right about now, doesn’t it?

Wodapalooza 2016: A Recap

Last weekend we kept you updated on CFSBK’s exploits at Wodapalooza 2016 in Miami. Among stiff competition, team Steel Magnolias (Coach Melissa, Coach Katie, and Tina D.) finshed tied for 10th place out of 21 teams in the Intermediate Women divsion. We couldn’t be more proud of them! Today we’re thrilled to bring you K Harpz and MeLo’s impressions of the event. Read on, reader!

Katie:
Wodapalooza 2016—what a weekend! Despite the torrential downpour on Day 1 (RIP Nike Metcons), the event was well organized and flooded with CrossFit Games athletes. The positive environment was infectious to say the least. It was an important experience for me in many ways, and I couldn’t have asked for better teammates. 

Competitive CrossFit is awesome because it pushes you outside of your comfort zone, and you get a sense of how you perform under pressure. At an event like Wodapalooza, we knew weren’t going to be the most jacked and tan athletes in the arena. But we knew our strengths, and with a little strategy, we were able to clinch a spot in the top 10 of our division! Hurray Steel Magnolias!

I started doing CrossFit 6 years ago, in January 2010, by attending a beginner class at Crossfit NYC. The workout in that beginner class was half “Cindy,” a 10-minute AMRAP of 5 Pull-Ups, 10 Push-Ups and 15 Squats. I performed the Pull-Ups using the thickest band available and the Push-Ups from my knees. The depth on my Squats was questionable. I quite clearly remember thinking that that was the hardest workout I’d ever done. My arms were too smoked to pick up a coffee cup. I couldn’t wait to do it again. 

Fast forward 6 years, and incredibly, last weekend, I was able to throw down with my teammates at a national event and compete amongst the best of the best at Wodapalooza. The weekend highlighted two things I cherish about CrossFit: the continual, measureable progress observed over time; and the supportive, friendly community. The inclusiveness, support, and general good nature of CrossFitters was evident throughout the event, from the elite-level athletes in attendance to the spectators, organizers, and vendors. Arrogance and ego were rare.

The 3-day competition included successes, surprises, and challenges. Here’s a recap of my experience and some of the lessons I learned.

Friday, Day 1:  The Storm
The conditions on Day 1 were less than ideal. I expected abundant sunshine and sunscreen. Instead, it was a rainy, muddy mess. However, we didn’t let that kill our competitive spirit. We rallied as a team and started with a workout called “The Little Chipper”: each teammate was to complete 9 Bar-Facing Burpees, 12 Power Snatches (65lbs), 15 Thrusters (65lbs), and 18 calories on the Assult Bike in a relay race to the finish. It was a quick burner, with nowhere to hide and no reason to slow down. Worst part? The bike. If you’ve never spent time on that thing, make it a point to do an 8-round tabata the next time you’re in the gym as a warm-up. (And mention to David that we need a few more bikes.) We finished 10th in the first event.

The second workout was “The Big Chipper,” which included Pistols, GHD Sit-Ups, Overhead Squats (95lbs) and D-Ball Holds and Carries (50lbs). I’ve always struggled with Overhead Squats, and this workout was no exception. While I’ve certainly made progress and have become more comfortable with them, they’re still a goat. I will make them a regular part of my training and will master them by the end of the year. Don’t let me slip on this, friends! Fortunately, Tina is incredible at Overhead Squats and banged out 27 unbroken reps (WHAT!?!?) to earn us a 5^th place finish in the event, a strong start to the three-day competition. 

Saturday, Day 2: The Sunshine
Conditions on Day 2 were everything we could have hoped for, and it was another successful day for the Steel Magnolias. The first workout was the Snatch Medley: 3 Rep Max Snatch, 3000m Row, 5 RM Snatch, 400 Double-Unders, 7 RM Snatch, and 70 Bar Muscle-Ups. While we didn’t move as much weight as the other teams on the Snatch, our teamwork was on point, and we were all able to contribute at each stage of the workout. Personally, I’ve been inconsistent with Bar Muscle-Ups and was nervous about whether I’d be able to contribute to my team. I’ve always been more of a team player rather than an individual competitor, and I hated the thought of letting my team down. With the energy of the crowd and the encouragement of my teammates, I was miraculously able to perform numerous Bar Muscle-Ups, contributing to our 49 reps total.  Definitely a high point of the weekend! 

The second event of Day 2 was the SWIM: 3 rounds of 40 Deadlifts (135lbs), 50m Swim, 40 Handstand Push-Ups, 50m Swim with two people working at a time. And OMG, we finished 2nd in that event! Who knew 3 girls from Brooklyn could swim so well? Yes, I automatically defaulted to the sidestroke, and no, we did not practice in the Gowanus. 

Sunday, Day 3: A Struggle with Synchronicity
Event 1 on Day 3 involved D-Ball Tosses (80lbs), synchronized Toes-to-Bars, and synchronized Pull-Ups. We didn’t have an opportunity to practice synchronization prior to the event, and it showed. We definitely lost time trying to get our rhythm together. On the positive side, our communication as a team was solid, and we managed to place 10th. We happen to have an 80lb D-Ball at the gym. Toss it over your shoulder a few times. It’s a great way to let out some aggression!

Event 2, Day 3: two short chippers, the first was legless rope climbs, Squat Cleans (155lbs), and Dumbbell Squat Snatches (60lbs); the second was 100 Clean and Jerks for time (65lbs). None of us had spent a lot of time practicing legless climbs. Turns out they’re pretty hard, especially when you have to do 7 of them. Harper stepped up and took on that challenge for us, and she did an incredible job. You better believe that you’ll see all of us practicing that skill more often. We placed 15th and 13th respectively on those last two events.   

We ended up 10th overall out of 21 Intermediate Women teams, a finish that I’m definitely happy with. I look forward to bringing more CSFBK teams down next year to represent. 

The Bottom Line:
Competing gives you perspective. Training in the same environment with the same people can make you complacent. It’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture. Getting out of your comfort zone can make you realize that what you thought was impossible is indeed attainable. For example, several women in our division were Touch-and-Go Power Snatching 135-145lbs. I need to get on that. Competitions can be stressful, nerve-wracking and, at times, disappointing. But they are also quite memorable, incredibly gratifying, and can be excellent learning opportunities. My team was incredible, and CSFBK’s support over the weekend was humbling. Thank you to our CFSBK family for supporting us from afar and to Alex and Marcos for being our entourage.

If anyone is interested in competing, seeing where you’re at, and having fun in the process, The Open is a great way to get your feet wet. Sign up. Challenge yourself. Surprise yourself. Talk to me if you’re at all hesitant. 

The Return of the Monthly Egg CSA!

If you love the incredibly delicious farm-fresh eggs we occasionally get from Herondale Farm, our meat and egg CSA provider, this is your lucky day.

Clean Deadlift/Pull + Hang Clean

Fitness
Every 90 seconds for 7 Rounds
Clean Deadlift + Hang Clean

Performance
Clean Pull + Hang Clean

Hang for today is anywhere above the knee.

Post Rx and loads to comments.
Exposure 6 of 8
_____________________

7 Rounds For Time: 
7 Deadlifts 115/75
7 Hang Power Cleans 115/75
7 Burpees
7 Kettlebell Swings 53/35
7 Toes-to-Bars 

Post time and Rx to comments. 

Allie B., KLove, and Kristin C. are ready to do the blizzard in style

• 2:00pm Anti-Gravity class is cancelled.
• 9:00am and 10:00am CF Preschool classes are cancelled.
• All group classes, Active Recovery, and the Free Intro class are ON today. We’ll let you know if anything changes. 

Prepping for Iron Maidens: Advice on Modifying Group Classes

By Margie Lempert
Originally Posted on 2.2.15

We’re about six weeks out from Iron Maidens, which means there is still time to do some specific training. Below are suggestions for how to modify what you do in group class in order to prep for the meet. Our coaches are on-board, but always be sure to talk to whoever is coaching class about your plans so they can adjust logistics accordingly. And, of course, ask any coaches or me for specific advice on choosing loads/exercises. 

If this is your first meet and you’ve never maxed out a linear progression, then you should stick to the Fitness track in group class with some potential additions/substitutions. If this is your second, third, or more meet, or you’ve done quite a few linear progressions, then you can play with some other training regimens, as well as accessory work to address particular weaknesses. Most important is to get the work in every week. Consistency = gains.

Here are some suggestions:

For Everyone
In the week before the meet, you should work up to one heavy triple for each lift. This should be a tough triple, though not necessarily an all-out max. No need to get ugly about it. This will be your opening weight at the meet. You should hit all your triples by the Wednesday before the meet, but they do not have to be done in the same day. Make sure you pause the bench press. (After Wednesday, your aim should be sleep, active recovery/light training, and food.)

For Novices

Squat
Linear progression

• Substitute front squat with low bar back squat so that you back squat 2x/week, increasing 5lbs/exposure if possible. Make sure you have at least 48 hours between squat sessions. 

Bench Press
Linear progression

• Make sure you practice the pause command on your bench press. You can do this on your warm up sets throughout your training, as well as on your heavy triple day just before the meet. Get a friend/coach to cue you to press when the bar has made solid contact with your chest, or give yourself a one count.
• Consider adding in daily pushups via frequent, submaximal sets. Example: if max pushups = 5, aim for 5 sets of 3 pushups spread throughout the day. Do this 5 to 6 days a week. These should never be sets to fatigue. Each week, try to add one pushup to all your sets OR add one set of pushups/day
• Consider adding an overhead press exposure 1x/week during open gym. Follow a linear progression here as well. 
• Special note: ladies, we can always do with more pressing. As long as your joints feel good, go for all of it. 

Deadlift
Linear progression

• Replace Snatch OR Clean complex with DL so that you DL 1x/week. Warm-up to one workset set of 5; linear progression of 10lbs each exposure. All warm-ups should be sets of 5. Do not touch and go; take a breath and reset your back for each pull. If you have never hooked or switch gripped, start to practice this on your heaviest set. 

For Intermediate Lifters

Squat
Substitute front squat with low bar squat on both days. Make sure you have at least 48 hours between squat sessions. 

Option 1: Moderate volume, with heavy singles. Good choice for novice/intermediate who is looking for a little more experience with heavier weight.
Day 1: 3×5 linear progression
Day 2: Follow Performance track 

Option 2: Lower volume, with emphasis on finding and driving out of the bottom. Good choice for those who have trouble hitting depth or get stuck at the bottom. Also works postural strength (i.e. extended back, knees out, even pressure through the feet).
Day 1: Performance track
Day 2: 3×3 Pause Squat, increasing each week. Two count at the bottom. 

Option 3: Moderate volume, with heavy doubles/triples. Good choice for advanced intermediate who is able to put in a lot of work and manage recovery well.
Day 1: 2×5; 1×10 all at same weight (i.e. 155x5x2; 155×10) increasing each week
Day 2: Work up to heavy double or triple in no more than 5 total sets, including warm-ups. Try to beat yourself each week 

Bench Press
Option 1: Follow Fitness track; pause at least one, if not all sets. 

Option 2: Follow Performance track. Choose to hit a heavy single, double or triple. Pause your top set, but not your drop set of 10. 

• If a coach approves, try to add a pulling exercise between each work set, i.e. chin/pullups x submax; or DB rows x 10-12 or Ring rows x 10-12. If there’s not space during class, get it done during open gym.
• Consider adding an overhead press day at open gym. Work up to a top set of 5 – this should feel like you have one or two left in the tank. Then drop 6-9% and hit sets of 5 until it feels as difficult as your heavy set (should take 1-4 sets, rest 2-3 min between sets).

Deadlift
Replace snatch OR clean complex with deadlift.

Option 1: Linear progression of one set of 5 reps

Option 2: Linear progression of one set of 3 reps; drop 6-9% and hit another set of 3-5

• Consider adding in a second day for accessory work or a deadlift variant to address weakness in your deadlift. This would be done at open gym.
• Options:
  • Back: barbell rows from the floor, or heavy dumbbell rows; Pullups (weighted); ring rows (feet on a box). 3 sets of 10-12
  • Weak off the floor: deficit pulls from 1 or 2″. 1 top set of 5, or 3×3; linear increase. (25# rogue plate is 1” and the dc blocks are 2”.)
  • Weak past the knee: rack pulls, 1 set of 5 or 3×3, linear increase. Set the pins so that the bar is just below your knee. See this video for a thorough explanation.

Please feel free to ask me for clarification or advice any time: Margie [at] crossfitsouthbrooklyn.com.

Happy Training!
_____________________
The Blizzard of 1996 Made NYC an Eerie Ghost Town Gothamist
Report: Mom Saw Car That Slid Off Road Into Ditch

Back Squat/Front Squat

Performance
Back Squat 75% x 8-12 x 2, Front Squat 75% x 8-12 x 2
Leave 2 reps in the tank.

Be mindful of maintaining good positions and not devolving into bad form for the sake of an extra rep or two.

Fitness
Back Squat 2 x 5, Front Squat 2 x 5
Load is 90% of what you used on Wednesday.

Post loads to comments
Exposure 12/16
____________________  

Post Rx to comments.

Benson is BUMMED that we had to reschedule the Community Potluck, but at least he gets to chow down at this custom feeder made by Andrew S. 

About That Blizzard

Due to the impending blizzard, the Community Potluck has been postponed until Saturday, February 6th at 7pm. Stay safe, everyone! You can still leave a note on the event page to let us know what you plan to bring, and we’ll need some volunteers to come by at 6:30 to set up and/or stay for a little while after to clean up on February 6th. Please e-mail our Events Coordinator Danae M. at Events [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com to let her know you’re available to help out.

Yoga for Athletes is cancelled today!
Anti-Gravity will be cancelled tomorrow, since Noah is away.
However, group classes and Active Recovery are still ON for today! Woo hoo!

Keep checking in here for updates, annoucements, and burnt offerings to Boreas, god of the north wind.
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Rest Day
A Day in the Life of Brooke Ence YouTube
Why Is So Much of the World’s Great Art in Storage? Quartz 
Changes in Climate Have Always Made Things Worse for (Accused) Witches Atlas Obscura 

That time Lady Fox coached a whole class while holding a Side Plank

• WEEKEND SCHEDULE UPDATE: Sunday’s 2:00pm Anti-Gravity class is cancelled.  

This Week at CFSBK in Review

A lot happened on the CFSBK weblog this week. Let’s recap!

1. Due to the impending blizzard, the Community Potluck has been postponed until Saturday, February 6th at 7pm. We’re bummed that we have to wait another couple of weeks, but we want everyone to stay safe. You can still leave a note on the event page to let us know what kind of food you plan to bring!    

2. Team Steel Magnolias (Coach MeLo, Coach K Harpz, and Tina D.) finshed Wodapalooza 2016 tied for 10th place out of 25 teams in the Intermediate Women divsion. Look out for reports from MeLo and K Harpz on Monday.

3. Fiction writer and CFSBKer Nathan Englander appeared with Coach Noah on The New Yorker Radio Hour to discuss the relationship between CrossFit and writing. Some keywords: discipline, obsession, success, and failure. Give a listen!

4. Registration for the 2016 CrossFit Open went live this past Friday, and we’d love for you to sign up. Why should you compete? We’re glad you asked. 

5. Reebok.com published a piece on 77-year-old CFSBKer Constance Tillett written by former CFSBK Managing Editor Kate R. As Constance says, “To live is expensive, to die is expensive. You choose.”

6. Interested in volunteering for Iron Maidens? We’d love to have your help! Please fill out this form if you’d like to take part. Volunteers are needed to help set up on Friday, March 4th from 7:30 to 9:00pm and during the AM and PM sessions of the meet on Saturday, March 5th. And don’t forget to start fundraising for the Iron Maidens Stay Strong Scholarship!

7. The Gowanus Canal Conservancy will be hosting their annual ANTIFREEZE fundraiser at 7pm on January 30, 2016 at Littlefield (right across the street), and CFSBK is one of the Silent Auction donors! The event will gather a wide range of attendees who care deeply about the health and resiliency of the Gowanus waterfront and the surrounding local urban environment. There will be delicious local food, plenty of beer, Silent Auction, and (of course) an excellent DJ. Tickets can be found here.
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Overhead Squat | Overhead Squats, Pull-Ups
My Recovery Program: CrossFit with Pat Sprague YouTube
How Wile E. Coyote Explains The World Deadspin 

Overhead Squat

Overhead Squat
3-3-3-3-3
Work up to a max triple for the day.

Post loads to comments.
____________________

For Time:
20 Overhead Squats 135/95
40 Pull-Ups
10 Overhead Squats  
20 Pull-Ups
Overhead Squat comes off the floor. Load should be on the medium-heavy side. Any method of getting the bar overhead is accepable (Snatch, Power Snatch, Clean/Jerk/BTN Rack/PP). Sub for Pull-Ups is Ring Rows. 

Post Rx and times to comments.

Throwback Thursday to when CFSBK hosted Annie Thorisdottir and Lindsey Valenzuela for the announcement of Open Workout 13.2. Who can you spot in the crowd?

• SCHEDULE UPDATE: CrossFit Teens is cancelled today and Tuesday. 
• Due to the impending blizzard, the Community Potluck has been postponed until Saturday, February 6th at 7pm. We’re bummed that we have to wait another couple of weeks, but we want everyone to stay safe. You can still leave a note on the event page to let us know what kind of food you plan to bring!     

TONIGHT! Look Feel Perform Better Q&A Info Session: “Understanding Macros”

Attend this Look Feel Perform Better Q&A Info Session, the second of this year’s bi-monthly Q&A Info Sessions. These sessions will function more as a support group setting than a true lecture, though they will begin with a lecture. In this second session, we’ll discuss how counting and regulating your macronutrient intake will, in turn, control your caloric intake and optimize your training while maintaining lean muscle mass. An open Q&A will follow.

Where: CFSBK’s second floor Annex
When: Thursday, January 21st at 6:30pm

Gym Etiquette Tip of the Week: Scanning In

Art by Jen Murray

Don’t forget to scan in at the Front Desk of 597 Degraw! Whether you’re taking group class, Active Recovery, Yoga, or Anti-Gravity, please scan your card at the desk and let us know which class(es) you’re taking. This is especially important for classes that meet at 608 Degraw. If you lost your scan card, the Front Desk will be more than happy to get you a new one!
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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Squat | Dumbbell Thrusters, Box Jumps, Knees-to-Elbows
Ring Row Progression Gymnastics WOD 
My Time as a Magnolia Bakery Cupcake Bouncer The Billfold 

Front Squat/Back Squat

Performance
Heavy: Back Squat 85% x 2 x 2, Front Squat 85% x 2 x 2
Based on 1RM.

Fitness
Back Squat 2 x 5, Front Squat 2 x 5
Same load as last week.
_____________________

 Matt E. working through a work set on one of our lower volume, higher percentage Squat days… like today!

• The CFSBK Community Potluck is this Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend! We need some volunteers to come by at 6:30 to set up and/or stay for a little while after to clean up. Please e-mail our Events Coordinator Danae M. at Events [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com to let her know you’re available to help out. Comments were temporarily disabled on the event page, but they’re fixed now, so leave a note there to let us know what kind of food you plan to bring! 
• In case you missed it, Fiction writer and CFSBKer Nathan Englander appeared with Coach Noah on WNYC’s New Yorker Radio Hour. It’s great. Give a listen!
• Check out Yoga with Jaclyn K. tommorow at 9am in the Annex.

Call for Volunteers: Iron Maidens Raw Open 2016

Interested in volunteering for Iron Maidens? We’d love to have your help! Please fill out this form if you’d like to take part. Volunteers are needed to help set up on Friday, March 4th from 7:30 to 9:00pm and during the AM and PM sessions of the meet on Saturday, March 5th. Questions? Contact Coach Margie at Margie [at] CrossFitSouthBrooklyn.com. And don’t forget to start fundraising for the Iron Maidens Stay Strong Scholarship!

Tomorrow Night! Look Feel Perform Better Q&A Info Session: “Understanding Macros”

Attend this Look Feel Perform Better Q&A Info Session, the second of this year’s bi-monthly Q&A Info Sessions. These sessions will function more as a support group setting than a true lecture, though they will begin with a lecture. In this second session, we’ll discuss how counting and regulating your macronutrient intake will, in turn, control your caloric intake and optimize your training while maintaining lean muscle mass. An open Q&A will follow.

Where: CFSBK’s second floor Annex
When: Thursday, January 21st at 6:30pm

On Honoring the Body with Constance Tillett

Reebok.com just published a piece on all-around wonderful human and 77-year-old CFSBKer Constance Tillett. The essay, which documents Constance’s inspiring fitness journey, was written by all-around wonderful human and former CFSBK blog Managing Editor Kate R. Of course, it also features Constance’s trainer, all-around wonderful human and CFSBK owner Captain Osorio. There are a lot of wonderful things here, not the least of which is Constance’s parting quote. Check it out! And follow CFSBK on Instagram to keep up with “The Constance Chronicles.”
____________________ 
Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Rest Day
Fixing the Squat: Hip Drive YouTube
A Plan for Eating High-Quality Protein on a Low Budget Breaking Muscle
Bones And Grooves: The Weird Secret History of Soviet X-Ray Music NPR

Coach Fox writes our group class programming, and he’s a Danzig fan, so if you wanna find hell with him, he can show you what it’s like

• SCHEDULE CHANGE: Tonight’s 6:30 Active Recovery class is CANCELLED. Still want to do something other than group class? Check out Pilates with KH at 7:30pm.

Register for the 2016 CrossFit Open

Yesterday we encouraged you to register for the 2016 CrossFit Open. Today we’re going to explain why you should register. First, as of last year, the Open includes both Rx’d and Scaled divisions, so don’t fret if you don’t have Muscle-Ups yet. Second, registering for the Open is good for the whole CFSBK community. As befits our spirit of inclusiveness, we usually have one of the biggest Open teams in the world, and we’d love to have an even bigger team this year. Even if you do only one rep for one of the WODs, it won’t bring the team down. The third reason is a little more complicated. What if—like your CFSBK blog Editor—you’re not naturally competitive because you were always large for your age and thus a big, slow target in dodgeball? To answer this last question (or some version of it), we’re reposting Coach Fox’s terrific “Why Compete?” Enjoy! 

Why Compete?

By Chris Fox
Originally posted on 12.1.2012

As a youth I was not very involved in competitive sports, so I can’t speak to that angle on why competition is a healthy aspect of training as an adult. Sure, I’ve played some pick up football, basketball, rugby, baseball, etc… but the consequences were only week to week, never having long lasting meaning to me. As an adult I have found new meaning in what training and testing mean to me. I’ve trained with intention and set performance goals for more than a decade and found CrossFit within the past 6 years. CrossFit was the first time that I had ever really tested my performance in a competition setting. The beauty of Crossfit, and the related fitness sports that go along with it like powerlifting, olympic lifting, strongman/women, adventure races, etc… is that while you are ‘competing’ with the people you’re sharing floor/track/trail/platform space with, you must also compare your performance to your own previous performances. Sometimes the goal may be to only finish an event. First time out? Just get through it with success. Other times it may be to best your previous years placement or possibly to achieve a top place in an event. In my case the goal is to get better as an athlete and to not slip backward as the competitive environment gets more and more, well, competitive.

I have no illusions of winning any powerlifting meets, Olympic meets, the CrossFit Games, or even any of the local throwdown style events. Does that mean that my participation is silly? Hell NO! I get to hang with some cool folks, push my limits, and measure where I lay not only in comparison to my fellow athletes but also in relation to my previous self. As a (very) soon to be 40 year old male, society would have me believe that my best days are behind me. I respond with a resounding “NOT” and strive year after year to be a bit better that the me from the year before. I enjoy the process, the goal setting, and the satisfaction of knowing that I prepared for an event as best as I could. Or, in learning what I might do differently  the next go around.

We test ourselves day in, day out at CFSBK. There are metrics to be recorded for sure, and you should be tracking them regularly. I encourage you all, however, to step outside of your comfort zone once in a while and and test your performance in those not so cozy places where the others are. You might find out that you hate it, but you might also find out that it inspires you to be better or at least have some outside of the box fun. At the very least you’ll have learned something about yourself.

CFSBK’s Community Potluck: Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm

We’re excited to get everyone in house to break bacon and socialize together outside of normal classes. This event will simultaneously kick off the new year, support the Look Feel Perform Better Challenge, and bring folks from all times and corners of the gym together.

This event is open to everyone and all are encouraged to come. Check out the event page for guidelines and more info. Bring your favorite Paleo dish! We can’t wait to see you there! 
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Leonid Zhabotinsky, Strongman for the Ages, Dies at 77 The New York Times
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Handstand Push-Ups

Performance
7 rounds (12 minutes):
1 Minute Max Strict Handstand Push-Ups 
1 Minute Rest

Do these from a deficit if you can, or scale the range of motion to 2 AbMats as needed.

Fitness
5 Rounds Not For Time:
5 Box Piked Handstand Push-Ups or 20-Second Box Pike Hold 

Rest as needed between sets. If you’re doing the Box Pike Holds, then immediately following the Hold, perform a set of 5 challenging dumbbell Presses.
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Every Minute on the Minute for 4 Rounds
Minute 1: 20/16 Calorie Row
Minute 2: 20 Russian Kettlebell Swings 53/35
Minute 3: 15 Burpees
Minute 4: 5 Bar Muscle Ups, Jumping Bar Muscle Ups, or 10 Jumping Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups
Minute 5: Rest

Go as fast as you can on each round. If you can’t finish the reps/cals within the minute, then scale to a number that gives you a few seconds of transition time.

Post reps and Rx to comments.

You’ve heard us talk a lot about the Open in class lately. Now’s your chance to sign up!

• The CFSBK Community Potluck is this Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend! See the event page for more details.
• Team Steel Magnolias (Coach MeLo, Coach K Harpz, and Tina D.) finshed Wodapalooza 2016 tied for 10th place out of 25 teams in the Intermediate Women divsion. Tell ’em how proud we are the next time you see them. We’ll post a full report from K Harpz later in the week.

WE WANT YOU… to Register for the 2016 CrossFit Open

Registration for the 2016 CrossFit Open went live this past Friday. Get crackin’! There will be Rx’d and scaled versions of each workout, so you can only help CFSBK’s team by signing up. Even if you do one rep for one of the WODs, it won’t bring the team down. We just want you to join us! Sign up here, and don’t forget to register as a CFSBK athlete. 

ANTIFREEZE: The Gowanus Canal Conservancy Fundraiser

CFSBK on The New Yorker Radio Hour

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Yesterday’s Whiteboard: Clean | Partner WOD
The Skill Transfer of the Burpee with Carl Paoli YouTube
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Power Clean

Power Clean:
Work up to a Power Clean a bit heavier than the work weight you intend to use in the WOD.

Post loads to comments.
Exposure 5 of 8.
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In teams of 3, with 1 partner working at a time, complete 7 rounds each (21 total) of:
3 Power Cleans 185/125
6 Box Jumps 30/24
9 Push-Ups

Partners alternate full rounds. The Power Clean weight should be on the heavy side of medium. Cycle the reps if you can. The Box Jump is meant to be higher than you’re used to. Practice fast transitions between teammates.

Post time and Rx to comments. 

Coach MeLo, Tina D., and Coach K Harpz with some photobomber named Rich Froning at Wodapalooza 2016 in Miami. At the end of Day 2, team Steel Magnolias is in 6th place out of 25 teams in the Intermediate Team Women division. They took 2nd place in the Swim Triplet! 

• Want to try something other than group class today? Check out Active Recovery at 11am, Anti-Gravity at 2:00pm, or Open Gym from 6-8pm.

Hand Care for CrossFitters, Part 2

By Chris Fox

Editor’s Note: We noticed quite a few questions about hand-related issues in the comments this week, so we’re re-posting Coach Noah and Coach Fox‘s terrific two-part feature on hand care this weekend. This is especially useful and important as we continue to train for the Open. See yesterday’s post for Part 1. Part 2 was originally posted on 11.1.15. —Josh 

In Part 1, Coach Noah explained the why behind tearing, and offered some great tips for how to prevent tears and deal with them when they do happen. In Part 2, Coach Fox sat down with (i.e. emailed) CFSBK’s coaching staff recently about the topic. Here’s what the women on staff had to say about how to keep your hands from opening up and what to do about it if they do.

Fox: How often do you tear your hands or blister while doing CrossFit, and when is the last time you tore? 

Jess:  Sadly, I’ve torn fairly recently. Normally, I tear during high volume pull-ups WODs. I’ve also historically used a lot of chalk so I’m trying to cut back on that. 

Whit: I used to tear quite a lot, maybe once a month? Now, I rarely do. I was sure I would tear during “Murph” with high volume this year, but I have built up a bit of a tolerance by doing higher volume pull-ups more regularly and more Olympic lifting. Yay! Also… I got a weird blood blister thing recently, like a callous that wanted to tear/pop but didn’t quite, and luckily when that eventually came off there was a good layer of skin underneath. 

K Harpz: If I were to put a number on it, I would say about once every two months or less. Generally mine heal up pretty quickly too, unless that sucker is in the palm/crease of my hand. Those are the worst.

JB: I tear about two to three times per year, typically during high volume pull-up WODs. The last time I tore was during “Cindy.” 

MeLo: I honestly can’t recall the last time I tore. I think I’ve gotten good at 1) maintaining my leathery hands and taking care of them regularly and 2) recognizing when my calluses are on the verge of tearing during a workout and changing grip, slowing down, or stopping. The disruption a bad tear causes to training consistency isn’t worth it.

Fox: Have you stopped or modified a workout in order to not tear? 

Jess: Yes, recently I had to modify a 30-minute AMRAP with toes-to-bar because I knew that my hands couldn’t handle it. 

Whit: Yes, not recently, but after my first few tears, I realized it really wasn’t worth it to keep going if I knew I was about to tear. I would be in a lot of pain and end up having to modify my training for a week or so afterward, which is stupid and a potential loss of GAINZ!

K Harpz: Yes. In my opinion, a gnarly tear is not worth ruining your training week.

JB: Yes, but sometimes I get a little too gung-ho and ignore a tear (hence the two to three tears per year). Like Whit and HarpZ said, it’s never worth messing up a week of training.

MeLo: Yes, agree with the ladies above and refer to my answer to #1.

Fox: What is your routine to maintain your hands/calluses? Include stuff like home care as well as how you choose to grip a bar, chalk use, etc…

Jess: I use a pumice stone and foot file combo in the shower, but not as diligently as I should.

Whit: I use a pumice stone in the shower or right afterward, maybe two to three times a  week. I know it’s not ideal, but on high volume pull-up or toes-to-bar work, I use a thumbs-on-top monkey grip most of the time, and then alternate using thumbs-around grip here and there. I don’t use nearly as much chalk for that stuff as I used to… but I still use a decent amount, esp. for Olympic lifting. When gripping a bar for pulling (deadlift, clean, snatch), I try to line up the bar in the crease of my first knuckles, not in the middle of the palm of my hand. 

K Harpz: I like to grip the bar with my thumbs around, as close to the underbelly of my knuckles as possible. The less skin I bunch up in the palm of my hand, the less likely I am to tear. Once I start to notice callus buildup, I shave it down with a pumice stone after allowing my hand to soak in water/applying hand balm. I also have the tendency to chalk up as an excuse to rest, and am trying my best to kick that habit.

JB: I don’t do much hand care, unless picking at my calluses when I am bored or anxious counts. In workouts, I try to be diligent about grabbing the bar right under my knuckles and avoiding bunching up the skin in the middle of my hand (that’s where my worst tears always happen). For the most part, I wrap my thumbs underneath the bar. 

MeLo: I use a pumice stone in the shower regularly plus a callus remover/razor to shave down my calluses two times a month, then smooth them out with a pumice stone. For pull-ups, I tend to use a thumb-over grip to get better purchase on the bar, but that comes at the cost of skin bunching up and making you more susceptible to tears. If I haven’t been diligent about hand care, or if my hands feel at risk, I’ll use a thumb around grip with conscious effort to flatten out the skin on the bar so it doesn’t bunch (that sounds really gross). For barbells, I’ve only had a problem with my thumb using a hook grip, so I tape around my proximal phalange (aka, thumb).

Fox: How do you care for a torn callus or blister when it does happen?

Jess: I immediately wash my hands and cut off any loose skin. I apply an ointment like Aquaphor on the tear to keep it from drying out and then cover with a Band-Aid. I tend to keep it moist so that it doesn’t dry out and crack. Antibiotic ointments tend to dry the wound out so I reserve them for when a tear actually becomes infected, which shouldn’t happen if you keep it clean with soap and water. 

Whit: Wash hands immediately, cut away loose skin with clippers. I use a bit of bacitracin and cover with a Band-Aid for the first couple nights/days. Either keep using a little bacitracin or Aquaphor as it heals so it doesn’t keep splitting. 

K Harpz: Immediately disinfect/wash the area, take sterile manicure scissors, and cut back all of the dead skin. Apply Neosporin and leave the wound open as often as possible, generally I’ve found healing is optimal if it is moist and uncontained. (Unless I’m going on the subway and need to grab onto them slimy poles, of course.) I have Burt’s Bees Hand Balm but also have this stuff for rock climbers that I occasionally use. 

JB: I immediately wash my hands (so painful!) and cut away the loose skin. I’ll apply Neosporin and a Band-Aid. I generally keep a Band-Aid on until it heals.

MeLo: Same as the gals above.

Fox: Any other advice or thoughts you think would be helpful?

Jess:  Don’t have sissy hands like mine! But really, apply less chalk during WODs and try to grip the bar a little higher in the hand (fingers) instead of the palm. Don’t let calluses get big and out of control.

Whit: Gymnastics grips!!! These have made a huge difference for me in high volume workouts and training. I have torn so much less since I started using them.

K Harpz: I know how to make a cheap/reusable hand-wrap made of elastic self-adhering first aid tape. I find it doesn’t really mess up my grip and it adds a nice protective layer for a higher volume pull-up WOD. If anyone would like me to show them how it’s done, I’m happy to help anytime!

MeLo: Consistent hand care. Don’t let your calluses get so big that they get in the way of your training, file them down regularly and keep them smooth. If you feel a tear coming on in a workout, modify your grip, take the time to tape, or sub a different movement. 
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