Last week Rob U (pictured left) called out to the CFSBK community to help teach kids to code at ps/ms 282 in Park Slope. Alex, Jim, Asha and Dan answered the call! So cool!

Holiday Schedule

Tuesday the 24th (Christmas Eve): No Active Recovery, no 8:30pm class. Otherwise normal.
Wednesday the 25th (Christmas): Only 9am and 10am Group Classes
Thursday the 26th: Normal Schedule

Tuesday the 31st (New Years Eve): No 7:30 or 8:30pm Classes. Otherwise normal schedule
Wednesday the 1st (New Years Day): No 6a,7a,8a or 10a Classes. We’ll still have a noon class PLUS an extra 1pm Group class and then a normal evening schedule.

So Close To a Pull-Up..

Are you “So Close” to a pull-up? Do you feel like it’s within reach but has still eluded you despite your most sincere efforts? Below are three things I think will help folks who are close to pulling body weight get over the bar.

Start with Chin-Ups
Chin-ups are easier than pull-ups and you’re more likely to get your first chin-up sooner than your first pull-up so it’s a pretty good place to start. In my experience once a couple chins have been developed the pull-up magically shows up a lot faster. That being said, both versions are totally legit and huge milestones for anyone who didn’t have them before.  Chins are also easier for people to organize well. The upper arm is already rotated into a more stable position and the last few inches over the bar usually involve less neck craning and wiggling. Once you can do about 3-5 chin-ups you’ll be a Lot closer (if not already there) to the pull-up. When performing chin-ups, keep your hands just inside shoulder width and imagine pulling the bar down to your chest, not pulling yourself up to it. That cue usually helps people fire the upper back and pull the elbows posteriorly during the ascent, both good things.

Keep The Reps Low
If you’re struggling to get your first pull-up, your muscles experience the effort as a near maximal exertion.  You’re going for something that you’ll only be able to do 1 rep of (right now), so when we train to develop our first pull-up a lot of our reps should look and feel pretty similar.  Several doubles or singles with just enough resistance to clear the bar is better than high volume sets of 5 or 10 with much more assistance. If you were a 1 rep max obsessed lifter, you wouldn’t spend all your time doing sets of 5 and 10, you’d perform submax singles, doubles and triples more often to get your body ready for the effort.  Here are two examples of productive training sessions:

7 sets of 1 rep with ample rest
5 sets of 2-3 reps with ample rest

“Ample Rest” could be anywhere from a minute to three minutes depending on how much you require to get another successful rep. Because this is going to be a strain, make sure to warm-up with some ring rows and more heavily assisted pull-ups. 2-3 sets of 5 reps should be sufficient.

When you’re scaling workouts, use the lowest volume option possible. 20 Kipping pull-ups as Rxd on the workout might be 5 chin-ups for you. That component of the workout won’t have anywhere near the same conditioning effect but depending on your goals that might be okay.

That being said, a little volume isn’t a bad thing. Just remember that if you want to get a pull-up you’ve got to train in a way that feels similar to your goal.

Resistance Matters
While the big jump-stretch bands can be a valuble tool in this process, they shouldn’t the only or even the majority of assistance you use. In my opinion, having a good spotter is ideal. Someone who knows how to give you just enough help to make you finish the rep without any jerky movement, uneven assistance or too much pushing. You’ve got good hands on you if you never get “stuck” anywhere in the rep but still work really hard at the most difficult positions (the very top and the first few inches at the bottom). The range of motion should be smooth and you should be able maintain good organization throughout. Another option is using a band just below what you can do on your own and having a partner gently push you through the finish. Depending on the size, height and strength of everyone involved, sometimes this is a more practical solution and can lead to better spotting. If you’re working with someone who is not a coach or giving you too much/too little/weird help, tell them what you feel and work together to make it better. One major problem with bands alone is that at the top of a rep you’re getting the least help since the band tension decreases as you ascend.  If you’re flying solo, choose a band that helps you get all the way over the bar, not just enough so that when you reach your chin can barely make it over the bar. That’s a no rep.

Hopefully these three tips can help you find some success with getting your first pull-up. Make your goal to not only do it, but do it well. If you train smart in the beginning and pay attention to your neck and shoulder positions you’ll develop a solid foundation to build off of. If you make your emphasis simply getting any sliver of your chin over the bar, things will be a lot slower and less awesome for you.  To see exactly what I’m talking about, watch this MobilityWOD: Stop The Pull-Up Chicken Necking People

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Women, Body Image, and the Media: A New Emphasis
Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TED
Pregnant Weightlifter Stirs Debate NYT
NSA mass phone surveillance programme ‘unconstitutional’ BBC

Fitness: 3×5 Across
Should still be moving quick today. You’ll be adding weight for 5 more weeks

Performance: 2×5, 1xMax Reps <10
Start cycle at 70% of 1RM. Add 2.5-5lbs each week.

Post loads to comments.
Bench Press e2/6
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16 Minute On The Minute Mash-Up
Even Minutes: :30 Max reps Burpees
Odd Minutes: :30 Max reps Kettlebell Swings

Post total Burpees and Kettlebell Swings to comments.

Congratulations to yesterday’s Strength Cycles on their performance at the CrossFit Total
Check out Becca W‘s leaderboard topping Squat at 280lbs here!

• Congrats to Luca and Elisa on their engagement!
• Looking forward to the 2014 Look, Feel, Perform Better Challenge? Coach Fox will be holding an info session on Sunday the 29th at 5pm.

Inside The Affiliate: New Article

Coach DO has a new blog entry on “Inside The Affiliate” about how we run lifting segments. ITA is a free, open source blog for the CrossFit community dedicated to sharing what we’ve learned running an affiliate for six years. If you like it, please share it with your CrossFit friends on Facebook and help spread the word!

Finish this sentence: “I wish the path to elite fitness was actually….”
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The Neuroscience of Internet Addiction
27 Surreal Places To Visit Before You Die
California Strength: Train Hard

Fitness:

Performance:

6 Total Rounds for time of:
500m Row
5 Muscle-Ups
25 Air Squats
3 Muscle-Ups

Partners will alternate per round until each person completes 3 full rounds. Be aware of how long each round takes you, try to stay consistent or drop time each interval.

Post total time, partner and Rx to comments.

Mare L, Mike F, Coach Jess, Coach Fox, Alan L, Coach Mcdowell and Ellie JM after yesterday’s CrossFit Hoboken Winter Challenge

CrossFit Total Today!

Come see Coach Jeremy’s Strength Cyclers perform a CrossFit Total today at 1:30pm.  This cummulates the past 8 weeks of training as each lifter attemps 1RMs in the Back Squat, Press and Deadlift.  Gym records may be broken today!
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Cigarettes, Roids and Switching Regions with Dan Bailey CrossFit
Epke Zonderland Wins Artistic Men’s Horizontal Bar Gold

Fitness: Clean Segment Deadlift + Hang Power Clean + FSQ + Power Jerk

Performance: Clean Segment Deadlift + Hang Squat Clean + Power Jerk
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Front Squat

Fitness:3×3 Across

Performance: Work up to a Heavy 5

Post loads to comments.
C&J/FSQ e1/6

Barbell Warm-Ups.
Doug J, on the right here will be trading BK for Austin at the end of the month. We’ll miss you, DJ!!

• Good luck to Coaches Fox, Lady Fox and Mcdowell as well as Ellie JM, Mike F, Mare L and Alan L competing in the CrossFit Hoboken Winter Challenge today!

Other Stuff We Sell

Did you know we recently got in new CFSBK THERMALS!!!Check them out at the Front Desk next time you’re at the gym. We also sell a few other things beyond clothing and memberships. Check out the list below and see if you can’t benefit from picking up one of these items.

Becoming a Supple Leopard: $35
The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury and Optimizing Athletic Performance. Dr. Kelly Starrett’s textbook on how to perform all the movements we do at CrossFit, a template for understanding movement restrictions and tons of mobilizations you can do to help get you into better positions and increase performance. 400 pages with full color photos. 

Lacrosse Balls: $2
You have no excuses to not own at LEAST one lacross ball. This is the “fine brush” in your mobilization tool box.  There are countless ways to inflict some soft tissue love (hate) on yourself with these guys. Great for sore muscles, adhesions and general stiffness. Great stocking stuffers!

Fish Oil: $35
Magnesium: $25
Vitamin D: $15
Or, purchase all three for $70
Balance out your Omegas, decrease inflammation, stay happy in the winter, defeat your enemies and look better naked. Nuff said.

Private Training: Variable
People often consider themselves to be either a group class member OR someone that does Personal Training.  Group class members should consider some once off or even semi regular private training to develop skills, trouble shoot movement issues and understand how to accomplish their goals. On top of our packages, we also offer 1/2 hour sessions for $55 and single hour sessions for $90. 

CFSBK Stickers: Free

Represent!
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Great cycling video or.. the GREATEST cycling video?

The inagural Active Recovery class in the upstairs expansion!

CrossFit Masters Petition

Here is an online petition for regionals for masters.  Last year there was some issues with masters games competitors who seemed unable to do some basic movements.  I signed it and perhaps others at CFSBK would also.   Thanks a lot, –Bob S

Dude, Where’s my 1RM?

By Coach Jeremy 

Everyone has had the experience:  it’s the 2nd attempt of a Crossfit total or your working up to a new 1RM on singles day, you load up the bar with a weight equal to you your existing 1RM, you get psyched up, unrack the bar, go into the hole, and……nothing.  It doesn’t come back up.  Why?  Did you get weaker?  Are you doing something wrong?  Why can’t you do what you’ve already done?

Think of a 1RM not so much as a measure of strength capacity but as an act of strength performance.  Veteran lifters will speak of owning a weight versus hitting a weight.  Owning a weight means that you can get under a bar just about anytime you want and move that weight (assuming a proper warm-up and having not done back-to-back hero WOD’s that week).  Hitting a weight is a much less reproducible feat.  It means that on a day where you felt good, were well rested, timed your eating properly, had your weight belt sitting just right, heavenly bodies were aligned properly, and you managed not to fuck anything up,  you were able to squeeze out a higher weight than ever before. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a weight that you have only hit isn’t something that you can just do on command.  It’s an act of strength and will; repeating it doesn’t just happen.  No sprinter expects to hit a PR every time they run a given distance, not in competition and especially not in training.  There is no reason to just assume that every time you get under a barbell you’re going to PR.

We should also consider that not every one’s best event in lifting is the 1RM.  Consider again, sprinting.  All sprinters are fast, that’s why they are sprinters.  However sprinters have different specialties, some are better in a 60m dash, others are better at the quarter mile.  If we took a random group of sprinters and tested their best times at a series of distances, say 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m, we would probably find that the rankings would look very similar across the events: the faster runners would tend to do well at all of them.  However, you would also expect to see some shuffling of rankings based upon the individual strengths of the sprinters.  Some are better at accelerating, some run the turns well, some finish well, etc. To bring this back to lifting, imagine a group of powerlifters from the same weight class.  If you tested their 1RM, 3RM, and 5RM squat you would see something very similar:  The strongest lifters would tend to be at the the top of each ranking, however you would also see some move up or down the leader board as the reps changed based upon their individual characteristics.  This is relevant to us because the better you are at an event, the 3RM versus the 1RM for instance, the more likely you are able to reproduce your best effort.  We should test our strength at 3RM’s and 5RM’s for precisely the same reason that Track and Field tests more than just the 100m dash as a measure of speed.

Weighlifting, Powerlifting and Crossfit Total’s are all tests of 1RM. This isn’t because 1RM’s are magical, it’s just that they are easier to quantify, they are the highest weights (and everyone wants to see big weights), so they lend themselves to being tested. All this being said there is certainly nothing wrong with going after 1RM’s and when game day comes, you want to break some records. Set yourself up for success by working hard at a good program, resting up in the days leading to the event and getting your head inside your lift when you get under the bar.  Once the day’s lifting is over, let it go.  A sprinter isn’t suddenly slow on the day they don’t PR; you’re not weak on the day you don’t either.  Allow for the fact that not everyday you try to PR is going to be the perfect day to demonstrate that amount of strength.

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Competitive Teeter-Tottering
Nutrition in the NBA; Part II: Paleo diet takes hold for myriad reasons
15K-Square-Foot Indoor Tennis Center Planned for Gowanus
Donny Shankle, Attention to Detail

15-9-6 Reps For Time of:
Barbell Thrusters, 165/110
Chest to Bar Pull-Ups

Post time and Rx to comments.

Behind The Desk: Jaclyn Kahn

Here is the next installment in our new series called Behind the Desk, about our beloved and much appreciated Front Desk staff. These CrossFitters take care of the important duties of checking in our members, handling walk-ins, tidying up after classes, and so many other things that it would take forever to list them. They are the glue that holds this gym together.

Full name: Jaclyn Kahn

Where were you born and where did you grow up:
Born in NJ (please don’t judge), grew up half in Jersey and half in Manhattan

First album that you loved:
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik

What are you up to when you’re not at 597 Degraw Street:
Teaching yoga around Brooklyn and Manhattan

“Ask me about that time I…”:
Met a Bedouin in Petra

Earth is about to implode but aliens on a previously undiscovered planet named Euripides want to preserve one artifact from humans. What would you offer them?
I really don’t know.. maybe a toilet bowl? A computer is so obvious and a newspaper or diary won’t really last too long as it’s made of paper.

Favorite shade of blue:
Midnight blue

Favorite lift:
Deadlift

Snatch Complex

By: Chris Fox
FYI Gang – I think the snatch is the coolest thing you can do with a barbell. Yesterday’s snatch work was not meant to set a new snatch PR, or really even come close (unless you’re a brand new newb). Most people were probably (or should have been) working in the 70-85% range. The positions and pauses are meant to slow you down so you can ingrain them for when you do pull at full speed again. It’s about taking the bar off the floor in a controlled manner so you can pull it to the position it needs to be to execute a beautiful and ferocious snatch, which of course is the end goal. If the first pull (off the floor) is rushed, if the back angle is not held consistent (by picking the chest up too soon) until the mid-hang, if the bar doesn’t come from the mid-hang through the hips (by moving the knees forward too soon) in the power position…all of these faults will likely result in a missed lift (usually forward,) or even worse an ugly pressed out snatch-type-thing. Nobody wants to practice crappy movement. We’re here to move better each week, and there can be a lot of progress made in that regard at lower weights. We’ll be seeing position work and some pauses throughout this cycle. Be patient, young padawan. You should add enough weight to have some feedback from the bar but not enough that you can’t maintain positions and perform a proper snatch.

Three cheers to the snatch!
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Happy Birthday, Coach Fox!

Fitness:  Snatch Segment Deadlift (1″ off floor, Knee, Mid Hang) + Hang Power Snatch + OHS
Try to catch the power snatch in a quarter squat, stabalize the load then proceed into the rest of the overhead squat. Only recover the bar after the power snatch if you need to adjust your feet or position. Only go as deep as you can organize properly in the overhead squat.

Performance: Snatch Segment Deadlift (1″ off floor, Knee, Mid Hang) + Mid Hang Snatch
The first part of this complex can develop awarness of balance and tension during the initial pull off the floor. Focus on speed under the bar for the high hang snatch.
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Back Squat

Fitness: 3×5 Across
Leave room to grow, today’s reps should feel like there is weight on the bar but you’re moving perfectly and not grinding. Reset 1-3 exposures from the last cycle if you need to reset.

Performance: Work up to a heavy 5

Post loads to comments.
Snatch/BSQ e1/6

DIY Cash Out – 21-15-9 Heavy Russian KB Swing (breathing rest) + 550m Run

Partner Yoga at CrossFit South Brooklyn

• Coming in 2014: Mat Pilates classes with Kristen H, Evening Yoga with Whitney H and More Active Recovery! Get stoked.
• There is a new post up on Coach DO’s blog, “Inside The Affiliate“. It’s a blog post about how to blog, very meta. Please share it with your besties.

Kettlebell Kitchen at CFSBK!

Want to make eating healthy Paleo meals easier? Check out our in house paleo partners, Kettlebell Kitchen– your go to for Paleo & Zone meals! Food for CrossFitters by CrossFitters, Kettlebell Kitchen is an easy & convenient way to get top notch nutrition delivered right to the box. We’ve tasted the food ourselves, and we think it’s great!

The complete menu, along with ingredient lists and nutrition facts can be found here: MENU
Ordering instructions and FAQs can be found here: FAQs

Do you order from Kettlebell Kitchen? What have been your experiences? What is your favorite meal?
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Charmel R, Chris D, Pierre M, Bob S, Keith W and Jay R at this weekends Masters competition at CrossFit North Haven

Overall, really fun time.  Was a privilege to compete with Chris, Keith, Charmel, Pierre and Bob.  Huge props to Josh for coming out, getting us all warmed up to compete and for his great coaching and cues during the WODs.

That said . . . a great experience.  Wouldn’t mind trying something like this again at some point.  Big ups to Bob who took home the title in his age bracket – Jay R

Fitness: 3×5 Across
Start cycle light enough to add weight for six weeks

Performance: 2×5, 1xMax Reps <10
Start cycle at 70% of 1RM

Post loads to comments.
Bench Press e1/6
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Fitness:

3 Rounds for max reps:
1 Minute V-Ups or Tuck Ups
1 Minute Burpees or Squat Thrusst
1 Minute Dumbbell Hang Power Snatch
1 minute Rest

Performance:

3 Rounds for max reps:
1 Minute Toes to Bars
1 Minute Burpees
1 Minute Dumbbell Power Snatch @33% of bodyweight
1 minute Rest

For both Performance and Fitness, alternate arms per rep on Snatches.

Post total reps and Rx to comments.

DROMz

Heavy Thoughts: Part 2

We recently asked how you guys and gals structure your thoughts before attempting a complex or demanding lift. Last time we talked about the importance of having a ritual. Here is part 2 in our coaching tips to help you optimize your mental training experience.

Cultivate Confidence
Whether you realize it or not, every time you go to pick up something heavy you’re going into a fight. At near max efforts your margin of error becomes paper thin and even a little self doubt can can mean the difference between an epic PR or an epic fail.  I’ve seen so many people week in and week out miss even light weights because they didn’t trust themselves. They hesitated and subsequently didn’t commit to the lift. An experienced lifter knows that at a certain point, you’ve simply got to shut up and go for it.  The analysis is over and it’s time for action.  Sometimes this manifests as a floor stopping, adrenaline filled pre-lift ritual and sometimes it’s a quiet confidence that’s attained. Either way, you want to fill your mind with simple positive reinforcement and visualize yourself being successful (more on that later). Try to channel how it’s going to feel hitting that weight as if you already did it before touching the bar. Developing confidence is both a skill and integral part of your technical development. A slight hesitation can be just as crippling as shifting forward while you snatch, either way, you’re going to blow the lift. Start by practicing your confidence with your warm-up weights and be mindful about how your mentality changes as the weight goes up.  Will you keep up with the weight or let it roll you over?

How do you establish pre-lift confidence?
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Powerlifting: The Mentality Mark Bell
The power of adrenaline: Man lifts car off 3 year old boy
History of the Turkish Get Up CrossFit Belair

5 Rounds NFT of:
5ea Windmills
10 H2H Swings
5ea Lunge (contra-lateral load)
10ea H2H Swing
5ea Thrusters

Post load to comments.

• There is no Comp Class today
• Good luck to Chris P, Charmel R, Bob S, Jay R and Keith W at the  Christmas Throwdown today at CrossFit North Haven.

Our Upcoming Cycle

Monday starts the new mesocycle of training at CFSBK. Here’s what to look forward to…

Monday – Bench Press + WOD or NFT

Tuesday – Rest Day/Make Up Day

Wednesday – Snatch + Back Squat + DIY Cash Out

Thursday – WOD

Friday – Rest Day/Make Up Day

Saturday – Clean and Jerk + Front Squat

Sunday – WOD

The goals of the cycle are to:

• Continue to improve proficiency in the Olympic lifts

• Incoporate a barbell based upper body strength lift

• Continue to incorporate longer, challenging WODs

• Continue to squat 2x/week

• Include a gymnastics based skill/strength in WODs each week

• Consistently incorporate lunge variant to bring up unilateral leg strength

This next cycle will lead right into the Open, where we’ll put more of an emphasis on work capacity. Expect to see this cycle dovetail into the goals of the next.

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Twitching Gym Jones
Double-Under Positioning CrossFit
CrossFit trainer will be PHL’s first astronaut
Bloomberg Defends NYPD’s Controversial Stop And Kiss Program