10/13/19 Funny Leg Training Anecdote @ Planet Fitness

10/13/19 ~145pm

“Putting on a clinic marching to the beat of my own drum” – “Let’s Go” by Johnny Richter

Squatting in the smith machine is a bastardized combination of the leg press and a true barbell squat. That angle makes it feel like an angled leg press sled but across the shoulders, awkward like a hack squat machine. I approached the lift as if I was truly hitting a heavy squat single,and locked out with full power, a violent hip thrust, after getting through the midway sticking point.

While the smith machine feels heavier to me than a barbell, 3p25 (3 45s + 25) a side isn’t much weight at the top… blasting through lockout and coming up on my toes with power that shocked myself I tilted the entire machine forward towards the mirror.

I’d guess the back came off the floor betwen 3-6in. “Thunk!” As it came back to its normal resting position.

I can only imagine what the college chick using dumbbells behind me was thinking witnessing this (“Holy shit! Wow, he can thrust hard!” – her thoughts). No “lunk alarm” either, Sunday desk was mostly new staff and chill.

Not today. Violent displays of hip power resulting in partially lifted smith machines ≠ Lunk Alarm at least at my home club.

Whatever I’ve been doing (no specific gym leg work, incidentals from the wrestlers bridge, plus regular horse stance, and some hindu squats) is working. It was like the time I nearly put a hole in my Vegas apartment’s hallway wall wedged in doing a leg press isometric.

And so I ask again, who needs a barbell?

-J

Persistence & Tenacity