Press
20+5 rest pause w/140 took ten deep breaths
Lateral Raises
25×2½s
Press
6×185
Lateral Raises
30×2½s
SLDL
10×185
…..
12/19/22
It’s too easy to be big, strong…and stiff.
You gotta move, play, do athletic things.
I’d been reading of Doug Hepburn.
Noticing the commonality of these brutally strong men, he, Bert Assirati, Paul Anderson – one and all capable of handstand pushups.
Also recently having read of an early 1900s wrestler doing 100yd handstand walks, plus recalling a reading of as heavyweight boxer (Archie Moore?) doing much the same.
Handstands have been on the mind between reading of these feats, and recalling how at the end of 2020/start of 2021 treating handstand work as a 7+ hour/week hobby, and into summer 2021 still incorporating a bit daily – saw me nearly locking out a full freestanding handstand pushup weighing somewhere in the mid 200lbs.
All this leading to an hour or so after the lift my kicking up into maybe eight handstand attempts.
Two were good lengths of time, especially considering I had not kicked into one in months, nor had I been in a period of consistently practicing for them in 1½-2 years.
It’s not something I ever considered baked in.
…..
This was something of relearning “There’s More To Strength Than Lifting Weights 101”, while at the same time a bit of a display of the “what the hell” effect most usually found online as reference to kettlebells.
Kettlebells, of which just today a 90lb titan one was sold out right from under me as I hit add to cart – maybe I am not gifting myself any equipment for The Cold Air Barbell Club for Christmas this year, which I am taking as a sign that 2023 shall be more clean and press alongside much more handstand work.
And though both prowler sprints and stair climbers call my name as gym dues requiring indoor (coddled warmth) cardio, as I sat outside I instinctively felt “the majority of the fit through human history did not require such sissy conveniences – you shall make do without”.
It pleases me to see that the thought which I have just typed above is my brain going to where my cousin has complimentarily called my “inner conan the barbarian”.
I had needed to have the rougher circumstance for my passionate pursuit of fitness.
That’s one of the past year’s lessons.
Maybe my cousin (the same as above) will meet me with his truck in an empty parking lot for to push said vehicle around.
We have not met up for such a manly unnecessarily laborious activity in years.
…..
I have a sneaking suspicion that nothing will hypertrophy the upper body, turning it into one solid unit, like freestanding handstand pushups, handstand walks, combined with a big clean and press.
Handstand = big upper body.
Big c&p requires big, strong thighs.
The two compliment and feed into each other.
…..
For 2023 :
•freestanding handstand pushup
•handstand walk a football field
•backflip?
These can be practiced just about anywhere.
No gym is a blessing!
Without one, I have to get…athletic.
If Doug Hepburn was good at handstand work, so can I!
……
kicking into the handstands to
jason derulo – ridin solo
which took me back over a decade to an interesting mind state – where I was smashing the weights with uninhibited joy, laughing at life’s pain, chin up, eyes a sparkle, smiling, looking to an unknown and hopeful future
I was jogging in place between kick ups – reminded me of how I enjoy doing burpees – ahh, tennis court workout ideas – here I come
Persistence & Tenacity