The rack
Brutality and salvation live in a rack in the gym. God has proven that one cannot exist without the other.
We fake confidence all day while we avoid true friendship. True friends are honest and honest usually hurts. Fake friends don’t even notice counterfeit confidence. They are too busy creating their own false persona to see through ours. At least the rack is honest. Racks don’t accept the invented version of ourselves that has sold well all day. They breed honesty by allowing freedom, forcing position, and solidifying commitment. If you don’t have the balls to leave it all at the rack, you will lose.
Racks are tight even though there is plenty of room. When it gets heavy, they feel even smaller. When things get real, their metal gets sharp. When we believe we are weak, they agree….painfully. When we accept our strength…they reward.
I stepped in the rack. The only window, dirty from decades of dirt, allowed a glimmer of fresh light to bounce off the sweat that crept up the walls like hard work wallpaper. Naturally, as if I was a bolt getting tightened, I tensed every muscle I knew I had, some that I didn’t. “There you are”, I said, that thing I missed all day-me. I looked up, I sank my heels into a dark floor resembling a slaughterhouse. The killing floor that murders the weak versions of us….yesterdays version. I raised my chin and in that rack for a fraction of a second, I forgot….everything.
Strength:
Jerk
1×3@70%
1×3@75%
1×2@80%
2×2@85%
Strength/Skill:
-Weighted strict pull-up AHAP
-Kipping handstand push-up
Alternating EMOM 10 Minutes
*Choose a rep range and weight that allows for quality reps, and perfect technique. No more than (8) reps on each round of pull-ups. HSPU are to be cyclical and pretty.
-Pick a skill to kill
(10) minutes
Post impression to comments.
Quote from Doug after reading this….
“Wow, sometimes Josh just sets me back…his post tonight its just awesome.”
Tell the big man I said thanks.
22/28
8/16m (ab mat/10#plate)
big classes are fun, but i must admit for the umpteenth time…i dig the opportunity small classes provide to really work one-on-one w people who want to get better. 9am was a blessing for sure today.
Kelly…thank you for your always bright hello and smile. you made awesome progress on your jerk technique today and even more on overcoming your fear of it. gotta master the basics. we add weight next time.
Cassie…as always, your drive impresses me. the improvements you made to your hspu form today will keep you safer in the future despite your frustration today. a little re-training of the brain and you’ll be back.
Tyrone…i so appreciate the genuine, content, and calm spirit your project. i believe i can learn a lot from you. your hspus will also be safer going forward…and you’re gonna beat ME to mastering that new starting position!
Coby…cool to watch you getting stronger. your food/training experiment’s working. and it’s always good to co-train with you.
11/14
5:30 you were so much fun tonight. Lots of firsts…
Nck did his first ever pull ups with bands, and his first headstand.
Cindy attempted hspu for the first time and I know she’s gonna get em once she puts it all together.
Paul did hspu with an ab mat and plate after kicking into locked out handstand for th first time ever.
Love skill days for these reasons. Smoke times you just need to slow down and work things out til ya get em. Good work everyone!
Cindy and Paul…I missed these moments this evening. Awesome.
20 pull ups (banded), 7 head stands, both a first for me!