Comments on: Swings – The Harder the Better http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/ Strength: noun. the ability to overcome. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:37:05 -0400 hourly 1 By: Russ Moon http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Russ Moon Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:30:11 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-586 TGU - My shoulders really feel good like they opened up from the inside. The tension pumps and warms them up. Having to concentrate alot on sucking my shoulder into the socket and keeping it there vs reaching and extending shoulder up and out of the socket but catching that more. I like the beauty of the flow from one set of muscles to the next. The part that is giving me the most challenge is ...and excuse my terminology here please...the transition of the leg opposite the side holding the bell where you are moving from the "bridge" position to the lunge on the way up. My hips are I think a bit tight, but not an expert just my guess. That's why I put the goblet squats after the TGU's to try to pry them apart just a little more. Getting the 90 degree angle but having to do the "wiper" movement sometimes to get the back leg straight and in alignment with the front leg bent knee 90 degree on the side holding the bell. Working hard during the palm to bridge transition to create that straight line. But considering I couldn't beg, borrow or steal even one good rep a month ago 6 aside with 16 kg and 2 a side with 24kg were new high water marks. Feeling it all through my abs, shoulders, hips, thighs...I like it and liking it more as my technique improves. I don't have the number of reps under my belt as I have with some of the other exercises so will continue to focus on practicing it as a form almost like a martial arts kata vs. redlining myself. But the extra reps are there so I am not getting greedy so I can be safe and just taking one more each time with the hope that over time I will hone my technique and those +1 reps will add up. The TGU is a keeper for me and I will keep a continuous place in my rotation for it. Staying patient but anxious to see how the full body conditioning and power will translate when I go back full metal jacket to the dual cleans, snatches and presses...but holding off on those until the end of the month and pouring all I have into the Program Minimum. Thank you for asking. TGU – My shoulders really feel good like they opened up from the inside. The tension pumps and warms them up. Having to concentrate alot on sucking my shoulder into the socket and keeping it there vs reaching and extending shoulder up and out of the socket but catching that more.

I like the beauty of the flow from one set of muscles to the next. The part that is giving me the most challenge is …and excuse my terminology here please…the transition of the leg opposite the side holding the bell where you are moving from the “bridge” position to the lunge on the way up. My hips are I think a bit tight, but not an expert just my guess. That’s why I put the goblet squats after the TGU’s to try to pry them apart just a little more. Getting the 90 degree angle but having to do the “wiper” movement sometimes to get the back leg straight and in alignment with the front leg bent knee 90 degree on the side holding the bell. Working hard during the palm to bridge transition to create that straight line. But considering I couldn’t beg, borrow or steal even one good rep a month ago 6 aside with 16 kg and 2 a side with 24kg were new high water marks. Feeling it all through my abs, shoulders, hips, thighs…I like it and liking it more as my technique improves. I don’t have the number of reps under my belt as I have with some of the other exercises so will continue to focus on practicing it as a form almost like a martial arts kata vs. redlining myself. But the extra reps are there so I am not getting greedy so I can be safe and just taking one more each time with the hope that over time I will hone my technique and those +1 reps will add up.

The TGU is a keeper for me and I will keep a continuous place in my rotation for it. Staying patient but anxious to see how the full body conditioning and power will translate when I go back full metal jacket to the dual cleans, snatches and presses…but holding off on those until the end of the month and pouring all I have into the Program Minimum.

Thank you for asking.

]]> By: GEOFFN http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-582 GEOFFN Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:08:59 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-582 Dustin - Yeah, it's pretty crazy what happens when you limit your focus. McNiff - Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how this works too. I am feeling much stronger overall, even though I'm using lighter weights, than I have in a very long time. Russ - Being "strong like bull" is what it's all about! Glad the tips worked and your Swing cleaned up. How'd the GUs feel? Dustin – Yeah, it’s pretty crazy what happens when you limit your focus.

McNiff – Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing how this works too. I am feeling much stronger overall, even though I’m using lighter weights, than I have in a very long time.

Russ – Being “strong like bull” is what it’s all about! Glad the tips worked and your Swing cleaned up. How’d the GUs feel?

]]> By: Russ Moon http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-579 Russ Moon Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:47:05 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-579 TGU 16 kg 1 X 6 reps l/r arm TGU 24 kg 1 X 2 reps l/r arm Goblet Squat 16 kg 3 x 30 Goblet Squat Beast 1 x 5 TGU 16 kg 1 X 6 reps l/r arm
TGU 24 kg 1 X 2 reps l/r arm

Goblet Squat 16 kg 3 x 30
Goblet Squat Beast 1 x 5

]]> By: Russ Moon http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-577 Russ Moon Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:45:04 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-577 "Many of us know that if there is a problem or technical issue with any exercise, its roots can usually be traced back to the Swing." - I did not and now do not feel so dumb about robotically refusing to pass go until I get the form down on these basic exercises. 2 Arm Swing with Beast - took your cue Geoff and accelerated the backswing almost like a VO2 max snatch. Stopped more of the power leakage on the upswing by locking my knee cap in and it felt different but I think it was higher quality. Definitely aggressively pulling the bell back made it harder...thank you for that expert tip. Sorry if my terms are wrong feel free to correct with the party endorsed terminology. No they aren't "entertainment" but they do make you feel strong like a bull :) 240 reps in 30 minutes form began to erode so I stopped. “Many of us know that if there is a problem or technical issue with any exercise, its roots can usually be traced back to the Swing.” – I did not and now do not feel so dumb about robotically refusing to pass go until I get the form down on these basic exercises.

2 Arm Swing with Beast – took your cue Geoff and accelerated the backswing almost like a VO2 max snatch. Stopped more of the power leakage on the upswing by locking my knee cap in and it felt different but I think it was higher quality. Definitely aggressively pulling the bell back made it harder…thank you for that expert tip. Sorry if my terms are wrong feel free to correct with the party endorsed terminology. No they aren’t “entertainment” but they do make you feel strong like a bull :)

240 reps in 30 minutes form began to erode so I stopped.

]]> By: Mike McNiff, II http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-576 Mike McNiff, II Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:34:37 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-576 Geoff, I'm really enjoying your account of the program minimum. Looking forward to reading about your improvements when you get back under the bar. Geoff, I’m really enjoying your account of the program minimum. Looking forward to reading about your improvements when you get back under the bar.

]]> By: Dustin Lebel http://chasingstrength.com/swings-the-harder-the-better/comment-page-1/#comment-574 Dustin Lebel Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:15:56 +0000 http://chasingstrength.com/?p=222#comment-574 Good stuff, Geoff. You inspired me to do the program minimum for the month of December, and I'm having similar experiences using just a 24. Boring = results! Good stuff, Geoff. You inspired me to do the program minimum for the month of December, and I’m having similar experiences using just a 24. Boring = results!

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