Slight Change of Plans, DIESELS!

A couple weeks back, we contested the Dumbbell Snatch and I said that during the week of June 11th we would be contesting the Barbell Snatch.

I am changing that up, but it is for a VERY COOL REASON.

After this week, the next four weeks’ challenges will be WILD CARD events to qualify for the Wild Card spots at the North American Grip National Championship on July 16th, 2011.

ANYONE in North America can take part and instantly qualify, IF they win in just ONE of the FOUR wild card weeks.

Next week, the challenge will be the Two Hands Pinch. The Euro-Pinch device will not be necessary. Instead, two 35′s or 45′s or their kilogram counterparts can be used with a pipe through the middle. An entire video demonstration will be available on my YouTube Channel showing you exactly what to do.

IF YOU WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN THE NATION, BUT HAVE HAD NO QUALIFIERS NEAR YOU, THEN THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET TO NATIONALS.

That’s next week – let’s look at this week’s challenge!

This Week’s Challenge – Barbell Snatch

The Barbell Snatch is another OUTSTANDING drill for developing not only full body strength, power, and explosiveness, but also Grip Strength, as long as you don’t mess around with a hook grip or use straps (please don’t be that guy…)

The Barbell Snatch is great for athletes because it trains the core, is a posterior chain dominant, and it also requires the all-important triple extension of the ankles, knees, and hips, which is also present in jumping, leaping/bounding, and sprinting. So put this movement, or a variation, into your program on a routine basis to get the most benefit.

To perform the Barbell Snatch, load up a barbell and Snatch it overhead in one movement.

For the challenge, again, no hook grip or straps are allowed. A wrist wrap is fine for support and injury prevention and belts and chalk are also perfectly fine.

To see the Barbell Snatch in action, just play the video below.

The winner this week will be the one who Snatches the most weight the most times in one (1) minute. No press-outs will be counted. Also, the off-hand should be used to a minimum. My watchful eye will be checking this out. And again, no hook grip or straps!

Make sure you are getting quality reps. You should be locked out with one hand on the bar and feet in line. Any questionable reps will not be counted. I will begin the 1-minute time limit once you begin your first rep.

Get warmed up and get your best effort on film! Remember, any number of reps at a higher weight will beat any number of reps at a lower weight. So go heavy and go for time!

Let’s see those submissions, and please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in winning one off the Wild Card spots at Nationals for their Division, so they can participate next week.

All the best in your training.

Jedd

P.S. Get on the Strongman Training DVD Early Bird List. Put your name and email in the box below.

Similar Posts:

• Barbell Snatch Submissions
• Wild Card – Grip Strength Challenge – Qualify for Nationals
• Build Explosiveness & a Strong Grip with the Dumbbell Snatch!
• Block Set Gripper Wild Card Submissions
• Wild Card Qualifier – Two Hands Pinch

I can’t hold back any longer!  I am here to expose the Matrix.

Have you ever seen Keanu Reeves?  Yes, he rides a motorcycle.  Yes he has a band.  And yes, he has a very substantial beard.  I mean he could either be the 4th dude from ZZ Top, or rent the space in his beard for a butterfly or sparrow retreat.

This post is AWESOME!

I think I actually saw a biscuit fall out of it once.  But that is not the point.

The point is, this dude really expects us to believe that he was actually strong enough and limber enough to pull off those bullet dodging stunts?

Well sir, you haven’t fooled me!

I have recently uncovered this never-before-seen, undoctored pic of Keanu on the set of the matrix.  It clearly shows that Mr. Reeves was in fact performing these very mobile stunts while on a swiss ball!

Ah ha!  I caught you!

After this really cool intro, let’s really get into it.

Real Swiss Ball Training

I have recently done a ton of research on how to improve the mobility of my athletes.  In fact, I think I have some pretty important ideas that I will document over the course of the upcoming months.

My biggest influences have been in no particular order:

- Frank Shamrock

- Mike Robertson and Eric Cressey

- Scott Sonnon

_____________________________________________________________

Mike and Eric for their important work with Magnificent Mobility.  Mobility was an essential part of the AMD structure and it all started with them opening my eyes to how important mobility is.

Definition of Mobility (my informal definition, yes you can quote me) - ability to freely move through the intended motion for all movements or exercise without restrictions and have strength and stability throughout this range of motion.

What is the difference between mobility and flexibility? Flexibility implies range of motion.  But it does not imply strength in this extended range of motion.

Flexibility can be enhanced with static stretching.  But mobility exercises not only improve  range of motion of a joint, but also activates the engaged musculature during the movement.

A win-win.

Both static stretching and mobility drills have their place in a strength program.  And therefore both should be used.

Prior to a workout, the CNS must be charged and excited and your core temperature must be increased.  Mobility drills can accomplish this very effectively when used in conjunction with SMR and activation work.  All of these are an essential part of a thorough warm-up.

That is why Mike and Eric’s product is so important.

Now on to Scott and Shamrock.

A while ago I came across a video of Shamrock using a swiss ball for his mobility drills.  I really loved the concept for many reasons.

The swiss ball used in this manner will:

• improve full body mobility; ankles, hips, thoracic spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists
• improve proprioception and kinesthetic awareness
• promote fascial raking and effective “sensory” activation
• become ONE part of a great warm-up (SMR, Mobility, Activation, Warm-up) that is relaxing and fun
• be great for transitioning for combat athletes

This led into my ongoing discovery of Scott Sonnon’s work.    All of these “mentors” have shaped and are continuing to shape my ever changing view of movement.

Enjoy.

Post your comments about your own mobility work AND how you felt after trying this new drill.

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