I added a page a while back to my Kettlebell Blog about my top 10 Kettlebell Videos on youtube, many because they had a lot of views and some because they were my favourite feats of strength.
I have most likely put most of my time on these feats of strength too, especially the Bottoms Up Kettlebell Press (BUP) and I also spent a helluva lot of time trying to flip 2 42.5kg kettlebells at the same time (video suggests they are 40kg but actual weight is 42.5kg) although this doesn’t appear on my TOP 10 it probably should have
I spent last weekend in London for the Great River Race, in which my wife Rache competed in a four person crew in a ‘Scarborough Gig’ coastal rowing boat.
She spent all her University years rowing on the Ouse for Ripon & York St John uni and has recently made the transition to Scarborough ARC to Coastal rowing, which is much different than river rowing. The main difference being that with coastal rowing the boats are bigger, the water is rougher and the seats are fixed, which in turn means more back and upper body usage (I’m planning my entrance to coastal rowing next April)
Here’s the video for Rache’s crew (distance was 22m from Ham to Richmond time:3 hrs 10 mins – result!)
I also managed to film some of the starting point from a Clipper Boat
Next target is the BIRC Concept2 champs in Birmingham in late November, where we both will be competing.
I’ve had a trapbar for quite some time now and have used it for many things. The main exercise I have employed the trap bar for is what you would expect – trap bar deadlifting.
The Trap Bar deadlift is different to a common barbell deadlift in that the center of gravity is closer to the body asyou can stand inside the bar and lift, which in turn takes stress away from the lower back.
I feel that the trapbar deadlift is like a combination of a squat and a deadlift, you can almost scoop down and lift the bar on the way up using lots of leg power. When I was training for the Dinnie Stones I used the trapbar deadlift for the majority of my training. Very much in a GTG (see bottom of page for greasing the groove) fashion, I had the bar set up with 175kg on in my cellar and everytime I passed through I lifted the bar off the floor for 1 rep which amounted to loads of reps accumatively.
Secondly, I have used the trap bar for training farmers walk, this is simple – stand inside the bar and lift, walk with the bar until your grip gives out or your cardio blows. Trapbar farmers is very simlar to individual farmer walk, just like a frame version.
Thirdly, the trapbar is great for performing shrugs of all descriptions. Everyone knows what a upright shrug looks like but there are many ways to shrug a trap bar, don’t believe me? Then you need to read Kelso’s Shrug Book, cheap as chips, but a book that comes highly recommended for lost and unknown strength building techniques.
Lastly, I’ve been trying out the trap bar press, a really tough and akward lift that probably comes into the realm of odd objects. Stand the bar up on it’s flat side and heave the trap bar to your chest, put your head through and thrust the bar to a comfortable postition over your shoulders and press. Careful though as this exercise is very harsh on the biceps and can leave you in a vunerable position when you need to get the bar safely to the floor.
Here’s my video for the trapbar press
Just incase you’re a welder or into DIY Strength and Fitness check out my trap bar dimensions
Also, GTG Greasing the Groove is a very simple format for training whereby you do many many reps a day as you go about your daily life. Such as leaving your trapbar set up and doing a rep every time you pass by it
, cheap as chips, but a book that comes highly recommended for lost and unknown strength building techniques.
