Sometimes I get the feeling that some people think I make too big a deal about using DD bells exclusively. Today a trainer friend of mine Ivan e-mailed me about how one of his clients was doing snatches with a kettlebell from play it again sports (you know the brand) and the freaking handle broke off! Hey, this stuff does actually happen. Dave Whitley Senior RKC just had a blog post up about how the handle on one of his older off brand kettlebells is starting to come off. Read it here.

I would like to clarify that I am not some weird partisan who can’t tell the difference between day and night. If I’m doing GS work (which I occasionally do) I use GS bells. However, most of my work is hard-style, and so of course I’m using DD bells for that. So they don’t, oh... I don’t know... break in half.

Tagsdragondoor, kettlebell

I was really into that CD back when it came out in 1932, before Henry Rollins turned into one of the main characters from the book ‘Little Women’.
Anyway, I’m finally getting moving on a lot of stuff I’ve been slacking on, not the least of which is getting this website finished. I’ll be doing a lot of work on it over the coming months, as I want it to be a useful resource to those who need it.

TagsHenry Rollins, little women, Louisa May Alcott

Sunday evening I took down 50 blue nails (60D) in a row, which took me 50 minutes. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but afterward I felt like I had taken a beating. I got thirty minutes of it on video, then the Flip video froze. No big deal. I’ve embedded the intro video below, the rest of the videos are on the same youtube page if anyone is interested. Everyday I inch closer to the red nail.

Tagsnail bending, blue nail, marathon

Today I decided to do some bending in the ironmind pads as that’s what I’ll have to bend the Red Nail in. Dennis Rogers told me a while back that I was stronger in bending than I thought I was, and needed to plug my shoulders in tighter. Zach Coulter and Adam Glass had also mentioned that I needed to get the nail up higher under my chin, which required more shoulder flexibility. So I’ve been working on my shoulder flexibility, and today I easily got the nail up under my chin, felt my shoulders plug in tighter than they had been, and ‘snap’ I started bending blue nails in IM pads like toys. I am suddenly much stronger.

Tagsnail bending, ironmind, im pads, blue nail

This is a video I put together on basic double kettlebell work.



Today I put up 225 lbs. in the Zercher. Not close to a max yet, but easing into it. I have 255 in me.

Tagsyoutube, kettlebell, tutrorial, zercher

Today I picked up a couple of reebok core boards for a killer price. I’ve been reading Gray Cook’s ‘Athletic Body in Balance’ as well as watching the Secrets of Primitive Patterns DVD. Gray uses this thing a lot so I figured it was worth looking into. I was able to kick my own ass on it in about 10 minutes. It really exposed where I was tight and where I was compensating. More accurately I should say the movements I performed on the board brought these issues to light. I also put a few clients on it and was very pleased with the results. Sure, I could achieve similar results on something else, but if possible I like to use the right tool for the right job. If you’ve been looking at one of these and you aren’t sure about it I say jump in.

Tagsreebok , core board, core training

First workout in the new training space (my garage) today. I’m still assembling it, which is why the Marine Corps flags weren’t up yet.



Don’t worry about Cecil the Wonderdog, he was tied up. Like Dave Whitley says ‘It’s not if the doggy gets hurt, it’s when.’
So I make sure he’s not wandering into my backswing. :)

I started up again with Zerchers today. I went up to 185, not too heavy as I need to build my pain tolerance back up. I’m interested in the Zercher Harness West-side put out, I just need to figure out if it’s worth the price. I’ve consistently heard good things about it from strong people.

Tagszercher, squats, deadlift, pain

I had put the 32 kg. up for 3 reps before, but not even close to as cleanly as I did today. I cleaned up the 32 kg. kettlebell and military pressed it for three reps on my right side. I think I could have gotten 4 or even five, but decided not to push it as today is supposed to be an off day, not a max effort day. :)
Left side was okay. I only got one, but I know it’s a technique issue, not strength. I’ll fix it. Only a couple months ago it was reversed.
My right shoulder is way loosened up, and I give all the credit to my repetition get ups and RKC arm bars. I’ve started doing the arm bars consistently now and it’s made a big difference.
People often forget how important technique is in a lift and think they can rely on brute strength. Think again. I’m a little guy, and if I didn’t spend as much time as I do honing my technique there is no way I could pull off the stuff I do.
I’m going to keep hitting ladders on the 28 kg. and go up to my friend Joey’s place in the next few weeks and press his 36 kg. I’ll get it on video when I do.

Also, check out this video. Taikei snatches the 32 kg. for 32R/32L. This is an outstanding display of power, endurance, and technique.

This was my second ripping of the Menlo Park/ Redwood City/ Palo Alto phone book. I totally forgot what I was supposed to do and this was very sloppy. Next time I know I can do it in half the time and much cleaner



Training is going well. My pressing strength is finally making some jumps and I’m getting stronger and stronger on the lever block.

Tagsphone, book, phone book, tear, tearing, grip, training

Really important news here. I stumbled back upon a video for ‘Stone the crow’ by Phil Anselmo’s other band ‘Down’.



If you dig Pantera but aren’t familiar with down I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Tagsdown pantera

Today I decided to push my limits a bit and try to tear a full deck plus 8 cards for a total of 60 playing cards. It was hard fought, but I pulled it off.

Tagscard tearing, full deck

Tonight I wanted to get this on video for some constructive criticism from those with more experience than I have. The nail bend was a PR for me as I’ve moved a 5x1/4 inch piece of steel before, but not this easily, nor brought the ends this close together.
I ripped the deck pretty easily, and quartering the first half wasn’t that rough either. By the second half my hands were smoked and it took a lot more effort.

Tagscard tearing, quartered, nail bending, nail bend, blue , nail

The other day I quartered my first full deck of cards. I did it by accident. I had torn a deck toward the beginning of my workout but it took a lot of effort, so I set it down and returned to it later after some presses. I had forgotten that it was a full deck and quartered the halves pretty easily. I have to get the time down on this, but I’m going to do some video next week.

Tagscard tearing, full deck, quartered

So why the new site? I generally find it’s best to separate your business and personal interests, which is why I started strengthbeyondstrength.com I see this as being not just a log of physical strength, but moral, spiritual, and intellectual strength as well. Without a combination of all of those you really have nothing. You become the bad guy from karate Kid 2-3.