Finally Candidate Master of Sport!!!

This past weekend I lifted in the IronBell Challenge in Warren, NJ at the Art of Strength New Jersey gym. It was an American Kettlebell Alliance (AKA) event which is the governing body of kettlebell lifting here in the states with over 15 competitions set for this year. They have similar rules and ranking to the IUKL which is their governing body.
The competition went great!! It was hosted by Valerie and Lisa (owners of Art of Strength NJ) and Alex and Yuri from AKA was there as well to make sure the event went smooth. It seems all competition I go to that happen at an Art of Strength gym run smooth. There were lifters from all over mostly from NJ or NY. It was a small event but still a good one. At these kinds of events I like to go in focusing on what I need to accomplish since there isn't a lot of competition these events are good to make rank. Bigger events is where you don't try anything new but go for PRs and go to win.
My goal for the day was to make CMS rank. Its the fourth time lifting the 28s in competition and the second time lifting the Vulcan Strength Kettlebells. So I was a bit conservative and wanted to make sure I got my numbers- (65 reps in Jerk and 120 reps in snatch) to get 125 points for 73kg weight class. I was prepared, I brought everything I had used in training and made sure I missed nothing. Chalk, belt, shoes, sandpaper, tape, nothing was left behind.
 There were 2 other lifters and myself in biathlon. Here is my CMS jerk set from Ironbell Challenge



Things went well although you'll see towards the end of the set. The bells weren't landing right back into a good rack position also not as comfortable on my hands (something I need to adjust to) so I re-racked the bells to sit comfortably. Next up CMS snatch set.



I figured if I had some pain in my hand that I should add some tape to my wrist for stability. So I put some on and see what happens. It was a great feeling making it this far and getting Candidate Master of Sport. These rank numbers were higher than previous numbers so it was a great achievement. Now it's time to prepare for Nationals and possibly Worlds in Germany!! I don't know what I'll lift at both events but I will give it my all!

Get the Chalk out!!

Whenever you plan to lift and you know the area will be humid be ready to get a good coating of chalk on your bell handle. Unless you are use to lifting without chalk everyone should know how to chalk their own bell. Yesterday I helped out a few Juan and Kyle perfect their chalking technique with certain things to look for. For myself chalking the bells are part of my ritual in getting ready to lift. I won't let anyone else do it for me. I'll get thrown off. But I get asked how do I get the chalk to stay on. Here is the video I looked at over and over to get the idea of how to get the chalk to stay on.



Here is another look at chalking the bell by Igor, similar technique. Work the chalk into the bell handle.



Hope these videos can help out and give you a better idea on how to apply a good coat of chalk before stepping on the platform. You want to be prepared and nothing stopping you from getting your goals. In humid conditions an good chalk job can go a long way!

Going into Taper week- IronBell Challenge

Finished the week on a good note doing test sets at Reebok Sports Club NYC on 6/6/14. I tested with the 28s in Biathlon. I did 7 minutes in each lift. I hit 53 reps in Jerk and 49/50 in Snatch. Snatch wasn't my best set because a couple days before I did a killer snatch workout with the 28 and 24kg bell. So going into this week I'll be preparing for the Iron Bell Challenge in Warren NJ. Its another attempt to do my best with the 28s and make CMS! The new rankings by the AKA for biathlon in the 73kg weight class I have to total 125 pts. So far my best is 109 pts (59 Jerk, 50 snatch) in competition. It'll be my second time lifting the Vulcan bells so I know what to expect and and I'll be prepared with everything I need this time. Here is a recap of this past week.
Monday Kettlebell Jerk training



Good start to the week. Next workout was a double set of Kettlebell Snatch. Hands got hot here.



Finished the week on a good note with a test biathlon set with 28kg bells at Reebok Sports Club NYC!!


Now going into taper week preparing for competition. Today I had a my first Bikram yoga session in the FlatIron district and I highly recommend it to any kettlebell lifter!! I see it helping with breathing, balance and flexibility. For myself and my tight hips, hamstring and upper back I may be finally able to release some tension up there!! This equals better rack position and better numbers in Jerk!  

NJ Iron Bell Competition- 2 Weeks away

This past Friday the NYC group of lifters got together again and lifted at the prestigious Reebok Sports Club on the Upper west side. It's a great facility with plenty of items that make training there great!!
Juan, Eric, Kyle, Cara, Megan and myself all met up and got to work. Training with a group really helps keeping everyone motivated. Its also great to see where everyone is and what their training cycle is looking like. Most of the group is getting ready for the US Nationals in August. Cara and myself are getting prepped for the competition in New Jersey and Art of Strength NJ. It's a prep for Nationals and a chance to get back at the 28s and get CMS rank. I missed it because of some personal mistake when traveling to Florida in April. This time I will be ready to go after them. Here are my sets from the AKA/IUKL Punch Gym Kettlebell Competition in Sarasota in April.
Kettlebell Jerk

Kettlebell Snatch


I travelled unprepared so one thing I did learn and it helps to practice training at another facility is to bring my stuff! Training with others also helps to show other lifters techniques and what to look for as far as mistakes and corrections. Your work can also drive others in their sets. Juan Pellot has a good rack position so whenever we lift together I try to get my rack position to be similar being thats where I lose it. So this past workout was Jerk being my week was thrown off from Memorial Day. I got in some good sets. I forgot my timer so my main set was thrown off by it. Here is my sets...Jerks are improving..speed under the bell and rack position are improving slowly but improving.


Two more weeks!!!