Congratulations Team USA Members 2015

In case you missed it, today was the final announcement of all the Team USA Kettlebell Sport athlete who will be competing in Dublin, Ireland this November. Congratulations to all. I wish you all the best in training leading up to the event! It will be the first time for me traveling across the Atlantic for competition. I'm excited for the experience!!

My interview with Brittany VS about Kettlebell Sport!!

Recently I was interviewed by Brittany VS of KOR Strength and Conditioning. Here is the link to her page and the interview. Hope you enjoy!!
What do Waffles, Guinness and Kettlebells have in common?

Training review and update 7/27/14

So far this week has been pretty good as far as training is going. The beginning of the week is always tough but I was able to get my sets in. I had low energy at the beginning and it definitely affect my training and sets. But as the week progress I was able to pick it back up. I recently dropped my training schedule down to 3 days a week. And the training volume has increased because of that but it also allows me to rest and recover while lifting the heavier (28-34kg) bells more often. I trust Coach C-Duff in what he is doing. Its just tough and for this sport it counts. You have to be prepared for competition. The nationals is where we in the US have a chance to compete against someone in the same weight class lifting the same bell. So this week since I started only training 3 days a week with the be I do both lifts in my workout. Here are the sets from my Friday training session at Reebok with the NYC crew.




Ladder Jerk set 2 mins on/ 2 mins rest 5x. Changing weights from 24- 32kg. Goal here was to maintain competition pace for the 2 mins, Keep a good rack position (something I'm still working on), and get use to 32s towards the end of the set. Everything is still a work in progress but still coming along.
Next up snatch.



With snatch I've had good days and bad days....pretty much similar to everyone else. Recently my elbows have been bothering me. Probably coming from my drop and not adjusting my legs or back. So this set I worked more on deflecting from the bell and absorbing with my legs to save my grip endurance. So I'll be analyzing my technique and seeing where I can get better to last the full 10 minutes with the 28kg and 32kg bell. Another area I continue to work on is my level of flexibility. I recently did a few back bends and found out my upper back was supper tight which could explain why my rack isn't the best.
On to the next week of training...

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!!!