Of PB’s and training thoughts
It’s been a while since I last wrote anything here, and much things have changed. I’m no longer in any weightlifting team. I’m rarely doing snatches and clean and jerks, because the gym I’m working in doesn’t have the right gear for such lifting. It’s a bit of a bummer but life goes on. It IS true what they say though, once a weightlifter, always, always, and always a weightlifter. Weightlifting’s my first love and that doesn’t change, no matter what other sports I involve myself in. My rugby has benefited tremendously from weightlifting. I can hit pretty darned hard and the whole idea of a tight back and solid chest when tackling is, hardly foreign.
Going back to weightlifting, is honestly a thought that never leaves me. Even a very well placed tackle doesn’t compare to a nice snatch or cleaning a weight you’ve been struggling with for months. Repeatedly chasing that 125KG snatch, just to see 2 red plates, and failing over and over and over again. Going back to 105-115KG to do 6-7 sets of triples and then upping the weight to do numerous sets of heavy snatch pulls to reinforce the first pull position. Then dropping the weights and going back to the block, to do countless sets of high snatch pulls and the occasional power snatch complex and some light snatch balances just to clean the day out. And by the time you’re done, the sun’s left the building baby!
Thinking about it, for some reason makes me “drool”. Training like that. For hours, with buckets of sweat dripping and no pussy shit air conditioning.
I wish people, who are accustomed to the wonders of air-conditioning (excuse me while I barf) while training, could experience the real gym. One of training heavy and hard, with just one fan that’s shared among 9 men in a sweaty room. That, is training. What we see most of the time today, is …for the lack of a better word, a disgrace. A gym should have nothing but solid high quality weightlifting bars from Sweden, America, China, Russia, Finland, bumper plates, rubber bands and chains and a load of strongmen equipment. Developing the strongest, most powerful, not just lifters, but individuals. Individuals who are equipped with the spirit and strength and mental toughness. This, is what a true gym can give you.
My training has changed. Much of it. I am only able to use the health clubs to train but when the opportunity arises and I’m in a gym. A true gym. I make the best of it. I’m still getting stronger. I’ve been working to develop a stronger upper body, to cope with my lower body. It’s been treating me well. I’ve learned that even though you want to have strong legs, never neglect the upper body. It becomes the weak link and pisses the shit out of everything.
I’m learning more everyday in the gym. The right ways to handle individuals. How tough to get on them. How soft to go on some people. I’m learning daily and when the time is right, I’ll have my own center. I’ll have to balance monetary necessity with my passion of getting people strong. Hopefully by that time, I’ll be more, acceptable, culturally and in society. Meanwhile, I’m still hard ass and that baby ain’t ever gonna leave this man. She’ll hide, but she’ll always come back, when she sees the gym.
Roar.
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There are 2 Comments to "Of PB’s and training thoughts"
Enjoy the posts! May I ask what specifically you are doing to strengthen your upper body for the Olympic lifts?
Plenty of weighted dips and pull-ups, rows, overhead presses, push presses, push-ups and some bench presses. I’ll mostly use dumbbells and kettlebells for pressing exercises but barbells for push presses. Just the standard things. If I find specific weaknesses, I’ll work into those fellows.