“Getting stronger is good and important. Learning to move a heavy load efficiently so you get more work done in less time is better.” me
Pictured above are just a small handful of the amazing and inspirational people I am honored to train at 6am daily!
From left to right: Kim, Diane, Lourdes, Tamara, Ash, Chris, Denise, Cory, & Ron.
Pictured above: Jonathan Kinnick (my younger bro & co-founder of Beyond the Whiteboard & Crossfit Kinnick) is practicing the “Slapping SPEAR” very effectively on my neck. If you have not been to Tony Blauer‘s “Be Your Own Bodyguard” Seminar, I would strongly recommend looking for one at a Crossfit gym near you and learning his method of using your body’s natural instincts to protect yourself. This picture is from PDR31 this past weekend at SEALFIT in Encinitas, Ca. This is the Personal Defense Readiness Instructors Course.
QUESTION:
Jeremy,
I have two questions: Is sealFit as cool as I think it is? and how does strongman help you? I run a donation-based garage gym, we just got a big donation from running a small online competition and I’m contemplating between two purchases: CFFB cert to increase my coaching skills or a yoke… any suggestions?
ANSWER:
Steven,
Thanks for the questions. I am not sure how cool you think SealFit is but I would guess that its much cooler than you think! Beautiful facility just off the beach. I didn’t get a chance to workout there but it was an awesome place!
The philosophy behind Strongman goes perfectly with Crossfit. Moving a heavy load using unconventional objects. Strongman is a lot about grip strength but also getting your body used to heavy loads on your body or in your hands. It has taught me to be able to cope and deal with suffering under heavy weight. The Yoke has been a huge staple in my training since before the Open, Regionals, and Games. Whether its Yoke walks or Zercher carries. If you have never done the Zercher Carries I suggest you experience that. I love them. The stones are amazing as well teaching you to move an odd object. We just recently got the Farmer Handles and those have been BRUTAL. Grip strength has been a weakness of mine but with all the work with the Stones and now with the Farmer Handles I think its making a big difference. You can also use the Farmer Handles for a Fat bar deadlift. I could go on and on about how its all helped me but I think that gives you the jist of it.
Now this last question is a tough one. I have never been to a CFFB cert but I am a huge fan of increasing your skill set. But the yoke is SO amazing. It all depends on your goals really. The yoke is only one piece of equipment where as the CFFB could help with ideas on programming and coaching. But if I had to choose I would pick the Yoke and learn to suffer under that thing!
Hope I answered your questions for you Steven. Thanks again.
I have been asked again to open up the floor for questions this week. I am here to help and answer anything you throw at me to the best of my ability. I have been a part of the CrossFit Community since mid 2007 and have lots of experience to share.
Currently I am down at Tony Blauer’s S.P.E.A.R. PDR (personal defense readiness) Instructor Course in beautiful Encinitas California being held at SealFit. If you have questions about that I would love to share how the SPEAR SYSTEM has taught me to use my natural weapons and tap into my genetically wired self defense system that we all possess. Now I am learning to teach it to others. A by product of learning how to be my own bodyguard has been the transference of the mindset to my daily life and to my Crossfit life as a coach and a Games athlete.
I have also started helping Rob Orlando on the new Crossfit Strongman Cert. If you have questions on how Strongman has helped me and how it can be easily implemented as an additional modality please let me know.
I am looking to some amazing questions! Thanks folk for tuning in.
Pictured below from left to right: Tony Blauer, Austin Malleolo, Dave Lipson, & Me after the “Be Your Own Bodyguard” seminar at the HQ Trainer Summit in San Diego.
I had a great plan of what I was going to do yesterday which included a max effort bench press and a max effort back squat. I was all fired up and ready to attack the lifts yesterday along with some 5oom repeats and a finisher of 20 reps at 185#s of power clean. But it just didn’t happen. I had a great opportunity to head down to San Diego to help Tony Blauer teach his S.P.E.A.R. system to the HQ Training staff at the Trainer Summit. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. San Diego is 2 hours south of me and I train Monday – Friday 6am-noon. So I had to take off right after I finished training which left me no time to workout before leaving. I headed down with my brother Jonathan & Moe Naqvi. The seminar went great and I was able to help a lot of the people learn how to protect themselves for the rest of their lives in a matter of 2 hours. We went to dinner afterwards and it was a HUGE Crossfit Celebrity party with so many names I couldn’t possibly drop them all in one blog but I will try!! 🙂 Nicole Carroll, Dave Castro, Tony Budding, Pat Barber & fiance Tamaryn Venter, Dave Lipson, Austin Malleolo, Annie Thorsdottir, Chris Spealler, Jason Khalipa, Pat Sherwood, Miranda Oldroyd, Heather Bergeron, Ben Bergeron, Chuck Carswell, Adrian “No Rep” Bozman, James Hobart, Russell Berger, Lance Cantu and so many more!!! haha that was fun.
Sometimes Unexpected Rest Days are a blessing in disguise or a little reward for your body for working so hard. The key is jumping right back into your training and not worrying about what you missed. Missing a day of training or resting an extra day is much more beneficial than destroying your body day in and day out and not taking care of yourself. So rather than being down about the unexpected rest day, get excited to CRUSH the next workout and get right back on track and ready to roll.
MY PLAN TODAY
-Max Effort Bench Press
-Max Effort Back Squat
-Cycling with Doug Katona
-Unknown WOD…
“Beware of snakes and thieves. They will tell you what you want to hear but in the end they only care about themselves.” me (inspired by the Bible)
Pictured below are the brilliant Beyond the Whiteboard Staff and myself at there booth at the 2011 Reebok Crossfit Games! From left to right: Moe Naqvi, Jake Mannion, Corey Tripp, ME, Jonathan Kinnick (my little bro & coach)
These guys are some amazing individuals and great friends of mine. Not only are they amazing people but they have created the most brilliant way to log your results for workouts. If you don’t know about it you must have been living in a cave for the past few years! Check it out and get signed up. I have over 1200 workout results on the site since 2007 and it has played a crucial role in my success in Crossfit! Follow them on Facebook & Twitter and their blog is a great read as well. They have revolutionized the way we track results and they have only just begun.
My Plan Today
-Max Effort Bench Press
-Max Effort Back Squat
-3 x 500m row max effort, rest 2 mins between efforts and holding within 8 seconds.
Rest 5 mins after last row then hit 20 reps of 185# power cleans for time.
**Today I am heading down to San Diego to assist Tony Blauer as he teaches the HQ Trainers at the Trainer Summit some S.P.E.A.R (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response)!! Pretty excited for this opportunity and to see all those awesome trainers and HQ Staff! Check out Mr. Blauer’s website and look into hosting a BYOB (Be Your Own Bodyguard) at your box and begin implementing his methodologies into your weekly regimen.
Jeremy Kinnick 