Results matching “log”

Britt Lift is an online training diary from Powerlifter and Olympic Weightlifter (now kettlebell enthusiast) Britt Buckingham. Pop over there and say hello.

Britt Lift is an online training diary from Powerlifter and Olympic Weightlifter (now kettlebell enthusiast) Britt Buckingham. Pop over there and say hello.

This is part two of two of an article on Heavy sandbag training. In part one I covered specifics of building sandbags but did not talk about training. That is what this, the second part, is for. This article is based on my personal experience with sandbags and I will share with you any mistakes I made in the hope you can avoid the same. This article is geared toward someone who is new to sandbag training and who wants to work with weights from 100lbs and up. For people working with lighter weights, the tips on building sandbags may be helpful but you will find more at any of the online sandbag retailers.

This is the year of the sandbag: folks are talking about them, coaches are drilling them, even big budget films are shaping up their extras with this unorthodox training method. Now it's your turn.

Now you have sandbags. But they don't do you any good until you train:

1. Deadlift
2. Clean and Press/Jerk
3. Snatch
4. Walks/Carries
1. Bear hug
2. Back
3. Side
4. Front
5. Overhead

The basic concept of a sandbag is to pick it up, so that is where you start. Lay the bag on the ground and pick it up. You will find this an interesting challenge as your first time lifting a sandbag. In this simple lift there are unending variations. First, how you chose to build your bag is a major factor, the looseness of the sand plays a major role. You also have a variety of ways to set the sandbag on the ground. If it is on its end, it is an easier lift, more like a stone. You get your hands under it and lift. To make it more challenging, lay it on its side, running between your legs, lengthwise. Add further to the challenge by turning the bag so it runs lengthwise in front of you. The last one is typically the most challenging and the way that you will do most of your stationary lifts. These lifts also serve as a good introduction to roundback deadlifting. It's not a topic I will go into but you will find with sandbags and other odd object lifts, that your back has to round some, you cannot maintain the flat olympic back.

The sandbag deadlift naturally progresses into the clean and jerk, which I think is the favored sandbag exercises. It seems to be one of the major sources of hits to my website. A sandbag clean and jerk is more like lifting a log or Atlas stone than a clean and jerk. Typically you start by deadlifting it to your lap. Few people can or will clean a sandbag to something representing the rack position. From the lap, you typically have to change hand position. Most individuals deadlift overhand or will go wide to the ends of the bag, to clean you need to hook your arms under the bag like a Zerher squat. From there you stand up with the bag to a front squat type position. At this point you are almost ready to press or jerk. If you want to go with a real olympic jerk go ahead and do but you'll find the catch very difficult. You almost always have to half jerk it and get your hands under it then move the weight to the lock-out position. It sounds simple but confusing because there are no rules. You do what you need to do to move the weight each time you lift it, thus it is hard to make sandbag lifting purely technical. A person could work the clean until it was a well-rehearsed movement but it seems like a waste of the unpredictability of the lift. Your further clarification, watch the video:

This is part two of two of an article on Heavy sandbag training. In part one I covered specifics of building sandbags but did not talk about training. That is what this, the second part, is for. This article is based on my personal experience with sandbags and I will share with you any mistakes I made in the hope you can avoid the same. This article is geared toward someone who is new to sandbag training and who wants to work with weights from 100lbs and up. For people working with lighter weights, the tips on building sandbags may be helpful but you will find more at any of the online sandbag retailers

This is the year of the sandbag: folks are talking about them, coaches are drilling them, even big budget films are shaping up their extras with this unorthodox training method. Now it's your turn.

Now you have sandbags. But they don't do you any good until you train:

1. Deadlift
2. Clean and Press/Jerk
3. Snatch
4. Walks/Carries
1. Bear hug
2. Back
3. Side
4. Front
5. Overhead

The basic concept of a sandbag is to pick it up, so that is where you start. Lay the bag on the ground and pick it up. You will find this an interesting challenge as your first time lifting a sandbag. In this simple lift there are unending variations. First, how you chose to build your bag is a major factor, the looseness of the sand plays a major role. You also have a variety of ways to set the sandbag on the ground. If it is on its end, it is an easier lift, more like a stone. You get your hands under it and lift. To make it more challenging, lay it on its side, running between your legs, lengthwise. Add further to the challenge by turning the bag so it runs lengthwise in front of you. The last one is typically the most challenging and the way that you will do most of your stationary lifts. These lifts also serve as a good introduction to roundback deadlifting. It's not a topic I will go into but you will find with sandbags and other odd object lifts, that your back has to round some, you cannot maintain the flat olympic back.

The sandbag deadlift naturally progresses into the clean and jerk, which I think is the favored sandbag exercises. It seems to be one of the major sources of hits to my website. A sandbag clean and jerk is more like lifting a log or Atlas stone than a clean and jerk. Typically you start by deadlifting it to your lap. Few people can or will clean a sandbag to something representing the rack position. From the lap, you typically have to change hand position. Most individuals deadlift overhand or will go wide to the ends of the bag, to clean you need to hook your arms under the bag like a Zerher squat. From there you stand up with the bag to a front squat type position. At this point you are almost ready to press or jerk. If you want to go with a real olympic jerk go ahead and do but you'll find the catch very difficult. You almost always have to half jerk it and get your hands under it then move the weight to the lock-out position. It sounds simple but confusing because there are no rules. You do what you need to do to move the weight each time you lift it, thus it is hard to make sandbag lifting purely technical. A person could work the clean until it was a well-rehearsed movement but it seems like a waste of the unpredictability of the lift. Your further clarification, watch the video:

Held every year on an island near Toronto (this year it's on Ward's Island), the Island Heroes strongman competition certainly has the setting right. When you need to take the ferry just to get there, you know it's going to be something special.

Founded in 2001 by islander and Strongman Rob Dales (pictured), Island Heroes contains several tests of raw strength and endurance. Among them :

• Farmer's Walk : usual setup. Total weight of 300lb, carried for distance. Drops are allowed.
• Log Lift : although the weight is a modest 130lb, this event requires a full Clean and Press each time.
• Tire Flip : Max reps with a 600lb tyre. Plenty of fun.
• Rock Press : press a 120lb odd-shaped rock overhead. As the picture shows, this is anything but easy.
• Sumo Wrestling : if you're still going strong following the above events, this will really put you to the test. No time limits; top 4 competitors.

It's an interesting mix. If you're keen to give it a go, this year's event is on :

August 25th, 2007 (1 - 5pm)
Ward's Island, Toronto.

Looks great.

Held every year on an island near Toronto (this year it's on Ward's Island), the Island Heroes strongman competition certainly has the setting right. When you need to take the ferry just to get there, you know it's going to be something special.

Founded in 2001 by islander and Strongman Rob Dales (pictured), Island Heroes contains several tests of raw strength and endurance. Among them :

• Farmer's Walk : usual setup. Total weight of 300lb, carried for distance. Drops are allowed.
• Log Lift : although the weight is a modest 130lb, this event requires a full Clean and Press each time.
• Tire Flip : Max reps with a 600lb tyre. Plenty of fun.
• Rock Press : press a 120lb odd-shaped rock overhead. As the picture shows, this is anything but easy.
• Sumo Wrestling : if you're still going strong following the above events, this will really put you to the test. No time limits; top 4 competitors.

It's an interesting mix. If you're keen to give it a go, this year's event is on :

August 25th, 2007 (1 - 5pm)
Ward's Island, Toronto.

Looks great.

On Episode 6 of the Kettlebell Lifter Podcast : Dan John chats about kettlebell training and the methods he uses to teach it at Juan Diego Catholic High School. Well worth a listen.

On Episode 6 of the Kettlebell Lifter Podcast : Dan John chats about kettlebell training and the methods he uses to teach it at Juan Diego Catholic High School. Well worth a listen.

Via StrongLifts.com : Jason Young performing a 90kg one-handed snatch. Very impressive.