Here, is the news...

HEADLINES :: HEADLINES :: HEADLINES :: HEADLINES 

Competitor in Kettlebell Sport Competition in Cork, Ireland questioned in relation to her "Robot-like" abilities. Sparks fly among the competitors.

Boy, 11, displays his supernatural ability to be able to lift kettlebells with his shadow. Scientists are baffled at the phenomenon.

Girl passes 20KG Kettlebell - "I didn't know what was happening then there it was...a kettlebell"

Catholic Church to release a statement shortly in response to what is believed to be the first credible sighting of the "Mark of the Beast". 

Caught on camera: 
A man with a deadly physical condition reveals the symptoms of his affliction. As seen in the captured photos his minders distance themselves from his contagious condition.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS :: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

 Wexford Kettlebell Club receive a lot of interest from Hollywood in the remaking of classic Hollywood films.

Charlies Angels is to be remade but following the advice of a Health & Safety Consultant it was deemed dangerous to only have 3 angels. The remake will have 7.

Oceans 13 will be remade with a greater level of equality involved so 7 female actresses are included. It will be known as "Oceans 13, like".

The Golden Girls comedy series is also to get a makeover. The actresses have been selected but as the previous version ran with ladies beyond retirement age, filming will not commence until 2062.

Amy Kehoe wins the Oscar for her portrayal of Dirty Harry:

I know what you're thinking. "Did she fire 6 jerks or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a 10Kg kettlebell, the most powerful kettlebell in the world, and would blow your head off, you've got to ask yourself the question: Do you fell lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"

One "Dirty Harry" fan takes the quote literally and examines a 10Kg bell for it's "most powerful kettlebell" properties.

In the remake of the A-Team producers have decided to take a risk and employ a female BA Baracus. Producers say that she has a head-start on all other contenders. 

Auditions for Murdock, "the crazy fool" will take place shortly given the high level of compatibility within the Kettlebell club.

AND FINALLY...

You can take the girl from Wexford but you can't take Wexford from the girl.

A competitor with the Kilkenny team, who happens to be daughter of former Mayor of Wexford, Gus Byrne, shows her genetic makeup with her natural aversion to wearing Kilkenny clothing. 

Secrets revealed - Chapter 2

It took some time to put together the "secrets" of Kettlebell Sport...people don't want to divulge secrets. Rather like trying to take a lolly from a child in some cases. But here are some secrets that have been noted.

1. If you can chalk your bell, your "in"
2. To an MSWC "in" means something else (a Russian sub-secret, yet to be understood)
3. 4 minutes on a digital clock can be assumed to be the same as 5 minutes on an analogue clock
4. Russians don't like you putting a foot near a Kettlebell. They will find you...and they will kill you.
5. The greater the contortions in the face, the nearer to letting a bell down...and needing trigger point work.
6. MS means Master of Sport in Russia...but it means "famous Irish athlete" in Ireland
7. To practice getting up on your toes in the Jerk just stand in front of a weightlifter...that'll keep you on them...and very conscious.
8. MSWC allows you to be so late for a session that it isn't even described as early for the next session
9. Guinness goes through Russians like castor oil through a cat
10. Russians go through Guinness in a similar manner
11. Don't...start...early!!
12. A Galway mans leg isn't as big as a Russian mans leg...not even in lycra
13. The threat of a coach wearing lycra helps to boost numbers attending a session
14. The fact that the coach doesn't wear lycra, just helps!
15. Music during a training session helps focus the attention.
16. The theme tune to "The Apprentice", doesn't.
17. A little known secret to boost strength is to try doing "Snow Angels" on the dance floor at a party
18. A well known secret is that one can fall coming from a party - be careful.
19. Don't try to break the balance of male -v- female on either side of the gym. Coach doesn't like distractions during a session.
20. Calling a male by a female name isn't classed as a distraction and is acceptable
21. Wearing new, white, clean, shiny, attention-drawing shoes will draw attention...regularly. Get them dirty.
22. Google doesn't know how to translate text speech - it's a great method of passing information between fellow kettlebellers, doe. {>.<}
23. The benefits of the move called the "Ice Cream Man S**t" must be kept a secret...even to those doing it.

To be continued...

"The Family"

Image courtesy of Kostas Simutis

21st & 22nd January was a date I was waiting for since the middle of 2011. Why... Igor Morozov of the RGSF was coming along with Elena Yurysheva. A 12 times world champion is not something you come across often but he was coming...to Wexford...to give a coaching seminar in a sport that I'd become addicted to. Literally & metaphorically speaking Christmas was delayed!!

17 individuals attended the seminar on a cold and looong first Saturday. The morning was about technique and theory, the afternoon similar. But the cold day and the standing around drained most of us...well, me anyway. 

In the back of our minds we were all concerned about the ranking competition the following morning. Waking on the Sunday, still with Man-Flu gripping (yes, it does exist) I just felt like getting back in the bed. I'm sure others did too. We started, we exerted, we brought several months of training and varying sacrifices to this one or two 10-minute sessions. And this was where the same atmosphere that I'd witnessed in Kilkenny last July when I first saw competition taking place was to repeat itself. People who had their own lives, from other parts of the country, came together in support for each other. It was a group of individuals fighting their own limitations but with the unifying support of the whole group. It was as if we were bonding by our challenge.

One individual said that they "constantly meet new friends" at these types of gatherings. Another observation was that the sport doesn't allow for egos, it doesn't allow for elite-ism only helps to bond a friendship. A later observation of our own Wexford Kettlebell Club was that we're "like one big family". And so it is.

This came very evident when one of our gathering fell. Various factors led to disappointment. But not for disappointment for the individual but for the group. But like anybody in a close family falling they were picked up and with their own individual strength they started again. Nothing, but nothing could explain the joy and delight that we all felt when the second attempt was successful. The inner strength of that individual to stand up again and repeat her performance was nothing short of inspiring. And the shared joy - a display of the sharing nature that this sport brings.

We came away from the seminar with knowledge and experience but also with an ever growing "family". The saying goes - you can choose your friends but not your family...sometimes you can be lucky enough to do both.

We are all equal.

It seems to me that there's a divide in competitive sport. Like there's a shock. There's those at the top of their game and those that aspire to reaching that level. In between is a divide that not many can get through. I read a phrase on another blog yesterday relating to cycling:

"Ability is what you are capable of, motivation determines what you do, attitude determines how well you do it."

Ability...a difficult trait to gauge. Ability is relative to your activity. What Sean Kelly achieved on a bike would not relate to an ability at soccer. What these guys can do with a kettlebell doesn't mean that they could win a marathon. So we're born to be able to apply our body's structure to an activity...sometimes to our chosen one. So if it's Kettlebells that you find easy to apply to...well done, tick box one and move on to box two. If you don't have the ability of others...move to box two anyway...it may help.

Motivation...what a can of worms to open. So, what motivates you. It's as personal a trait as ability, as motivation to do what you do is based on your own wants, needs & desires. If you want to be as fit as you can be, if you want to walk feeling a spring in your step comes as equal as wanting to be a world champion. It takes drive and determination. If you want to present yourselves at a kettlebell class for the social aspect...that's your motivation. The outcome is relative! Motivation, as such, doesn't mean you've failed because you don't match the aspirations of others. Motivation is personal...it determines what you do, and it can be a greater driver than ability.

Attitude...ha! How serious are you? That is determined by your level of motivation and the goals you have. Your attitude towards a social gathering at a kettlebell club doesn't seem like a requirement for a strength in attitude but you need to free your time. You need to commit your time and energy to fulfilling your need. Becoming a world champion takes attitude too, to meet with the level you have set for yourself and committing to those aims. Again attitude, and it's application, is relative.

Wonderful...a lovely little one-liner saying has been dissected. But the one-liner, and how it applies is down to you. Watching the ability, motivation and attitude of leaders and winners can be a help or a hindrance. It may boost your motivation...it may crush it. The reality is inside you. Look at what you want, what you need and what you can commit to. That way you will achieve the level of contention that all others achieve. You don't need a world title to know that you've achieved greatness. You just need to know that you have reached your level...your world title.

I'm not right in the head

Friday 19th August. I haul my sorry ass to the Kettlebell Club. I say my sorry ass because I was tired...again. Yeah, another tough week at work. Wednesdays evening session at home was shortened...a little tired and just wasn't doing what I wanted. But Friday...I wasn't going to stay at home. I had to do something to maintain form. I started with the 16s which now seem casual...straight forward routines until you rip your hands. Then to 20's for the relay. I came home wrecked.

This has been a common cycle of late. Good week...then tired. Almost not recovering. I had a great 2 weeks holidays where the 16's quickly became light. I was sleeping 9-11 hours per day. Great!

But that wasn't the problem. On and off for the last 4 years I'd be nodding off asleep and suddenly jump up gasping for air...almost as if I was forgetting to breathe. The first time it happened was frightening and I even took one of the young lads inhalers for asthma. So it continued. Cathy would say "are you forgetting to breathe again?" And that's how it seemed. Friday morning I woke at 3am. Nodding off the same thing happened. Eventually I went off but woke at 6am...same thing. So I Googled "Forget to breathe" and "sleep". The page lit up with Sleep Apnoea.

Sleep Apnoea is where your body stops breathing for one of 2 reasons. Reading symptoms and accounts they all say "Get to a Doctor" and "It can be fatal"...rather a rude awakening for a Friday morning. A visit to the doctor and he confirms, to his best knowledge, that it is Sleep Apnoea. An appointment with a professor in Dublin next Tuesday should clarify this.

The two reasons for Sleep Apnoea are either nasal or throat blockages such as what causes snoring. But I don't snore and I don't have any restrictions. The second reason is that the part of the brain that controls the respiratory system goes asleep when you do. It's the presence of CO2 or absence of Oxygen that force the body to breathe again. And so the cycle continues all night so that you don't get to REM sleep (deep, restful sleep) and your heart rate rises to compensate for the on/off breathing. This leaves you tired all of the time. I only notice it if I gasp for air as I sleep but it's a but more subtle during the night that a partner may notice it but you don't.

I'll see on Tuesday what course of action I need to take...so if I'm a grumpy fart or I fall asleep in mid conversation you'll have an idea why...it's not you!

Secrets revealed, Chapter 1!

All sports have their secrets and tips...whether it be training or performance. Kettlebell sport is similar. Here's a few I've picked up along the last 3 months...you can decide on what's for you, or not! ;-)

1. Never use Fairy Liquid before a snatch session...it softens the hand
2. Wet your tee-shirt before a jerk competition to help grip...unless you're female which makes it a different type of competition
3. Warm-ups are for wimps
4. Stretching is for bendy wimps
5. Opening the gym door can be considered a substitute for the warm-up
6. Don't chalk your kettlebell in the chalk bucket...it snows on your first fixation
7. Don't chalk your kettlebell in the chalk bucket...coaches don't like chalk on the shopfloor
8. Limp and whine and complain...the coach will chalk the bell for you
9. Listen to your coach carefully...sometimes it can half your workload on a session
10. You can find your balance in the 2 handed jerk if you practice with 2 glasses of Jameson
11. If you're consistently late...get the t-shirt to divert the attention that you were, well, late!
12. You can tell the 10 time world champion to "Shaa-up" when he offers advice (female only, yet to be proven effective for the slow moving male).
13. Placing a 28Kg kettlebell on the floor in front of you immediately sees all other practitioners demoralised (usage of the same said 28Kg kettlebell is optional)
14. Coaches don't like the placement of a 28Kg kettlebell on the floor - proceed with caution
15. If the coach spots the placement of the 28Kg kettlebell on the floor you'd better be prepared to put it back or use it
16. Rain and sweat are not the same thing
17. Sweat bands are only useful if you sweat
18. Running is only good if you're a thief or a victim
19. If  your knees sound like Rubik Cubes after running it's probably time to re-assess that element of your fitness regime
20. If your coach invites you upstairs...it's probably going to hurt
21. If your coach likes ice cream swirls doesn't mean it's the coaches advice
22. Don't call a coach an assistant coach
23. Wear loose shorts - a burst shorts within the first 5 minutes of a 1 hour session is difficult to hide (personal experience...a secret revealed!)
24. Suggesting certification and ranking certificates were bought on Ebay really pisses off an assistant coach.
25. Fish is an excellent addition to your diet...assuming it isn't accompanied by chips.
26. Hitting your head on the way down from a jerk fixation may cause an international incident...or disqualify you from competition...or even hurt. It isn't recommended.
27. Telling a guy who competed with 2 x 32Kg kettlebells that it looked easy may result in him walking away. Again, not recommended.
28. It is not a good idea to be kept awake by 2 ladies for 39 hours before a ranking session...seriously?
29. Practice your clean against a wall - if you scrape your knuckles you're cleaning the wrong way
30. The word "Start" spoken in a Russian accent means "Start"

To be continued...

There's no "I" in TEAM

Yeah, you've heard it before...there's no I in TEAM. It's the common motivational sermon of the team manager to aid cohesion. There ain't no individuals worth more than the team. And it's true in some cases...where would Mark Cavendish be without team HTC Highroad? Or indeed could Wayne Rooney cope without 10 other skilled players?

A couple of conversations recently set me thinking on this subject - there's no I in TEAM. One individual explained how he left a team sport in favour of boxing - an individual sport because he was putting in the effort to be fit while others were out drinking the night before a match. He was making up for their lack of fitness. Where was the fun in that! And I can understand where he was coming from and wanted his input to be rewarded, not withheld by the lack of effort from others. Another individual reminded me of the times past when as part of a cycling team we used to celebrate together after each weekend race...win, lose or draw...yet cycling is more or less an individual sport. I mean, nobody says Team BMC won the Tour de France, Cadel Evans did.

So is there an "I" in "TEAM"? Yes there certainly can be. Reflect back on an earlier comment...where would Manchester United be without Wayne Rooney? Still certainly successful...but as much so? Would HTC Highroad have won so many races without the ability of Mark Cavendish in a sprint?

So we come to the sport of Kettlebells. It is most certainly an individual sport. Once you're on your platform and the clock starts...it's all you. Nobody can assist you or support your efforts. Nobody can train you as hard as you train yourself...it's down to your ability. So on the face of it, it isn't a team sport. 

But what if an individual could be a member of a team of people who appreciate your, and their aims as a common goal? Cycling being an individual sport still requires the help of your team mates to win. Kettlebells...well, not really in the same manner. But if it wasn't for the support of your club members, the banter, the pushing of each other to excel, the coaching, the direction, the camaraderie, the challenge, the appreciation...would that individual still be as good if they were on their own? Nah...don't think so. I couldn't push myself on my own and it takes a special breed of person to be able to do that.

Certainly there's no I in Team in a literal sense but there is scope for individuals to aid a team to success. But in the sport of Kettlebells without a team...there is no I. 

Plateaus are not good, right?

In sporting terms a plateau is deemed to be a bad thing if you want to progress. Comments are common such as "If you follow the same training plan repetitively you'll reach a plateau and not improve". To a sense I agree, to another I don't. Yes, if your training plan isn't progressive or periodic you're just getting your body to get used to a constant workload and not improving...it's a given fact. You'll get bored and eventually fall away disillusioned.

But a plateau can be a good thing. If you reach a plateau it's important to recognise it. If you find yourself capable of achieving your target you need to drive that level of ability home. That then becomes a foundation for the next level.

OK, why am I giving my thoughts on this? I'll explain. When I started with Kettlebells I went with 12Kg bells. The first test I did I failed to complete the duration of the test in both disciplines of the Biathlon, namely the jerk & the snatch. The second test I did I averaged over 15 jerks per minute and over 21 for the snatch. That was my plateau. Beating my body with 12s was now not an option. The important thing was to progress either with volume or weight and considering volume was going to be difficult to achieve much more then weight is the option. So my next level was for 16Kg kettlebells. My first test was as successful as my first test on the 12Kg kettlebells. 78 reps completed but failed to meet the full time allocated in the jerk and not much more success in the snatch. This gave me a new target as endurance and correct technique now had to kick in - not strength in the shoulders. I soon discovered to achieve both of these that flexibility had to be paramount before I could rely on endurance or technique.

I'm now happy that I'm approaching the next plateau of 16Kg kettlebells. What this means is different than what it meant in the 12Kg plateau. It means that I can probably compete in the 16Kg range shortly and "probably" last the full length. As I say - I'm approaching it...there's a bit of time to go. So progression can be subtle but as per a previous post you need to listen to your body to see what you are capable of. I know I'm progressing as I completed a good week of training which I wouldn't have been able for previously - not world class but my class. This weeks training consisted of:

• 1 hour on bike & 20 mins flexibility in the morning followed by 1 hour at the club with another 20 minutes flexibility on Monday evening
• Tuesday was 1 hour assistance training at home with another 20 minutes flexibility
• Wednesday was 1.75 hours on the bike hard riding with 20 minutes flexibility
• Thursday just flexibility
• Friday I was in good form to try single 20's & 24Kg bells on various exercises at the club.
• By Saturday I'm feeling strong if not initially suffering from a peculiar, temporary muscle pain in the shoulderblade.

But at this stage I'm looking at using 20Kg and occasionally 24Kg to assist in reaching this plateau. If the weather is fine maybe this plateau may be the last but I'd doubt it. I prefer to look at each plateau as a foothill to the mountain that needs to be climbed.

Please note - I'm not qualified in sports technique. The above blog entry is based on personal opinion and not on expert learnings.

A slideshow from Saturday

I had the backing music in my head for about 1 month. Played it over & over & over so that I could piece together a slideshow of images to put to it. The problem was that I didn't have the images. As it turned out this was the best approach because I knew what to look for.

Again congrats to the folks of Wexford Kettlebell Club. Hope you enjoy it!

Nobody said it was easy

I've said it already but I'll say it again. It was a humbling experience to attend the 2011 Irish Kettlebell Sports Biathalon Championships in Kilkenny on 23rd July. My expectations were mixed to be honest. I knew the efforts that the guys were putting in and I had seen the previous years results so I knew they were going to do well. But I was warned that everyone from last year would improve.

Arriving at the O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club I saw for the first time the platforms that the competition would take place on. Well set up, monitors for the competitors to see their counts, a clock projected on to a screen to time their efforts. The event started and I was thinking in the back of my mind that this might be a long day. Lisa and Siobhan were the first flight to get going. By 7 minutes all previous anticipations were blown out of the water. Support for all competitors was deafening. Battlers were supported, high number competitors were applauded...those who struggled were given new energy from the genuine and impartial following. I had not experienced anything like this in sport before...cycling, hurling, athletics...nothing. The efforts were visible across the faces of all the competitors and with a strong heart they battled to the 10 minutes with pride.

By the end of the day the Wexford Kettlebell Club had amassed 18 medals and 1 cup. Being a non-competitor at this event did prevent me from experiencing the euphoria at first hand but I was certainly proud to be part of a club where efforts and performances like this were rewarded so well. To the competitors of Wexford Kettlebell Club...I salute you.

Tell me why I don't like Mondays...seriously, tell me!

I don't mind Mondays really. Not having as much freedom to "act the young lad" or to "party" with 3 sons at home makes Mondays that little bit easier. No. Mondays are fine. It's when it comes to the Kettlebell Club that I have just a little difficulty on Monday. 11th July damn near killed me.

The previous Friday was great - 32 minutes of 1min on/1 min off jerks on 16Kg kettlebells. 15 reps per minute with good form and plenty left in the tank. Then 16 minutes snatch with a 12Kg kettlebell with, granted, quite a lot of alternating hands near the end. But all was well and the spring was in my step going home.

Saturday was quite casual then 2 hours on a bike at quite big gears (top gear for a lot of it) on Sunday. Then come Monday and in the first minute I knew this wasn't going to be a good one. Micks telephone number for the Chinese 2-4-7-4-2 looked challenging but not a hurdle. But no. Minute 1 and my form had slipped. By the 7 minute spell I had dropped the kettlebells. By the end I had dropped it 3 times...it's a habit I don't want to allow in. Stats showed still an even 10 reps per minute though.

So, what's going wrong? Is anything going wrong? It could be said that after 2 months at the sport on 16Kg kettlebells that this is quite an advancement...I don't buy that philosophy. It's challenging but by some peoples reckoning if you can do 6 reps per minute you should advance to the next level. That's a bit extreme but maybe there's some merit in it. I reckon the Sunday spins are too heavy going on the legs to allow for progression on the Monday. If you can't correctly elevate the kettlebells using the legs after the Sunday spin then you use your arms more, fatigue sets in and you loose form quickly. I don't have this issue on Friday. Doing a 2 hour spin on a Saturday might be the answer although after the Friday night fun-fest this may compromise correct cycling technique. For the moment the kettlebell comes first so this may be a solution. Only time and experimentation will tell. Otherwise the bike will be left out in the snow like the young lads below!

It's not exactly tennis, is it?

I'm not a fan of tennis. I'm not a fan of many sports where the primal reason for its existence doesn't exist. Let me explain - running...it's mans method of getting from A to B fast. It's about developing your ability to make you the fastest and the primal reasoning being running after prey, or running away from being prey. Javelin - similar story where you are practicing the primal urge to get your spear the furthest...maybe kill an 'ol antelope in the process. Discus, cycling, weight lifting...all have the fundamentals in the primal need to develop the person for a reason.

But tennis...where did that evolve from? I mean, in a primal sense? Did man develop their skills to beat an object across a row of foliage to another man and hope that they couldn't hit it back?

But today I see a video where the primal basis makes a return...it certainly sounds pre-historic:

So, where is this blog coming from? Oh, I don't know. Maybe with the proliferation of sweat bands around the Kettlebell Club and the grunts & groans at the end of 6 minutes Jerk may have reminded me of it. But whatever the reasoning - Kettlebells and the sport isn't exactly tennis, is it? It's more primal than that.

I wonder what the legal length of the sweat band is in tennis anyway ;-)