Coach Szolek

[MrShow]

I emailed you a week or so ago and you wanted me to post my training needs/wants on this forum so that you could help me in the structuring of a program that would suit my needs. Well, here it goes. My skill training consists of a little bit of boxing (mostly bag training) and judo/jiu-jitsu 2-3 times a week. I work about 15 hours a day from Friday through Sunday so the best times for any of the more intense work sessions would be anywhere from Sunday evening to Thursday night. The 'meat' of my training will consist of my Brusier as well as my 15lber. I would like to incorporate both two handed and single-handed clubbell work into my training. I'm already training with a sandbag, Scrapper's Mod1 as well as some of the training methodologies from Pavel Tsatsouline's 'The Naked Warrior'. I was wondering if you could help me integrate all of these training modalities into a cohesive fitness regimen. My goals are to improve my performances in my two skill sets even though I may never compete in either. I just love doing them even though I am a beginner in both. My overriding goal, however, is just the love of strength and everything involved with it. I've always just wanted to be as powerful as I can without necessarily gaining any muscle weight, but I certainly wouldn't be opposed to suffering from this side-effect. :wink: I've just always loved the idea of having world-class strength for as long as I can remember. I learned the hard way that conventional weight training often has little to no carry-over to real world scenarios. Also, are you planning on my making a video accompanyment to your ABC manual? I'm not sure if I am learning the techniques 100% accurately. I had the same problems with the 'Clubbell Training for Circular Strength' book until I saw the video and everything was more than cleared up for me. I know that you can't give me the perfect routine (because we both know that it doesn't exist) I'm just hoping you could make sense of my training equipment and needs and help me establish a good 'base' that can shove me in the right direction and that I can build upon later. Well, I know that this was a bit long-winded, but I'd appreciate any and all advice that you could give me on the subject. Thanks.

Dan Kemp

[MrShow]

I know that I really need to focus on flexibility as I am well aware of its ability to unlocking strength and power potential which is overall my primary passion. I know that I'm asking for a lot and am probably too vague or overextending myself so just let me know if I can help by being more specific. I guess that as far as flexibility is concerned I just want to improve for overall health and its contribution to injury prevention and power generation which would be great assets to being able to doing my striking/grappling sessions at a higher level. I'm not really concerned with being able to do the splits, but it would be a welcome 'side-effect' :wink: If it helps at all my goals concerning the Clubbells would be able to one day use two Bruisers simultaneously with perfect form in even just one of the endless number of combination routines. I would have to say that my overriding passion is to achieve raw 'real world' strength and power with my striking and grappling being avenues to implement or display my newfound fitness levels. I guess that I ultimately want to achieve my physical potential in most if not all facets. I don't usually like to use the word potential in this manner because it almost implies a 'ceiling' or final destination when I really am seeking a continuing lifetime progression. Well, I don't know if this helps or comes off as just a reiteration of what I've already stated. I know that you have a lot of requests to respond to so I'll attempt to be patient :wink: awaiting your much-needed advice. Thanks.

Dan Kemp

[Doug Szolek]

Dan, good to hear from you over here :)

I can read the passion with which you aproach your training and I identify with much of what you said. I'm looking forward to helping you meet your goals of real-world raw strength and the application of that to your grappling and striking arts. Like you mentioned however, you have mentioned much about yourself without a few key specifics that I need to know before suggesting a path to get you most effeciently to your goals.

age?
height?
weight?
What exercises in CST/ABC's do you find most challenging? and most enjoyable? (these may or may not be the same)

How many hours and on what days do you practice your boxing and judo?

Do you have acess to the Body Flow book and videos?

Get back to me with these and we'll get you on the road to real usuable strength.

In Faith,

[MrShow]

Sorry coach. I am 28 years old, 5'11", and approx. 195 lbs. I may have to stop attending my Judo classes due to the insane amounts of overtime I have been working, but I hit the focus mitts and heavy bag with my brother about twice a week. I haven't picked up Body Flow yet, but intend to really soon. Although I am engaged in combat sports (as a hobbyist) my real desire is to get stronger and more skilled in my Clubbell lifts. I have started to incorporate KBs into my repertoire and love the way they seem to complement Clubbells perfectly. The lifts that are the most challenging to me right now? Hmm. Pick one. They are immensely challenging to me and I guess that is what interests me the most about the tool. It never gets dull and is more 'playtime' than a workout although I do treat the implements with the utmost respect. It's just fun and doesn't feel like work even though I'm getting my butt handed to me in every session :twisted: ! Seriously, though the grinding movements seem to come a bit easier (if you can call it that) to me whereas all of the swings and particulary any cleaning movements are still very difficult. I enjoy all of the movements and can't really decide which one is my favorite. The Bruiser has humbled me and shown me just how weak my lower arms and core really were. This won't last for long as I can literally feel myself getting stronger with every workout. I guess that my main goals now are to become increasingly stronger while working towards my CST certification. My secondary goal is to also attain my KB certs. I hope that this info helps coach.

Respectfully,

Dan Kemp