Is RMAX for you?

[rbibbs]

To some folks, reading in this forum, and on the RMAX site, it might all sound "too good to be true". I'm as skeptical as anyone about performance-enhancement claims. I've said "won't work for me", "those guys were genetically half-gorilla when they started", about most training methodologies.

Starting RMAX training from inactive at 54yo, I developed more strength and mobility than I had at any other time in my life. OK, but genetically, I'm lean (you might say "skinny") and wiry, maybe it just works for me (and the gorillas).

Over the last two months, I've had the honor and pleasure to coach 3 teen girls, using Coach Sonnon's methodology exclusively. The week-by-week activity is posted in our training log, http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=686. We train beginner kickboxing; their primary goal is conditioning, secondary is defense preparedness. We train 90 minutes a week, a 57yo small-frame male and 3 female high-school seniors, working together at a comfortable and fun pace.

A 12# medicine ball and 10# handweights are a lot for an 80# teen girl to handle. In only the two months we've been doing this, their performance has increased by five times. And it gets easier, not harder. This last weekly cycle, they didn't have a trace of soreness.

What's going on here? They're not genetic gorillas. But RMAX training and conditioning programs ARE gorillas. We spend just over an hour a week. We're not sore and exhausted when we're done. We get 5 times the usable results that we might from a "clipboard" consultant at a spa-gym. Whatever level of health- or performance-enhancement activity you're looking for, it's here for you.

I should add, that RMAX and I have no business or financial interdependencies. Professionally, I'm an engineering performance-analyst, trained to evaluate "by the numbers".

Rick

[Ken Harper]

Rick:

Thx for posting. At a PTA-like meeting last week, I mentioned Z-Health, et al, to a counsellor who asked me if I'd consider "teaching" a fitness course in January at my daughter's h.s -- since their notion of P.E. is bowling. They have extremely limited facilities -- and the bowling alley is down the block.

This gives me a great tool.

Thx again,

Ken

[James Boelter]

even know the doors exist...

This post speaks directly to one of my dreams...to coach young people who have been overlooked or ignored by the PE programs in their school systems and help them to jump to new levels of performance and grace without the hazing and fear present in so much of those programs.

When I was a chunky, clumsy preadolescent (picture the character of Bobby from 'King of the Hill'), I desperately wanted to get into gymnastics, because I knew on some level that that I wanted to acquire that kind of grace and 'anti-gravity' strength....I wanted to be able to 'fly'. Unfortunately, every summer school gymnastics class I enrolled in for four years was cancelled (due to low enrollments) or was a complete waste of time (one summer session, our class was locked out of the gym all but 3 days out of the entire 5 week session). And in the intramural programs during the school year, I was completely ignored by the coaches in favor of those kids who already were accomplished athletes with enormous potential. I was left to try to figure out how to vault the pommel horse on my own, along with the parallel bars and the balance beam...with the results that you can imagine. (Please note that I don't think badly of those coaches...they were only human and were trying to invest their limited time and energy in the most worthwhile possibilities).

I am not bitter, because I got lucky. Eventually my mom remarried, and at 15 I found a wonderful stepfather who provided the role model I needed to start playing high school football, which lead to running 2-4 miles a day, which lead to drastic weight loss, and weight lifting and martial arts and rowing crew and much more. (It's safe to say that I owe my step father more than I can ever repay for his help in overcoming the first major Fear-Reactvity Barrier in my life).

All this is just background to add some context and heft to my assertion that you are truly one cool cat to help those kids at this point in their lives and to show them the possibilities of a life without limitations or fear. You go, Rick! I consider you to be a real life hero.

[rbibbs]

Thank you James, I know your feelings are heartfelt, I was also quite inhibited physically at school age. We were only offered sports where objects came at you, fast, and you were supposed to catch or hit them. My left eye tracking lags my right one. So I was never where the object was. It only took 'so much' peer-ridicule to get me to give up. Maybe I could have adapted to the tracking-lag with patience and support, but it wasn't available.

I'll defer the medal though, to the kids who didn't give up. The first day, the girls told me they felt "clumsy", but there they were, willing to try a demanding physical activity. Monday, my BJJ trainer had me coach a 12yo blind (20/400) boy. Those kids are my heroes. They're doing stuff I was terrified to try at their age and for several decades beyond.

We emphatically want to include the adults who may have felt or become physically-inhibited. Like you did James, I had to tell the context to give weight to the central message, "there's something here for everyone". And the girls sure don't "feel clumsy" any more.

Rick

[Mike Baldwin]

It is great to read how people are looking at how Scott's material dovetails with kids.

A couple of our crew here work with kids a lot ( including a Chiropractor, a Physical Ed teacher, and a Physics teacher who works in own time with both kids with learning difficulties and others who are deemed to be gifted & Talented ). Over the years we have introduced and integrated Braingym/kineseology type exercises, different qigongs, silawalli type drills from arnis, work from Taiji and Bagua, rolls and breakdance type stuff from judo, drunken monkey forms, etc etc to those kids, parents and families who have shown an interest.

We have been tickled pink with Scott's material, and to our knowledge have purchased everything he has made availible so far. This gentleman has provided an absolute wealth of info so far, and I suggest that when he directs his attention to the creation of programs for our youngens (and those with learning difficulties or who are G & T), a whole new world of people will be clambering to access him and his material.

I would suggest that this area may end up being his greatest legacy to fitness ( yes - even much bigger than what he has achieved to date ! ! ! ! )

Just sowing some seeds. Any thoughts ????

Cheers
Mike & the crew. :D