89 replies to this topic

[Mike Sharkey]

Just switching it up a little bit.  Felt fatigued, still getting Reds even on my off days, but this was lying around so....

 

 

 

 

A36  HRS.  30" x 5/8"  felt good.  i can definitely go a bit shorter.

[Mike Sharkey]

Back to what works.  There is definitely something to be said for taking advice and running experiments, but ultimately I have to follow the principles I know:  work within my limits to expand them, and don't put myself into distress.

 

2 x 19/64" kinked to 4"  these feel hard.  now I know it takes a couple bends to get he feel for the kink position.  working through that and not allowing myself to get frustrated.

 

3 x Reds kinked to 4" (80%)

 

EJ is also totally right about the mental state being crucial.  I am not an angry or aggressive bender.  Its a matter of focus and calm.  If my mind is disturbed and I don't feel settled, the steel is not going to respond to me.  

[daniel reinard]

I've come to be a calm bender too. I used to be angry and try to hurt the steel but that is not as effective as being calm. I practically underestimate the steel on purpose. If I think it is softer than it really is it will be a succesful bend. If you think it's hard it will feel very hard. I also don't overthink it. Just grab the bar without hesitation, know it is not that hard, then bend it. I got good enough at this that I kinda busted up my wrist even though it didn't feel hard to bend.

[Mike Sharkey]

I feel like bending, being such an unusual activity, is actually a good way to discover some level of inner truth about yourself.  Path of self discovery and what not.  As you say, very very mental.  JT told me exactly that.  If you don't believe you can bend the bar, the brain will not fire as many muscle fibers.

[daniel reinard]

I also believe bending requires a certain order of muscle activation. Making it a natural movement optimizes the correct timing of things. Most feats are very dependant on the technical aspect, and full body focused down to a single task. Bending is aprime example. Trying to muscle the bar or go all ape s$$$ on it screws up the correct activation process, and just causes one to fight against themselves.

[Mike Sharkey]

I also believe bending requires a certain order of muscle activation. Making it a natural movement optimizes the correct timing of things. Most feats are very dependant on the technical aspect, and full body focused down to a single task. Bending is aprime example. Trying to muscle the bar or go all ape s$$$ on it screws up the correct activation process, and just causes one to fight against themselves.

^^^^ THIS

[Mike Sharkey]

Crushed from <4" to 2.5"

 

2 x 19/64" bar

1 "N" Bar

5 Reds

[Mike Sharkey]

Crushed 8 Reds from 2.7" to <2" (some to 1.75 or less)

 

Crushed 430 "N" Bar.

 

kinked in BB wraps to 4.5".  rest of the way in IMP's.  this bar was quite a bit easier than the 445 "O" bar, imo.

 

[Mike Sharkey]

DL's at 18" up to 420#.  Not a safe set up so I stopped there.

 

Goblet Squats with 32kg bell.  5x7

 

455# 21/64" bar to 100 degrees in IMP's

 

DU Cert.

[Mike Sharkey]

Feb 27, 2013:

 

Water Bottle Flat Bench Bent Arm Rows   5 x 5

 

Breathing Incline Dumbbell Press  40# x 30, 35# x 27, 30# x 32.