Never Let Go (book review) and other stuff.
I have been meaning to review Dan John's new book Never Let Go for a while. I still intended to do so, right after I read it one more time. Yeah, I liked it that much. There is one particular chapter called "Distain Medium" which I found particularly thought provoking. I couldn't help but noticing though that he uses the word "distain" which means to take the color away from something rather than disdain which means scorn. I am pretty sure the latter form would be more appropriate. Now I realize that on certain forums saying anything negative about Dan John is akin to serving pork chops at a Bar Mitsvah but RFP is run by iconoclasts. In all seriousness, I though Dan's book was perhaps one of the best I have ever read on the subject of weight training. There is so much useful information contained that you would be making a mistake not to buy this book. Well there we go, I guess that is pretty much a review right there. This book contains over 400 pages of material covering pretty much all aspects of the lifting game. It is written from one Man's perspective after decades of strength training including highland games, olympic lifting, track and field, powerlifting. You name it, its all in there, even kettlebells. Dan has a ton of experience and he is also an intelligent, insightful, funny guy. This makes for an enjoyable informative read. In fact, I so much enjoyed reading this book I fear I may have missed some of the content, that is why I am going over it again. I don't think any of you should go another day without knowing about Litinovs, slosh pipes (maybe some day I'll make one), and the Men's room epiphany chapter is one of the funniest things I have ever read. This book belongs in every lifter's library. I liked Pavel's Beyond Bodybuilding too. This book is as least as good as far as content and it is a far more enjoyable read. That may be the only problem with Never Let Go. It flows so nicely that you might find yourself reading it again to extract more content. Do yourself a favor and get it.
Here is the link for ordering the book.
My own disdain for "medium" is something that has often created problems for me. I have never been able to do anything half way. It is funny that Dan John in his chapter discussed above mentions one of my favorite Bible quotes. "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Rev 3:16. Clearly no one likes medium. Not even God. So I guess no matter what it is you are doing whether it be a set of pull ups or putting bumpers on an F150, don't do a half-assed job. With respect to training, I do not take any of this to mean you should go 100% on every set instead you should understand the what and why's of every set and strive for perfection with every rep. It may be a back-off week but understand why and be 100% on backing off. Don't throw in a couple heavy sets just because you feel strong. Stick to the plan.
Things have been good here at the RFP Headquarters. I recently finished another cycle of the Rostov program. I was trying to decide which long cycle goal I wanted to hit. The decision was between 32kg x 60 or 24kg x 100. Doing the math I realized which would be more of a challenge. 24x2x100= 4800kg/10 min or 480kg per min. 32x2x60= 3840kg/10 min or 384kg/min. Clearly the 24s allow me to do more work. So that is what I did. I hit 100 yesterday, it was brutal. My big hang-up with the 32s is the amount of standing around I have to do. All this standing and resting with the bells is shameful the more I think about it. Keep moving or forget it. I realize many will disagree with me but that is how i feel. That is why I think there should be a "five seconds rule" in kettlebell sport like they have in basketball. Thank the Rostov program for teaching me that. The speed with even the 32s left little time for standing around. Heavy short sets or long lighter sets where you keep moving both seem more appealing and less "lukewarm" to me.
In other news, check out the packaging. 3 heavy bells shipped out on Friday. 2 of them were ones I had made before, the other I made last week. Unfortunately the heaviest was over the UPS weight limit (over by one pound) but Fed Ex ground shipped it for me. It took all day to make that happen. When the UPS guy told me he wouldn't ship I wanted to kill him, especially because they do not allow the use of hand trucks to bring stuff into the store because some lady recently overloaded one and dropped a package on her head and is now in the process of litigation. So I had to carry them all in myself and then back out. Next time its Fed Ex ground. UPS and I are officially breaking up. If you want something heavy let me know I have nine more bottoms cut, then that is it. I swear to God.
Also check out my new burner modification. 25 bucks for the burner and I made my own stand. It took me 5 minutes. Do you see the disks used on the stand as counterbalance? Those are the bottoms of bells I have filled that were removed by my hole saw. At RFP nothing goes to waste.
My own disdain for "medium" is something that has often created problems for me. I have never been able to do anything half way. It is funny that Dan John in his chapter discussed above mentions one of my favorite Bible quotes. "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Rev 3:16. Clearly no one likes medium. Not even God. So I guess no matter what it is you are doing whether it be a set of pull ups or putting bumpers on an F150, don't do a half-assed job. With respect to training, I do not take any of this to mean you should go 100% on every set instead you should understand the what and why's of every set and strive for perfection with every rep. It may be a back-off week but understand why and be 100% on backing off. Don't throw in a couple heavy sets just because you feel strong. Stick to the plan.
Things have been good here at the RFP Headquarters. I recently finished another cycle of the Rostov program. I was trying to decide which long cycle goal I wanted to hit. The decision was between 32kg x 60 or 24kg x 100. Doing the math I realized which would be more of a challenge. 24x2x100= 4800kg/10 min or 480kg per min. 32x2x60= 3840kg/10 min or 384kg/min. Clearly the 24s allow me to do more work. So that is what I did. I hit 100 yesterday, it was brutal. My big hang-up with the 32s is the amount of standing around I have to do. All this standing and resting with the bells is shameful the more I think about it. Keep moving or forget it. I realize many will disagree with me but that is how i feel. That is why I think there should be a "five seconds rule" in kettlebell sport like they have in basketball. Thank the Rostov program for teaching me that. The speed with even the 32s left little time for standing around. Heavy short sets or long lighter sets where you keep moving both seem more appealing and less "lukewarm" to me.
In other news, check out the packaging. 3 heavy bells shipped out on Friday. 2 of them were ones I had made before, the other I made last week. Unfortunately the heaviest was over the UPS weight limit (over by one pound) but Fed Ex ground shipped it for me. It took all day to make that happen. When the UPS guy told me he wouldn't ship I wanted to kill him, especially because they do not allow the use of hand trucks to bring stuff into the store because some lady recently overloaded one and dropped a package on her head and is now in the process of litigation. So I had to carry them all in myself and then back out. Next time its Fed Ex ground. UPS and I are officially breaking up. If you want something heavy let me know I have nine more bottoms cut, then that is it. I swear to God.
Also check out my new burner modification. 25 bucks for the burner and I made my own stand. It took me 5 minutes. Do you see the disks used on the stand as counterbalance? Those are the bottoms of bells I have filled that were removed by my hole saw. At RFP nothing goes to waste.
I'm wondering what John Wild Buckley could handle as far as a Yellow Cake 'bell is concerned. Lifting Nazo must get tiring in the Asian Anyhow.
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Tom:
Funny you say that JWB and I have been talking about a heavy bell for him. He definitely could handle one. Problem is I'm not sure how heavy he is going to need!
Scott
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Scott...
Im interested in getting a heavy bell(or 2). Question first, are 40kg and 48kg progrades manufactured or are they all just custom?? Anyway...Im interested in a couple bells around those weights. If you are interested in making them please let me know cost etc.
Contact Info:
brittbuckingham@att.net
Phone:334-332-1826
Thanks
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Britt:
40 and 48 progrades are manufactured and sold by the american kettlebell club. Here is a link where they can be ordered. http://www.americankettlebellclub.com/forum/faq.php
Let me know if you need something heavier than 48kg.
Scott
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scott,
i just completed my 1 st competition in atlanta at scott shelter's place this past week and i wanted to thank you for your helpful hints since i met you in cincinnati back at the akc cert. in november 2008.
i felt i did ok for a 1 st timer. i did the biathalon and did 78 2hj's and 169 snatches and got rank II with the 20 kgs. i hit my 78 reps for my rank at 6:00 and put them down, being new i didn't want to waste any energy with snatches coming up. iam leaning hard about going to chicago to compete in the world championships since i got the prequiste rank II as the needed minimum. you also sent me a shirt back in february and i want to return the favor and send you one since i finally got them made. if you could send me your address in the email back i'll get you one in the mail. thanks again for your help !!
mike house
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Mike:
Congrats. Way to work. Thanks also for the kind words and the t-shirt. I will send you my address in a seperate email.
Scott
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Thanks for the honest and fun review. Actually, my wife and I talked about that distain/disdain thing for a long time.
Here is the definition of disTain:
to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; - used chiefly in poetry
I am the moderator of the Juan Diego Poetry Society and the word came up a few times and there was a funny argument about it. So, I had to look it. I was thinking "Tarnish Medium," if you will. As you might guess, I have medium workouts all the time with medium weights and...but, I also seem to hate them, too.
Love/hate is the relationship that most of us have with things in the game. In Bikram Yoga, they tell you the postures you hate are the ones you need to do. Seriously, I need medium workouts, but I would rather show off with something impressive or just have one of those nice tonic workouts. Great stuff here...
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Dan:
Thanks for visiting. Good stuff. I am actually in the middle of re-reading the book. My stay in our local poetry society was short lived as folks resented my fondness for obscene limericks. These were all I could come up with. Iambic pentameter night was my Waterloo though.
Seriously, I have learned a lot from your writing. Keep up the good work!
Scott
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