Mettlecraft Month 2020 (a tougher challenge than we initially thought) is all done — see full and final recap below!
Well, it’s that time of year again — Mettlecraft Month! Everyone — students past and present, old friends, new friends — please play along and share videos and/or photos of yourself facing the challenge. Watch this space for updates!
So what’s the challenge?
12 MINUTES OF VERY BAD KARMA PLUS AS MANY KICKS AS YOU CAN IN 8 MINUTES
Like video? See below. If you prefer written instructions:
Set timer for two intervals — 12 and 8 minutes with no break. [Tip: if you only have a repeating countdown timer, just set it for 4-minute repeats and listen for 3 cylcles and then 2 cycles].
“Very Bad Karma” from my e-book The Calisthenics Codex. Select a rep count for the four exercises — Sprints (12′ out and back = 1), Split Jump Squats (jump, switch, jump = 1), Get-ups and Knuckle Push-ups. I started with 5.
Complete as many circuits as you can at your selected rep count in 12:00 minutes.
Immediately start doing kicks. Do as many kicks as you can with good form in 8:00 minutes.
Add rep counts together for your total score.
Example: You pick a rep count of 5 — 20 reps per circuit. You complete 8 full circuits plus 4 Sprints before the timer beeps. That’s 164 reps. Then you do 180 kicks. Your total score is 344.
DECEMBER 1 AND FINAL RESULTS
Thanksgiving always throws a wrench in Mettlecraft month and thwarts last minute attempts to beat scores. But this year, on top of that, Morgan hurt her wrist. She had to take time off, get a brace, etc. So we extended the month to 12/1 and took another run at it. Jack had to work late and couldn’t make it, so it was Daddy Daughter Night.
Special kudos to Morgan for adding almost a hundred points to her previous score — and for beating my calisthenics count! — all while wearing a wrist brace. She put up a very impressive score of 484!
I knew there was no way I was going to catch James, but I wanted to beat everyone’s kick number and break 400. But alas, it was not to be. I only got 365 and came in a measly 3 points behind Jack — beaten by a nose!
Great job everyone, and thanks a million for taking this ridiculous journey with me. Everyone who took the trip goes in the Calisthenics Codex Hall of Fame!
Here’s the final tally:
James Williams — 228 + 398 = 626
Jack Bloor — 278 + 266 = 544
Mitch Mitchell — 176 + 365 = 541
Morgan Mitchell — 189 + 295 = 484
NOVEMBER 30 RESULTS
James Williams — 228 + 398 = 626. Apparently James was bitten by a radioactive spider, because he wrecked the challenge with a mindboggling score. James takes the cake — and the plate, the silverware, the tablecloth…
NOVEMBER 24 RESULTS
Mitch Mitchell — 176 + 303 = 479
NOVEMBER 23 RESULTS
James Williams — 203 + 331 = 534
NOVEMBER 19 RESULTS
I tried to get 50 of each exercise in order to break 200 total reps during the Very Bad Karma phase. Didn’t make it. Here’s the video.
NOVEMBER 17 RESULTS
Mitch Mitchell — 150+ 250 = 400
Morgan Mitchell — 150+ 240 = 390
Jack Bloor — 278 + 266 = 544
NOVEMBER 16 RESULTS
James Williams — 203 + 264 = 467
NOVEMBER 12 RESULTS
Mitch Mitchell — 176+ 263= 439
NOVEMBER 10 RESULTS
Everybody’s numbers came up this week!
Mitch Mitchell — 175+ 218 = 393
Morgan Mitchell — 162 + 236= 398
Jack Bloor — 240 + 259 = 499
NOVEMBER 3 RESULTS
Mitch Mitchell — 136 + 242 = 378
Morgan Mitchell — 160 + 200 = 360
Jack Bloor — 205 + 280 = 485 Way to go Jack!