Training Involution #114

TRAINING INVOLUTION #114

This week’s training involution is a two-parter.  Start with the 500-rep All-in Conditioner (video at the bottom of the post) then move on to a Cross of Light exercise.

500 Rep All-In Martial Arts Conditioner

  • Warm-up with 8 minutes of light cardio.  Then, at 50% power, complete 10 to 20 reps of each exercise to make sure you’re fully warmed up and ready to go all out.
  • Perform every exercise with maximum power and precision. Take as few 12-count rest breaks as you must in order to finish — see video below.
  • 100 Paces of Press Walks.  I used two #25 dumbbells but you can substitute a sandbag or another heavy object.
  • 100 max power strikes vs. upright heavy bag.
  • 50 Push-ups.
  • 50 Circles vs. floor heavy bag.
  • 100 mounted strikes vs. floor heavy bag.
  • 50 reverses from bottom position.
  • 50 pop-ups to shin ride position.

A Cross of Light Exercise

When we try to orient ourselves we instinctively think of four directions.

In Cabal Fang we orient ourselves with the Hermetic Quaternary: To Know, To Will, To Dare — To Keep Silent.  But there are tons of other things that map onto this — like the Four Heavenly Creatures, the four classical elements, and rather significantly, the Four Evangelists.  I’m convinced that’s why there are four gospels in the New Testament — because it instinctively makes sense that there should be four different versions of Christ’s story, each one from one of four different angles.

What else maps onto the Cross of Light?  How about The Four Characters from the Wizard of Oz Film? 

  • The Cowardly Lion goes in the East — he’s in search of courage or daring.
  • The Tin Woodsman is in the West.  Water made him frozen and silent, and he’s after a heart which equates to the water of tears of joy, sadness, sympathy, etc.).
  • Dorothy belongs in the South because she is human, and her defining characteristic is her will to go home.
  • And lastly, Scarecrow maps to North because he’s searching for knowledge— but his quest doesn’t begin until he’s cut down and he falls to earth.

See what else you can map onto the compass.  Here are some ideas: The Fantastic Four, The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the Four Horsemen, the four fixed signs of the Zodiac, the four ways of seeing, the Four Alchemical Elements, Plato’s four qualities.  Sketch a cross and start mapping.  Then, when you’re done, perform the Cross of Light ritual from Chapter 17 of the Cabal Fang Study Guide.

Martial Fitness: Training Involution #113

Today the Cabal Fang Temple is hosting our annual Martial Fitness Seminar.  This week's T.I. will be two play along.

Martial Fitness: Training Involution #113

  • Review your prevention and mindset.  What are the four things you should do to prevent getting into a physical self-defense situation? (Hint: the acronym is P.A.D.E. ) If prevention doesn't work, what are the three things you must do if you think something is about to go down? (Hint: P.R.A.).  When things get physical, what are the three things you have to do? (Hint: Y. M. K.).  If you don't know the answers to these questions, re-read your manual!
  • Can you handle your body weight?   Complete the following constitutional: Zombie Squats (50), Push-ups (50), Get-ups (25), Wrist Waggles (1:30), Mountain Climbers (100), Crunch'n'Punch (50), Splays (25).
  • Can you use a weapon?  News flash: weapons were invented because they're more effective than bare hands.  Select a dull training weapon such as a stick or wooden knife.  Set up your space with two heavy bags -- one hanging and the other vertically on the ground (in a corner or strapped to a post works nicely).  Set timer for 2:00 min rounds and cycle through this twice, a total of 16 mins: Hanging Heavy bag strikes max power, Get-ups (switch weapon hands between each one), Sit-ups w/ max power strikes to floor bag, Combat Sprints w/ air strike (16 mins total).  See video below for excerpts from last year's seminar.
  • Are you centered?  Cool down and then practice basic contemplation for 10 mins.

Polls, Goals, and Folderol: Training Involution #111

TAKE THE POLL

We really want to the temple to be attractive to the general public.  So CLICK HERE to vote in the temple paint job poll.  You made time to take the “Which Jedi are you?” poll on Facebook, right?  So make time for ours, willya?

SET A GOAL

Stop futzing around — do you want to get somewhere or not?  Get yourself a planner, set some goals, and start making a plan to achieve them.  That's why keeping a training journal is central to the Cabal Fang Hermit Path Distance Learning Program.  How do you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been?  

DITCH THE FOLDEROL

There are only so many hours in the day.  Keep your martial arts training focused.  The Master says, “To find water, dig one well.”

This gets even more important with age.  The older you get, the shorter, more intense, and more focused your training needs to become.  As recovery times slow, trade volume for intensity to maintain performance.  Work harder and rest more.

As the 60+ bike riding phenom Ned Overend says, “Training with an emphasis on high-intensity intervals has been my preferred method of preparing for races throughout my career.  I’ve learned that by reducing volume, I’m more rested for high-intensity sessions, and by being rested I can push myself harder during the intervals.” (read more here)

And with all this in mind…

TRAINING INVOLUTION #111

Tune up.  Remember doubling down?  I still recommend that once in a while.  But today, do the opposite.  Instead of doubling a lackluster training session to break through a plateau or stretch a limit, pick something you crushed — something that seemed rather easy — and make it harder by removing the dead wood or increasing the intensity.  Don’t lengthen it, tighten it.  Put it in a pressure cooker.  Example One: Let’s say this month’s constitutional is easy for you.  Try this — drop the two easiest exercises and see if you can cut your time by at least 33%.  Example Two: Let’s say you did Wrestling Conditioner #4 and just wasn’t that hard.  Try adding a #10 weighted vest.

 

 

Bagged: Training Involution #110

 

June’s martial focus is Wrestling and the internal focus is the Hourglass.  Are you ready? Because this week’s involution is going to push you past your perceived limits — inside and out!

BAGGED: TRAINING INVOLUTION #110

  • Heavy Bag Wrestling Half Pyramid (video below).  Put a heavy bag on your mat (or on a tarp out on the grass if you have no mat).  Get underneath your bag and and complete 1 of each: Shrimp, Buck, Reverse, Circle, and pop up into Shin Ride.  Then do 2 of each, 3 of each, 4, etc. up to 10 of each — that’s a total of 55 each.  Take as few 12-count breaks as you need to finish as fast as you can.  Finishing this with proper form is admirable.  In under 20 mins is solid, under 15 is good, and anybody who gets it done in under 10 mins is a beast.
  • 20-minute object run.  Run for 20 minutes while carrying an object in one hand, such as a water bottle, walking stick, dumbbell, etc. You may switch hands as often as you like, but keep a steady pace and do not break stride if at all possible -- but if you do, walk for no more than a 12-count before you resume running.
  • Draw and explore the hourglass.  Sit down with your training journal and a pen.  Draw an hourglass — nothing fancy, just a quick sketch.  Then, as you sit and look at your drawing, list the first ten words that come to mind.  When you’re done, have an honest conversation with yourself regarding the drawing and the words you wrote.  Psychoanalyze yourself.  What did you learn about yourself from this exercise?  What did you learn about the hourglass symbol?  Record everything in your training journal of course.

 

Retro Miscellany: Training Involution #109

We managed to accumulate a busted washing machine, a busted generator, 35 gals of crushed aluminum cans and some scrap steel to recycle -- all to benefit the temple.  Can you believe all we got was $20.20?  It looks like they coded everything as misc ferrous scrap.  But you know that generator core had 5 or 10 lbs of copper wire in it, and the washer motor almost as much.  Didn't think of that until after we left.  Next time I'll rip out the motors and demand separate weights.  Should've gotten $75 at least.

And now for your 12-month-old flashback...

Cabal Fang Workout of the Week #60  Training Involution #109

  • Boxing HIIT for Accuracy: Setup a slip ball and a heavy bag so that you can switch between the two.  Set timer for 1:00 rounds and complete 20 of them, alternating between ball and bag.   On the heavy bag rounds, focus on hitting precise targets on the bag.  Put a few “Xs” on the bag with medical tape if your bag doesn’t have dots or targets.  On the slip ball rounds, focus on executing perfect and crisp pops and slips.  Muddy movements are easy for opponents to read!  When done, cool down by walking it off for 3 minutes.
  • Writing exercise.  Get out your training journal and write 100 words minimum about quality.  What does quality mean to you? Have there been times in your life when you have and have not done quality work?  Compare, contrast and explore.

"Lightning hits! Quality! Virtue! Dharma! That is what the Sophists were teaching! Not ethical relativism. Not pristine "virtue." But aretê. Excellence. Dharma! Before the Church of Reason. Before substance. Before form. Before mind and matter. Before dialectic itself. Quality had been absolute. Those first teachers of the Western world were teaching Quality, and the medium they had chosen was that of rhetoric." 

~Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Hermetic Warrior: Training Involution #108

May's Cabal Fang concentrations were Wrestling and the Hourglass.  But since we gave over one session to a member trial and were several times forced by rain into doing stand-up work inside the park shelter, we decided to carry over both concentrations for another month.

It's really difficult to wrestle in the pouring rain.  We did it once and it was actually really fun.  It's the wet gear and drive home that stinks.

So it's still Wrestling Month and we're still focusing on the Hourglass symbol (see Chapter 9 in Cabal Fang: Complete Martial Arts Study Course from Querent to Elder).  But just because our martial focus is the same, that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep your non-wrestling skills sharp.  So...

Hermetic Warrior: Training Involution #108

  • As many kicks as you can in 20 minutes.  Count them, log them in your training journal, and next time you work the drill beat your number.  If it's not in your training journal it didn't happen.
  • Weapon half pyramid to failure.  I used my cane but you work with a non-lethal version of your chosen EDC (wooden knife or training folder,  rubber gun, flashlight, tactical pen, etc.).  Perform 1 of each exercise, then 2 of each, then 3, etc. See how high you can "climb" before you have to take a break longer than a 12-count.  Jackknifes, Get-ups, Side Lunges and Push-ups.  Attack while you move whenever possible and don't drop or put down your weapon for the duration.  Better figure out those Push-ups during training -- do them with one hand in a fist, wrist bent, etc. -- or risk getting stuck with no answer in a self-defense situation.
  • Learn a little about Hermeticism.  Watch the video below.  My Patreon supporters got it last month by the way.

Truth and Its Consequences: Training Involution #107

Truth and Its Consequences: Training Involution #107

Are you just checking off boxes or really digging into your training -- not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well?  

  • Double down.  Remember "doubling down?"  That was T.I. #88.  Find a training session you think you can double and get it done.  Listen to your body and ditch if you have to -- safety first! 
  • Figure out something you can't make sense of.  Maybe you, or someone in your life, did something and you don't know why.   Perhaps you had a strange encounter or you read or saw something in the news that defies your view of the world.  A seemingly trivial non sequitur might be a doorway to a greater understanding of yourself or the world.  Write about what you learned in your training journal.

Get Real: Training Involution #106

Get Real: Training Involution #106

  • Wrestling Conditioner #4.  Set timer for 10 mins.  Shin Ride your heavy bag and strike x10, mount and strike x10, roll to bottom position and up-strike x10, then bridge, knee boost, or hip escape from under the bag, and repeat as many times as you can before the timer beeps.  Strike full power -- as if your life depends on it! -- and take as few 12-count breaks as possible in order to finish.
  • Jump rope for 10 mins, as fast as you are able.  Take as few 12-count breaks as possible in order to finish.
  • Have you memorized the Emerald Tablet yet?  Yes?  Good job!  No?  Well get going! The Emerald Tablet is a 1,000+ year-old piece of wisdom literature that describes "reality" as a conversation between consciousnesses -- and so does this 20-minute TED talk by Donald Hoffman, which tackles the idea that consciousness is prime, not matter.

One Trick Pony: Training Involution #105

Our focuses this month are Wrestling and The Hourglass.

  • Bad Karma calisthenics session.  Set timer for 12 minutes.  Finish as many sets as you can in 12 minutes of 8 each: Back Neck Bridges, Get-ups, Squats, and Sit-out Push-ups (a.k.a. “Barrel Roll Push-ups”).  
  • One trick pony a weak spot.  What's the weakest part of your Wrestling game?  Is your Sit-out washed up?  Is your Shrimp dead in the water?  Is your scrambling game hard-boiled, or is it not what it's cracked up to be?  Whatever your weakest move is, set a timer for 10 to 20 minutes and do nothing but that one move for the entire duration.  Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
  • Start memorizing the Emerald Tablet.  The Emerald Tablet just may be the world's first piece of interfaith literature -- revered by the wise and educated of every nation across the ancient world from its first appearance in 8th century Persia to the desk of Isaac Newton all the way down to today.  Do yourself a favor and memorize it (it's required of all Cabal Fang distance learning students by the way).  Full text below.  If you memorize this bit of wisdom literature it will pay dividends as long as you live.

The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus

True it is, without falsehood, certain and most true. That which is above is like that which is below, and that which is below is like that which is above, to accomplish the miracles of one thing. 

And as all things were by contemplation of one, so all things arose from this one thing by a single act of adaptation. 

The father thereof is the Sun, its mother the Moon.

The wind carried it in its womb, the earth is the nurse thereof.

It is the father of all works of wonder throughout the whole world.

The power thereof is perfect.

If it be cast on to earth, it will separate the element of earth from that of fire, the subtle from the gross.

With great sagacity it doth ascend gently from earth to heaven.

Again it doth descend to earth, and uniteth in itself the force from things superior and things inferior.

Thus thou wilt possess the glory of the brightness of the whole world, and all obscurity will fly far from thee.

This thing is the strong fortitude of all strength, for it overcometh every subtle thing and doth penetrate every solid substance.

Thus was this world created. Hence will there be marvelous adaptations achieved, of which the manner is this.

For this reason I am called Hermes Trismegistus, because I hold three parts of the wisdom of the whole world.

That which I had to say about the operation of Sol is completed.

(Steele and Singer translation, 1927)

CIRCUIT BREAKER: TRAINING INVOLUTION #104

This morning two representatives of Cabal Fang Temple -- First Elder Robert Mitchell Jr. and Athanor Robert Mitchell III -- are on their way to Virginia Motor Sports Park in Petersburg, Virginia to run in the Rugged Maniac obstacle course to benefit the temple (click here to donate $10.00 to sponsor us).

Unfortunately it’s too late to run with us.  But if you’d like to “play the home game” you can take a whack at...

CIRCUIT BREAKER: TRAINING INVOLUTION #104

Simulated 5K obstacle run.  CR45P.  Ideal when done at an outdoor gym or fitness trail.   Set timer for 9 x 3:00/2:00 (45 mins total).  For 3:00 interval, run fastest manageable pace without breaking stride.  For first half of  the 2:00 interval perform as many Chin-ups (Clap Push-ups or Push-ups if there’s no equipment) as you can, Squats for the second half.  Repeat 8 more times.  When you gas —  unless you’re Captain America you will — just jump up to the bar and do negative Chins (or Push-ups on knees). 

If you’re kinda big for your britches, Circuit Breaker will stretch to fit you just fine, assuming of course you don’t lollygag and that you are training (not “working out”).   Look at your watch and manage your time so you don’t rest and/or waste time switching between exercises.  No rest — just adjust your pace so that you work as hard as you can for the whole 45 mins.

JUDGMENT DAY: TRAINING INVOLUTION #103

JUDGMENT DAY: TRAINING INVOLUTION #103

  • Are you ready for Judgment Day?  Three questions: (1) If there’s a natural disaster or your employer goes belly up and you’re unemployed for a few weeks, it’s a good idea to have some back-up resources.  Check your pantry.  Do you have at least 1 month of food and water on hand?  (2) If you get lost and there’s no gas station around you’ll be sorry if you’re driving on fumes.  Go check your vehicle.  Do you have at least a quarter tank of gas in the tank?  (3) You’re going to feel pretty dumb if your vehicle breaks down and you haven’t been maintaining it. Have you had your oil changed and any other scheduled maintenance done?  Count your “No” answers and hike 1 mile for each.  Beginners use a #10 pack, intermediate #25, advanced #40+.
  • Tarot meditation on XX: Judgement.  Why do Tarot card manufacturers seem to like the British spelling that includes the letter “e” in the middle?  Oh well.  Set up the card (or a printed photo or your tablet) so that it’s at eye level when you’re in your meditative posture of choice.  Set a timer for 3 to 5 mins.  Regulate your breathing as you look at the card.  Imagine that you are stepping into the card, that you are becoming one of the characters in the scene.  Imagine all of the sights, sounds, tastes and sensations of the scene.  When the timer beeps, watch the video below.  Record your thoughts and realizations in your training journal.

SCRAMBLE: TRAINING INVOLUTION #102

SCRAMBLE: TRAINING INVOLUTION #102

  • Scramble through your purse or pockets.  What if you get stranded and have to scramble for shelter, warmth, food, or a ride?  Do you have a knife or multi-tool, a way to make fire, and enough cash money for a cab or Uber ride?  If not, shame on you.  Fix that ASAP.
  • Scramble for your life.  What if you have to fight in a cramped place, like a car, closet or bathroom stall?  Get knocked down and have to get up?  Have to wrestle?  Beginners: Do 25 reps each of: Bodybuilders, Sit-outs, Get-ups and Crunch-n-Punch.  Intermediates, you do 33 reps and add Splays/Sprawls.  Advanced folks, do the intermediate version plus Drop Duck-Unders.
  • “Do you read Tarot?”  What if somebody finds out you have a Tarot deck and you have to scramble to answer that question?  Last week I tested you on your number symbolism.  Now for the suits.  Can you name at least one association or correspondence for each suit, such as element (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), Sphere (Matter, Ideals, Drives, Emotions), Quaternary (To Know, To Will, To Dare, To Keep Silent), etc.?  No?  If not, pull 10 cards and do the number of Push-ups on each face (Pages = 10, Knights = 6, Queens = 3, Kings = 2).

Run for Your Life: Training Involution #101

Run for Your Life: Training Involution #101

  • Are you paying attention to detail? (1) What was your spouse or significant wearing last time you saw him or her? (2) What is the color, make, model, year and license plate number of his or her vehicle? (3) Get up right now and check: are all your doors and windows locked? Imagine how guilty you'd feel if your spouse or significant other turned up missing and you couldn't help the police with the most basic information. Imagine how you'd feel if someone invaded your home and you didn't have it buttoned up. If you didn't get at least two out of three right, complete 100 Squats and then review your preparedness and prevention drills on pages 224 - 226 of the Cabal Fang Study Guide.
  • Do you know your numbers? If you are going to use Tarot as a psychological and spiritual tool you need to know your number symbolism. What are astrological associations for the numbers 1 through 10? If you can't name at least of 5 of them, do 50 Push-ups and then go study the chart on page 168 of the Cabal Fang Study Guide.
  • Conditioning Run. CR15P Tabata-styled. Run AFAYC for 20 seconds, walk 10 seconds, repeat for 30 rounds. That's 15 mins total.

The Big 100: Training Involution #100

THE BIG 100: TRAINING INVOLUTION #100

  • 100 strikes/min (heavy bag for speed).  Set timer for 3 rounds of 3:00/1:00.  Strike heavy bag with hands and feet as fast as you can.  Count strikes in the final round.  If you don’t break 300 strikes (100 strikes/min.) try again tomorrow.  Tip: count your strikes in sets of 10.
  • 100 grappling moves.  If you have a partner, pick one grappling move — maybe Single Leg, Ankle Pick, Drop Duck-under, Slip-by to take down, you name it — and do it 50 times each.  If training solo do it 100 times.  Either way, if you aren’t done in under 8 mins., you’re going way too slow.  Try again tomorrow.
  • 100 Calisthenics Half Pyramid.  Squats, Jumping Jacks and Push-ups (beginners do Half Squats and/or Push-ups on knees, advanced folks, do Jump Squats and/or Clap Push-ups).  Climb odd numbers only up to 19 for a total of 100 each (1 of each, then 3 of each, then 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 and 19).  Get it done in under 13 mins or try again tomorrow.
  • Journal review.  Are you keeping up with your training journal?  Are you logging all training sessions?  Making regular diary entries?  Noting your mood and any milestones?  Establishing goals based on your progress?  Spend a 10 minutes reading backwards in your journal.  Are you satisfied with the frequency and quality of your entries?  Are you happy with your progress in all four major dimensions — intellectually, emotionally, martially and spiritually?  Record your thoughts and answers to these questions in your journal!

Full Thrust: Training Involution #99

If you like the artwork on the right you'll love our new t-shirts!  Click the DONATE button below, make a donation of $25 or more to the Cabal Fang Temple Fund, and we'll send you one in appreciation.  Don't forget to include your size and address in the memo area when you donate.

Donate

 

Full Thrust: Training Involution #99

This session (excluding the meditation) is only 16 minutes long.  But if you pull out the stops and you do not slack it might take you 2 days to recover.  So warm up fully, listen to your body, pay attention to form and have a care. 

  • 4 mins. of Dumbbell Thrusters.  This one comes by way of  the incredible Dan John.  Set timer for 8 rounds of :20/:10 (Tabata rounds).  Pick up two dumbbells.  Unless you're Captain America, I recommend using dumbbells about 10% of your body weight.  Complete as many Thrusters as you can in 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, repeat.
  • 4 mins. of one calisthenic with perfect form.  Pick any calisthenic you want and do it for four minutes.  If you need ideas, I suggest Jumping Jacks or Steam Engines for beginners, Push-ups, Squats or Lunges for intermediates, and Bodybuilders, Burpees or perhaps Sit-put Push-ups for advanced folks.  Need even more ideas?  Download my book The Calisthenics Codex.   Take as few 12-count breaks as you need in order to finish.
  • 4 mins of one grappling technique.  I chose a Straight Shot, but you could take an Angle Pick, Duck Under, Arm Drag, doesn't matter.  If you don't have a partner, do them solo, shadow-fighting-style.  Take as few 12-count breaks as you need in order to finish.
  • 4 mins of double-end ball.  Set up your ball and get after it as fast as you can.  If you don't have a double-end ball, make one yourself with these instructions or substitute 4 mins. of shadowboxing with 1 lb. hand weights.  Take as few 12-count breaks as you need in order to finish.
  • Meditation on the nature of Spring.  Modern people get really happy about the arrival of Spring.  But Spring was a mixed bag for  the ancients.  They didn't have year-round access to factory-farmed food.  So although Spring brought them warmth and sunshine, it was a difficult time.  Winter food stores were used up, people were on edge after being cooped up all winter with animals in their midst, and on top of all that they had to find the strength to plant crops -- after which it would be weeks before even early crops like lettuce came in.  Perhaps this is why the darkest holidays, like Passover and Good Friday fall during this season, followed by some of the most bright, like Holi, Holla Mohalla, Ostara and Easter.  Set a timer for 10 minutes.  Sit in your meditative posture of choice, regulate your breathing, close your eyes and experience Spring for what it truly is for all people, all of nature in all times.

45 RPMs: Training Involution #98

45 RPM: Training Involution #98

  • "RPM" stands for "Reps per Movement."  Do you remember 45 RPM records?  Then you get the pun.  As long as you get your 45 reps, doesn't matter how many sets.  Consider doing the weightlifting and calisthenics sets in half-pyramid format.  In other words, 1 Hang Clean & Press, 1 Squat, 1 Chin-up, then 2 of each, then three, then four, etc. up to 9 of each for a total of 45 reps.
  • 45 reps of each weightlifting exercise: Dumbbell Hang Clean & Press, Back Squats, Chin-ups (weighted if desired).  If you don't have the required equipment, use a sandbag (throw sand, chains or gravel in an old duffle or backpack) and do Sandbag Hang Clean and Press, Sandbag Squats, and Sandbag Curls.  Warm up fully before you begin!
  • 45 reps of each calisthenic: Squats, Diamond Push-ups, Jackknifes, Get-ups, Side Lunges, Wall Touches.
  • 45 Drop Duck-Unders.  If you don't have a partner do them solo (if you have a hanging heavy bag, square off against that).  Video here.
  • 45 Striking Combos for power.  Go after your heavy bag with maximum malice, delivering 45 striking combos -- punches, kicks, elbows, knees, you-name-it (3 strikes per combo minimum).
  • 45 minutes of contemplation.  I'm an advocate of 10 mins of contemplation per day, but the occasional long session of 20 minutes or more can really open doors.  Set a timer, assume your posture of choice, regulate your breathing and allow your thoughts to dissipate like ripples in a pond.  Don't feel badly if you can't make the whole 45, just do the best you can.  If your legs cramp up and you have to stop after 30 minutes, pick up the other 15 minutes later that day.

The Climb: Training Involution #97

THE CLIMB: TRAINING INVOLUTION #97

 

  • Half Pyramid of Push-ups, Jumping Jacks and Squats (that’s 1 of each, 2 of each, 3, 4, etc.).  Beginners climb to 10 (55 total reps of each exercise), intermediate to 14 (105) , advanced to 17 (153).  Transition to Push-ups on knees or Half-Squats if you have to, just don’t quit.  Remember: this isn’t working out, this is training.
  • Heavy Bag Max Power Shots 5 x 2:00/:30.  Do your shots in combos half-pyramid-styled.  So throw 1 strike, skip a beat, then 2 shots, beat, 3 shots, etc. up to 10 shots.  Then start over until the round ends.  No lollygagging.  
  • Enjoy the view.  Cool down for about 2 mins and then set a timer for 10 mins.  Assume your meditative posture of choice, keeping eyes wide open as you regulate your breathing to your natural, regular rhythm.  Life is a climb and every moment presents its own unique view.  Look at it with your whole being.  Use your visual, symbolic, experiential mind not your linguistic mind.  Don’t let yourself think in words.  Reality is beautiful and everything is sacred.  Just look at it and experience it for 10 minutes.

Grab Bag: Training Involution #96

  • Grab your training dummy, set timer for 15 mins and execute your favorite throw as many times as you can before the timer beeps.  Don't have a training dummy?  Stuff a duffel bag with tightly folded linens.  
  • Grab your heavy bag and complete Wrestling Conditioner #1.
  • Meditate on the Shield of Achilles.  Assume your meditative posture of choice and place the image below at eye height -- either print it out or stand up your phone or tablet (making sure to adjust the sleep settings).  Regulate your breathing and fall into the image with your visual imagination.  Do not think in words -- just experience the picture.  Some people think that Homer's description is of an ancient Greek mandala.  When you're done, think about why Homer describes the other character's shields as being emblazoned with the heads of Gorgon and other monsters, images of panic and terror, and yet gives Greece's most devastating warrior a beautiful one depicting the whole range of human life and experience within nature and culture.

READ MORE...

This amazing interpretation of Achilles' shield was done by a high school student based on Homer's description from the Iliad -- click image to read the whole article!