Steve Whitmore

Monday, January 19, 2015

SS Weekly Report January 19, 2015

The Starting Strength Weekly Report 2015-01-19: Topics from the Forums: “What’s the solution [to problems in the field of Physical Therapy]?” and “Maxing Squats Every Day” . This week Under the Bar: Rippetoes et al. View report in browser View report archive var addthis_config = {"data_track_addressbar":true};

Creatine for CrossFit

Deep within muscle is a fierce nutrient that fights to extend high-intensity muscle action for as long as it ... READ MORE »

Pop Up to the Top Challenge - Week 2

This week, you will master multiple forearm pull ups on your way to the full tuck pop up.

inov-8 f-lite 235 (Product Review)

These shoes were created with functional fitness in mind, and they stand out from other inov-8 products I've tried.

Jacob Marinez has wanted to be a firefighter in Phoenix, Arizona, for as long as he can remember. He worked hard in school, got a college education and started CrossFit to ensure he was physically ready for the challenges of the job.

“My goal after high school was to go to college, get my degree and get on the fire department,” says Marinez, whose father, uncle and cousin have served as firefighters in Phoenix. “It’s an extended part of my family.”

Marinez, 23, is still working toward his dream job.

Throughout his life, Marinez has had one big obstacle: living with Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements or “tics” of the face, arms or limbs.

Once embarrassed by his twitches, Marinez has learned to control them with the help of CrossFit and good nutrition. A member of Urban WarFit CrossFit, he’s found a place where he feels comfortable.

“The moment that kid grabs a bar or a pull-up bar or that ‘3-2-1 … go!’ hits, it’s like all of a sudden, this technical machine comes out,” says Rob Pyfer, owner of Urban WarFit CrossFit. “And he’s methodical, and he moves through it, and he just has a really good understanding of how to wrap his brain around whatever that set work is in front of him.”

Through the confidence he’s gained from CrossFit, Marinez has started to compete, using his twitching to help him prepare.

“I kind of use it as my strength,” he says. “You’ll definitely see (the twitching), and I challenge all of you people watching this, if you see me out there competing, notice what I’m doing when I’m warming up—things I do with my neck and with my shoulders. I’ll twitch, and that’s that Tourette’s coming out.”

He adds: “Now it’s kind of like my way of getting ready for a workout. It’s my drive.”

Video by Ali Adib

7min 58sec

Additional reading: “Exercise Is the Drug” by Chris Cooper, published Dec. 8, 2013.

2 Ways to Bulletproof the Freestanding Handstand

Learn two quick, powerful tips to improve your freestanding handstand.

The handstand is a symbol of body integration and impressive control. But one of the hardest parts is learning how to do it unsupported, with good technique. In order to improve, focus on basic progressions and the minute details that will add up to big changes.

CrossFit Radio Episode 364

On Episode 364 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed Clay Hamilton, owner of CrossFit Alaska. This episode was webcast on Jan. 14, 2015.

:50 When Clay Hamilton and his wife, Rachel, opened CrossFit Alaska in 2008, it was one of the first 300 affiliates. Clay spoke about the risks of opening a gym when nobody in the area had heard of CrossFit, and he talked about the changes to his box and business over time. For instance, he said his wife had an immediate effect on their success when she started working full time at CrossFit Alaska. Clay also described the programs and events at the gym, and he said he tries to create fitness and foster community inside his affiliate and in Anchorage itself.