What exactly does "Strong(her)" stand for ?
In my mind it is women taking their mind over matter. In today's world just stepping into the gym or training is something women need to do more of. You don't have to lift heavy or be an expert, you need to step in and say "I'm here, teach me how to be strong" and Louiza is just one of the Ladies today who proved just that.
It's funny how it worked out on Sunday for bench training at the Elitefts S4 Compound, the women gathered together at one end of the gym around one bench and the men at the other end. Men in their bench shirt with their huge amount of plates and weight and the women in the other end starting with just the bar.
It wasn't long before the women were yelling down to the Men, Oh, P.R., wait, another P.R., Oh, wait, is that another P.R. no pressure but the boys had to crank it up, and of course it wasn't long until they were yelling back, P.R. they just take longer to get there !
Some of the ladies training today were beginners, some world record holders, some intermediate lifters but at the end of the day we all had one common goal. To be better than we were before we walked through the door. Not necessarily to set a P.R. but to learn how to be better, perfect our technique, what accessories to be done, so much to learn and no better environment than with a group of people that share the same passion, because as Dave Tate says, "Passion Trumps Everything"
Now, about those ladies and the bench presses.
Louiza is Nefi Charalambous-Darden's best friend. All the way from Cyprus, Louiza has never bench pressed before, so this was her first try. Let me tell you something, if ever there was a big heart, this lady has it. Her smile melted me, every time you gave her advice on anything she smiled and said "I will try" ! Ladies, all I can ask is that you try, try something new, try something you thought was never possible. Louiza has gained a huge amount of self esteem this weekend and I hope she carries that with her wherever she goes, and she promised me she would do planks and dead bugs every night before bed.
Louiza P.R.'d every lift because she never benched before but you will not believe she benched 125 Lbs first time benching. Like I said, surround yourself with the right people, like minded people and good things will happen.
Aneta and Jack came down for the Clint Darden seminar and happened to be travelling with myself and Ken so was able to train on Friday night and Sunday with the group, an extra bonus on top of the seminar for them both.
Aneta is always looking to improve, she was recently down for the PLE 2 and will drive 4 hours to train with us at our home gym. She is doing what it takes to be a world class powerlifter, she is just getting started, keep your eye on this girl, she is young and strong and you will see her often hitting that platform!
Aneta was not looking to P.R. today but was working on her technique so she did pause bench, the more she did the better it looked, that is what practice does. Aneta is currently 9 weeks out for her next meet the RPS meet in Kingston Ontario and is using the program the 5th Set from Swede Cory Burns. You can purchase this ebook from this link. Swede is the newest member of Team Elitefts and has so much to offer, a privilege to be on the same team !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7G3j2timc8&feature=youtu.be
Tamara flew in all the way from Gig Harbor, Washington to attend Clint Darden's seminar. She wanted to absorb as much as she could over the weekend, that included Bench, Squat, Deadlift, Olympic Lifting, Kettlebells and what ever else she could find time for so she trained Friday night, took the seminar all day Saturday and trained Sunday with the group. She is also Clint's Dr. and is amazing !
Tamara was a bit frustrated at times as everything she had been taught or shown before was (different). Learning new techniques can be challenging and frustrating especially if you have been taught differently and all along the way you thought you were doing it right. This is why I like to get different opinions on my lifts, train with different groups, ask for feedback and video tape my lifts to look for flaws.
Tamara is very strong, she cranked out the bench presses, this is her performing 165 Lbs!
Nefi, let's talk about Nefi, the "Strong(her)" part of the Dynamic Duo, Nefi & Clint Darden ! Nefi is a world class Silver Medalist Olympic Lifter, a sport I have personally only tried once at a seminar and I am not very good at. Olympic lifting is tough but Nefi makes it look easy, she is strong, explosive, precise and passionate. All the qualities it takes to be a good lifter. Nefi is learning more in-depth powerlifting moves, I think she watches Clint lift so much she is hooked!
Nefi had a lot of firsts this weekend and is always willing to try something new, Friday night we had her squatting in the Monolift for the 1st time. Today Nefi P.R.d her Bench press. This is Nefi pressing 125 lbs like it was butter !
Traci, awe yes, Traci Tate, Co-Founder of Elitefts, Mrs. Strong(her) herself. I love training with Traci, we thrive off each other's willingness to push hard, beyond our limits (I think she gets that from Dave). Every time I come to Elitefts I try and train with Traci, even though last time she damn near killed me, couldn't walk right for days from her so called leg day training. Today, we did my training, bench press and guess what, Traci hit a huge P.R., I think like a 20 Lb P.R., oh that's nothing..... Gezzzus... 20 Lb bench P.R. who does that ?
Traci is currently training for her next Fitness/Figure competition and has had some set backs and restrictions from heavy powerlifting in recent years so for Traci to come back today and take away the lighter rep training she is used to and get under some heavier weight again was monumental to me and to her.
Here is her 175 Lb Bench P.R.
As for me, I have been working a lot on my bench press lately, it is the weakest of my 3 lifts and I really have been working on technique, trying to make sure my decent is proper, working on staying tight and that my wrists stay above my elbows. I felt good today despite the busy weekend so far, between Friday night training, Saturday Seminar, Sunday training I wasn't sure how much energy I would have for bench. So of course I wanted to try and P.R.
It seems I never get much of a break because wherever I go someone always wants to learn about Kettlebells (or I want to show them) and I never mind at all teaching them, showing them some things, I love passing on my Kettlebell knowledge always. Sometimes I don't know when enough is enough, I push my body beyond limits. Not the sharpest tack in the drawer some times. Ask Ken and he would say, I'm my own worst enemy. Plus I'm old as dirt, that's me saying that not Ken.
I worked up to 195 Lbs, I asked Matt Ladewski if he would hand off and help me with my technique.I always value other's opinions and help especially world class lifters and coaches like Matt. I felt ok so I thought I would attempt 205. I have gotten 200 previously at the Arnold's and my last RPS meet in June and I hold 3 world records In Bench Press and about 6 National records, again, I'm old as dirt.
205 Lb Bench Press with the help of Matt Ladewski was a fail. I was tracking perfect on the way down, felt great but at the bottom my right shoulder/delt/bicep gave out. Shit, shit, shit, I was pissed, not that I missed the 205 but that I felt a serious injury occur. I have been battling a re-occuring annoying injury in that area over the past 8 months, ok, maybe longer but it has been feeling really good lately.
Anyway, point is, train smart, I thought I was but an injury still occurred which was unavoidable, nobody's fault, probably because again, I'm old as dirt. Awaiting Ultrasound and MRI test to determine the exact nature of the injury, this really sucks for several reasons, It's my right arm, It's my right arm and it's my right arm. Need I say more, I don't need to say I use it all the time, or I teach Kettlebells with it, or I am going to the World's in November to represent Team Canada and Team Elitefts, because at the end of the day that does not matter. What matters is how I overcome this injury, and it will be overcome, I have overcome much worse, I will come back stronger and more resilient and smarter, Injuries suck, watch Dave Tate's article
To the Strong(her) ladies I got to train with, Aneta, Nefi, Traci, Tamara, Louiza, congratulations to you all, for your strength, your dedication, your P.R.'s but mostly, for showing up, for walking through that gym door and saying "I'm here, teach me something" !
To Dave and Traci Tate for opening your gym to us to be able to train in such an amazing environment.
To Matt Ladewski for helping me with my bench, for interrupting his own training to take time to help me means the world to me.
To my rock, Ken for always encouraging me and getting me hooked on these crazy sports, without your passion, mine would be non-existent, oh and also for helping me get undressed with my arm injury !
To Clint Darden for allowing me and Ken to be a part of this amazing weekend. A weekend I will never forget, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you are truly an inspiration to all and I am beyond honoured that I got this opportunity.
Wow what a weekend, what a rush, what an honour to have this experience, to Live, Learn, Pass On.
I did really miss training with my good friend and Iron Sister Molly Edwards this weekend but as Arnold says, I'll be back !
UPDATE: Torn Rotator Cuff Bad news.
#teamelitefts #driven #stongher #elitefts #passiontrumpseverything
