Competed at the APF-AAPF Orlando Barbell Florida State Meet and won Best Female Raw Lifter: 297/181/352.5.
Current total: 830.5 at 132 lb BW
Qualified National Strongman competitor and will be competing in Nationals this coming October to qualify for The Arnold in 2016
I am here to live, learn, and pass on.
As you may all know, or not know, I compete in both strongman and powerlifting. I have more experience with powerlifting than I do with strongman; strongman is something I started doing for fun. Of course, knowing my competitive self, I knew this was a sport I wanted to pursue, as well, after my first competition. Feeling happy with my results from this past powerlifting meet, I was ready to move on to the next thing (I like to keep busy). So I texted the owner of The Battleaxe Gym , Mike, and wrote to him "I'm ready to play." He replied "Saturday, 7am."
Well....I showed up at 8am. I like to live dangerously. But I made it and my old strongman training partner arrived just around the same time, so it was perfect.
Saturdays agenda:
Continental presses with the axle bar - 5 x 3
As I was working up to heavier weight, my form and explosiveness worsened because I was re-learning the technique (she wasn't readyyyyyy). Grip strength is not up to par and I was just not quick enough under the bar, so adding more weight was not smart on my part. I lowered the weight to finish my sets, then deloaded the axel to focus only on the clean (technique) for 10 x 1.
For those of you who don't know what continental presses are, it is similar to a clean and press. Your footing and hand placements are exactly how you would set up for a clean, difference is you place your dominant hand under the bar (like how you would deadlift). You clean the axle (a fat bar with no revolving ends, all grip work) and set the bar right above your abs (solar plexus for you anatomy nerds). This is the tough part: it is important to keep tight and use big air (big belly) when placing the axle above the abs (ladies, careful with the tatas) and end with a double overhand grip. This is where explosiveness and advantage of stretch reflex will work in your favor. Clean the axel to rack position. This requires a lot of grip strength and hip explosiveness. Then press and finish with your body upright. Technique is something I really need work on but it's a great upper back movement if you ever want to add it to your training.
The continental press was one of the events in my first strongman competition. I'm excited to see my progress along with other movements I am not so good at or haven't done in a while.
Aftermath 🙂
Superset: Backward sled drags x Keg walks - 4 x 100 ft
Stones (to the shoulders) - 5 x 6
Thank you for being a part of my journey. Suggestions and comments are always welcomed!
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