tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832598581894578492024-02-19T09:18:13.579-08:00TRAIN HARDstyle.<u>Nikki Shlosser, SFG II's blog</u>
<br><br>I am a Level II SFG Certified Kettlebell Instructor based in Pacific Palisades, CA.<br><br><u><a href="mailto:TRAINHARDstyle@yahoo.com">Private training</a></u> by appointment. Location is flexible. All communication is strictly confidential.Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-28184402424864042382011-02-10T14:10:00.000-08:002011-02-10T14:14:26.361-08:00Breaking Down a Bad GetupFor a beautiful break-down of exactly what is so wrong with Bob Harper's getup demonstration... please visit the brilliant blog of RKC Josh Hillis.http://joshsgarage.typepad.com/articles/2011/02/bob-harper-from-biggest-loser-how-to-do-turkish-get-ups-wrong.htmlNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-38445045438551329682011-02-03T00:13:00.001-08:002011-02-03T09:42:12.074-08:00Hardstyle Military Press, some thoughtsWhat it isn't:Just pushing some weight overhead. Easily, repetitively. While chatting about American Idol. It also isn't the military press machine at the gym. Select your weight, sit down, and push the handles up however many times. The only thing you're thinking about is where to put the pin.What it IS:Learning how to firmly wedge yourself between the earth and the object (kettlebell). (Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-87292057482010015772011-01-19T11:54:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:39:09.081-08:00Easy Strength and MyelinI recently read The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. I highly recommend this book! This morning I was reflecting a bit on my Easy Strength 40-day gains...specifically, the mental component of the program. After reading The Talent Code, I can't help but wonder how much the mental part contributed to those gains. By "mental part" I mean the conscious, calculating attention paid to every movement. Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-88229503795286532222011-01-19T11:41:00.000-08:002011-01-19T11:46:45.215-08:00It's Facebook's FaultSo Facebook made it easy to keep up on what everyone's doing, thinking about, learning... blogging fell away completely! I think it's time to come back, though. Facebook is more conducive to little blurbs, as opposed to my usual lengthy ramblings. The blog's the better place for that. And, having now completed my first Easy Strength 40-day program, there is a lot to talk about!Updates will beNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-80302518240210898432009-12-01T15:31:00.000-08:002011-01-19T11:47:39.890-08:00Tough love: High-gear, end of year VWCI received a loving roundhouse kick to the ass today from my friends Rif and Jordan.The topic:Meeting my second MVO2 goal by the end of 2009 (80 sets of 7 with the 16kg).So, I've got a month. Perfect! I have been uber-shamefully-lax with my own training, with travel, study, work, class, and teaching schedules taking over my waking hours. While it's not like I can cut that down any, I just haveNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-36695799590248675552009-10-31T19:57:00.000-07:002009-10-31T19:59:25.744-07:00Face-the-wall squats a piece of cake?Now that you can do these without much difficulty, with your toes touching the wall, of course - try them with your arms overhead, sort of a naked overhead face-the-wall squat. :)Enjoy!Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-60871409860902940702009-10-06T13:18:00.000-07:002011-01-19T11:40:18.101-08:00The Psychology of PostureFrom today's Reuters news:"Sitting up straight isn't only good for your back -- a new study has found it also boosts self-confidence and reinforces positive thoughts." Article linked below.What does this have to do with kettlebell training? Well, seeing as how hardstyle kettlebell training is everything to do with posture and movement - quite a lot! I can tell you first-hand that the body Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-62123766279217948492009-08-25T11:47:00.000-07:002009-08-25T11:51:03.712-07:00Mystery right arm weakness*shrug* No idea.Floor press - lost about 15# of strength, with no explanation.Military press - most tries miss the 24kg press. (yet I still have a BU 20kg press.) The frustration after each miss is exquisite. 24kg continuous TGU - can only achieve 3, rather than 5.What is going on???My left arm (non-dominant) is all of a sudden stronger than my right. More precisely - it hasn't gotten Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-164557988816991022009-08-05T09:36:00.001-07:002009-08-05T09:51:15.473-07:00Floor PressI tried something new last night... after my deadlifts at Gold's Gym, I walked over to the "free weights," grabbed a 75lb dumbbell, and did a few sets of floor presses.Why?It seems like the floor press (pressing to firing range position) is the weakest part of my TGU. The other day, I tried a 36kg (79lb) TGU again, and couldn't even floor press the thing. After getting ten SOLID getups with theNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-63268195963400608752009-07-23T17:09:00.001-07:002009-07-23T17:19:13.371-07:00Wish ListCK-FMS Cert in May (biggest wish)OC Workshop in SeptemberVentura Workshop (and it's sold out now.) in OctoberSacramento Workshop in DecemberRKC II Cert in FebruaryFunds to pay for it all. :)http://www.dragondoor.com/author_workshops.htmlNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-54479351049920542762009-06-22T21:27:00.001-07:002009-06-22T21:29:03.812-07:00Interesting.I like it.24kg TGU descending ladder, continuous reps each side.4L/4R3L/3R2L/2R1L/1RNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-78924671049755276992009-06-21T16:57:00.001-07:002009-06-21T17:09:18.003-07:00Low-TechWhat to do when you're working on swings or snatches, and your hands are slippery or greasy? I put on some sunscreen earlier, and even after washing my hands with lots of hot soapy lather, TWICE!, there was STILL some slippery residue left when I started snatching. So if washing it off doesn't work, what does?Rubbing your palms in the grass. Like magic! Today and Friday, practiced 24kg Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-73911350733434558562009-06-11T21:57:00.000-07:002009-06-11T21:58:33.270-07:00April '09 RKC Certification VideoI don't believe I posted this before.... so here it is.:)Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-66590014802930971942009-06-04T11:02:00.000-07:002009-06-04T12:20:53.545-07:00On footwear - again, CONTEXT is King.As many of you know, the topic of appropriate kettlebell training footwear has been discussed exhaustively, on blogs, at RKCs, in books, on the forums. The standard is: Barefoot, or a thin, flat, hard sole. Nothing cushy. [If you are not yet familiar with the reasons for this, the primary reasons are: 1) Rooting and 2) Activation (as opposed to suppression) of mechanoreceptors.] Until todayNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-46493877625499921762009-06-03T10:09:00.000-07:002009-06-03T10:19:37.471-07:00Another Hazard in Kettlebell TrainingLong fingernails!Keep em short, otherwise you'll squeeze them right into the flesh of your palm. Not good!And on the topic of hand care, my two favorite callous tools are:PedEg. They're at most grocery/drug stores, or online.Diamancel callous conquerer, also online, and also to be used dry. You need a file to reach the callous under your ring fingers (PedEg won't reach it), and this one works Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-55038761159293304192009-05-27T20:09:00.001-07:002009-05-27T20:22:03.880-07:00Caution - A Hazard of Kettlebell TrainingIf you practice hardstyle kettlebell training, you may undergo sudden, unexpected fatloss. If this should occur, you may experience simultaneous loosening of your training shorts or pants. Please be advised that when your pants start hanging off your hips, butt and thighs, performing a tight backswing (as with kettlebell swings or snatches) becomes a challenge, as the area of your pants Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-73119846516967246832009-05-22T10:57:00.000-07:002009-05-22T11:14:21.822-07:00Okay Now Tense Even HarderYou know how Pavel says that when we tense "as hard as we can," and are then told to tense even harder...and we do... so that obviously, the "as hard as you can," wasn't really?Principle in action last night, practicing 20kg presses.(Which, by the way, have gotten much weaker! Lack of practice.)Anyway, the point of the blog post is this: I am FULLY aware of the importance of tightening your Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-39318403306712232792009-05-21T09:59:00.000-07:002009-05-21T10:09:02.033-07:00MVO2 is a real A$$ Kicker.Really.Wednesday finally made it to 50 sets of 7 on 16kg :15/:15 MVO2. Annoyingly, Monday's 40 sets were much easier, but restricted to 40 on account of blister threats. So it goes!Did not do any pistols. I don't think pistols go with MVO2. Where to fit them in... Fridays probably? Randomly during the day, whenever? I'm realizing why setting up a specific schedule has been so difficult! :)Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-83122999008836467352009-05-19T15:24:00.001-07:002009-05-19T15:44:16.839-07:00Refining the Training PlanThis was sooo necessary. I know the list of goals is still a bit too long to attack very effectively... but I don't want to abandon any of them. Monday - MVO2, pistolsTuesday - 16kg BUP, deadliftWednesday - MVO2, pistolsThursday - 20kg & 24kg MP, deadlift, MAYBE some 16kg BU getupsFriday - 28kg getupsSaturday - 20kg snatches, maybe add-in Sunday's workSunday (only if feeling good) - 16kg BU Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-23425605613381727582009-05-15T09:50:00.000-07:002009-05-15T10:14:16.590-07:00Is a Kettlebell Really Expensive?Let's think of it yet another way. If you transition from running or standard "gym" workouts to kettlebell training, you won't have to keep buying expensive running shoes. Kettlebell training is best done barefoot!16kg Dragon Door kettlebell:$113.45 (this includes shipping.)The bell will last you a lifetime. Nike Shox: $110The shoes will need to be replaced every 300 miles. They might last a Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-7811064874402363432009-05-13T09:39:00.000-07:002009-05-13T10:09:49.793-07:00Student Surpasses InstructorYES!!!I would like to take this moment to brag about one of my students, Rachel. She has been one of our most dedicated and focused kettlebell students - as well as one of our very first. She ALWAYS gives her full effort at class, with laser-like focus and attention to every detail. You can see the internal awareness, the focus on compression, linkage, tension. Not to mention the willingnessNikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-66904258276056509822009-05-12T09:17:00.001-07:002009-05-12T10:28:21.256-07:00BASELINEKettlebell training in Palisades Park, Santa Monica. The "front yard." I took my time last night, the weather was perfect. It's just such a nice place to be. Well, with the exception of a group nearby being led to perform 10lb front raises, I'm sure under the title of "kettlebell swings." Uuuugghhhhhhhh that's so hard to take. Seriously. I wonder what their instructor said regarding my "Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-41018730687846762532009-05-11T09:48:00.000-07:002009-05-11T10:29:24.820-07:00The New RKC Snatch Test - It's Not Easy! And a weightloss update.Well, for some it may be easy - Gabi, Peggy, Laura, Amy - just some names that come to mind. Then again, considering the snatch training I've been doing, I thought the test would be much easier than it was. It is no cake-walk!100 16kg snatches in 4:30. With a rest after 60 reps. So there you have it. Lots of progress can and should be made here. Is 16kg MVO2 sufficient? Perhaps not - this Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-46472064878090084942009-04-27T10:41:00.000-07:002009-04-27T10:53:11.724-07:00Another update on 2009 Goals*Press the 28kg*still not close. Did push press it the other day, and very nearly push-pressed the 32.... presses have been weak lately - I've been neglecting them.*BU press the 20kg*Achieved April 9, but this is not consistent - I miss it a lot (most?) of the time. *BU TGU the 16kg on the left*achieved in February *BU TGU the 20kg on the right*came incredibly close a while ago. Need to try it Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3083259858189457849.post-37910903343348053142009-04-13T17:01:00.000-07:002009-04-13T17:22:03.041-07:00Kettlebell demonstration on The Biggest LoserThis is what NOT to do, guys.Please, please do not let any of your friends take kettlebell training tips from Jillian Michaels. (Or any other non-RKC for that matter!) Please do not use a tiny blue 10lb(?) kettlebell and expect to get any results. Please view this video as a great example of what to avoid! If you have a trainer who advocates these ridiculous front raises - run away, and Nikki Shlosserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06061160338808401644noreply@blogger.com7