New member, UK

[strawdog]

Hello to everyone on the forum.

I'm Mike, a 47 year old man from the UK. I've been involved in 'training' since my early 20s, primarily in endurance based sports, i.e. running, and latterly, rowing, though I've always done a lot of flexibility work and some pretty hopeless weight training protocols. I'm 6 feet two and weigh around 81 kilos (yes, I'm very lean).

However, a desk bound job, and then a few year ago, a work place accident, left me with an unstable neck and a lower back/pelvic injury that took about 2 years to rehab. Since then, I've had to totally rethink my approach to training. I was fortunate to come across Stuart McGill's work on core 'superstiffness' and Gray Cook's 'functional movement' philosophy. As both these guys are keen on Pavel Tsatsouline's 'Naked Warrior', I'm really getting into the whole body strength/control idea. And that's why I'm here.

I can do some pretty high level planks but still haven't mastered plyo or one-armed push-ups, or the dreaded pistols. I do a lot of warrior 3/single leg deadlifts, chins, and cable chops/lifts at my local gym. Doing the w3/sldls really seems to annoy some of the pumped-up muscle heads that congregate around the single station machines :-P I'm supplementing all that stuff with tai chi/yoga/pilates and introductory martial arts classes. I'd like to work with kettlebells eventually too. Somehow, I don't think I'll every get back to doing long sessions on the rowing erg:!:

Anyway, I'm happy to be here, and my best wishes to you all.

Mike.

[Dave.cyco]

Hey Mike, A.K.A. Strawdog! Welcome to BWC.

I am a 6'6" 84 kg guy so I know where you are coming from. I have also spent a good part of my life working endurance and flexibility (martial arts since I was 14, commuting cyclist by choice, bodyweight strength and conditioning since my mid-twenties). I am 27 years old now, and just foined a commercial gym for the first time a couple months, and my second time ever, because of a rowing class that one of my friends is teaching. Very good workout!

Kettlebells are a great tool, and I highly recommend them, in fact I have a session planned for this afternoon, which I will explain in detail in my workout log once I have done it.

I do hope you stick around, there are a lot of things we could learn from one such as yourself, so please start a training log in the Your Workout section, and I will be sure to tune in!

[strawdog]

Hello Dave,

thank you very much for your welcome. It's good to know that there are other tall, lean guys out there who are also interested in 'functional' strength.

Regarding the rowing class you mentioned, I presume that it's conducted on Concept2 ergs? Rowing tends to favour height, it also requires a lot of strength endurance, so I'm sure that you'll do well. I'm sure that your friend is coaching you all correct technique, but I cannot emphasise how important keeping a tall spine and core control is in order to avoid injury.

I can bore you to death on technique if you have any questions :-) I used to row on water during my university years, and participated in the rather bizzare 'sport' of ergometer rowing for quite a few years too.

Currently, I do not have access to kettlebells, nor do I know of any local trainers (we're stuck in the fitness dark ages in the area of the UK I reside in :(). Therefore, I'll have to self-coach once I purchase some kbs. I was thinking of getting a hold of Pavel's latest kb DVD and book to learn the basics. Do you have any other suggestions? Also, I'm unsure about what size of kb I should get. I have to be very, very strict on technique owing to my injury history, so I was thinking along the lines of a 12kg bell initially. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Once I know my way around the site, I'll post my workouts and maybe my training 'philosophy', as you've probably guessed, I'm very much into 'fitness'.

Regards,

Mike.

[Dave.cyco]

I appreciate that. PM me with some rowing tips if you'd be so kind. We do ride Concept2 ergs.

Mike, I found that a 16 kg bell was alot lighter after a week or two than it felt the first day, and I grew in to it very quickly. With your background it is reasonable for you to start there.

Kettlebell technique is quite simple and I would be happy to answer your questions any time. I'll also send you a PM with more info.

[bat__ninja]

welcome to bwc:) im new myself, and i think we joined on the same day, lol

what martial arts are you studying?

[Sleeping Turtle]

welcome ;)