A thought and a "Jackie" breakdown

"When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody’s bothering to tell you anymore, that’s a very bad place to be. Your critics are your ones telling you they still love you and care."

- Randy Pausch

That's why I'm always on your case. That's why I want you watching your peers in the gym. We are a community and we only grow when we grow together.

See you Saturday for RAINSTORM. Our gym. High Noon. Be there.

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"JACKIE"
for time:
1000m row
50 thrusters, 45lbs
30 pullups

The beauty of this workout is that each movement is a classic example of core-to-extremity work.

• Rowing has a specific cadence: "legs, arms/ arms, legs". Obviously there's a lot more to it, but this is these are the basics. Driving hard with the legs through the heels, momentum shoots backward. The posterior chain and hip move simultaneously to increase the hip angle, adding to the momentum. The movement is finished by engaging the rhomboid muscles between the shoulder blades allowing the arms to pull the handle to (and through!) the body to complete a powerful stroke. Simply reverse the mini-movements and you have the catch. Rinse, wash, repeat and you are rowing.
  
• A Thruster is the same beast. Whereas each part of Rowing are pulls, Thrusters are pushes. Split apart the thruster is a front squat + a push press. Guess what cue I use for cadence? "Legs, arms/ arms, legs". Starting in a proper stance and rack position with the bar resting on the body (chest/deltoids), descend into a squat. From the hole (hip crease falls below the top of the patella), driving hard with the legs through the heels, momentum shoots upward. The posterior chain and hip move simultaneously to increase the hip angle, adding to the momentum. (Those two sentences should sound familiar). Shoulders activate, the bar leaves the body, arms punch toward the sky until full lockout with the bar traveling in the frontal plane. BAM! You done did thrusted. Reverse this beautiful little movement and you're back in position ready to do it again!
• When we say "Pullup" we mean CrossFit's generic version: the kipping pullup. It should've been explained to you already why this is such a much more efficient version and why you should do more. If it hasn't COME SEE ME! As humans we can generate plenty of momentum moving forward and back, left and right. It's going up and down that's difficult. We have to fight this thing called gravity. For our kipping pullup (gymnastic, frog/Annie-style, AFT/OPT/rotary/circular/butterfly/whathaveyou, the Mikey) we get a swing going by opening and closing our hips and shoulders. We manipulate and redirect the momentum to shoot us upward until our chin gets over hand-level, or until your chest hits the bar if you're that damn good. Repeat until you rip your hands.

"Jackie" was meant to be a 'girls workout', but is difficult from the technique standpoint (AND I'M A FORM NAZI!). Find it easy? Go three rounds for time. Try it.