Yesterday was July 1 2009.  2009 is already half gone.  2010 will be here in a flash.  Are you where you want to be?

I am on track to hit most of my targets this year.  So far I have achieved…

• 3 consecutive Ring Muscle Ups
• Trampoline – back handspring, front flip, back flip
• started Bending steel
• Launched “Nitro” which has become a entourage favorite (he’ll be back soon!)
• Held the first ever Million Inch Challenge

and a few more.  Some of my training goals are on hold because I found something that may actually fix my back and allow me to hit huge PRs at the end of this year and into the beginning of next year.  So I hit a fork in the road that was semi-forced.  Over the long haul, this slight deviation in training will yield much greater development.  So I’m cool with that.

Now what about YOU?  How many of your Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) have you met?

Why
or why not?  I don’t deal well with excuses.  If you have forgotten the
mass excuse list go here:  What’s YOUR Excuse?

How many training sessions have you missed?
How many healthy meals have you missed?
How many times have you told someone that 2009 is going to be the year to hit your body transformation goals (and so far you’ve fell short)?

Are you serious about getting in the best shape of your life yet in 2009?  You have 6 months.  We can do a major overhaul in 6 months.  I’ve seen it and you’ve seen it in the before and after pictures on this blog.

When you decide it’s time to “Crank it” visit here:

Crank it!
B-Rad

P.S. I also have 1 slot open for online training.  Serious inquiries only.

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Those of you following me know I have been working on Muscle Ups on the Rings.  I finally got one this past Saturday…and then I got 5 more singles.  Here are a couple on video.

Take-away => Being a student again & learning new skills are challenging at times, frustrating at times, but EXACTLY what my nervous system needs…novelty in training.

Pursue your goals.  Give me status updates in the “Comments” section on your 2009 goals thus far.

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Update on my gymnastics journey.  Here are some vids of Back Hand Spring practice.  Decent for 2 sessions.  these are from 3-18-09.  I will post front flip practice soon.

Lesson:  Keep going after your goals.  You will reach them!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Ladies…you keep reading too!

Balls.  Big Bull Balls is what we’re talking about.  Today, I’m going to kick you in the ass about trying something new.  Some of you are so stuck in your routines about everything in life from using the same toothpaste to wearing the same clothes to doing the same workout over and over and over again that it makes me want to puke.  2009 is THE year to do something different.  Do you have the BALLS to do something different?

Yesterday marked a landmark day in U.S. history with President Obama being ushered into the White House.  Whether you agree or disagree (I disagree with many…but I do with most presidents) with his policy, you must understand this is a new era.  He is  the FIRST African-American President ever.  He is the YOUNGEST president EVER. He is eager to change some things.

We will have to wait and see what will come in the months ahead as he has some serious issues to deal with and a lot of hope and peace of mind to restore to the people of America.  Obama’s got BALLS regardless if you like him or what he stands for and I at the very least can respect BALLS.  Ok enough of the political b.s.  Let’s get back on purpose.

Monday night I was finally able to attend my first Adult Gymnastics Open Gym at Gleason’s Gymnastics School in Eagan (kick ass gymnastics center by the way).  It’s “Adult” in the sense there are no little 6-year old kids there to point fingers at me and say “Mister, why can’t you do this?” and proceed to land a perfect back handspring to back-flip and says “this is easy” and then walks away not understanding how that little comment will force me into spite mode so I can return 6 months later and go “Hey Suzy, WATCH THISSSSSS!” as I return the favor.

So a 20-something female “tutored” my friend and I on gymnastics basics.  Went something like this:  “I’m going to have you guys warm-up on the trampoline…”

-10 consecutive jumps landing in the same place (WAY harder than it sounds on a “Super” tramp…no, not the band)

-alternate these 3 jumps

Tuck jumps

Pike jumps

Straddle jumps

-add a 180-degree turn after each one

-learn Front drop back to standing

-learn Back drop back to standing

-learn Butt drop back to standing

-do each of the previous 3
alternating between each AND doing a 180-degree turn

**Did I mention that we are 75 minutes in and still “warming-up” … Welcome to the BEATDOWN!

Then it was time to move to Floor Exercises:
Handstand progresssions

-Tuck bounce

-1 leg kick up

+Pike land

+straddle land

*I was very close the first night to stabilizing myself in a handstand for the first time ever

-Finished with cartwheels (which I was definitely pa-thet-ic at!)

I’m going out on a limb and saying by noon next Tuesday I’ll be able to do this in perfect form

So what is my point of telling you about gymnastics class?  Well, a few posts back I discussed some of my BHAGs and one of them is to learn some serious gymnastics’ skills in ‘09.  I am committed to going a minimum of once per week and twice when time allows so I can get better by CHALLENGING myself to learn something new (next I’m pondering taking cooking classes…my wife may laugh convulsively at this )

So have YOU taken action on any of your BHAGs?  Are YOU going to try something new, out-of-the-box, way outside your comfort zone this year? this month?  Are you willing to be a “beginner” at something to feel the uneasy feeling that you don’t have a clue what the hell you are doing?  Are you willing to fail forward until you learn a new skill or activity?  If you’re a parent, and NOT challenging yourself, what kind of message is that sending to your kids?

I hear a lot of people talk about doing things but I don’t see them TAKE ACTION.  I’m talking about ANY NEW ACTIVITY that you’ve been “thinking” about trying.  No try, just DO.  For example, I hear a lot of people talk about kettlebell training and say “that looks really hard.”  That translated means “I’m a sissy and too lazy to get off my ass and learn kettlebells.”  Get over yourself and do it.  Whatever “it” is.

So here’s the take away:

*YOU are one decision away from being “young” regardless of your actual age

**and the battle cry of Michigan Fab Five from the 90s before entering every single game:

“Let Your Nuts Hang!”

B-Rad

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Yesterday I reviewed 2008 and I told you I was going to let you in on a few of my goals for this year.  I’m putting them out there for all of you to see to stoke some accountability–which will get you further than anything when it comes to follow through.  Here they are…

Business Goals

1 BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) #1 Influence and challenge 1,000,000 people in 2009 to step up and better their health and fitness.   Going to need YOUR help on this one spreading the word.

2 BHAG #2 Help 100,000 people lose at least 10 inches of FAT in the Twin Cities by May 1st with the Million Inch Challenge.  Going to need YOUR help on this one as well.

3 Spread the tentacles of REAL training & fitness through RAD Boot Camp.

4 Create a minimum of 3 information products that perpetuate The TRUTH about losing fat and keeping it off.

5  There are a lot more but, these three are the heavy weights

Training Goals

1 Perform a kipping muscle-up on the rings by 3-1-09
Here’s a tutorial on a muscle-up from Jim at Beast Skills

2 Perform a strict muscle-up on the rings by 5-1-09

3 Lever 16lb Sledge by 4-1-09
Great example of Sledge Levering by Scottie at Iron Claw Strength

4 Perform 40 bodyweight pull-ups straight by 9-1-09

5 Complete the Beast Challenge all with 48kg Kettlebell 4-17-09
48kg Pull-up
48kg Pistol
48kg Military Press

6 Deadlift 525 by 10-13-09

7 5-minute Snatch test – 120 reps with 32kg kettlebell by 11-1-09  (my best is 87 with minimal training)

8 Double Kettlebell 32kg Pistol 6-1-09

9 Double Kettlebell Clean and Press 32kgs x 20 reps straight by 10-13-08

10 Have fun with adult gymnastics learning:
Standing Back Flip
Standing Kick Flip
Floor Kip Up
Running Front Flip

11 Compete and more importantly take a TEAM with me to either
Camp Pendleton Mud Run in June

or
Volkslauf in October

*some of these goals I will be able to accomplish with ease.  Some of these goals are BB goals… Brass Balls.

YOU have to throw out some Brass Balls goals if you’re going to get anywhere.

Since you’ve read this far, leave your top 3 goals for 2009 in the comments section.

Welcome to the Beatdown!

B-Rad

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