I wanted to start the year by getting way out of my personal comfort zone and trying something entirely new. That’s why I accepted when physical therapist Shon Grosse invited me to join him and some of his neighbors and clients at his annual New Year’s Day workout. I think this is the third time he’s invited me. Shon’s training facility is about 30 miles south of me, and in the past it’s been hard to justify spending a couple hours away from the family on a holiday.
This year I made my excuses way in advance, and the weather was perfect. By the time we got outside to push sleds, it was 50 degrees. We were in shirtsleeves and sweating like farm workers.
The highlight, for me, came when we worked out on the gymnastic rings. In the video clip, you can see Shon doing an exercise he called tick-tocks. I don’t think anybody could do a single rep of those, much less an entire set, without some serious prep work. I was happy to get into a head-down vertical position with my torso straight (more or less) and hold that for a bit.
I also tried battling ropes for the first time. We did three sets of 20 seconds and a final set of 30 seconds. I only tried two of the variations you see in the video if you click the link, and it felt like a pretty good core workout. As Shon said, battling ropes aren’t something you build a cult around, but they’re a great tool to have for variety.
All in all, I can’t think of a better way to start the new year.
I couldn’t do any! I was happy to get into the top position and hold it there. I think I went from vertical to horizontal and back again one time, and that was like a workout in itself.
http://www.BretContreras.com Bret Contreras
Hey Lou, I met Shon last year in Providence at a Perform Better Summit and have kept in contact with him ever since. He’s a great guy. Glad you two met! -Bret
http://www.louschuler.com Lou Schuler
Bret, thanks! He mentioned that you guys have talked training at great length. He also dropped the name of some guy named “Cressey.” I guess that’s supposed to mean something …
http://www.2bfitoc.com Benjamin Ballinger
Hi Lou,
Just began reading your blog, liking what I’m seeing so far. I just had to comment on the battling ropes… I chuckled when you mentioned that it’s not something you built a cult around… I feel like ever since the UFC started showing fighter training video promos before a fight that included them using the ‘ropes, there have been a bunch of training facilities that latched onto them and use them as their primary training tool!
I wish I could find the video of the facility I saw that literally had about 20 ropes in it and hardly any other equipment. Pretty silly stuff.
