In this section I will briefly take you through my life as far as movement goes, with images and videos.

 

As a child I really enjoyed basketball. I looked forward to playing soccer and other sports (tennis, TKD etc) as well; however the first activity I came to adore and devote tremendous hours to was skateboarding, when I was 13. Of all activities in my life up until now, the skateboard lifestyle was the most fun, the most adventurous. Skating through the city with friends, trying new tricks, befriending homeless people, getting kicked out by police and security, meeting other skaters, getting yelled at or cheered on by passer-by’s, slamming on concrete and getting back up to try again.

Enter the Barbell: The next passion came in the form of twins. A weight training class I took my second semester at IU changed my lifestyle immediately, and was coupled at the same time with my first JKD (Jeet Kune Do) class. Gradually the weight training and martial arts replaced skateboarding. I absolutely loved the feeling of progression every time I stepped in the gym and did better than last time. In JKD, everything was brand new and I was attending every extra class I knew of- I couldn’t get enough of the trapping, elbows, headbutts and new ways to move my body. Through weight training (specifically bodybuilding-style training) I learned so much about my body and how in functions, but also drew many metaphors between weight training and the flow of life. Overcoming challenges one step at a time rather than seeing the (often overwhelming) end goal as one step away was a big one. Weight training became a meditative activity, where I would devote as much attention as possible internally. This coincided perfectly with Bruce Lee’s martial art, and made me appreciate what he said in Enter the Dragon:

                  “Don’t think! Feel!”

This realization combined with the Zen Buddhism influence of JKD sprung me into studying eastern philosophy. Studying my mind, body and actions through this new filter taught me so much about how I relate to my environment, who I am, and what matters to me.

 

 

 

In the long red shorts on the right, me after about 1 year of weight training and JKD (I am about 35 pounds heavier in this picture then when I began!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early 2013 and I am still pursuing bodybuilding as a means of developing my body, but now more importantly observing my mind and learning about its patterns, limitations and design in general. Using weight training as a means to surpass the mind, and enter a space of emptiness. One day I applied the principle of remaining calm in a strenuous situation, and meditated between sparring rounds that day. My boxing and overall sparring abilities immediately skyrocketed. I also began studying and practicing Hatha Yoga.

Late 2013 I begin to explore new movement patterns.

By this time I had explored a dozen martial arts (from Hapkido and boxing to Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). I also began to stray from the aesthetics of bodybuilding and explore my physical strength.

The pursuit of strength had begun. All my workouts were to become stronger, to figure out how to move the barbell (and my body) the most efficiently. This newfound understanding translated well into the martial arts at the time, particularly BJJ. Mental relaxation in a time of stress. 

At this time I am really appreciating hiking and exploring the possibilities around me. Climbing rocks is by far one of my favorite activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In march I met some powerlifters through training in the gym, and we set up a mock meet (competition). 2 months later I decided to enter my first sanctioned powerlifting meet through USAPL. I had a blast and did not worry one bit about numbers (I competed no belt, no sleeves, and in converses). I went 7/9 (missed 2nd and 3rd deadlift attempts).

I had so much fun, met many people in the powerlifting community, and came back super motivated to train hard and be stronger! A great first experience. My training changed drastically after this meet; I learned to squat low bar, and began to train in lower rep ranges. I did poorly in my sumo deadlift (relative to my previous performances) and decided it was because of how much I practiced that specific movement. Sumo beat up my hips too much. So I began to train mostly conventional, and hitting sumo pulls for one or two reps after my conventional sets, and also after the conventional became too heavy. This has been working well for me ever since.

Random slingshot video that came about thanks to powerlifting and the bands I use for training.

New movements now include breakdancing (even put on a show 2 weeks into it!) and handstands, cartwheels, baby freezes and quadrupedal movements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Injury and terrible poison ivy reaction leads to a 2 week break from the gym; inverts ensue. This gave me the chance to explore some gymnastic-y movements at nearby playgrounds. Sloppy, but new.

After the hiatus, I decided to take my time and get back to where I was in the gym by taking an entire week to progressively work back up. It worked and ended in a full paused squat PR! 300 shown here, 315 afterwards.

 

More hiking! Movement and nature go hand in hand. Growth and nature go hand in hand. Growth and movement go hand in hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decide to enter another meet, 7 months from the last one. About 5 weeks out I begin a program called Smolov Jr. Squat. I felt my squat was proportionately my worst lift, so I wanted to allocate more attention to is. This had me squatting every other day for 6-10 sets of 3-6 reps. By the end I increased my max squat by 15 lbs. I also began a ketogenic diet in an effort to maintain my weight (and to give this diet another shot). 1 week out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 days out, I find some stuff in the back of the Iron Pit Gym:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet day: we (my friend Ethan Hetlzer drove down with me) walked around D.C. being tourists for 5 hours the day before-a big mistake! The day of, I had a pain in my foot that gradually worsened throughout the day, causing me to spend as much time off my foot as possible.

 

 

This 1st attempt did not count; my legs were not locked out enough (you can see how strict this is!)

Last 2 deadlifts were good. No bench vids. Missed 3rd squat, 1st bench and 1st deadlift.

Post meet meal.

 

1 week after this meet, my foot had been paralyzing me to the couch. Got an X-ray and apparently it was an “overuse injury” from walking too much (?). Anyways I went hiking with some friends in Luray, Virginia and further hurt my foot by not letting it rest. It was worth it. Also went to a Bassnectar and Pretty Lights 2 night show- dancing is wonderful for movement exploration- let it go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I am training hard for a meet in April (unsanctioned, at a local gym in Mooresville, Indiana). However there is talk of another Hoosier Open (USAPL) around the same time. Either way I will be training hard. I was given a belt and powerlifting shoes for my birthday and Christmas, they have taken my training up a level.

More hiking- Leonard Springs Park, Bloomington, IN

And again in Boulder, CO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventional Deadlift PR’s- training hard for the upcoming meet! (3 months)

Just tweaked my deadlift form a little (learned to engage my quads in the start position), and it has made a huge difference. I love seeing that I am still learning even on lifts I thought I had down. PR’ed 3 times (405×5, 425×3, 445×1) without a belt.

Also, I begin to explore movement in the Parkour domain:

I begin to incorporate more singles training, to help maintain posture under a heavy load. Started at 365, increased 10 lbs each week until…

Crazy congestion hits my body, along with mental fog and physical disease. I decide to try to remedy this through fasting. The entire first day, much water, supplements, and two large glasses of blended vegetables.

The next day, I woke up about 80% better! Repeated for one day and was at about 90%. The remaining 10% lingered for weeks. I will definitely consider fasting again for healing and ridding myself of disease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I began working part time at 9round, a kickboxing fitness gym in town. I really enjoy it, as I get to teach people movement and boxing, while getting to know them a little bit more personally. Really enjoying it! It seems the participants really appreciate me as well.

Arnold Sports fest 2015! My roomate Steve and friend Garrett (both from my class/major) traveled to Columbus, Ohio to attend the Friday-Sunday sports festival and expo. We saw many and met a few- Andrey Malanichev (worlds strongest powerlifter, Phil Heath (current Mr. Olympia), Top bodybuilders and strongmen (Dan Green, team Animal, Kai Greene, Jay Cutler, Bill Kazmaier etc) and the one and only Arnold waked right in front of us, about 4 feet away. We walked away with many free supplements and awesome memories.

 

 

Came home and soon began hitting PR after PR. 495 deadlift, 390 then 405 squat! (No vid of squats)

We (Steve and I) gathered most of the Fitness Specialist majors still in Bloomington, as well as a few from out of town together at our house. Very enjoyable and awesome that we are able to keep in touch and have a good time together. Maybe we will be helping each other out in the future.

 

 

3 weeks out from the Core Fitness Powerlifting Competition in Mooresville, IN. I have decided to compete, and convinced two friends I have been training with to enter as well. I feel my joints beginning to tire and am forced to take 6 days off, which had me worried because it threw off my training cycle so close to the meet. Anyways, I cam back, somehow with new insight on my technique, and spent the last 2 weeks practicing these newfound movements (bench press I had made no progress in the last 3 months, but realized I had been lowering the bar far too low. I began to lower it higher on my chest and instantly hit my current PR with relative ease. On the squats, I decided to push my knees out and forward more at the bottom of the lift, keeping my torso more upright, eliminating buttwink (a posterior pelvic tilt at the bottom of the lift) and yielding a greater stretch reflex. Unfortunately I only had about 1.5 weeks to practice before the meet, so I did not use these techniques under a heavy load until the meet.

Meet day! Nikhil Gupta, Austin Nicoson and I drove up to Mooresville for an outdoor powerlifting competition and Core Fitness Club. It was a well organized, fast paced and unsanctioned event with 45 lifters. We all made our first 2 squats, and missed the 3rd (all were very close though!). Same with Bench press, and deadlift Nikhil did not take a 3rd, I missed mine and Austin hit his. I weighed in at 181.7 (187 weight class) and hit 390lbs, 260 and 480. These were all my 2nd attempts and all meet PRs. I took 415, 270 and 505, barely missing them all (all being PRs). My technique tweaks held up well, save for the 415 squat where I was not able to maintain it. Nikhil and I placed 2nd in our respective divisions, and Austin 1st. I totaled 1130.  Happy with the progress, knowing what to emphasize in training, hungry and after a super fun time, we filled our bellies at Blueberry hill Pancake house and headed back to Btown.

 

 

On this last pull I became so determined to rip the weight off the floor that I omitted bracing my core the way I need to, so once I pulled it off the floor I could not complete the lift. My back had lost its tightness and no matter how hard I felt I was pulling, the bar would not budge.

Took a trip to Grand Cayman with my roommate and his family-a nice break from lifting. Came back and now, several weeks later, I am back in full force, breaking PR’s on all my lifts! Finally figured out what was holding my bench back (I would keep my elbows tucked in more than necessary, they were no longer directly under the bar. Yesterday I kept them directly under and smashed 275 for 2 singles, somewhat easily and good lifts with little leg drive. Also hit a 550 deadlift single, which would not count in a meet but I have been wanting this one for a while! I have been wanting 600 and am well on my way!

Also PR’ed my standing jump- 31 mats (not sure the height!)

Benched 295 for a single, and had more in me. No video. Meet coming up in 2 weeks, USAPL in Columbus, Ohio on the 12 of July. Been lifting heavier for singles, practicing my openers, second and perhaps 3rd attempts. Here is some footage:

Did 10×1 on this day, videoed 2 (happened to be 3/10 meh attempts, both videos were 2 of the 3), here’s one.

Here is my planned second deadlift attempt (going for 475, 530, 560):

This is much cleaner and more technical than the earlier 550, but also begins more slowly.

Lastly, a squat PR. I am planning 365, 405, 430 give or take 10 lbs. Here is 420- although it may be a tad high 🙁 not sure.

No bench vids but planning 270, 290, 305 ish.

 

1 week out, left deltoid (ligament I believe) began to limit my pressing- pain every time I unracked the bar from the bench, as well as during the eccentric and concentric phases (even with empty bar). Was able to work through it by performing many negatives with a spotter doing the concentric part for me. This taught me to support the weight with my back and quads as much as possible on the eccentric phase. During the meet warm-up I was able to bench without pain so long as the tension remained in my back and quads. Weighed in at 80.5kg (83kg class). Here are the 2nd and 3rd attempts:

 

I missed my opener deadlift @215/475, it came up easily yet I lost balance at the top, causing the bar to drop an inch before I locked it out, so no lift. In the warm-up room I also lost my balance once, which is unusual. This combination threw me off mentally and I was frustrated rather than focused. This cause me to not focus on my set up on the third attempt, missing it.