Handstand Hold – Page 10 – Nick Momrik's Fitness Logs

Something New

Felt a little sick shoveling snow this morning but I think it was the extra caffeine I had in the Protein Energy mix this morning.

Warm-up

PVC Pass-thrus
Band Pulls

Strength – Bench Press

8×45#
8×95
4×135
4×165
4×195
4×215
4×230
4×245 (PR)

Felt heavy and the lift-off bugged me. Maybe due to my shoulder? Wanted to get 245-250 after getting 5×240 a couple weeks ago so I’ll take it.

Conditioning

Open Workout 11.6 / 12.5
7:00 AMRAP
3-6-9-12…

Thruster (100/65)
C2B Pull-up

My previous best was finishing the round of 12 and getting 6 more thrusters. Today I finished the 15s and a thruster. PR by 25 reps!

The pull-ups did not feel good on my shoulder in the first 3 sets. Maybe it just went numb after that. I did 3 & 6 unbroken then when I had to do 3-3-singles I was worried. I think maybe it was just the quick turnaround from the set of 6, because I did the rounds of 12 and 15 with sets of 3s no problem. Thrusters were unbroken through 9, then 7-5 and 6-5-4. If I had to do it again soon I’d try the 12 unbroken, do the 15 in 2 sets and try to do chest to bar in all sets of 3 except for the 6.

Midline / Skill

4 Sets
- 20s L-sit (rings)
- 10s Rest
30s Rest
4 Sets
- 20s Handstand Hold
- 10s Rest
30s Rest
4 Sets
- 20s Double Unders
- 10s Rest

The L-sits seemed a lot harder than usual after that workout. This was a tough little combination on the shoulders. I went 35-36-35-25 on double unders. Missed up twice back-to-back on the last set and didn’t have time to start back up.

Skill

30 Inverted Burpees

I’ve wanted to do try these but always forget. Was reminded of them a CrossFit HQ video this week. Pretty fun. I did sets of 5 and started getting the hand of going from candlestick right into the kick up. For the second half I started kicking up with two feet at once which was something new for me as well. I felt like it worked the shoulders and strength more than a lunge into one leg up at a time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAXfnJUnqDe/

Get Nasty With The Girls

My legs were surprisingly tired this morning. The squats I did yesterday were nothing crazy. Went to the gym at 10am.

Skill WOD Hustle & Flow Week 4 Day 2

Warm-up

3 sets

10 Pass-thrus
10 Hollow Rocks
10 Arch Ups
10 Narrow Grip OHS (45#)
10s Bottom of Dip Hold
10 Bridge Rocks

Skill

4 Sets

Freestanding HS Hold practice
16 Shoulder Taps (heels to wall)
20 Shotguns (Shoot to hollow)

Best week of the 4 for these shoulder taps. Didn’t fall off the wall once during the 4 sets. I think I figured out how to shift my hips better with the butt facing the wall.

Skill Test

3 Sets: 4 Deficit Strict HSPU (3.5″)

Lowered down from last week’s 4 inches so I could hopefully get 4 each set. Wasn’t easy but did it. I set the plates further from the wall after watching Spealler’s tips video this morning. Felt better that way.

Strength Accessory

3 sets

10 Seated DB Press (40# DBs)
10 Parallette Push-ups (feet on 16″ box)
30s GHD Hollow Hold

The presses have been pretty easy so I added 2 more reps this week. I guess I could have tried using 44# KBs. Also increased the box height under my feet. I really tried to get as low as possible in the bottom of those push-ups to feel the stretch.

5:00 AMRAP

1-2-3-4-5…

Burpees
HSPU

I had to have miscounted last week. I think I did the round of 4 twice because there is no way my score should have been that much of a decrease from the previous 2 weeks. Kipping felt much butter with the plates further from the wall. I finished the round of 6s and got 5 burpees, a PR by 6 total reps over the first week. First time Yes! Got a second wind after that success. I was pretty disappointed last week.

I am not sad to see the last day of this workout. Has been my least favorite of the 3.

Took a solid 30 minute rest, but did 10×45# and 5×95# hang power cleans to warm-up for…

Conditioning

“Nasty Girls” – 3 Rounds

50 Air Squats
7 Muscle-ups
10 Hang Power Cleans (135#)

I’ve been wanting to try this one out for a long time. Since I’m heading out of town for a couple days today sounded like a great day for it. Get in a metcon involving a barbell and get in some muscle-ups with a full 2+ days to recover before the final workout of this Skill WOD cycle.

The air squats are so damn slow. Tried not to get my heart rate up too high going into the muscle-ups. I went 4-3, 4-2-1, and 4-2-1 on MU. Cleans were 5-5, 5-5, and 10. Took me 10:46. Next time I give this a go I’d try to speed up the 2nd and 3rd round of squats and I’d do all of the cleans unbroken for sure. I broke up those first two sets trying to save my pull a bit for the muscle-ups but with the long break during squats I don’t think it matters. I also think without having done an hour of handstand push-up work I’d be able to get the muscle-ups in 4-3 each round.

This video is a classic. The sport has come a long way.

210 Plus

Took a much needed complete rest day yesterday. Got on the scale this morning for the first time in weeks. Knew this was coming, but first time over 210, weighing in at 211.5 pounds! At least my strength numbers are going up with it, but this gymnastics stuff sure would be easier if I dropped back to around 2 hundy. Had my monthly adjustment at the chiro and then went to the gym

Warm-up

3 Sets

10 Reverse Hyper (210#)

Strength

Deadlifts

10x20kg
10×70
5×100
5×120
5×140
5×155
5×170
5×180
5×190

Comes out to 419# on the last set, which is only 16 shy of my best 5, back in November 2013 a couple months after I pulled 515. I did 5×425# back in January of this year for a more recent set. Back when I did the 5×435, I was pretty dumb with my warm-ups. Look at this shit… I did 135-225-315-385-435. Today I took almost twice as many sets to get up close to that. Felt good too. Nice to have my back holding up.

Skill WOD Hustle & Flow Week 3 Day 2

Warm-up

3 sets

10 Pass-thrus
10 Hollow Rocks
10 Arch Ups
10 Narrow Grip OHS (45#)
10s Bottom of Dip Hold
10 Bridge Rocks

The narrow grip overhead squats felt rough today.

Skill

4 Sets

Freestanding HS Hold practice
16 Shoulder Taps (heels to wall)
20 Shotguns (Shoot to hollow)

Felt better with the handstand holds, but still used the wall as my crutch to kick up and then took my feet off the wall for as much as I could.

Skill Test

4 Deficit Strict HSPU (4″)
3 Deficit Strict HSPU (4″)
3 Deficit Strict HSPU (4″)

In my notes from last week I see 3″ for the working sets, but my record on BTWB says 3.5″ so not sure which was correct. The bump to 4 was not easy though. Should probably decrease and get in more reps next week.

Strength Accessory

3 sets

8 Seated DB Press (40# DBs)
10 Parallette Push-ups
30s GHD Hollow Hold

Put feet up on a box for the push-ups this week and didn’t really feel any harder.

5:00 AMRAP

1-2-3-4-5…

Burpees
HSPU

Fucking terrible. I only got through 5 burpees and 3 HSPU this week. I’m not sure what happened but since doing the max deficits last week I’ve started to put my back up against the wall during the push-up. It’s really throwing me off, especially in the kipping reps. I was hoping to get more than the first week, but got an entire round less. Almost makes me wonder if I messed up my counts and did the round of 4 twice. I don’t think so, but it’s weird to be an entire round less an just a 5 minute workout. Oh well I guess.

Unmotivated Morning

Took the complete rest day yesterday. Biceps were sore and then my lats were sore later in the day. Planned to do the 9am class this morning but woke up really tired and was moving slow. I was also a bit depressed I wouldn’t be able to deadlift heavy with my tore up hands. So I skipped out on class. Went in earlier than originally planned at night instead and did extra work after too.

Warm-up

3 Sets

10 Reverse Hyper (210#)

Strength

Back Squats

5x20kg + 5x20kg with 2 second pauses
5×70 (2s pauses)
5×90 (2s pauses)
5×110 (2s pauses)
3x3x130 (2s pauses)

Work my belt for the last 3 sets.

Skill WOD Hustle & Flow Week 2 Day 2

Warm-up

3 sets

10 Pass-thrus
10 Hollow Rocks
10 Arch Ups
10 Narrow Grip OHS (45#)
10s Bottom of Dip Hold
10 Bridge Rocks

Skill

4 Sets

Freestanding HS Hold practice
16 Shoulder Taps (heels to wall)
20 Shotguns (Shoot to hollow)

Realized I wasn’t looking down at the ground like you would in a handstand or when walking. Seemed easier when I did that and also helped make the shoulder taps easier too.

Skill Test

Find 1 rep MAX deficit strict HSPU
3×4 deficit strict HSPU (3″)

I stopped after getting 11.5 inches. Probably did 5 or 6 other heights working up to that (all singles). The program calls for 3 sets of 4-6 at 70% of max height. Real funny! Tried 7″ and was already spent, so bumped it way down. Barely made it through sets of 4 at a little over 3″.

Strength Accessory

3 sets

8 Seated DB Press (40# DBs)
10 Parallette Push-ups
30s GHD Hollow Hold

Jumping up to the 40# DBs wasn’t that hard. Will try the push-ups with feet on a box next week. The hollow hold still sucked.

5:00 AMRAP

1-2-3-4-5…

Burpees
HSPU

I got through the 4th HSPU in the round of 6 faster than last week, but failed on it and wasn’t going to try again with 15 seconds left. So -1 rep from last week. Didn’t do any of the deficit work last week and went heavier on the DB presses, so I’ll still call that progress.

Conditioning

Bryan and I got out the Air Dyne (AD2) for the good ol’ Air Dyne Hell. Don’t remember ever doing it on this model, so wasn’t sure what to expect.

E2M 20:00

15s Air Dyne at 100%

I didn’t think it was too bad after the first round, but by round 3 the quads were burning. We totaled 512 calories between the two of us. Compare that to 273 and 287 calories Kevin and I did on the model AD6 before and you can see how different the computers are on the two models.

Sore Wings

Woke up yesterday with a headache that got worse through the day, before I finally gave in and popped some pills. So fucking sore too! I’m not sure my lats have even been this sore from pull-ups. Triceps are rocked from Kalsu I believe and my biceps are probably sore from the underhand work on Monday. Had planned an active recovery day yesterday with the possibility of squatting, but it was pretty obvious my body was crying for rest.

Was wide awake shortly after 5am so crawled out of bed and got an early start on work. Then went to the 9am class.

Warm-up

Bottom Squat Hold
Shoulder & Upper Back stretching
Air Squats
Jumping Jacks
Toe Touches
Zombie Kicks

Strength: Deadlift

10×45#
6×155
3×265
3×315
3×345
3×375
3×395
3×415
3×435

Yeah! Only 30# shy of my best triple. The slow and steady approach is paying off. Back felt really good today. I put on my belt starting with 345 I think.

Weightlifting

Probably should say it’s more conditioning since not really much technique work involved.

10:00 EMOM

2 Clean & Jerks

I went 155-165-175-185-195-200-205-210-215-220 with squatting and split jerks. I think I powered one rep at 175 or 185. My second split jerk in the heavy rounds was kind of ugly with a lot of flat back foot. Wore the belt and lifting shoes.

Conditioning

6 Rounds

10 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
10 Plate Snatches (45#)

Looks innocent, right? Nasty shoulder burner though, starting at the end of the 3rd round. I was glad I didn’t use the 25# slam ball and was starting to regret my decision to use the 45# plate. Kept every round unbroken though. Finished in 5:43. According to the Fitbit, my heart rate was up to 144 at the end.

Skill WOD: Hustle & Flow Week 1 Day 2

Headed out to the garage in the afternoon to do this. Shoulders feeling fatigue from this morning.

Warm-up

3 sets

10 Pass-thrus
10 Hollow Rocks
10 Arch Ups
10 Narrow Grip OHS (45#)
10s Bottom of Dip Hold
10 Bridge Rocks

Skill

4 Sets

Freestanding HS Hold
16 Shoulder Taps (heels to wall)
20 Shotguns (Shoot to hollow)

Basically just practiced trying to get up into a freestanding handstand. After a few attempts out in the open I moved over to the wall with a little better success. If I kicked up and hit the wall I took my feet off the wall as quick as I could and tried to balance for a few seconds. Shoulder taps with back to the wall are so much harder. I wasn’t even tapping my shoulders, though I don’t think I was shifting my weight enough until the last set. Will hopefully be easier at the gym with more room.

Skill Test

1st week: Find 1 rep MAX deficit strict HSPU
3 sets of 4-6 strict reps at 70% of max deficit

I didn’t figure out a good way to setup the plates until I had already started on an alternative. Did 3×7 regular strict reps with no deficit and about 2-2:30 of rest between sets. Plenty difficult.

Strength Accessory

3 Sets

8 Seated DB Press (30# DBs)
10 Parallette Push-ups
30s GHD Hollow Hold

Holy fuck was that hold hard! Entire body shaking by 10 seconds in. The seated presses were easy at that weight but I didn’t want to kill myself too much before the AMRAP, which I knew would be tough.

5:00 AMRAP

1-2-3-4-5…

Burpees
HSPU

Went unbroken through 3 and then no more than 2 handstand push-ups in a row. Finished the round of 5 plus 6 burpees and 5 HSPU.

Four Wheels For Five

I had planned to do some active recovery yesterday, but when I woke up I knew I needed a full rest day. That row-burpee combination has been destroying me. Had a chiro appointment tonight so went to the 5:30 class right after. Doc says things have been loosing up well each time I go in and my low back and transition to my mid back looks a lot better lately. Knock on wood, I haven’t tweaked anything in months either now that I’ve been doing some accessory work and taking things slow.

Warm-up

3×10 Reverse Hyper (210#)
Inch Worms
Zombie Kicks
High Knees
Butt Kicks
Arm Circles

Strength

6 Sets

5 Strict C2B Pull-ups

I did a couple sets before class started and the rest in between my early deadlift sets. Felt really explosive with them today and that’s an extra set from what I’ve been doing.

Deadlifts

10×45#
5×155#
5×225#
5×265#
5×305#
5×335#
5×365#
5×405#

Don’t really like to make a bigger jump than previous jumps, especially at the end like that, but everyone else was waiting on me. Did 405 for a triple recently so wanted 5 today. Feels good to be pulling 400+ again. Wore the belt starting with 305#.

Conditioning

E2M 12:00

3 Bear Complex (135#)
10 Wall Balls (25#, 10′)

Nice quad burner. Rounds were 42-40-41-41-41-40 seconds with all touch-n-go reps.

Gymnasty

5 Sets

30s Handstand hold + 2 Strict HSPU

I wanted to increase the difficulty of the handstand holds that were programmed so I thought trying to do some handstand push-ups after would be a good test. Nearly failed in the first set. Was getting some nasty over extension in sets 4 and 5 but I completed them all without coming off the wall after the hold.

Accessory

10:00 EMOM (alt)

12 Weighted GHD Sit-ups (20# MB)
5 Russian Dips (heels on ground out front)

The 25

9am at Intuition.

Warm-up

Crossover Symmetry Activation
Bottom Squat Hold
10 Pass thrus
PVC Rack stretch
20 PVC Good Mornings
20 PVC Thrusters

Strength: Front Squats (1s Pause)

10×45#
5×135#
5×185#
5×205#
5×215#
5×225#
5×235#

Conditioning

4 Rounds

1:00 Slam Balls (25#)
1:00 Shuttle Runs (22′)
1:00 Wall Balls (25#)

For some reason I had 3 rounds in my head so I went unbroken on the 3rd round of wall balls. Then of course I had to do the 4th round unbroken. Guess it worked out because I made both. About 242 reps total. Class was rowing, but I’ve been rowing plenty so substituted the running. Most of the time we have 1:00 of rest between rounds, but not today.

Gymnasty

5 Sets

10 T2B
20s Handstand Hold

Bar work has been feeling good lately.

Running Singles

Up at 6am again. WTF! Went to the 9am class.

Midline & Shoulder Warm-up

6 Rounds

20s L-hang (bar)
10s Rest

Done with bent knees held up, of course.

Strength

10:00 EMOM (alt)

8 Push Press (115#)
20s Handstand Hold

Not as hard as I was expecting. I tried to take my feet off the wall some during the holds. 135# would have been a better challenge.

Conditioning

15:00 AMRAP

50 Jump Rope
30 Russian KB Swings (53#)
20 Shoulder Taps
10 Pistols

I did my jump ropes like running with one foot per jump. Much easier to keep a rhythm going than I’ve been able to do with single unders on both feet recently. Shoulder taps got tough, but never came off the wall. Would like pistols to be a lot faster. Finished 5 rounds plus 50-30-20-4.

1:30 AMRAP

Row for calories

Really didn’t feel like doing this. Got 47 cals. I think it would have been a 500m in the low 1:30s if I remember right. Really started losing power at about 30 cals.

Stayed after everyone left for a little extra work.

Accessory

E90S 15:00 (alt)

10 Deficit RDL (155#, 4″)
10 Weighted GHD Sit-ups (20#)

I had planned single leg RDLs, but saw the little platform sitting out and got this new idea. Glad I did because it worked great. Ended up giving me about a minute of rest between movements.

Feeling it a Bit

Tired from a late night at Greek Fest. Legs are fatigued and I’m sore in my upper back from the muscle cleans. Adjusted the Super Sunday workout because the Hero WOD that was planned would not have gone well. Didn’t do much to warm-up other than a bottom squat hold.

Front Squats

10×45#
5×135#
3×185#
6x3x215#

Light day from the Rippletoe program. Felt really good to squat. Focused on speed and driving up with my back.

Conditioning

5 Rounds

20 Russian KBS (70#)
25 Push-ups
30 Air Squats

Wanted something that wasn’t brutal and we could keep moving. I purposely went kind of slow for the first 3 rounds, not wanting to kill myself today. I did my first 4 rounds of push-ups in 10-9-6 and then 10-6-5-4 in the final round with shorter rest. Busted ass in the last round and a half and flew those air squats. Took me 11:54. Considering it was over 5:00 when I finished round 2, that’s more push than I planned on giving today.

Accessory

20s L-sit
30s Rest

Went pretty well today. Got tough in the last 2 rounds but I was keeping my knees high throughout.

MAX HS Hold (facing wall)

I did a 2:40 (40s PR!) and a 1:30 with about 3 minutes of rest between.

Run Every Day

I was doing a bunch of yard work today and honestly almost forgot about getting in a run. If I can get up and run the morning of a competition I can run late on the day after. Too close to the end of the month to miss a day. Ran 2.68 miles in 27:40. Didn’t wear any headphones and was a nice night for a run.

Deceptive

Tired this morning after going to see American Sniper last night and getting to bed really late. Needless to say, wasn’t going to make it for the 9am class, so I hit this in the garage around noon.

Air Dyne (AD2)

12 minutes @ 95% of 10:00 pace (76 rpm)

On the edge of being uncomfortable. Racked up 7.3km.

Strength

Back Squats

10×45#
5×95#
4x5x135#
5×165#
5×205#

When I got to 135# I set the clock and did the last 6 sets E2M. Deloading squats for a week after the Super Squats. Didn’t wear a belt or lifting shoes either for some variance.

Conditioning

10:00 AMRAP @ 80%

30 DU
3 Strict Ring Dips
6 GHD Sit-ups

Nice combination. Missed way too many dubs. Got through 8 full rounds plus 18 double unders.

3:00 Rest

10:00 AMRAP @ 80%

5 Burpees
10 Russian KBS (53#)
1 Wall Walk
30s HS Hold (Wall facing)

I was sweating bullets by the end of this one. Didn’t expect that, but the handstand holds were pretty rough. I had my hands in closer than usual due to the mat I was using. Finished 5 rounds plus 5 burpees, 10 swings, the wall walk, and 24 seconds of a hold.

Then I hit the bacon truck for some fuel. 🙂