Tag: Handstand Push-up

Friday Hour

My abs are finally not sore! My shoulders, upper back, and triceps are feeling the Murph prep though and my knees feel a bit odd today. Out in the garage at 4pm. I did some PVC passes to loosen up a little.

Back

3 Sets

  • 15 Seated Wide Grip Horizontal Row (93-104-104#)
  • 15 Incline Back Fly (20# DBs)

3 Sets

  • 15 Seated Double Handle Row (104#)
  • 15 Incline DB Row (30# DBs)

Higher rep back work to help with Murph volume.

Conditioning

  • 50 Sit-ups
  • 50 Handstand Push-ups
  • 50 Sit-ups
  • 50 Push Press (95/65)
  • 50 Sit-ups

Heavily modified Mayhem workout, which was 30 GHD sit-ups throughout and had the push presses first. I knew doing the HSPU second would have been a disaster. I hoped to be able to do 5×10 on the HSPU but in the second set I quickly realized that would be a bad choice. I did 10, 5×6, and 2×5, taking over five minutes to get through them! For the push presses I was able to gut out 5×10. Nice to get a barbell back in our hands for pressing when it feels like we’ve used the dumbbells a lot lately. Finished in 14:29.

Everything done in under an hour and it was one of those workouts where lifting my arms in the shower after was a struggle.

2021 AGOQ Events 1 & 2

Still no golf yesterday with the cold weather, but I did get a little time to tear apart more of the structure from the sunroom. I took today and tomorrow off work because I knew I’d be useless with the AGOQ happening. Tried to keep myself busy today with errands, small tasks around the house, and a nap. I got my garage setup early for event 1 so I could get it done shortly after the workouts were released at 3pm.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 BikeErg (2,230m)
  • 20 PVC Passes
  • Hanging
  • 10 DB Push Jerks (25#)
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • 5 DB Push Jerks (40#)
  • Handstand Hold

2021 Age Group Online Qualifier Event 1

5 Rounds – 20:00 Time Cap

  • 15 HSPU
  • 15 DB Shoulder to OH (50# DBs)
  • 15 cal Row

My plan was 3×5 HSPU, 8-7 or 9-6 with the dumbbells, and around 1,200 cal/hr. That quickly changed on the second round of dumbbells. For the most part after that I was doing 4 sets on both movements. My average pace on the rower was probably about 1,150 cal/hr, expect for the final row when I sent it. Finished at exactly 19:00 and was wrecked!

Got to Next Level Fitness around 5:30pm.

Warm-up

  • Lay on GHD
  • Duck Walk
  • Partial Rope Climb
  • Toe Touches

2021 Age Group Online Qualifier Event 2

20:00 Time Cap

  • 60-50-40 GHD Sit-ups
  • 6-5-4 Rope Climbs (15′)
  • 60-50-40 Pistols

I hadn’t been on a GHD in well over two years and hadn’t climbed a rope using legs in about that long as well. For someone who has to be careful with low back tweaks, this is a scary workout I’m not conditioned for. My goal was to be smart and not get hurt. Wearing lifters for the pistols really affected the rope climbs and not in a good way. Just a nasty workout all around with so much interference on the low back in all three spots. Got through 28/50 pistols for 209 reps.

Singles Suck

Worked on the house all weekend, replacing a sliding door with a big window and tearing down the sunroom. My body was beat, so Monday stayed the usual rest day. It was too cold and ended up raining for golf yesterday too. Out in the garage at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 SkiErg (667m)
  • 3 Sets
    • 40′ Tip Toe Walk
    • 10 Calf Raises
    • 10 PVC Passes
  • Deadlift
    • 10×45
    • 10×135
    • 5×165

Conditioning

  • 50 cal Row
  • 75 DU
  • 35 Strict HSPU
  • 75 DU
  • 20 Deadlifts (185#)
  • 75 DU
  • 35 HSPU
  • 75 DU
  • 50 cal Row

It was programmed to be strict HSPU twice, but I knew that would take me forever, so I kipped the second time. I also scaled down from 275# on the deadlifts. I held 1,200+ cal/hr on the row. I missed or stopped 2-3 times each 75 dumbs except for going 70-5 the last time. My strict went quick, doing 5-5-3 and then singles, which took sooo long. Deadlifts felt pretty good and I thought about doing 10 every time I picked up the bar, but stuck to four sets of five. I was able to stick to 7×5 for the kipping handstand push-ups. Finished in 19:45.

Legs

3 Sets

  • 10/10 Lateral Step-up w/ Knee Raise (20”, 40# DB)
  • 10 RDL (70# KB)

3 Sets

  • 10/10 Step-ups w/ Knee Raise (20”, 40# DB)
  • 20 alt Curtsy Lunges (30# DBs)

That workout smashed me, so these leg supersets were especially rough.

Midline

2 Rounds

  • 20 V-ups
  • 20 Plank Knee to Elbow
  • 20 Reverse Crunches
  • 20/20 Side Plank Pulses
  • 20 alt V-ups
  • 20 Big Hollow Flutter Kicks (single leg raises)
  • 20 Oblique Heel Touches
  • 20 Russian Twists
  • 20 Lying Leg Lifts

Knew I wouldn’t be going nuts today. Finished in 8:44.

Test One

Yesterday I walked 18 holes for the first time this year and it was so nice to be out there. I’m feeling fine after my first shot of the vaccine, other than my arm being really sore. My quads are still really sore though. Out in the garage at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 SkiErg (622m)
  • 10 Calf Raises
  • 40 Lateral Hops
  • 10 Calf Raises
  • 24 PVC Passes
  • 10 Shoulder Press (45#)
  • 50 Jump Rope (singles)
  • 5 DB Hang Power Cleans (25# DBs)
  • 5 DB Push Jerks (25#)

Conditioning

2021 Quarterfinals Test #1 – 10:00 Time Cap

  • 3 Rounds
    • 10 Strict HSPU
    • 10 DB Hang Power Cleans (50# DBs)
    • 50 DU
  • 1:00 Rest
  • 3 Rounds
    • 10 HSPU
    • 10 DB S2OH (50# DBs)
    • 50 DU

Since the Mayhem workout didn’t have much for us today I was planning to do machine intervals. Might as well try out some of the Quarterfinal workouts when I can in case the AGOQ workouts are the same or similar. The last time I did handstand push-ups was a workout with 30 strict on November 17. My plan was to break them up in sets of 5 all the way, even the kipping ones and see how far I could get in the workout. I figured the second half of the workout would get pretty nasty with the back-to-back overhead movements.

Well, I had to call an audible in round two, going 5-3-2 and then 3-2-2-2-1 in round 3. Finished the first part in 5:40. My kipping push-ups felt good so I went 6-4, was tempted to go unbroken, and remembered I had shoulder to overheads next. Oh shit, those were the worst part of the workout. I had to go 5-5 and almost missed a bunch. I went 6-4 again on the kipping HSPU and got 5 more S2OH for a total of 295 reps before the time cap. Fun workout that I’d like to try again once I get some shoulder endurance back.

15:00 AMRAP Partner

  • 1 Rope Pull from Laying (each)
  • 10 Push-ups

This was written as 1 rope climb or 5 strict pull-ups each, but I don’t have a tall rope (yet) and we’ve done plenty of strict pull-ups lately. It was also supposed to be synchro push-ups, but that doesn’t really work with a M-F team. We did do our push-ups as the some time though before going to the rope again and Brandi did 7-8 each round. I think I did three rounds unbroken and then went 6-4 the rest of the way. We got through 19 rounds!

Stretching

2 Sets

  • 30s Dead Hang Partner Push

Struggling Shoulders

Took a full rest day yesterday, even though my WHOOP recovery was at 92%. After a 2 hour Zoom meeting I was exhausted. Went to bed early and it’s 97% today! Out in the garage at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 TrueForm Run (0.52 km)
  • 80′ Lateral Monster Walk
  • 80′ Monster Walk
  • 20 IY (red band)
  • 8 alt Back Rack Reverse Lunge (45#)
  • 8 alt Back Rack Reverse Lunge (95#)
  • 5 Landmine Squats (45#)
  • 5 Landmine Squats (90#)

Handstands

6×3 Kick-ups

These were done between leg sets. I can already feel a difference in getting to more of a hollow body position from the stretches and shoulder exercises.

Legs

4 Sets

  • 16 alt Back Rack Reverse Lunge (135-145-155-165#)
  • 8/8 Single Arm/Leg RDL (70# KB)

Was feeling pretty good, so starting to add some weight.

4 Sets

  • 10 Landmine Squats (135-145-145-155#)
  • 10 Barbell Hip Thrusts (95-95-115-115#)

We really liked these landmine squats, so will be using them often.

Shoulders

3 Sets

  • 10 Cuban Rotations (35#)
  • 10 Trap-3 Raise (5# plates)
  • 10 Band Rear Delt Pull Apart (red)

Conditioning

15-10-5

  • Strict HSPU
  • Hang Power Snatch (95/65#)
  • T2B

I thought I might be able to go unbroken on the handstand push-ups, but quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen; I did 8-7, 3-3-2-2, and 5. The snatches were harder than I expected as well and my hook grip is so untrained these days! I did 8-7, 6-4, and 5 there. For the toes to bars I did 8-7, 10, and 5. Finished in 6:35.

Push-ups with Hands

Warm-up

  • 3:00 SkiErg (693m)
  • 80′ Lateral Monster Walks
  • 80′ Lateral Monster Walks
  • 3:00 Wrist Warm-up
  • 20 PVC Passes

Conditioning

  • 12-9-6
    • Strict HSPU
    • Box Jump (24/20″)
  • 4:00 Rest
  • 15-12-9
    • HSPU
    • Box Jump Over (24/20″)
  • 4:00 Rest
  • 18-15-12
    • HR Push-up
    • Box Jump (30/24″)

I felt good through most of this. Did 6-6, 5-4, 6 for strict handstand push-ups and finished that part in 2:40. Then went 9-6, 7-5, 9 for kipping handstand push-ups, taking 3:31 for part two. The hand release push-ups felt rough, but I did them slow and unbroken and finished part three in 4:24. Overall time of 18:35.

Midline

3 Rounds

  • 20s Weighted Hollow Flutter Kick (10# plate)
  • 20 Weighted alt V-Ups (10#)
  • 20 Weighted OH Crunches (10#)
  • 20 Russian Twist (10#)
  • 20 Seated Leg Lifts

Slower than the 7:20 I did almost three weeks ago, with 7:58 today.

More Conditioning

2 Rounds

  • 4:00 Row
  • 4:00 BikeErg
  • 4:00 SkiErg

I did 1,044 and 1,049 meters on the rower, 2,096 and 2,113 on the bike, and 961 and 970 on the skier.

Handstand Kick-ups

  • 5 bad leg
  • 5 good leg
  • 2×5 finding balance

Handstand Graduation

Warm-up

  • 5:00 BikeErg (2,562m)
  • 80′ Lateral Monster Walk
  • 80′ Monster Walk

Handstand Balance Breakthrough

Probably did about 8 sets of 5 kick-ups. Had some really good ones where I was holding for 4-5 seconds I think.

That completes the 4 week program. We made so much progress in that time. We’re going to continue a lot of the drills and try adding some other ones I’ve found. I’ve already written the first 2 weeks of our phase 2.

Legs

4 Sets

  • 8/8 Landmine Curtsy Lunges (145#)

3 Sets

  • 8/8 Bulgarian Split Squats (35-40-45# DBs)
  • 8 DB Stiff Leg Deadlifts (60# DBs)

3 Sets

  • 10 Front Squats (85#)
  • 8/8 Lateral Step-downs (50# DB, 15”)

2 Sets

  • 10/10/10 Calf Raises (60# DBs)

Conditioning

5:00 AMRAP
1-2-3-4-5…

  • Burpees
  • HSPU

When we did this on April 14th I got through the 7s + 10, which was a big PR at the time. Today I was able to stay unbroken, even though my HSPU got slow with some pausing. Another PR, by 11 reps this time, finishing the 8s and then getting 5 more burpees. No doubt the handstand work is helping a lot here as well.

Cramping in the Upper Abs

Not a great night of sleep. Workout at 4pm.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 BikeErg (2,527m)

Handstand Balance Breakthrough

  • Wrist Warm-up
  • 40 Bottoms Up KB Press (25#)
  • 12 Handstand Kick Up Against Wall (~10s + pull feet away)

Got 2-3 solid holds with my feet off the wall. Progressing!

Conditioning

35:00 AMRAP (Partner)

  • 8 HSPU
  • 12 Sumo KB Deadlifts (53/35#)
  • 16 Plyo Lunge
  • 12 HR Push-ups
  • 12/8 cal Row
  • 4 Power Cleans (185#)

The work is done by each person before moving to the next movement. I went first and got through 8 full rounds plus row. Handstand push-ups felt really smooth. My balance and cycling were feeling much improved from the handstand work.

Midline

3 Rounds

  • 20s Weighted Hollow Flutter Kick (10# plate)
  • 20 Weighted alt V-Ups (10#)
  • 20 Weighted OH Crunches (10#)
  • 20 Russian Twist (10#)
  • 20 Seated Leg Lifts

A good one from Ibex Training.

My upper abs felt like they were cramping in the middle of round two. I forgot to note the exact time but it was around 7:10-7:30.

Recovery Will Be Fun

While working out yesterday we decided not to go to the track after feeling beat up from Friday. Good call, because I woke up sore! In the garage at 10am for a “recovery” type workout.

Warm-up

  • 20 PVC Passes
  • 80′ Lateral Monster Walks
  • 80′ Monster Walks
  • 6 Goblet Squats (53#)

Conditioning

40:00 EMOM

  • 25/25m Suitcase Carry (70# KB)
  • 12 Burpees
  • 10 HSPU
  • 40s Jump Rope / Lateral Hops
  • 12 Goblet Squats (53# KB)

Was happy to get every set of handstand push-ups done unbroken. Alternated between the jump rope and lateral hops each round. Worked up quite a sweat with the humidity from overnight rain.

Midline

3 Rounds

  • 12/12 Partner Banded Rotations (blue)
  • 12/12 DB Side Plank Bounces (35#)
  • 12 OH Crunches (50# DBs, 2s pause)
  • 12 Jack Knives (20# DB + 5# ankle weights)

We hadn’t used the ankle weights in awhile. Adding a weight to the side plank bounces is tough!

More Gym Changes

Over the long weekend here’s the gym work I did:

Worked out at 4pm today.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 SkiErg (697m)
  • Dead Hang

Tris & Bis

3 Sets

  • 12 EZ Bar Curls (66#)
  • 12 Tricep Push Downs (spinning bar, 71#)

3 Sets

  • 12 Seated EZ Bar OH Tricep Extensions (71#)
  • 24 alt Hammer Curls (40# DBs)

3 Sets

  • 12 Static DB Curls (25-25-30# DBs)
  • 12 Tricep Pull Downs (rope, 60#)

3 Sets

  • 10 Reverse Grip EZ Bar Curls (56-61-66#)
  • 10 Plate Hammer Curls (10#)

I had a huge bicep pump going by the end of this. I’m feeling stronger with everything. I did start doing a second protein shake each day about two weeks ago.

Conditioning

  • 6:00 AMRAP
    • 4 Strict Pull-ups
    • 8 Pistols
    • 12 Russian Twists (45# plate)
  • 2:00 Rest
  • 6:00 AMRAP
    • 4 Strict HSPU
    • 8 T2B
    • 12 Plyo Lunges

These went much better than expected. Should have warmed up the legs and hips for the pistols though. After round one I pretty much did 2-2 on the pull-ups. Got through 6+3. Everything was unbroken in the second AMRAP and felt really good. Finished exactly seven rounds.