Monday, December 21, 2009

Pistol Progress

Completed Several Body Weight pistols today without a counterbalance.
I stacked up 8 aerobic step risers and performed 5 pistols each leg. I did not allow myself to rest when I touched the riser, instead I immediately stood up.

[ Here I am coming out of the bottom position today]


Each set I removed one riser.
5 / leg at 7 risers
5 / leg at 6 risers
5 / leg at 5 risers
3 and 2 / leg at 4
2 , 1 at 3
1, 1 at 2
1, 1 at 1
1, 1 with no riser



I am improving the skill the getting tight and leaning forward to counterbalance.
At the bottom of my pistol I am approximately 4-6" inches from the rock-bottom position I can achieved with a kettlbell used for counterbalance. Perhaps this is as low as I can go for now until I improve my strength and flexibility.

3 comments:

Sandy Sommer, RKC said...

Great work on the pistols. I keep doing them on my variety day and make small improvements every month. Body weight ones are tougher for me than with a kettlebell.

John Scott Stevens, RKC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John Scott Stevens, RKC said...

Thanks Sandy. I agree bodyweight are pistols are extremely difficult simply because of a lack of a counterbalance. Following Kenneth Jay's protocol from the RKC manual and grinding out 100 reps of pistols on high volume days makes for quick progress. My technique will improve dramatically throughout the course of a single workout.

Did you Know?

Head strength coaches for Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins have taken and passed the RKC.

World Power Lifting Champion Donnie Thompson is an RKC.

World renown physical therapist and creator of the Function Movement Screen, Gray Cook is an RKC.

Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Danish Olympic Team, Kenneth Jay is a Master RKC.

Olympic Silver Medalist, Mark O'Madsen is an RKC.

World Famous Strength Coach Dan John is an RKC.

RKC Quotes

"Kettlebell training will make you a better man.. even if you're a woman. If you don't know how, I'll show you. If you don't want to, I'll make you! " - Pavel Tsatsouline
"The Swings WILL continue until morale improves!" - Banner hanging at Lone Star Kettlebell in Lubbock TX.
"Anyone can swing a Kettlebell, but not everyone knows how to do the Kettlebell swing." - Master RKC Brett Jones
"Strength is a skill, so is endurance, so is flexibility!" - Pavel Tsatsouline

Scott Stevens, RKC & Pavel Tsatouline