Welcome Video

Tuesday 28 February 2017

What did you struggle with? - CrossFit Open 17.1

So, one down four to go!

The general consensus was that most people either had back pain or felt their back pump.

But what about your ability to concentrate when doing box jumps?


Check out the video below:



The great thing about the Open is that we can share in the suffering.

For most people this was a 20 minute Met con where we just grind away.

Your form on the Single Arm Alternating Dumbbell Snatch was actually the key to this workout.

The weight was heavy enough to challenge but light enough that you could muscle it up without using the proper technique.

Make sure that you were actually performing the Snatch movement so you should be feeling your hamstrings light up and not your lower back!

Take time out to mobilise your back with some simple knee roles whilst lying on your back.


Try some Thoracic rotations as your mid-spine will be stiff from that amount of reps.




Stretch out your glutes and do some light lunge work.


Don't forget to stretch out your Quads and Hip Flexors.


Try it again, you will be faster!


Friday 24 February 2017

Bulletproofbodies Open Injury Prevention for 17.1

It’s the Reebok CrossFit Open 2017 and 17.1 is upon us.

Your job is to push your body hard and stay injury free over the next 5 weeks.

There are plenty of videos showing you how to optimise your performance for this workout.

However, we at Bulletproofbodies are about injury prevention.



Image result for reebok crossfit open 2017


The WOD is a couplet with inversing ratios of Alternate Arm Dumbbell Power Snatch and Burpee Box Jump-overs.

Workout 17.1
For time:

10 dumbbell snatches
15 burpee box jump-overs
20 dumbbell snatches
15 burpee box jump-overs
30 dumbbell snatches
15 burpee box jump-overs
40 dumbbell snatches
15 burpee box jump-overs
50 dumbbell snatches
15 burpee box jump-overs
Men use 50-lb. dumbbell and 24-in. box
Time cap: 20 minutes

That’s 150 Dumbbell Snatches and 75 Burpee box jump-overs.

Yeah, thanks Dave!

These are two hip opening exercises.

Overhead shoulder mobility will be more forgiving with Dumbbells. 

However, it is always worth working on overhead mobility.

Most athletes struggle to get the 180 degrees of shoulder flexion and compensate by over extension of the Thoracic spine.

Ultimately, when you fatigue, and you will fatigue. You will use any method to get the Dumbbell overhead.

The tips about using more hip extension and upper body to save your legs for the Burpee Box Jump-overs risks a sub-optimal position if you have not got the Hamstrings flexibility.

To prepare the body to prevent injury it is worth taping the following joints:

Tape the knee – to reduce load on the patella tendon

Tape the back – to keep the connection between hips and spine

Tape the shoulder – to keep awareness of the most stable overhead position

Watch this awesome Video from Rocktape:




It is always worth wearing knee sleeves to protect the skin over the knees when doing burpees.

You should also wear long socks in case you miss on the Box Jumps.

There are no prizes for who has the bloodiest shins!

You will be in enough pain already; you don’t need skin abrasions adding to the mix.

Potentially, up to 20 minutes is a long time, so pace yourself and be consistent.

Don’t fly and die!

Don’t hold your breath on either of the movements.

Performing Step-in burpees will save energy, but you are likely to perform this repeatedly with the same leg forward, thus creating an asymmetry. Try switching the leg every 5 burpees to avoid one side of your body fatiguing.

Don’t get full extension on the top of the box, there is no need.

When you get tired on the burpees there is a double movement as your torso comes up without the rest of the body. 

Make sure you have warmed up the lumbar spine with some extensions before you start the WOD.

Bullet Points
Preparation
·        Tape the shoulders, low back & knees
·        Wear Knee Sleeves and Long Socks

Mobilise
·        Overhead Shoulder Mobility
·        Hip flexor & Quads Stretches
·        Hamstrings Stretches
·        Prone extensions (Push Up with hips down)

Pre-Activation
·        Row and Skip for the Warm Up
·        Practice Burpee Step in technique

WOD
·        Breathe
·        Pace yourself
·        Grind it out

Recovery
·        Cool Down on the bike
·        Compression Socks
·        Hydration
·        Nutrition

·        Mobilise all joints

Friday 3 February 2017

How long do we need to exercise to get the good stuff?



How long do we need to exercise for in order to get all the good things happen?

According to author of this book (Gretchen Reynolds), only 20 minutes.

You don't even have to do 20 minutes in one go!

All exercise counts. 

Two 10 minute walks for example.

We all lead busy lives in this fast paced world so time efficiency is paramount.

Combat chronic disease and weight gain with a minimal investment of time.

The number one reason people don't exercise is that they assume that hours are required in the gym and they perceive a lack of time.

Just a 20 minute time commitment is enough to give you all the health benefits you need.

Wait until you read the chapter on Chocolate Milk for recovery!


Gretchen is also another fan of standing rather than sitting.




This book is awesome and we at Bulletproofbodies thoroughly recommend it.

Gretchen Reynolds we salute you.


Bulletproofbodies Team.