Saturday, May 24, 2014

Baasketball shooting session

Still trying to analyse my pattern and correct it. As soon as I don't pay attention, my old ways are firing instead. Below is the main ''how to'' video I'm using to fix my shooting. 


Cardiac coherence emWave today's session


Methods for Stronger Posture (w/ Guest Randy Clarke NST)

Happier clips from people at my gym

Even if my intentions were pure with that post showing people at my gyms doing all kind of crap, I have been criticize as if my purpose is to make fun of them. I should have known better since it's common pratice on the web. In fact, I'm merely trying to use peer pressure as a rethorical process to discourage bad practice and encourage good ones. To show my good faith, I thought about posting clips of people who are doing the right thing or are on the good path. As the other post, I will keep adding clips over time.

You can be all ''this is not a lot of weight'' or ''this is sissy deadlift'' or else, but the girl is pregnant and deadlifting.....pretty cool!

I like this one. She looks like an average girl who simply wishes to get in shape. She doesn't have the profile of an athlete and she's not overweight, but she brought her bench press over time to a 95lbs for a roughly 125lbs girl.

This guy is about the age of my dad or a bit older. Look at his form! Yes he bounces the weight on the floor and yes high reps deadlift a rarely great, but he keeps the weight relatively light and his form doesn't change much.

This clip could've go in either post, but I choose to put it here. Why you ask? He reminds me of myself when I was younger. He has the sport guy profile. He probably heard somewhere ''squat! this will improve your vertical jump.'' So he remember from some blurry memory that you should never squat below 90 degree and he tries really hard not to and he keeps adding weight on top of his poor form. Get a coach people! Even if you want to build your own program, just because you can, you need help to get your forms right. This will save you more time and money than you can imagine.

Lifting clips

3secs pause deadlift 255lbs x 5 
This is the first cycle I try the pause deadlift and this is hard than expected. My first attempt was with 275lbs and I couldn't hold 3secs! I hope it'll help me off the floor and I guess we will see in 2 weeks.

My fail attempt to the double kettlebell snatch with 28kg. I love tha cat part!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

On my way for the double kettlebell snatch with my 28kg

2 28kg Kettlebells
I could snatch Thelma and Selma individually, but together, they are a still mouthful. I was looking at the latest article on Strong First website and the progression laid down, that I already know but didn't want to remember, was so simple that I decided to give it a try for my current 3 weeks training block. Today I could do proper double swings, cleans and high pulls for 5+ reps. It's my 2nd day and I believe this won't be such a bid challenge after all.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Today emWave session level 3/4

As I mentioned before, I don't have the data to confirm any health or mental benefits, just impressions. What I can say for sure, assuming I trust the product doesn't just fool me, is that I'm getting better at it, so we can call this process a skill. 

Cardiac Coherence

Thursday, May 15, 2014

1 leg deadlift - 100lbs increase by my 12th workout


I started at 135lbs for 4 reps and I ended at 235lbs for 2 reps in a 5-3-2 scheme after 12 practices

Kettlebell side press


When I started 2 weeks ago, I could only lift my 24kg for 3 reps and now I easily lift my 28kg for some sets of 5 reps. Neural adaptation is my best bud! 

Monday, May 12, 2014

Latest videos

Solo routine for a bridal shower

Move idea from open tuck turn +Audrey-Anne Bouchard 

Move idea from open tuck turn +Audrey-Anne Bouchard 

Move idea from texas tommy +Vivianne Carrier 

1 leg deadlift 185lbs 5reps

Basketball dunk attempt - ring mid-fingers

Friday, May 9, 2014

Basketball deconstrution

As I mentionned, I want to learn new skills this summer and on of them is re-learning basketball. I used to be pretty good in high school, but I always missed the magic touch, in my case, finishing my baskets. When I was 15 years old, bigger and taller than other kids of my age, I could pick my own rebounds forever and finish the games with 25-30 pts, but by the age of 17, 6' 180lbs is not that impressive.

What I had for me is a pretty good understanding of the game, which make me a great team player, and good defensive skills. What I would like to improve this summer are all my individual skills. I would divide them in 4 categories:

  • Shooting
    • Jump shots, free thows, 3 pointers, by the basket, with or without the board, etc.
  • Dribbling and handling
  • Layup 
    • with the board, without, dunk, etc.
  • Cross overs
    • Classic, outside the legs, inside the legs, behind the back, double or triplle cross overs ,etc. 
I'm using my good old motto: 
Simple beats complicated every time


Here's a list of my goals I want to achieve:
  • Improving my dribbling and handling
    • Like to learn any skills, I'm doing some drills here and there many times a day if possible.
  • 95%+ for any shot wwithin 2 feet of the basket especially if there is no defender!
  • 80% for any shot around the key
  • Mastering 2-3 simple cross over variations, transitioning into a layup without looking at the ball.
  • 1 hand dunk
Simple rules:
  • I play with other people only if that doesn't mean cutting on my practice. I try to do it at least once/week.
  • I stop when tired. The first symptome is usually the unsoppable need to mess around and doing some studip moves.
  • If I play with other people, I'm extremely careful not o hurt myself. Basketball is the most risky sport for middle age men. 
  • I pick a simple theme from my 4 categories and I work on it for 5-15 min or until I get bored.

Kids these days have it really easy. Everybody is sharing their ressources for free. Whoever is not half-wits can figure it out by himself. I realized the way I shot and dribble are completely wrong and have to re-learn them completely. Fun, fun, fun!!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Summer goals: the short list

I love summer! It's about 3 months I love to work on something new. This time, might be because of the never ending winter, but I'm on fire. I keep my dance training, strength training and cardiac coherence training. Here's a list of my mid-term goals:


  • Mastering the longboard. I just got this sucker a month ago and I just started feeling comfortable (by that I mean not beng scared of killing myself every time I step on it). Crazy thing when you own a loagboard, you will make new unexpected friends who will have the feeling that you share something in common. Same happened with my tattoo! 
  • Honing my basketball individual skills. I used to play basketball as a teenager and thought I was the next big thing until I realize I wasn't good enough to play in a college team. I now apply what I discover about learning new skills and apply it to the sport. After 2 weeks, all skills are either back or better than before and a lot of room for improvement. I want to dunk by the end of the summer what I never could.
  • Honing my volleyball skills with +Vivianne Carrier. I never truly learn that sport even if I have always been way better than the next guy. From my analysis, the individual skills re less than basketball, but playing as a team is no an option. For those familiar with some recreative volleyball, you probably noticed that most points are scored on services which is pretty lame if you think about it.