Nathan Burns
Level 2 Valued Member
Hello All,
My name is Nathan Burns. I have been following this forum for a little over a year now, but this is my first post. Having adopted the "student of strength" mentality, I'd like to submit a form check on my swing and TGU. I welcome any and all critique and/or advice.
Swing & TGU - Google Drive
Background: 28 years old, 6' 4" 195lbs. Former collegiate athlete (baseball).
My training has always been heavily sport-specific (baseball & football). After graduating, getting married to my amazing wife and not pursuing a professional career, the itch to train and my competitiveness was still there with no outlet. But, all I knew how to do was to train sport-specific.
About four years went by of trying different plans/programs, all of which never really proved any relevance or practicality. Even during that four year period of trying to find my "new" training style, I realized the importance of functional training. I had no desire to "look like Tarzan and play like Jane" so to speak. I wanted something real and authentic to the core, true strength. Our son was born April 2016. With this new addition, training time was really at a premium and I felt even more pressure to get the most out of my training by doing to most efficient exercises possible in the least amount of time since family time was and still is very important.
After the birth of our son, I waffled about in my "training" for another year and a half before I stumbled across Pavel's Simple & Sinister book. I read the book on September 25, 2017. It was a lightbulb moment. This is exactly what I had been looking for. The simplicity, efficiency, and real-world carryover is undeniable. A no-frills approach to legitimate strength. I began my path to Simple the next day with a 20kg bell I had lying around, never having learned how to use it. For a year and a half, I have diligently trained, slowly introducing heavier weight, transitioning from two-handed swings to one-handed swings. Same with the TGU, refining my technique. About a month ago, my 24kg bell was feeling like a paperweight while doing my one-handed swings. I tested the next day and passed with no problem, continued training and did it two more times to make sure it wasn't a fluke. I owned it. I've started introducing my 32kg gradually one set at a time on my swings. After about a month, I no longer feel like the 32 is swinging me but I'm swinging the 32, good. I find it strange, however, I have been able to meet the Simple standard for the TGU, 32kg 10x1 in 10:00min for about 6 months now without any extra "push". It feels very natural and unforced. Maybe it's time to get a 40? I'm in no hurry, so I want to make sure I own every piece of the get-up.
I know if I absolutely had to (life or death situation) I could meet the Simple standard today. But the effort output required to do that wouldn't be sustainable and I know I wouldn't own it. I have no one to impress, it's not true strength if it's not sustainable and repeatable. So, I will continue to methodically follow the path set forth by Pavel and so many others at StrongFirst. Thank you all for your insight and dedication. Thanks to @Pavel for developing these simply sinister programs, I've only just found the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to @Anna C and @Pavel Macek for the advice put forth in the articles and on the forum. You all have helped me in my progression more than you know. Thank you for showing me the path to Strength.
Strength has a Greater Purpose.
Nathan
My name is Nathan Burns. I have been following this forum for a little over a year now, but this is my first post. Having adopted the "student of strength" mentality, I'd like to submit a form check on my swing and TGU. I welcome any and all critique and/or advice.
Swing & TGU - Google Drive
Background: 28 years old, 6' 4" 195lbs. Former collegiate athlete (baseball).
My training has always been heavily sport-specific (baseball & football). After graduating, getting married to my amazing wife and not pursuing a professional career, the itch to train and my competitiveness was still there with no outlet. But, all I knew how to do was to train sport-specific.
About four years went by of trying different plans/programs, all of which never really proved any relevance or practicality. Even during that four year period of trying to find my "new" training style, I realized the importance of functional training. I had no desire to "look like Tarzan and play like Jane" so to speak. I wanted something real and authentic to the core, true strength. Our son was born April 2016. With this new addition, training time was really at a premium and I felt even more pressure to get the most out of my training by doing to most efficient exercises possible in the least amount of time since family time was and still is very important.
After the birth of our son, I waffled about in my "training" for another year and a half before I stumbled across Pavel's Simple & Sinister book. I read the book on September 25, 2017. It was a lightbulb moment. This is exactly what I had been looking for. The simplicity, efficiency, and real-world carryover is undeniable. A no-frills approach to legitimate strength. I began my path to Simple the next day with a 20kg bell I had lying around, never having learned how to use it. For a year and a half, I have diligently trained, slowly introducing heavier weight, transitioning from two-handed swings to one-handed swings. Same with the TGU, refining my technique. About a month ago, my 24kg bell was feeling like a paperweight while doing my one-handed swings. I tested the next day and passed with no problem, continued training and did it two more times to make sure it wasn't a fluke. I owned it. I've started introducing my 32kg gradually one set at a time on my swings. After about a month, I no longer feel like the 32 is swinging me but I'm swinging the 32, good. I find it strange, however, I have been able to meet the Simple standard for the TGU, 32kg 10x1 in 10:00min for about 6 months now without any extra "push". It feels very natural and unforced. Maybe it's time to get a 40? I'm in no hurry, so I want to make sure I own every piece of the get-up.
I know if I absolutely had to (life or death situation) I could meet the Simple standard today. But the effort output required to do that wouldn't be sustainable and I know I wouldn't own it. I have no one to impress, it's not true strength if it's not sustainable and repeatable. So, I will continue to methodically follow the path set forth by Pavel and so many others at StrongFirst. Thank you all for your insight and dedication. Thanks to @Pavel for developing these simply sinister programs, I've only just found the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to @Anna C and @Pavel Macek for the advice put forth in the articles and on the forum. You all have helped me in my progression more than you know. Thank you for showing me the path to Strength.
Strength has a Greater Purpose.
Nathan
