Of course Pavel says it best.
I should also recognize that Pavel is quoting/crediting Megan Kelly on this topic! She is so experienced and knowledgeable about AXE protocols with many years of experience and a world record.
Of course Pavel says it best.
Yes, it's all very true. Especially about "calming your mind". Once I succeed to get my mind on completely different subject from training during the rest period, this works wonders. Doesn't matter if I jog or stand between the sets, the mind relaxation is the best tool I experienced to drop HR.Of course Pavel says it best.
I did have a follow on thought about this topic. I was practicing today during a weightlifting session where I was testing my maxes some of what @mgracia wrote in this excellent article: Breathing—A Key Factor to Competition Success | StrongFirst
In some situations, where the heart rate is elevated due to adrenaline or nervous system excitement, it may in fact be useful to try to use breathing or other techniques to slow it down. The breathing techniques work well!
So with kettlebell training, sometimes the heart rate is driven by getting hyped up, much like it is with a heavy barbell Clean & Jerk --for example, a heavy get-up, or a heavy set of swings or snatches. But with AXE and other protocols that are sub-maximal repeat training, the heart rate usually is a pretty good proxy for overall physiological activity. Not quite metabolic activity, as it is for steady state cardio. But perhaps somewhere in between. And once we control for variables, i.e. each repeat we are in more or less the same mental and physical state, then we can use HR for a pretty good indicator of readiness. It takes some practice to learn how to "let it be what it will be" (i.e. not artificially try to make it drop faster) as well as getting regular enough with your practice that you're minimizing the variability of other inputs. Once you get to know it, it becomes pretty useful. Prior to then, it can lead you astray, as Pavel says above.
All that said, once you get to know your HR, you can use it to help you find overall recovery strategies such as fast & loose, walking, calming your mind, relaxing your muscles, that both help you recover faster and drop your HR faster.
A distracting environment makes things harder, but (imho) it's good to be able to focus in the midst of it. Outside of certs and clinics, I've only used KBs in a large gym setting a handful of times - the struggle to maintain some awareness of doofuses that may wander into your danger zone is real.Speaking of calming the mind, I find that when people are too close to me when hitting some AGT it's a challenge to stay focused.
There are plenty more where they came from… doesn’t matter if we lose a few…doofuses that may wander into your danger zone is real.
That's why I enjoy & cherish my hermitage, being officially diagnosed with high idiosyncrasy & low tolerance for idiots. Life is short, I want it my way.There are plenty more where they came from… doesn’t matter if we lose a few…