Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Motivated by Excellence! Bulldog Snatch Video

Well, what can I say. I am motivated by watching excellence in others and recently the postings by Rif about Kenneth Jay and his snatch numbers with beast have opened my mind to what is possible. Kenneth is on another level.......well.......another planet. His strength and power levels are unreal and I know there are many other KB practitioners that will raise their KB numbers and loads after Kenneth has raised the bar for all of us. Let's be honest. Anyone that can snatch the BEAST (106 pounds) consecutively for 25 reps (one arm) + 24 reps (the other arm) is a mutant. He did those numbers and that got me listening. That guy knows what he is doing and his training is simplistically focused on strength and power.

I have not been snatching heavy KB's for a while, especially since my lumbar disc herniation last year. Back is feeling a ton better and has been for a while but I wanted to test my snatch numbers with the 40kg Bulldog. My previous snatch record at the June RKC in 2006 was 15 reps on my right and 10 reps on my left. Well today I got 16 reps on my right (woo hoooo) and only 6 on my left (booooo). There is definitely a huge weakness on my left side but either way I am excited that I was able to snatch it for some reps. It proves my theory that you do not have to lift heavy in order to be able to lift heavy. If you get good at snatching the 24kg you will have the base conditioning to able to lift a heavier bell. Our good friend and Muay thai instructor Roger Lewis was nice enough to film it for me.

BULLDOG SNATCH VIDEO

Yes I know......the left arm is LAUGHABLE. The first rep I barely even got up overhead. I have lots of work to do on the left side fore sure!

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Franz, great job. You made It look easy. I'm so jealous.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Taikei Matsushita said...

You'll do your left in no time. I still have my bulldog on the floor doing nothing.
I'm rather interested doing double 32kg snatch first.

Pete said...

Holy smokes, Franz! Great work-don't worry, no one was laughing. You were wise to stop on the 6th rep. Now I have to go try my snatch max with the bulldog. I have not tried that yet, but with the KJ MV02 work, I feel more confident. I'll let you know how it goes.

Franz Snideman said...

Thanks Tim! You'll be there in no time!

Taikei, you are right. Next time I will start with my left,thanks!

Pete, let me know what you get brother!

Anonymous said...

Franz thank you for viewing my official training blog and thank you always for your kinbd comments and motivation. May the best of all things find you and Yoana as you bring new life into our world. Nice vids, also.

Keats Snideman CSCS, CK-FMS, LMT said...

Franco you beast! I'm just pittling around with the 24Kg bell right now trying to build a base for more brutal training ahead. Gotta get ready for the RKC in February of 2008! It's about time I took the RKC.

Franz Snideman said...

Will, my pleasure man. Glad to see your business growing. Very cool!

Franz Snideman said...

Keatsie,

My name is Mr. Franco to you!

:)

Just kidding. Yeah, it is about time you shelled out the cash and became RKC Certified!

Aaron Friday said...

No doubt you can do more with the left if you start there. Very impressive. Inspirational really, and you look great doing it.

Mark Reifkind said...

keats you should definitely do the rkc in february! its in san jose and should be a blast.

franz you have nothing to be but proud of that snatch performance,great job.

Franz Snideman said...

Aaron, thanks brother. It felt great and was alot of fun. Sometimes you just need to push the envelope and see where you are!

Franz Snideman said...

Mark, thank you for your encouragement and feedback. It means alot to me!

Franz Snideman said...

Rif, one more thing,

My brother Keats is signed up to do the RKC in February. WOOO HOOOO!

Hope he gets in your group!

Aaron Friday said...

I agree, Franz. I'll be attempting to snatch the 2-pood soon, if it doesn't feel too dangerous. Repping like that with the bulldog is amazing.

Fuzz said...

Franz,
Well done. U look strong. As someone working on form that vid was good for me to see.

Kenneth Jay really has me thinking too. Unreal power and motivation in those numbers

Franz Snideman said...

Thanks again Aaron! You'll be doing it soon as well!

Andy, snatching is definitely an art form and takes alot of practice. I am always tinkering around with form. The funny thing is that with a very heavy bell your form must change and often for the better.

1) it forces you to use your hips more

2) it forces you to drop underneath the weight as well (similar to what an olympic lifter might do)

3) Your breathing naturally comes right. You pressurize naturally and never have to think about doing it. TRUST ME, when you are doing high reps with a heavier bell your body goes into a different mode entirely!

4) You body naturally integrates the whole body. Basically you are linked up. If you are not you will not get many reps, which is what happened to me on my left side. Left shoulder was not sucked into the socket and therefore I didn't bring the bell in back of me on the 7th reps and my grip went.

fun stuff for sure!

Pete said...

Franz,

I just looked at Yoana's blog; congratulations on a little girl, brother! They are precious gems indeed.

Franz Snideman said...

Thanks Pete! We are excited!

Royce said...

Rock on man, 22 reps with the 88 is awesome no matter how it's divided up!!
Cogratualtions on the little girl. I swear they are dangerous. From birth they can wrap us big strong guys right around their finger!!

Mike T Nelson said...

Nice work Franz. I will have to pick up a 40 lb one and give it a try. More practice with the 32 lb is probably in order first.

What is the game plan for the left arm? You will have it up there in no time!

Rock on
Mike N

Franz Snideman said...

thanks Royce! Yes,we are very excited about the arrival of our baby girl. I'll be e-mailing you to get pointers on parenting for sure!!!

Franz Snideman said...

Mike T.,

Thanks brother! Yes, like anything else, all it takes is practice!

Hope you are well!