Monday, September 22, 2008

Team Rif September 2008

Team Rif September 2008 RKC
What an another amazing weekend this RKC was. I am never ceased to be blown away by the transformations that occur in the short two days from Friday morning at 9 am when the candidates take their snatch test to Sunday morning at technique testing. Semingly the same people that on Friday were slow and shaky and lacking confidence in their techniques , their strength and their positions have been morphed into serious Hardstyle RKCs with sharp crisp techniques, precise biomechanics and with more power than they ever have had in their life! Unreal. And of course after having done seven or eight million reps or more of each of the six drills for two solid days while defying all training and all of physiologies logic by getting better minute by minute, even as they fatigued tremendously.
It's like after a certain amount of work their minds just gave up, gave in and succumbed to the neurological groove we had been implanting with more swings,snatches and getups than they ever could imagine doing and the body just took over. And it did it right. Very right.
I saw this actually happen right before lunch on saturday during Sr Instructor Geoff Nuperts snatch training.
By now they had done SO many snatches and swings that the idea of even MORE snatches( of course right before even more snatches with my Max Vo2 workout) ,while logically inconceivable was not only doable but being done.On auto pilot.Unconcious competence. The body at work.If the mind can get out of the way.
All passed with the exception of two who will pass as soon as they get home to their own bells and send the video in.
Well done RKC's! It was a pleasure to work with you and hope to see you all again soon.
Plus SO Much thanks to my amazing assistants Zachariah Salazar and Betsy Collie.They both helped me out tremendously and are excellent instructors, kettlebell athletes and people.I will work with them anyday.


10 comments:

Aaron Friday said...

How did Matt Schinabeck do on your team? I have a personal interest in this guy.

Mark Reifkind said...

Yes Matt was on my team and was, as Sr RKC Doug Nepodal said, " a horse". Great guy.

Aaron Friday said...

Awesome, Matt is a horse. I expected as much.

Nice guy, too.

MKSchinabeck said...

Thanks for the kind comments guys. Aaron, it was great to meet you and your lovely wife, Fawn, after the grad workout. I wish we could have spent some more time together. Your training advice and support in the months leading up to the Cert were very helpful. Hopefully we can meet again in the near future.

Matt

Aaron Friday said...

The certs are normally not conducive to hanging out. Best we can do is meet, shake hands, and make some small talk. It's better than nothing.

I was glad to offer ideas for training. I just passed on my experiences, which is what others have done for me so freely. You are a motivated guy, so everything was easy.

Jordan Vezina said...

Aaron, Matt is my internet blog friend. You will have to pick another.

Franz Snideman said...

Looks like it was a great group and a great time!

Awesome to see you living you dream and teaching your passion!

Rock on Rif!

Mark Reifkind said...

thanks franz; yes it is a very cool new incarnation I have stepped into with kettlebells. I feel very lucky and blessed.

Aaron Friday said...

Sorry Matt. Jordan says I have to ditch you, so best of luck and all that.

Unknown said...

Great work and a great time. Proud to have been part of Team Rif once again! zzzzzzzzz

195 x 1 x 11 , 20 kg swings 5 x 8/8, floor pushups 35, 25

  Not great sleep and a bit sore ( no aspirin for last three days) so all in all it was a strong day . Just definitely not 'fresh'  ...