Better Is Better: Tim Ferris Trial by Fire - Could he handle the Clubbells?

Trial by Fire Swipes in Singapore

Those who follow this blog know that I have a masochistic relationship with the Clubbell challenge which we in the Circular Strength Training community call the Trial by Fire. It consists of 130 Clubbell Swipes, 130 Clubbell Mills with each arm and 130 Clubbell Hammer Swings, all performed with the 25 pounders.

One of my favorite bloggers and authors, Tim Ferris, has a new show which just happens to be called Trial by Fire. And the whole concept of the show fits perfectly with the philosophy of this blog and with the Circular Strength Training System. In short, Better Is Better!

Shorten your learning curve!

Tim Ferris isn't content to accept that it takes years of painful study to learn a new skill. He believes that there are certain "hacks" which can be used to learn something new quickly and efficiently.

CST espouses a similar idea. By respecting certain universal principles we can have more consistent access to both our innate and our trained skills when it counts the most. Some of the CST learning and performance tools are:

The 7 Key Components of Structure: although the fine points of biomechanics can be made very complicated, most human movement can be filtered through 7 Key Components: spinal alignment, shoulder pack, arm lock, grip confirmation, core activation, hip recruitment and leg drive. The 7 points will take on different configurations depending on the skill you are trying to learn. And by focusing on these points you can cut the time it takes to learn a skill and improve the efficiency of skills you already own.

Incremental Sophistication: The body has a way of shutting down any activity that it feels might be injurious, dangerous or is outside of its current capacity to execute. However, by systematically progressing in small digestible steps you can fly under the radar of these defenses and make incredible progress. Every skill in CST is examined with this principle in mind so that it can be broken down into the appropriate building blocks.

The Training Hierarchy Pyramid (THP): The ultimate goal in learning any new skill is to achieve a state of Flow. This sounds esoteric, but it just means that you want to get to that point where you are able to "get out of your own way" and allow the full expression of your skills. I think we've all been in situations where our skills have failed because of nerves or pressure. The THP is a very deliberate form of training periodization which takes us through successive phases of General Physical Preparedness, Specific Physical Preparedness, Activity Specific Preparedness and Mental / Emotional Preparedness. I've blogged about in more detail here.

By respecting the way our bodies and minds learn and work, we can take years off the learning curve. Often, conventional approaches to learning and training encourage you to grit your teeth and learn despite these laws and natural tendencies.

Could Tim Handle the Clubbells?

So it seems like a perfect fit. In fact, from everything I've read from and about Tim Ferris, I think he would absolutely love the CST system. But I wonder how quickly he could tame our own particular brand of Trial by Fire? The current record with 25 lbs Clubbells is 22 minutes and 6 seconds. And there are literally only a handful of CST athletes who have managed to sneak below the 25 minute mark.

Would you like to see what Tim Ferris can do with a Clubbell? If so, head on over to this post on his blog and leave a comment. Tell him you would like him to try the Clubbell Trial by Fire. You can leave this link for him to check out - www.squidoo.com/trialbyfire (just copy and past it into the comments). Or you can just copy the following text and leave it in the comments of his blog:

Dear Tim,

The use of the club as a training tool stretches back milenia. Physical cultures around the world have used it to hone their strength and skill. Most noted of these athletes are those of the Pahlavani traditions of Iran and the wrestlers of the Indian Peninsula. In the modern era, practitioners around the globe have rediscovered these ancient practices through the popularization of the Clubbell as part of the Circular Strength Training system. The ultimate test of the Clubbell athlete is called the Trial-by-Fire (visit www.squidoo.com/trialbyfire to learn more). It seems serendipitous that your show would bear the same name. Please consider trying your hand at this ancient and challenging discipline as part of your adventure.

In the meantime, here's a look at the YouTube promo for the show. Looks very cool!

Comments

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Posted by: snomeorevorma | July 15, 2010 at 11:22 PM