WoD - Tuesday 18th June, 2019

WoD - Tuesday 18th June, 2019

Is it just me or as anyone else’s lungs and forearms on fire?

Now, don’t you guys stress out, tomorrow is planned to be the last exposure, purely to a back squatting heavy day until we re-test our 1RM next week. It is however a little different…we have a wave.
Work as hard as you can to push the loads up on the sets, take a slightly longer rest period on the way back up the reps with the focus being that you are able to squat the same loads.

Grit your nashers as it is going to be hard, hard but lots of fun!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Back Squat Wave
9 - 7 - 5
5 - 7 - 9

Pyramid up and back down in weight. The Goal is to maintain the same loads for the sets of 7 and 9, on the way back up. 

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WoD - Monday 17th June, 2019

WoD - Monday 17th June, 2019

I am extremely excited. In fact, I am as excited as an excited person who…has a special reason to be excited! And the reason why…it is my week to deliver to you a small window into my sadistic mind, done so through some good old fashioned, shared suffering.

And you…are going to love it!

Hopefully you have had awesome weekends, relish tonight, the last time this week that you will find yourself not in excessive amounts of DOM’s induced “discomfort!” 😉❤️😘

It’s all for you!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

4 Rounds, each for time of:
6 Deadlift (70/50kg)
8 Power Cleans (70/50kg)
10 Shoulder To Overhead (70/50kg)
20 Pull Ups

Rest 3mins between Rounds…

Each round is designed to be a sprint where athletes are expected to hopefully move throughout with unbroken sets. Scale loads appropriately in order to achieve this.

Grit your teeth and push hard! If you are able to operate a whiteboard marker afterwards, then please record your times to the whiteboard…

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WoD - Friday 14th June, 2019

WoD - Friday 14th June, 2019

Who’s got that Friday feeling? You know, the super special one where you have to go to A&E and sit in the waiting room without the ability to pick your nose due to the eye watering pain in your arms. There because in the past three days you bicep curled your power cleans, basically climbed a rope without any legs and finally early armed pulled the living crap out of a bunch of Sumo Deadlift High Pull?!
Well don’t fret, you don’t have rhabdo, but you likely do have a sweet pair of pipes to impress the ladies (and lads) on the dance floor tonight! Now just make sure you don’t dance like Davs and you’ll be just fine!

Now then, stand by for ALL the rets of the gymnastics…

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible within 15 minutes of:
20 Alternating Pistols
10m Handstand Walk
10 GHD Sit Ups

Now that you also have abs that you can wash your knickers on, and an arse that will give folk on St Mary’s street whiplash just write Thank you on the whiteboard…

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WoD - Thursday 13th June, 2019

WoD - Thursday 13th June, 2019

Danny Watson is only one man, but what a hell of a man! The (nearly) Ginger Ninja can climb a 15ft rope 156 times in an hour, now that is a serious feat! Nothing to do with this post (it’s all mainly bollocks of course), but he seems to do something to punish himself for a significant period of time once every 2 - 3 years, all to raise huge amounts of money for charity of course.

Now, the importance of this is technique focused…there is literally no way that he would’ve been able to do so with poor technique, not a chance in hell. As he states, rope climbing is all about legs, “legs and feet”. “And abs!”
Today’s WoD was a great example of how technique always wins. And, with that in mind, keep your eyes peeled for a new class coming soon…

Ps. If you want to laugh until you cry, ask Danny to tell you the story of the competition he attempted to compete in the weekend following the rope climbing record, and the Toes To Bar workout within that comp.
Pps. Many moons ago, Danny was a Coach at the gym, is one hell of a guy and I miss him everyday.

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

5 rounds for time:
10 Sumo Deadlift High Pull (50/35kg)
5 Burpee Bar Muscle Ups

Once your billy biceps have recovered, get those times to the whiteboard…

WoD - Wednesday 12th June, 2019

WoD - Wednesday 12th June, 2019

Now either you lot are cherry picking a strength day, or you’re taking full advantage of the fact that the weatherman is completely full of shit!

Clearly you now officially hate building strong legs and so I can offer ample reassurance that the back squats are only lasting for one more week, and next week we have an added twist.
Following that, normality will be resumed and therefore rather than making you do boring back squats weekly I am more than happy to program multiple variations of vomit inducing assault bike sprints! Which, you all obviously love far more!

Now then, enough of the sarcasm, here’s to Wednesday…

CrossFit Cardiff Team WoD

Teams of 3 complete as many rounds and reps as possible within 30 minutes of:
50/35 Cal Assault Bike
150 Double Unders
3 Rope Climbs

This round can be split as required, one athlete to be working at any one time.

Please record inventive team names and kick arse scores to the whiteboard…

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WoD - Tuesday 11th June, 2019

WoD - Tuesday 11th June, 2019

What did the news say, a month worth of rain is due to fall within a six hour window? Wonderful hey?! Well at least that should mean we are done with it all for the next month? Is that how it works? I seriously hope so!
Speaking of wet weather, not too keen on playing rugby in the rain are you? This Saturday saw a ginormous amount of tactical withdrawals of ball emoji comments, just as soon as the weather forecast was announced.
Well well, all I can say is shame on you, you sun worshipping, wet weather fairies! All the rain really does is make that bacon taste better anyhow!

Lets hope that it clears up in time for tomorrow, 😬…

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For time:
Run 1 mile
5 Power Clean & Push Jerk (60/40kg)
Run 800m
10 Power Clean & Push Jerk (60/40kg)
Run 400m
15 Power Clean & Push Jerk (60/40kg)
Run 200m
20 Power Clean & Push Jerk (60/40kg)

Place your slightly moist times to the whiteboard…

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WoD - Monday 10th June, 2019

WoD - Monday 10th June, 2019

Just in case you were not aware, the athletes - and they are athletes - who race in the Isle Of Man TT are absolutely insane! They all line up ready to rock, in the pit lanes and in order, mentally preparing to propel themselves on essentially the seat that they are sat on at over 200mph. Just imagine the mental fatigue it must take to focus so much for such a long period of time.
Just a little perspective…even I was blown away by the speed that they travel and the noise caused as a result…I flew from Liverpool airport, 199miles away, taking me 3 and a half hours to get to. The Superstock Race, won by Peter Hickman (google him) was a four lap or 152 mile race. He completed it in 52 minutes. Meaning if he had left Liverpool airport at the same time as me, by the time i’d gotten home i’d have found him sitting on my sofa, drinking my beer and smoking my cigars, stoking my puppy while wearing my slippers once he’d rowed naked in my bed…for approximately 2 and a half hours until I arrived. NUTS!

Anyway, back to normality and something as cool and exciting…a heavy day!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Back Squat
3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3*

The intention is to keep the load as straight sets, at 90% of your 1RM. The load from the first set should scare you, make you consider life, and cause you to either stand up the load with a serious risk of soiling yourself or failing…or both! Get those loads on the whiteboard before you waddle home…

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WoD - Friday 7th June, 2019

WoD - Friday 7th June, 2019

Thank F it’s Friday! Mainly because I am coming home so you don’t have to put up with pictures of bikes and boring blog posts (no pressure).

Remember now team, the gym is closed for an L1 this weekend and so we have a couple of alternatives.
Saturday: 10:00 - until the last person is standing: Touch Rugby. Meet at the Roath Park Rec
Sunday: 18:00 - 19:00: Get stretchy strong with Liv and someone called Zen

If you choose not to learn and play new sports, use your fitness in a fun, outdoors type of affair, with your buddies who likely will all congregate on the nearest coffee/breakfast/ice cream joint, all muddy like…then enjoy your weekend you loooooooooooosers! 😉

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For time:
21 - 18 - 15 - 9 - 6 - 3
Hang Snatch (40/30kg)
Box Jump Over (24/20”)

Go hard and fast, sprint the hell out of this workout, just like those nutcases at the TT…I had to get it in somewhere. Scores on the board and enjoy your weekends…

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WoD - Thursday 6th June, 2019

WoD - Thursday 6th June, 2019

I bet you can all point your toes like arrows after all that gymnastics…that’s it! Man this beer is cold and good!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Back Squat
2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2*

Immediately following each set perform 10 controlled hip extensions at a tempo of 5010 (down, pause at the bottom, up, pause at the top in seconds. Basically, slow down, fast up, no pausing)

*All sets to be performed at 90-92.5% of 1RM

Stick to these percentages and get those reps completed, chuck your loads on the whiteboard…

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WoD - Wednesday 5th June, 2019

WoD - Wednesday 5th June, 2019

As stated, zero banter.

I do need something from you please though…prey for us. Prey that the rain gods get the f**k out of dodge and allow not only these lunatics to do their thing…but for HanBane and I to be less moist!
Thank you in advance!

A bit of a different stimulus awaits you tomorrow, all the gymnastics.

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For 10 rounds, every two minutes perform all of the following:
5 Gymnastics Kips
5 Toes To Bar
5 Pull Ups
5m Handstand Walk
Rest remainder of 2 min window.

Remember what I said about EMOMs. 🤦🏻‍♂️

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WoD - Tuesday 4th June, 2019

WoD - Tuesday 4th June, 2019

Just to warn you off…I will be in the Isle of Man this week watch some very skilful crazy people ride their unbelievably quick machines around the local streets…at 180mph, as you do. And, therefore, the banter on this blog will be relatively low for the next few days.

Apologies for those of you who relish in the daily update, the written diarrhoea that is spouted on a regular basis, potentially affording you a chuckle before bedtime. Or, more likely, one raised eyebrow following a small insight into my messed up mind.
However, upon request I am more than happy to send pictures of me drinking beer and videos of deafening, whiplash inducing blurs. Just let me know.

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

For a 35 minute running clock, perform one of the following within a one minute timeframe (EMOM style)
Run 150m
50 Double Unders
10/7 Calorie Row
10/7 Calorie Bike
Rest
*rotate in that order - 7 sets on each station*

It’s not often that we do an EMOM, but when we do…they f**king hurt. Scores to the obvious…

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WoD - Monday 3rd June, 2019

WoD - Monday 3rd June, 2019

Isn’t it pissing down with rain in Cardiff? WTF Wales, it’s June, sort your shit out!

Just a little bit of housekeeping the gym will be closed next week for a CrossFit Training L1 Seminar. More wonderful folk are going through the L1 experience, so vital for the development of CrossFit. Below is the greatest piece written on the weekend, by the creator himself. It is well worth a read, and exactly why I devote a large part of my life attempting to teach it as well as he did…

“As the principal architect of the CrossFit L1 Training Certificate I’m sure I have a bias when asked to weigh in on its merits. That bias includes launching this course with the stated aims of producing the most effective and important physical training program on earth and likely asserts itself again when I tell you that we’ve knocked it out of the park with those aims.”

“The curriculum is the essence of what is needed to safely and effectively maximize the potential adaptation of the certificate holder’s prospective clients. The goal from the beginning was to translate the physiological model that is CF theory into a weekend long introduction to that material.”

“The L1 kernel is the most important thing a human being could learn in one weekend. It’s also the only place you can go to learn the truth about salient lifestyle choices that optimize quality of life.”

“This sixteen hour exposure to our world of constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement, fueled by meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar has transformed the health of participants around the world. Application of the L1 kernel has flensed nearly a hundred million pounds of fat and added a similar amount of denser bone and muscle to CrossFit training clients globally. An unprecedented 115,000 people have taken a course that will allow them to avoid obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease, autoimmune disorder, osteoporosis, end stage kidney disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and early check-in at the convalescent hospital while teaching them how to motivate, demonstrate, and achieve the same in others.”

“The L1 kernel produced a cohort of teenage girls at the Games this year completing workouts that no man on earth could have completed in the same time 12 years ago. The L1 kernel is the technology manifest in that advancement in human capacity. We are in sole possession of a technology of human performance. The L1 kernel is that technology. This certificate course has fueled the global explosion of 13,000 CF gyms and motivated 273,000 CF’ers to throw their hats into the ring in this years Games. In the darkening storm that has 100,000,000 Americans slated for type 2 diabetes, CF and it’s adherents, because of the L1 kernel and certificate offering, constitute the only bright spot on the horizon.”

“Our competitors offering provides no trainer training, just a test. It’s not even a test of training knowledge and human movement/performance, but a test of anatomy and physiology. The NSCA and ACSM tests are measure of one’s willingness to accept their sponsors view of healthy living. It’s an unconscionable deficiency that motivated our seminar’s creation. (The first L1 conducted was done so at the insistence of training agents from the US DOJ. That relationship continues to this day. The US Military is our biggest customer by far.) Our competitors are financially committed to their high-carb, low fat, machine based fare by a combination of woefully lacking science acumen coupled with complete dependence on Coca-Cola and Pepsi for money. Our competitors, the NSCA and the ACSM, and their big soda backers have created the exact mess that CF Inc., 13,000 CF Affiliates, and 115,000 CF trainers are successfully reversing. 100,000,000 Americans will get diabetes because of the ACSM’s lording over exercise science since 1954. Their commitment to hiding their sponsors’ devastating impact on the nation’s health is job number one at the ACSM. The ACSM/Gatorade essential role in the rash of exercise associated hyponatremia deaths is appalling and needs congressional investigation. All that’s wrong at the ACSM is probably worse at the NSCA. When you think NSCA – think Pepsi. When you think ACSM – think Coca-Cola. It’ll help you understand their utter betrayal of charter and how it is that these collaborations have proven to be so deadly and will continue to remain deadly. There’s no greater threat to American’s health than the ACSM’s backing Coca-Cola’s massive intrusion into the training space.”

“Licensure is a hail mary effort to achieve exactly what can no longer be achieved in the marketplace – keep the truth about diet and exercise hidden. The L1 kernel and certificate course are that truth.”

We will fight the good fight, via yet another quote from Coach…”do the right things, for the right people, for the right reasons.”

For those of you who are buddy for some weekend activity however, we have two amazing things for you:
Saturday: TIME TBC - whenever it finishes: Touch Rugby (meet at Roath Park Wreck)
Sunday: 6:00 - 7:00pm: Yoga

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible within 14 min of:
20 Wall Balls (20/14lbs)
10 Power Clean (50/35kg)
5 Bar Hop Burpees 

Please post your first scores of the week to the whiteboard before heading out to enjoy the rain…

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WoD - Friday 31st May, 2019

WoD - Friday 31st May, 2019

Last day of May! Holly shit, didn’t see that coming did ya! Summer is firmly on it’s way and the sunshine is here to stay. Apart from yesterday of course, where it was raining! But, back squats don’t need the sun, so you’re lucky.

Long summers days of beastings, walks, BBQs, bike rides, beers and sun burns are upon us. Get out there and enjoy the weather, after your fix of course. Just think, be more like Aris and Alfie…

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

“The Mule"
21 - 15 - 9
Deadlift (315/225lbs)
Burpee pull ups

This workout is taken from the Rogue Invitational and was a “sprint”. Kick those massive balls out of the door and scale to ensure an appropriate time. No staring at the barbell for longer that actually lifting it please!

Scores to the whiteboard…

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WoD - Thursday 30th May, 2019

WoD - Thursday 30th May, 2019

I’m starting to think that you lot did something wrong when you tested your last “1 Rep Max” back squat. As, when Xiaowen decides to pause at the bottom of his last rep of 4s, on the final set, before standing it up and saying that that was his 1RM I call BULLSHIT!! 😉

It might also be as a result of Melski now working at Welsh Water, maybe she has somehow inserted so PIDs into the flow, big help for you guys and without the associated guilt…what a legend!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD
For time:
30 - 20 - 10
300m - 200m - 100m
3 - 2 - 1 reps of:
Dumbbell Hang Snatch (50/35lbs)
Run
Rope Climbs

Melski Rope.jpg

WoD - Wednesday 29th May, 2019

WoD - Wednesday 29th May, 2019

I’ve cracked it, after over four months of research, attempting a large variety of methods, I have finally discovered just how to completely mess up a 6 month old GSP puppy.

For those who require this service, there is a hefty fee. However the method is relatively simple. Deliver your pooch to CrossFit Cardiff and I shall return him/her in a semi comatose state a mere 24 hours later. The following kit list will be required to accompany each soon to be sleepy K9:
- One other 2 Year Old GSP
- 1250g of whole pigeon mixed with 50% tripe
- A vast Swansea based beach
- A non squeaky, green floating dog ball, preferably with a hole in the middle causing a whistling sound when thrown.
- 2 cans of BrewDog Mail order Martian
- 2 cans of BrewDog Elvis Juice
- 2 cans of BrewDog Speedway
- 2 cans of BrewDog Barrel aged Albino Squid Assassin
- 2 cans of BrewDog Punk IPA
- 2 cans of BrewDog Hazy Jane
- Subsistence for BBQ Ribs, cheesy garlic bread and IPA
- And finally, a GPS tracker and night vision googles.

You can expect your GSP returned to the same location dribbling, unable to fully function and absolutely covered in sand precisely 24 hours later.
A large fee will be required on drop off, PayPal is fine.

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Back Squat
4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4

4s utterly suck! And you…are going to love them! Scores to the whiteboard please…

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WoD - Tuesday 28th May, 2019

WoD - Tuesday 28th May, 2019

Right back at you after a cheeky bank holiday with a gnarly little mid distance sprint. Elegant and beautifully brutal, this will punch you right in the respective reproductive organs!

Good luck!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible, within 9 minutes of:
3 Ring Muscle ups
6 Strict Handstand Push Ups
9 Calorie Assault Bike

Scores to the whiteboard please…

#shespunching

#shespunching

WoD - Bank Holiday Monday 27th May, 2019

WoD - Bank Holiday Monday 27th May, 2019

Class Times for the Bank holiday are below:
Open Gym 10:00 - 11:00
WoD Class 11:00 - 13:00*

* the class won’t take this long, but Murph is a tough workout and we will take longer to be able to coach it effectively.

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

"Murph"
For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it "Body Armor". From here on it will be referred to as "Murph" in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it.

Please write times to the whiteboard…

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WoD - Friday 24th May, 2109

WoD - Friday 24th May, 2109

How are the gymnastics bodies? How many of you are suffering from monkey butt? What I bet is that those who have been around the block a minute or two will have used the gymnastics mats to sit their ab mats on top of. The rest of you were likely looking at them thinking…”what are those muppets doing?!”…and then you got in the shower! Ouch!

My incessant rambling is utterly limitless by the way. Especially when messed up on sleep deprivation due to a certain puppy deciding that he absolutely must evacuate his protein rich diet and then play at 2:30am. The big brown eyes look up at you while the jaws head for “Ducky” but immediately understand that the look that is returned simply means NO…go to your bed! Clever little brown monster!

Another seriously cool pup though…

CrossFit Cardiff Partner WoD

In pairs and for time: 
50 Calorie Row
50 Thrusters (40/30kg)
50 Calorie Row
50 Pull Ups
50 Calorie Row

So this is all Suller’s doing, but…I didn’t stop it! Good luck, hell of an end to a week. Scores up please…

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WoD - Thursday 23rd May, 2019

WoD - Thursday 23rd May, 2019

I messed my dates right up again sorry. I clearly don’t want the summer to go and the good weather to disappear as I gave you May the 20th, had a boobie with June the 20th and then back to May 21st…when it was the 22nd. I’m sure one of you OCD controlled legends saw it, but as I am personally consumed with the annoying condition, I have fixed it all!

Back squats are going through the roof. Some of the morning class even accidentally just did one rep and somehow set a new PB. Others turned their 1RM into their 3RMs, but none thought it thought. Meaning that the next time we lift they have a new number to base an 80-85% marker off! Whoops!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

2 rounds
80 Double Unders
60 Ab Mat Sit Ups 
40 Press Ups
20 Ring Rows 

Holy local muscular fatigue Batman…scores to the whiteboard please team…

The world is full of unsung heroes!

The world is full of unsung heroes!

WoD - Wednesday 22nd May, 2019

WoD - Wednesday 22nd May, 2019

It’s nearly fricking June…what the hell is happening to this year? The good news is though that it seems to be sunny waaaay more often and with the highly expensive, difficult to get to light bulbs that we have which keep blowing, the great news is that we have some kick arse natural sunlight!

And, with that sunshine powering your MASSIVE glutes, you won’t be deterred with the volume of heavy arsed sqwaaaaats that you have to tomorrow. Enjoy the stairs on Thursday!

CrossFit Cardiff WoD

Back Squats
3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3

Please keep these suckers as heavy as ass and get your increasing loads written on the whiteboard before you waddle out…

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