Friday 230120

Monday 240513

Monday 240513

Freestanding handstand push-up practice

Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Headstand

Headstand with knees to chest

From the headstand position, kick upward to a handstand and hold

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to a headstand

Multiple freestanding handstand push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 double-unders
5 freestanding handstand push-ups

Post rounds and reps to comments.

Scaling:
The goal today is to build confidence in a gymnastics movement and develop a better understanding of your body in space. This is an opportunity to practice complex skills in a low-intensity environment.

Setup and execution:

*Perform all stages of the progression about 1 foot off a wall. Consider using an AbMat for your head. Even though the wall is there, the goal is to use it only if you lose balance or control. Remember, we are working on a freestanding handstand and handstand push-up.

Headstand | Start in a frog stand and extend both legs above your body. Your head and hands will still be on the ground in the tripod position.

Headstand with knees to chest | While in a headstand, slowly bring your knees to your chest and then extend them back above your body.

Kick to a handstand | While in a headstand, bring your knees toward your chest in a controlled fashion. While extending your legs, think about driving your heels to the sky — this will build momentum. Then press with your arms to complete the freestanding handstand.

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to headstand | If you cannot yet hold a freestanding handstand, use the wall for assistance. Once you kick up, hold for a second or two, then slowly bring your head back down to a headstand. Achieve this by bringing your head in front of your hands, and allow the feet/legs to have a slight backward lean to counterbalance. This can be completed with one or both legs on the wall for assistance.

Multiple freestanding handstand push-ups | Once you have successfully made it back to the headstand, attempt another rep.

Modifications:

Go as far as you can in the progression and stop when it becomes challenging. Over time, progress to the full movement as you develop the skills.

Intermediate option:
Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Headstand

Headstand with knees to chest

From the headstand position, kick upward to a handstand and hold

Kick to a handstand, hold, and lower back to a headstand

Multiple handstand push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 double-unders
5 handstand push-ups

*Perform all stages of the progression a few inches off a wall. Consider using an AbMat for your head. The goal is to kick up and back to a headstand against the wall. If you are confident with this, try the freestanding variation.

Beginner option:
Spend 15-20 minutes practicing the following progression:

Inchworm

Pike headstand

Pike handstand hold

Pike push-up negative

Multiple pike push-ups

Rest at least 10 minutes, then perform:

As many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
35 single-unders
5 pike push-ups

*Perform all stages of the progression in the middle of an open floor. Consider using an AbMat for your head. To make the pike position easier, keep your feet away from your hands. The closer the feet are to the hands, the more difficult the movement will be. The goal is to practice loading as much bodyweight as possible onto the hands, and to build confidence getting upside down. If you are confident with this progression, try the intermediate variation.

Resources:
The Freestanding Handstand Push-up
The Handstand
The Kipping Handstand Push-up
Handstand Push-up Variations
The Double-under

Find a gym near you:
View the CrossFit map

Featured photo:
Taken by Charlotte Foerschler at Destination Defender in Somerville, Texas.

Friday 220610

Friday 220610

Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:

30-second handstand hold
30-second squat hold
30-second L-sit hold
30-second chin-over-bar hold

Post rounds completed to comments.
Compare to 131215.

Scaling:
Most athletes can maintain the structure of this workout. Choose static hold modifications that allow you to hold for 30 seconds straight. Rest as needed between movements and sets.

Intermediate Option:
Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
30-second handstand hold
30-second squat hold
30-second L-sit hold, knees bent
30-second chin-over-bar hold

Beginner Option:
Complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of:
30-second plank hold
30-second squat hold
30-second hollow body hold
30-second dead hang hold

Tuesday 240528

Tuesday 240528

For time:

10-second L-sit
10 box jump-overs
20-second L-sit
10 box jump-overs
30-second L-sit
10 box jump-overs
40-second L-sit
10 box jump-overs
50-second L-sit
10 box jump-overs
60-second L-sit

♀ 24 inches
♂ 30 inches

Post time to comments.

Scaling:
Today’s workout is in the short-to-moderate time domain. If you can maintain bigger stretches on the L-sit holds and minimize breaks, you should be close to finishing at the 10-minute mark. To stay within that window, find a variation of the L-sit hold that allows you to consistently hold for 10 to 15+ seconds before breaking. If you can hold your option with ease for 45 seconds to 1 minute, try a more challenging option. The box should be a little taller than you want it to be on the jump-overs, and expect your fatigued hip flexors to make jumping a bit more difficult. Consider stepping down from the top of the box. This is not only a safety concern, it is one way to keep yourself moving at a steady pace.

Intermediate option:

For time:

10-second L-sit (bent legs)
10 box jump-overs
20-second L-sit (bent legs)
10 box jump-overs
30-second L-sit *(bent legs)
10 box jump-overs
40-second L-sit (bent legs)
10 box jump-overs
50-second L-sit (bent legs)
10 box jump-overs
60-second L-sit (bent legs)

♀ 20 inches
♂ 24 inches

Beginner option:

For time:

10-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises
10 box step-overs
20-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises
10 box step-overs
30-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises
10 box step-overs
40-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises
10 box step-overs
50-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises
10 box step-overs
60-second L-sit drill: seated leg raises

♀ 12 inches
♂ 20 inches

Resources:
The L-Sit
L-Sit Drills
CAP Demo: Box Jump-over Variations
CAP Demo: Box Step-overs

Find a gym near you:
View the CrossFit map

Featured photo:
Taken by Anna Bartlet at the Europe Semifinal by French Throwdown.

Tuesday 231212

Tuesday 231212

Meet Guest Programmer – Michele Letendre: Dec. 4-17, 2023.

For time:
12 wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
9 wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
6 wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
3 wall walks
10 wall-ball shots

♀ 14-lb ball to 10-ft target
♂ 20-lb ball to 12-ft target

Post time to comments.

Goal: Midline and upper-body endurance. Aim to finish in 10 minutes or less.

This workout will give us a dose of humble pie. The first set of wall walks is a high number and will keep us busy for upward of a minute to 1:30. In contrast, the wall-ball shots will likely take the same amount of time each round, which means the first 2 rounds of wall walks will compound quickly. The higher target for the wall-ball shots adds an element of difficulty that will increase the demand on the core, making the wall walks much more difficult. To make things even more challenging, the arms are overhead for a good portion of the workout.

If you can't throw higher, throw heavier.

Michelle Duke, one of our coaches, is the creator of this workout and has already tested it. She has offered us some words of wisdom:

– Warm up the wall ball to the 10-foot target because that first set can take you by surprise.
– The wall balls were enough to slow down my wall walks.
– The shoulders will fatigue but the demand on the core had my wall walks feeling really sloppy.

This means:
– Get a good warm-up.
– Focus on proper mechanics and positioning for the wall walks: Tight hollow body, neutral spine and short steps.

Scaling:

Intermediate option:
For time:
12 scaled wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
9 scaled wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
6 scaled wall walks
10 wall-ball shots
3 scaled wall walks
10 wall-ball shots

♀ 14-lb ball to 9-ft target
♂ 20-lb ball to 10-ft target

Intermediate athletes will use the standard loads and target heights for the wall-ball shots. Since athletes will not get fully inverted, they may find their cores to be even more challenged.

Beginner option:
For time:
12 inchworms
10 wall-ball shots
9 inchworms
10 wall-ball shots
6 inchworms
10 wall-ball shots
3 inchworms
10 wall-ball shots

♀ 8-lb ball to 8-ft target
♂ 10-lb ball to 9-ft target

This workout will challenge core endurance. For beginners, the inchworm requires flexibility, a tight core, and weight transfer in the shoulders. Athletes can perform the inchworms moving forward or inching out to the plank position and backward to a standing position. The first 12 inchworms should take 1:00-1:30. The wall-ball shots should be done with a comfortable weight and athletes should aim for 10 unbroken reps throughout.

Resources:
The Wall Walk
The Wall-Ball Shot

Find a gym near you:
View the CrossFit map