Thursday, October 25, 2012

"Having Guts"

The definition, it seems, of SISU :
Sisu is a Finnish term loosely translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. However, the word is widely considered to lack a proper translation into any other language. Sisu has been described as being integral to understanding Finnish culture. The literal meaning is equivalent in English to "having guts".




I firmly believe that the only way you won't get what you want, if you are willing to do what it takes, or at least get as close as realistically possible, is if you quit. It doesn't matter how long it takes, it doesn't matter how many road blocks pop up. All that matters is trendline, direction/

You are either getting stronger or weaker. Recovering or dissipating. Figuring it out or not. Going backwards or forwards. How fast this happens really doesn't matter imo, because as soon as you reach whatever goal you set out to get, the next one is on the horizon and off you go. It's the same state of mind, of being so don't be in a hurry to get there.

But be in a hurry to be going in the right direction. Because that path, that journey is the key. Being in that flow as much as you can is what feels so perfect to me.To having figured it out and knowing it is just a matter of when, not if, that you get what you want .

And so I did full  pushups again today as I have been training for for months now. I thought it was the overhead press I needed to recover first but it is the  lowly floor pushup pattern and today I did them without my shoulder de stabilizing at all and it was grand!

One thing I do know how to do naturally is press and I can honestly say I've pressed more things for more time than almost anyone! From years of gymnastics dips, and handstands and HS pushups and every variation you can think of to bodybuilding and incline and decline and barbell and db and smith machine and nautilus chest presses,  and on and on.

And then 13 years of bench pressing and all that stuff.
And then nothing. ack
But when the joints cooperate I can press and now I can again. Slowly, for sure, but for sure.:))

I promise not to be greedy, either:))

but first the real work:

Power swings
16 kg x 5
24 kg x 5
32 kg x 5
         x 6
         x 7
         x 8 x 2 rounds
         x 5 x 2 rounds
82 reps
5986 lbs

these went great! felt very strong and fast and all positions felt solid. I still can't get over I can do these now. Such a great power and strength position and move.

Snatch Holds
16 kg x 30
20 kg x 30
24 kg x 30 x 2 sets

these keep getting better but are always hard. Don't get real bone lock on the right so it's a big muscular effort

Ring pushups( ring slow feet on floor about 40 deg ring angle)
2 x 10!
P bar pushup ( feet on floor)
3 x 8
1 x 5!!!

these were so solid! . took the bars in closer and elbows tucked tight ( should have gotten video of this but it seemed so wimpy)  and shoulder didn't move around at all.

after all this time rehabbing and re patterning this is finally moving, quickly, in the right direction. I know it's not the speed that counts but it's nice to not be going at a snails pace either.

BB Laterals
3 x 10/10

datsit.
Sisu/


5 comments:

KrisR said...

Hey Rif -
You've been around a long time so maybe you know....

Do you see many examples of people past 50 who can actually make the changes necessary (long term) to become more fit and healthy?

I share much of your wife's history (long term obesity). I've removed a fair bit of weight over the last 5 years and am working to remove more fat (but primarily to become more fit and healthy overall not to reach a number on the scale).

There are moments when I wonder if it's really possible for a woman - post menopause - to really succeed with serious changes.

What do you think? What have you seen?

Bear said...

Good stuff Rif! Checking in once in a while, glad to see the progress! Onwards and upwards!

Mark Reifkind said...

kris,

Of course.it really is just a question of motivation. Age is irrelevant.it all depends if one is ready to make the changes necessary to do what they need to.
Tracy lost 50 pounds in three months just changing her diet and walking 2 miles every other day.
You have to be able to imagine it and then follow through. It can happen very fast when one is ready.

Mark Reifkind said...

Thanks Bear, things are progressing very well

guy said...

Another excellent post BossMan! Yep, See it! Believe it do it! What's "Balls to the wall!" in Finnish? :)

205, 215, 217.5,205 x 1 x 6, 190 x 1 x 3, laterals, rear delts bw pushups

 Well this went great. not perfect but the basic premise worked and I'm happy. I was not optimistic at all about this at all given recen...