So, I've been focusing on my powerlifting training for Alberta Provincials (thus partially explaining a lack of attendance at Kung Fu). How did it go? Simply put, it was an absolute gongshow.
Long story short, I bombed out (i.e. did not make a lift out of
the three attempts) in the bench press. Bench shirts and squat suits
have a "groove", wherein the movement is assisted effectively by the
piece of equipment. If your movement pattern falls out of this groove,
you'll be fighting against the shirt or suit (and will probably not be
able to lift the barbell). On my first and third attempts, I got out of
the groove and the barbell ended up drifting over my face and slamming
into the racks. My second attempt was mostly in the grove, except a lack
of speed and strength at lockout resulted in the barbell stopping
2/3rds of the way up.
It was a good learning experience, giving me the bitter taste of
bombing out of a meet and the motivation to train harder and smarter.
For the next competition, I will need to get stronger, and to learn my
equipment better. With that, I cannot (and will not) remain bitter or
angry at the experience that occurred. I must learn from it, and be
humble enough to accept that the failure that occurred was purely my own
responsibility. Only then will I grow and succeed. Not only will I be
training harder, but I'll be cycling more training in Kung Fu back into my training regime (as the taper that occurred working up towards the competition is done and over with).
Sifu Joe Harrigan
I am glad to have you back at the kwoon, even if I had to take some kicks that I couldn't block!!!
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