Praise For One of My Clients...and Friends!

Back in January, I met a young man, Richard Jones, that just finished up his college football career at Texas Tech University. He was #99 and played Defensive Tackle. He wanted me to help him get ready for the NFL Pro Day coming up in a few months.

We worked lots of things, namely his lower body mobility. We saw a ton of improvement over the course of the months, but Rich was being hampered by a recurring hamstring injury. Long story short, he killed it on Pro Day except for the 40 when he had to pull up because of another hammy-pull.

The NFL draft came and went and he had to start from scratch trying to find a new team to call home. He received a break during another tryout where a CFL team really liked what they saw.

Within a couple weeks, Rich was off to Vancouver, BC to play with the BC Lions. Well, that's the good part of the story, because the hamstring was still questionable. His hammy didn't hold up during training camp and was put on the practice squad due to the injury.

He's been waiting all season for his chance, rehabbing and training to get better at his craft. Well, the time is now! Richard will be playing tonight against the Calgary Stampede as the starting Defensive Tackle! Here's a link to his interview with the team media.

Richard's a very special guy with a lot of talent, not just in football. He's gonna make waves in whatever he does and whoever he comes into contact with.

I feel blessed to have been able to get to know him and if anything, help him a little on his journey.

Props to you Big Rich! Kick some butt tonight!

New Post and Some Updates

Wow! Didn’t realize it’s been so long since I’ve posted. Got several things to update:

1^st – My little baby girl! My wife and I adopted Britten Karson Marshall who was born July 7. She is such a huge blessing and I don’t know what my life would be like without her! She just turned 2 months old is growing like a weed and changing everyday! It’s amazing to watch!

2^nd – I’m starting a new personal blog that will have posts like

the above. Personal insights on the life experience that is me. I don’t really think they’re relative to the trai

ning platform, so I’ll reserve that stuff for my personal blog. Here’s the new blog address: http://jason-marshall.blogspot.com

3^rd – I’m shutting down my Facebook page. I might write about that on my personal page, so jump on over there and see if I’ve written about it. ;-)

4^th – This blog will be a training and business promotion blog. I really want to separate those two things in my life, so I’ll write about my thoughts on training, my experiences and put anything I’m doing with my training business on here.

That’s about it! I’m almost completely done with construction on my building here at the house and I’m chomping at the bit to get back to training. Four months is too long of a break! I think I have more aches and pains when I'm not in a training routine than when I’m in one full force. Pics of the building will soon follow when we’re done!

That’s about it! Hope all you readers (if there really are any) are doing well in all your parts of the world!

~ Jason

Biggest Loser Perspective

Here's an interesting take on the popular TV show, Biggest Loser.

While I appreciate the motivation the show provides its audience, that's about the only positive thing I can say about it.

As a trainer that wants to do things the right (healthy) way, the perception this show gives to the viewers about results and and what it takes to achieve them is beyond unrealistic. But that's just show-biz, I guess.

Enjoy!

KETTLEBELLS!!!

Authentic Russian Kettlebells are now available in Lubbock, TX for local purchase!!!

Check out the site for prices and purchasing info.

What's the benefit of buying locally?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY CRAZY SHIPPING COSTS! (close to 30% of the cost)

More info will follow if you want to learn how to use them! (Hopefully you won't refer to youtube or men's health)

Crazy Things

Crazy things are happening and cooking!

Next week ground will be broken in my backyard. The structure that will built on that little piece of land will be a place for a multitude of things. The main purpose is to train my clients. However, additional doors of opportunity and visions are being put on this space. I'm just excited to see what God has in store for it!

Within a few weeks, the building should be built, but I have no idea how functional it will be by that time. It all depends on my sub-contractors and how quickly I can organize the efforts.

I leave for St Paul in 10 days for my second trip to CK-FMS which I'm really stoked about! I'm sure the course has changed quite a bit since its inception. The RKC camaraderie is worth the trip alone, but I'm really pumped to learn all the new tricks up Gray Cook's and Brett Jones' sleeves. Can't wait!

Hopefully after that trip, a routine of regular training will follow (and a steady flow of clients! Fingers crossed!!!).

There's other neat stuff cooking in the pot, but it's a little premature to take it out yet and share. Just some really good opportunities and possibilities.

Good stuff! Sorry for the lack of posts. So for those who do visit, I apologize! Thanks for stopping by!

RKC Team Leader!

Well, the official word is out. The Chief Instructor, Pavel,

announced promotions within the RKC ranks and I was

promoted to RKC Team Leader!

So what does this mean?

Well, here’s the description of an RKC Team Leader off

the Dragon Door site:

“The position of RKC Team Leader is by invitation only.

The RKC Team Leader has displayed consistently strong

teaching skills over a number of years and demonstrates a

very high level of physical skill in their kettlebell practice. RKC

Team Leaders teach on a limited basis at the RKC instructor

certifications.

To make rapid gains in strength, power, flexibility and athletic

performance seek out an RKC Team Leader in your area today!”

So, I’m now part of a small group within the group that will act

as instructors for future instructors. On top of that, I will be able to

continue to expand my knowledge of strength, mobility, conditioning

and understanding of the human body.

This is such a great honor and very humbling for me. You may not

grasp the magnitude of it, but it’s like picking out the top 50 coaches

in Division 1 College Football and having them teach all the current

up-and-coming coaches to get better in their practice of coaching.

So the group I’m included with is more or less STACKED!

So there’s the big announcement. I will do my best to uphold the

standards that have been set before me. And I hope to see and

work with you in the future!

Raw Unity Meet Recap

Again, it’s been awhile. Not on purpose, I guess I just don’t feel like my life or training has been that exciting.

But, recently I have been blessed with a little excitement. Monday, I returned from Tampa, FL from the Raw Unity Meet. This was the 3^rd annual meeting of the event and was my first time to compete or attend.

I had been invited to be a part of the Power To The People deadlift team sometime last year by The Chief himself. I proudly accepted and looked forward to the date of the meet. I had over 6 months to prepare and had just finished a meet in which I set an American Record Deadlift in my weight class and age group (551 @ 179 bodyweight).

I had heard of the Raw Unity Meet previously because of the names that lifted there. So I was really excited to get to go…not only to just be there, but to compete as well.

Here’s the recap:

I spent around 12 weeks prepping for this meet. I knew I was only doing the deadlift, so I didn’t have to get fancy with my training.

I wanted to do the full powerlifting portion, but I bombed out of Unequipped Nationals in October and didn’t have a high enough total to qualify my entry. So I was just happy to go and pull a big deadlift.

I came into the meet much lighter than normal for the 181 lb class that I’ve been competing in. I usually weigh in the mid-190’s in training and cut down 2-3 days before weigh-in. Due to a horrible case of food poisoning on New Year’s Eve, I lost around 15 pounds and never really put the weight back on. The downside is I could’ve lost strength, the upside is I didn’t have to worry about cutting to make weight.

I ate supper the night before weigh ins around 6pm and began to fast and dehydrate at 185. By 10am the next morning I was 177. Then I began to replenish fluids and food and got back up to 185 the next morning before I lifted.

I woke up early to get some breakfast as I was scheduled to lift at 9am. The first shuttle to the meet venue left at 8am which gave me around 30-40 minutes to warm up.

Warm ups went really well and I was pleased at how I timed it up to my first attempt.

First attempt was 534. I don’t know if was nerves or what, but the weight moved slow for me. I was nervous to pick my next weight which I knew needed to be a big jump if I was going to go for 600 on my 3^rd. I chose 260kg or 573 which was an all-time PR attempt for me and the biggest weight lifted per body weight I’ve ever tried. 3.24x

Second attempt at 573 flew up and nailed the lockout no problem. I got red lighted by the head judge for an unknown reason, but I didn’t care. 2/3 Good lift.

So I go to the scorers table knowing I have 10-15 more pounds in me, but not sure if I could squeeze out a full 27 lb jump to 600. I figured I’m here now, so lets do it and put down 272.5kg or 600 lbs.

I’m not sure if my mental prep was dialed in or what, but in retrospect I feel like I approached the lift completely different than what I’m used to. I even approached the bar differently. Probably nothing anyone would’ve noticed, but if you’ve ever deadlifted heavy, you know it’s very methodical and repetitious. Every attempt needs to be the same, from the prep, to the approach to the lift.

Anyway, I guess they turned the magnets on, because the bar felt like it was glued to the floor. No lift.

After my flight was over, I was pretty sure I didn’t get last place, but wasn’t sure where I stood either. I was just flying high from the PR and trying to figure out what went wrong with the 600 attempt.

I watched Flight B which was the Heavy Weights (198 and above) and saw some amazing pulls. 728 @ 213 comes to mind.

Then the medal ceremony began and they asked all of the Light Weights to come up to the podium. The scoring was done by Wilkes Formula which is a calculation that normalizes or equalizes a lifting competition across multiple weight classes.

They announced the 3^rd place winner which is fellow RKC Ellen Stein of New York…the only female in the Deadlift Only Competition. Then they announced the weight lifted for the 2^nd place winner and it was 260kg. Wait a minute! That’s what I lifted? Then my name was called! I was shocked!

So at the end of the day, I pulled an all-time PR, a best pound-for-pound all-time deadlift for myself…AND was awarded 2^nd place for the effort!

The meet was very well run and had a crazy-strong list of competitors. A real Who’s Who of the powerlifting world. Not to mention that I got to meet Tony Conyers and Matt “Kroc” Kroczaleski.

What an awesome trip! It definitely made up for the meet I bombed out in October and kept my powerlifting fire alive!

I’m looking to take a break from the heavy stuff for a little while. I’m attending the Level II RKC cert in San Jose at the end of February as an assistant instructor. I need to get all my RKC skills dialed in and I might try my hand at The Beast Tamer Challenge if my training goes well this month.

So that’s my Raw Unity Meet recap. All in all it was a great trip, great meet and I’m looking forward to figuring how I can pick up 600 pounds off the ground.

HKC Reminder!

First, I'd like to get the business out of the way.

The first Texas HKC with Jeff O'Connor, Senior RKC is closing in. There's not much time left to register, so head on over to the link if you're going to be in or near Lubbock, Texas on the 23rd of January. Here's a link to the flyer for you to download.

Now the fun stuff.

I have been training for the upcoming Raw Unity Meet in Tampa Bay, Florida on January 30. I'm entered in the Deadlift Only portion of the meet and proudly representing the RKC community on the Power To The People Deadlift Team.

Since my last meet, I've modified a few things in my training that I feel were left out in my last training cycles and I think it's been working.

This week is 3 weeks away from the meet so I'm trying to figure the best way to peak my deadlift for the meet. Monday I pulled 3 sets of 3 at 95% of my 1RM (535 lbs). I pulled off of plates so my feet were elevated...without a belt. The reps felt easy, which means something is working.

After my session today, I also tried out my double overhand grip for my pulls since I was pulling a little lighter at 80%. I usually pull with this grip until I can't hold on any more, but I've progressively been able to increase the weight before I switch to my stronger alternating grip.

Here's a video of a PR pull (470 lbs) with a double overhand grip (not to be confused with a hook grip).

Not too long ago, I struggled with 315 lbs in this grip.

I also hit a big PR with the Double Bottoms Up Press and knocked down Double 32kgs! This has been a long-time coming, but I believe this exercise and the deadlift are distant cousins and have complimented each other very well during the last 10 weeks. The BUP with a 40kg is consistent on my right and I haven't hit it with my left yet. I need a 44kg because I'm not even close on The Beast.

All in all, a great session and training is going great! I was really worried after I got food poisoning on New Year's, but I guess my body welcomed the break. Plus, I don't have to cut hardly any weight now. ;-) I'm sitting at a healthy and strong 184. I'll lift in the 181 class in Tampa.

More to come on this training cycle. I've had quite a few A-Ha moments worth mentioning, but I want to wait til after the meet to elaborate.

What I Learned At The Alamo Bowl

So this year my beloved Red Raiders were invited to play in the Valero Alamo Bowl to play the Big 10 representative, Michigan State. At first glance, Texas Tech had this thing in the bag, but as we got closer to the game, other factors started to play havoc on the potential outcome.

With Michigan State's own player losses, Tech lost its 10-year veteran head coach, Mike Leach. This was a huge blow to the fan-base, coming from first-hand experience. I learned of the firing about 2 hours into my drive down to San Antonio. We plugged on anyway to root on the players, because that's what this whole thing's about anyway.

This first thing I learned, after several days of controversy, hearsay, rumors, affidavits, one-sided reporting, heated debate, and wishy-washy fans, it has finally become apparent to me that nothing is really as it seams. There's so much more to this story, but what I do know is that the general public (i.e. me), will be in the dark for about 90% of it.

The next thing I learned is not to order the Mahi-Mahi at Tony Roma's in the River Center Mall on the River Walk ever again. I'm not knocking Tony Roma's. In fact, the other 4 patrons joining me enjoyed their meals free from any harm. I, however, ended up a couple hours later, holed up in my hotel room, puking and spewing the most foulness I've ever experienced until my poor wife (along with the hotel manager) made an executive decision to send me to the emergency room via ambulance. It was New Year's Eve night of course and we were staying downtown...bonus! So getting around was nearly impossible.

So as I'm being wheeled down to the ground level, I realize what I look like: a guy who must've nearly drank himself to death. How embarrassing! I didn't even have drop, but I couldn't tell that to the mass of gawking onlookers.

Long-story short, after some blood work, a CT scan and 2 liters of fluid, I was released around 5:30am with an acute case of gastroenteritis (food poisoning). I literally spent all of New Year's Day asleep and didn't really wake up until around 2pm Saturday. I had recovered just enough to eat some soup and crackers and make it to the game to see Tech take down the Spartans!

So, if any of you players are reading this, just know that you weren't the only ones that faced adversity leading up to the game! I went through a lot to make it to the Alamo Dome on Saturday and still don't feel 100%. (I'm seriously just kidding!) I'm really very happy for the players and the coaching staff that were thrown in this situation. I hope the best possible scenario comes out of it and the verbally-committed recruits see how Red Raider Nation battles through some tough stuff, but earns its victories like champions!

Now, it's back to reality...work, training and life. Oh well, I welcome the routine!

I hope everyone has a great 2010!