Kettlebells: Tool of choice

I'm not big on using external resistance (i.e. weights, machines, etc.) unless one has already become effective at using and controlling one's already existent body weight. In my experience working out and being a physical trainer, there is no healthy reason one should be doing, bench presses let's say, without first being very effective at doing proper, full range of motion pushups for multiple reps. If you do not have the core stability to hold up your hips in proper alignment, stabilize your neck in a safe isolated neutral position and stabilize your shoulder capsule while bringing your body down to the ground and then up again against the forces of gravity. What makes you think bench pressing 225 lbs off your chest makes any sense whats so ever? It doesn't... And don't get me started on these folks who are doing lat pulldowns but still have not even been able to do one chinup.

But what do I see all the time when I'm working out in the gym? People hyperextending their backs while do bench presses, necks leaning forward when ever someone is trying to push or pull weight, knees caving inward while someone is attempting to lift hundreds of pounds of weight off the floor...injury after injury, pain after pain, wasted energy and people taking it as if thats the way strength training was expected to be.

So for a long time I stayed away from weights and machines, trying to focus on my body weight, doing my pushups regularly, mastering my squats and pullups, taking my yoga and martial art classes. Then I came across tools that enhanced my body weight training, namely suspension trainers, like the TRX suspension trainer www.trxtraining.com and my favorite but less well know Jungle Gym XT put out by my friends at www.monkeybargym.com. These took my training to the next level.

So instinctively when I was introduced to Kettlebells a few years back I was a bit of a skeptic. I had lost a lot of faith in the effectiveness of weight training for the general population, but there was something appealing about this weird shaped bell that intrigued me. So I started researching the tool and found that it was a piece of equipment that originated from Eastern Europe and became the training tool of that region and was studied closely by the exercise scientist of Soviet Russia, who as many of you know I place a lot of trust in because of their track record of wanting to advance the nature of a human being as opposed to most of these weight training companies who's only motivation is to produce a product that they can "sell" to the consumer market.

A mentor of mines introduced me to the basic concepts and I was hook. No other weight or machine allowed for the freedom in motion and uneven weight distribution that the Kettlebell does. The dynamic nature of the swinging effect and the battle against inertia not only made me feel stronger but worked multiple muscles all at once, creating an additional great caloric expenditure. It brought balance to my muscles, so I was never just isolating or over developing just one muscle but evenly strengthening myself. I eventually went on to get my status as a KettleBell instructor through KettleBell Concepts and have been teaching individuals and groups how to get the best out of them for the past two years or so.

Would I say its the only way to weight train? No...but I would said Kettlebells are definitely my tool of choice. If you can definitely check them out, get a trainer to show you some of the basics with them. Please make sure the trainer is certified to do so, because they can be very dangerous if used incorrectly. And if you want to buy a pair, check out the ones put out by LifeLine  they put out a really great version. Also air on the side of heavy with Kettlebells, because a lot of the movements are assisted by total body muscular recruitment and you'll have them forever, so buy a pair you'll grow into.... so get to the swinging suckas!!

Reflections on my nation

I'm Puerto Rican. Yo soy Boriken!

A few things happened in the past few weeks that really made me remind myself what this means to me personally and socially how it effects my existence. Here are some reflections:

On July 25th 1898, the United States invaded my country and made it it's colony, booty from the spanish-american war. Its been 114 years and my nation is still under the rule of U.S. Imperialism, they like to call it a commonwealth and guise it with all these technical terms. But all these terms and statuses were created to try and hide the fact that my nation Puerto Rico is the longest existing colony in modern times.

Because of this relationship my country is poverty stricken, american influence constantly attempts to erase the culture of my people and most importantly, we have no say in our socio-economic conditions but rather are at the mercy of decision makers in Washington D.C. We are "given american citizenship" as if its some sort of honor or gift..."Thanks for letting me steal your resources and colonize your nation...here's a free pass to come to america and be treated like a second class citizen". And they argue that we Puerto Ricans benefit from the U.S. welfare system and "have it good" compared to all the other caribbean nations who are not promised citizenship. I mean let's get it straight my mom and sister were supported by welfare when in Puerto Rico and when my mom was pregnant with me it was helpful that she could fly into the states and try to look for a better reality here. But why is Puerto Rico so poor? Why would anyone want to leave? Why do we need support from the welfare state in the first place?....it's really simple...cause our resources are taken from our island and we have no self-determination to try and chart our own reality as a nation.

I wasn't personally born in Puerto Rico, nor was my mother or father. Mom dukes is from BK and pops is from the BX. My mom didn't learn spanish till she ran out to PR and had my older sister, my parents meet out there at some nightclub dancing to Marvin Gaye and James Brown (lmao). I myself never learned spanish because when my parents asked the doctors in NYC Mt. Sanai Hospital in the early 80's, they claimed teaching me more than one language at such a early age would confuse me and stunt my development...hmmmmm right. But I still know that I am not an "american" but rather I am a Puerto Rican. Granted new york city is my home, where I was raised and the community I was brought up in and at times I even go as far as to use the term Nuyorican...I'm definitely not the same kind of boricua you find back on the island. But like all nations I share a common culture, identity, national pride, a common history. A rich history deeply rooted in struggle and resistance in a long protracted battle to claim our self-determination. A history that I feel even from my neighborhood of El Barrio here in New York City, facing some of the same oppressive conditions that my sisters and brothers exist under back on the island...and my own conditions that are particular to me as a member of the working class here in the states.

I value the independence and self determination of my people first as a Puerto Rican who wants my nation to have control over its own destiny and secondly as a worker here in the U.S. who is disgusted by any injustice against anyone...and let me tell you, being a colony is one of the gravest injustices in human existence.

And although conditions have always been rough in Puerto Rico under the yoke of america's rule, the recession we entered three years ago brought these contradictions out even more so(http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/from-defensive-to-offensive.html). And even though these conditions are painfully felt, with the right leadership qualitative change can erupt at the same time. Last year those leaders emerged in the student movement of the youth at the 11 campuses of the University of Puerto Rico and the Federation of Puerto Rican Teachers (FMPR) (http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/08-03-08-puerto-ricos-42000-teachers-st.html). Violent classes against the governement and its repressive tools of the police and national guard was culmuinated by a two month long shut down of the schools until the student body's demands were meet. Demands to not cut the budget for education and for the student body to have some say in the direction of their institutions and to end layoffs for the teachers. Ealier this year they went on strike again to make sure their demands were being meet. And they will continue to struggle for their rights as humans, as Puerto Ricans have historially always done.

U.S. president barack obama traveled to Puerto Rico this past tuesday, the first president to even travel to my colonized nation in 50 years, since JFK in 61'. On his campaign trail, then senator obama made nice claims of improved conditions on the island and some sort of "resolution" on the status of Puerto Rico...like really, who they hell are you to make any resolutions about the future of my people in the first place??? We couldn't even vote for you! And how about the fact that no u.s. president ever takes a stance on the status of my nation? Are they afraid to challenge those corporate entities that insure their power maybe? Maybe the pharmaceutical company who gets a vast majority of it product from the nation of Puerto Rico? And how about the fact that conditions are far worse under the Obama administration than they were under yankee doddle Georgie?  Am I asking the right questions yet?

So when you step foot on my nation's soil with your climate retarded suit wearing...trying to roll your R's ass in a chap attempt to get an increase latino vote here in the states...do you think I support your actions? But at the end of the day I know Obama has nothing to do with anything, but rather those corporate interest who really call the shots in D.C. from their small offices in Wall Street are the common enemy. So obama unless your willing to take a stance against the colonial situation and openly support the effort of my people's self-determination, I will not endorse your presence and empty promises to my nation! GO HOME!

So when I heard about the call from the independence movement in Puerto Rico to protest his presence this past tuesday and to make the demand for Independence and Freedom for the Puerto Rican political prisoners behind bars in the u.s., I knew my role here in the states was to support and promote their cry for freedom and self-determination! 

Some from the Puerto Rican community say its not our place as Nuyoricans to get involved in the politics of the island because we are not dealing with the conditions back on the island. And while it true I didn't grow up on welfare in PR, or get government "aid" when in need like the nearly 30% of unemployed in Puerto Ricans have to beg for today. I did grow up on welfare here in the states and face racism and classism daily, just the same as the people in my mother nation. And as a u.s. born Boricua I know I cannot say this way or that way is the best for the folks living on the island, but I know without a doubt in my mind, it is my obligation, my duty, to fight tirelessly for the RIGHT OF PUERTO RICO'S SELF DETERMINATION, the right for the people of Puerto Rico to determine their destiny independently! 

So I stand in solidarity with the Independence movement in Puerto Rico in word and action and echo their demands for a FREE PUERTO RICO! For the freedom of our political prisoners and a big "GO HOME" to all these politicians and their empty promises. And you need to too. Thanks for reading.

Brothers doing similar work

About a year ago Stic.man from Dead Prez started blogging on the website RBG Fit Club. It a pretty dope avenue where stic has been able to post regularly information on building a "people's" movement of health and fitness. Very similar to the mission that my peers and I have with Revolutionary Fitness, stic.man goes back to the basics and promotes movement in all forms.

I've always been a fan of the music that the brothers from Dead Prez have put together over the years, a real sound track for all those in struggle trying to better our communities. Its actually a big sacrifice on their part as artist to use their talent to stay true to a real message of social change and struggle. So although I am not a big fan of buying albums, I did go to itunes and purchase the new album that Stic.Man has put out, Workout, its a dope fitness album please check it out and support, purchase the album. My favorite track on the album of course is Bruce Lee, with the Enter the Dragon loop in the background...it gets me hyped lol!

So definitely support Stic.man's effort to spread a strong message, follow him on twitter @STICRBG

And if you know of any other folks doing similar work to RBG Fit Club and Revolutionary Fitness put me on!