This.

I know I could just wiki this... but did caber tossing evolve from war/fighting (like I imagine many of these sports did)?

If we're gonna give it a flair of rust and oppression, lets be accurate.

No, the other events are certainly more war based than the caber. I don't think anyone really knows, but the most popular explanation is that they would toss it over a river/stream to be able to cross over the water.

I guess that makes more sense... Well, more sense then trying to crush some dude with a big pole...

More sense...but less cool.

Leaving in a little while for the weekend, I'm here tomorrow:

Wickland Highland Games

why? it seems like gorilla's circuit was some sort of power conditioning training, whereas it seems a thrower just needs explosive power and has plenty of time to rest.

Who knows. Why do the Olytards I train with do snatch grip cleans? I see a guy training for shotput kettletarding all the time. His form sucks and I try to help him, but I'm a ****ty coach and we don't speak the same language.

8/21/10 Wickland Highland Games, Bardstown, KY

Open Stone (16lbs) - 45'1", 43'5", 46'0" (1st)
56 WFD - 38'4.5", 41'8", 44'0" (1st)
28 WFD - 78'7", 79'3", 83'9" (1st)
22 HAM - warm up...

f**k.
f**k.
f**k.

Since my left oblique healed I've been good to go, able to throw everything. In Detroit 2 weeks ago, I felt a slight tweak on my my right side (same exact spot as it was on my left), but didn't think too much of it as I was able to finish the day strong there. I have felt it the last couple weeks, but it was nothing that would stop me from doing anything. I felt it in the stone, and then not at all when throwing the weights. First warm up with the hammer....*rip*. I took one attempt at the caber, and despite turning a 12:00, it was extremely painful. No way I could finish the other events.

I'm sort of at a loss here, as this now appears to be a recurring issue. I don't know if it's something biomechanic that I'm doing or what. Maybe I'm just weak in the core? (highly unlikely) Maybe I just lack the necessary flexibility to throw the way I do?

Anyway, off to the doc tomorrow, I guess I'll be doing ART and cold laser therapy again.

sigh.

Weird. Did this ever happen when you were younger?

That sucks, man.

Do you do much stuff for your core aside from the main heavy lifts? Maybe once you heal, doing some stuff like ab wheel rollouts & isos or blast strap rollouts & isos would be a good idea. If you haven't been doing stuff like that, its a lot harder & more effective than you might think.

sorry man, i know your pain. do yourself a favor, ask around, and find a PT who can really understand your problem and explain it to you.

Nope, this is the first year it's happened. A buddy of mine thinks it's related to my size and strength gains over previous years. I dunno.

Typically, no. My core is really strong in those planes, so I'm not sure how much benefit I'd get from that. But I might need to add some sort of rotational training in the gym as the hammer seems to be the culprit. Perhaps even winding the hammer a few times per week once I get healed.

My doc/chiro/ART guy is really good. Even having gone to the field with me before and watch me throw events to understand exactly what it is I do. I'm hoping he'll have some insight tomorrow.

there is obviously stuff like pallof press and the kneeling cable press which are rotational execises. there is also the minefield exercise which works the obliques and you can load heavier. also med ball throws might help.

Exercises like that would not really be applicable to throwing the hammer the way I do. It might help with the weight throws, but I'm not having issues with that. The more I think about it, the more I realize that actually doing hammer winds is hopefully the best way to prevent this. I can't even imagine in measurable terms what the force generated is when we throw hammer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUuz7...feature=search

I thought a hammer throw meant you got a hammer and chucked it somewhere, but it is actually a metal ball attached to a chain, and it looks like technique is really important. It's also interesting it looks like those hammer throwers had small arms, and were in general small dudes, as opposed to you. What is winding hammer?

ETA - i am scanning this thread to see what i missed and realize i have to go to the beginning and read most of it

It's so cute the way this thread developed. I'm really enjoying reading it all from the start.

I just read through your entire thread, it's great, thanks. I have a couple questions. When you get injured or are on a deload week, especially a few years ago when you also trained technique a few times a week... how do you cope with not being able to train?

Why no back squats?

Anyway, great log, borders on inspirational, and I look forward to following your progress more closlier. GL with your injury.

ETA: I have been managing a calf injury for a few weeks now. Today I went crazy and played two soccer games, it felt off while playing, but now it feels pretty darn good, like the playtime helped work through some cramp, but maybe that is just the advil I took. Assuming it is good I really look forward to getting back to the prowler pushes like you are doing

Read through the whole thing today. These guys that puke after the prowler is it after one set or all 3? I still don't get why that is so tough. I really want to try it.

Also, what do you use to make your vids on youtube?

Thanks

Your video and what you describe is the olympic hammer, whereas I throw the scottish hammer. Related, but not quite the same thing.

In the scottish hammer, feet are planted and don't move, just the hammer. There is a significant amount of counter with the hips to create the speed. Here is a pic of me from a few years back to give you an idea of body position:



Winding the hammer, would be basically doing the events, sans the release.

It sucks, but I usually sit around and play poker when I can't train I've been in strength sports long enough to know that when my body says, "Take a break", I listen.

I have a spondy condition, as well as fractured and broken vertebrae in my L4-L5-S1 that the muscle is holding in place. I can't take the pressure directly on my spine.

Thanks, hope you are all healed!

The puking is usually after all the sets are done, for me its about 15 minutes later for some reason.

Movie Maker.

Ugh, heal quickly!