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Trap bar dead – (no sound)

525 lbs at 175 lbs bodyweight. Removed the original audio, as it was a bit distracting for the video.

Read More » | August 21, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 2 | Tags: , , ,

Trap bar deadlift – Triple bodyweight

Just a whole lot of heavy squatting and Olympic lifting these past several months. Haven’t touched the trap bar in ages, but wanted to see if I could do this. I think of this as a warm-up to eventually doing this on the normal straight bar. 525 lbs at 175

Read More » | August 21, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 2 | Tags: , , , ,

170 Kg squat @ 78 Kg (7-31-12)

Back on the bleeding edge of my squats, and feeling good. Here’s 170 Kg today, for the heaviest triple I’ve put up in a while. Looking to put up 182.5 Kg for three reps by year’s end.

Read More » | August 1, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 2 | Tags: , , , , ,

One Arm Handstand Work – Start of May 2012

I’ve put such an insane amount of work into the one arm handstand. It is easily the most challenging skill I’ve ever worked. I know I still have a tremendous amount of work to do. There have been ups and downs in training, but here are some clips from the

Read More » | May 14, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , , , ,

90 degree pushups – negatives – 5-7-12

I worked the 90 degree pushup again in training today. I’m able to push out of one (www.youtube.com – but today I was looking to control the lower down as far as I could go. I used three set-ups of increasing height. The boxes were a bit harder to transition,

Read More » | May 7, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 3 | Tags: , , , ,

Improvised Dream Machine (gymnastics ring assist)

Improvised “Dream Machine” I put together the other day. The red belt is from a Vertimax, although any strong belt would do. I tied loops in the webbing (bowline knot) to connect it to the belt. The carabiners act as pulleys and cut one’s weight in half. It could use

Read More » | March 31, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 3 | Tags: , , ,

Crank Attempt

In honor of Jasper Benincasa’s Birthday (March 25th, 1921 – January 6th, 2012), I attempted to perform a “crank”. A crank is a hanging l-sit to front lever to inverted hang. Jasper was such a master of body weight strength that he could perform this slowly, taking over a minute

Read More » | March 26, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , , , ,

90 degree pushups – low

What to do after handstand pushups? Here’s a start – 90 degree pushups. They were feeling good this week. Here I’ve clustered 3 together (~10 sec rest between each). I am working to get low enough until I eventually get down to a back lever-like position and then pull back

Read More » | February 18, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 19 | Tags: , , , , ,

Flipping a 20 Kg plate

Quick vid. Middle of a deload week, decided to try some misc. grip work after seeing this CrossFit Football video – youtu.be 20 Kg, no problem! I’m 5’7″ and my hand is about 7 1/2 inches from wrist to middle finger.

Read More » | February 3, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , ,

Weighted Muscle-ups

Is it possible to do a strict muscle-up if you weigh over 200 lbs? Absolutely. It’s all a matter of getting those shoulders set back and down! This is key! Weighted muscle-ups have been going well lately, so here’s a recent video. I weight 175 lbs+, so you’re looking at

Read More » | January 4, 2012 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , , , ,

Muscle-ups on a Rope!

Inspired by this video from CrossFit 515 – bit.ly – I wanted to see how a muscle-up on two ropes and one rope felt. Two ropes was pretty easy, just a major strain on the thumb side of the wrists. One rope was easy to get my first elbow over,

Read More » | May 18, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , , ,

One Arm Chin-up Vs. No-handed One Arm Chin-up

Here are some 5 year old video clips of my one arm chin-up vs. my no-handed one arm chin-up (wrist holding onto the bar) I slowed down the footage, as the clips were very short in length. As you see, the two skills are pretty much identical, except for the

Read More » | April 25, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Ironmind #2.5 close

Just bought an ironmind #2.5, which should help in my goal to close the #3 and finally get certified. The close feels solid – now it’s time to build up more reps! Multiple takes, and I still couldn’t get the gripper number 100% clear. Oh well, I think you can

Read More » | April 19, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , , ,

Squatting – 165 Kg x 3 – BeastSkills.com

Q: Jim, do you only do bodyweight exercises? A: This video. At the end of a 3 week training cycle with a lot of 2/day workouts. Definitely feeling it here and looking forward to a deload next week.

Read More » | February 4, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: ,

Ninja Warrior Training – Take 1 – Beast Skills

Gave a gymnastic seminar at Urban Evolution (urbanevo.com ) the other weekend. (Two guys got their first muscle-ups!) Had a quick moment afterward to try out their Ninja Warrior set-up. Great stuff! And yes… I want to compete. Stay tuned.

Read More » | February 2, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , ,

How to Improve your Handstand in 2 minutes!

Hello all, In this video I’m sharing a great technique that can increase your overhead range of motion, thereby improving your handstand. I’ve found it very helpful in my one arm handstand training. I hope it helps your training too! Big thanks to Mike Choi (www.dcurbanfitness.com ) who first showed

Read More » | January 15, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , ,

How to Improve your Handstand in 2 minutes!

Hello all, In this video I’m sharing a great technique that can increase your overhead range of motion, thereby improving your handstand. I’ve found it very helpful in my one arm handstand training. I hope it helps your training too! Big thanks to Mike Choi (www.dcurbanfitness.com ) who first showed

Read More » | January 15, 2011 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , ,

Tiger Bend Pushups

Today I’ve got an old video from 2007 I recently found on my computer. (I’m about 20 lbs heavier now!) The skill is called a tiger bend pushup. The shift in weight necessary to complete the skill makes it perhaps more difficult than a regular freestanding handstand pushup. My advice

Read More » | November 30, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , ,

Tiger Bend Pushups

Today I’ve got an old video from 2007 I recently found on my computer. (I’m about 20 lbs heavier now!) The skill is called a tiger bend pushup. The shift in weight necessary to complete the skill makes it perhaps more difficult than a regular freestanding handstand pushup. My advice

Read More » | November 30, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , ,

How to climb a rope

I was watching the CrossFit Games the other weekend when I saw the final event – the rope climb. It proved challenging to many competitors. For those that have never tried it, climbing a rope with your hands and feet is a lot more technical than you might think. In

Read More » | July 26, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , , ,

Two Finger Chin-up

Here’s a video of a two finger chin-up on rings with the index fingers, then the middle fingers. These weren’t perhaps the strongest ones of the night, but they’re a pretty average representation of my strength in the skills now. Notice how much faster (and stronger) the middle finger chin

Read More » | May 12, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , , ,

Help My Friend Bike Across America!!!

UPDATE: Josh unfortunately crashed his bike in Colorado and broke his thumb badly. He was unable to continue his trip. If I know him though, he’ll be back to try this bike ride again soon! We wish him the best!! Hey guys, this is Jim from BeastSkills.com Starting April 1st,

Read More » | April 1, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , , ,

Northern Maryland Powerlifting Meet – 3/27/10

I competed in a powerlifting meet this past Saturday. I’ve been going through Wendler’s 5/3/1 program for the past two months with great results. I planned to finish with a bench press of 300 lbs and a deadlift of 500 lbs. Nice clean numbers, and longtime goals. I hadn’t moved

Read More » | April 1, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , ,

Regulation Perfect One Arm Push Up – Take 2

Take 2 of the Regulation Perfect One Arm Push Up (RPOAPU) challenge. Read the description and see the first attempts here – www.youtube.com After that first video, I was told this skill and challenge needed to be more of a multi-joint movement, instead of the single-joint movements I was doing.

Read More » | March 19, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: 2 | Tags: , , ,

DC’s Most Primal – Sandbag/Parkour Race

On February 28th, 2010, Primal Fitness in Washington, DC, held “DC’s Most Primal Competition” – a multi-event test of strength, power, speed, agility, and endurance. Here is the second event – a sandbag/parkour race. Increasingly higher boxes with 120, 100, and 80 lbs bags in front, respectively. Get to the

Read More » | March 2, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , ,

DC’s Most Primal – Continental and Jerk

On February 28th, 2010, Primal Fitness in Washington, DC, held “DC’s Most Primal Competition” – a multi-event test of strength, power, speed, agility, and endurance. Here are my two attempts at the first event – the Overhead Anyhow. Get as heavy a weight overhead any way you can. I chose

Read More » | March 2, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , ,

Assisted One Arm Handstand Pushup

In 1954, Roger Bannister was the first man to run a sub-4-minute mile. Within 3 years, 16 other runners had also. The psychological barrier had been broken. The one arm handstand pushup holds a similar mystique. While some say it is impossible, others are busy training for it. I’ve been

Read More » | January 29, 2010 | Category: Videos | Comments: 1 | Tags: , , , ,

Product Review – EXF Rings from RingTraining.com

Hey guys, Jim from BeastSkills.com, just reviewing some rings from RingTraining.com. The new EXF Rings are the 3rd version of rings that has been offered by the site. Lots of new innovations – rubberized grip, S-hook system that allows doorway mounting and easier ceiling mounting, as well as measurements on

Read More » | December 16, 2009 | Category: Videos | Comments: 2 | Tags: , ,

BeastSkills.com and PushingPastAutism.org

PushingPastAutism is a one day event (May 16th, 2009) in which participants do as many pushups as they can in four hours. For event location and details go to www.pushingpastautism.org This video will show you proper pushup technique and give you advice for training and participating in this event. Articles

Read More » | April 12, 2009 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Pseudo-Maltese Training on Gymnastic Rings

Hey guys, here’s an exercise to try that will help strengthen up your chest and shoulders for the maltese position on rings, as well as for the backward roll on rings. The hands are right by my hips, palms facing down. My arms are slightly bent and I’m pressing them

Read More » | March 13, 2009 | Category: Videos | Comments: none | Tags: , , , ,