Kristyn's 7.31.10 workout

Axle Press
5x40
3x60
3x90
3x110
3x120
1x130
Man oh man did the 130 feel HEAVY!  Not good, not good at all.  I decided to call it quits there, because obviously I didn't have a lot of pressing strength in me today.

Medley
5 flips w/475 tire
100'x150 keg carry
100'xsled drag w/150 keg
We did this medley in honor of Eddie today.  We at the Warehouse like to do birthday medleys whenever a Higa Monster celebrates a birthday.  Eddie couldn't make it, but we did a medley anyway, and man did it suck!


Stones (no tacky, to 52")
5x125
5x148
5x175
This last run is actually a PR.  I've never gotten the 175 stone for 5 in a row.  At least there was one decent event in my workout today. 


Well, I was really hoping for a much better workout today...  I don't think anything I did was terribly awesome.  I'm guessing that I'm just a bit run down...  Gotta get my business together for the Sequim Show on the 14th!!!

Awards Ceremony for WSR Strongman, 7.30.10

On Friday, I (Kristyn) had the opportunity to go to the awards ceremony for all of the various activities that took place during the Diversity Fair at the Washington State Reformatory on the 27th.  While I was there, one of the strongman participants shared that doing the events was probably the most fun he'd had in over 15 years.  Another competitor shared how impressed he was by the fact that strongman was really able to bring the guys together in ways he'd never seen before.  He spoke about social walls falling down and pointed out that guys who normally would never interact with each other in a prison setting were really rooting for one another during the competition.  I have to say, being able to hear these inmates make such comments really made me feel good about taking the implements in for the day.  I was so proud of all of the participants and I was so glad that they all had such a positive experience.  I hope I will be able to do more events like this in the future!

Ken Nowicki, training for UK's Strongest Man 2010!

I'll be competing at UK's Strongest Man for the second time this August 26th. The compeition is an elimination type event lasting 3 days; 2 groups of 8 with 2 guys dropped from each group after each day leading to a 8 man final.

Events on day 1 are:

140kg/ 308# log press for reps from the shoulder
Silver Dollar deadlift for maximum
Golden Egg; I believe this is an egg shaped stone loaded into an egg cup for height
Conan's Torture Circle; yoke walk, but on a pivot like conan's wheel.

Here's my 3rd training session for the silver dollar deadlift; 355kg/ 781#. I'll upload videos pretty much weekly to keep you all updated with my progress!

HIGA's "stupid grip medley of the week" (7/28/10)

Aloha!
Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team

Strongman at the Washington State Reformatory, 7.27.2010

As many folks know, I (Kristyn Vytlacil) teach ABE/GED and Stress/Anger Management Classes at a prison in Washington.  In the three and a half years that I have worked there, I have encountered a number of inmates who are interested in strength training.  Recently, two PL meets were held at WSR where I work.  As part of a Diversity Fair, I was able to bring in some strongman implements for the guys to compete with.  For the WSR Strongman Event, we had a Farmer's Walk for Distance, Last Man Standing Log Press, and DB Carry around the Bases for Time.  Due to the fact that this was our first go at this, we did not split the competitors by weight class.  We may do that in the future.

Farmer's Walk
For this event, all of the participants had to carry 184 lbs in each hand (with inch and a half handles) for as far as they could go.  We had a 100' course, so that the guys could work on their turns.  Seven of the competitors made it 200' or more.  For these guys, we had another round of farmer's with 234 lbs.  The winner of this event got the 234 handles a full 200'.  VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!

Log Press
For this event, we started with an empty 12" log, which weighs 90 lbs.  Every competitor had to press 90, then 110, then 140, 160, 180, 200, 210, 220, 230.  Everyone did really well with the lighter weights.  Once we hit 160, many competitors began dropping out.  Many of the guys may've been good in the gym pressers, but as we know, pressing a barbell and pressing a log are COMPLETELY different!  The winner got the 230 up, mostly strict pressing, which was definitely awesome!

DB Carry
One of the organizers for this event actually came up with this event, where each person had to carry 50, 70, 90 and 100 lb dumbells around the bases of the baseball diamond.  The fastest time of the night was 24 seconds, which was super fast!  I actually did this event myself and it took me around 50!!!

All in all, this was a really fantastic event!!!  All of guys were very gracious and demonstrated amazing sportsmanship.  I was so proud of all of them!  I am hoping to make this a regular thing, maybe start some lifting clinics at work or something.  Working out is a great motivator for keeping the guys out of trouble, as it is a privilege to have a "weight card" there and the inmates pay a monthly fee to use the gym.  I can't wait to bring more of strongman into the prison and see what some of these guys are really capable of! 

Bulky Boy product review on Hooligan Fight Firm Blog!

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The 1st "Higa Monsters BBQ & grip challenge" (Renton, WA)

The site of the event.  "YUM-YUM!"

Scott Hughes, Laurion Burchal & Ryan Petrosky.

Ali McWeeney & Arlene Kim.

BBQ chicken, ribs, hot links & beef brisket.

Mac and cheese, beans & BBQ sauce.

Setting up the "Pinch Grip" contest.

Ali trying the "Pinch Grip" block for the first time.

Steve Spellman

Zack Nims

Higa trying to get a good grip on the Pinch Grip.

I am HORRIBLE in this event.  LOL

The scene of the festivities.

Tyler Scott

Me about to get my "grindz" on!

Ali trying the "Rolling Thunder" even with one leg!  So awesome!

Higa and the "Rolling Thunder"

 

Max and his beautiful daughter.

Arlene handing me my 4th place prize in the Pinch Grip contest.  Its a "Squeeze Wiener" to help me improve my grip.  LMAO!

Steve & Scott were the top 2 winners in the Grip contest.  Check out their tiny trophies!

"The Higa Monsters" training crew.  Best workout partners I could ever have!

My friend/training partner Laurion Burchal came up with a great idea for us to have a get together for dinner.  He and Arlene also thought that we should have a little grip contest and provide prizes for the winners!

We had a great time and have decided to make this an annual event in the summer.  I will also try to organize having one at my house in the Fall.

Mahalo to Cedar River BBQ in Renton, WA for letting us eat some great food and lift inside of their restaurant!

Have a great day!

Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team

Jesse Dawson Marunde 9/14/79 - 7/25/07

I still miss you big bro, even after you have been gone for 3 years....rest in peace and "SQUAT MORE" while up there looking over us.
Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team.

Kristyn's 7.24.10 workout and PL Meet

This morning, I headed out to the Warehouse to get in an hour of training before I went to the "F the Card" PL meet in Lynnwood, where John was competing in his very first meet.  


Farmers (1.5" handles)
100'x94 w/turn
100'x144 w/turn
100'x164 no turn


Keg Carry
4x100'x115


One hour goes by extremely quickly when strongman training, so this is all I managed to get in...


Once I got to Local's Gym, I had the chance to chat with Mel, a woman I've competed with before, and she shared that she was apparently the only woman competing today.  After a little convincing from John and Mel, I decided I may as well compete in the PL meet...  Why not after doing conditioning work yesterday, hitting heavy singles all week and an hour of strongman this morning...  WHY NOT?


Squat
205
225
265
I definitely think I had more in me on this one, but 265 is the most I've ever squatted in a meet, so I can't complain.  I did wear my brace, but I know eventually I'll go without it all the time :-)


John's Squat
315
345
365
This was a PR for John, by 30 lbs!


Bench
135
145
Missed 155
Um, so this is sad and pathetic, but the 145 is a 10 lb PR for a contest...  Whatever though, any PR is better than no PR!


John's Bench 
225
245
Missed 265
John, like me, hates benching...  We're gonna have to work on this, ha ha ha.


Deadlift
315
330
Missed 345
I had the 345 up to my knees and just couldn't pull any more...  I think my back was pretty toasted by this point and I was just plain tired.  I should be back to deadlifting over 350 again VERY VERY soon!  At least I'd better be!


John's Deadlift
455
480
500!!!
This was a HUGE PR for John and man was I stoked that he got it!  It was quite possibly the longest pull EVER and I am just so proud that he hit this lift.  Deadlift is definitely John's favorite and I know he would've been completely miserable had he not hit this weight.  So proud of him!


All in all, it was a pretty fantastic day!  I felt really good about my meet, my total is definitely better than it's ever been!!!  I have some pretty good videos that I will post up later.  

7/24 Warehouse workout

Have a good weekend!
Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team

Kristyn's 7.23.10 workout

On Fridays, I spend the afternoon at Everett Physical Therapy doing some conditioning work.  The folks at EPT have really helped me recover well from the ACL repair and they're really helping me get in better cardiovascular shape (which I am beginning to appreciate even more).  I know I wouldn't do any kind of conditioning work on my own if I didn't go to EPT, just because I don't enjoy it, so I think I'll try to keep up with it so that I'm not completely out of cardiovascular shape.

Bike

5 mins

Dynamic Flex warm-up

Ladders

13 minute circuit including...

ER Rip

Jump Rope

Hands in Ladders

8 Counts

Single Leg KB Swings

Stair Run

Inverted Row

Band Row

3 Hurdle Agility

Assisted Pull-ups

Mountain Climbers

Foam Roll and Stretch

So I really really really need to start stretching regularly...  My flexibility is extremely lacking and I'm certain it affects my lifts.  Gotta find a way to work it into my daily routine...  

And, on a more exciting note...  tomorrow I am headed to Local's Gym in Lynnwood to watch the "F the Card" powerlifting meet, where my fiance, John, will be competing for the first time ever!!!  I'm super stoked to watch him and probably just as nervous as he is for his first show!  He is scheduled to have knee surgery August 5, so he'll be out of the game for a bit.  Hopefully his recovery is just as fast as mine was!!!

10 year anniversary

Happy 10th anniversary to my wife Michelle!  Man, has time flown by!

Much love,

Grant

Higa's garage workout w/Zack 7/21/10

Aloha,
Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team

Kristyn's 7.21.10 workout

Hello all!  My name is Kristyn Vytlacil and I am a competitive strongwoman.  I have been competing in strongman for over 4 years now, taking part in over 20 competitions.  I have been looking for the ideal place to keep my training journal and I couldn't think of a better place than the Bulky Boy Blog (especially since THE "HIGA MONSTER" is a training partner and I am lucky to have Bulky Boy as a sponsor)!  I recently competed at Washington's Strongest Apple, where I took first place overall.  I am a 2x National LW Champion and I took 8th at World's in 2008.  In July of 2009, I tore my ACL and had surgery to repair it in August.  Since then I have rehabbed and worked really hard to get back to where I am now.  I am feeling really strong in my workouts and I'm getting ready to compete in Sequim, WA on August 14 (my one year knee surgery anniversary!).

I've hit some big PR's lately, including taking a 606 yoke 20 feet!!!  It was amazing and surprisingly, my back is not killing me since I did that on Saturday :-)

On Monday, I hit a PSPR (post-surgery PR) and overhead pressed 165.  I'm currently weighing in around 160.

And finally...  HERE IS TODAY'S WORKOUT!!!

Bike
5 minutes

Deadlifts
5x45
5x95
3x135
3x185
3x225
3x275
3x315
2x315
2x315
I am not terribly happy with where my deadlift is right now.  I know I can do better, but I think my hamstrings are still coming back from being all kinds of weak (the surgeon used my hamstring tendon to repair my ACL).  My deadlift has usually been a strong lift for me, so it's tough to see it in the toilet.  I will be much happier when my max is over 350.

Box Squats (to parallel)
5x95
5x135
5x185
5x225
3x275
2x305
So this is the 2nd time I have squatted without my knee brace since my surgery!  Last week was the first time and I only worked up to 185 for regular squats.  I am pretty happy with the work I did today!  The last set was definitely tough and I wasn't sure I'd get the 2nd one up, it was way ugly, but I managed and my knee felt just fine!  I'm totally stoked about this lift tonight!!!


Bent Over Rows
4x8x45

Tire Flip
2x20
I am not certain how much the tire weighed...  It was definitely pretty light, probably 300 or so, but it felt good to do a lot of reps and work a bit on my cardio.  


All in all, I'd say it was a great workout.  I didn't have time to do more upper back like I normally do, but I'll make up for that next week :-)

Seattle Bon Odori

Kalani, me, Kaiea & Madelynn.

Kaiea, Maddy & Hannah watching the Bon dancing.

"Eh brah, you can try move outta da way?"

"Brah, I no can see wit ur big head in da way!"

"Ai koodeesh, dis guy just like advertise his Bulky Boy stuff.  We gotta try move to one naddah spot."

Ms Hinami who was Kaiea's kindergarten music teacher.

Ms Hinami hitting the taiko drum.

This was kinda trippy...they were selling these Teri glazed Musubis.  It was cooked over the hibachi.

Aloha! Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team

"Animal Barbbell Club" at the Warehouse (Kent, WA)

Max & Zack getting warmed up on the Yoke Walk.

HIGA walking with 760 lbs on the Yoke.

Ali McWeeney doing some Clean & Presses to warm-up.

This was her first strongman workout since getting her prosthesis!

Ali doing some Farmers Walks.

Kristyn Vytlacil about to load a stone.

All pau workout!

Ali striking her "Captain Morgan" pose.

Kristyn, Ali and Ali's friend.

Group picture with our man, Marv who is wearing the jeans shorts.  Marv is the dispatcher at Chipman Relocations and is a huge supporter of our workouts.  Thanks Marv!

Me and Eddie about to get our GRINDZ on at Black Bear Diner.

Laurion and Chris.

Scott was an ass cause he ordered a salad while the rest of us ordered greasy breakfast food!  Thanks for making us feel like fat Strongmen Scotty!  LOL

The "BIGFOOT" is what I ordered!

It was another great workout with my friends at the Warehouse!  Hope you enjoyed the pics & videos!

Grant Higa Bulky Boy strongman team