Critical Mass or How Justin got his clean back

"The Significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them" -Albert Einstein

 Things are really starting to snowball in a good way with training since the last post. Injuries seem to be healing, form seems to be improving, strength and speed is increasing, and bigger weight is going up. Things that I couldn't grasp about my body's movement and focus I couldn't tap into before seem to be simplified and easily accessible now. This is an amazingly empowering feeling and for the first time in a long time and more so than ever, I truly feel that this daunting task I undertook almost a year ago is within reach. This can be attributed to multiple things: Less training volume and program design changes due to injury, focus on improving technique and mental game, and over all better motivation through support from friends and family. The thing is none of these are the single reason. They have all culminated and grown over the last couple months until they reached critical mass (Yes, that is a Malcolm Gladwell reference). However all the factors seem to come down to one thing: adaptability.

 By now most half ass educated adults are familiar with the phrase "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" The thing is in the sport of weightlifting it is easy to disagree with this because on the surface it seems like what we do is just that "The same thing over and over again" 

 This is because the changes you have to make are often not external, but between your ears and in your chest. Learning humility and understanding oneself is strangely such a big part of this sport. Man, why though? Why is it that I have attempted to participate in everything from Golf to MMA and nothing feels more intrinsic than these two stupid movements to get a barbell over your head? 

 Here's the thing. I have no clue. Also, I have stopped trying to figure it out. Sometimes you just have to act like a drunk white person at a wedding and let the rhythm take you until you wake up the next morning only to check Facebook and find tagged pictures of you and your uncle sweatily doing the soulja boy in perfect unison. (That is obviously just an example and has never actually happened to me). 

 The point is that no matter how repetitive it seems, there will always be things that can be changed no matter how small and it's the small things, over time that often trigger the bigger more abrupt change. Take this to heart, be humble, take a step back, listen, reassess, and grow. It sounds so simple but it is, in reality, one of the hardest lessons I have ever learned.

I recently Snatch 266lb. (9lb. off my goal) and Cleaned 330lb. (My actual clean and jerk goal)for a double off low blocks.

266lb. Snatch

330lb. Clean Double from low blocks