Everyday Systems

Reinhard, did you see there are some German manuals too...probably in "olde" German.

War hammers tend to be used against armor so you would see them in knightly combat, which tends to require some expensive equipment- and literacy would probably be common in that group. Historical hammers tend to ...

Some of you that use scenarios with battle imagery might enjoy this site. It is a fantastic repository of western martial heritage...in other words you can find loads of scans of real historical fighting manuals from Europe.

http://www.thearma.org/ARMA/Masters_images/Goliath29_sm.jpg

I've ...

Freakwitch,

I am currently on the South coast near Plymouth but I have been to Tintagel a few times. Yes it's some amazing countryside out here. Glad you had a memorable time.

Sounds like Freakwitch didn't hurt the dog, just taught him that the sledge is not going to get out of his way like people do. You can't explain consequences to dogs since they don't speak English very well, you have to show them. Better to let the dog be aware of his own safety than be oblivious to ...

Deb get yourself some of those cool fingerless cycling gloves. They are really comfy and most even have a bit of padding.

When I started it challenged my wrists and grip and inner forearms more than the rest.

Once they catch up, the bigger muscles will start getting worked more. It took me about 2 weeks to get the wrists up to speed but they usually get fatigued first even now. Also make sure you rest them if they ...

"Pull the rabbit out of the hat"?

Deb check out this site. This lady knows A LOT about weightlifting. it is a really informative site. And I actually originally heard about Shovelglove from her. She loves squats and I am sure you will learn a lot from it. http://stumptuous.com/weights.html

Deb don't feel bad about that. Most women have a hard time with pullups due to the upperbody strength to weight. It is a tough one for almost everybody. I don't think my wife can do one either. Just stick at the stuff you can do and you will make progress while burning a ton of calories.

Yeah she ...

oldfox, your polebell (sounds like a medieval weapon) is very impressive!

Thanks, yeah I can't quite call it a Shovel Glove. I need a better picture. In as much as the club inspired the "club bell" the polearm inspired that name and that theme goes well with the Conan soundtrack which is indeed ...

That is US Marines, some of those guys are fit on the level of pro atheletes. I am sure the Royal Marines have similar goals. I'm actually American, wife is from over here so I'm hanging out in the UK for a few years.

Yes a perfect score on the pullups is 20 without letting go but you can take as ...

Reinhard, I test myself by just doing some situps and a run and if you can find a pullup bar do some of those. Those classic general fitness type exercises that work off bodyweight are good because they are proportional to everyone. You can compare yourself against some of the armed forces fitness ...

Freakwitch, you are on to something...I had similar thoughts. Mainly I did it because it was a way to reclaim a previous failed experiment.

http://www.stiffupperlipventures.com/polebell_shovelglove/PICT0001.JPG

I made that from a barbell I cut down and hammered the end into a hollow outdoor type ...

I gotta back Kevin up here. It is not only the benefits and rewards of the fitness SG will bring that will keep you doing it. It is actually fun. It is almost like playing a game or something. It really is fun. >A fun workout.< You will also feel like you accomplished something when you are done ...

Greets Deb,

To answer you, nope Cornwall is southwest in fact the most south and west of the island. But it sort of like the image you may have in mind. It is craggy and windswept and has cliffs and beaches and so on. Very pretty place. I'm actually an American though the wife is from here.

Yeah ...

Not sure if you guys have seen this before. A large man named George Jowett apparently was big on leverage exercises too. Looking up Edward Aston with his anti-barbell, I found Jowett's Fulcrum-bell. He looks to be from the same era. This page actually shows drawings of the movements. Maybe we can ...

Hi Deb and the rest,

I checked that link above to the classical stongman page about the "anti-barbell" and that was pretty much dead-on with what I was trying to express. Good link. But that guy was still not replicating real functional movements. It such a simple concept but works so well for the ...

Yes Reinhard I totally agree with you on the tool illusion, that is what makes this such a fun workout.:D

Imagination makes the workout less of a WORKout.

I am just lowering my grip a little so the other arm gets worked a little more but I still use it in the same toollike movements. I came up ...

hi all, I'm new to the forum here but I have been reading along for a bit.

I just wanted to add my thoughts to the big part leverage plays in this. Try holding your sledgehammer at the halfway point with one hand and the other at the very end of the handle. It will not only feel heavier in your ...