Why do we learn to clean, press, and snatch things at the IC? So we can became better baggage handlers? Perhaps in the future, these critical skills will save your back when traveling.
Sandbag Clean
Sandbag Push Press
Sandbag Snatch
We often practice these skills with medicine balls. However, this is in anticipation for the sand filled baggage you will use at the IC one day. The one pictured above weighs 70lbs., but you can certainly ask your trainer to increase or decrease the weight if you want to give it a shot. Lifting a sandbag is a unique experience as you can probably imagine. The weight of the sand is constantly shifting, requiring you to engage stabilizer muscles not normally used during barbell or dumbbell lifting.
This clean is a killer…but at least we’re practicing for real world application.
From now on I will travel with my fingers taped since I have a tendency to scrape the skin off my knuckles with this move. I also appreciate that you had us practice running with these simulating the “I am about to miss my flight” scenario.
When I was in Italy and stuck behind a slow moving mob of teenagers getting on an escalator, it was great to be able to lift my 50lb suitcase in one hand and run up the flight of stairs instead (while they gawked) — thanks to the IC and our functional-fitness lessons.
Steven-you’ve revealed yourself as one of those that tries to stuff too much stuff in the overhead…and it gets much worse with kids (you know, the little kettlebells, little evil wheel, etc.).
I’m sorry. You lost me. Baggage Handling? That’s what dollar bills are for — to give to skycaps.
I’m with Tsan…I just want to get to my destination looking great…bellhops, skycap and taxi drivers can handle my sandbags. Although, the image of Tracy running up the stairs in the italian airport with baggage in one arm….that brings a whole new idea to HOT, I bet the italian men were swooning! Forget the “moon hits my eye like a big pizza pie”, it’s the sandbag/baggage…that’s amore.
John,
I’m guilty as charged.
Tsan,
The dollar continues to lose its value as I type this.
Kerri,
What of a vivid picture of Tracy in Italy.
great way to start my day everyone! Thanks for the insight, laughs and Tracy’s continued inspiration! We did buy the kids rolling luggage tho.! But, Annakari proved herself in class on Tuesday night inpsiring us to do better abs and hollows.
I’m with Tsan.
And Tracy, I still have scabs from our “holy shit, my flight is boarding” relay a week ago. I can’t imagine what good fun I will miss tonight. Perhaps the, “Damn, I ran out of gas in the middle of knowhere at the bottom of a big hill” circuit.
This came at a perfect time, Steven, thank you. I am taking off for Italy with my two heavy sandbags (aka children) next month. Imagine the single mom with her bags, 2 kids, their bags…can you please post proper form for carrying a sleeping child (50-80 pounds) under each arm?
Therese,
Ask and you shall receive: http://icechamber.com/blog/2006/11/24/deadlift-levitation/
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Great work! Love the intensity in the pictures!!
Josh Henkin, CSCS
http://sandbagfitnesssystems.com