My “Do It Yourself” (DIY) efforts on setting up a home workout station are proceeding. Below are some images of the yesterday’s progress… | |
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Yesterday, I assembled my “double-double”. Basically, it’s two striking targets attached at two ends. The bottom target is roughly the height of a body shot (waist to lower ribs). The top target is roughly the height for head shots (chin, front and side of the head). You may notice a few things: | |
1) the top attachment is vertical while the bottom is horizontal. The bottom target would normally be either fixed to the flooring below or (using some type of rope or bungee) attached to a weight to stabilize the target and limit random / excessive swinging movement. In this case, I had to work within the “command structure” of: “I don’t want any of your weights damaging my concrete!” So, I used a horizontal bungee (with a loop to keep the rope from sliding left and right). The practical limitation to this setup is I cannot work around the target; I am limited to the 180° on the front side. Still, I can live with it… | |
2) less obvious until you start hitting the targets… They are not “fixed” within the netting. There are gaps above and below the balls where they can move when struck. The practical effect of this is they are not staying in the same place in the netting when you try to do a double-up punch (like two jabs to the head). I will try to correct this by tying rope / paracord around one end of each ball / net to “lock” them into a more standard position within each net. | |
3) FAR less obvious, (but which I have learned from recent experience,) is that these targets hit back at you – and from unexpected angles (at least up to now unexpected). In my initial setup (prior to my wife’s objection), I had the bottom ball / net secured by weights. This tended to produce reaction motion for both balls in a relatively circular motion around a vertical axis (much like an up-right cylinder). After the modification to the bottom to include the horizontal bungee, a solid right punch to the bottom target resulted in a solid left hook by the upper ball to the right side of MY head. My wife started laughing and said: “It hits back!!” (Note: Not “Are you okay, dear?“) As near as I can tell, this is due to the back and forth (back to front) motion of the lower horizontal bungee and the circular (like a vertical cylinder) motion of the upper vertical bungee. My response: “I’m gonna need a head-guard.” Her reply: “You sure are!“, still giggling. Fortunately (for me), there wasn’t sufficient mass / speed in the basketball to knock me out, because it certainly struck me full on the side of my head at roughly temple / cheek height. | |
My next brilliant (okay, obvious) idea was to attach the original horizontal double-end target (“bag”) and see what that felt like. To my surprise, a “triple-double” and it is terrific! I now had a target (the bottom ball) for body shots, a target (the middle ball) for upper-cuts and body jabs, and a top target (the top ball) for chin and head shots. The only trick now is to find a way to attach the original double-end to the double-double which keeps them together (when used together), but which also easily separates so I can continue to use the single-double on its own. The original horizontal “single-double” works as a “slip-rope”. A “slip” is when you move your head side to side (like a metronome) to avoid an incoming punch. It is frequently accompanied by a “bob” (up and down head movement). Together, they are referred to as “bobbing and weaving”. Basically, I stand next to one post and move to the other ducking under the rope with each step to the side. When I get to the middle, I release an upper-cut. I then continue to the opposite post. When I reach the post, I turn around and start back, trying to time the steps so my next upper cut with be with the other hand. (Always try to practice every punch with both hands.) Anyway, there is still some tweaking to do… | |
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The next image is what’s happening in the background. I attached a “hook-screw” to the back post and then I just swing the weighted chain up to it and hook onto it. The lat-pulley set up is then out of the way for the boxing. It is adjustable for more clearance, but because of the angles, it (the chained weights) doesn’t have to be as far back as I initially expected. | |
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And, finally, here’s an image of the “normal” lat-pulldown. We timed the set up and take down and it takes under a minute to set up or take down! It takes longer to put on a single boxing hand-wrap than it does to set up the station for boxing. | |
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And so the adventure continues… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Posting As A Continual Exercise |
2019 | Border Security – Yes, Border Wall – No |
2018 | Supporting Survival Values |
2017 | Inauguration Day 2017 [Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right! — KMAB] |
2016 | Or A Pot Of Gold After The Storm |
2015 | One, Two, Three… |
2014 | Lend Your Hand |
2013 | Amnesty, n. |
2012 | Best Resolv’d |
The Clock Is Running | |
2011 | Magic |
Posts Tagged ‘Pictures’
DIY: Outdoor Gym Modifications (2)
Posted in Boxing, Family and Friends, Health, Pictures, Sports, Workouts, tagged Backyard Gym, Boxing Station, Bungee Cords, Double-Double-End Balls, Double-End Ball, Family, Health, Pictures, Triple-Double End Balls, Workout Station on January 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »
DIY: Outdoor Gym Modifications
Posted in Boxing, Health, Pictures, Workouts, tagged Backyard Gym, Boxing Practice, DIY, Do It Yourself, Fitness, Health, Lat Pulldowns, Latissimus Dorsi Muscles, Outdoor Gym, Pictures, Total-Gym on January 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Some of you regular readers may recall I had a pull-up rack set up in a corner of my backyard. Image below… | |
I was always intending to use the setup as a multi-function station for working out going forward. My initial modification was the addition of two “eye-screws” to setup a horizontal double end punching bag. As you see, I made it out of an old basketball, a basketball net and a couple of bungee cords. This has worked out reasonably well… | |
The “main” goal of the setup was to have a pull-up station. Unfortunately, it turns out I am FAR too out of shape to hang from the bar, let alone try to do a pull-up. In my first (aborted) attempt, I nearly pulled my arms out of their sockets “trying” to hang. I was able to hang for just long enough for me to remember my age before letting go (aka: “falling”). Also, despite my interest in adding “DIY” boxing options, I will NOT EVER be boxing / sparring. I have a heart condition and am on blood thinners which (technically) make me a “border-line” hemophiliac (a “bleeder”). The boxing options are only for their fitness / exercise value. | |
To make a longer story short, I scavenged some parts from my old “Total-Gym” and have now set up a “Lat – pulldown” system which I can use to build up my strength until I can hang from the bar and try another pull-up. Image below… | |
A “Lat – pulldown” is an exercise which concentrates on the latissimus dorsi muscles. These are the muscles used to pull something down from above your head or to pull your head and body up to something which is above your head / shoulders. In this case, I am using four(4) ten pound weights. At the moment I have completed day four(4) of a 30 day challenge to do five(5) sets of fifty(50) “reps” (repetitions). After each set, I turn 45° and do a cross-body pull down Left to Right (50 reps) and then Right to Left (50 reps). In all, 250 reps of the double and 250 reps per side. As I get stronger (and less sore), I hope to get up to 10 sets per day. Hopefully, by the end of the 30 days I will be able to suspend myself in a hanging position for a few seconds. Then I can proceed to descending pull-ups, which will lead to actual “up” pull-ups. | |
I have an additional five(5) modifications under consideration: 1) adding a “slip bag”; 2) adding a “heavy bag”; 3) adding a vertical “double-end, double bag”; 4) adding a “speed bag”; and, 5) adding a two-grip, low level pulley systems to create a “rower”. | |
So, that’s the progress. And, that’s the future plans… (Oh, yeah. The posts and the rest of the back fence have to be painted / stained to help reduce / prevent weathering.) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Still Crazy After All These Years… |
2019 | 20 / 20 Foresight |
He Knew Damned Well… | |
2018 | Be Someone’s Kindling |
2017 | When The Moment Comes |
2016 | Changed Clothes Lately? |
2015 | Like Stone |
2014 | Resistance Is Futile |
2013 | Subtle Humor |
To Look Behind Green Eyes | |
2012 | The Path Is Endless |
2011 | Happy MLK, Jr Day!!! |
A Factor Of Ten | |
Better Late Than Never? | |
Whoops! | |
Acceptable Beginnings | |
Slow Progress | |
Useful Confrontation | |
When Phenomena Are Different | |
Creative Avoidance | |
Thinking | |
Fast And Flexible | |
Surrender Certainty | |
Techniques | |
Vive La Difference | |
Destiny | |
Completeness | |
Art | |
2020 Tree And Ornaments
Posted in Family History, Pictures, tagged 2020 Christmas Orniments, 2020 Christmas Tree, Family History, Hallmark Channel Movie, Peanuts, Pictures on January 3, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Each Christmas season, our tradition is to get our Christmas tree the first full weekend of December and to take it down the first full weekend after January 6th (aka: the “Feast of the Three Kings” or “Epiphany” or “Little Christmas”). We have a secondary tradition of purchasing a representative decoration for each year. Sometimes they are religious (angels, stars, etc.), sometimes they are Christmas but humorous and sometimes they are topical (StarTrek, StarWars, Harry Potter, Dr. Who, etc). Anyway, we are getting ready to take the tree down next weekend, so I thought I’d post a few pictures of this year’s tree and ornaments… (You can click on the image to see a larger version.) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Still Looking |
2019 | Too True |
2018 | Simon Says |
2017 | Next Cell |
2016 | Important Knowledge |
2015 | Are You Still The Exception? |
2014 | In Answer |
Days Are Passing | |
2013 | Opportunity |
2012 | Appropriate Qualities |
2011 | A Place To Hang My Hat |
You Be The Judge
Posted in Boxing, Health, Pictures, Sports, Workouts, tagged AFib, Boxing, Health, Mid-Life Crisis, Pictures, RDX F12 Training Boxing Gloves, Second Childhood, Sports, Sweet Science, YouTube on December 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
My wife isn’t sure if I’m having a mid-life crisis or just going into my second childhood… | ||||
This year I’ve been watching A LOT of YouTube. Well, okay… It started last year, but that’s just a detail. | ||||
I was viewing a bunch of videos on working out and I found myself going through reams of “30-Day Challenge” videos. Of course, I decided to give one a shot. My choice: the “30-Day / 100 pushup per day challenge”. | ||||
Day One (Test): Zero. That’s correct. I could not do a single pushup from the floor. I could get into a plank position, (with effort,) and lower myself to the floor, but not get back up off the floor. | ||||
Obviously, some modifications would be necessary… Inclined pushup from the back of the sofa. Five. Okay. It’s a start. First day: 20 sets of five, spread through-out the day (and evening). | ||||
Days 2 and 3 were more of the same. Day 4, I was able to do 10. So, 10 sets of 10, spread through-out the day. | ||||
To make a longer story shorter, about day 10 I was finally able to do ONE pushup from the floor. By then, I was doing five(5) sets of 20 inclined. At the end of 30 days, I could do 5 pushups from the floor. (And shorter again…) At the end of 60 days, I was able to do 15 pushups from the floor. By way of comparison, Google says an “average” 65 year old man should be able to do between 6 and 16. In other words, I went from abject failure to the top end of “average”. | ||||
And then I got hurt… (But that’s another story.) | ||||
While browsing YouTube, it started feeding me boxing and martial arts videos (over and over again). So, (of course) I started watching them… Because I wasn’t able to do much other than walk, I started shadow-boxing in front of a mirror… And then I bought gloves… And then I bought hand-wraps… And then I bought focus pads… And then I started making home-made (read: inexpensive) boxing targets. It turns out YouTube has videos on how to jury rig most of the expensive kit you need to practice boxing. | ||||
Here’s some pictures of my gloves… They are RDX F12 Training Boxing Gloves (16oz.) | ||||
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And, after trying them on a few times a week for the last month or so… Today I did my first “workout” with the gloves. | ||||
Now to be fair, I did actually try them on and use them for a few minutes when I would set up a new target and once for a few minutes of shadow-boxing in front of a mirror, but until today, my wife had put it down to another one of my “phases”. When approached on the possible purchase, she did insist on a $50 limit on my gloves because she was convinced they’d be gathering dust by now. So, yes, they’re an inexpensive pair. Not “cheap”, just inexpensive. And, no, they are not leather. They are “engineered” leather. (LoL!) | ||||
Today’s workout was about 45 minutes long, sweaty and exhausting. But, it was loads of fun and I felt terrific after my hot shower. Tired and relaxed and starting to get sore in strange (and not so strange) places, but all things considered – terrific! | ||||
I’m really not sure if this is a “phase” or not, but I’m going to put up a post every now and then about this “journey”. I’ll try to come up with a way to let you know in the “post” title when I’m on this topic as I have no idea how many of my blog followers have the slightest interest in this side topic. | ||||
A final note (reality check): I am a 65 year old man, morbidly obese, with a heart condition (AFib) and on blood thinners. So, NO, I will NEVER be in a fight or EVER sparring. This is just a way to try to add some fun to my efforts to raise some sweat (and maybe learn a bit about the “sweet science” while I’m at it.) | ||||
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On This Day In: | ||||
2019 | I Think I’m Repeating Myself | |||
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like X-mas! | ||||
2018 | No Reason To Turn | |||
2017 | Talking Knuth | |||
Seeing It Through | ||||
2016 | Hoping For The Best Come January | |||
2015 | Adaptive Security | |||
2014 | Wants | |||
2013 | Side Effects | |||
2012 | Just Trying To Earn A Living | |||
2011 | Productive Worry | |||
Just Dessert
Posted in Family and Friends, Pictures, tagged 2020 Thanksgiving Dessert, Family, Images, Pictures, Trifle on November 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The photo above is a snap of the trifle dessert my daughter (Sarah) made to compliment our Thanksgiving day dinner. You can’t tell from the image but it was about ten(10) healthy servings – divided among the three of us. (LoL!!) It lasted until Black Friday dinner afters… And, then there was none. 😦 Trust me. It was even better tasting than the picture looks… 🙂 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Happy Thanksgiving (2019) |
2018 | And Smiles… |
2017 | Or Savor A Little Longer… |
2016 | Sometimes I Just Want To Smell The Flowers |
2015 | One Truth – Done Well |
2014 | Now In Imagination, On The Other Hand… |
2013 | No Plan, No Map |
2012 | Singing About Love |
2011 | The Awesome Power Of Truth |
Remembrance Day – 11 November 2020
Posted in Family History, History, Pictures, tagged Bronze Medallion, History, Pictures, POW Camp, Remembrance Day, The Great War, The War To End All Wars, World War I, WWI on November 11, 2020| Leave a Comment »
We remember… | |
The two images below are of mementos from my wife’s family side. The medallion was given to her family for her father’s uncle who died in World War I (“The Great War“, “The War To End All Wars“). The second image is of a Christmas card from 1917, which Hil’s grandfather (her mum’s dad) sent home while he was a prisoner of war (POW) in a German camp. | |
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A token of service for a life given and a signal of life for continuing hope. | |
Sacrifice and service… We remember… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2019 |
2018 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2018 |
2017 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2017 |
2016 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2016 |
2015 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2015 |
2014 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2014 |
2013 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2013 |
2012 | Monkey Business |
Veterans Day – 11 November 2012 | |
In Others | |
2011 | Veterans Day – 11/11/11 |
Deeply Confused (Still) | |
2010 | We are not from fearful men and I Am Not Afraid!! |
Veterans Day – 11 November 2010 | |
2009 | Narrowly missed first weight goal, but still happy… |
Veterans Day – 11 November 2020
Posted in History, Pictures, tagged 2020 Veterans Day, History, Pictures, VA.gov on November 11, 2020| 2 Comments »
[To all who are serving, to all who have served, and to all those who have waited patiently for their return, “Thank You!!“ | |
If you have the time, take a minute to read: What Is A Vet? — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2019 |
2018 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2018 |
2017 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2017 |
2016 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2016 |
2015 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2015 |
2014 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2014 |
2013 | Veterans Day – 11 November 2013 |
2012 | Monkey Business |
Veterans Day – 11 November 2012 | |
In Others | |
2011 | Veterans Day – 11/11/11 |
Deeply Confused (Still) | |
2010 | We are not from fearful men and I Am Not Afraid!! |
Veterans Day – 11 November 2010 | |
2009 | Narrowly missed first weight goal, but still happy… |
Almost Ready To Take A Breath
Posted in Humor, Pictures, Politics, tagged Humor, Images, Pictures, Political Humor, Politics on November 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Note: This image was found on the internet. I do not own it or make any claim to copyright. If anyone knows the owner, let me know and I will credit them for it. — KMAB | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Transfiguration |
2018 | 2018 Mid-Terms |
Praying For A Blue Tsunami Election | |
2017 | Islam Is Not The Enemy |
2016 | A Checkered Past, A Checkered Future |
2015 | Preferences |
2014 | Have You Taken The Pledge? |
2013 | Nurture Tolerance |
2012 | Election Day – Please Hear What I’m Not Saying |
2011 | Mostly Strange, Always Blue |
What Is It You Want? | |
2010 | MSNBC, Bring Back Keith !!! |
Value.. | |
Worse Still… | |
Afraid So… | |
Making It | |
Don’t Jump Small | |
Time | |
Push!! | |
I’m Still Here… (A Message To Keith Olbermann) | |
Choose | |
Not Yet… | |
Mean Too | |
Still Building (and Planning) | |
Hangin’ High | |
Always… | |
Insect Instinct
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Pictures, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2020 Vice Presidential Debate, CBS News, CBSN, Fly, Humor, Instinct, Philosophy, Pictures, Politics, Senator Kamala Harris, Vice-President Mike Pence on October 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Last night (Wednesday 7 September 2020), we had our Vice-Presidential debate. During the debate, a fly landed on the current VP’s hair as sat there for a couple of minutes while he spoke. See the image below… | |
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My question is: How is it that even the common American fly knew which side of the debate was full of sh*t? | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Bigger Hearts |
2018 | Signaled Progress |
2017 | No Progress, But Still Unreasonable |
2016 | Notes Unsaid |
2015 | Still Seeking (Believe It Or Not) |
2014 | Guidelines For Bureaucrats |
2013 | Failing At Normalization |
2012 | Are You An Expert? |
2011 | Joy! |
Hangin’ Out
Posted in Family History, Pictures, tagged Backyard Hammock, Backyard Images, Family History, Gnomes, Images of Home, Pictures, Pictures of Home on August 26, 2020| 4 Comments »
A few weeks ago, we finally got our back yard area worked on. We had a fence repaired. A wind storm toppled it and it was propped up with some supports ever since. We got the path on the north side of the house re-done. We’d had it done, but it didn’t slant away from the house, so it tended to puddle, or worse, tilt water towards the house. And, we got two small patio areas added – one with some left over bricks we’d had for years, and one with some paving squares. Here are some before, during and after photos… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Seeking Nobility |
2018 | My Family Calls It Hoarding |
Day 30: Done & Dusted | |
2017 | Rogers’ Rules (Hexadecimal) |
2016 | But, It’s Such A Simple Mistake |
2015 | Crawl Towards The Light |
2014 | Sweet Songs |
2013 | The Wife Of An Ordinary Man |
2012 | Three Words |
2011 | Know Anyone Like This? |
2010 | Apoplexy?? |
When Breaking Up Is Hard To Do… | |
Sibling Awareness | |
Why My Dentist Loves Me
Posted in Health, Pictures, tagged COVID-19, Crowns, Dentist, Health, Images, Pictures, PPE Shortages, Root Canal on June 4, 2020| Leave a Comment »
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You are looking at $1K+, folks!! Still, I can’t complain too much. The “gap” had a root canal and crown over 30 years ago, so there was no bleeding and no pain. And my dentist squeezed me in this morning for a temporary until they can finish the job in a couple of weeks. They’ve just re-opened after the COVID shutdown and are limited in scheduling procedures by the amount of PPE they can keep in stock for the procedures. At the moment, they are only taking emergencies and beginning to add to the calendar a month plus out. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | You Really Don’t |
No One Can Imagine | |
2018 | Until Integrity, Decency, Wisdom, And Humility Return |
Just Tell (And Re-tell) The Big Lie Often Enough On Fox News | |
2017 | To Laws, Not Office Or Individuals |
Beast / General / Civil | |
2016 | Patronage |
2015 | For Blogs, Too! |
2014 | Righteous Anger |
2013 | An Irish Blessing |
2012 | But Is It Worth It? |
2011 | Let Us Start |
Nearer My God To Thee, By George
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Family and Friends, Family History, Pictures, tagged COVID-19, Doreen Carter, Family, George Carter, Images, Pictures on May 15, 2020| 6 Comments »
Early this morning, my mother-in-law, Doreen Carter passed away from COVID-19 back in Liverpool, England. She was predeceased by her husband, George Carter, by some twenty-years. They are survived by their three children and five grand-children. Below are some photos to remind us of her journey through life… | |
And more recently… | |
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Way back in 2011, I posted a conversation I had with “Nana” Carter: Things I’ve Learned From Life – Nana Carter | |
Her thoughts on “Life’s Lessons” may give you some insight into our loss… | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Laugh With Me |
2018 | Both Sides, Mr. President? |
2017 | Republicans Better Wake Up |
2016 | Truth Telling |
2015 | To Be Effective In The Modern World |
2014 | A Little Cover |
2013 | Binding |
2012 | Lift |
2011 | Another Good Movie, Another Excellent Book |
miSFits | |
I’m Just Not Sure | |
I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Plans
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Pictures, tagged Humor, Images, Other Blogs, Pacific Paratrooper, Philosophy, Pictures, Plans, Polar Bears on April 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[The above image was found at (and “borrowed” from) one of the blogs I visit regularly: Pacific Paratrooper | |
Please visit the site if you have a free moment or two… — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | Beautiful Rules |
2018 | Skepticism |
2017 | WWGD? |
2016 | Growing Greatness |
2015 | When It Is Darkest |
2014 | Knowledge And Doubt |
2013 | Three Thoughts |
2012 | Gentle Reader |
2011 | Leave The Light On For Me Anyway |