Flashback to summer 2022. Family doggos jumping in slo-mo!
nostr:npub1kumadawgefxjt2c293whsan5sfmdg5tylm0uk39enc6uxxfy5m4scrz2v7 and her two cousins.
https://v.nostr.build/2G09.mp4
#dogs #dogstr #pupstr
I'm good at a lot of things, but cooking steak is not one of them.
Okay, could have turned out worse, but still overshot the target.
I'm mostly kidding, of course, but I am a little surprised at how easily my attention has been drifting around.
Though that's also a function of timing. I'm in a bit of a mini-pause between major nerd deep dives right now. When I'm deep down a rabbit hole, the focus is still there and time flies.
I fully confess that bitcoin's fiat price is really fun to watch.
But I'm less productive when it's really pumping (I'm too distracted).
And Bitcoin is designed to pump forever.
Therefore... will I ever accomplish anything ever again...?
Me: Bitcoin is pumping, Kuma!!
nostr:npub1kumadawgefxjt2c293whsan5sfmdg5tylm0uk39enc6uxxfy5m4scrz2v7: "I feel nothing"
Interesting -- the btc price was $55,973 on nostr:npub1kumadawgefxjt2c293whsan5sfmdg5tylm0uk39enc6uxxfy5m4scrz2v7 's "gotcha day" (March 27, 2021).
So, yeah, bitcoin is just a stablecoin as far as she's concerned! 🤣
Me: Bitcoin is pumping, Kuma!!
nostr:npub1kumadawgefxjt2c293whsan5sfmdg5tylm0uk39enc6uxxfy5m4scrz2v7: "I feel nothing"
TIL that "luminance" (aka brightness) for RGB #pixels isn't just a simple average.
Yes, (255, 255, 255) is max white, brightest possible (8-bit) value.
But colors are tricksy.
example:
Bitcoin orange is (255, 153, 0). If we naively calculate its brightness, we'd get: (255+153+0)/3 = 136
But notice that the naive calculation would give us the same brightness for (153, 0, 255):
My eye easily says that the purple is darker overall than the orange.
So instead the calculation is:
Orange: 0.2125*255 + 0.7154*153 + 0.0721*0 = 163.6
Purple: 0.2125*153 + 0.7154*0 + 0.0721*255 = 50.9
Orange is CLEARLY brighter (aka higher luminance)!
#nerd #videophile #graphics
AH... YES, so we were talking about the same thing.
Yeah, just allowing for a deeper handstand pushup really elevates (pun intended!!!) the workout.
I almost always avoid adding weights to my strength workouts. But a lot of our high school guys do have fun adding weight vests, ankle weights, etc.
I just think additional weight opens up the door to more injuries. Gymnasts have neverending ways of making workouts with just our own body weight harder, so I've just always preferred/prioritized going that route.
I left those lying out and she was hungry enough last night to clean them up! I know, I don't keep the most sanitary house...
She doesn't seem to mind the broccoli if it's still frozen though.
Last one for today.
If gymnasts could only do one strength workout, we'd usually opt for #dips. They're WAY harder than pushups and, at least for the high school kids I coach (who almost all start as TOTAL noobs as freshmen), it's the biggest strength gatekeeper (i.e. can't do good dips, can't do important skills X, Y, and Z).
https://v.nostr.build/JDnl.mp4
The rules in our gym:
* FULL DEPTH (it's a constant theme!). Have to go as low as you can until you're physically stuck.
* Muscle it down. Build strength in both directions.
* No arch in the push up.
* Keep toes slightly in front (key to avoiding that arch).
* Head neutral. Bury or lift your head and you change your back shape.
* Steady or explosive push up, but above all else keep body shape discipline.
* Full push back up to support, especially the last inch through your shoulders/traps. The finish position should be as tall as possible (note the final shrug up at the end of each of my reps).
* Generally elbows in for stability, reduce strain on the already-strained pecs.
* PERFECT FORM throughout. Constant discipline during strength leads to discipline while competing.
You'll see that I use my first dip as a stretch. I don't want to engage that max-stress push back up until I'm sure that my pecs are ready. I hold it down there, let gravity stretch me out, and usually even gently twist my torso a little bit each direction to accentuate the pec/shoulder stretch.
If you want to work dip strength at home, I bought an inexpensive old man walker (WITHOUT WHEELS!). I'm sure you can even find used ones for even cheaper. They're plenty strong and stable. Just have to keep your knees bent. And the foldable ones offer nice storage convenience.
#strength
While I'm definitely losing lots of gymnastics skills (or worried I'll break something if I attempt them), my baseline gymnastics strength is still decent.
https://v.nostr.build/r7Ma.mp4
I used to be able to do 3 sets of 10 of these stall bar v-ups pretty easily. Now I'm just happily surprised I was able to get to 10 total reps once (but had serious doubts on #9 and #10!!). Didn't do a second set; if I did, I'd probably crap out around 5.
For anyone who wants to work toward L-ups (legs to 90°) or V-ups (ankles to bar; what I'm doing here), find a set of stall bars like these; the back support they offer is a HUGE help. If I do these on just a normal freestanding pullup bar, it puts too much strain / torque on my lower back.
The back support also allows for the more dynamic back lift at the top (I'm not just folding in half at the waist, my hips are rolling upward against gravity so that my back is nearly horizontal). Gets the upper abs involved and changes the shoulder angle/lat pull action.
#abs #strength
Oh, I misunderstood your term "deficit". That's counter-intuitive. Additional weight would be the opposite of a deficit, no?
I don't do any strength training with weights. Partially it's my bias due to my gymnastics background (our gymnastics-specific strength workouts with just our own body weight are already nearly impossible). Also I think the additional strain of weights just increases odds of injury.
For us, when a strength exercise gets too easy, we just add the next gymnastics modification to it to make it impossible again!
Push ups too easy? Do handstand pushups or work planche-push ups. Holding an L-sit too easy? Work a V-sit, then a Manna:
Pushing from the full depth FEELS like it's exponentially harder. Pushing back out from wherever I am here (~120°?) is SO different from pushing from ~20° (arms fully bent). That's asking a LOT of your triceps!! The leverage from there is just so nasty. Plus it gets really hard not to arch your back hard to try to find more leverage.
But I'll see if I can give one a try next week. Not optimistic though!
Some of my #100aDayUntil100k #pushup reps are harder than others.
https://v.nostr.build/EK6J.mp4
Though this is the EASY version. A REAL handstand pushup has to be done on blocks or on the parallel bars so that your head can go deeper than your hands; notice how my head stops my arms from even reaching a 90° elbow bend.
So while this video will impress non-gymnasts, to my eyes it's actually pretty meh. 😕
But I'm not strong enough to do real, full-depth handstand pushups so, 🤷♂️.
A good #pushup:
* Back completely STRAIGHT throughout. No arching up as you push. You're not a f'n seal.
* Zero butt / hip movement. Your entire body should be a flat board.
* Arms should be vertical, hands directly below your shoulders. You'll put too much torque on your back if your hands are forward.
* FULL DEPTH drop, you f'n slackers*! Chin or chest contact with the floor on every rep.
* Muscle it down w/control; no speed dropping.
* Can add a bit of explosiveness to the push upwards, but ONLY if you can do it while maintaining back/body position discipline.
* Finish the upward position to at least neutral shoulder blade depth (your spine shouldn't be sinking below your shoulder blades). Bonus if you push your spine up past your shoulder blades (but don't compromise the straight back).
* Hand + elbow position changes which muscles you're working (more below).
https://v.nostr.build/OJ9O.mp4
I have some unpredictable shoulder issues. So I keep my hands right at my armpits and my elbows tucked tight against my body. This offers the most stability.
Elbows winged out at 45° engages more chest/pec muscle but is less stable for your shoulders.
Wider hands puts even more on the pecs, turns it into a bench press action.
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*(I've seen PE classes use these plastic chest guides to stop the kids' push up depth to a 90° elbow bend. F'n ATROCIOUS!)
