June Athlete Of The Month: Matt Kessler

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Matt has recently stepped his game up at the gym and was a unanimous decision for Athlete Of The Month. While being a bodyweight movement ninja, he has really taken to the weightlifting side of CrossFit and strives to be better every day. He is part of the foundation of our 5:30am class and always has a positive attitude no matter how big the suckfest of a workout is that day. Keep on keepin’ on Kessler!

A few words from Matt in regards to his time here at EDCF:

1. When did you join EDCF?  How did you find the gym?  What was your first impression or how did that first workout go?

I started the intro class last March (2015) after my wife convinced me that I would “love crossfit” and we went to a free Saturday class. I’m pretty sure she completely kicked my ass at everything as she was a college athlete and I hadn’t been physically active in about a decade. So it was rough. Now that I’ve been going for awhile she likes to tell me how hard it was not to laugh every time I’d come home from those first workouts, red-faced looking like I was about to vom.
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2. What class time do you attend the most, are there any regular members you work out with at that time?
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I’m a 5:30 am guy after trying to piecemeal together a workout schedule from “convenient” times after work. I decided sometime in the last year that crossfit attendance was non-negotiable and pretty much make every day, unless some odd work thing pops up. Typically the outside crew involves Jim, Jordan, Sitser, and Tyler, among others, with varying frequency.  Drew always kicks my ass when she’s around, too.


3. Tell us a little about yourself, What is your life like outside the gym? Where do you work, do you have kids/pets/spouse/partner? What is your favorite hobby outside the gym?
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I’m a landscape architect with Mesa Design Group, so my days are spent drawing trees and such, and weekends are spent out in the garden with my wife Kristan, and our two pups, Annie and Ginger. Deep down I’m a pretty big plant nerd, and crossfit has made yard work way easier, unless we do thrusters on a Friday.


4. What do you like about CrossFit or EDCF that keeps you coming back?
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I think the best part of EDCF is the community and instruction. I like getting pushed to do things I didn’t think I could do, and considering I’ve never really spent any time in a gym, it’s nice to be shown how to do things so I don’t get crushed by thousands of pounds. I like knowing that if I don’t show up, I’ll get crap for taking a day off to be lazy, or getting that judgmental look when I’ve skimped on adding plates to a workout. I need that kind of thing to keep me working at max capacity.


5. What is your favorite lift or exercise or type of workout? What is one of your short term and long term goals?

For some reason I like squats, particularly back squats – I have no idea why, and anything with body weight for time. It’s the only benefit of being the same weight since 8th grade. (I’m 32…) Short term goals are just to figure out butterfly pull-ups, muscle ups, and keep working on anything involving a barbell. I watch a lot of YouTube videos on lifting and technique, so I like to test out the different tricks and tips to find the best way to lift things that are way heavier than Matt K circa 2014 should be trying to pick up. Long term is to still be here a year from now, work every exercise to failure, and build some dang deltoids for once in my life.

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 2-3 reps @ 32X1 (use 4-5% more than 6/13)

2: bent over rear delt flys x 10-15 w/ 2.5-5/hand

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 8 min:

– 10 Russian Kettlebell Swings (70/53)

– 10 Alternating Reverse Lunges with Kettlebell Goblet Hold

 

C) Not for time:

– 20 strict toes to bar @ 2111

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 5 reps @ 32X1 (heavier than last week)

2: 6-10 seated arnold presses @ 2111

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 8 min:

– 10 russian kettlebell swings

– 10 alternating reverse lunges/step ups with goblet hold

 

C) 3 sets w/ a partner:

– 12 medball toss sit-ups

Programming Overview: June 20-25

NO SHOWER HAPPY HOUR: This Thursday (6/23) from 6:30-9:30pm at On Rotation! Join us after class or after work. No showers necessary so come stinky!

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——————–

Monday 6/20

A) E3MOM x 12 min (4 sets)

– TnG power clean cluster 2.2.2

*If you complete the set totally UB, add weight.

 

B) EMOM x 12-14 min:

E: Row 12/9 cal

O: 5 hang power cleans @ 80% of A

 

*Row 15/12 cal if able

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: 5 hang power cleans (light to moderate weight) BB

2: 10 cross body V-ups

3: 20-40 single unders or 20 jumping jacks

 

B) EMOM x 12-14 min:

E: Row 12/9 cal or 40 seconds tough pace

O: 6-8 DB hang power clean + push press

 

Tuesday 6/21

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 2-3 reps @ 32X1 (use 4-5% more than 6/13)

2: bent over rear delt flys x 10-15 w/ 2.5-5/hand

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 8 min:

– 10 Russian Kettlebell Swings (70/53)

– 10 Alternating Reverse Lunges with Kettlebell Goblet Hold

 

C) Not for time:

– 20 strict toes to bar @ 2111

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 5 reps @ 32X1 (heavier than last week)

2: 6-10 seated arnold presses @ 2111

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 8 min:

– 10 russian kettlebell swings

– 10 alternating reverse lunges/step ups with goblet hold

 

C) 3 sets w/ a partner:

– 12 medball toss sit-ups

 

Wednesday 6/22

A) EMOM x 15 min

1: Bench press 5-4-3-2-2 (build to heavy double)

2: 4-8 strict ring pull-ups

3: rest and build on BP

 

B) 3 sets @ 90%:

– 500m row

– 400m run w/ sandbag (60/30)

R4-5M

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 15 min

1: 8-10 DB bench press

2: 8-10 bicep ring curls

3: 20 sec hollow rock or hold

 

B) 10 min AMRAP:

– 200 m run

– 8 deadlifts @ 50% max

– 6 NPU burpees

 

Thursday 6/23

A) Every 90 sec x 15 min (10 sets):

– 2 front squats @ 80-85%

 

B) For time:

– 50 cal row

– 40 wallballs (20/14#)

– 30 shoulder to overhead (115/75#)

– 20 burpee box jump overs (24/20”)

 

Masters

A) Every 90 sec x 15 min (10 sets):

– 7 heavy goblet squats

– 7 push-ups

 

B) For time:

– 750/600m row

– 40 wallballs

– 30 BB push press (75/45, 65/35, 45/25)

– 20 burpee box step ups

 

Friday 6/24

A) E2MOM x 12 min (6 sets)

– 3 position snatch (high hang, hang, 2” below knee

*start at 65% and work up with full squat snatches

 

B) 3 rounds not for time:

– 6-8 seated BB press @ 2111

– 8-10 bent over supinated DB row @20X0

– 1 lap single arm farmers carry

– 20 banded lat pulldowns

A) E3MOM x 12 min (4 sets)

– TnG power clean cluster 2.2.2

*If you complete the set totally UB, add weight.

 

B) EMOM x 12-14 min:

E: Row 12/9 cal

O: 5 hang power cleans @ 80% of A

 

*Row 15/12 cal if able

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: 5 hang power cleans (light to moderate weight) BB

2: 10 cross body V-ups

3: 20-40 single unders or 20 jumping jacks

 

B) EMOM x 12-14 min:

E: Row 12/9 cal or 40 seconds tough pace

O: 6-8 DB hang power clean + push press

A) EMOM x 8 min (8 sets)

– 1 power snatch + 1 snatch balance + 1 hang (squat) snatch

 

B) For time:

– 600m run

– 21 toes to bar

– 21 thrusters (95/65)

– 400m run

– 15 toes to bar

– 15 thrusters

– 200m run

– 9 toes to bar

– 9 thrusters

Thursday 6/16

A) EMOM x 16 min (4 sets)

1: Double KB front rack box step ups x 8-10/ side R

2: Double KB front rack box step ups x 8-10/ side L

3: Ring push ups w/ turn out at top x 6-10 @ 1111

4: Bent over BB rows x 6-8 @ 20X0

 

B) 3 rounds not for time:

– heavy sled drag + sandbag front rack hold (down and back)

– 6 Jefferson curls (start light and learn the movement)

– 10 Turkish get ups (heavy but constant pace for 5/side)

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 16 min (4 sets)

1: Double DB box step ups x 8-10/ side R

2: Double DB box step ups x 8-10/ side L

3: Ring/ground push ups w/ turn out at top x 6-10 @ 1111

4: Bent over BB rows x 6-8 @ 20X0

 

B) 3 rounds not for time:

– heavy sled drag + sandbag front rack hold (down and back)

– 10 DB row from plank (R+L=1)

– 10 sandbag/medball get ups (constant pace for 5/side)

A) EMOM x 15 min
1: Push press x 5 – building
2: Weighted pull-up cluster 1.1.(1) – R10S between reps
OR Negative pull-ups (heavier than 6/8)
3: DB Romanian deadlifts x 8 @ 30X1

B) With a partner complete 6-8 sets each:
– Row 250m @ 95%
*You go I go method. Stay consistent at higher pace throughout.

Programming Overview: June 13-18

New Schedule Is Live! The 6:30am and 7:30pm classes on Monday-Thursday are now open for all members. This means that both our CrossFit and Masters CF athletes are both welcome to come to these classes.

Check out these cool new pics of Memorial Day Murph and the Crawfish Boil.

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——————–

Monday 6/13

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 3-4 reps @ 32X1 (use 4-5% more than 6/6)

2: 6-10 L-seated DB presses @ 2111

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 15 min:

– 20 RKB swings (heavy)

– 15 wallballs (20/14)

– 200m run

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: Tempo back squat 6 reps @ 32X1

2: 6-10 L-seated DB presses @ 2111

3: rest and increase load on BS if able

 

B) AMRAP in 15 min:

– 15 RKB swings

– 10 wallballs

– 200m run

 

Tuesday 6/14

A) E3MOM x 12 min (4 sets)

– TnG power clean cluster 3.3.3

*If you complete the set totally UB, add weight.

 

B) Three sets for max reps of:

– 60 seconds of power cleans @ 80% of A

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of burpees to target (pull-up bar)

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of box jump overs (24/20”)

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of row for calories

– Rest 60 seconds

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 12 min

1: 5 hang power cleans (light to moderate weight) BB or DB (8 reps)

2: 10 DB anchored sit-ups

3: 20-40 single unders or 20 jumping jacks

 

B) Three sets for max reps of:

– 60 seconds of alternating DB snatch (moderate)

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of burpees

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of box jump/step overs (24/20”)

– Rest 60 seconds

– 60 seconds of row for calories

– Rest 60 seconds

 

Wednesday 6/15

A) EMOM x 15 min

1: Push press x 5 – building

2: Weighted pull-up cluster 1.1.(1) – R10S between reps

OR Negative pull-ups (heavier than 6/8)

3: DB Romanian deadlifts x 8 @ 30X1

 

B) With a partner complete 6-8 sets each:

– Row 250m @ 95%

*You go I go method. Stay consistent at higher pace throughout.

 

Masters

same

 

Thursday 6/16

A) EMOM x 16 min (4 sets)

1: Double KB front rack box step ups x 8-10/ side R

2: Double KB front rack box step ups x 8-10/ side L

3: Ring push ups w/ turn out at top x 6-10 @ 1111

4: Bent over BB rows x 6-8 @ 20X0

 

B) 3 rounds not for time:

– heavy sled drag + sandbag front rack hold (down and back)

– 6 Jefferson curls (start light and learn the movement)

– 10 Turkish get ups (heavy but constant pace for 5/side)

 

Masters

A) EMOM x 16 min (4 sets)

1: Double DB box step ups x 8-10/ side R

2: Double DB box step ups x 8-10/ side L

3: Ring/ground push ups w/ turn out at top x 6-10 @ 1111

4: Bent over BB rows x 6-8 @ 20X0

 

B) 3 rounds not for time:

– heavy sled drag + sandbag front rack hold (down and back)

– 10 DB row from plank (R+L=1)

– 10 sandbag/medball get ups (constant pace for 5/side)

 

Friday 6/17

A) EMOM x 8 min (8 sets)

– 1 power snatch + 1 snatch balance + 1 hang (squat) snatch

 

B) For time:

– 600m run

– 21 toes to bar

– 21 thrusters (95/65)

– 400m run

– 15 toes to bar

– 15 thrusters

– 200m run

– 9 toes to bar

– 9 thrusters

 

Saturday 6/18

8am Masters

9am CrossFit

10am Barbell

11am Free Intro

 

Sunday 6/19

Endurance