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On July 8, 2022, over Instagram, the Shaw Classic confirmed the 16 athletes that will test their strength and compete at the third iteration of the show. The namesake competition of four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Brian Shaw will occur at the Budweiser Events Center on August 13-14, 2022, in Loveland, CO.

One of the more noteworthy athletes featured this year is another four-time WSM Champion (2009-2010, 2012, 2014) Žydrūnas Savickas. Not to be outdone, there’s also defending Shaw Classic Champion Trey Mitchell, two-time reigning WSM Champion (2021-2022) Tom Stoltman, former WSM Champion (2020) Oleksii Novikov, and organizer, Shaw.

Here is the complete roster at the time of this writing:

2022 Shaw Classic Roster

• Trey Mitchell — Defending Champion
• Brian Shaw — 2021 Runner-up
• Mitchell Hooper
• Žydrūnas Savickas
• Tom Stoltman
• Luke Stoltman
• Oleksii Novikov
• Evan Singleton
• Gabriel Rheaume
• Aivars Smaukstelis
• Bobby Thompson
• Maxime Boudreault
• Konstantine Janashia
• Gabriel Peña
• Kevin Faires
• Jerry Pritchett

*Note: Bishop suffered a triceps tear in early July 2022, and his status for the contest may be unclear. 

 

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[Related: How To Build Muscle: The Training And Diet Guide For Beginners And Advanced Lifters]

2022 Shaw Classic Events and Schedule

Here is the full schedule of events slated for this year’s contest:

Day One — Saturday, August 13, 2022

• Max Hummer Tire Deadlift
• Super Yoke Event
• Circus Dumbbell
• Throwing Event (Bag or Keg)

Day Two — Sunday, August 14, 2022

• Log Press 
• Frame Carry Arm-Over-Arm Medley
• Car Leg Press for Reps
• Atlas Stones

There will also be a Men’s and Women’s Open at this year’s Shaw Classic, featuring 16 competitors in both divisions. The Shaw Classic has not revealed who these athletes are at the time of this writing.

Here is the slate of events for the Men’s Open:

• Log Press for Reps 
• Deadlift for Reps
• Yoke Carry
• Frame Carry
• Atlas Stones

The Women’s Open event schedule is the same as the Men’s, except for the final challenge:

• Log Press for Reps
• Deadlift for Reps
• Yoke Carry
• Frame Carry
• Bag Toss Over Bar

Each of the first four events will have a head-to-head structure in both divisions. The Women’s Bag Toss Over Bar will take place in front of the crowd at the Budweiser Events Center.

 

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[Related: The Best Shoulder Workouts For More Muscle, For Strength, For Beginners, And More]

What to Expect

As the defending champion, Trey Mitchell faces a tall order of elite competitors to repeat his winning ways at the 2022 Shaw Classic. With two event wins from last year’s contest, it might be a mistake to overlook the 28-year-old strongman.

According to Strongman Archives, Mitchell first made his hay on last year’s Max Log Press, where he tied with American Record Log Press Record holder Bobby Thompson by logging a 206.3-kilogram (455-pound) press. By the competition’s end with the Atlas Stones, Mitchell lifted all five stones in 28.04 seconds, giving him the event victory and a narrow three-point overall competition win over Brian Shaw.

 

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[Related: The Best Leg Workouts With Bodyweight, With Dumbbells, For Size, And More]

Mitchell took home $21,000 in prize money for his first-place efforts at the 2021 Shaw Classic. Meanwhile, Shaw won $15,000 (which he put back into the prize pool to be re-distributed to the other athletes), and J.F. Caron, in third place, won $12,000. At the time of this publishing, the precise financial rewards for the 2022 edition are unclear.

The 2022 Shaw Classic will take place on August 13-14, 2022, in Loveland, CO.

Featured image: @theshawclassic on Instagram

The post The 2022 Shaw Classic Roster Has Been Confirmed appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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Research of the Week

The Western world is lagging on unprocessed meat intake.

Keto helps patients with severe mental illness who don’t respond to other treatments.

Differing effects on overall mortality among COVID vaccines.

Natural immunity still works.

At least in England and Wales, extreme cold was more responsible for excess deaths than extreme heat.

New Primal Kitchen Podcasts

Primal Kitchen Podcast: Former City Slicker and TikTok Sensation Brian Brigantti Talks Homesteading and Permaculture

Primal Health Coach Radio: A Holistic Approach to Your Finances

Media, Schmedia

Circadian medicine goes mainstream.

Nice piece against baby food pouches.

Interesting Blog Posts

A response to George Monbiot.

Don’t let nerves control you.

Social Notes

Important to remember: cigarettes are still bad for you.

Incredible story.

Respect the sun.

Everything Else

Did you know that dolphins choose their names? Here’s how.

Which whisks whisk best?

Things I’m Up to and Interested In

Fascinating: Dogs freely choose a macronutrient ratio of 30% protein, 63% fat, and 7% carbohydrate.

Interesting paper: On heavy metal.

Interesting finding: Fasting may help against COVID.

Wrong: Fake meat the “best investment” for climate.

Interesting research: How pregnancy affects marathon times.

Question I’m Asking

Are you worried about COVID anymore?

Recipe Corner

• Thai chicken mango salad is extremely refreshing for summer.
• Carnivore fried chicken strips.

Time Capsule

One year ago (July 2 – July 8)

• What Causes Intrusive Thoughts and How to Stop Them —How to do it.
• 8 Recovery Methods: What to Do After Your Workout—How to make the most of your training.

Comment of the Week

“I don’t have snake oil handy right now, but I do know that calendula balm made with avocado oil and a bit of beeswax is amazing on burns. Burns from a hot pan or a bad sunburn, it will turn a painful injury into a mild one. It also works very well at reducing inflammation from bee stings and bug bites.

Downside is that depending on how extensive the sunburn is, you’ll have to look like you fell into a vat of vaseline for a day or so.”

-Nice burn care tip from JP.

The post New and Noteworthy: What I Read This Week—Edition 184 appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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On July 7, 2022, the Giants Live Organization announced that Axle Press and Log Lift World Record holder Cheick “Iron Biby” Sanou withdrew from the 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic. Sanou withdrew after unforeseen and undisclosed issues with travel to the location of the contest.

Sanou’s withdrawal has unfortunate timing as this year’s Strongman Classic will take place just a few days after, on July 9, 2022, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Two-time Australia’s Strongest Man (ASM) Champion (2017-2018) Eddie Williams is Sanou’s official replacement. At the time of this writing, Sanou has not offered more specifics regarding his travel problems on any of his public platforms.

 

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[Related: The Best Back Workouts for More Muscle, for Strength, for Beginners, and More]

Sanou’s withdrawal continues a recent string of departures from this year’s Strongman Classic. In mid-June 2022, Georgia’s Konstantine Janashia left the contest as Canada’s Maxime Boudreault filled in. Then, in early July 2022, former Britain’s Strongest Man (2020) Adam Bishop had to pull himself out of the competition after tearing his triceps. Fellow United Kingdom strongman Gavin Bilton took up that empty slot.

With the latest shuffle of athletes at the Strongman Classic now official, here is where the current roster stands:

2022 Strongman Classic Roster

• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — Defending Champion
• Evan Singleton (United States) — 2021 second place
• Eddie Williams (Australia)
• Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
• Ken McClelland (United States)
• Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• Andy Black (United Kingdom)
• Mark Felix (United Kingdom)
• Spenser Remick (United States)
• Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)

Here are the events for this year’s Strongman Classic:

2022 Strongman Classic Events

• Dumbbell Medley
• The Pillars of Hercules
• Farmer’s Carry for Distance
• Axle Deadlift
• Castle Stones

 

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[Related: How To Build Muscle: The Training And Diet Guide For Beginners And Advanced Lifters]

Williams’ Return

At 29-years-old, Williams might still be seeking a major international breakthrough as a strongman. While he can boast two ASM titles, the athlete would undoubtedly like to make a bigger name for himself outside of his home country. According to Strongman Archives, Williams hasn’t competed in any contest in over two years. The 2022 Strongman Classic will mark his return.

Notably, Williams has been part of a Giants Live contest before, finishing in seventh place at the 2019 Giants Live North American Open. In addition, on another international stage, during his first and only appearance at the 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM), Williams was unable to make it past the Qualifying Round.

To notch a great result, Williams will face tough sledding from a field that features names like defending Strongman Classic Champion Oleksii Novikov and rising stars such as Wild Card Mitchell Hooper. The strongman sphere will ultimately see how Williams manages his return to competition on July 9, 2022, in London, England.

Featured image: @giantslivestrongman on Instagram

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Australian actor Chris Hemsworth is famous for having a ripped, muscle-bound physique. Nowhere does he perhaps push his physical conditioning and strength more than for his famous role as Marvel’s version of the mythological Norse god, Thor.

On July 6, 2022, Hemsworth used his Instagram profile to share a peek at a workout that helped build his massive chest for the new film Thor: Love and Thunder. The film will be officially released in the United States on July 8, 2022.

 

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[Related: The Best Leg Workouts With Bodyweight, With Dumbbells, For Size, And More]

Hemsworth is most famous for his part as Thor, but he has starred in several action films throughout his career. Some of them — including a remake of Red Dawn and Netflix’s recent Extraction — have necessitated that the actor maintains his strength and fitness as he moves from project to project.

This specific chest workout is part Hemsworth showing what it takes to look shredded on the silver screen and part promotion for his fitness application, Centr. In between his acting work, the 38-year-old Hemsworth started the app as a way to share advice on how other people can take care of their fitness in the gym and the kitchen. He also says he uses the app to help him streamline his workout process for his roles.

Hemsworth’s Intensity

Hemsworth doesn’t waste any time diving into the session at full steam ahead. It’s apparent that this routine will feature a lot of intensity.

“We’re about to roll into a heavy chest workout, lots of yelling, lots of screaming,” Hemsworth says. “I don’t care where you are.  Whether you’re at home, on a bus, on a train, or on a plane, I want to hear you yelling! So move it, get involved!”

Hemsworth’s Chest Workout

Hemsworth performed four movements one after the other for four total rounds. This large grouping of exercise is known as a giant set, and it’s a known way to pack a lot of volume (16 sets in this case) into a short amount of time.

The primary and only advice Hemsworth provides for this routine, aside from short clips of demonstrations, is to take a one-minute rest between each round for recovery. It seems Hemsworth may have taken his words to heart as the actor operates at a fast, energetic pace in the footage.

• Incline Chest Press: 4 x 12
• Seated Chest Press: 4 x 12
• Cable Flyes: 4 x 12
• Wide-Arm Push-up: 4 x 10

 

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[Related: The Best Shoulder Workouts For More Muscle, For Strength, For Beginners, And More]

The gym isn’t the only place Hemsworth went hard for his latest portrayal of Thor. According to Men’s Health, Hemsworth’s trainer Luke Zocchi said the actor ate up to 10 meals a day during filming in 2021 to build enough muscle mass for the role. Given the sample size of Hemsworth’s past work, it’s likely that dedication and diligence paid off.

Hemsworth will reveal his chest and the latest iteration of his stacked build in Thor: Love and Thunder on July 8, 2022.

Featured image: @chrishemsworth on Instagram

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On July 6, 2022, the Giants Live organization announced over their Instagram profile that former Britain’s Strongest Man (2020) Adam Bishop has withdrawn from the 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic due to an injury.

The news comes less than a week before the contest kicks off on July 9, 2022, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. Gavin Bilton, the 2021 UK’s Strongest Man, was revealed to be Bishop’s replacement, rounding out the 12-person roster.

 

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[Related: Learn How To Build Strength With Three Key Principles]

Bishop’s withdrawal from the Strongman Classic follows Konstantine Janashia’s mid-June 2022 departure from the competition. Canada’s Maxime Boudreault took his place. Rising strongman star Mitchell Hooper was named the final Wild Card addition to the contest early last month.

Bishop’s Injury

In a later post on his Instagram, Bishop revealed that he was withdrawing from the Strongman Classic because of a recent, unfortunate tear of the medial third of his left triceps tendon during training. The strongman broke down some of the details in the post’s caption.

Bilton’s New Shot

As a seasoned veteran with a few years of experience, another shot at the Strongman Classic could prove fruitful for Bilton. In his first appearance at the contest in 2021, the strongman finished in eighth place. That experience might equip him for a better result this year. Some of Bilton’s recent exploits include a third-place result at the 2022 Strongman Champions League Holland and a fourth-place finish in Group 4 of the Qualifying Round at the 2022 World’s Strongest Man (WSM).

Among some of the more noteworthy names on this year’s roster, Bilton will have to beat Oleksii Novikov — the defending Strongman Classic Champion.

Here is where the current 2022 Giants Live Strongman Classic roster stands:

2022 Strongman Classic Roster

• Oleksii Novikov (Ukraine) — Defending Champion
• Evan Singleton (United States) — 2021 second place
• Chieck “Iron Biby” Sanou* (Burkina Faso) — 2021 third place
• Paul Smith (United Kingdom)
• Ken McClelland (United States)
• Maxime Boudreault (Canada)
• Rob Kearney (United States)
• Andy Black (United Kingdom)
• Mark Felix (United Kingdom)
• Spenser Remick (United States)
• Gavin Bilton (United Kingdom)
• Mitchell Hooper (Canada)

*Recent reports show that Sanou has withdrawn from the competition.

Here are the events for this year’s Strongman Classic:

2022 Strongman Classic Events

• Dumbbell Medley
• The Pillars of Hercules
• Farmer’s Carry for Distance
• Axle Deadlift
• Castle Stones

 

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[Related: How To Build Muscle: The Training And Diet Guide For Beginners And Advanced Lifters]

With the Strongman Classic just around the corner on July 9, 2022, a victory could be possible for anyone in a competitive field. Novikov will assuredly put his best foot forward for a repeat title, but late additions like Bilton could make that mission difficult.

Featured image: @giantslivestrongman on Instagram

The post Adam Bishop Withdraws From Strongman Classic, Gavin Bilton Announced as Replacement appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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Everyone knows about the “big minerals.” These are the minerals that show up on nutrition labels or are added to refined grains and sweet cereal. They’re the ones you can buy in drug stores and pharmacies as supplements. But while magnesium, potassium, calcium, selenium, zinc, and iron are all very important for your health, they’re not the only minerals you need to obtain. There are many other minerals that are arguably just as important for health, even though we only need them in trace amounts.

One of the most important trace minerals you need to consider consuming is boron.

What Is Boron Used For?

Boron for Arthritis

While boron won’t be listed on any government recommendations or added to breakfast cereal, it does have benefits for joints. Honestly, it’s probably essential for joints. It’s not “essential” in that your average doctor or health official will know about it but it is essential for proper joint health and function. Taking boron has a supplement if you have any kind of arthritic disorder is a no-brainer. Boron accumulates in cartilage, bone, joints, and synovial fluid (the “lubricating fluid” that sits in the joints); people with arthritis have lower levels of boron in their joints.

A 1994 study found that countries with boron intakes under 1mg/day have elevated rates of arthritis—between 20-70%—while countries with boron intakes between 3 and 10 mg/day have 0-10% arthritis rates.¹

And in a human trial, 50% of osteoarthritis patients who received 6 mg/day saw improvement in symptoms, compared to just 10% of the placebo group patients.²

Boron for Bone Health

Boron is good for bones, too. It accumulates in bone, determines how we metabolize and incorporate calcium, and helps regulate bone metabolism.³ Case reports have shown that the bones of patients taking boron are sturdier and harder to cut than bones from people who don’t take boron supplements.

Animal studies show that boron supplementation can alleviate some of the skeletal deformities triggered by vitamin D deficiency. If this holds true in humans, having adequate boron could mean you require less vitamin D for bone health.⁴

Additional Health Benefits of Boron

While bone, joint, and male hormonal health are why most people take boron, there are many broad benefits associated with supplementation:⁵

• Improved wound healing.
• Increased magnesium absorption.
• Increased glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels.
• Protects against damage wrought by pesticide exposure and heavy metal accumulation.
• Improves cognitive function in the elderly.
• Improves outcomes in animal models of several cancers, while also reducing the negative effects of chemo preventive medicines.

In other words, boron appears to help us counter many of the problems we face in the modern inflammatory environment.

Taking Boron Supplements

Should men take boron?

Boron is one of the most reliable ways for men to increase free testosterone levels. Taking 10 mg of boron in the morning for 7 days increased free testosterone and reduced estrogen and sex hormone binding globulin—which binds to hormones like testosterone and makes them unavailable for use. It also reduced the inflammatory markers hs-CRP and TNF. Overall, taking boron every day improved the hormonal profile and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in men.⁶

Boron seems to increase overall male vitality. In male goats, taking boron increased sperm production, motility, and quality. Boron goats made more sperm and the sperm they produced was stronger and simply better. They were healthier overall, with stronger immune systems and better antioxidant capacities.⁷

Should women take boron?

Women should also consider boron. While the boost in free testosterone may not seem as relevant for women (though testosterone for women is important, too), studies show that boron supplementation can help them increase bone mineral density and reduce menstrual pain. ⁸⁹

How much boron should you take?

Most studies use doses between 3-10mg per day. This appears to be safe, well-tolerated, and physiologically normal.

What’s a good boron supplement?

I’ve used Trace Minerals boron drops—they blend effortlessly and seamlessly into coffee or water with no discernible taste. These NOW boron capsules also looks good.

Some people even make their own boron concentrate using Borax, or sodium borate. It’s the stuff you use to kill ants invading your kitchen, use as a cleaning agent, or add to the washing machine. Turns out sodium borate is only toxic to humans in high doses. If you dose it correctly, you can use borax as a dietary supplement. But you have to be careful. Borax is roughly 11.3% boron, so a gram of borax—about a quarter teaspoon’s worth—will contain 113 mg of boron. Add it to a measured volume of water and take small amounts every day to get the desired dose of 3-10 mg.

Why should we supplement boron? Isn’t food enough?

Food isn’t enough in most places. Prunes, raisins, and other dried fruits are probably the best sources, followed by legumes, avocados, wine, and grains. Soil levels (and thus food levels) of boron vary wildly and supplementation is usually required to attain physiological benefits and requirements.

If you’re interested, you can always google “[your location] soil boron levels” to get an idea of how much boron is getting into your locally grown food and groundwater. However, since so many of us eat food grown in other areas, and boron levels in food aren’t really tracked, it can be difficult or impossible to determine how much boron you’re getting in your diet. That’s where a supplement can really help.

Low dose boron supplementation in the 3-10 mg/day range is physiologically normal, safe, and effective. It accumulates in bones and joints when available in the diet and it improves hormonal status, inflammatory markers, and bone metabolism (among other effects) when taken in small doses. All signs point to boron being an important, beneficial trace mineral. I see no reason not to take boron.

You guys ever take boron? What have you noticed?

The post Boron Health Benefits appeared first on Mark’s Daily Apple.

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With two second-place finishes in the Classic Physique Division at the last two Mr. Olympias (2020-2021), bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin is close to climbing bodybuilding’s highest mountain. Judging by a recent tease of his arm, shoulder, and chest definition, along with his general upper-body strength and conditioning — it seems the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League athlete might finally be ready to reach the summit.

On July 6, 2022, Ruffin shared a teasing preview of where his upper-body physique stands on his Instagram profile. To a watchful eye, it’s apparent the athlete has spent a lot of time polishing up his frame as the 2022 Mr. Olympia inches ever closer. That contest will take place on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

 

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[Related: How To Build Muscle: The Training And Diet Guide For Beginners And Advanced Lifters]

Unlike some other competitors, Ruffin already has a spot in the 2022 Mr. Olympia. According to a release from the IFBB Pro League, the top-three finishers in the Classic Physique at the 2021 Mr. Olympia automatically qualify for this year’s festivities. By virtue of his second-place finish in 2021, Ruffin can fully center his energy on capturing ultimate bodybuilding glory in Las Vegas.

Given his progress with his arms, that plan appears to be going quite well thus far for the 28-year-old athlete.

Ruffin at a Glance

A competitive bodybuilder for roughly six years, Ruffin is no stranger to high-level performance. At just 21-years-old, Ruffin earned his IFBB Pro Card with a win at the 2014 National Physique Committee (NPC) Championships while competing in the Lightweight division. About two years later, he won his first IFBB Pro League contest at the 2016 Tampa Pro in the Men’s Open division.

From there, it’s mostly been smooth sailing for one of bodybuilding’s more prominent active stars. Ruffin generally only seems to get better by the year. For example, he made it back-to-back victories at the Arnold Classic in March 2022 after a relatively close call in 2020.

Here are some of Ruffin’s more noteworthy career results to date:

Terrence Ruffin | Noteworthy Career Results

• 2014 NPC National Championships (Lightweight) — First place | First career victory | Earned Pro Card
• 2016 Tampa Pro (Men’s Open) — First place
• 2016 Kentucky Muscle (Classic Physique) — First place
• 2016 Mr. Olympia (Classic Physique) — Ninth place
• 2017 Mr. Olympia (Classic Physique) — Sixth place
• 2018 Toronto Pro (Classic Physique) — First place
• 2018 Mr. Olympia (Classic Physique) — Ninth place
• 2019 Niagara Falls Pro (Classic Physique) — First place
• 2020 Arnold Classic (Classic Physique) — Second place
• 2021 Arnold Classic (Classic Physique) — First place
• 2020-2021 Mr. Olympia (Classic Physique) — Second place
• 2022 Arnold Classic (Classic Physique) — First place

 

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[Related: Everything You Need To Know About How To Burn Fat]

Eye on the Prize

If Ruffin is to capture his first Classic Physique Olympia title, he faces a challenging field. Among the other notable competitors are three-time reigning Classic Physique Champion (2019-2021) Chris Bumstead and former two-time champ (2017-2018) Breon Ansley. It won’t be an easy task to stand atop the podium in Las Vegas, but it’s one that Ruffin assuredly knows how to prepare for.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia will take place on December 16-18, 2022.

Featured image: @ruff_diesel on Instagram

The post Bodybuilder Terrence Ruffin Teases A Massive Chest And Defined Arms in a Physique Check-In appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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While many strength sports have vital distinctions regarding strength and muscle demands, nutrition, and competitive standards, sometimes it can pay to learn from others in the sphere. That’s a lesson four-time World’s Strongest Man competitor Rob Kearney, five-time Fittest Man on Earth® (2016-2020) Mat Fraser, and 2021 CrossFit Rookie of the Year Mal O’Brien appeared to take to heart recently.

On July 4, 2022, Fraser shared a video on his YouTube channel where he, O’Brien, and Kearney had a joint training session. The routine was centered around Kearney first teaching the log lift technique to Fraser and O’Brien. Then, he had the duo continue to tackle their arms and shoulders with heavy dumbbell presses.

[Related: The Best Leg Workouts With Bodyweight, With Dumbbells, For Size, And More]

Notably, Kearney was recently hired by Fraser’s training company, HWPO (Hard Work Pays Off) as the leader of their new strength program “HWPO Strong.” In a dedicated program throughout the week, Kearney will use his wealth of strongman knowledge to help participants build their strength and conditioning on training days throughout the week. This news would partly explain Kearney’s involvement with Fraser and O’Brien.

As for the log lift, Kearney knows a thing or two about successful technique. In 2019, during the annual World Log Lift Championships, Kearney captured the then-American Record log lift of 213.6 kilograms (471 pounds). Similarly, the strongman once demonstrated he has the strength to properly lift 215-pound dumbbells with one arm in a February 2020 training session with Brian Shaw.

If anyone’s qualified to teach a refresher on both the log lift and circus dumbbell press to two elite athletes like Fraser and O’Brien — whose CrossFit backgrounds veer differently — it’s Kearney.

The trio’s session took place in the since-retired Fraser’s home gym. Fraser is currently training O’Brien for the 2022 CrossFit Games on August 3-7, 2022, in Madison, WI. While the CrossFit Games don’t necessarily feature strongman events specifically, there can be a lot of overhead movements in events that require proper training and technique. There weren’t many overhead movements in the 2021 Individual CrossFit Games aside from some dumbbell overhead squats and a one-rep max snatch.

Since that could always change for this year’s edition, this time with Kearney could help O’Brien prepare for that by polishing up her overhead prowess. Overall, the trio’s training session seems to be an excellent demonstration of what athletes from different disciplines can learn from one another.

Log Lift

After Fraser asks Kearney to provide a walkthrough of the log lift technique, the strongman breaks it down into three segments — the pick, the clean, and the press.

The pick is when an athlete deadlifts the log to their hips for the “lap position,” or where the athlete can rest their weight before exploding it for a roll to a front rack position on their chest. That roll from the hips to the chest is the clean. Kearney says the proper clean technique is to keep the elbows high while the back is fully engaged, allowing the log to stay tight to the body.

Finally, there’s the familiar press. For a proper overhead lockout that involves the lower body, the athlete must slightly dip their legs to press the log from that front rack position. Fraser first practiced the log lift with an empty log that weighed 90 pounds; Kearney critiqued his lower elbow positioning that could throw him off balance with higher weight.

In terms of numbers for the trio, Fraser eventually completed a 104-kilogram (230-pound) log press for two separate reps. Meanwhile, Kearney decided to rep out 158.7 kilograms (350 pounds), and O’Brien locked out a successful 72.6-kilogram (160-pound) split-jerk with the log.

 

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[Related: Why You Should Be Greasing The Groove During Your Workouts]

Heavy Dumbbell Press

Like the last exercise, Kearney breaks down the heavy dumbbell press technique into segments. First, there’s the clean, where the athlete has to get the dumbbell to the rack position on their deltoids. Then, with the elbow high, a lot of the jerk movement upward is more about getting under the dumbbell rather than trying to press it up. Like the log lift, this requires the athlete to have a measure of leg power rather than solely relying on the shoulders.

Fraser kept his energy on proper technique for the dumbbell press. It didn’t take long for the CrossFit great to understand the rack position and start finishing clean reps. When O’Brien was up, she seemed uncertain about how to finish the dumbbell press at first. Once she understood how the dip could help generate force from the opposite leg, she likewise began to complete some reps.

At the time of this writing, the CrossFit organization has not revealed the workouts for the 2022 CrossFit Games. If there are any strongman-like, overhead events in Madison, WI, O’Brien might have the edge over her peers thanks to Kearney’s guidance.

Featured image: HWPO Mat Fraser on YouTube

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On June 29, 2022, weightlifter Katie Estep notched three Junior American Records in the 59-kilogram division at the 2022 USA Weightlifting (USAW) National Championships Week in Las Vegas, NV. Each of those records is also competition bests for Estep. According to the online database of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), the performance gave Estep her fourth victory in six career contests to date.

After demonstrating some of her new strength progress on a sanctioned lifting platform, here are Estep’s top stats from this competition:

Katie Estep (59KG) | 2022 USA Weightlifting National Championships Top Stats

• Snatch — 92 kilograms (202.8 pounds) | Junior American Record | All-Time Competition Best
• Clean & Jerk — 114 kilograms (251.3 pounds) | Junior American Record | All-Time Competition Best
• Total — 206 kilograms (454.1 pounds) | Junior American Record | All-Time Competition Best

 

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At just 17-years-old, Estep is no stranger to notching records, especially at different levels of competition. In 2021, during the IWF Youth World Championships, Estep notched both the snatch (89 kilograms) and total (198 kilograms) Youth World Records for the 55-kilogram division. She also set the Youth American record on the snatch, clean & jerk (109 kilograms), and total.

Approximately eight months later, the young and rising American athlete can lay claim to a few more gold medals and all of the Junior American Records for a 59-kilogram competitor.

Estep at a Glance

Given her youth, Estep’s relative lack of inexperience as a competitive weightlifter should be no surprise. That said, it’s apparent she has had little trouble as an athlete since her first official IWF competition in May 2021. In fact, Estep has generally seen marked progress in just about a year of competition.

Here is Estep’s complete career resume to this stage:

Katie Estep | Complete Career Results

• 2021 IWF Junior World Championships (55KG) — Eighth place
• 2021 Pan-American Youth Championships (55KG) — First place
• 2021 IWF Youth World Championships (55KG) — First place
• 2021 Junior Pan-American Games (55KG) — First place
• 2022 IWF Junior World Championships (59KG) — Second place
• 2022 USAW National Championships (59KG) — First place

 

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Estep’s Goals

At the time of this writing, Estep hasn’t confirmed when she’ll aim to compete next. That said, if she’s able to train well and continue her rapid progression over the coming years, the American athlete could potentially challenge for a spot with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She’s not the only young women’s weightlifter that could be ready for the Olympics challenge.

Estep’s new top Junior total of 206 kilograms (454.1 pounds) is just 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) off the best American mark for a Senior 59KG competitor. Team USA member Taylor Wilkins is the current Senior American Record holder on each of the snatch (95 kilograms), clean & jerk (122 kilograms), and total (217 kilograms).

It would be a tall order for anyone to overcome Wilkins for a formal roster spot at this moment in time. Still, the youthful Estep might eventually be in line for it, provided she continues the blazing start to her career. Notably, no American women’s 59-kilogram athlete finished in the top 14 of the results at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That could mean a spot is up in the air for anyone ready to grab it.

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After a heated contest, bodybuilder Hassan Mostafa is the victor at the 2022 Orlando Pro. The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro League competition — which took place on July 2, 2022, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL — featured 12 athletes in the Men’s Open division.

With a recent June 2022 win at the 2022 Puerto Rico Pro, Mostafa now has two pro contest victories in a relatively short period. It seems his hard work with his conditioning and in training things like his arms, legs, shoulders, and back is paying off. Italy’s Andrea Presti finished in second place, and the United States’ Phil Clahar rounded out the top three.

 

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Here are the final standings of this competition, which featured only the Men’s Open division:

2022 Orlando Pro Results | Men’s Open

1. Hassan Mostafa — Winner
2. Andrea Presti 
3. Phil Clahar
4. Maxx Charles
5. Tonio Burton
6. Jonas Giatras
7. Rasheed Oldacre
8. Matt Kouba
9. Martin Hernandez
10. Jason Lowe
11. Jameil Hamilton
12. Walter Martin (Did Not Finish)

Not much appeared to give the different athletes a clear distinction in a tense, competitive affair. Thanks to a win in both main rounds of judging, Mostafa separated himself from the pack and took home the eventual victory.

Usually, the winner of every Men’s Open contest in the bodybuilding season earns automatic qualification to the 2022 Mr. Olympia. That competition will take place on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. Since Mostafa already earned a spot in the Mr. Olympia with a win at the 2022 Puerto Rico Pro, his status remains unchanged. None of the other competitors receive an invitation.

 

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Challenges Ahead

While athletes like Mostafa have already secured their place in the 2022 Mr. Olympia, others in the bodybuilding sphere still have a lot of work to do before December. The easiest path is to win generally any of the allotted contests in the season, but there are other paths to bodybuilding’s most prestigious stage.

The second through fifth-place finishers at the 2022 Orlando Pro — Presti, Clahar, Maxx Charles, and Tonio Burton — all captured Tier 4 points in the Olympia Qualification System. If any of these athletes are in the top three in points in their division by the time qualification ends on November 13, 2022, they would qualify for the 2022 Mr. Olympia.

Notably, after starting in the prejudging, William Martin did not compete in the Finals at the Orlando Pro and has a “DNF” (did not finish) on his official scorecard. At the time of this writing, it is unclear why Martin did not finish.

The next Men’s Open contest on the docket is the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal. That will occur on July 8-10, 2022, in Cascais, Portugal. Perhaps one of the bodybuilders still seeking an official place in Las Vegas will take advantage and show out in their posing trunks en route to a victory and berth for the 2022 Mr. Olympia.

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The post 2022 Orlando Pro Results — Hassan Mostafa Takes Home the Crown appeared first on Breaking Muscle.