Valhalla Training Systems

Leaning out for the meet. Trying to make the weight drop not 21...

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:01 -0400

Leaning out for the meet. Trying to make the weight drop not 21 lbs and more like 15-16 this time around.

fitzoey replied to your video: 550 lb squat 5-19-2012. This will be my...

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:46:10 -0400

fitzoey replied to your video: 550 lb squat 5-19-2012. This will be my 2nd…

Amazingggg

Thanks! Trying to really dial things in here and take my place amongst the top squatters in the world.

550 lb squat 5-19-2012. This will be my 2nd attempt at APC...

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:39:56 -0400

550 lb squat 5-19-2012. This will be my 2nd attempt at APC Nationals coming up. Good speed out of the hole though gotta make sure I sink it. It’s right at parallel (side judge here called that) but since it’ll be a world record attempt I need to probably sink it another inch or so since they’ll be strict on judging.

600 lb rev band squat (-30 in the hole, 0 at the top)....

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:38:15 -0400

600 lb rev band squat (-30 in the hole, 0 at the top). Good speed out of the hole and didn’t feel too heavy on my back. This may be my third attempt (obviously without the bands) at APC Nationals in 10 days.

Monday Q&A

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:32:48 -0400

Got a question?

Summer Rowing Special

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:21:21 -0400

As the summer starts rolling around and championship season is coming to a close for many clubs some of you may be looking for guidance in training and taking your performance to a new level. I know here at our club we are offering multiple different camps (elite camp to go to club nationals, an elite sculling camp, returning rower camp, my own strength camp, and various learn-to-row camps) and I thought to extend my services to the rowing community for those that aren’t in the Atlanta area.

Lightweight’s looking to manage weight? No problem - a large amount of my techniques were used the other weekend for some top EARC sprints boats looking to make weight.

Want to increase max wattage? That’s what my primary focus is. Getting rowers as strong as possible so as to make sub-max splits easier. If your max wattage is 650 and you can bump it to 800, rowing at 400 watts for a 2k is now significantly easier as it is a much lower % of your max.

Stroke Analysis - Want some assessment on your stroke? Get some videos and it will be broken down through all parts of the drive and recovery to make sure you’re maximizing your specific leverages.

Training program - Sometimes it’s as simple as needing a full comprehensive program to take you through the off-season ensuring that you’re doing things right. My programs include erging, rowing, cycling, running (all options depending upon equipment availability) and lifting. Finding a way to stave off boredom during the long months with minimal competition while improving performance for the competitive season is the goal of my training programs. They’re built for the athlete and not some cookie cutter program. Training programs aren’t a one fit all type thing - as coaches we have to build a “boat program” but often that means it works better for some rowers than others because it is targeting their weaknesses where they may be strengths in others - the training programs at VTS are tailored to the individual to turn YOUR weaknesses into strengths.

So to all the rowers out there - if you’re looking to take your training to new levels and come back in the fall stronger and faster than feel free to contact me via e-mail at ttucker@valhallatrainingsystem.com or shoot me an ask on here!

The rowing special will be $300/12 weeks of training/nutrition consulting.

The Viking

Good day of squatting as I dial things in for nationals. Last heavy day of actual training before...

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:36:38 -0400

Good day of squatting as I dial things in for nationals. Last heavy day of actual training before the meet. Hitting openers next week.

145 lbs (8), (8) 265 lbs (5) 315 lbs (3) 355 lbs (1) added belt here 405 lbs (1) 445 lbs (1) added wraps here - wrapped loose 500 lbs (1) 550 lbs (1) - PR but nothing i had to amp myself up for.

Reverse band squat (bands took off 30 lbs at the bottom helped nothing about 1/2 way up - 600 lbs.

Everything flew up today and ill put some videos up as soon as i upload. Pretty happy with things since my weight is down and this was while having gone ultra low carb (under 30g per day) for the last 2 weeks and on an empty stomach. I know when i carb up post weigh in ill have a lot more gas in the tank.

So my new opener will be 515 lbs. My 2nd attempt will be 560 and my third is going to be 600. All three attempts will break my current APC record and if I get the 600 will become only the 4th person in the 181’s to squat 600 raw.

Train hard, train smart.

The Viking

"Being driven is choosing to endure when others have broken."

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:27:07 -0400

“Being driven is choosing to endure when others have broken.”

- The Viking

"Wake up every morning with a passion."

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:47:44 -0400

“Wake up every morning with a passion.”

Solid day of racing here at USRowing Southeastern Youth Regionals in Sarasota Florida. My team did...

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:37:23 -0400

Solid day of racing here at USRowing Southeastern Youth Regionals in Sarasota Florida.

My team did quite well with all of our varsity boats (kids I directly work with, we don’t strength train until they’re on Varsity) all will proceed to the finals tomorrow. I’m proud of all the hard work and dedication to excellence of my rowers and hope to see continued success tomorrow with multiple boats qualifying for Youth Nationals.

From a personal side point it’s been an exhausting day. While the kids get to stay out of the sun and rest all day the coaches are running around like madmen fixing various things on boats, dealing with food being prepared, launching and catching boats going on and off the water. With all this going on I’ve barely had enough time to eat much and my weight is down to 190 lbs (lowest I’ve been without artificially dropping weight in a year or so). I’ll be going to Chiles to replenish and attempt to forego beer (unlikely).

No training this weekend (heavy leg press and shrugs yesterday since I’ll be missing squat training) but it’s not exactly a rest weekend so hopefully I’ll come back out on the other side of this ready to pick back up on my own training towards APC Nationals in June as I seek my first American title as well as to qualify for Worlds in Argentina later this year.

Congrats again to all the rowers today all over - know there’s lots of championship racing going on in various parts of the country.

"Being an alpha male isn’t about being an asshole, it’s about not being a little bitch."

Tue, 08 May 2012 14:37:27 -0400

“Being an alpha male isn’t about being an asshole, it’s about not being a little bitch.”

- The Viking

Followers, some of you may have the same issue I have where you find yourself ripping slacks/jeans...

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:29:12 -0400

Followers, some of you may have the same issue I have where you find yourself ripping slacks/jeans apart if you buy them to fit, or they either swamp you due to a large butt/legs and a small waist. I’ve decided I’m just going to start getting custom stuff and was curious if anyone has ever used this site

http://www.makeyourownjeans.com/?

"Doing something and telling people about it isn’t as awesome as doing something that people..."

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:08:37 -0400

“Doing something and telling people about it isn’t as awesome as doing something that people can’t help but talk about.”

"Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance"

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:04:32 -0400

“Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance”

"Use the bricks people throw at you to build your own castle."

Sun, 06 May 2012 21:24:59 -0400

“Use the bricks people throw at you to build your own castle.”

- The Viking

Day of Celebration

Sat, 05 May 2012 13:43:54 -0400

It’s a great day to be alive! Enjoy it!

1. I squatted 535 today, and it was easy, flew up and looked like 405. Unfortunately this will be the last time I squat heavy before nationals since I have to miss out on squatting next week due to coaching obligations (regionals down in Sarasota for 3 days). That being said it’s a good confidence boost and making me debate whether or not to take 580 on my 3rd attempt at nationals.

2. It’s a fellow coaches wedding day today. I’m rocking my seer sucker suit with white bucs.

3. It’s Cinco de Mayo and thus I shall drink too much tequilla. A friend and I have also hired a mariachi band to follow us around post-wedding. We figure it will be a great conversation starter. ”Do you have a mariachi band following you around?” ”Why yes, yes indeed I do”.

4. Kentucky Derby today. I will probably drink a few too many mint juleps.

5. Sometimes it’s not about what you lift, the lifestyle you live, or how healthy you are. Sometimes you just have to throw down, enjoy things, and truly celebrate that you are alive. Today is one of those days.

Live today like it’s your last.

The Viking

"Don’t let anyone tell you you’re too young to accomplish something….a baby shark..."

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:03:40 -0400

“Don’t let anyone tell you you’re too young to accomplish something….a baby shark is still a fricken shark.”

feelitturn replied to your photo: APC GA Open - 181 lbs weight class raw - 325 lbs Do they not have...

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:43:36 -0400

feelitturn replied to your photo: APC GA Open - 181 lbs weight class raw - 325 lbs

Do they not have the feet-flat-on-the-floor rule?

Not in this federation. I change my foot position based on how my hip flexor feels (partially torn). If it’s not feeling too bad then I go feet down as I get more leg drive out of it, if it feels like crap than I go up on my toes (at least if it’s allowed in whatever federation I am competing in at the time).

APC GA Open - 181 lbs weight class raw - 325 lbs

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:17:06 -0400

APC GA Open - 181 lbs weight class raw - 325 lbs

APC GA Open - 181 lb weight class raw - 555 lbs

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:16:00 -0400

APC GA Open - 181 lb weight class raw - 555 lbs