My gym just got two new and nice squat racks. I was happy. Then I noticed that they didn't get any new bars or plates. So there aren't enough to go around.
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My gym just got two new and nice squat racks. I was happy. Then I noticed that they didn't get any new bars or plates. So there aren't enough to go around.
Got a visit from Mr. SuperCurlz yesterday. Not only did he take up a squat rack with his 55 pound BB curls (and used chalk!), but he set up another barbell on the rack next to it and super-setted himself into oblivion.
When he was done, I went over to rack pull. Didn't notice that the fucker left a plate hanging barely on a peg. Said plate fell on my foot. Dammit.
Slingshots: not just for bench press overloads anymore.
3 incidents, on 3 different days, same person:
1) Smith machine bench press (3 or 4 plates, can't remember now), with one of those adjustable benches set up for a slight incline. The guy then lays down with his feet up on the seat part of the incline and raises his hips up high enough that he ends up in a decline position. It resembled a glute bridge hold/bench press. Oh, with 2 inch ROM on the bar, of course.
2) On the hack squat leg press machine, probably trying to do reverse hack squats or good mornings but they looked more like he hadn't decided which one and was doing some weird crossover. Not quite one or the other, just letting the weight push his ass out.
3) Now the pec deck, again it seemed like he was trying to do the reverse, but he was standing and bent over with his head against the back rest so that his arms were moving more parallel to his body, rather than perpendicular.
The first really baffled me, the others could just be regular confusion or misinformation about the exercises. Whatever, he's not bothering anyone. It's more of a "what the hell?"
No one part of the following story is worthy of serious ridicule, but the whole event together seemed like it needed to be shared.. This morning, the following characters walked into the gym as a group:
Old-Timey Strongman: Waxed handlebar mustache, tank top, camo pants
Swimsuit Woman: One piece swimsuit, no shoes
Coach: Punisher t-shirt with cutoff sleeves
After claiming 2 platforms with their gym bags, camera tripod, and misc equipment the three of them begin to measure. They went around the gym with tape measures and measured every straight bar, even those clearly in use on racks/platforms (note the gym probably has 25+ non-specialty bars). Old-Timey Strongman even took the time to measure the heights of the safeties on all the power racks (even those in use). This was especially odd considering that the safeties can all be moved, so I don't know how that information could ever be valuable. Swimsuit and Strongman then pulled a scale into the center of the floor and weighed several of the bars. This was completely unnecessary since the gym owner is sort of picky about these things so all the bars are labeled and color coded and there is a list of bars and weights already posted in the gym.
Measuring over... and it's finally time for them to train. Strongman does ascending singles on deadlift gripping the bar with only his middle fingers. There is much shouting after every rep. "Coach" only knows one cue "UP" and tells his lifter "good job" even after reps that were no where near being locked out at the top. He does work up to 316# which is incredibly impressive for one finger, full lockout or not. You may be asking yourself why 316? We'll he brought his own plastic collars and wanted his coach to make sure the exact weight was recorded in his log. Please note, the gym has multiple sets of calibrated eleiko collars and change plates down to 0.25 lb. No need to bring your own stuff if you need that kind of precision.
Swimsuit runs back and forth barefoot loading and unloading a bar. I don't see her do a lift for a solid 30 minutes. When she finally does it's an 85# deadlift looking thing. Nothing wrong with the weight (not making fun of anyone's ability)... but I don't feel like it was heavy enough to justify the shout of "lets go!" as she ran up to the bar or dropping the iron weights from the top at the end of each rep. "Coach" provides no feedback.
Strongman moves to 1 arm dumbbell presses... with a loadable dumbbell he brought from home and calibrated change plates. If you've been paying attention you already know what I'm going to say... the gym has those already. Never saw a single rep locked out properly but "Coach" congratulates and praises every rep.
Swimsuit squats a similar weight to her deadlift. I wish I had seen her form, but I didn't. All I ever experienced was her SLAMMING the bar back into the rack after every set. Which caused the entire gym to turn around to see what terrible accident had just caused that noise.
All in all, I just don't know what they were trying to accomplish, why they came to this gym in particular if they weren't going to take advantage of the equipment it offers, and why they are wasting money on this "coach"
For your entertainment, Here is a photo of Strongman getting a measurement of an adjustable part on an already in use power rack. Photo credit to fellow forum member Diddyin94 Attachment 5774