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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 7, 2009 - 07:22pm PT
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Buenos all and sundry:
Given this forum is as much about answers as questions, I've a couple for those that would've pondered.
What do you really get for $500 when you become a 'Salvation Member' on the Gym Jones site for $500.
I ho-hummed for ages about spilling coin for greater web acesss to Gym Jones content, Especially since Mtn. Athlete posts a load of video instruction and answers emails for free.
In the end I paid Gym Jones $500 via the web. 2 minutes later, I had access.
The differences I noted between Gym Jones Member access and the free stuff posted on Gym Jones and at Mtn. Athlete impressed.
Become a member, and your considered and relevant enquiries will get answered by Mark and his team. These answers come from those who won't spruik until they are confident. The evidence is in the brilliant video and audio content they've posted. For clarity, the int'l results of their athletes.
Whilst Mtn. Athlete is pretty awesome, their appears a striking difference between what their athletes are about and doing, and the hard-punch efforts within Gym Jones. I don't imply Mtn. Athlete looks soft. Nor that Gym Jones athletes are crazy better. Rather, the sincerity and work ethic at Gym Jones appears even more overt, a real brotherhood - and very relevant to beginners's, experts, those between, and those beyond.
Sure many say "If you wanna be a better climber then focus on climbing". The Gym Jones website appears to agree. It humbly (and Mark is very humble and actually quite a funny guy in some of the video) recognizes its' training approach as simply supporting grander adventures.
But yes, it all 'feels' very relevant to climbing. The energy from the video and articles will inspire most and their climbing partners - so I'd suggest some share the cash pain between you to find it is a kong solid investment.
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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$500? Does a percentage of that go to layton Kor?
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drunkenmaster
Social climber
santa rosa
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good beta. im not ready to pay (yet) but sometime i could see it being a viable option. youre sharing this helps. thanks for the info. i usually only climb to train for climbing but often it is not possible to get as much time on the rock as one would like so i think trying out more extreme and varied cross training methods are the key for sure. also to rise to a new level or break thru a barrier it can often be the only way. im coming back from a broken leg right now (tib-fib) so im currently looking at all forms of training - VERY PSYCHED!! Hell yEH.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - May 7, 2009 - 08:04pm PT
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"$500? Does a percentage of that go to layton Kor?"
Well Yeah. It seems so. If Layton trains and instructs at Gym Jones, he probably does get paid.
I was surprised, thinking it would all be about Mark. But they've a real shared collective there, you just have to check out the Gym Jones disciples page - all are determined individuals who'd settle for nothing but honest fairness amongst brothers.
$500 is steep for many. No steeper though than some of the things you like to question and help define yourself with. So like your climbing, I'd suggest sharing that (financial) pain between a couple mates. The old Gym Jones videos free on the web are pretty awesome. So to the Mtn. Athlete stuff. The Salavation Club stuff is even better - it'll become obvious where your money is going. That inspiring content will probably send you somewhere positive too. And in case some may have wondered. MFT is still mixing it up. Looks like he (may) be filing trip reports for members whilst currently in Alaska with Rolo and Vince.
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WBraun
climber
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Gym Jones Salvation Club?
Do you serve "Cool Aid"?
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GRJ
climber
Juneau AK
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I have been a big fan of this style of training for many years now. The overall principle is really simple. Most people go to the gym to "work out." With gym jones, crossfit, mtn athlete the idea is that you aren't "working out" you are "training."
Training implies there is a goal beyond general physical fitness and checking out butts at the gym. It is higher intensity and focused. Spending $500 to hear Marc(k) Twight discuss training theories and practices is great if you can afford it, but that is also 6-7 1 hour sessions with a decently trained personal trainer.
If you can afford it do it. But make sure you use the info. The information is out there, but applying it requires hard work. The best workout doesn't make up for a shitty diet!
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - May 8, 2009 - 12:56am PT
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Yeah, here's one Gym Jones work-out - “Jonesworthy”. Standard access to their website gives the basic criptic low-down on it. It is heinous, but do-able for those who want it bad, and other things even more. Yes the work-out is do-able for mortals. Recoverable though - well I haven't recovered yet so we'll see :)
First round is a modestly big load of Air squats, doable KB swings, and Pull-up reps that rival that of a solid effort for most moderates.
There's about 6 rounds of the pain, and watching these guys do it - !. I cranked it myself, and hell yeah it was even more fun than watching it - this website inspires.
And if you wonder what that sort of dedication produces. The brilliant Engine Tank Power essay has this incredible photo of Vince Anderson kneeling, head to the heavens on top of Nanga Parbat.
With respect to the quality personal trainers out there. If you however want down to earth functional instruction that'll get you raging with power in reserve - this stuff may well offer the purist form of 'firm training' you can trust.
Hook your mates up to it - share the cost darn it. You wanna train. You wanna bond with others. Here's a(though one I'm sure of several) quality portal.
And as for the spot-on shitty diet remark. One of the guys prooves the point with a brilliant series of 12 or so kong deadlifts followed each round by a candy bar as 'rest' - hilarious and poignant.
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Chaz
Trad climber
Boss Angeles
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I'm with Skipt.
Someone's drinking something, and it ain't Kool Ade.
I got a work-out plan. I'll pay YOU $500 to spend a few weeks here *working out*side, doing things like jugging fixed lines in trees, hauling pigs - I mean chain saws, humping loads up and down hills, etc.
You'll be in climbing shape before you know it.
You'll lose weight too.
Works for me.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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I suspect the dark underside of these intense training methods is a whole cadre of injured athletes we don't hear anything about---they aren't posting videos of these guys rehabbing by having to lift whiffle balls for six months...
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Bazo
Boulder climber
Ky
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"I suspect the dark underside of these intense training methods is a whole cadre of injured athletes we don't hear anything about---they aren't positing videos of these guys rehabbing by having to lift whiffle balls for six months... "
Amen to that...
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GRJ
climber
Juneau AK
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True, they are side by side with the guys that popped pulley's in the gym, tweaked knees, bruised heals, got out of bed wrong (my common injury), and the ten thousand other injuries that sideline climbers.
Yes, working outside on rope is a good way to get in climbing shape. But for those of us that enjoy training it is good to have some forum and discuss ways to improve or spice up our workouts.
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Fresh
Trad climber
meffa, ma
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"I suspect the dark underside of these intense training methods is a whole cadre of injured athletes we don't hear anything about---they aren't posting videos of these guys rehabbing by having to lift whiffle balls for six months... "
I love unsupported slander.
but, you're really offering an important (if unsubstantiated) criticism. which is good. that is how programs improve. the goal for these programs is optimal performance. if one's training program produces injuries, then that is not optimal. the training program is flawed and needs to be adjusted. twight, glassman, and shaul wouldn't be in business for too long if they weren't constantly improving their product, and they especially wouldn't be in business for too long if their programs benched people for as long as you are suggesting.
however there are lots of cases of beginners going too hard too soon. beginning a program of intense training could be a sub-discipline in itself, it isn't necessarily a flaw in the program.
I don't know what the optimal composition of training vs. actual climbing is for myself or anyone else, but the only way to determine that is trial and error. the more knowledge the better.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 09:30pm PT
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"I suspect the dark underside of these intense training methods is a whole cadre of injured athletes we don't hear anything about---they aren't posting videos of these guys rehabbing by having to lift whiffle balls for six months... "
The above comment is incorrect though appropriate. Gym Jones Salvation Club members get greater access, and with that, greater clarity into the methods, approach and goings-on.
Mark overtly states they've often athletes carrying some type of sports injury - elbows, hands, fingers, shoulders, knees, ankles, you name it.
So they show how to keep these guys and gals training as they recover from their injuries - useful info for those who fear malaise and lack the knowledge of how to recover whilst still improving/re-generating.
What you are getting is fun and quality ideas, presented brilliantly. They share their knowledge as they see value in sharing. They wish to draw-in beginners-experts with quality experiences as such is critical to their (and maybe your) evolution.
They inspire ingenuity. It may foster the bonds you yearn to develop with your training partners and beyond-adventures.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 10:52pm PT
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"I'm with Chaz....
Send me $500 bucks and you can come join me hauling 100lb FA gear loads, bushwacking 8-12 miles to the BC, with alt gains of 5-6K, all in less than 4-6 hours!
Game?"
Are the committed Game? Well sure!
Your methods foster evolution? Possibly.
And I agree $500 is a lot for most things people 'buy' (even for the fun of humping training loads with The Chief)
Some things inspire some more than others (the thing and/or the person). But if you're bored with the same serial/cereal and want fun variety whilst waiting for the a.m. work bus - "Jonesworthy" (and not me) offers this lactic flavour:
Air Squat: 80-64-48-32-24-12
KB Swing: 40-32-24-16-12-6
Pull-up: 20-16-12-8-6-3
Round 1. 80x Squat + 40x KB Swing + 20x Pull-up
Round 2. 64x Squat + 32x KB Swing + 16x Pull-up
And so on.
The great value of Gym Jones is not so much in answering to "I need a hard and relevant work-out". Geez, tonnes work hard, lifting tonnes. Gym Jones rather, helps to balance work with efficient 'rest days' where improvement can deficiencies can be measured. Mind, muscle, and brotherhood develops.
With respect nonetheless, kudos to the calories you burn. I say this not to patronize, but rather, to reinforce the respect honest efforts ought rightly demand.
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Chaz
Trad climber
Boss Angeles
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May 10, 2009 - 12:00am PT
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You'll get a good tan too following my method. It'll wash off though.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
North of the Owyhees
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May 10, 2009 - 12:02am PT
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That's ...(wait for it)...MAD!
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Porkchop_express
Trad climber
the base of the Shawangunk Ridge
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Aug 31, 2009 - 08:32pm PT
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Everything I know about fitness and training (having worked for 6 years in a fitness center as a trainer/instructor) dictates that the finer points of a training routine are far more a placebo than anything else with the exception of people who are already flirting with elite level performance.
Patience and consistency if applied to a generic workout will yield greater results than sporadic "kick your ass" workouts.
Some may join this club and find it easier to apply consistency to their workout due to the direct involvement of a proven "star" and that is fine; it does not negate the results but the specific information is out there for a LOT less providing you have a bit of motivation.
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