GORUCK GR2 Review: The One-Bag Solution

Posted on April 11, 2016 by

The Holy Grail for EDCers everywhere is the fabled “One-Bag Solution”.  I think I’ve found it with the GORUCK GR2.  I’ve had this bag for about a year now, and it’s served me well during hiking trips, ruck marches, yard work, weight training and calisthenics, vacations and travel, and, of course, every day carry.  Check out these pics and videos to see what I mean!

Here are some shots of the GR2 in action.  Videos explain the methods to my madness are after the jump.

GORUCK GR2 Rucking Loadout

GORUCK GR2 Rucking Loadout

GORUCK GR2 EDC Loadout

GORUCK GR2 EDC Loadout

GORUCK GR2 Travel Loadout 2

GORUCK GR2 Travel Loadout

GORUCK GR2 Small Compartment Configured for EDC

GORUCK GR2 Small Compartment Configured for EDC

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New Review: Venum MMA Sparring Gloves

Posted on April 5, 2016 by

I just signed on as a gear reviewer for a new website, MMA Gear Addict.  This one’s on a sweet set of Venum gloves that you can get on closeout if you shop around.  Check them out! – Bill

Venum MMA Sparring Gloves Review

Venum, MMA, sparring, gloves, hybrid

These are some great hybrid gloves.!

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GORUCK GR1 Fitness Loadout Review

Posted on February 29, 2016 by

There are a lot of reviews for this pack online, but not many explain all its different uses.  Here’s one loadout for the GORUCK GR1 used for fitness and rucking.  Look for more equipment discussion on the way, including different loadouts for the GORUCK GR2, GORUCK Bullet Ruck, Mystery Ranch 3-Day Assault Pack, the Rush Series from 5.11, and possibly a Kifaru or two!

Why does a martial artist need to worry about bags?  What you carry with you and how you carry it are important depending on your goals.  You may be rucking for fitness, hiking for fun, training kata or calisthenics with weight, going on vacation, or just lugging groceries.  No matter what you’re doing, you need to be prepared for it–a basic tenet of martial arts training.  I hope that by discussing equipment we can all be better prepared for what we face each day!

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Sandbag DIY Dead-Squat Combo Lift using GORUCK and Mystery Ranch Packs

Posted on February 24, 2016 by

Here’s another post in the “Silent Ninja Workouts” series.  This is a lift inspired by the Dead-Squat bar. It is meant to combine a deadlift with a squat. In this video, the deadlift is done with a 150lbs. GORUCK sandbag and a GR1 loaded with 100lbs. of plates. A Mystery Ranch Marshall pack is used for the squat, and it contains 155lbs. of sand and plates. Total weight for the lift is 405lbs., done for a 5×5 workout. It’s also a great exercise to practice maximum strength without waking up your family by throwing iron around or by wasting hours at the gym waiting for equipment.

Here are pictures of the load out.  The video follows after the jump.  I hope this starts a trend of busy folks lifting heavy things and putting them down again in creative ways!

GORUCK, Dead-Squat, Sandbag, workout, GR1, Mystery Ranch, Marshall, backpack, training, workout, deadlift, squat GORUCK, Dead-Squat, Sandbag, workout, GR1, Mystery Ranch, Marshall, backpack, training, workout, deadlift, squat

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GORUCK Sandbag Deadlift

Posted on February 18, 2016 by

I wrote a post about DIY sandbag deadlifts a long time ago.  Here’s a new one using some new, better performing gear.  This is a 5×5 deadlift demonstration.  There are approximately 330 pounds of sand and plates loaded into a GORUCK sandbag, a GR1, and a 15L Bullet Ruck.  The lift ain’t pretty, but it gets the job done with minimal equipment–also perfect for at-home training in the early morning or late at night.  You don’t want to wake your family by throwing a bar around!

Let’s call this the first in a series of posts about how to improve strength quietly and efficiently.  Maybe we’ll call it “Silent Ninja Workouts” or something.  Regardless, a major part of being a martial artist is resourcefulness, so there you go.

You can watch the video after the jump.  Here are some pics to show the setup.

GORUCK, deadlift, bullet ruck, gr1, sandbag GORUCK, deadlift, bullet ruck, gr1, sandbag

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New Affiliate: GORUCK

Posted on January 14, 2016 by

One resolution for 2016 we’re making at the Meriden Martial Arts Club is to train more outdoors.  That means kata, kihon, and bunkai all done outside in addition to workouts to improve our fitness and general physical preparedness.  One thing we’re planning in particular is to ruck.  You’d have to be living under a rock to miss the biggest fitness trend of 2015!  Civilian rucking is taken from military training, and what it entails is to carry a heavy bag for long distances.  Mix in some other exercises like calisthenics and team-building activities, add some adverse environmental conditions, and you have the GORUCK Challenge.

You can click here or the image below to check out their site for more information about their events and products.  I LOVE GORUCK gear, so plan to see some reviews on this end very soon.  In the meanwhile, grab a bag, get outside, and get moving!

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2015 in review

Posted on January 4, 2016 by

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.  We post this every year because it’s kind of fun.  Thanks for another great year! – Bill and Alex

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,900 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

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New Affiliate: Datsusara

Posted on December 22, 2015 by

We’re working on a site revamp and to kick start our content in the near future.  You deserve it!  In the meanwhile, we are pursing new affiliate opportunities. Here is the first in what we hope will be new relationships with vendors aligned with our ideals in martial arts, fitness, and nutrition.

Just in time for the holidays, we have a great product produced by an even greater company. Datsusara makes hemp gis, bags, and other functional MMA/BJJ that is well made from sustainable materials. If you want to pick up something for that special martial artist in your life (even if it’s yourself!), then take a look.

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UFC 194: The Granddaddy of Them All

Posted on December 5, 2015 by

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Here we are only a 7 days away from the biggest UFC card of the year and I am FINALLY making my triumphant return to outlandish MMA prognostications! With every major media outlet ramping up their UFC coverage, I thought I would bless my loyal followers with some highfalutin combat sports knowledge. Hit the jump to read my words!

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The Cranky Kenny Learns Karate Children’s Book is Finally Here!

Posted on October 5, 2015 by
Woo hoo! The coolest karate children's book is finally here!

Woo hoo! The coolest karate children’s book is finally here!

It’s been nearly three years in the making, but the children’s book I wrote in collaboration with local artist and illustrator Marissa Dziedzic is finally here!  It is published on Lulu.com and is available in electronic and print versions.  Here’s the description:

Kenny is a very cranky boy! Will learning karate help him cheer up? In this children’s book, kids can learn more about martial arts, self-control, and discipline. It’s a story the whole family can enjoy!

In short, it’s a fun story that teaches kids the value of karate while also teaching some specific information about the Shohei-Ryu/Uechi-Ryu style.  Here are the product links; please contact me at bill@proofrocks.com if you have specific questions about ordering.  This is my first self-published children’s book, and I want to make sure it is perfect for you and your families and young karate students.  Thanks!

Cranky Kenny Learns Karate E-book

Crank Kenny Learns Karate Print Book

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