105th madness

(photos)

Like all paths, this one leads to self discovery. A culmination of perseverance and attrition. For some it comes quickly, for others, not so quickly. But eventually the seekers find. Outcomes differ. Some leave, some stay, some share the word, some covet it, but all evolve. All touch understanding.

104th MADNESS

“There is always some frivolity in excellent minds; they have wings to rise, but also stray.”
- Joseph Joubert

103rd madness

100th Madness

To think, "I will not think"--
This, too, is something in one's thoughts.
Simply do not think
About not thinking at all.

99th madness

"To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other."

98th madness

"When we become hollow bones there is no limit to what the Higher Powers can do in and through us in spiritual things."

-Frank Fools Crow

97th madness

"You see, I had been riding with the storm clouds, and had come to earth as rain, and it was drought that I had killed with the power that the Six Grandfathers gave me."
-Black Elk

96th MADNESS

(click the space above to find emptiness)

And the water flowed
To where
The pebble rolled
To where
It is not

Thank you all for coming....

TRUTH

o·rig·i·nal   
[uh-rij-uh-nl]
–adjective
1.belonging or pertaining to the origin or beginning of something, or to a thing at its beginning: The book still has its original binding.
2.new; fresh; inventive; novel: an original way of advertising.
3.arising or proceeding independently of anything else: an original view of history.
4.capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner: an original thinker.
5.created, undertaken, or presented for the first time: to give the original performance of a string quartet.
6.being something from which a copy, a translation, or the like is made: The original document is in Washington.


in·spi·ra·tion   
[in-spuh-rey-shuhn]
–noun
1.an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
2.something inspired, as an idea.
3.a result of inspired activity.
4.a thing or person that inspires.
5.Theology .
a.a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
b.the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
6.the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.
7.the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.


cop·y   
[kop-ee]
noun, plural cop·ies, verb, cop·ied, cop·y·ing.
–noun
1.an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original: a copy of a famous painting.
2.one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
3.written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form: The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
4.the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual materi



theft   
[theft]
–noun
1.the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.
2.an instance of this.
3.Archaic . something stolen.

92nd madness

"When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are
filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep
and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in
a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."

-Tecumseh

silence

Apologies for the silence over the last few weeks. We have been continuing to grow, excel, and challenge ourselves with evolutions that aren't limited by structure, rules, or boundaries. Tonight we continue. If you follow this blog for evolutions there are plenty to look at in the history section. For now and over the next few weeks, we will be posting photos, philosophy, and inspirational quotes only. Thank you for continuing to join our trials on a weekly basis.

87th Madness

The Evolution:

"JT"

10 min long cycle KB clean and Jerk 35/50

1 mile run

1-5 manmaker ladder 30/50

flying burpee

1-5 weighted pull up 20/40

This was JT's final evolution with us physically. However, his spirit will live on with us as that guy in the back that just keeps his mouth shut and bears down. That ghost you know is dead focused on fucking your time up. His technique and expertise in this field added to the collective knowledge of the group, and I am proud that he chose to call me "master chief" for the last two years. Although the history and culture is rich and beautiful, I know that Hawaii will soon be treated to a consciousness that it hasn't yet experienced. Maybe it will be re-introduced to something that it lost. EIther way, a storm is coming. Good luck to you and your lovely wife JT. You too are the evolution.

86th madness

The Evoluion:

1st

15 push ups
10 lateral bench jumps
5 kb swings 70/53
(max rounds 20 mins)

2nd
10 goblet squat
100 jumping jacks
(5 rounds)

85th madness

The evolution

1st
snatch
(8x3)


2nd
5 ttb
10 squa 95/65
15 box jumps
20 clap push ups

3rd
"last man stsanding"
tuck hang

84h madness

(CLICK HERE FOR PICS)

The Evolution:

1st
something fast

2nd
something heavy

3rd
something hard

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be”
-Lao Tzu

83rd madness

The Evolution:

1st
ascending/descending ladder
1-10 power snatch (105-75)/10-1 hspu
(20 min cut off)

2nd
30 burpees
40 kb swings (53-35)
50 sit ups
(30min cut off)

then
last man standing L sit

82nd madness

(CLICK HERE FOR PICS)


the evolution:
1st
5 hanging power snatch
10 hanging power clean
15 thrusters
(5 rounds 95m 65f **20 min cut off**)

Then
Deck squat/broadjump down
Burpee/broadjump back
25 wall ball
(3 rounds)

Then
Last man standing
Barbell hold at hanging position

"Ultimately, you must forget about technique. The further you progress, the fewer teachings there are. The Great Path is really NO PATH." - Ueshiba Morihei

81st madness

(CLICK HERE FOR PICS)


the evolution

1st
10-1 DL ladder @ bodyweight
after every set do a round of:
3 HSPU
6 pull ups
12 sit ups

then
single arm kb movements in each hand 30-f 50-m
5 c+j
5 snatch
5 oh squat
(5 rounds with a split jump chaser)

then
farmer carry challenge f-65 m-95

80th madness

The Evolution:

1st:
"Rite of Passage"
(max burpees in 30 mins."


2nd:
recovery


3rd:
7 hanging hi-pulls
7 push press
(max rounds in 7 mins, f-65# m-95#)

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."
-Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator, 1890

77th madness

The Evolution:

1st
1rm squat clean in 15 mins.


2nd
250 meter row
-one person completes this as the go max reps in rotation of:
ab wheel
box jump
push up
pull up
KB swing
dips
static farmers hold


3rd
5 burppes
10 sit ups
(10 rounds 10 min cap)

"From the withered tree, a flower blooms"

Jessica Pamanian 2010 Crossfit Games 4th overall

Jessica Pamanian is an exceptional human being, and also the 4th fittest woman in the world. Her road to the 2010 Crossfit games was a journey that appeared longer than it actually was. After taking 5th in the New England sectionals with a couple of short weeks prep, she advanced to the North East regionals where, after a hard 8 weeks of catch up, she placed 2nd behind fellow competitor Heather Bergeron. The 8 weeks that followed took Jessica to a new level of performance.

Complete focus guided Jessica through a hellish program, and by three quarters of the way through, she found herself doing four evolutions a day. On top of the physical demands she gracefully encountered, she put her mental game at the forefront. Immersing herself in visualization techniques, meditation, eastern philosophy, and the natural world, Jessica entered the field a different athlete than she was 8 weeks prior.

The top 47 female Crossfit athletes from around the globe converged on the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA to put their best efforts forward with reckless abandon. The field was wrought with the finest female athletes in the world and each one of them deserves their fair share of respect and admiration. The level of competition was such that there was no margin for error, as the field would capitalize on the slightest weakness and would run away with the event.

Jessica was steady throughout. Leaving it all on the floor, Jessica advanced from 12th place in the first evening to a solid 6th by the end of the 2nd evening. The final workout on day three was a test of will. Few completed the the three successive workouts that the athletes endured. Jessica, Ignoring her body, ignoring her pain, and ignoring that little voice that continued to tell her to stop, pushed forward through an event that made more than one spectator a little uneasy in regards to the safety of the athletes.

Jessica is an outstanding example of Greatness. In the moment of ultimate physical adversity she allowed her spirit to guide the way. It lead her to a fourth place finish in her first ever Crossfit games. Training solely in a globo-gym and in abandon corridors, she found her inner vision., and discarded her mind.

Congratulations Jessica,

You are the Message.

76th madness

(**CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS**)


The Evolution

1)
1rm strict OHpress

2)
"partner effort"
100 c&j 95#m 65#f
100 ball slam
200 partner towel rows

3)
25 wallball
25 kb swing
25 box jump
(3 rounds)

"As a warrior you take responsibility for holding the balance
between light and dark within you and, by extension,
the world around you, and ultimately when you go deep enough,
the universe."

-Barefoot Doctor

75th madness

(**MORE PICS**)

The Evolution:

1st:

5000 # accumulation OHsquat

2nd
500 ski simulations
then
200m sprint
25 kb swings
(8 rounds)

3rd
"last man standing"
hand stand

"Make No Mistake
it is the belief
in mistakes
that leads one
to mistakes"
- zen monk

74th madness

(**MORE PICS**)

The Evolution:

1)
15 mins of snatch
(singles, doubles, or triples)

2)
50ft farmer carry heavy
10 dips
50ft overhead carry heavy
10 pull ups
(max rounds in 20 mins)

3)
Max reps of front squat in 10 mins
(65# for F 95# for M)

"I have never met a truly strong person who didn't have self-respect. I think a lot of inwardly and outwardly directed contempt passes itself off as self-respect: the idea of raising yourself by stepping on someone's shoulders instead of doing it yourself. When I see guys working out for cosmetic reasons, I see vanity exposing them in the worst way, as cartoon characters, billboards for imbalance and insecurity. Strength reveals itself through character."
- Henry Rollins (An excerpt from "The Iron" originally published in Details Magazine)

73rd madness

(More Pics)

The Evolution:

1st
TGU !RM


Then
10 HSPU
20 walking OH squat
30 deck squats
40 burpees
50 bo rows
60 split jump
70 KB swings
80 flutter kicks
90 mountain climbers
100 hang power snatch


"I discovered that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, to believe in nothing. That is, we have to believe in something which has no form and no color--something which exists before all forms and colors appear... No matter what god or doctrine you believe in, if you become attached to it, your belief will be based more or less on a self-centered idea."
— Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Jessica Pamanian Crossfit Games Introspective

Can be seen on The Crossfit Journal. Get a little taste of her training. It's a nice piece. Great job Ian and everyone at Again Faster for churning out high quality pieces like this one.

An Invitation To You

For those of you who are unable to join us due to locale and, at your own risk, choose to follow an Evolution without guidence, please feel free to post an introduction and share in your endeavors. Technology destroyed your anonymity long ago.

EFC, Its Evolutions, And the philosophies laid down on these pages are meant to be read, applied, and to enhance the work you've piled in front of yourself. This holds true regardless your methodology, or school of thought. All are welcome. The aim is to complement, not to compete.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to share with us.

72nd madness

(more pics)

The Evolution:

"The Agoge"
max DB OH LUNGE in 8 minutes
max MAN MAKER in 8 minutes
max BOX JUMP in 8 minutes
max DB SNATCH in 8 minutes
max AIR SQUATS in 8 minutes
max SIT UPS in 8 minutes
max CRAB CRAWL in 8 minutes
max DISTANCE RUN in 8 minutes

In ancient Sparta, young boys were taken from their families at the age of seven to begin a twelve year intense program of physical education, strategy, and martial skill. They called it The Agoge. Each year would culminate with an evolution that would last eight days and eight nights. Some didn't make it.

Thanks to Paul from Crossfit Queens for stopping by and getting a little taste of the mad. We'll see you and your posse next week. Also, thanks Jessica for programing this evil, and subbing for Justin.

"Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces. "
-Sigmund Freud

71st madness

(More Photos)


THE EVOLUTION

1st
newbies worked clean n press
vets did:
15 kb swings
15 kb goblet squat
15 kb goblet lunge
15 kb sdhp
(5 rounds 20 min cut off)

Then
10 burpees
50 ft KB wounded bear crawl
20 pull ups
50 ft kb walking sotts press
30 jump squats
50 ft KB wounded bear crawl
40 sit ups
50 ft kb walking sotts press
50 hspu
(25 min. cut off)

Then
last man standing plank

The Way is one of introspection. The outward stimuli of that which makes the lesser get stuck in the ruts of past illusions is what we seek to tune out and ignore entirely. False celebratory remarks do not have wings in our arena. We are our own critics, our own judges, our own executioners. To keep things light is important but to expect an outcome is fruitless. The outcome is a byproduct of the work and the work is different per individual. The work may be as simple as understanding the effects of a certain grip, or as difficult as putting to rest a psychological hurdle that takes one off the migratory route that their consciousness is set upon. Regardless the work, the individual would do well not to seek praise nor credit. This is not purposeful endeavor. Purposeful endeavor comes from within. Know yourself, know your purpose and resist wasting your vital creative energy on attaining credit from an illusory environment. This will always disappoint. Channeling that vital creative energy inward, taking inventory as you do, leads to a place to of sharing. Please post your shit.

Jessica Pamanian 2nd Overall Crossfit Regionals

JESSICA PAMANIAN
has come a long way in an extremely short period of time. She has worked her way into the hearts and minds of all Midnight Madness adepts as someone who is a catalyst for the group's performance. She came with natural physical ability, but has taken the EFC teachings and has worked her physical, spiritual, and philosophical selves on her road to self mastery.

With poise and grace, humility and gratitude, Jessica stepped to this Goliath and became our champion for the weekend. After only 2 weeks of prep for the sectionals, she took 4th. In two short months post sectionals she followed a program that would make most shudder leading to a 2nd place overall standing at the Crossfit Regionals which will take her to Los Angeles for the national finals in July.

Mu Shin Jess!!! Next stop LA!!!

70th madness

The evolution

1st
recent acquisitions had a hanging power clean clinic
veterans did:

10 power clean
5 burpees
10 push press
3 rounds
(progessive loads- men start at 95# and add 20# each round, women start with 45# and add 10# each round)

then
a "revolver" with
push up
air squat
sit up

then
team effort wallball max reps in 10 mins
(team with lowest score does 20 burpees each)