tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post2729027461907609053..comments2024-01-02T00:38:25.234-08:00Comments on It's How You Put it Together...: Gitchy Gitchy Gada Ya-Ya!Steve Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-9128604247926051712009-04-06T19:20:00.000-07:002009-04-06T19:20:00.000-07:00I just used a barrel from a .50 cal machine gun as...I just used a barrel from a .50 cal machine gun as an improvised macebell for the first time yesterday. Holy crap - I didn't know I had so many muscles in my torso! The balance may not be optimal but it sure was intense...Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-26918243666138830062009-01-02T11:35:00.000-08:002009-01-02T11:35:00.000-08:00Boris, There is a big difference between a gada an...Boris, There is a big difference between a gada and double club work. There is more similarity in working with the bigger, two-hand club. - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-15447657593391857932008-12-29T08:23:00.000-08:002008-12-29T08:23:00.000-08:00This was an interesting way of exploring a new fit...This was an interesting way of exploring a new <A HREF="http://www.goldsgym.com/fitness/index.html" REL="nofollow">fitness</A> routine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-63970951443663465792008-12-04T10:51:00.000-08:002008-12-04T10:51:00.000-08:00Mr. M -- made 3 different gadas out of hanger dowe...Mr. M -- made 3 different gadas out of hanger dowels & plastic flower pots filled w. quikrete, each of various lengths and weights. <BR/>WOW -- I have completely blown my arms & shoulders up today and I LOVE IT!!! <BR/>Thanks for the idea -- my buddies & I will be playing around with them all weekend, I'm sure. <BR/><BR/>Lesson learned -- flip your grip when you switch direction LOL.<BR/>I wondered WHY it was so hard going L -> R.Rear Admir0lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985227416390429045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-40111939306342814702008-12-01T17:58:00.000-08:002008-12-01T17:58:00.000-08:00Great post, I'll have to try this myself one time....Great post, I'll have to try this myself one time. I am big fan of Indian Clubs and have never tried a mace before.<BR/><BR/>Is there a big difference between the two?Boris Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12109794946605173132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-66496962930760552342008-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:002008-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:00I don't really have a profound comment to make exc...I don't really have a profound comment to make except 40s or not, they're hot!<BR/><BR/>You (and they) are doing something right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-59613204476582598982008-11-13T20:42:00.000-08:002008-11-13T20:42:00.000-08:00Steve, send me an email and we'll hammer out the d...Steve, send me an email and we'll hammer out the details!<BR/><BR/>~Jake ShannonJake Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11751651432848001562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-646369971612365212008-10-28T08:35:00.000-07:002008-10-28T08:35:00.000-07:00hey steve, andy here from the southeast (georgia)....hey steve, andy here from the southeast (georgia). great idea on the homemade maceball. it inspired me to make one myself but instead of using wood for the shaft i'm going to use a steel shaft with fittings at the end to secure the balls safety. you have inspired me to look at fitness and conditoning in a different light. thanks again for your posts. <BR/><BR/>on another note i was reading several posts back about the bodyweight cert. workshop that you conducted with some great sucess. are you expecting to conduct more workshops in 2009?andystolarikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321385535418966213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-63896452147424488802008-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:002008-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00steve, that was awesome dude, love the homemade ma...steve, that was awesome dude, love the homemade macebell!<BR/><BR/>and yea, the old vids of indian wrestlers also use wood - cement, great post bruddah.zeveneshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917908379195855014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-18956825196002358432008-10-20T17:43:00.000-07:002008-10-20T17:43:00.000-07:00Been watching your blog for a while now, good stuf...Been watching your blog for a while now, good stuff! Im going to have to make a mace, that looks like fun...in a glutton-for-punishment kind of way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-76764890538755983172008-10-17T14:49:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:49:00.000-07:00Hey Jake! Thanks so much for writing in. I appre...Hey Jake! Thanks so much for writing in. I appreciate your educated comments as the Macebell expert. I was looking longingly at your website and wanted to spring for a macebell, since I don't like to cheap out on equipment and always go for the best available. After seeing a video clip of Hindu wrestlers using the low-tech version, I became intrigued with wood and stone vs. steel. <BR/><BR/>Hey, I'd love to have one of your Macebells and I propose you ship me one and I'll write up a blog making an honest assessment of the benefits of the MaceBell over the homemade version. Better send the baby one since I'm a tyro at mace swingin'. The mace is much different than the two-hand clubbell I have. Feels and handles much different. - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-27881365002952567932008-10-17T14:37:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:37:00.000-07:00central fitness, obragado!central fitness, obragado!Steve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-84836270201092365282008-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00Hi Kit,Thanks for writing in and your comments. I...Hi Kit,<BR/>Thanks for writing in and your comments. I, too, have a pair of sledgehammers (16#, 20#) in the back of the van, but I felt like I was taking my life in my hands every time I did the gada exercise with them. The hammer shape, while ideal for pounding things, isn't very forgiving when it comes to the back of the calves and legs. <BR/><BR/>I found that even if I missed a bit with the spherical gada, it was more apt to glance off without damage. <BR/><BR/>I also carry a 35# clubbell and use it for similar two-hand mace-type movements for shorter-range, lower rep strength work.<BR/><BR/> The mace that the Great gama hold in the phot is a ceremonial mace that is given as a prize to top wrestlers, like a belt or medal today, and they were highly revered, but not used so much for exercise and workouts.<BR/>The mace was a symbol of Hannuman, the monkey god and patron of wrestlers. The standard workout gadas are pretty crude, basically a granite ball fixed to a bamboo pole, which can see in this clip from a classic Indian movie a client of mine sent in:<BR/>http://tinyurl.com/5oaonv<BR/><BR/>This is a beautiful clip (thanks John) Notice the boy dong his baticks (push-ups) over the water's edge.<BR/>Now Gama was a Muslim, but the mace would still have been a tremendous honor. The wrestling akhara was one place where Muslims & Hindus mixed freely without angst, following only the religion of hard work, exercise and a dedication to the physical body. - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-57341273894931084902008-10-16T20:17:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:17:00.000-07:00Hey Steve, glad to see you swinging a Macebell (ev...Hey Steve, glad to see you swinging a Macebell (even if it is home made lol)! <BR/><BR/>Be sure not to use your shoulder as a leverage point on the up swing. The only dangerous thing with homemade versions is the centrifugal force is amazing and the concrete bell may come off or the handle may break too.<BR/><BR/>The Macebells that Torque manufactured for me have a nice crinkle coat grip that holds chalk well and the bell has a polyurethane safety coating that has come in handy a number of times.<BR/><BR/>That being said, there are a ton of exercises that you can do with the Macebell that the homemade variety cannot withstand, such as Scottish hammerthrows and sledgehammer work. I think you'll like the Macebell Basics DVD coming out this month!<BR/><BR/>Also I invite anyone interested to check out Macebell.com, its a free resource for fans of Karl Gotch's methods of exercise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-11896587196248786042008-10-16T20:16:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:16:00.000-07:00Really freat blog Steve!I from brazil and I ask a...Really freat blog Steve!<BR/><BR/>I from brazil and I ask a favor!<BR/><BR/>As my native language is not English, I would ask to use a few slang! Heheh<BR/><BR/>I add it to my blog ok?Cfnobrasilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13415173186450568164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-6815414093977862422008-10-16T14:46:00.000-07:002008-10-16T14:46:00.000-07:00Hello Steve, Kit from Australia here (but in Vanco...Hello Steve, Kit from Australia here (but in Vancouver running a workshop). Love the Gada idea.<BR/><BR/>I just wanted to add a comment on the sledgehammers: we have four in my gym (6, 8, 10, and 12 lbs) with metre-long handles (so, 39"), and we do use them for the exercise you demonstrate. And the Great Gama's mace looks like it has a similar length handle. <BR/><BR/>But (and this is a big but) your inexpensive device with its longer handle (and consequent leverage) will work MUCH better for the endurance worksout you propose.<BR/><BR/>we use the sledges more for wrist and rotator cuff/shoulder strength work, where the handles (slightly oval and with a textured finish) work just fine. I will send you a YouTube link once I get back and shoot the exercises we use.<BR/><BR/>I will build one of yours, and add it to the collection: thank you. Cheers, KLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-68629673175259340512008-10-15T15:40:00.000-07:002008-10-15T15:40:00.000-07:00If your in great shape about how long should it ta...If your in great shape about how long should it take to complete this killer mace bell workout?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-38179832140760576312008-10-14T16:22:00.000-07:002008-10-14T16:22:00.000-07:00Thanks Steve - that is helpfulThanks Steve - that is helpfulChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-70642255659490752462008-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:002008-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00Thanks, deanmc & charles! Chris, I tried usin...Thanks, deanmc & charles! Chris, I tried using both the 16# & 20# sledgehammers for this exercise but I found the length of the handle all wrong. The handle should be long enough that the ball drops down below the knees. Also, the sledgehammer shape is not conducive to swinging in this manner and there's a very real possibility of hitting yourself. The sledgehammer handle is flattened, to facilitate gripping, you want the handle to be round or else the handle starts to tear up the hands. The round ball is much more forgiving when you do hit yourself(and you WILL) while the sledgehammer is acutely painful and could spell potential disaster with its sharper angles. It's not so much the heavy weight as the length of the handle which increases the centrifugal force of the gada. - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-57045316871739379472008-10-14T16:07:00.000-07:002008-10-14T16:07:00.000-07:00Could you just use a sledgehammer?Could you just use a sledgehammer?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-5078769718672931682008-10-14T15:52:00.000-07:002008-10-14T15:52:00.000-07:00Interesting project. Great blogs you put out. Keep...Interesting project. Great blogs you put out. Keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-16418012188611178642008-10-14T15:28:00.000-07:002008-10-14T15:28:00.000-07:00Wow, thats cool. I just made some "Home Depot" clu...Wow, thats cool. I just made some "Home Depot" clubs, this looks like a good next project! Keep the great post's comingDeanmchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15778742792937081046noreply@blogger.com