F3 New Orleans

Tag: Mmmbop

  • ARMAPALOOZA

    The Uptowner Q list was running low, so YHC jumped at a chance to give Hawg a break and tryout an unused Uptowner resource YHC has had his eye on for a while. Turns out, a no running beatdown is more of a challenge than this F3 neophyte imagined. YHC was honored to lead 13 men through the gloom for this experiment.

    Warmup x 20

    SSH, IW, Arm Circles (10 forward/10 back), Grass Grabbers, Plank Jacks, and Abe Vigodas. There was quite a bit of mumblechatter towards the end of the warmup by a PAX who will remain nameless to protect the guilty so YHC imposed a five-burpee penalty to maintain order. The offending PAX refused to clap during the burpees, which almost lead to another round of penalty burpees, but there was more work to be done so the group was spared.

    The Thang

    The PAX was instructed to grab a medium-sized rock and slowsey to the parking lot in front of the gym. YHC is a fan of Dora 1-2-3 and merkin ladders. The PAX partnered up for 100 curls, 200 overhead presses, and 300 air squats (modified from squat presses with rock after a round or two of an excruciating arm and shoulder workout). While PAX 1 completed the above exercises, PAX 2 bear crawled from the parking lot to the steps of the gym for a merkin ladder (one merkin at the base of the steps and adding a merkin for each step up, for a total of 35), then lunge walk back and switch with PAX 1. Tclaps to mmmBop and Amnesty for bear crawling through a rather large puddle without complaining (guess Amnesty learned his lesson after the penalty burpees). After completing the ARMAPOLOOZA workout, the PAX circled up for a three-minute ISI compliant squat.

    COT- Nam-a-rama, announcements, and prayers.

    Thank you F3 for another opportunity to lead. It’s never taken lightly and always an honor. Thanks to the PAX for participating in my experiment. Parts of this beatdown will be repeated at a future beatdown, but YHC will look to modify to strive for a full body workout with compound exercises.

  • It’s All Fun and Games

    Earlier in the week Hokie Pokie asked for a replacement so YHC was happy take over Q for Muscleship. Recently my son suggested we play Red Light/Green Light as part of our workout. I did my best to design a beatdown involving games of some kind and hopefully what we did sufficed.

    Warm-Up:

    Mosey around NOMA and then circle up for exercises done IC:

    • SSH x 20
    • Windmills x 10
    • Self Love x 15
    • Imperial Squats Walkers x 15
    • Arm circles fwd/rev x 10 each

    Then it was time to grab my speaker and describe the routine that was to follow which I’m sure lead to some confused faces initially. Based on my son’s suggestion of Red Light/Green Light I found a randomized timer app. Timer was set for random times between 15 and 45 seconds during which it would alternate between red light and green light. During green light we would perform exercises in which we were moving and during red light exercises we would exercises in which we would maintain a static position.

    Green Light exercises:

    • Mountain climbers
    • LBCs
    • Merkins
    • Cross-over lunges
    • High knees
    • Right single leg wife pleasers
    • Left single leg wife pleasers
    • Crunchy planks L elbow/R knee
    • Crunchy planks R elbow/L knee
    • Freddie Mercury’s

    Red Light exercises:

    • Al Gore
    • Plank
    • Left side plank
    • Right side plank
    • Low plank
    • Static lunge left leg in front
    • Static lunge right leg in front
    • Reverse plank
    • Static heel raise
    • Static leg hold

    After this we moseyed to the Foundry for some Deck of Death Battle Edition. PAX was split into 2 teams and cards were flipped. Winner of the battle would select the exercise between the suits of the 2 cards flipped. Reps were determined by the winner’s card. In the event of a battle (same card number/face card is flipped) both exercises were performed.

    • Diamonds – pull ups
    • Spades – jump squats
    • Hearts – merkins
    • Clubs – sidelying leg raises

    After this it was time to mosey back to the flag for some cool down stretching. Count-o-rama, name-o-rama, annoucements, intentions, naming of our FNG, and sweaty ball of man. Welcome Triple Bypass. I hope some fun was had by all as everyone (my son included) continues to challenge me to get creative with my beatdowns.

  • Okwata in the Fall

    Or at least it felt that way. The 22 PAX present were treated to 71 degrees and a beautiful sunrise this morning. They were also treated to: LEG DAY. (After Screw Top’s beatdown the previous day, YHC was in no mood for Merkins or Burpees)

    Mosey to the center of the intersection no one ever uses (possibly because we are in it) for

    • Mountain climbers
    • Scorpion kicks
    • SSH
    • Arm Circles
    • Hill Billies
    • All x20

    Split into 2 groups for the second running of the Single Reverse Indian Run. Like an Indian Run, but all the PAX run the loop and up and down the levee, while the last in line peels off and runs the opposite way around the loop.

    20 second count, enough time to stretch out the hips with a little open the gate and close the gate.

    Next pair up for 5 Bernies and 5 Planks. PAX 1 runs backward up the levee while PAX 2 holds one of 5 different planks, starting with high, low, left, right, and ending with bows and toes. Alternate with partner after each plank and Bernie.

    Finally, a bit of DORA 1-2-3 OYO

    • 50 Money Humpers
    • 100 Jump Lunges
    • 150 Squats

    *After each exercise is completed, one sprint up the levee and back. We made it to, but not through the squats, when it came time to head back to the flag.

    Vigorous run back led by Smooth, just in time for 6:15, where we circled up and admired the sunrise. Hokie prayed us out. Thanks for pushing me today. – Kuch

    Total Mileage: 2.86 miles

  • Honoring Sgt. Joseph Bovia

    Sgt. Joseph “Joey” Bovia, USMC, was a native of Metairie, Louisiana.  He served in the Marine Corps for six years.  Sgt. Bovia volunteered for two deployments to Iraq and his last deployment to Afghanistan.  He was the leader of a combat engineering platoon and was building an outpost to protect an elementary school in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by insurgents.  Sgt.  Bovia was killed in action on August 31, 2010, in the name of freedom and protection.  

    On June 7, 2019, 19 men of F3 (including FNG Dropout) converged at the Rock City AO to pay tribute to this hometown hero through a workout, with minor modifications, created by Sgt. Bovia’s fellow Marines. Sgt. Bovia’s parents were notified of the F3 tribute the night before and sent their deepest gratitude to the men of F3.  Sgt. Bovia’s parents were assured that his and their sacrifice would not be forgotten. 

    WARMUP x31: SSH, Grass Grabbers, Arm Circles, and Hillbillies

    The Thang x 31

    Push-ups, WWII Sit-ups, Burpees, Squats, Kettle Bell, Push Presses with rock (modified from 20 lb. wall balls), Mountain Climbers (4-count), and Pull-ups.

    During the workout, a train passed transporting military vehicles.  A sure sign Sgt. Bovia was with us and was touched by the tribute (see pics below). Thanks to all who supported this beatdown.  Expect to see it again.

    Thanks to Hawgcycle who enthusiastically modified the workout to fit the AO and organized the logistics so there were no log jams.

  • “Modify only if you need to, not cause you want to”

    “Success isn’t always about ‘greatness’.  It’s about consistency.  Consistent hard work gains success.  Greatness will come.”   -Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson 

    Another fine Saturday at the Muscleship on 6/22.  Fifteen PAX trickled in to start the day off right and get their sweaty fix.  With the Memorial Day Murph a few weeks prior, YHC felt many/all of us could some help improving our pull ups, so that would be our focus of the day….upper body, grip strength, arms, core, back, etc.  Here’s what we did:  

    Warmup in front of NOMA with SSH x20, IWx20, WM x10, Bird Dog x20, Glute Bridge x20, 60 Sec AC (R T-plank AC , LBC, L T-plank AC, Merkins) x15ea

    Mosey toward the Refinery with a pit stop for:  plank, Merkins x10, plank, Merkins x5

    The Refinery – 6 station circuit w/Tabata timer, all out for 40sec, 12 sec rest/rotate       “Modify only if you need to, not cause you want to”         Round 1 – Pullups, Squats, Body Rows, Block Curls, Bench Dips, Glute Bridge aka Wife Pleasers         Round 2 – Rinse and repeat        Break for a breather and some motivational experts compliments of Google and The Rock         Round 3 – Dead Hang, Squats, Dips/Dip Hold, Block Curls, Inc Merkin, Glute Bridge        Round 4 – Rinse and repeat

    Mosey back towards base where we crossed paths with The Muscleship Pax. Made another pit stop on the curb for:  Plank, Plank Jacks, & Merkins

    Next up was a mosey to the edge of the new sculpture garden expansion where we found the finest grass City Park has to offer for: Planking and Bird Dogs 

    Then back to the NOMA lawn for some back and core work:  Indian Bear Crawl,  LBC, Flutter Kicks, IBC, Lunge Walk, Bear Crawls

    COT to seal the deal.  Welcome FNG Snowbird who was EH’d by Gatsby.   

    Always great to lead and always great to grind through another F3 workout.  Sorry for the delayed backblast. 

    Tool 

  • An Extra 5 seconds of Fun

    • Temperature: bad
    • Humidity: bad

    21 men gathered this morning for a Foundry workout. Like the Stomp, this workout – led by Amnesty since the olden days – has continued to grow, and the new faces are welcome additions. In fact, we had a late addition today from Butter, bringing the total to 22. He joined us for the COT, and plans to make some workouts soon.

    Quick Warmup (we’ve got work to do)

    • Mosey to the track
    • ISWx10
    • SSHx20 (some complaints from Amnesty and Bogey about YHC’s failure to instruct the already standing PAX to get in “position” before this one. Leaving this here for their next Q’s, where I’m sure their instructions and cadence will be perfect)
    • Peter Parker Peter x20 each
    • Arm Circles x10 each way
    • Line up in 2 lines and Indian Run to the Foundry

    The Thang: 8 Stations, 4 rounds on a Tabata timer of

    • Derkins
    • Jumping Rope
    • seated dips
    • Burpees
    • Pull-ups
    • Jump Squats
    • Bird Dogs
    • Side to side jumps over the snake

    We’ve done something like this workout a few times, so YHC decided to up the difficulty a bit by changing the timer from 20 seconds on, 10 off, to 25 seconds on, 10 off. That extra 5 seconds took a toll, but everyone persevered thanks to the rocking tunes.

    Quick mosey back to the track for some static stretching led by High Rise because why would I lead stretching when there is an actual physical therapist there who went to school for this sort of thing? T-claps to High Rise for always being up to the task.

    Mosey to the flag, little planking for the ISI challenge this month, and COT and a prayer. Thanks for having me.

  • Not Spartacus

    For those who expected Spartacus, they were disappointed……at first.  After the DISCLAIMER, let’s mosey and take a left out the gage.  In life you have to expect the unexpected.  We circled up in a parking lot by the backside outdoor gym.

    -SSH X 30 IC

    -IW X 30 IC

    -Mt Climbers X 30 IC

    -Arm Circles X 30 IC (15 ea dir)

    -LSS X 20 IC (hold at the bottom)

    Count off “1”, “2”, “1”, “2”…etc…  Form up in two columns, “1”s on left and “2”s on the  right.  Let’s Indian Run to the Rock Pile.  Grab your friend and head to the ball field.  Make two piles, “1”s and “2”s, then line up.  It’s time to move Boss Kean’s Rock Pile.  The pile was moved across the field.  When last rock left the pile, the pax moved to the end to keep going.  Time to move them back.  T-Claps to Mahatma challenging group “1” to see who would finish first….Group “2” did their 10 burpees.  YHC correspondent had the winners, Group “1” do 5 Manmakers…..they’re still trying to figure it out….

    Let’s head to the Spartacus Arena (the shelter). 

    -Shoulder Press X 20 IC

    -Squats X 20 IC

    -Curls X 20 IC

    -Step-Ups Right Leg X 20 IC

    -Step-Ups Left Leg X 20 IC

    -Chest Press X 20 IC

    -Shoulder Press X15 IC

    -Squats X 10 IC

    -Curls X 15 IC

    -Step-Ups Alternating Legs X 15 IC

    -Chest Press X 20 IC

    Times Up!  Take your friends home and mosey to the SF.  Plank and wait.  Countoff, namerama, announcements, shoutouts and a prayer. 

    WELCOME FNG-Coin Star

    Q: Amnesty

    PAX:  Boo-Boo, FNG-Coin Star, War Eagle, Hokie Pokie, Tanner, Dark Wing Duck, High Rise, Billy Goat, Left Eye, Marlin, Kuch, Bogey, Mahatma, Jingle Vader, Reluctant Yankee, Jesus Juice, Rugaroux, Smooth, Scantron, Madulaoblongata, M-Bop, Screw Top, Handgrenada, Amnesty-YHC

  • Co-Q 12

    Earlier in the week Mahatma asked if we could swap Muscleship Q’s. Once I got the clearance from my M on our schedule I gladly swapped. I was then quickly contacted by this week’s Mothership Q and resident LVCC member Kuch. He proposed for a portion of the beatdown we perform some type of competition between PAX. After some back-and-forth on the details, the trash talking began on mumblechatter.

    Saturday morning came and 11 men gathered with me at our usual spot, including 1 FNG who came in town from Lake Charles. The resistance bands that would be used were distributed to everyone, the disclaimer was given, and off we ran for a lap around NOMA.

    Warm-up:

    • SSH IC x 20
    • Windmills IC x 10
    • Self love IC x 10
    • Arm circles x 10 fwd, x 10 reverse
    • Imperial squats walkers IC x 15

    Tha Thang #1:

    During my last Muscleship Q I had the PAX perform a Tabata routine of shoulder exercises with resistance bands. So back by popular demand we busted out the Tabata with a playlist hand-picked by the Q to avoid any recurrence of DMB or Goo Goo Dolls finding its way in. All exercises performed for 20 sec with 10 sec rest.

    • Single arm shoulder flexion, R then L
    • Airplanes/T’s
    • Bilateral shoulder external rotation
    • Single arm shoulder lateral raises, R then L
    • Biceps curls, R then L
    • Triceps extension, R then L

    Tha Thang #2

    After everyone’s shoulders were burning we walked about 5 ft into the grass surrounding the fountain outside NOMA and spread out for planks. Each plank held for 30 seconds.

    • Plank on elbows
    • L side plank
    • R side plank
    • Reverse plank

    Unfortunately while we were planking Pearl Jam was almost done playing “Alive” when my bluetooth speaker proved to be dead. So we only made it through 2 of the songs on the playlist. Oh well. Next time I’ll be better prepared.

    Next we moved back to the cement and grabbed our bands again.

    • Lateral step with squat IC x 10 reps each leg, band tied around ankles
    • Plank clocks performed in 6-count cadence x 10 reps each arm, band tied around wrists
    • Crunchy planks IC x 10 reps each way; exercise is performed in plank position when you bring your L elbow to your R knee then repeat with R elbow to L knee (exercise inspired by local musician Master P’s hip hop classic “Freak Hoes”)

    Tha Thang #3:

    At that point it was time to toss bands in Screw Top’s truck and mosey over to the Foundry for the meet up with the Mothership. Instructions were given, including written instructions courtesy of Kuch. Mothership won the coin toss and chose to run first while Mothership performed the group of exercises.

    While Mothership ran 1 loop around the Festival Grounds, each Muscleship PAX performed 25 pulls ups, 50 burpees, and 100 jump lunges (1 is 1). All members of the PAX had to complete said exercises before leaving to run. Once all members completed the routine we proceeded with our run arounf the Festival Grounds. As we ran, Mothership stayed at the Foundry and completed said group of exercises. Sadly Mothership prevailed as they were able to have all members complete the run and exercises before Muscleship. I smell a re-match in the future.

    Mosey back to the flag for some static hamstring, figure-4 piriformis, and quad stretching x 15 sec each leg. Count-off, name-o-rama, annoucements, intentions, sweaty ball of man. Welcome FNG Madoff from Lake Charles! As usual it was a pleasure to lead everyone and will look forward to my next Q.

  • Back to Basics – but No Merkins

    While in awe at the number of Merkins the ISI folks had been posting during the month, QIC decided that it was time to give the group a break and work on other basic exercises this fine morning.

    Warmup: 20 SSHs, 20 Imperial Walkers, 20 Mountain Climbers, 15 Abe Vigodas, 30 Arm Circles (15 forward, 15 back).

    We grabbed a rock and moseyed over to the track where we split up into teams of two to complete a Dora (with QIC going solo until joined by Chips riding in hot) for upper body strength.

    One partner started on 100 reps of Triceps Press, 200 reps Curls, 300 reps Chest Presses, while the other partner ran to the 50 yard line and back.

    Next, we formed a circle for some modified leg and core work Tabata, doing a cycle of 1 minute of each with 20 seconds rest in between of Squats, LBCs, Lunges, and Flutterkicks. Rinse and repeat.

    We returned our rocks, gathered for announcements and intentions and moseyed off to start our day. Thanks for allowing me to lead.

  • F3: It’s more than a workout

    YHC volunteered for the Q this morning when Angie’s List couldn’t do it. One thing I love about F3 is that every man takes responsibility for their obligations. Members take their Q’s serious and when life gets in the way of them fulfilling their responsibility they make sure that someone fills in the gap. Likewise, YHC has never seen a Q go unfilled when a PAX member asks someone to step up. F3: It’s more than a workout.

    On this morning, YHC had prepared a game plan never seen at Rock City. After taking the long way to Pontiff do to a train stuck on the track, YHC ran up at exactly 5:30 yelling the disclaimer. The PAX left the flag and took a left turn heading south. Mumblechatter of YHC trying to be like Mahatma was heard from the back, but that would not distract from the beatdown ahead.

    The PAX circled up near the swings for the warm-up:

    SSH X 20

    Peter Parker X 20

    Imperial Walkers X 20

    Concrete Grabbers X 15

    Arm Circles X 10 forwards X 10 backwards

    THE THANG

    The PAX divided up into 3 groups of 3 for circuit work using the swing set, cover, and playground.

    The first circuit included Pull-ups, Irkins, and Underdogs.

    Pull-Ups X 15, 10, 5

    Irkins X 25, 15, 5

    Underdogs X 25, 15, 5

    The second circuit included Derkins, Alternating Leg Step-Ups or Box Jumps, and Dips.

    Each exercise X 25, 15, 5

    THE THANG II

    This would not be Rock City without a some rock work. Indian Run to the rocks. Pick a rock and circle up for a circuit including Curls, Rows, and Shoulder Presses X 25, 15, 5 each.

    Drop the rocks and head back to the flag for Mary.

    LBC X 20

    Dying Cockroaches X 20

    Time-Up

    At this point, YHC grabbed my cellphone to write down the names. When YHC looked there was six missed calls from my M. My 2.0 had a fever seizure and was being transported via ambulance to the hospital. YHC left before the COT.

    When YHC posted the news on Mumblechatter my M and I were overwhelmed by the response. Prayers, personal messages, and private texts have been sent all day including a personal visit from Bones while we were in the ER. Today my m learned and YHC was reminded that F3 is more than just a workout.

    F3 is friends, family, accountability, and a brotherhood rolled into one. We demand excellence and strive for every member to obtain it. We don’t shoot the wounded. We pick up the fallen brother, and we always have each other backs. We are F3 NOLA! We are F3 NATION!

    Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this great group and thank you for letting me lead.