More Questions about RKC Workshops

Q: How big a deal is it to stay at the hotel? I'm local to the cert, and it wouldn't be a huge deal to drive home (15-30 mins depending on traffic). Also, I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 7-month old, and I'm thinking that putting my mommy hat back on might bring me out of a zone I need to stay in. Every time I think that staying in a hotel so close to home is silly, I think about how you collapsed in your dinner clothes. I also think about how I was pretty much a pile of mush when I went back to my hotel after the HKC. Do people tend to group together and socialize back at the hotel? In Chicago, lunches are provided but there isn't a Saturday night dinner. I'd love your advice on this one.

A: It's really convenient to stay at the hotel and a lot less to worry about - especially since you don't want to be late at the morning - I would advise staying at the hotel if for no reason other than you will want to be able to recover as much as possible each night with little to no distraction. Even at the RKC2 I would just come back and soak in the tub, eat something, check critical emails for my other business then get into bed with a book or just go to sleep. People do tend to meet up for dinner though which is a great opportunity for networking - its a short window since everyone is usually really in need of recovery etc. Dragon Door usually makes sure that there is food either available at the hotel restaurant or nearby - it's just a lot lot lot less to worry about if you are at or next door to the official hotel. Besides you can catch the shuttles with everyone to the training site - and not have to worry about parking, getting directions etc.  Plus you'll be with the group the whole time - again networking and no chance of messing the timing. This weekend needs to be about you being as focused as possible on the RKC.

Q:  Any chance you can share the secret sauce for initiating the pullup you learned at the RKC Level 2?

Are you pulling your shoulders tightly into their sockets even before initiating the movement?  Tighten EVERYTHING especially abdominals, quads, your feet can come forward just a teeny bit even with this - think of making your body into a flattened out "c" shape.   My internal cue is "I am one piece"   I can elaborate on this more as well.    How far are you getting?   Have you determined exactly where your "weak link" is?   Let me know and we can figure this one out as well!

Q: Do you have a cue for the rack position for lady comrades?  All I ever hear is that women need to change the rack position, but I've never heard any specific advice on cues, even after having training sessions with an RKCII, a TL and a Sr.  I guess I should have asked but I never really thought much about it.  But now, I'm trying do dial in everything as much as possible.  After some trial and error, it seems like if I bring my hand so that it would be in a position that I could hook my thumb under my bra strap (not that I would), that would be good geometry.  But that's just a guess.

Tim Shuman, RKC Level 2, gave me a great cue - when you're in the rack position stick out your thumb - you should hit your clavicle or the very inside of your deltoid, depending on what bra you're wearing this is probably the same place as you are talking about - I did it just now and hit a strap with my thumbnail.    Which Dragon Door books do you own?  We can reference some photos on specific pages if you like.  The main thing is that everyone is going to be a little different - they just want to make sure that you do not hit your breast with the kettlebell or your arms at all.  At the same time, elbows should be in tight, thinking of a boxer protecting their ribcage on the sides.