Optimal Life Fitness, for health, fitness and a new lifestyle outdoors.

After pumping up the tyres and filling the tank, Andy and I set off in the truck to the Port of Holyhead. After a 5 hour journey we arrived at Holyhead with an hour to spare so we went in search of some lunch. After a scenic drive around Holyhead we stumbled across the local bakers and were delighted to get 2 for 1 sausage rolls! After satisfying our hunger we headed to the port and checked in. After numerous queue's we eventually drove on board the 'Swift' and set off for Dublin. As we left the port and smoothly made our way to the green isle I fell asleep to catch up on a few hours. Waking up with a sore backside and a crick in my neck I looked outside to see the lights of Dublin.

With a desire to get my hands on a pint of Guinness, we stopped in a pub on our way to the hotel. Andy was moaning of starvation and I was desperate for some liquid refreshment! The nice man behind the bar brought me over my first ever Guinness in Ireland and I sat back and relaxed in my thoughts. With the rugby on the TV and a T-Bone steak on its way, I was almost in heaven.
After a short drive south of Dublin we checked into our hotel and hit the sack for a well deserved kip. As the light shone through the curtains on Saturday morning, I dragged myself out of bed and made my way downstairs for breakfast. With a hearty fry up inside I was ready for the Dublin's Double Header!




















The Double Header only came about after a really successful EKI course back in June and it was because of that course we'd decided to have an advanced kettlebell course as well as the boxing course on the same weekend. Saturday was the advanced kettlebell course so this was my chance to use some of the new things I had learnt in Slovenia. We spent the first hour looking at the kinetic chain and joint function. Once we'd got everyone nicely warmed up and mobilised it was time to introduce the jerk. Starting with the 1 arm jerk and then the 2 arm we did a few timed sets to give the group some idea as to how it feels to train for time and not reps.






















After doing a few timed sets it was time to move onto the snatch. After doing a few demos the group had a go, the snatch is a very technical lift and the intricacies are very challenging. With time of the essence we could only do a few timed sets of snatches but the group were getting the idea of trying to relax a bit more. One of the major differences is the breathing and this can take some time to grasp, but I'm sure they’ll have it soon. I found that sleeping on it usually makes things set in.
We took a very brief look at the long cycle before moving onto the Odd Lifts. We went through a good selection of lifts, from bent presses to 2 hand anyhow and bottoms up to sots press. There was something for everyone to get involved. With a few displays of strength from Andy the group were and a few little tricks of my own we had the group in floods of applause. So feeling like it was a good time to end, we wrapped up the course.




















By 5pm I was shattered and all I could think about was sleeping, however there was the small issue of finding a good pint of Guinness. Last night's was good, but I knew there was better out there! So a group of us headed over the road to the Lambs Doyle pub. I was assured that this pub served a good pint, so I couldn't turn down the chance to taste Irelands best! After happily making my way through a few pints and in the knowledge that this was a very good pint we headed back to the hotel. By the time I got back I could barely keep my eyes open. So feeling like an old granddad, I headed straight for bed and slept through till the morning.






















Day 2 of the Double Header and it was Andy's turn to take centre stage and teach the Performance Boxing Course. There is now waiting around with the boxing course, it's literally straight into it. With shadow boxing being the first thing learnt the group were working out the fine points of the jab, cross, hook and upper cut. We spent a plenty of time working on technique before even giving anyone gloves.




















They did some mirror boxing to get used to working with a partner and only then were they ready to get the gloves on. With the pads and gloves on we went through all the punches again and then it was time to learn some combinations. Andy was really happy that we managed to get up to an 8 punch combination and even more happy that everyone including myself was sweating and warn out!




















After the assessments, we did a quick wrap up and then had to hurriedly pack the truck up and get to the airport so I could catch my flight back to London. Andy on the other hand was off to Dundalk to teach a 2 day EKI course with a group at Felda Fitness Centre.
So although my write up may have centred around my quest for the perfect Guinness, I can assure you there was more to it than that. We had a great weekend with the Irish contingent and it's always good to share our training and experiences with a good group. On a special note, it was great to see Justin Chin on the course. He had travelled all the way from San Francisco to do the Performance Boxing Course. We are looking forward to many more years of courses in Ireland, it's a great place for fitness and there are some great trainers out there.
Thanks to all the guys and girls that came on the course.