Linchpin Conversations

Small, daily amounts of fitness can lead to big changes in your life. You don't need a lot of time or fancy equipment to be fit & healthy. All you need is knowledge, discipline & support.

10 exercises for the rest of my life. | How to deal with "tennis elbow" | Not for time workouts + accessories. | Challenges with an online community. | btwb fitness level, which workouts count? | Improving Olympic lifts. | Linchpin vs competitive programming. | Recommended level of intensity. | Training 3 times per week. | The state of kid's sports. | How to lose body fat. | Skill work.

In this epsiode we discuss how to get better at pull-ups, as well as defining what "pull-ups, any style" means when you see that as part of the description of a Linchpin workout.

Pegboard training. | What if you miss a workout? | Dynamic range of motion warm-ups. | What does "taxing the Central Nervous System" mean? | C-kip vs Butterfly kip. | How to attack Quarter Final workouts.

This was a comment left on my instagram by someone I do not know. It sparked many thoughts, ideas, topics & concepts I felt would be worthy of discussion. I hope you find this conversation helpful in guiding your long term fitness journey.

Ivan K. is a coach & part owner of CrossFit Minic in Basel, Switzerland. He is a Level 3 Coach & has been a trainer at gyms all around the world. He has experienced the difference between good & bad programming. Ivan made the switch to Linchpin at his gym & he explains why.

Explain the "Levels" on btwb. | Working 13 hours a day & staying Fit. | Monday Monster Mash & the Buttery Bros. | Improving the Olympic Lifts in your garage. | Mon thru Fri workout, Weekends off schedule.

There are many people who love snatching, & just as many who hate it & avoid it at all costs. Why do we snatch? What are the benefits? If someone did not want to snatch what are some effective modifications or substitutions?

"Spur of the moment" workouts. Linchpin for Affiliates. | How to lose 20 lbs by summer. | VNR Pull-up program. | Working out twice a week. | Programming a Games workout. | Favorite hobby outside of fitness. | What do I think of Hyrox? | What does being a good coach mean? | High intensity vs "Dancing with the Devil". | How to know the difference between discomfort & injury. | Rx loads vs % loading.

Depending upon the phase of life you are, there may be value in considering "starting fresh" and "forgetting" your previous personal bests. Of course the topic is nuanced & has many layers worth considering that will vary from individual to individual, but the general topic should help athletes set expectations and is a useful thought experiment.

Do the Linchpin monthly test not "Respect the Heavy Days". | Favorite Heavy Days at a High Heart Rate | How to increase grip strength. | Shipping Linchpin merch overseas. | Will CrossFit build muscle? | The "Tempus" feature on the btwb app. | Scaling to increase intensity.

In this episode we walk through the Monthly Linchpin Fitness Tests which will happen beginning in May 2024. Below are the monthly tests, which will be labeled as "Checkpoints".

What counts as "Rx'd"? | Improving Engine & Pain Tolerance. | Heavy Day Rep Schemes. | Fran. | Deadlift form on Open workout 24.2. | Improving Running Technique. | Setting Fitness Goals. | Training High School Athletes. | Improving Olympic Lifts When Training Alone. | Tall Athletes & Body Positioning.

Actionable steps for new athletes looking to begin working out are presented.

Tips, tricks & recommendations are given to improve your chest-to-bar pull-up capacity.

How to fix achilles tendon pain. | When/If to add a VNR cycle. | Linchpin meet-ups. | Rope climbs vs Peg Boards. | Test Weeks. | Mixing the order of workouts. | Task vs Time Priority. | Working out on poor sleep. | Favorite Open workout. | Linchpin for Gym Owners. | Ascending vs Descending rep schemes. | How to time sprints when running. | Rogue Invitational in Scotland. | Preparing for the CF Level 1. | How to introduce a new person to CF. | Grounding sheets to improve sleep.

A real world testimonial is read from someone who left Linchpin & then decided to comeback. She shares her experiences & the decisions that lead back to the Linchpin community.

What does it mean to be "Ferociously Fit"? | How to peak on a certain day. | Burgener warm-up with tight shoulders. | Weighted pull-ups...belt or vest? | The Jefferson Deadlift. | Is there a need for more than a 30" box jump? | A busy life leads to reduced workout time. | Introducing a new person to working out. | Overcoming a fear of box jumps. And much more!

Workouts can be done as For time, For time or not, Not for time, Kinda for time. What's the difference?

Can you be too strong? | Linear strength cycles. | Running in place vs actual running. | Cheat meals. | Stretching. | Modulating intensity. | Training at elevation. | Hot yoga. | Firefighter works 2 days on & 4 days off. 1| Calculating dumbbell reps & loads. | And much more…

Various strategies for working delicious treats into a healthy life are discussed. I talk through my lessons learned, failures & victories with sugar.

Training around an injury. | Time goals for low intensity training. | Preparing for a 10 mile trail run. | Trimming calluses & hand care. | What workouts have "interference"? | Meal prep. | Is Rucking good for you? | Pros & cons of intentional weight gain. | Supplements & Creatine. | Modulating Intensity. | Running with an artificial hip.

Recovery, cool downs, stretching, volume & intensity. How to find your sweet spot as an athlete.

Does each programming block have a focus? | Show me your garage/home gym! | Hip replacement rehab protocol. | Takeaways from the nutrition challenge. | Using the "tempo" feature on btwb. | Intentional interference. | 90's rap. | Impactful people in my life. | The future of Linchpin & CrossFit in general. | RMU vs BMU. | Modulating Intensity. | And more…

All about the Deadlift. Traditional vs Sumo vs Trap Bar deadlifts. Which one is right for you?

Programming workout options. | Learning new movements. | Do genetics limit your ability to "get big". | Modulating Intensity & Heavy Days. | Should I go "Rx'd" if I miss the goal time? | Short on time, how to train. | Struggling with overhead squats. | VNR & btwb. | On Heavy Days do you need to keep the same load across all reps & sets? | Designing an Open workout. | Weight belts, wraps & knee sleeves. | Linchpin Test at the Games.

A Linchpin member has a full time in-office job & a toddler who does not sleep well. She is struggling to keep her health & fitness a priority. She reached out asking for helpful advice to navigate this difficult phase of life.

Heavy Rope Single-unders | My favorite shoe for CrossFit. | How is my diet? | Training 3x per week vs 5x. | Deload weeks. | Does the Abmat do anything?

Do you need a "Heavy" jump rope? Heavy rope single-unders vs light rope double-unders are discussed, as well as indoor running substitutions during bad weather.

Sleep or Working Out, which is more important? | Will more rucking be programmed? | A good warm-up when short on time. | How many women follow Linchpin? | Yokes, sleds & landmine twists. | Monthly nutrition challenge. | Why did I become a SEAL? | Functional Fitness vs HIT. | GHD vs weighted sit-ups. | Rope Climb substitutions. | How to bulk up. | Maintenance of gym equipment. | My favorite candy. | Heart rate tracking.

"Open Prep" is silly & unnecessary for most people. Let me explain...

Thoughts after my hip replacement. | Qualifying for the CF Games. | Nutrition goals for obese athletes. | Artificial intelligence. | Will CF Open workouts be programmed? | Dealing with chronic pain. | Back squat strategies. | Working out while sick. | 400m run modifications. | Working out for aesthetics. | Strengthening rotator cuffs. | Holiday themed workouts. | Overhead squat substitutions. | Rest periods for interval training. | Overcoming a disappointing workout. | Whats the most value lesson I learned as a SEAL?

You should not live sore or in daily pain from working out. This episode discusses what I mean by that & how to avoid it. Pain free is the way to be.

How many cups of coffee do I drink? | What draws people to CrossFit? | Top 5 must read books. | New Year's Resolutions. | 400m run = how many burpees? | Moving days around. | Lifting % charts. | Reset the monitor or allow "roll over" calories? | Ring muscle-up substitutions. | 50m of walking lunges = how many lunges in place?

A member of Linchpin is so fast on the workout "Jackie" that he may never set a new PR on it ever again. What should he do? Should be modify the workout? Does "Jackie" still have training value for him?

Rowing damper setting. | My favorite Christmas treats. | Conversions for a spin bike. | Improving grip strength. | The bike erg. | Programs to improve snatching. | Accessory work, explained. | Low ceiling wall ball solutions. | Using a ski erg in workouts. | Wall-facing HSPU's…why? | Should we call out poor ROM? And much more…

Linchpin offers over 12,000 minutes of educational content for FREE. The Linchpin private track provides 300+ videos every year to members. Everyone should be on a journey to increase their Fitness IQ. Here are ways you can do it.

Fear of box jumps. | Update on my hip replacement. | Learning to kick into a handstand. | Strokes per minute rowing. | My typical day. | Linchpin for collegiate athletes. | Using wrist wraps for deadlifts. | Stretching. | Row vs Run vs Bike.

Linchpin Lifestyle extends outside the walls of your gym. It is a way of life. It is the gradual pursuit of self improvement and awareness, step-by-step. Seemingly small things, done in a purposeful manner can lead to big changes. In 2024 we are offering a monthly challenge designed to easily fit into your life. It will require minimal time & no gear at all. The Linchpin Lifestyle challenges will not be workouts. They will be activities focused on helping people between the ears. Enjoy!

How to program dumbbells workouts. | How to pace workouts. | Cycling snatches. | Heavy rope single-unders vs normal double-unders. | Lifting barefoot. | Modifying overhead lifts. | Checking your own technique. | Frequency for repeating benchmark workouts. | And much more!

Strict vs Kipping. Which should you prioritize? How to you modify workouts to increase strict strength?

Switching around the schedule. | More Linchpin Challenges? | Dumbbells + Heavy Days. | Testing workouts. | Touch-n-Go vs Quick Singles. | Rope climbs substitutions. | Should I buy a rack or rower? | Is CrossFit dying? | Dog training. | btwb fitness levels.

Real world, actionable, honest ways to keep working out when you don't feel like it.

Update: 1-week post-op Total Hip Replacement. | Linchpin Test 14. | Free E-book on programming.

Well, here's what happened...

People taking injections for weight loss. | Questions about squat racks & pull-up bars. | Linear back squat programs. | When to wear a weight belt. | Mental health & fitness. | Working out when sick. | And much more!

Real examples of how I scaled/modified 3 recent workouts. The workouts discussed happened on Nov 1st, 6th & 7th. Never feel obligated to perform a movement or loading just because it is "Rx'd". Remove ego & embrace scaling. Make smart decisions that will allow you to train pain free forever.

When are you too old to make gains? | How to workout at Planet Fitness. | What if Kipping hurts my shoulder? | Why push press more than you can press? | Does the order of the workouts matter? And MUCH more…

Highlights from my experience & interactions at the 2023 Rogue Invitational with the fittest & strongest people on the planet.

You do NOT need a lot of space or equipment to become VERY strong & fit. We discuss the minimum dose required to obtain the maximum result.