Kranking - The Real Blog

So here goes,I've written a few letters to some of the people on the Kranking Family so I hope I don't leave anything from this in fear of duplicating myself (as if I'd do that!!) In Kranking there are 3 basics movements,Single,Split,Double with 3 variations on these - seated,standing and retro.I want to say that doing any of the 3 in a seated position are easy but they aren't - that's not to say they're difficult but there is so much you can put into each rotation of the Krank arm that you will possibly never be perfect at it.But you can still aim for it nonetheless.You would normally start a session with a single arm movement in the seated position and the sooner you learned to not push but simply assist the handle &nd Krank around,the smoother it would feel.Just the arm here.

When you move to a double,there is an element of co-ordination.The weighted flywheel is floating,you see,so the big old dominant arm/shoulder does you no good here as you have to back it off and work at the strength of the less dominant side to improve on the balance of your body.There are so many sporting applications that this movement alone assists but the one that jumps immediately to my mind is swimming the butterfly with the two arms coming up over the top and the lats kicking in to bring them back and around once again,always in time with each other.

The split is the technique masterclass of the movements,timing,control,energy,focus,breathing & consistency all play major parts in this move.Let you mind run away and you'll be needing to stop to line the handles up and start again.Aaaaarghhh!

Still in the seated position but shifting one leg back behind the seat allows you to start getting more of your upper body involved on the split or single by using your whole shoulder girdle and damn it feels so good.If you want to work your right arm,you would place your right foot back for a better grounding and this is where the whole damn body starts getting involved.

Don't get me wrong,the abs have been bracing themselves from the first Krank but now it really starts to feel like something special!Controlled power!! Once you stand up and you start to feel the music,you can't help but want to dance with the machine in front of you and then you move to a double and OMFG it's where you find your body coming A L I V E big time.Even if like me you have no known rhyhtm,you will find it.I should say prepare for major heart rate numbers by this point,somewhere in the region of 80-95% mhr yet very maintainable.

The retro movement has you facing the cycle from the front (although not on the final model) and the purpose is scapula retraction and it is a welcome feeling too,still maintaining heart rate numbers to be very proud of and still able to go single,split or double as well.

The heart rate system that comes with the Krank Cycles is simply the easiest,most fun and engaging system I have seen (although I'm sure someone "older" will say it's been around for years!)

The set up of the machine as I was shown was incredibly easy yet the final model that Matrix is producing appears to be even more simply to set up and the best part of all is it will allow wheelchair users to participate right alongside anyone else.Brilliant!

I wanted to cover my experiences at the ECA convention but to put them into words would not do them justice by a long way.I will however thank with all my heart the Kranking Family for their arms of support through what for me was a leap but they caught me good.

Johnny,Jim,Mike,Clemente,Ayla,Yvonne,Jordan,Carolyn,Billy,Ria,Matty,Jodie and Dennis - thank you.

I can not wait to pay back your kindness in the form of spreading the Kranking Method to the UK and whoever else will listen.

Kranking in Miami - Part one

Hmmm,so I spent about an hour between classes this morning typing out my blog covering attending the ECA convention in Miami. I only covered half of it but thought I would post what I have so far. So I come on here and see a blog of mine "Kranking 101" which I totally forgot posting and as I read it I realised it was about 3/4 of what I typed up this morning so that's not gonna work.So we'll call this the Prologue and Part one will be posted tomorrow (sunday 23rd).

Body follows Mind? YOU BET IT DOES!!!

I'm really proud of myself today,more than normal. All week I've been preparing myself mentally to go to the gym and run for 60 minutes non-stop and this evening I did it. While it may not be much for some,for me just 6 weeks ago I was struggling with 2 minute intervals and I mean I was longing for the 2nd minute to finish so I could walk again!

Anyway,that's me,I may run again on Tuesday to help me sleep well before flying over to Miami to learn how to Krank.

Kranking 101

Last Tuesday I had a conversation with Yvonne via Skype (I love that,it's soooo cool) and we were talking about how business was going with Kranking . I've been thinking about getting involved but didn't really know how to or what to do.Were there recognized courses,certifications? Was there even a distribution plan? Well after seeing a vid clip on Youtube of Johnny saying that there now is a manufacturer and it going worldwide in 2009,that lit a fire in me.

Back to the conversation,Yvonne mentioned it was a real shame that I couldn't be in Miami on the 13th November as the ECA convention was having a heavy Kranking presence.

Why couldn't I be there?

Within 20 minutes I had about 6 windows open on the laptop checking everything from the convention to hotels to flights and then learned of a Kranking forum too.I gave a call to Robert,a Spinning...."enthusiast" ;-) and he bit on the idea of going almost immidately - I mean within about 67 seconds - but we said we'd sleep on the idea as it wouldn't hurt to slow down for a few hours.

Thursday came around and as I was waiting for him to finish teaching and getting back home,I was checking flights and they had dropped in price overnight :-) and then the hotel was no longer available :-( (but then it was :-) )

After a short discussion - 3 minutes,at a stretch - the flights and hotel were booked and paid for.Then the convention booking fun & games,conferring over Skype all the way.I've never booked a convention where Spinning was on the schedule and it didn't take priority when booking the slots - sorry Scott & Josh - but now we're booked to go to take part in at least 9 Kranking sessions over 4 days and come away with a whole different perspective on exercise that will change the way I approach my Spinning rides too.

While there,we will be meeting up with Felix "The Cannondale Guy" and hopefully make some new friends in a whole new family.It feels like my first WSSC all over again but with a twist of confidence thrown in to sweeten the flavor.It's only 9 days till we fly and I know it's gonna be here in a New York Minute so I'm taking a deep breath now and saying goodnight.