MFF BLOG: BE DONE WITH RESOLUTIONS. SET YOUR GOALS.

By Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner

MFF Coach, Master RKC, Master DVRT and Original Strength Instructor

It’s a New Year and an opportunity for a fresh start. On the up side, I reflect on 2015 as a year that I grew leaps and bounds as a human being and coach. Last year I was able to teach in Boston, North Carolina, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Japan and several times in NYC. These opportunities went far beyond anything I would have imagined when I eyed my first kettlebell or Ultimate Sandbag. Heck, I even created a new workshop and wrote my first manual that launches in February! From an Original Strength perspective, it feels as though I started the year breathing and ended the year sprinting!

On the down side of the year, we said goodbye to our dog Marty and a friend is still in critical condition recovering from a heart attack. After those two events, it sounds petty to complain about a minor injury I suffered in June and my inconsistent training schedule. Let’s put it this way: I left 2015 smarter, more evolved and a bit physically weaker than I started.

So yeah, I started planning some New Year resolutions as 12/31 approached. Then one of MFF's badass ninjas, David J. Baldwin, commented during a name game that he didn’t believe in resolutions. David believed in goals (and melting my brain). 

David's a smart man. 

David’s words struck home. Resolutions sound negative and final. Nothing is final. Nothing! I realized that the word resolution had more negative connotations attached to it than positives. Resolutions give the impression of having previously failed at something… of failing yourself. Hell no. The things I wanted to change last year were based on the stresses involved in meeting the other goals I crushed and the demands/joys of being a boyfriend, father and friend. Fury is done with resolutions. Fury sets goals.

Fury types in the third person on occasion.

I’m storming into 2016 with a fresh set of goals. Goals are something to work toward and accomplish. You may not achieve all of your goals. That's ok. The glory of goal setting is in the process of getting there. Whether I make it or not, I will be better for the pursuit of a goal.

We fail at resolutions. We evolve working toward goals.

For accountability purposes, here are my goals for 2016.

1. Make more time for my friends and family.

2. Learn more.

3. Become a better me.

4. Be a better coach.

5. Get stronger.

6. Get leaner.

7. Pay off a credit card.

8. Start a podcast.

We’ll see how these play out. I’m going to hang this list up at home on the wall of Fury Industries to keep them fresh in my mind. I suggest you do the same with your own list goals at home.

In short, resolutions may set you up for failure. Goals bring hope and growth.

Set your goals. Play this song, lift  and have some fun.

 Let’s destroy 2016 together!

I have to give the biggest thanks to Kim, my kids, my folks, my friends, my students, my extended families at Mark Fisher Fitness, Catalyst SPORT, DVRT, RKC, Original Strength, Fury Industries, Five Points Academy and you the reader. I wouldn’t be here without all of you. 

As always, thank you for your time. 

-Fury

Miss you buddy!

Keep fighting Patrick! #teamdaley

Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner’s superhero headquarters is Mark Fisher Fitness in NYC. Fury’s an Original Strength Instructor, Master DVRT, and a Master RKC . He is available for classes, semi-privates, instructor training and programming at MFF. Check out coachfury.com, facebook.com/coachfury Instagram@iamcoachfury and Twitter @coachfury for more info.

OS/DVRT: HOW DYNAMIC STRENGTH WORKS

By Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner

Original Strength Instructor, Master DVRT, Master RKC, MFF Coach

Everyone loves to talk about our CORE these days. Often, the word core is often misunderstood as our ab muscles. If you’ve attended an Original Strength course, you will have seen the demonstration showing how our bodies are a big X. From the fingertips of right hand to the tips of toes on our left foot and our left fingertips to the toes of our right foot, our bodies operate as an X. Our core is the center of that X. The core is where we resist and transfer force.

The concept of our X is what drives the importance of contralateral and midline crossing movements in Original Strength and the OS Resets. Crawling, skipping, and marching are all contralateral movements that strengthen our bodies connection with our X. We become reflexively stronger, more mobile and resilient when engage in these types of movements.

In DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training, we also place a huge emphasis on movements and drills that challenge our X patterns. When we dig into our X we begin to see how connected our opposite hips and shoulders are. For example, when we gain more mobility and stability in our hips, our shoulders will begin to open up as well. This is one of the reasons we don’t just look for things like a bad shoulder, we look for movement patterns that may need improving to help the shoulder. This movement first approach is also why the resets work so well.

Master DVRT James Newman loading his X.

The DVRT system offers us a structured approach to implementing different body and Ultimate Sandbag (USB) holding positions to enhance and strengthen how our body is tied together. DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training gives us the blueprint to load and add resistance to all of the OS resets. For example, asymmetrically loading a lunge with the USB on your right shoulder will fire up your entire core while building strength at the same time. I’ve selected a number of great DVRT drills that specifically load the OS Resets for the OS/DVRT: DYNAMIC STRENGTH WORKSHOP. More importantly, I’m going to show you how to use the OS resets and DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training with the goal of creating and enhancing your movement patterns. In Dynamic Strength, I’ll show you how to implement OS and DVRT to build and improve squatting, lunging, vertical and horizontal pushing patterns. Folks, it's time to load our X!

Please join me at the first OS/DVRT: Dynamic Strength Workshop at the Original Strength Institute in Fuquay-Varina, NC on February 5^th.  *Please note that OS Pressing Reset or the OS Foundations 1 courses are a prerequisite for OS/DVRT: Dynamic Strength. 

CLICK TO REGISTER!

I hope to see you there! Thank you for your time.

-Fury

Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner’s superhero headquarters is Mark Fisher Fitness in NYC. Fury’s an Original Strength Instructor, Master DVRT, and a Master RKC . He is available for classes, semi-privates, instructor training and programming at MFF. Check out coachfury.com, facebook.com/coachfury Instagram@iamcoachfury and Twitter @coachfury for more info.

COACH FURY, MASTER RKC.

2016 kicked off with family, friends and an amazing announcement on Facebook from Dragon Door owner John Du Cane: 

I am pleased to announce that Dragon Door has promoted the following ladies and gentlemen to these leadership positions in the RKC--the gold standard for kettlebell instructor certification systems: Dr.Chris Holder, Steve Coach-Fury Holiner, Michael A. Krivka and Amnon Darsa to the position of Master RKC; Senior RKC, Darius Andre Gilbert, Matt Beecroft and Martjin Bos to the position of Senior RKC; Shari Wagner and Carl Snipes to the position of RKC Team Leader. Congratulations to all...The RKC just took a giant leap forward in excellence!:)

Becoming a Master RKC is the culmination of a lot of work and a big dream. Huge thanks go to John Du Cane, and anyone I learned from, assisted or taught. I wouldn't be here without all of you. Congrats to everyone else that has been promoted. The killer RKC leadership team keeps getting stronger. 

Happy New Year!

-Fury, Master RKC