I really gotta update the categories section on this site to include a TON more than there are already, truth be told, since 2010 - thats one thing that ain't been updated on here. Hehe. These are the same categories I had when I first began...
Maybe for a good reason
But CORE training, grip training, all of those need to be in there
Anyway - the term "chakki peesna"
If your Indian, or have been to India, you've no doubt heard of it - in English, this translates to "working the grindstone" - or more accurately, the MILLstone.
From a seated position most likely.
Let me tell you one thing - Indian prisons are the opposite of Chinese prisons (not that I'd know, Glyn would though, heh) (so would a certain Shantaram ... though I hate to speak of Schofield in the same voice as the latter! who is a legend) ... in ONE regard, perhaps more, I dont know, but ONE regard.
As far as I know, as far as I'm aware - Chinese prisons dont let you workout. Period. They do make you, amongst other things sit in a seated position on a bench for 15 hours straight and thats getting started, which to me would be torture enough (much like locking a dog up in a tiny room until it went stir crazy) ...
... but exercise, no.
At least not as far as I know, and I'm probably right on this one.
Now, they've got their reasons for it, of course - not allowing prisoners to exercise is bad for their mental health, overall health and ... well, their SPIRIT most of all.
And while I dont agree at all with this sort of punishment, not that I agree with what goes in most prisons I've heard of (Glyn, again, ugh) ... it is what it is for a reason, I suppose.
Indian prisons though - opposite.
If you've seen Rambo II - you get an idea of what they make you do even today - breaking heavy stones - CARRYING heavy stones - all stuff straight out of Lumberjack "Lodestone" Fitness ... including the axe work, actual lumberjack work and more.
It's normal.
And everyone I believe pretty much does SOME form of labor, those sentenced to hard penal labor do more obviously.
But one of the exercises you'll see them doing a lot - working that grindstone.
Or, millstone - which is the same thing, a circular stone like thing on the ground with a thick rod sticking out of it, and you grind it in a circular manner, back and forth, back and forth.
Back in the day, during the colonial era, some of the atrocities inflicted upon the "natives" by the British included a version of this at the infamous "KaalaPani" prison (in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
"Black water" - and it literally was that. Ugh!
They'd chain a man - usually in a dehydrated and completely fatigued - and underfed to a T state - and more - to a grindstone, and they'd make him run - for hours.
It's work an ox does, they'd make men do it for hours a day, usually 8 - and a severe whipping awaited if the task wasn't completed up to par - grinding husks I think, to get oil out of them - truly a Nazi style punishment.
Yes, the Nazis weren't the only ones who did those things - the Japs were guilty of it, so were the Brits...
Anyway, point of me saying this?
It's one of the most awesome CORE and ab exercises you can do, my friend.
In Corrugated Core I believe I tell you how to do it - but the advanced version of this is what I really love, which I dont think (though I might be wrong) - I mentioned in Corrugated Core, which truly is a book you core fanatics must get.
When you do this movement i.e. "working the millstone" from the JCVD split position mentioned in "Advanced, Profound Isometric and Flexibility Training" - not only will your core get the workout of it's life - but you'll also get better at the isometric while dramatially loosening a portion of the body most dont even think about - the hamstrings (and upper back too if done right).
The split itself does it.
But this adds "fuel to the fire" - and how!
I just got done with 100 reps along with club work, and man, my abs are truly on fire and HURTING. Hehe.
I could do more, I'll probably do fingertip pushups now.
But the point of me telling you this is two fold - first, to tell you if you do this exercise for at least 100 reps a day, then you'll truly have a core of steel. (even if you dont do any other "direct" core work).
Combine with other stuff, well, you get the picture (especially if you combine it with the best darn exercise ever).
Second thing though ..
Doing a 100, or 250 reps of this - wont mean jack shit unless your CARDIO is up to mark, my friend - which involves a lot of factors.
Some people are fat as hell, and they have "strong abs" beneath the phat, now if you don't focus on workouts which give you cardio along with strength benefits (the above does, but only if you do it quick as I keep recommending) - then losing the fat will be a chore my friend.
It's not about doing 250 , or 100, or 500 reps per workout - well - it's that to a degree, but it's results that count most of all, and fat loss wise, it's the TEMPO at which you go, the TEMPO that you can maintain over a while that really gets the heart thumping and the fat flying off your frame.
You'll see what I mean in the 0 Excuses Fitness System videos.
Those 250 pushups and a lot more I did not plan on but did anyway - well, you'll see more than anything the SPEED at which I'm going - it aint slow for one.
And the way I maintain form on everything I do - as YOU should too.
Thats really the key thing ...
And of course, doing this exercise - and other great ones mentioned in Corrugated Core is a must, of course.
No do, no get anything.
Same thing for being a cheapass (lots on here seem to be, especially some of the ones that have been on this list for ages, haven't done "F all" in terms of taking action - really - if that is YOU reading this my friend (IF), just unsubscribe NOW - do us both a favor, in other words) .. if you dont SPEND, you wont learn the true secrets (and no, not everything is available for free. The old axiom holds true, you get what you pay for).
Anyway ...
So thats that.
BAck soon!
Best
Rahul Mookerjee
PS - If y'all are still wondering (some are) WHY - just WHY - I keep saying, and rightly so, with my background on all this minus the prison (I'll leave that to Bozo Schofield, hehe) - to bring you Lumberjack "Lodestone" Fitness- then you BE living under a rock, pun intended. Hehe.