I’m not a flakey person. I’m loyal to the core, but some things are hard to deny, and Dona Jo is one of them.

I wasn’t looking for another brand. I didn’t set out to be a traitor. In fact, the pants were given to me Pro Bono, and when I ripped open the package that arrived at my doorstep, I was skeptical at best.

And then, I put them on.

They immediately sculpted to my skin in a way I had never before experienced. And they stayed perfectly in their place.

Like any other society, small community, tribe, secret society, or cult, being a member of a CrossFit box involves learning the CrossFit language and understanding the social norms of your environment.

It takes time, of course, but the sooner you learn, the easier it will be to avoid being “That Guy” (“That Guy” is the guy coaches talk about after a personal training session or a group class. FYI - He’s the guy you don’t want to be).

Introducing the Magnificent Seven "Don't be That Guys"

Ben Poss still remembers the horrors of his hands when he completed his Russian KB certification RKC (Russian Kettebell Challenge). It was a three-day course, meaning his hands didn’t get a break for three entire days.

One of the things he had to do on the first day was 100 KB snatches with a 24 kg KB in less than five minutes without putting the KB down.

“Those three days of high volume KB training was the most punishment my hand have ever suffered,” said Poss.

He added: “Both hands had torn calluses by the third day, and my hands were absolutely raw by the end of the graduation workout – The Deep Six.”

Here is a link to the workout if you would like to try it yourself: http://kbforum.dragondoor.com/kettlebells-strength-conditioning-forum/138876-rkc-deep-six.html

After years of experience, and tearing up his hands numerous times, Poss can be considered an expert in the field of hand care for kettlebell athletes. 

What does your hand look like after swinging a kettlebell a few hundred times? Like this we bet.

If last year’s CrossFit Games Open was any indication, your hands are in for a severe beating this year as the WOD Gods program workouts designed to meet and exceed the demands of even the most elite athletes. In anticipation of this, many smart competitors have begun preparing their hands for battle early. How can you get started with a hand prep routine to make sure you’re not a step behind in the competition? Follow these 3 simple steps: 1) By using a pumice stone in the shower to thin out (but not scrub off) your hard earned calluses, you can keep them tough, but not thick. Thick calluses are what get pinched and sheared off when you don’t get...