Tag: Huge Bells

  • The Fire Within

    10 strong for some early morning kettlebell action at Huguenot High School. The PAX’s bells were huge………..and the freezing temperatures quickly elevated to a balmy 70 degrees. Here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure.

    Kicked things off with an indigenous people warm-up run around the upper parking. Man in the back did arm circles – later switched to helicopters and Big Overhead Claps.

    Grab the kettles and run to the base of YHC’s namesake mount.
    Exercise One: On the ascent – 10 kettlebells swings, 25 kettle baby crunches at parking lot one. 20 swings, 25 kettle baby crunches on parking lot two…………30/25 and 40/25 on the next two. Turn around at the top and repeat pattern on way down. Grand total: 200 KB Swings and 200 KBC’s!

    Exercise Two: Dora with 100 Upright Rows, 200 Bench Presses, and 300 Kettle Flutter Kicks. Runner goes to the tree and back.

    A final push up Mt. Chaplain with one armed overhead carries.

    We made our way back to the flag via the Grassy Knoll, doing some around the worlds and reverse arm curls. 30 seconds of squats and time is called.

    COT and TryHard took us out.

    Final Thoughts: While an AI generated image suggested some sort of bonfire, we all know this would violate multiple City of Richmond Public School ordinances. In fact, Bobby may have even spotted the smoke. The true fire is the one that burns inside us………..that spark, if you will, that pushes us to overcome obstacles and perhaps achieve great things. Some men’s flames been have virtually extinguished.; however, all you need is an ember……….But I digress.

    SYITG!

  • Hey! This is kinda like Old Glory…

    Ten manly men met in the crisp morning air for an NTB kettlebell beatdown. Inspired by the recent string of AMRAPs, YHC wanted to find a way to keep our bodies (and bells) in constant motion. The following ensued.

    Warmarama
    – Light mosey to review the pre-planned course and the four working stations.
    – Merkins, dead-man hang, Fudd’s wife, Wilson’s wife, runner’s lunge… seemed like enough.

    Glory Bell
    – 35min AMRAP – Start at the Flag
    – Station 1: 25 KB Swings then ascend Mt. Chaplain
    – Station 2: 20 Goblet Squats then ascend Mt. Chaplain
    – Station 3: 10ea. Single-Arm OH Press then ascend Mt. Chaplain
    – Station 4: 300ft Farmer Carry back to the flag for 12 two-count American Hammers
    – Track the number of rounds completed.
    – The bell/coupon cannot touch the ground while completing the circuit, only in between rounds.

    NMS: Great work by the fellas today! I was challenged to not get lapped by L Woods, Snip, and Tin Man and narrowly escaped. Great to see Bru out for his first beatdown of 2026. Some of the PAX referred to today’s beatdown as “Glory Bell”, which will be submitted to the Committee for approval once all of the paperwork is compiled. Thanks as always to Snuff for providing the warm coffee.

    Announcements/Prayer Requests:
    – Daily Pull-Up Challenge is well underway, now in week 3.
    – Frozen Triangle 10miler – February 7th
    – YHC took us out.

  • HB 10: Be That HIM in ‘26

    🔥 WARMARAMA 

    1. Mosey – Medium lap around bus loop 
    2. SSHs
    3. Merkins 
    4. LBCs
    5. Goblet squat hold

    Mosey to MS bus loop.

    💪 Thang 1: The “Resolution” Circuit

    🔁 2 Rounds (AMRAP 8 minutes per round)

    🧱 Round 1: 

    1. 26 KB Swings (For 2026)
    2. 10 KB Squats Halos (5 each direction)
    3. 10 KB Single Arm Rows (5 per side)
    4. 10 KB Burpees
    5. 1 lap run 

    Finish with a plank while PAX answers: “What’s is one word that defines your focus this year?”

    Mosey to HS bus loop.

    🧱 Round 2: 

    1. 26 KB Deadlift High Pulls (For 2026)
    2. 10 KB Squats Halos (5 each direction)
    3. 10 KB Single Arm Rows (5 per side)
    4. 10 KB Burpees
    5. 1 lap run

    Finish with a plank while the PAX answers: “What is one habit from last year that you are leaving behind for good?”

    Mosey to top parking lot.

    💪 Thang 2: KB Suicides

    1. Place the KB at the starting line.
    2. Sprint 20 yards out and back.
    3. Do 26 KB Snatches.
    4. Sprint 40 yards out and back.
    5. …Ran out of time…

    Mosey BTTF 🇺🇸

    Finish with a plank while the PAX answers: “What’s is one way you are planning to lead better in your home or community or workplace this year?”

    🗣️ COT (Circle of Trust)

    • Name-o-Rama
    • Announcements: DTH is leading a study of the Q Source during Forge coffeerama starting Thursday. On top of coffee, there will be chairs and a space heater. My man is serious. This week, the focus will be first two sections of “Foundation” – F1 Disruption and F2 Language.

    Dealer’s Musings:

    • May our 2026 be defined not by the claims we made today, but by the discipline we show in February and March and April…
    • The Q Source is a good, fast read. I plan on rereading and participating in discussions with DTH. It will help make us more of the HIM we intend to be. 

  • Rock of Ages

    A handsome 8-PAX rolled into a balmy 50’s and breezy Huge Bells to follow a sleeveless Q into the gloom rockin out the top songs from 30 years ago. Key Takeaways:  Dealer likes to hold small things to make his hands look bigger. Machinehead’s side hustle is a messenger angel. Blank Space admiringly noted he’s never been to an AO with both hot coffee and music to follow. Snuff can’t be beat at KB rep speed. And here’s the meat of the story:

    The THANG: 

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Breathless run around the knollercoaster
    • Circle up an put on the music – top hits from 30 years ago (1985)
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Warm-up Reps – a few IC without KB’s, then not IC but with the KB’s – completely randomly made up by YHC on the fly

    LIGHTPOLE ALLEY:

    • Mosey down to the Culdesac stopping at each of 12 lights to complete reps. Alternate every other light doing x5 reps of Side Swings (ea side) and x5 reps of Racked Side Lunge (ea side).

    CULDESAC RING OF FIRE:

    • Circle up for variable KB reps called by each successive PAX around circle
    • Long mosey back to the base of Love Hill

    LOVE HILL C.M.I.Y.C:

    • Partner up, each partner completes each round exercise before moving to next round
    • Round 1 – P1 walks backwards up hill holding KB overhead while P2 completes x10 KB swings then runs to catch up and switch
    • Round 2 – P1 lunges up hill with KB racked in front while P2 completes x10 WWII Sit&Press then runs to catch up and switch
    • Round 3 – P1 bear crawl drags KB up hill while P2 completes x10 Squat Thrusters

    25’s:

    • Stop at each lightpole to complete x25 reps, first to 25 calls it quits for all – basically Snuff finished first every time…

    COT:

    • Counterama # 8
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer

    NMS:  Awesome group this morning for a very unseasonably warm workout. YHC was gonna play the top hits from 2025, but was so disgusted by the playlist we went back 30 years instead – ended up reminiscing about an hilarious movie from 2012 “Rock of Ages” – gotta see it. PAX got a decent swolt by the end of lightpole alley, and the other COP’s were a decent challenge as well. Snuff takes home the prize for finishing first on all the 25’s – just grateful we didn’t do 25 KB Burpees! Dealer’s lumberjack hands look massive holding the tiniest Yeti coffee mug you’ve ever seen. Bring your kids to New Years Convergence – maybe we’ll set up a 2.0 fight club after. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 01/01 – 7am Convergence at Dogpile

  • Court Crackers

    Nine men ventured out to engage in the latest subzero edition of Huge Bells. After a rusty intro and warm up we moseyed down to the tennis courts for our first set of exercises.

    Pair or triple up and while one pax is completing swings, the other moseyed around the perimeter of all 3 courts. Repeat, switching double hand swings for singles. Complete 8.

    Next sets were a rotation between Turkish get ups and amour building complex’s while parter completes walking recovery till partners are done. Repeat until 10 TG and 10 ABCs complete.

    4 corners with the KBs, suitcase carry to 1st stop for 10 burpees, second corner for 20 American hammers (single count), 3rd corner for 30 lunges with a twist, finsh up with 40 LBCs.

    KB circle of fire, each pax to hit a muscle group not addressed. A new version of man makers was learned from Freezer burn, and court crackers are now a part of the Lexicon. Come out and see what they are all about.

    Mosey back to the flag for time. Thanks for the company this morning and thanks for the ☕️, Snuff!

    Screenshot

  • Welcome Freezerburn!

    12 HIMS showed up on perhaps the coldest morning of the year and pushed through the gloom, welcoming NOS’s newest FNG, Freezerburn, whose name was well earned thanks to the brutal temps and bare hands. After a short mosey and warmerama, YHC fired up the box timer and a ’90s/early-2000s rap playlist that drew mixed reactions but kept things moving.

    The beatdown featured a long kettlebell grind followed by a hill Dora up Mountain Chaplain. The frosty morning concluded with waiter carries across the parking lot.

    The Thang:

    Mosey around parking lot

    Warmerama:

    SSHs, cherry pickers, jazzercise, copperhead squats, merkins, world war 2s

    Boxtimer one minute work/ 30 second rest, alternating arms

    Curls, american hammers, side arm extension, front arm extension top tricep extension

    Hill Doras, one partner suitcase carries kettlebell up hill, alternate 100 x swings, 200 x rows, 300 x squats

    End with parking lot waiter carry

    Announcements: Rosie’s 12 days of Christmas, Christmas Q at the Forge brought to you by DTH

  • HB 6: Semiquincentennial

    9 dudes with huge bells went beast mode.

    🔥 WARMARAMA (10 min)

    Quick SSHs, dead man hangs, merkins, LBCs because YHC was ready to get the reindeer games rolling. 

    Racked KBs on shoulders then moseyed down to the football field. 

    💪 The Thang (30 min)

    🔁 Da Beast

    🧱 Round 1: KB suitcase carry + swings

    🧱 Round 2: KB goblet carry + deadlift high pulls

    🧱 Round 3: KB back carry + thrusters

    🧱 Round 4: KB waiters carry + lunges (goblet hold)

    🧱 Round 5: KB rifle carry + curls for the girls

    🧱 Round 6: KB waiters carry + sit and press

    Drop the KB for a light sprint across the football field or flutters. Your choice. 

    🧘 Mary / Cool Down (5 min)

    Slowsey BTTF for 5 rounds of Mary called out by boys in the circle. 

    🗣️ COT (Circle of Trust)

    • Name-o-Rama
    • Announcements
    • Prayers:
      • For healing broken toes (and minds and souls).
      • Welcoming back Sable and Tin Man into our fold. Missed you boys. 

    Dealer’s Musings:

    • Did not think time was on our side but glad we completed da beast. It was easier than I thought. 
    • Felt round 6 waiter carry and sit and press the most. 
    • Loving the KB Mondays. 

  • 43 Turkish Getups!

    That’s right, the fastest growing new AO in RVA witnessed nine Huge-Bell-Toting HIM’s complete 43 Turkish Getups to celebrate the DTH Pain Train’s latest lap around the sun. Here’s a little outline for your reading pleasure:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop without bells and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable warm-up Reps with and without the bells

    THE THANG:

    • Mosey down to the tennis courts
    • Round 1 – x13 Turkish Getups (bonus points for any PAX using the #50 KB for x3 getups)
    • Wait for the SIX doing KB hammers
    • Run up and down Love Hill without KB
    • Round 2 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for the SIX with WWII Sit-N-Press
    • Run Love Hill
    • Round 3 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for SIX with supine KB press
    • Run Love Hill
    • Round 4 – x10 Turkish Getups
    • Wait for the SIX with KB overhead Flutters
    • Final run up Love Hill carrying KB’s

    COT:

    • Counterama # 9
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer – Gratefulness Theme

    NMS:  Happy Birthday to YHC! Broken bodies yes, but exuberant spirits will somehow power us through the day. Doing a few sets of TGU’s is no joke, but YHC was pumped to CSAUP these reps alongside such a great group of brothers. TClaps to NTB for joining YHC in the highly exclusive 50 pound TGU Club. Looking forward to seeing what other madness the Huge Bells Q’s come up with in the weeks to come. Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance
    • 12/23 Rosie’s 12 Days – NoToll

  • HB 4: Massacre on the Mountain

    It was exciting morning at Huge Bells………An enthusiastic PAX of 7 including an FNG! Here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey around the parking as we wait for stragglers to arrive. Warm Up: Jazzercise, Ukranian Soldiers, Helicopters, HR Merkins, Mountain Climbers, Flutter Kicks, Freddie Mercuries, Alabama Prom Dates.

    Grab your Kettle an mosey to the bottom of the hill for Exercise One: 11’s with KB Swings and WWII sit ups (with lift). Run up the hill and back in between sets.

    Mosey up to the next level for Exercise Two: Various movements across the Parking Lot and back: Lunge Walks, Lt. Dans, Walking Overhead Press, Dingleberry Curls, Around the Worlds, Curls. Might have missed a couple.

    Mosey toward the Mt. Chaplain Summit for Exercise Three:
    Hill repeats – Bernie up the hill with Kettle. At the top, 2 count Kettle Merkins. Mosey back. Go until time is called.

    Exercise 4: Assorted Ab Exercise with Kettle: Flutter Kicks, American Hammers, Alabama Prom Dates, LBC’s.

    BTTF and time is called!

    COT with YHC taking us out.

    Final thoughts: It was great to welcome Jennings (Switchfoot) to the group. He goes to church with NTB and is affiliated with the Good Feet Store. Great job! Enjoyed putting in some work with the rest of the PAX while listening to the Bell Mix. Snuff provided coffee afterwards, which was excellent.

  • HB3 – Bell Bashers

    A swarthy seven SOJ studs swung their huge bells into the frosty gloom in the following HIMtastic manner:

    WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey loop carrying KB’s and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Warm-up Reps IC and a few stretches

    THE THANG:

    • Coupon mosey down to the best Turf field in RVA and line up on the TD line
    • THE GREMLIN – the nastier smaller brother of the classic Beast – usually shorter distances, but with movement activities between reps, and in today’s case, carrying KB’s
    • Round 1 – Lunge walk 20 yards between stops, x6 Goblet Squats at each of the six stops 
    • Round 2 – Bear crawl dragging Bell between 5 yard intervals, x6 KB swings at each stop
    • Round 3 – Overhead run between 20 yard intervals, with x6 KB WWII’s each stop
    • Round 4 – BELL BASHERS was a new one today – imagine crab walking, but with butt scooting backward along turf, alternating hands to pull along KB between legs. Used the 5 yard intervals for this nasty little movement, stopping for x6 Bell Hammers (2-count) at each stop
    • Round 5 – Shoulder carry the KB to run between 25 yards intervals, stopping for x6 Bell Merkins each stop
    • Round 6 – Last but not least, the PAX held their KB’s to hop (mini broad jump) between the 5 yard intervals, stopping for Bell Burpees at each stop (BB’s combine dropping for a Bell Merkin, the Hopping up to swing the Bell overhead)

    REVIEW TIME:

    • PAX took a few minutes to familiarize and practice proper Turkish Getup form

    Mosey BTTF and Circle up for COT:

    • Counterama # 7
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BOM Prayer
    • COFFEE!!! (Thank you Snuff!!!)

    NMS:  There may not be a more spectacular way to start a new week than swinging Huge Bells with your favorite fellas. YHC diverged from the stationary KB routine and take the Bells on a little tour down to the field. The Gremlin beast is always a crowd favorite, and the movements and reps held the PAX to a higher level of pain than usual. Today’s novel little routine was the crabscoot KB pull, which was suggested to be called Ball Bashers by L Woods after we noticed Snuff actually crab walking with his Huge Bell sitting atop of his man parts. Snuff was prompt to edit the exercise name to Bell Bashers. Either way, the PAX put in some challenging work today, and YHC already has another 1000 ways to introduce KB’s to every Forge routine from the last 6 year. Keep posting gents! Yours AYE! ~DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Monthly: Breaking Bread, Bridge
    • Thanksgiving Day – TWO options will be 0530 Timberwolf Ultimate Frisbee, and a 0700 pConvergence at Mary
    • 11/23 Alamo Chili Cookoff
    • 12/6 Father Daughter Dance