Tag: The FORGE

Huguenot High School

  • Gloom Scores

    4 film buffs gathered around the sounds of cinema for an action-packed workout. Siskel and Ebert: two thumbs up.

    The opening track to Terminator 2: Mosey into the nuclear sunset for an OYO warmarama.

    Last of the Mohicans on the wall for the patented Pigskin special.

    A quattro checko with timer on tooth fairies, dips, squats and Freddie Mercuries to the sounds of the Hans Zimmer, the real Dark Knight.

    Chased by Orcs up Mt Chaplain with 100% effort to the Two Towers theme. It was epic.

    100 mirkins Mad Max-style.

    Finished with 3 minutes of breath work to Revenge of the Sith.

    And the Oscar goes to… any man who kindles a fire in the gloom.

  • Xibalba

    9 conquistadors and one Tree of Life.

    Steeled themselves, warmarama to the concrete sounds of the jungle.

    Onward to the moist Goldilocks hillock, triple bear check.

    Onward to the Crossing, 3 ways to live and one way to die.

    As we lay on the tracks, watching the slow clouds, necks on the rail, one certainty.

    The train comes, one day or another. Not today.

    Hacking deeper into the woods on the trail of tents, we didn’t find The Fountain.

    Only the inevitability of acceptance, open to all men, rain or shine.

  • Forge Flingers

    A dozen SOJ stud muffins eventually made their way around to the perfect astro turf of HHS and played a rippin good game of Ultimate.

    DARK SHIRTS: Snuff, Last Call, Bromance, Machismo, Oyster, Thugs (honorary)

    LIGHT SHIRTS: L Woods, Scram, DTH, Belay, Dealer, NTB

    Oyster – Air Jordan award for one handed sticky finger snags

    Belay – Mr fancy gloves Troy Polamalu award for best safety and clutch end zone defense

    Machismo – least likely to get shot (shout out to his blaze orange shorts)

    DTH – leg block skills, while technically legal, not welcome at the Forge

    NTB – Odell Beckham award for jumping grabs

    Snuff – longest drive award

    Last Call – Rubbin is Racing Award

    L Woods – never drops a pass award

    Scram – double respect award

    Thugs – participation trophy, and actual Tclaps for running track laps

    Bromance – most Dealer blocks

    Dealer – cleats for the speed award

    Dark Team led most of the time, Light shirts ended up winning by one after gassing the competition. That was FUN! Yours AYE, DTH

  • If you lay diagonally, you’ll gain another 6 inches

    WARMARAMA: Mosey to bus loop for warms that included helicopters, dead man hangs, cherry pickers, mountain climbers, merkins, sprinkling of broga, and some LBCs. 

    Mosey down the hill to cul de sac behind turf field. Stop halfway down and hit mountain climbers in cadence. Recover.

    After arriving at cul de sac, hit more mountain climbers in cadence. 

    COP 1: Starting in the cul de sac and moving uphill, stop at each street light and perform a letter of BLIMPS going up by 10 reps each time:

    B.L.I.M.P.S

    • B – Burpees 10x
    • L – Lunges 20x (single count)
    • I – Imperial Walkers 30x
    • M – Merkins (no cheat) 40x
    • P – Plank Jacks 50x
    • S – Squats 60x

    Recover. Another set of mountain climbers in cadence. The hardest (physical) part of GTE 47 for me was the combo bear crawl and mountain climbers with rucksack on our first cadre Flight Nurse pushed us through. He smoked us on those exercises for 90 minutes before we even left Forest Hill Park. Today’s mountain climbers were in honor of my GTE brothers. 

    Mosey to ramp for Jerkin Gym.

    COP 2: Line up at handicap ramp single file for Jerkin Gym. Each man takes a section. 7 jerkins then 7 dips OYO. Leapfrog to next open slot. Repeat all the way up. Dropped to 5 reps a piece halfway up. 

    Mosey up to bus loop for another round of mountain climbers I cadence. 

    COP 3: Perform a set of exercises, then run a lap around the bus loop for Dirty 100:

    • 100 SSHs, run a lap
    • 90 2x Flutter Kicks, run a lap
    • 80 Squats, run a lap
    • 70 LBCs, run a lap
    • 60 2x Mtn Climbers, run a lap
    • 50 Lunges

    Mosey BTTF for 30 seconds of mountain climbers. 

    ANNOUNCEMENTS: Honor our fallen soldiers by doing Murph at Rock n Roll on Saturday at 0700. Hit Tredegar Iron Works (Belle Isle parking lot) on Monday at 0700 for convergence. 

    PRAYERS: For graduates this weekend, for those traveling / coming home for the holiday, for lighter times at work, for our fallen soldiers. USA

  • Count Your Blessings

    Thankful for the 13 men who came out to enjoy the beautiful sunrise on this awesome morning at the FORGE. After a shaky start to the mornings proceedings, the Q was also thankful for the guidance received from the PAX on all things rhythm and cadence for the warmorama and COT…. Plenty of mumble chatter this morning reflective of high spirits no doubt. Details were:

    WARMORAMA
    Mosey to the cul-de-sac for: SSH, mountain climbers, arm circles (babyish), DQ’s, Ukrainian umm imperial…Ukrainian soldiers, Alabama prom dates.

    THANG
    COP1: Indigenous run back along the road and into 1st level parking to the top of the ramp.
    triple check: Jerkins, Decline merkins, and run up the stairs and back to pax.

    COP2: Mosey to next grassy hill for 11’s. Bottom of hill 10 Burpees, bear crawl to top of hill for manmakers….much less mumble chatter now. Great work by the pax to pick up the 6 and finish as a group.

    Mosey to peak of mount Chaplain, Bernie Sanders to top and 20 WWIIs to take it home. BTTF.

    Numbers/ Names

    Welcome to Banksy and thanks to all for coming out this morning. Brief reading to encourage us to think about all we are blessed to already have. Prayers for Dr. Tryhard’s family and Machismo took us out.

  • No Gloves Required

    19 strong at a celebratory version of The FORGE this morning. Those looking to enhance their upper body strength likely left disappointed. Here is a brief summary for your viewing pleasure:

    Mosey around the parking lots mixing in some Bernie Sanders, Butt Kicks, Side Shuffles, and Karaoke.

    AB Challenge One: 100 Alabama Prom Dates

    to the Parking Lot for Warm Ups:

    Ukranian Soldiers, Half Straddle Hops, Cherry Pickers, Copperhead Squats, Freddy Mercuries.

    Exercise One: Hillicides with Squats

    Suicide Style run up the hill: 25 squats before we started, run: then 50, 75, and 100 mixed.

    Ab Challenge Two: 100 LBC’s

    Exercise Two: Indigenous People’s Broke Back Railing: The line side squats under the railing and makes their way up the sidewalk. Man in the back break offs for 3 double count boxing cockroaches (dying cockroaches??), then runs to the front.

    At the top of the hill: Ab Challenge Three: 100 double count flutter kicks

    Exercise Three: Mt. Ab-Plain – at first level of Mt. Chaplain: One Broad Jump, plus 10 double count American Hammers…………..ad one additional Broad Jump at reach level and repeat pattern. Meet at the Summit.

    Ab Challenge Four: 100 Heels to Heaven

    50 jump squats, then mosey back to the flag

    Numbers/Names/Announcements/Prayer Requests

    YHC skipped the prayer and talked about my perspectives on Grow Ruck (shocker)

    Final Thoughts:

    This was YHC’s 5 year Q versary! Hard to believe it has been that long – so many great memories and friendships. It was also awesome having Touchdown out there, who was 10 when I started; and is now slightly taller than me. Appreciate all who came this morning and everyone in the larger group. With my shoulder temporarily out of commission, we had to stick to legs and abs only – but of course, the PAX adapted, overcame, and were looking strong. Great seeing P Trap back out!

    SYITG

  • Bit Musky

    A toasty dozen were piping hot out of the oven to see what YHC had planned the latest rendition of The Forge. No Snuff timer to see us off so technology was utilized. DTH provided the tunes, lets get this baby going.

    Mosey around the bus loop including various movements such as but kickers, high knees, shuffle right and shuffle left. Circle up for introductions, disclaimers and warmarama that included the following: Invisible Jump Rope, Dead Man Hang, Jazzercise (with toe taps), Imperial Walkers, Hand Release Merkins, LBCs, Suzanne Summers on the left, Freddie Mercuries, ending with Suzanne Summers on the right.

    Mosey down to the lower circle for triple check. Timer runs the loop, Australian mountain climbers, Hand Release Merkins. Continue on towards the amphitheater. Stopping on the hill along the way for some Clockwork Merkins & Clockwork WWII’s (revised to LBC’s if needed). Those sucked.

    Onto the amphitheater for a 123 Dora. 100 Carolina Drydocks, 200 Squats, 300 LBC’s. Timer runs up the stairs around and back down.

    Mosey out to the culdesac and partner with Catch Me if You Can. Bernie Sanders to the road, while partner performs 2 burpees and sprints to catch and replace. Stop at Forest Hill Avenue.

    BTTVF along Forest Hill stopping at every pole along the way and perform either 2 burpees or 2 Lt. Dans.

    5 seconds of Mary where we performed 5 arm circles to make Senor Frog smile.

    Numbers, Names, Prayers and Announcements. Grow Ruck on Saturday. Come eat some Chef Dry Rub smoked meats on Friday night at Bon Air Community Center beginning at 6. See Slack for Deets. Monthly Challenge for May includes F3 Weight Watchers to get into bikini shape. Muscle tans quicker than fat I suppose. Prayers to L Woods father and DTH father in law as they work thru some recent health issues.

    YHC took us out.

    Naked Moleskin: Great turnout for a steamy morning at the Forge. Tremendous energy and ample mumble chatter throughout the beatdown. Good to see Handshake and Senor Frog becoming Forge regulars. Singer’s house is going on the market if they want to make the jump to the cooler side of the river, Jorts could be negotiated as an incentive. DTH provided the sound track for this morning. Good mix of tunes and tales along the way. Enjoy the weekend fellas. Appreciate the opportunity to lead.

    Happy Birthday Wedding Singer.

  • A meander through the Q’s

    16 HIM turned up at the FORGE for another VQ during this week of firsts. After minimal sleep and concerns about timing, YHC gave the usual welcome and intro regarding sensible modifications where needed etc. After experiencing multiple epic beatdowns over the past two months YHC decided he would pay homage to each in some way. Welcomed Gaston’s FNG.

    WARMARAMA:

    • Mosey around the top loop of the carpark BTTF.
    • IC reps of forwards and backwards shoulder circles, SSHs, imperial squat walkers, DQs, HRMs Alabama prom dates.

    COP #1: Start of New Glory

    • 10 burpees at the Flag
    • Mosey to 1st street light for 5 merkins, continue down the hill towards the ramp, stopping at each of 4 lights, repeato
    • At ramp, bear crawl to half way and walking lunges to top
    • 20 jerkins OYO at top on railings
    • Mosey to flat wall on side of school at top of next car park.

    COP #2: Brief stop for BTTW

    • Aussie mountain climbers
    • Mosey around the front of the school to opposite side of the building
    • Repeat AMCs

    COP #3: The Beast

    • Mosey to Football field
    • The Beast, stopping at 25, 50 and 75 yard lines down and back
    • Repeat 6 X 6 reps of 6 exercises
    • Merkins, WWIIs, Walking Lunges (2 cnt), American Hammers (2cnt), Jump Squats, Dry Docks

    COP #4: Hold the Wall

    • Mosey to wall on side of school, lower level
    • Hold the wall – 60 seconds
    • Mosey to wall upper level
    • Hold the wall – 60 seconds

    COP #5: Crab walks & crawl bear

    • Mosey to upper care park front right of middle school.
    • front crab walk width of half car park, crawl bear back
    • Get the timing warning !!!!
    • Mosey to starting car park
    • PAX split in 2, half BTTF – Each half builds to a print down length of car park

    COP #6: Pencil rolls (gets its own section)

    • Pax in single file, arms lengths apart
    • On the ground, 5 pencil rolls towards the flag IC for 5 PRs
    • Counterama
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama
    • FNG provided his background and with a Navy background was named “Periscope” Welcome!

    Thanks for the support of the VQ, it’s been great getting to know all the pax over the past couple of months. Looking forward to the upcoming GTE47. More VQs to support this week. SYITG. Sable

  • What the Forge should we do?

    16 men gathered for this weeks episode of The Forge. After a brief disclaimer and description of YHC’s SOJ-ness we began with a COP. Last Call was a bit cheeky so he was given the Upchuck treatment and off campus we went. With so many options with the MASSIVE AO YHC decided to give The Forge men a taste of First Watch. A hilly neighborhood street can be its own AO.

    Mosey across Forest Hill Avenue and down Lansbury to the intersection of Lansbury and Stratford Road. Partner up for a Dora. P1 starts working on 100 HRM’s while P2 runs to the Boulder and back, switch. Next up 200 Squats, lastly 300 Single Count Flutter Kicks. Roughly after the HRM’s were completed we started our route back up the hill using the Boulder as a starting point and a mailbox as the new marker. Lastly as we started our last exercise we moved a little further back up the hill.

    Stop and do some stretching while waiting for the 6 to get in. Next up, Bear Crawl to the next mailbox then switch to a Crab Walk.

    Get back with your partner and P1 does 10 Boxing Dying Cockroaches then switch to P2. Followed by 10 Boo yeah Merkins and then 10 Boo yeah WWII’s. Do these in the same location for 2 rounds and then wait for the 6. Bernie Sanders up the hill almost to the top and complete the 3rd round.

    Get in a line roughly arms length apart and lay flat on the ground (perpendicular to the road) arms over stretched out for a Pencil Roll Train. 3 Count exercise to a total of 5. A disclaimer was given to not get up afterwards, or to not move. The Pax quickly realized how disorienting the Pencil Roll can be.

    Mosey back to the Flag for 45 seconds off WWII’s to finish.

    NMS – It was a great morning for a workout. P-Trap was out after a multi-year hiatus, lots of faces YHC is not familiar with. YHC arrived about 15 minutes early to scout the AO but decided to see what the area offsite could offer. Thanks to the Pax for the opportunity to lead and for humbling YHC with the Pencil Roll Train.

    Announcements – Grow Ruck, Grow School at Hardywoods house, Kingbuilder that Saturday morning at Dogpile. Tons of VQ’s coming up. Blacktop on Monday 4/22 at The Alamo, L Woods Tuesday 4/23 at No Toll, Broadway on Wednesday 4/24 at The Crossing, Sable on Thursday 4/25 at The Forge and lastly Rudy on Thursday 4/25 at Timberwolf. Great job to Pax for pumping out the VQ’s. Monday’s VQ’s at The Alamo is fundraiser. For every Pax in attendance there will be $10 donated to Pediatric Cancer research.

    Prayer Requests – my M’s cousin Charlotte who is battling Bone Cancer, it was her birthday yesterday. Machismos neighbor(s). One who is battling cancer and another who recently passed of cancer.

    Way to start the day, guys!

  • Migraines Make Musical Memories

    At 04:59 a distress signal from Chaplain suffering a Migraine got the DTH gears churning for how to bring the Forge PAX a decent beatdown. But YHC needed help having woken up feeling bone weary after a 72hr whirlwind of other beatdowns. Inspired by the presence of Handshake, YHC looked back in the Q-annals and chose the first Forge beatdown of 2024 to replicate. So, YHC handed off the Q to a very energetic January 2024 virtual DTH, put on some slammin beatdown beats, and we got to work!

    The THANG: 

    LOVE HILL WARMERAMA: 

    • Mosey to the bottom of Love Hill and circle up
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Variable IC Reps with a run half way up and down the hill between sets

    COP #1: 

    • BATTAN DEATH MARCH 
    • Line up at bottom of handicap ramp, Lunge walk length of ramp with last man doing x3 Burpees then running to front

    COP #2:

    • BAR BUDDY
    • Partner up and complete x3 Rounds of:
    • x10 Jerkins each
    • x10 Cliffhanger Mericans

    COP #3:

    • Mosey up to the school awning
    • Circle up in elbow plank to review the F3 Mission, Credo, and 5 Core Principles 
    • MUSICAL MARY – Complete a wide variety of core exercises to the beat of the music, including all 5 minutes of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

    COP #4:

    • Mosey around to the Amphitheater
    • BOX JUMP LINDSEY
    • Incline Mericans on the bottom step 30-25-20-15-10
    • Groiners at the top 10-15-20-25-30
    • Box Jump steps between
    • ABC’s for the SIX

    COP #5:

    • Begin to mosey BTTF
    • Stop for the ECHO CHAMBER
    • People’s Chair
    • Hoedowns IC
    • BTTW, Hip Slappers IC if you’ve got it
    • Milkers IC
    • Donkey Kick-Off’s (up to 20)

    Mosey BTTF for COT:

    • Counterama # 12
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • DTH took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:

    • Many thanks to January DTH for leading today. That level of beatdown would certainly not have happened without him taking the reins. YHC really needed the accountability after NTB’s smokefest ruck bootcamp at NoToll, yesterday mornings heavy-duty OTB ruck, and Meatball’s COP-fest at the Crossing last night. Also appreciate Handshake crossing the river, and TClaps to Snip posting twice in his first week! And now, YHC is going to go hibernate until Rockwood. Love you guys, DTH

    Prayer Requests

    • Chaplain – Migraine today
    • Handshake – niece Charlotte bone cancer 
    • Last Call – tough life at present, deep thx to PAX for the camaraderie and laughs
    • Bone Thugs – knee meniscus issues

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)