minichallenge Assassin's Age: Origins

[Anim07734]

Years pass, heroes fall into legend, and a new age begins...

 

A year ago, major leaders across the world were all killed in the same week, found slaughtered in their beds or disappearing on the road.  The wars that followed mark the beginning of the Assassin's Age.  But the Warden's tales have proven true, and an Archdemon has appeared to take advantage of the chaos in a new Blight.

 

With the Warden ranks decimated in the opening battles, a call has gone out for new heroes to save the lands from darkness.

 

Basic Rules:

- This mini-challenge will run from 8January through 11March and is open to any who wish to participate.  Just add your name to the roster and complete the Joining.  You may sign up at any time.

- Modifications for injuries or other physical issues will be provided on a case by case basis whenever possible.

- Individual tasks will have their own requirements and rules, please read through them before beginning that portion of the minichallenge.

- If you have any questions, please ask!

 

Normal Mini-Challenge Rules:

- Mini-challenges are not mandatory, feel free to ignore this one if you don't want to participate.  

- Don't let mini-challenges hinder your own goals.

- If you're not sure how to register something, post it here.

- Keep it simple!

- Don't hurt yourself!

 

Tasks Available:

The Joining (required before any other tasks may be performed)

First Vote (closed)

The Qunari Outpost Task 2 Task 3 Completed

Second Vote (closed)

The Circle of Magi Completed

Third Vote (closed)

The Dwarves of Orzammar  Completed

Fourth Vote (closed)

The Elves of the Brecilian Forest Task 2  Task 3 Failed

The Men of Redcliffe Castle Complete

The Final Battle

The Archdemon (ends Saturday 11March at 11:59PM Eastern)

[Anim07734]

The Joining

 

Those with the courage and resolve to join the Wardens in their war against the Darkspawn, must first attempt a series of four trials.  Once complete, they will be allowed to perform the Joining, a secret ritual that will allow them to sense and fight the Darkspawn.

 

For each trial, the applicant must pick an exercise from a different category (in total, one each from push, pull, legs, and core) and perform an AMRAP (as many reps as possible) test with good form.  Enter your name and the results for each trial on the Joining roster.  If you're unable to safely perform any of the exercises in a given category, PM Anim07734 for modifications.

 

Additionally, each applicant should pick a class to represent their focus during the minichallenge (through 11March).  Your actual AMRAP for all trials does not need to be within the target range for your class, this simply represents your goals and preferences.

-Warrior:  High reps, high endurance. Warriors take the hits and keep on swinging, all day, every day. (target AMRAP 15+)

-Rogue:  Low reps, focused on stopping power. Rogues rely on position and timing, they may only get one chance, so they have to make it count. (target AMRAP 3-5)

-Mage:  Mid reps, for versatility. Mages manipulate the power of the cosmos and shape it to their will, requiring both strength and endurance. (target AMRAP 8-12)

 

 

[Lokesbrah]

MIIIIIINIIIIIII . I'm in.

[Manarelle]

I'm presuming that one-sided variants only count one side? That is, I did 12 beginner shrimp squats on each side, so my total is 12, not 24?

[Snickie]

Glad this week is AMRAP week. Being stuck in a hotel room with three other people who I barely know and attending seminars all day do not make for a productive week in regards to working out.

[Grandkai_NL]

Oh this looks really good. I AM IN!!

[Anim07734]

1 hour ago, Manarelle said:

I'm presuming that one-sided variants only count one side? That is, I did 12 beginner shrimp squats on each side, so my total is 12, not 24?

You can count them however you'd like, to best reflect your personal goals.  The important thing is that however you count them now will be the same way you count them for the remainder of the mini.

 

That said, I'll be doing the same thing you did, to keep from getting lopsided.

[Myrik]

I like it, I'm in will sign up tonight after work. 

 

Now to decide on warrior rogue or Mage, the Assassin in me wants to go rogue plus it fits my current goals, but so does Mage because I'm sitting around 10-15 reps for most of my progression exercises.

[Darth Yoga]

1 hour ago, Myrik said:

Now to decide on warrior rogue or Mage, the Assassin in me wants to go rogue plus it fits my current goals, but so does Mage because I'm sitting around 10-15 reps for most of my progression exercises.

 

I was pondering this same dilema. Standard pullups and pistols are both in that rogue low-rep range, and those are ones I want to work on, but that range doesn't work so well for me for other progressions. (I'm overthinking this. I'll just go with rogue.)

 

Also - are we sticking with whichever progression we pick for the whole challenge? Or can we do an assortment, and this AMRAP is just for individual scaling purposes. 

[Anim07734]

1 hour ago, Darth Yoga said:

Also - are we sticking with whichever progression we pick for the whole challenge? Or can we do an assortment, and this AMRAP is just for individual scaling purposes. 

You'll get the chance to try other variations, but the one you choose now will be your default for the rest of the minichallenge.

[JediNickD]

I've been working on improving a few of these exercises, so choosing a few and testing was easily done this morning along with my regular Monday abuse, I mean workout. 

 

Diamond Pushups, Standard Pullups, Pistol Squats, and Toes-to-Bar put me in the Rogue range.  For the Pistol Squats, I tested both legs and posted the higher total (left leg). 

[Starstuff]

How should I handle "pull" if I can't even do a single negative pull-up? I'm currently doing incline bodyweight rows for the pull part of my regular workout. Would that be an okay substitution? How would I count that?

[Myrik]

8 hours ago, Darth Yoga said:

 

I was pondering this same dilema. Standard pullups and pistols are both in that rogue low-rep range, and those are ones I want to work on, but that range doesn't work so well for me for other progressions. (I'm overthinking this. I'll just go with rogue.)

 

Also - are we sticking with whichever progression we pick for the whole challenge? Or can we do an assortment, and this AMRAP is just for individual scaling purposes. 

I wound up in the rogue category and doing exercises i didn't think i could do yet.  Pure mental will power.

[Snickie]

Snickie thought she could do one-handed wall push-ups on her built-in bookshelf even if only like 2 with good form.  Lazing around for a week and then attempting to do it again has proven her wrong.  Standard push-ups it is.  (At least I can still do some of those.)

(Also currently lacking in the balance necessary to do diamond push-ups.)

 

 

I also will be doing inverted rows as my pull-exercise due to not having access to a bar that will support my weight or a doorframe that I can grip (and being weak af lol) but plenty of other heavy stuff to lug around this week (suitcases ftw).

[Anim07734]

5 hours ago, Starstuff said:

How should I handle "pull" if I can't even do a single negative pull-up? I'm currently doing incline bodyweight rows for the pull part of my regular workout. Would that be an okay substitution? How would I count that?

 

2 hours ago, Snickie said:

I also will be doing inverted rows as my pull-exercise due to not having access to a bar that will support my weight or a doorframe that I can grip (and being weak af lol) but plenty of other heavy stuff to lug around this week (suitcases ftw).

Go ahead and count inverted rows as an alternate lvl1 pull exercise.  Be sure to engage your back and shoulders on the pull; it'll help when you get to pull-ups.

[Jonesy]

20 hours ago, Starstuff said:

How should I handle "pull" if I can't even do a single negative pull-up? I'm currently doing incline bodyweight rows for the pull part of my regular workout. Would that be an okay substitution? How would I count that?

 

I was wondering this as well. Negative pull ups look bad ass though. 

 

15 hours ago, Anim07734 said:

Go ahead and count inverted rows as an alternate lvl1 pull exercise.  Be sure to engage your back and shoulders on the pull; it'll help when you get to pull-ups.

 

Thank you for this alternative. 

 

[JediNickD]

On ‎1‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 1:03 PM, JediNickD said:

I've been working on improving a few of these exercises, so choosing a few and testing was easily done this morning along with my regular Monday abuse, I mean workout. 

 

Diamond Pushups, Standard Pullups, Pistol Squats, and Toes-to-Bar put me in the Rogue range.  For the Pistol Squats, I tested both legs and posted the higher total (left leg). 

 

I might end up in Warrior class if I keep up this progress.  From 15 diamond pushups yesterday to 25 today.  Testing standard pull ups and pistol squats again tomorrow.  I'm going to try the typewriter push ups, but I don't think I have the right strength to do more than rogue level.  If only handstand pushups were included...  That's where I'm a VIKING!  Or at least crazy addicted to improving.  I'm so close to moving away from wall support. 

[Toxophilite]

1 hour ago, JediNickD said:

I might end up in Warrior class if I keep up this progress.  From 15 diamond pushups yesterday to 25 today.

 

At this rate, you'll be breaking world records by the end of the week!

[Norgaard]

Does chin-ups count as much as pull-ups? Im going to work to chin-ups for my ring routine so they would make more sense testing?

[otterbyte]

Okay, total n0ob question here. Is there a standard set time for the AMRAP? Like within 2 minutes? Or is it just 'as many as you can until you absolutely can't do one more'? I thought it was the latter, but I've seen lots of places where it's the former. Just trying to clarify before I do my tests, thanks!

[Snickie]

I do AMRAP until either technical failure (as opposed to muscular failure - good form is more important than maximizing reps) or I get bored/distracted.

My AMRAPs are actually putting me in warrior range rather than mage.

[Anim07734]

1 hour ago, Norgaard said:

Does chin-ups count as much as pull-ups? Im going to work to chin-ups for my ring routine so they would make more sense testing?

You can use a chin-up grip, if you'd prefer, just be consistent when counting reps for the mini.  And understand that some of the more advanced progressions will require a standard pull-up grip when you get to them.

 

55 minutes ago, otterbyte said:

Okay, total n0ob question here. Is there a standard set time for the AMRAP? Like within 2 minutes? Or is it just 'as many as you can until you absolutely can't do one more'? I thought it was the latter, but I've seen lots of places where it's the former. Just trying to clarify before I do my tests, thanks!

Unless otherwise stated, AMRAP is simply "as many reps as possible" with no time limit.  However, you must maintain good form for the entire test.  EG: you can't put your knee down during pushups to rest or drop off the bar when testing pullups.

 

Timed AMRAP tests aren't uncommon (they're the standard in military fitness tests), but they tend to encourage poor form/ROM in favor of speed.  So we tend prefer untimed tests to encourage everyone to take their time and do the exercise properly.

[Teancum]

Yay mini!! 

[JediNickD]

26 Pistol Squats... I must have been tired when I tested Monday.  It was a Monday.  I felt a little strain in my back doing pull-ups so I'm going to test again on Friday.  So I switched to Warrior and added the 10 hanging leg raises I did yesterday (I can beat that!). 

 

Typewriter Pushups, Archer Pull-Ups, Shrimp Squats, and Toe-to-Bar are all on my to-do list destined to be crossed...

[Snickie]

19 hours ago, Snickie said:

I do AMRAP until either technical failure (as opposed to muscular failure - good form is more important than maximizing reps) or I get bored/distracted.

My AMRAPs are actually putting me in warrior range rather than mage.

I meant to add this before but

When I did my squats AMRAP on Monday, I did a set of 15 (intending that to be my AMRAP set) but got distracted and later did 18 more, with technical failure on the 19th.  I was tired ish when I did the 18.  How do I count that?