Wisdom of the Agōgē

Forging Spartans

Reflecting

Sparta forged its citizens in the agōgē, where it took boys and forged them into useful Spartans with mental and physical training as well as relevant life skills.  They started at age seven and were done by twenty.  Today, many schools have an almost opposite mentality, neither strengthening the young nor offering relevant skills. Many leave only to live in a suspended childhood throughout their twenties and even into their thirties.  But just because we in the twenty-first century developed world can afford to keep adults in their nursery doesn’t mean we should. 

They would be more useful citizens and happier ones if they would be forced to grow up.  The next generation should learn professional, trade, and primitive skills.  They should know how to work hard with their minds and bodies.  Harden themselves so they are hard to beat in a fight or in the marketplace.  Be ready to work.  Be ready to build a business and a family after they’re fully grown.  Or don’t; but either way the locksmith is coming on their eighteenth birthday to change the locks.  Whatever success or failure they earn, they’ll earn on they’re own. We cannot force the world to love our kids; but we can make sure that the world is not a shock to them when they go out into it.  

Training

This morning’s white board –

5 Rounds not for time

• 5 Back Squats as heavy as possible

• 10 Strict Pull-ups

• 15 DB Bench as heavy as possible

My new Xtreme Power knee sleeves were a big help on the squat.  They wouldn’t be that comfortable for any workout with running or cardio but for a strictly strength day, they added a lot of support.  They weren’t that hard to get on but the elbow sleeves were.  Another time, I’d put lotion on my elbows and put them on at home first before struggling into them at the gym.  Sure I could get them looser but that would defeat their purpose.   

Then a ½ hour in the sauna in a sweatsuit followed by some free Vitamin D outside in the sun. 

My next run is nicknamed “The Stairmaster” a few laps of a 4 mile/1,500’ vertical climb fire tower run scheduled to get to the peak at sunrise.

Slater is making my log now which I’m looking forward to using for clean and jerks as well as overhead presses. 

Fueling

Virtually everyone, or everyone my age in my town, seems to have gone on semaglutides.  They often mention it last on the list of reasons why they abruptly lost 50 lbs.

Supplementing

Dropping peptides for now in a bid to simplify my overly long supplement stack.

Measuring

Intermittent fasting has helped me control calories; my eating is getting more organized and intentional by limiting them to noon through six in the evening.  So far, so good.

Recovering

My new mini massage gun is so good to have at the gym.  The handle makes it particularly easy to get to my hams when they’re tight.  In fact if you are looking at getting a Theragun you can skip the full sized more expensive one and just get this.

Closing

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