Vol. 1 Episode 4 of the Emerald Lamp Video Series is now live. Patreon supporters got access a month ago. And yesterday they also got access to a private video on the subject of body toughening (conditioning and callousing of the body to better deliver and accept blows). For as little as $1/month you can click here, become a supporter, and get access to all kinds of patron-only content — as well as early access to just about everything I produce.
Neither the Emerald Lamp series nor the Holy Communion series is really taking off the way I anticipated. Episode 4 of the Emerald Lamp and Episode 12 of Holy Communion might mark the end of both series. If you like either of them I suggest sharing them to your social media profiles, tweeting, posting and sharing like a madman. These are the most labor intensive videos I make in terms of planning and writing. If nobody’s watching, I could really stand to put those hours back into my training!
So if you like either series, show your love by sharing the videos. And, in the comments below, please tell me which of my videos you like most and least and why.
Robert Mitchell Jr. 
Hi Mitch,
Great post! I’m with you on the whole training at home/outdoors thing . . . I too have never been a member of a gym, though these days there is a “state-of-the-art” one just downstairs from where I work (which means, among other things, it has a juice bar and lots of ferns).
Mostly through scrounging relatives’ basements, garage sales, and Craigslist I’ve assembled a pretty good collection of fitness equipment over the years—weights, heavy bags, kettlebells, etc.—for probably the cost of a few months membership at a typical fitness center. But my favorite stuff is that which I’ve made myself, including a water ball, which absolutely wrecks the grip—in a good way, of course. Not sure if the video linked or not, but for the record, the guy featured in it is not me, and my water ball is maybe 40 pounds.
Best,
James
Thanks James! Unfortunately the video link didn’t come through — I don’t think WordPress allows html in comments. Why don’t you put a short video of yourself and your water ball on youtube, shoot me an email link, and blog it here? I’d love to see it. This month at the Cabal Fang Temple meetings we’ve been “playing” with 50 lb. sand-filled slam ball and it’s pretty darned evil. I can’t imagine a 40 lb water ball!
Craigslist is the best. Who needs a stinking fern or a juice bar?
I did recently buy something new though. Tried to make one but I just couldn’t do it properly and it kept busting. I bought the Ironmind Sandbag and it should be delivered on Friday. It’s cordura and it’ll hold up to 300 lbs. I’ve been doing Bear Hug Carries on Wednesdays and I’m up to 140 lbs. I do 2 x 1:00 at 50% max, then 2 x 1:00 at max, then 1 x failure max, 1:00 rest between rounds. The guys tell me I seem a little stronger when I grab ’em, but they’re probably just flattering me.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for commenting!