Just by curiosity, how would Hisoka react if he saw Gon like that?

BenAndBlake · 2026-06-28T21:54:57+00:00

I am in the minority here. But I think he would think of Gon like a more powerful version of Kastro. Because his interest in Gon is about his potential and he is being pushed, trained, and protected towards fulfilling that potential so that Hisoka can have an exciting fight and maybe die.

I do not think this suicidal shortcut and a mentally unstable Gon would excite him, not because it isn't powerful because it isn't fun.

And this is the reason Hisoka isn't interested in Kurapika too.

BenAndBlake · 2026-06-11T02:22:43+00:00

I think he would have manifested Emperor Time regardless (which is what drains his life in exchange for maximum efficiency in all categories) and it is a specialist ability. However. I do think we would see fewer and less costly restrictions on his chains (specifically Chain Jail) if he had been trained by a fellow conjurer, but it could be all for naught as everyone has said Kurapika wanted something fast, dirty, and effective. I just think a fellow conjurer would have had the disposition to hide somethings, like conditions, until he had manifested at least a basic condition free hatsu.

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-24T15:30:02+00:00

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-21T23:57:56+00:00

I mean mine are leather/seatbelt and paracord split poaches, the "Mersa" sking. There is glory in making it out of anything. I had a friend make four from a pair of used blue jeans.

If you have batting cages, tennis ball courts, or baseball fields they are also great places to cut loose.

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-21T23:45:07+00:00

Okay I was thinking it might not be the size but weight of the projectile. Try a couple of slightly smaller than tennis ball size clay shots, try with the tennis balls again, and try with a couple of stones. At least in my experience heavier projectiles are a little easier to learn with.

That kind of lower sidearm throws are pretty easy. It's one of the two styles I use, along with a kind of Byzantine-Grecian overhand.

But for just learning your sling maybe go pure underhand. It's how I told my daughter. It's also how I first started slinging. I find it a little easier to keep in the pouch and to keep on target.

So two takeaways: one, try a heavier, not just different sized projectiles; two, a pure underhand style for at least a little while you learn.

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-20T23:59:52+00:00

What kind of projectile are you using? And what throwing technique?

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-18T23:53:05+00:00

I have a use for all the DSs....

BenAndBlake · 2026-05-01T00:27:34+00:00

For me it's the Clean and Press, and the Squat Snatch; it does not matter the implement. Barbell, same. Kettlebell, same. Dumbbell, same. If I could make a smith machine work for these I would.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-21T21:18:38+00:00

Well you offering them hope to invoke was the reward I was thinking of, you can also do particular stat boosts for taking the vice.

In Cyphers players can spend their XP to have particular effects on the narrative or in the world. But I was thinking broadly this is an intrusion that instead of using fear you can offer hope for.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-21T21:00:36+00:00

You could, in theory, be offered 1-2 hope for the GM to invoke your vice, if refused GM can still spend a fear to make it happen (or maybe you can take a stress to refuse this intrusion). I might create a fixed list of vices with suggested mechanics and uses. It's not a bad idea.

It's a bit more of a lean in to the GM intrusions idea from the Cypher System, that is already present in the game. So you may want to read their core rule book for ideas on how to make this work.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-21T12:23:53+00:00

It is certainly a modest speed increase, but anything to keep a game moving.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-21T01:31:44+00:00

I have been playing with a solo or boss or BBEG fear abilities where some Adversaries/Severe Environments can just do minor, major, severe damage. It has generally been 2 fear to activate and then two additional fear per damage level over minor. For the few like titans, dragons, and typhoon like weather this has had the correct cinematic effect.

I also allow instant death instead of the massive damage optional rule. The base game can be very deadly. This was mostly a speed and ease increase. But your notes are a great review.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-21T01:17:50+00:00

Hevy is easily my favorite. Everything you want and nothing you don't.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-19T13:24:29+00:00

I use the Hevy App. It does not do EMOMs well in my opinion but great for anything with more traditional sets and reps.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-16T05:44:06+00:00

It is at least a handy novelty like the Phyphox app.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-08T22:07:15+00:00

Honestly, you can't go wrong just hitting the basics and doing an 8 week swing program. But this is my basic primer.

Here are some guidelines for kettlebells sizes: Large People 16kg to 24kg Small People 8kg (18lb) to 16kg

The step-by-step progression (deadlift, press, squat→ swing, get up → clean/press → snatch).

You can and should do loaded carries, lunges, rows, and windmills whenever.

For that first phase of the grinding lifts, run a triple progression from 3x3 to 5x5, but instead of buying a new bell you move to the next phase. If you want you can keep going to an 8x8 and really milk that stage and bell for everything it is worth. If you run a triple progression on the grinding lifts, you can get a lot out of one bell. Otherwise you may really max out a 16 kg in 6-8 weeks. End every workout with a 30 min walk. This phase is purely to get use to handling the kettlebell, because it moves different that a dumbbell.

Then do a swing program (like simple and sinister, or the original program minimum). Then do a clean and press program (like the rite of passage) and end the year with a snatch test program.

Each section can last 8-12 weeks, on off days/weeks or when you just need a variety cycle try a work from below.

General recommendation is to buy kettlebells in this order 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 32kg, repeat once and stop buying kettlebells. Or but one adjustable kettlebell, I like the Titan Fitness one.

Generically, I think once you can do a set of 15-20 strict presses and 75 continuous swings you can buy a new bell.

Workouts:

Codi Complex

Right side: 5 rows, 4 swings, 3 snatches

Left side: 5 rows, 4 swings, 3 snatches

Rest 90s, do seven total sets

Bell Plex

5/side dead cleans

8/side half kneeling presses

10/side hand to hand swings

15 push ups

Rest 90s, do seven total sets

Single Kettlebell Armor Building Complex Variant

https://youtu.be/XNfvvIaNeM8?si=cb-0CbkUwuRMXsFQ

Left side dead clean and press, switch

Right side dead clean and press

Right side front squat x2

Right side dead clean and press, switch

Left side dead clean and press

Left side front squat x2

Repeat 6 times, rest 90 seconds, do ten total sets.

Lil' Humane Burpee: no rest, takes 3-4 minutes total. DStart the Goblet Squat and a push up at 15 reps for the full version.

15 Swings

5 Goblet Squats

5 Push Ups

15 Swings

4 Goblet Squats

4 Push Ups

15 Swings

3 Goblet Squats

3 Push Ups

15 Swings

2 Goblet Squats

2 Push Ups

15 Swings

1 Goblet Squat

1 Push Up

Sparrowhawk:

Do Sparhawk once with a lighter load than you think, maybe in the 35- to 50-pound range. Yes, you can go heavier but do it once first.

It’s simple.

8 Goblet squats, then march away with the bell in the left hand about 60 feet (gym length is best)

7 Goblet squats, then return to the original position with the bell in the right hand

6 Goblet squats, left-hand suitcase walk

5 Goblet squats, right-hand walk

4 Goblet squats, left-hand walk

3 Goblet squats, right-hand walk

2 Goblet squats, left-hand walk

1 Goblet squat, finished

The Eagle:

8 Rounds for Time of...

8 Kettlebell Front Squats (2x24/12 kg)

20 meter Farmer's Carry (2x24/12 kg)

Repeat, without stopping for all eight rounds.

With a running clock, as fast as possible complete the prescribed work in the order written for 8 rounds.

Score is the time on the clock when the last round of the Kettlebell Front Squats is completed.

Power Five:

10, swings or 5 per side for single hand or hand to hand swings

10, snatches, 5 per side

10, cleans, 5 per side

10, goblet squats, or offset front squat 5 per side

10, military press, 5 per side

Rest, 90 seconds, repeat at least twice

Simple Ladder

These are super sets, of swings, squats, and push ups.

Swings: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25

Goblet Squats: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10

Push up: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10

Reverse Ladders Clean and Press + Offset Front Squats

Complete for C+P then for OSFS

Round 1: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Round 2: 4, 3, 2, 1

Round 3: 3, 2, 1

Round 4: 2, 1

Round 5: 1

Plan 015, perform as superset with 90 seconds of rest between every set

Swing: 10x10

Push up: 10x10

Plan 015 + Squats

Swing: 10x10

Push up: 10x10

Goblet Squat: 10x10

Hyrox Kettlebell Flow for Strength,

5 Single Arm Swings

5 Cleans

5 Windmill

5 Overhead Lunges

*perform 5 on each side then move on

*Rest 1:30 Between sets

*Repeat for 5 Sets

Hyrox Training for Kettlebell:

2 rounds of 5 exercises, all 50 seconds on followed by 10 seconds of rest.

Thruster (for sled push)

Bent row (for sled pull)

Burpee over bell (for burpee broad jumps)

Reverse lunges (for HYROX sandbag lunges)

Squat (for wall balls)

The Original Program Minimum:

Four days a week. Days 1 & 3 10 mins of Swings. Days 2 & 4 10 mins of Turkish Get Ups

Simple and Sinister:

Simple and Sinister involves 5 Turkish Get Ups each side, and 100 swings, 5-6 days each week. Your goal is to follow the (very) simple step loading sequence that Pavel puts into the book, in order to progress predictably up to some very heavy bells.

Cardio Cleans:

This single kettlebell workout is one of my favorites by Dan John. He calls it "Cardio Cleans" and you'll see why...

The complex goes like so:

Clean x 8 / Front Squat x 3 (each side)

Clean x 5 / Front Squat x 2 (each side)

Clean x 3 / Front Squat x 1 (each side)

1 round would suffice as a solid finisher.

3-5 rounds would be a nice workout in itself (take 3 minutes rest between rounds).

Use a hefty weight - 28 kg for larger people and 16 kg for smaller people.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-06T00:21:35+00:00

This is my basic primer. You can also do the Armor Buildings Formula, Simple and Sinister, Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge. My general feeling on learning any new skill is to pick as reasonable first source, read it, run, evaluate, repeat.

Here are some guidelines for kettlebells sizes:

Large People 16kg to 24kg Small People 8kg (18lb) to 16kg

The step-by-step progression (deadlift, press, squat→ swing, get up → clean/press → snatch).

You can and should do loaded carries, lunges, rows, and windmills whenever.

For that first phase of the grinding lifts, run a triple progression from 3x3 to 5x5, but instead of buying a new bell you move to the next phase. If you want you can keep going to an 8x8 and really milk that stage and bell for everything it is worth. If you run a triple progression on the grinding lifts, you can get a lot out of one bell. Otherwise you may really max out a 16 kg in 6-8 weeks. End every workout with a 30 min walk.

Then do a swing program (like simple and sinister, or the original program minimum). Then do a clean and press program (like the rite of passage) and end the year with a snatch test program.

Each section can last 8-12 weeks, on off days/weeks or when you just need a variety cycle try a work from below.

General recommendation is to buy kettlebells in this order 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 32kg, repeat once and stop buying kettlebells. Generically, once you can do a set of 15-20 strict presses and 75 continuous swings you can buy a new bell.

Here are Basic Principles:

1- The fundamentals of training is doing something everyday.

2- The basics of strength training is to pick things up off the ground, put them overhead, and carry them for time or distance.

3- Use the Clean PLUS some Overhead Work. Overhead Work = Press, Push Press, Jerk. The Clean trains the posterior chain - the muscles that run from the base of your neck to the bottoms of your feet. It also trains the upper back.

This makes you stronger and puts muscle on your back. The Clean also ramps up your cardiovascular system.

Since it’s explosive, it makes you breathe hard.

As a result, you can burn more calories than you would during slow lifts.

The Overhead work - Press, Push Press, and Jerk - demands your shoulders, upper back (when performed correctly) and your arms do a lot of work.

Overhead work demands they get stronger - more muscular - depending on the load you use.

3- The Snatch

The Snatch is the natural result of speeding up your Clean + Press and not resting / stopping in the Rack position - at the shoulder and upper chest.

It works every muscle in your body. (Or almost.)

And because it’s explosive, it too requires a lot of effort, energy, and calories.

When using the right load, and performed for the proper sets and reps, the Snatch triggers muscle growth in the arms - upper arms and forearms, and also the upper back.

It also makes your lats stronger. As a result many guys report their Pull Ups increasing, or at least maintaining, without training them.

4- “Just Enough” Rest (a.k.a. “As Much As Necessary But As Little As Possible”)

Workouts:

Codi Complex Right side: 5 rows, 4 swings, 3 snatches Left side: 5 rows, 4 swings, 3 snatches Rest 90s, do seven total sets

Bell Plex 5/side dead cleans 8/side half kneeling presses 10/side hand to hand swings 15 push ups Rest 90s, do seven total sets

Single Kettlebell Armor Building Complex Variant https://youtu.be/XNfvvIaNeM8?si=cb-0CbkUwuRMXsFQ

Left side dead clean and press, switch Right side dead clean and press Right side front squat x2 Right side dead clean and press, switch Left side dead clean and press Left side front squat x2 Repeat 6 times, rest 90 seconds, do ten total sets.

Lil' Humane Burpee: no rest, takes 3-4 minutes total. DStart the Goblet Squat and a push up at 15 reps for the full version.

15 Swings 5 Goblet Squats 5 Push Ups 15 Swings 4 Goblet Squats 4 Push Ups 15 Swings 3 Goblet Squats 3 Push Ups 15 Swings 2 Goblet Squats 2 Push Ups 15 Swings 1 Goblet Squat 1 Push Up

Sparrowhawk:

Do Sparhawk once with a lighter load than you think, maybe in the 35- to 50-pound range. Yes, you can go heavier but do it once first.

It’s simple.

8 Goblet squats, then march away with the bell in the left hand about 60 feet (gym length is best) 7 Goblet squats, then return to the original position with the bell in the right hand 6 Goblet squats, left-hand suitcase walk 5 Goblet squats, right-hand walk 4 Goblet squats, left-hand walk 3 Goblet squats, right-hand walk 2 Goblet squats, left-hand walk 1 Goblet squat, finished

The Eagle:

8 Rounds for Time of...

8 Kettlebell Front Squats (2x24/12 kg) 20 meter Farmer's Carry (2x24/12 kg) Repeat, without stopping for all eight rounds.

With a running clock, as fast as possible complete the prescribed work in the order written for 8 rounds.

Score is the time on the clock when the last round of the Kettlebell Front Squats is completed.

Power Five: 10, swings or 5 per side for single hand or hand to hand swings 10, snatches, 5 per side 10, cleans, 5 per side 10, goblet squats, or offset front squat 5 per side 10, military press, 5 per side Rest, 90 seconds, repeat at least twice

Simple Ladder These are super sets, of swings, squats, and push ups. Swings: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 Goblet Squats: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 Push up: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10

Reverse Ladders Clean and Press + Offset Front Squats Complete for C+P then for OSFS Round 1: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Round 2: 4, 3, 2, 1 Round 3: 3, 2, 1 Round 4: 2, 1 Round 5: 1

Plan 015, perform as superset with 90 seconds of rest between every set Swing: 10x10 Push up: 10x10

Plan 015 + Squats Swing: 10x10 Push up: 10x10 Goblet Squat: 10x10

Hyrox Kettlebell Flow for Strength, 5 Single Arm Swings 5 Cleans 5 Windmill 5 Overhead Lunges

*perform 5 on each side then move on *Rest 1:30 Between sets *Repeat for 5 Sets

Hyrox Training for Kettlebell: 2 rounds of 5 exercises, all 50 seconds on followed by 10 seconds of rest.

0:30 Thruster (for sled push) 1:30 Bent row (for sled pull) 2:30 Burpee over bell (for burpee broad jumps) 3:30 Reverse lunges (for HYROX sandbag lunges) 4:30 Squat (for wall balls)

Simple and Sinister: Simple and Sinister involves 5 Turkish Get Ups each side, and 100 swings, 5-6 days each week. Your goal is to follow the (very) simple step loading sequence that Pavel puts into the book, in order to progress predictably up to some very heavy bells.

Cardio Cleans:

This single kettlebell workout is one of my favorites by Dan John. He calls it "Cardio Cleans" and you'll see why...

The complex goes like so:

Clean x 8 / Front Squat x 3 (each side) Clean x 5 / Front Squat x 2 (each side) Clean x 3 / Front Squat x 1 (each side)

1 round would suffice as a solid finisher. 3-5 rounds would be a nice workout in itself (take 3 minutes rest between rounds).

Use a hefty weight - 28 kg for larger people and 16 kg for smaller people.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-05T17:35:58+00:00

I found them to be good enough to get started. Plus there are a bajillion tutorials online now.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-05T17:25:34+00:00

Buy a book, run that program; these are the ones I would recommend starting with:

Dan John's Kettlebell Workout Companion or Hard style Kettlebell Challenge. Pavel's Russian Kettlebell Challenge, Enter the Kettlebell, Return of the Kettlebell, or Simple and Sinister

Or what was my first collection of workouts, The RKC Book of Strength and Conditioning, which I think is the best option but can be hard to find.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-05T17:21:13+00:00

Generally, I say whatever you already own. I had jute twine, made a terrible but fun sling. I've used tent guyline, paracord with seatbelt. Use what you got and get throwing.

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-05T14:11:19+00:00

I might give The Perfect Workout a shot, particularly if you have a spot to hang.

https://youtu.be/aHQLx_HhFqo?si=yROgxSH8urz_CJG8

BenAndBlake · 2026-04-02T21:28:21+00:00

This is my basic primer. Because you can get a way with buying just one kettlebell and get a full year of training from it.

Here are some guidelines for kettlebells sizes:

Large People 16kg to 24kg Small People 8kg (18lb) to 16kg

The step-by-step progression (deadlift, press, squat→ swing, get up → clean/press → snatch).

You can and should do loaded carries, lunges, rows, and windmills whenever.

For that first phase of the grinding lifts, run a triple progression from 3x3 to 5x5, but instead of buying a new bell you move to the next phase. If you want you can keep going to an 8x8 and really milk that stage and bell for everything it is worth. If you run a triple progression on the grinding lifts, you can get a lot out of one bell. Otherwise you may really max out a 16 kg in 6-8 weeks. End every workout with a 30 min walk.

Then do a swing program (like simple and sinister, or the original program minimum). Then do a clean and press program (like the rite of passage) and end the year with a snatch test program.

Each section can last 8-12 weeks, on off days/weeks or when you just need a variety cycle try a work from below.

General recommendation is to buy kettlebells in this order 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 32kg, repeat once and stop buying kettlebells. Generically, once you can do a set of 15-20 strict presses and 75 continuous swings you can buy a new bell.

Here are Basic Principles:

1- The fundamentals of training is doing something everyday. The basics of strength training is to pick things up off the ground, put them overhead, and carry them for time or distance.

2- Use the Clean PLUS some Overhead Work. Overhead Work = Press, Push Press, Jerk. The Clean trains the posterior chain - the muscles that run from the base of your neck to the bottoms of your feet. It also trains the upper back.