"If it's good enough for the Spetsnaz...

...it's good enough for me. I'm sure they appreciate that." Why my approval might be important to the Russian special forces is no doubt inexplicable beyond my own fevered vanity.

That hunk of iron is a kettlebell, an unusual old-school piece of weightlifting equipment. Trevor Haines (sensei at Dojo Chattanooga) offers kettlebell classes, so I decided to avail myself of it. The link I've provided is chock-full of all sorts of macho hyperbole designed to make you want to buy their stuff, but it is still true that kettlebell exercises are very good for core strengthening, which in turn is good for just about any martial art you want to do.

I just came home from class. I'm gonna be a suffering bastard in the morning.