No chin-up, no entry?

A quick myth I’d like to dispel.
I’m hearing round the gym “I can’t do X, therefore I can’t do the VSC”. Usually, it’s a chin-up or a pull-up, but also some folks haven’t learned a kettlebell snatch yet or find it hard to organise a barbell deadlift from the ground.

I don’t want to negate these points - I hear you!
They’re real concerns, and worth consideration!

But these reasons aren’t barriers to participating in the VSC.

Here’s why.

1. The Valkyrie Strength Challenge is a journey, not a destination.
   For lots of people, myself included, the regular, organised and personalised training is more relevant (and more impactful) than the actual ‘big day’. In my experience, working towards something has more of a long-term affect than actually doing that thing.
   
   Take my one-arm push up for example. I trained for this one goal for over a year and never got there; I ended up pulling out of that training (which was an excellent decision in hindsight) and learned more about myself by doing so. Not to mention the unreal amount of strength I gained on the pathway there,
   I lost nothing by not being able to do the thing.
   I gained stacks from trying and sticking to the plan.
   The intention is important.

2. The VSC is all about accessibility. That would be out the window if we had requirements to start.
   Unlike the TSC (Tactical Strength Challenge by StrongFirst, the competition Hugo originally modelled the VSC off) you don’t have to be at a certain level of strength or fitness to get a program, follow it, and do you lifts on the day.
   You don’t have to fit into a binary gender.
   You don’t need to shred bodyweight before it (we don’t ask you for your bodyweight at any point).
   Our whole business model wouldn’t really make sense if we set benchmark minimums just to get started with training.
   There’s enough of that already in the fitness industry.

3. You don’t have to be confident to get started
   Sounds cliche, but everyone starts somewhere.
   I certainly didn’t start feeling training feeling ‘strong’.
   Toxic gym shit will have people feeling like you need to be fit and strong and hot to even access strength training. What the hell is up with this? I’m sick of this notion and I want everyone to be able to access strength education no matter where they’re at in their journey, and how conventionally hot they feel doing it.

Just because you can’t currently (or don’t think you’ll ever!!! be) able to complete one of the movements to the standard; it’s no reason not to enjoy all the benefits of the VSC!
Your coach will cater to where you’re at right now with your program. Can’t do snatches? Let’s start wth swings. Haven’t done a barbell deadlift before? That’s why kettlebell deadlifts exist.

Can’t do a chin-up?
Frankly, I don’t care!

We don’t value your worth on what you can or can’t achieve in the gym. We hope you don’t judge yourself in this way either!

Let’s get moving and ditch all the ugly industry shit.