SoCal Mace Games 2026

The SoCal Mace Games will feature a variety of events designed to showcase the diverse skills
of macebell athletes. These events will include:
Qualifing Events:
Macebell - 360 Swing Competition
Clubbell - 2 Hand WindMill Competition
Final:
Macebell - 10&2 Swing Competition

ONLINE Submission

This year, we are accepting online submissions for the Macebell 360 Swings and Clubbell Two-Hand WindMill competitions. Athletes can upload their videos from July 11 to October 10, and the rankings will be calculated and added to the final scoreboard.

Apply here

LIVE Event

The live event will be held on October 17 at Morley Sports Complex in Balboa Park. Participants in the live event will qualify to compete in the final 10 & 2 Swings competition.

Apply here

Watch the Competition Moves @GadaPivot

The Competitor Handbook

The Diamond Flow from SMF in its element. 🪄✨

There is nothing quite like working through a complex flow outdoors with the right community. If you’ve been wanting to dive into Steel Mace Flow, drop in and train with us this week.

We host our weekly LEVEL 1 Steel Mace Flow class every Tuesday at 5:30 PM at Morley Field.

All levels are welcome—come get grounded, test your coordination, and share the energy.

DM to claim your spot for Tuesday.

#SteelMace #Gada #Clubbell #SandiegoFitness #MorleyFieldSports MovementCulture SteelMaceFlowEducator

Strength in numbers. Precision in every swing. ⚔️

Nothing beats the energy of a class synced up on 360s and Mills with the morning sun☀️☀️☀️

We treat macebell training with the same rigor, periodization, and structure as a dedicated barbell club—building movers who are strong, resilient, and ready for any physical demand.

Whether you’re training for competition or looking to move better in everyday life, there’s a spot on the floor for you.

Drop a “🔥” in the comments if you’re ready to swing with us!
Share this Reel with a training partner who needs to try macebell training!

EVENT 2: THE 2H 360 SWING SPRINT

Event 2 of the SoCal Mace Games strips the movement down to its raw, axial foundation: The 5-Minute 2-Handed 360 Swing.

This is a pure test of shoulder traction, structural bracing, and relentless grip endurance. Watch the reel above for the exact technical execution, and review the official game guidelines below:

⏱️ The Rules
* The Time Limit: You have exactly 5 minutes to fight gravity and accumulate maximum repetitions.
* The Rep: Starting in a vertical warrior stance, you must cast the mace behind your back, complete a full 360^\circ rotation, and pull it cleanly over the opposite shoulder back to the front “catch” position—alternating directions to balance the load.
* The Scoring: Just like Event 1, your Raw Volume Score will be processed through our Leverage Factor handicap to level the playing field for athlete height, body weight, and mace length.

❌ Strict “No-Rep” Markers
To keep your scorecard clean, avoid these technical faults:
* Letting your hands rise above head level during the backswing.
* Failing to drop your forearms parallel to or lower than your chest during the front “catch”.
* Slipping your grip—your hands must stay within 4 inches of the pommel.
* Allowing the mace head or handle to touch the ground at any point.
* Stepping outside your designated platform area during the set.

👉 This is your second and final hurdle before the cut. Only the top 6 combined volume scores from the Windmill and 360 will advance to the live 10&2 Final Sprint! Secure your platform spot at macebellsport.com.

⚙️ EVENT 1: THE 2-HANDED WINDMILL CHALLENGE ⚙️

The opening event of the SoCal Mace Games is a grueling 5-minute test of multi-planar core stability and grip endurance:

The 2-Handed Windmill.
Watch the full reel for the exercise breakdown, and review the official game rules below:
⏱️ The Rules
* The Time Limit: You have exactly 5 minutes to accumulate maximum volume.
* The Rep: You must execute a smooth inside mill, a front pendulum swing, a lateral hinge switch, and a hand transfer—alternating directions every single rep.
* The Scoring: Calculated by multiplying your Raw Volume Score (\text{Weight} \times \text{Reps}) by our new Leverage Factor (balancing mace length, height, and body weight for a completely fair playing field).

❌ Strict “No-Rep” Markers
A “no-rep” will be called if you:
* Fail to execute a clean, explosive lateral clean from the floor.
* Break the correct plane or touch your head/neck/back with the club.
* Move your hands more than 4 inches from the pommel.
* Fumble the hand switch, lose control, or drop the implement.
* Switch leading hands or rest the clubbell on the ground early.

👉 Registration is open now and brackets are strictly capped! Secure your spot on the platform at Morley Field by visiting macebellsport.com.

#SoCalMaceGames #MacebellSport #IMSA #ClubbellMill #WindmillChallenge RotationalStrength MorleyField GadaPivot

Building the engine for the 45lb test at the SoCal Mace Games means training heavy and shrinking the margins.

Here is a look at today’s working sets: 2-Hand Windmills with a 55lb steel club (1.5-inch handle).

The strategy is simple but brutal: transform raw strength into a 5-minute endurance effort by systematically manipulating the rest intervals.

The Blueprint:

Current Baseline: 1 minute on, 1 minute off at a sustained pace of 18 RPM.

The 6-Week Progression: Shrink the rest interval by 10 seconds every single week.

The Target: Overload the capacity with 55 lbs until continuous 5-minute work sets are locked in.

Overbuilding the capacity with the 55 now will make the 45 feel like a feather when it’s time to clock 100 reps under the timer.

We cut the clock next week. Let’s work.

Performance Goal: The 5-Minute Clubbell Windmill.

The progression plan for the heavy leverage work:

Last Year: 35 lbs — 109 reps
This Year’s Target: 45 lbs — 100 reps

Last year was about testing the high-RPM engine with the 35. Bumping up to the 45 lb Clubbell this year changes the game—it’s a massive jump in load that requires holding strict structural alignment against a much heavier lever arm.

The strength trend shows the raw power output is there to handle the weight. The real challenge is the conditioning.

The Game Plan: Transform current raw strength capacity into sustained endurance effort. I’m doing this by systematically manipulating and shrinking rest intervals during prep to force the nervous system to recover under tension.

The blueprint is set. Time to build the capacity and own the 45.

Let’s work.

Year 3. 50 lbs. 200 reps. That’s the target for the SoCal Mace Games 5-Minute 360 Sprint.

The trajectory so far:
Year 1: 30 lbs — 192 swings
Year 2: 40 lbs — 195 swings
Year 3 Target: 50 lbs — 200 swings

Going from Year 1 to Year 2 was a massive test—jumping up 10 lbs while keeping almost the exact same high-speed pace.
Bumping up to the 50 lb mace means pushing total volume to a clean 10,000 lbs moved in just 300 seconds.

To unlock that 200-rep milestone, the pace has to step up to a sustained 40 RPM.

The strength trend is right on track, and the power output is there. Now it’s just down to maintaining clean mechanics under deep fatigue and owning the leverage.

Time to lock in and clear the path to 200. Let’s work.

Swing challenge - 10&2 Sprint : Take 2

After seeing fellow swingers make some really amazing times on last week’s challenge, I decided to give it another shot.

I set my metronome to 50bpm tried my fuckin hardest haha

Final time 2min 10seconds

Thanks for the inspiration to push myself:
@armouredmuscle
@valhallatrainingacademy
@the_steelmace_dojo

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE

Macebell Sport thrives on a gamified, high-energy culture. We push each other, chase reps, and periodize our training for intense communal goals out on the field.

But here’s the truth:

You do not need to be a competitor to run with us.

Whether you are an athlete training for a competition or an “Everyday Mover” just looking to undo desk-life stiffness and move pain-free-we share the exact same field.

The peaks of the training are high, but the Macebell Sport Club is open to everyone.

We check our egos at the door and grow together.

While the training is highly structured and the tools are unconventional, the culture is fundamentally rooted in being an accessible, welcoming environment for the “Everyday Mover.”

You do not need to be a competitive lifter to step onto field with us; you just need a willingness to learn.

Join us every week!

Monday&Friday 7:30am

Morley Field Sports Complex - San Diego CA

Comment “MACE” TO JUMP INTO THE NEXT PRACTICE!

🌲 EARLY BIRD PRICING NOW LIVE 🌲

The maces and clubs are heading to the Sierra Mountains, and you’re invited to the IMSA 5th Annual Fitness Retreat at Sequoia & Kings Canyon!

Whether you’re a seasoned competitor dialling in your mechanics for the upcoming Mace Games or you’re completely new to the swing, this is your playground.

We are setting up basecamp at Azalea Campground from September 24th – 29th for 5 days of high-altitude training, heavy lifting, glacial hiking, and elite community.

Here is what’s on deck:

⛰️ The Hikes & Flows: Trekking through glacial canyons to Tokopah Falls and flowing on the sub-alpine granite shores of Muir Lake.
🛠️ Competition Workshop: Deep-dive coaching on elite mechanics (10&2, 360, and mill techniques), bioenergetics, and competition pacing strategy.
⚔️ Macebell Sport Scrimmage: Put your training to the test in simulated, timed competition sets under the watch of peer judges.
🏕️ The Community: Wind down with targeted recovery sessions, round-table discussions, and our official family dinner featuring campout delicacies.

🎟️ REGISTRATION DETAILS

🔥 Early Bird Pricing (Ends Sept 1st):Athlete Training Ticket: $100Non-Training Guest Ticket: $50

⚠️ Standard Pricing (After Sept 1st):Athlete Training Ticket: $150 Non-Training Guest Ticket: $75 Spaces amidst the giants are limited.

⚡ THINK YOU CAN PACE WITH THE BEST? ⚡

I’m laying down the gauntlet right now.

I am challenging you to the 2H 10&2 Sprint: A straight race to 108 reps. Using your 25# mace. Film your set, drop your time in the comments, and tag someone who needs to test their rotational endurance. Let’s see who owns the clock.

My TIME : 2min 26sec⏱️

🏆 THE 10&2 FINALS: PATH TO THE PODIUM 🏆
The ultimate test of speed and shoulder endurance at the SoCal Mace Games isn’t open to just everyone—you have to earn your spot on the platform.
Here is how the game format breaks down for this year’s ultimate showdown:
* The Qualifiers: Your raw performance and grit in both the 5-Minute 360 Swing and the 5-Minute 2H Mill serve as your direct qualifier for the main event.
* The Cut: We are adding your 360 score and your Mill score together to calculate your total volume. Only the Top 6 competitors with the highest total volume in each division will survive the cut and advance to the 10&2 Finals.
* Live Participation Requirement: While early online video submissions are accepted for the early admissions components, you MUST participate live on the day of the competition to secure your spot in the 10&2 Finals. No advancing to the big stage on internet clips alone.
The 3-Minute 10&2 Speed Challenge is where champions are made. Lock in your technique, start building that training volume, and get ready to leave it all on the platform.

We’ll see you at the 2026 Games! ⚔️🛡️

EVENT BREAKDOWN

5-Minute 2H Mill (Volume Challenge):
This is a pure test of endurance and strength. Competitors will perform the two-handed (2H) mill, attempting to swing the heaviest weight possible for maximum reps within a 5-minute time cap. Your goal is to move as much total weight as possible.

5-Minute 360 Swing (Volume Challenge):
Similar to the Mill, this event tests your absolute volume capacity. You have 5 minutes to perform as many 360 swings as possible with the heaviest mace you can handle. Every single valid rep adds to your total volume score.

3-Minute 10 & 2 (Speed Challenge):
This is the ultimate sprint to the finish line. Competitors will race to complete 108 reps of the 10 & 2 swing as fast as possible within a strict 3-minute time limit. The shortest time takes the win!
• Standardized Weights: Men will swing 25 Ibs, and women will swing 15 lbs.

Registration opens in JULY

Competition October 17th

Zero random workouts. Just structured strength, shared grit, and unbreakable rotational power. ⚔️

Macebell Sport Club is taking the strongman mentality to the open turf. Utilizing the Gada Pivot Method, we train to safely dominate the asymmetrical, real-world forces of life.

You don’t need to be a competitive lifter to run with us. If you have a willingness to learn, you belong on this field. 🦍
Weekly Lineup:

📍 Morley Field Sport Complex (Pivot S&C / Flow)
📍 Vinya Vinyasa & Vino (Circular Strength Lab / Flow)

Swipe ⬅️ for the full class schedule and DM “MACE” to jump into the next practice!

🏆 The 2026 SoCal Mace Games are going down on October! Time to dial in those training blocks.

Here’s what to expect on the platform:

⚔️ THE QUALIFIERS (Volume)
* 5-Min 2H Mill: Heaviest weight for max reps.
* 5-Min 360 Swing: Heaviest weight for max reps. (Online admissions are open for these qualifier events!)

⚡️ THE FINALS (Speed)
* 3-Min 10 & 2: A dead sprint to 108 reps! Shortest time wins. (Standardized weight: Men 25lbs | Women 15lbs)

🔥 HOW TO ADVANCE: Only the TOP 6 competitors with the highest combined volume score (Mill + 360) in each division will earn a spot in the 10 & 2 Finals.

Note: While you can submit qualifier scores online, you MUST be present live on competition day to throw down in the finals.
#
Who is taking the podium this year?

#SoCalMaceGames #Macebell #UnconventionalTraining #GadaPivot Macework SanDiegoFitness FitnessCompetition

Round 3 is coming soon!

Stay tuned for more info!

Most people train in 2D. They go up, they go down, they sit on a bench. But your body was built for 3D—to rotate, to brace, and to manage weight that isn’t perfectly balanced.

This heavy Clubbell complex (Hinge / 360 / Squat / Press) isn’t just “hard work.” It’s a masterclass in Structural Optimization.

Here is why this moves the needle more than a barbell:

1️⃣ The “Leverage” Tax: Unlike a dumbbell, the weight of a Clubbell is offset. Every inch it moves away from your body, it feels 3x heavier. Your grip and core have to work overtime just to keep it from flying out of your hand.

2️⃣ True Core Stability: In the Front Squat and Press, the club wants to pull you forward. You aren’t just “squatting”; you’re fighting to stay upright against a shifting center of gravity. That’s real-world core strength.

3️⃣ Rotational Armor: The 360 swing builds “bulletproof” shoulders by teaching them to be stable while moving through a full circle. It’s the difference between a shoulder that’s “stiff” and a shoulder that’s “strong.”

The Takeaway: If you want to optimize your workout, stop looking for the easiest way to move weight. Look for the most efficient way to master momentum.

Which movement in this complex looks the hardest to you? Let me know in the comments! 👇

10k swing session -

6000 outside swings complete. Only 4000 left 🥵🥵

Decided to add single leg work as an active rest. Gonna clean up the movement over the few weeks. Not the prettiest at the moment 🙃

Clubs and Bells -

Doin some upper bodywork.

Getting the work done -

Whether it be night or morning…. Yeah just gotta fit it in somehow.

Sat - 25lbs x 500
Sun - 25lbs x 500

Day 6 - 1000 Swings

Decided to shift gears a little and add a strength progression to my swing challenge.

1x / week : strength sets + endurance
1x / week : long cycle endurance
1x / week : strength endurance + precision
1x / week : endurance
1x / week : precision

This day I did strength endurance and precision.

2clubs 15lbs - 150 reps x 2
1H Club 35lbs - 50 reps x 6
2clubs 15lbs - 150 reps x 2

Using this method to push my strength in the outside mill.

Let’s see what happens.

Clubs and Bell -

1. Snatch : 36 reps / side x 3

2a. KB Press -> Overhead Squat : 12reps / side
2b. KB Clean -> Squat : 36reps / side
2c. Macebell -> 1H 10&2 Swings : 54reps / side

Day 5/20 - took a chance then hit a PR

After my recovery day my body was feeling gooooood! So I decided to change up my rep scheme for the day:

Set 1 : 12kg 1H outside mill - 54L54R (108)
Set 2-3 : 35lbs 1H outside mill - 20L20R14LR x 2 (108)
Set 4-8 : 45lbs 1H outside mill - 10L10R20LR x 5 (200)
Set 9 : 12kg 1H outside mill - 54L54R (108)

Good workout.

Recovery Day -

My body needed a break from the intense swings, so I adjusted the workout for the day.

I swapped the 1H 12kg for a pair of #10 Persian meels.

It turned out to be a great way to examine my progress.

Day 3! -

Just crushed 22 minutes of nonstop swings! Keep seein @weightliftingdoc long cycle posts with his club and decided to try it his way.

Went for 500 without stopping, alternating 25L 25R x 10 with 12kg weight.

Ready to take my endurance to the next level!

We be swinging!!

Getting it done 500reps x 12kg 30min

Stickin to my 36reps but looking to increase to 40-50reps. Pushing the boundaries of my endurance

Why I’m choosing the Outside Mill for the 10k Challenge...

If you want a better 360 swing, you have to master the outside pull. That’s why my February 10k challenge is dedicated to the 1H Outside Mill. By focusing on this movement, I’m targeting the specific mechanics needed to make my heavy swings feel effortless.

My Game Plan:

The Weight: 12kg (Focusing on quality and flow).

The Milestone: Building up to 100 reps unbroken.

The Progression: A 4-week ramp-up to ensure I’m finishing stronger than I started.

Check out the video to see how I’m structuring my goals and use it as a template for your own February challenge!

Free flow Warmup -

Just goofin off and shakin off the dust before jumpin into a workout.

It BEGINS : 10K - Swing Challenge!

You’ll be AMAZED with how much you can learn and grow in just FOUR WEEKS!

The challenge is simple :

1. Choose a swing
2. Master that swing

How? - Swing 5days a week; 500swings - 20 days total.

Choose a weight that is challenging but manageable.

If you need help choosing a weight, creating a swing schedule or rep scheme: comment : LFG! In the comments below!

Hammer Slam -

Things are evolving at IMSA! Come check out our Friday metabolic conditioning class!

One of the exercises from today’s workout!

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SoCal Mace Games 2026

ONLINE Submission

LIVE Event

Watch the Competition Moves @GadaPivot

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Stay Tuned