Nate's been spending the last couple weeks working on something new… double club mills.
Not as a polished tutorial. Not as something we’ve mastered. Just some honest reps, figuring it out as we go, and learning what actually matters when you’re trying to build this skill from scratch.
If you’ve ever picked up two clubs at once and tried to get them moving together… you already know. This is a humbling one.
Why Double Club Mills?
There’s a long history of training with two clubs—think traditional Persian Meels. Big wooden clubs, lots of over the shoulder, and a ton of rhythm and coordination.
What we’re working toward here is a double front mill… both arms moving together, cycling smoothly from front to back and back again.
Simple in theory. Not so simple when you actually try it.
What Nate's Using
For this, we’re running two Cadi Clubs loaded to about 15 pounds each.
That’s only 30 pounds total… but with the lever length and constant motion, it feels like a lot more.
That’s one of the biggest things people underestimate with clubs (and maces)… the load isn’t just the number on the plates. It’s where that weight sits, how far it is from your hands, and how fast it’s moving.
How We’re Learning It
No deep dive into tutorials. No overthinking it.
Just breaking it down into pieces and building from there.
Here’s the progression that’s been working so far:
1. Get Comfortable With Two Clubs
Before even thinking about mills, just get used to holding and moving two clubs at the same time.
Start with basic over the shoulder work. Keep it simple. Let your body figure out how to organize itself around the load.
A couple sessions here goes a long way. You’re building awareness, grip strength, and a feel for how both sides need to work together.
2. Single Mills While Holding the Second Club
Next step… start milling one arm at a time while still holding the other club.
This is where things get interesting.
The non-working arm turns into a static hold—basically a midrange curl under tension while you’re trying to coordinate movement with the other side. It doesn’t sound like much… until you do it.
This alone will light up your arms, shoulders, and grip way more than expected.
It also forces you to stabilize and control the club you’re not moving… which ends up being a huge piece of the puzzle later.
3. Start Connecting the Pattern
Once single mills feel somewhat controlled, you can start experimenting with timing both clubs together.
This is where body rotation becomes everything.
As one club moves forward into the front portion of the mill, your torso position naturally sets up the other club to be in the back. If you stay loose enough and rotate with the movement, you can start to “hand off” that timing from one side to the other.
When it clicks, even for a rep or two, it feels smooth and almost effortless.
When it doesn’t… it feels like everything is out of sync and falling apart.
That’s normal.
What Makes This So Challenging
It’s not just strength.
You can be strong and still struggle with this.
The limiting factor early on is coordination… timing… and your ability to stay relaxed but strong while moving under load.
A few things stand out right away:
- The coordination demand is high. Both arms doing different phases of the same movement at the same time takes practice.
- The arm pump is real. Even lighter weights hit hard because of the constant tension and lever length.
- Small mistakes get exposed fast. If your cast is off or your timing is late, you feel it immediately.
- You can’t muscle through it. Forcing it usually makes it worse. You have to let the movement happen and clean it up over time.
What It Should Feel Like
When everything lines up, you’ll know.
The movement feels smooth. The clubs track clean. Your body rotates naturally with the pattern. There’s a rhythm to it.
When it’s off, it’s obvious. One side might drift too far forward. The other might lag behind. Everything feels a little chaotic.
That feedback is part of the process.
Where We’re Going With It
Right now, this is still early.
A few sessions in. A lot of reps to go.
The goal is to keep cleaning up the movement… build consistency… and eventually start adding more load once the coordination is there.
Something like 10kg per hand is on the radar down the line… but there’s no rush.
Skill first. Then load.
If You’re Working on This Too
Keep it simple. Break it down. Get comfortable with the basics. Don’t rush the full movement.
And expect it to feel awkward for a while… that’s part of it.
Like everything with maces and clubs… it takes reps. But when it starts to click, it’s one of the most satisfying movements you can do.
If you’re working on double club mills, let us know how it’s going… or what part has been the toughest so far.