Continuing where we left off last week with one-arm pullups, we’ll use a pinch grip assist this time, instead of a theraband.
One Arm Pullups with Theraband
To train for the one-arm pullup you want to over many months of training, reduce the weight on the assisting arm, and increase the weight on the primary arm. Here’s one way to do that. Use a theraband on the secondary arm.
bodyrocks – core strength for everyone
We can all use more core strength. It reduces back strain and stress, contributes to over all functional strength, and is good for every fitness enthusiast from runners to gymnasts, martial arts practitioners to yoga fans alike.
If any of these combinations are too difficult with both legs extended, try it with on leg bent, and one leg extended. Good luck!
straddle planche hold
After many years of building basic strength, I’m finally starting to get somewhere with this planche training. Take a look at my first straddle planche holds…
V-sit on the parallettes
The V-sit is the next step towards working the manna skill in gymnastics. It requires a LOT of triceps, hip flexors, and abdominals. You can also work this on the floor if you want to.
deep press handstand pushups
I’m at it again this week with another exercise on the parallettes. This time I do handstand pushups, using the parallettes to get a deeper range-of-motion. This is heavy on the triceps and deltoids…
english straddle L on parallette
This week I have a video working the parallettes. I use one parallette to do what’s called a “straddle L” in gymnastics. There is a lot of stabilizer muscle work in this skill, plus triceps, abdominals and hip flexors.
Learn from the Astronauts & Dr Sanjay Gupta
I’ve harped on about weightbearing exercise before. It’s very important. The force of gravity upon the skeletal system stimultes bone growth, and health.
I was just watching CNN today, and Sanjay Gupta was interviewing some scientists at NASA on the affects of weightlessness on the astronauts bodies.
Here’s the article: Making Gravity Work For You by Dr Sanjay Gupta
Some hightlights…
I learned how beneficial gravity is for us on Earth. Doctors call it axial load. You can think of it as a slight tension on our bodies, more importantly our ligaments, tendons and bones. Turns out, this slight pulling of gravity slows down the loss of bone mass, which in space accelerates 10 times faster than a post-menopausal woman.
and more importantly…
The message for the rest of us is to embrace gravity. In addition to your aerobic exercise, which you should do most days of the week, add some axial load to your routine. And, this is a message for everyone, especially women in their 40s and 50s who will have to deal with menopause. Pick up some dumbbells, park yourself under a bench press or learn how to use a cable system. It’s good for your health and for your bones.
For the rest of us into bodyweight training, all the different types of pushups, handstands, pullups etc all count as weightbearing exercise too.
planche pushups – feet against the wall
Still working on planche pushups steadily. Here are some average-ish planche pushups, feet against the wall…
peck flys on scooters
Scooters you probably remember from your high school or middle school gym days. For bodyweight training, you can use them for all sorts of things. Here I’m doing peck flys, which you might normally do on a bench with barbels. The scooters work quite well. Adjust the weight by starting on your knees, or on your toes, but with legs apart. Try to keep your arms straight. My left arm bends a lot, not sure what to do about that yet…