POWER CLEAN EVERYONE SHOULD POWER CLEAN FROM THE FLOOR WE NEED TO DEVELOP BETTER HIP POWER AND FLEXIBILITY AND THE HANG CLEAN DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR ENOUGH HIP DEVELOPMENT START POSITION: THE CLEAN GRIP REQUIRES THE HANDS TO BE PLACED APPROXIMATELY SHOULDER WIDTH APART FOOT POSITION WILL DIFFER FOR LIFTERS OF DIFFERENT BODY TYPES; A STANDARD STANCE WILL PLACE THE FEET ABOUT HIP WIDTH WITH THE TOES SLIGHTLY POINTED OUT. THE BACK SHOULD BE FLAT WITH THE CHEST UP AND THE HIPS SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE KNEES THE BAR SHOULD BE NEXT TO THE LEG AND UP AGAINST YOUR SHINS THE MOVEMENT: TAKE A DEEP BREATH BEFORE MOVING THE BARBELL AND TAKE ALL THE SLACK OUT OF THE ARMS AND BACK AS THE BARBELL BEGINS TO RISE THE LIFTER SHOULD MAINTAIN SHOULDERS IN FRONT OF BAR AND KEEP A FLAT BACK AS THE HIPS AND SHOULDERS RISE AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU MOVE INTO THE POWER POSITION FORCEFULLY DRIVE YOUR HIPS UPWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE, AS IF YOU WERE DOING A VERTICAL JUMP. ALL FORCES BEING APPLIED DURING THE ENTIRE LIFT SHOULD BE APPLIED VERTICALLY INTO THE GROUND SO THAT BOTH YOUR BODY AND THE BAR STAY IN A VERTICAL PLANE AT ALL TIMES. CONTINUE TO DRIVE YOUR HIPS UPWARD, KEEPING THE BAR CLOSE TO YOUR BODY, UNTIL YOU HAVE ACHIEVED FULL EXTENSION OF YOUR HIPS, KNEES AND ANKLES (TRIPLE EXTENSION). AS YOUR ARE ACHIEVING TRIPLE EXTENSION, BE SURE TO FINISH THE MOVEMENT WITH A SHOULDER SHRUG. ALLOW YOUR ARMS TO BEND AT THE ELBOWS FROM THE ACCELERATION OF THE BAR AND BEGIN TO USE YOUR ARMS TO DIRECT THE UPWARD PATH OF THE BAR - KEEPING THE BAR AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO YOUR BODY. AT THIS POINT IN THE LIFT YOUR FEET MAY OR MAY NOT LEAVE THE GROUND, DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE (NOTE - DO WHATEVER ALLOWS YOU TO BE/FEEL THE MOST EXPLOSIVE). BEGIN TO "PULL" THE BAR UP TO MID-CHEST HEIGHT. THERE SHOULD BE VERY LITTLE EFFORT AS FAR AS UPPER BODY STRENGTH EXPENDITURE IF THE BAR HAS BEEN ACCELERATED PROPERLY THROUGH TRIPLE EXTENSION. IN ORDER FOR THE BAR TO CONTINUE IN A LINEAR PATH CLOSE TO YOUR AS THE BAR REACHES THE CORRECT HEIGHT, PULL YOURSELF UNDER THE BAR (DO NOT PULL THE BAR TO YOU). THIS "PULLING YOURSELF UNDER THE BAR" WILL AUTOMATICALLY BRING YOUR FEET BACK TO THE GROUND. YOUR FEET SHOULD LAND NO MORE THAN SHOULDER WIDTH APART AND SHOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND FLAT-FOOTED. ALLOW YOUR HIPS TO GIVE A LITTLE ON THE CATCH. THROW YOUR ELBOWS FORWARD ANDUPWARD AND ALLOW THE BAR TO REST ON YOUR COLLAR BONE. PUSH J ERK START POSITION: GRIP BAR AS YOU WOULD AT THE TOP OF THE POWER CLEAN FEET ABOUT HIP WIDTH APART, POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD CHEST OUT BIG, LOWER BACK ARCHED KNEES AND HIPS "UNLOCKED" WEIGHT SHOULD BE ON YOUR HEELS THE MOVEMENT: QUICKLY DIP/DRIVE YOUR HIPS BACKWARDS TO CREATE A STRETCH-REFLEX DO NOT SQUAT DOWNWARD OR DO A DEEP KNEE BEND, OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE YOUR HIPS TO DRIVE THE BAR UPWARD IN THE NEXT PHASE WITH NO PAUSE, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STRETCH - FORCEFULLY DRIVE YOUR HIPS UPWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE, AS IF YOU WERE DOING A VERTICAL JUMP. THIS IS AN EXPLOSIVE MOVEMENT, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLODE WITH YOUR HIPS AT THE VERY START OF THE MOVEMENT. ALL FORCES BEING APPLIED DURING THE ENTIRE LIFT SHOULD BE APPLIED VERTICALLY INTO THE GROUND SO THAT BOTH YOUR BODY AND THE BAR STAY IN A VERTICAL PLANE AT ALL TIMES. CONTINUE TO DRIVE YOUR HIPS UPWARD, UNTIL YOU HAVE ACHIEVED FULL EXTENSION OF YOUR HIPS, KNEES AND ANKLES (TRIPLE EXTENSION). THIS WILL CAUSE THE BAR TO LITERALLY JUMP OFF YOUR SHOULDERS. AT THE SAME TIME YOU REACH FULL EXTENSION STRAIGHTEN THE ARMS TO THRUST THE WEIGHT OVERHEAD DROP DIRECTLY BENEATH THE BAR CATCHING IT STRAIGHT OVER THE SHOULDERS THE LEGS CAN BE KEPT SHOULDER WIDTH OR SPLIT FORWARD RETURN TO THE ERECT POSITION BY MOVING THE FEET BACK TO THE START POSITION LOWER THE BAR CAREFULLY TO THE SHOULDERS P0wRR 0R0 LlPT 0vRRNR0 90UT STARTING POSITION: PLACE THE BAR OVERHEAD USING A WIDE GRIP WITH THE ARMS LOCKED OUT THE FEET ARE PLACED IN THE RECEIVING POSITION FOR THE SNATCH THE MOVEMENT: SQUAT BY LOWERING YOUR HIPS BETWEEN YOUR HEELS MAINTAIN AN UPRIGHT POSTURE WITH BACK TIGHT AND CHEST UP KEEP THE FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD DO NOT LEAN FORWARD FROM THE WAIST AND PUSH THE HIPS BACK 1 2 THIS IS A STRENGTH LIFT, NOT AN EXPLOSIVE LIFT. ALTHOUGH YOU NEED TO BE RECRUITING AS MANY MUSCLE FIBERS AS YOU CAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THIS MOVEMENT SHOULD BE TREATED AS A "SQUAT." THIS LIFT IS THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF THE POWER CLEAN FEET ABOUT HIP WIDTH APART, POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD TAKE A POWER CLEAN GRIP WITH BAR ROLLED UP AGAINST THE SHIN WITH YOUR ELBOWS LOCKED AND CHEST OUT BIG, LOWER BACK FLAT-ARCHED. DRIVE YOUR FEET (PARTICULARLY YOUR HEELS) INTO THE FLOOR - DO NOT PULL THE BAR OFF THE GROUND WITH YOUR BACK. YOUR LEGS SHOULD BE "SQUATTING" THE BAR OFF THE FLOOR YOUR LEGS SHOULD BE EXTENDING AT A RATE QUICKER THAN YOUR BACK SO THAT YOU MAINTAIN PROPER HIP AND SHOULDER POSITIONING - THIS IS NOT A REGULAR DEADLIFT MOVEMENT STAND UP IN AN ERECT POSITION, BUT DO NOT HYPEREXTEND YOUR BACK LOWER THE BAR BACK DOWN WITH THE SAME MECHANICS AND BODY POSITIONING AS YOU LIFTED IT WITH - MANY INJURIES OCCUR AT THE END OF A SET WHEN THE BACK MUSCLES ARE FATIGUED AND YOU CHOOSE TO DO IMPROPER TECHNIQUE BECAUSE OF LAZINESS 1 2 3 4 R0Hhlh 0R0 LlPT START POSITION: HAND GRIP SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THIGH ELBOWS LOCKED FEET ABOUT HIP WIDTH APART, POINTING STRAIGHT AHEAD CHEST OUT BIG, LOWER BACK ARCHED KNEES AND HIPS "UNLOCKED WEIGHT SHOULD BE ON YOUR HEELS THE MOVEMENT: WHILE MAINTAINING BODY POSITIONS FROM THE START POSITION: STICK YOUR BUTT BACKWARDS AND ALLOW YOUR SHOULDERS TO MOVE FORWARD IN FRONT OF THE BAR KEEPING THE BAR CLOSE TO YOU, LET THE BAR SLIDE DOWN YOUR LEG CONTINUE THIS SAME MOVEMENT TILL THE BAR GETS TO A POINT SOMEWHERE PAST THE KNEE TO MID-SHIN AREA (ONCE YOU FEEL A STRETCH IN THE GLUTE HAMSTRING AREA OR CAN NO LONGER KEEP YOUR BACK ARCHED STOP THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT) FLEX THE GLUTE- HAMSTRING AREA, "PUSHING" YOUR HIPS FORWARD WHILE EXTENDING YOUR LOWER BACK UPWARD FINISH BACK IN THE STARTING POSITION. 1 2 0000 H0Rhlh0 1 2 0Ck RXTRh9l0h 1 2 HOLD A BARBELL WITH AN OVERHAND GRIP SO THAT IT RESTS COMFORTABLY ON YOUR UPPER BACK... NOT ON YOUR NECK. SET YOUR FEET SHOULDER WIDTH APART, AND KEEP YOUR KNEES SLIGHTLY BENT, BACK STRAIGHT, AND EYES FOCUSED STRAIGHT AHEAD. SLOWLY BEND FORWARD AT THE HIPS AS YOU LOWER YOUR CHEST AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO WHILE MAINTAINING THE NATURAL ARCH IN YOUR LOWER BACK, OR UNTIL YOUR UPPER BODY IS PARALLEL TO THE FLOOR. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND MAINTAIN ABOUT THE SAME ANGLE OF YOUR KNEES. LIFT YOUR UPPER BODY BACK TO THE STARTING POSITION. CROSS YOUR ARMS IN FRONT OF YOUR CHEST OR PLACE YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR FINGERS INTERLACED. FLEX AT YOUR HIPS TO HANG OVER THE PADDED BENCH TO A MINIMUM OF 45-60 DEGREES. THIS IS THE START POSITION. CONTRACT THE ERECTOR SPINAE MUSCLES (LOWER BACK) TO MAINTAIN THE NORMAL LUMBAR CURVATURE IN YOUR SPINE, THEN INHALE AND HOLD YOUR BREATH AS YOU RAISE YOUR TORSO AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE BY FLEXING YOUR GLUTES AND HAMSTRING MUSCLES AND PUSHING AGAINST THE ANKLE PADS/ROLLERS WITH YOUR ANKLES. IN THE TOP POSITION, YOUR BODY SHOULD BE IN A STRAIGHT LINE, OR YOUR TORSO AND SHOULDERS SHOULD BE JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF YOUR LEGS. FORCEFULLY CONTRACT YOUR GLUTES AND HAMSTRINGS AS YOU HOLD THIS POSITION FOR 1-2 SECONDS. EXHALE AS YOU RETURN TO THE START POSITION ALTERNATE DUMBBELL PRESSES ALTERNATE DUMBBELL UPRIGHT ROW HOLD A DUMBBELL IN EACH HAND AT ARM'S LENGTH AND RESTING AGAINST YOUR UPPER THIGHS. KEEP THE DUMBBELLS ABOUT 10 INCHES APART AND YOUR THUMBS FACING EACH OTHER. PULL THE DUMBBELLS, ONE AT A TIME, STRAIGHT UP UNTIL THEY'RE NEARLY EVEN WITH YOUR CHIN. KEEP YOUR ELBOWS OUT. (AS YOU PULL THE DUMBBELLS STRAIGHT UP, CONCENTRATE ON RAISING THE ELBOWS UP). AT THE TOP POSITION THE DUMBBELLS SHOULD BE LEVEL WITH YOUR EARS. KEEP THE DUMBBELLS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY, AND PAUSE AT THE TOP FOR A SECOND. ON THE ALTERNATE DUMBBELL BENCH, INCLINE AND SHOULDER PRESS BOTH DUMBBELLS ARE KEPT IN THE TOP POSITION THROUGHOUT THE SET. LOWER AND PRESS ONE DUMBBELL WHILE KEEPING THE OTHER LOCKED-OUT THEN REEAT WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE FLAT PRESS THIS IS A FLAT PRESS WITH THE DUMBBELLS KEPT IN A PARALELL POSITION KEEP YOUR ELBOWS TIGHT TO YOUR SIDE AND PRESS UP ON A SLIGHT ARC 1 2 Deadman pul l ups PERFORM A PULLUP WITH A PARTNER SUPPORTING YOUR FEET PU9N UP P09lTl0h 0UH00RLL R0w P0wRR RCk R0w PLACE TWO DUMBBELLS ON THE FLOOR AND GET INTO A PUSH UP POSITION BRACING YOURSELF ON THE OPPOSITE ARM, PULL ONE DUMBBELL STRAIGHT UP TO THE SIDE OF YOUR CHEST, KEEPING YOUR UPPER ARM CLOSE TO YOUR SIDE. LOWER THE DUMBBELL STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE STARTING POSITION AND REPEAT WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE SET THE BAR IN A POWER RACK ABOUT 2 FEET FROM THE GROUND. (IT SHOULD BE HIGH ENOUGH SO THAT WHEN YOU HANG FROM IT WITH ARMS STRAIGHT, YOUR UPPER BACK DOESN'T TOUCH THE GROUND) LIE UNDER THE BAR WITH FEET AT DESIRED HEIGHT, SO THAT THE BAR IS APPROXIMATELY ACROSS YOUR CHEST, LIKE WHERE IT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE TO BENCH PRESS IT. REACH UP AND GRAB THE BAR WITH A WIDE OVERHAND GRIP. STIFFEN YOUR BODY OUT SO THAT IT IS RIGID AND STRAIGHT, AS IN THE PICTURES. KEEPING YOUR ELBOWS UP AND UPPER BACK SLIGHTLY ARCHED, PULL YOURSELF UP TOWARDS THE BAR. (THINK OF PULLING YOUR SHOULDER BLADES TOGETHER AND PUSHING YOUR CHEST FORWARD) AT THE TOP SQUEEZE SHOULDER BLADES TOGETHER AND HOLD YOURSELF THERE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. YOUR CHEST SHOULD BE PUSHED FORWARD AND UPPER BACK SLIGHTLY ARCHED. ELBOWS ARE OUT. LOWER YOURSELF UNDER CONTROL; DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO DROP. 1 2 3 1 2
Core Training
9UPRR 09" 90-DEGREE CRUNCHES WITH ARMS BEHIND HEAD MAKE ELBOWS 90 DEGREES AND FEET UP IN REGULAR CRUNCH POSITION REVERSE CRUNCHES MAKE A TRIANGLE WITH YOUR THUMBS AND INDEX FINGERS AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR LOWER BACK AREA PUT FEET FLAT OUT AND PULL BENT KNEES TO CHEST FLOOR TAPS MAKE A TRIANGLE WITH YOUR THUMBS AND INDEX FINGERS AND PUT IT UNDER YOUR LOWER BACK AREA PUT FEET FLAT OUT AND PULL LEGS STRAIT UP IN THE AIR ON THE WAY DOWN KNEES SHOULD BE STRAIGHT AND GO ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR OBLIQUE BRIDGES ON YOUR ELBOW, SO BODY IS STRAIGHT, PUSH UPWARD AND THEN ON THE WAY DOWN MAKE YOUR BOTTOM CALF TOUCH THE FLOOR REPEAT WITH THE OPPOSITE ELBOW BICYCLES WITH ELBOWS BEHIND HEAD, PUT ONE LEG OUT STRAIGHT, ONE KNEE BENT UPWARD, AND HAVE THE ELBOW TOUCH THE OPPOSITE KNEE SUPERMAN LAY ON STOMACH WITH ARMS STRAIGHT AHEAD OF YOU THRUST UPWARD WITH BOTH LEGS AND BOTH ARMS COMBAT TRAINING 1 SET OF COMBAT TRAINING CONSISTS OF: 1. 10 DIVE BOMBERS 2. 10 JACK KNIFES 3. 50 PUNCH LADDER 50 PUNCH LADDER PERFORM BY PUNCHING AIR WITH A 10-20 LB DUMBBELL IN EACH HAND 5 RIGHT-HAND JABS 5 LEFT-HAND JABS 10 TWO HAND PUNCHES 5 RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT COMBINATIONS 5 LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT COMBINATIONS ALL PUNCHES SHOULD BE DONE BACK-TO-BACK COMBAT TRAINING DIVE BOMBERS2 2 PURPOSE: TO BUILD STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE THROUGHOUT THE UPPER BODY AND INCREASE FLEXIBILITY IN THE SPINE, HIPS AND SHOULDERS. START: BEGIN WITH HANDS ON THE GROUND, SHOULDER WIDTH APART. YOUR FEET ARE ON THE GROUND AND YOUR LEGS ARE ALSO SHOULDER WIDTH APART. WITH YOUR BUTTOCKS IN THE AIR AND HEAD LOOKING BACK TOWARD HEALS. INHALE PROCEDURE: 1. BEND YOUR ELBOWS AND LOWER BODY IN A CIRCULAR ARC, UNTIL YOUR ARMS ARE STRAIGHT. YOUR CHEST IS UP AND YOUR HIPS ARE ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND. 2. LOOK TO THE SKY. EXHALE. 3. RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION BY PUSHING BACK TOWARD YOUR HEELS, STRAIGHTENING YOUR ARMS, AND STRETCHING YOUR LEGS BACK TO SAME POSITION AS DESCRIBED BY NUMBER ONE. JACK KNIFE PURPOSE: TO BUILD STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE IN UPPER ABDOMINALS AND LOWER ABDOMINALS AT THE SAME TIME. START: BEGIN LAYING ON YOUR BACK WITH STRAIGHT LEGS AND ARMS EXTENDED OVER YOUR HEAD PROCEDURE: 1. SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISE YOUR ARMS AND LEGS IN THE AIR ABOVE YOUR MIDSECTION 2. TOUCH YOUR HANDS TO YOUR FEET. 3. RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION BY LOWERING YOUR ARMS AND LEGS TO THE GROUND 4. INHALE UP, EXHALE DOWN. BACK AND BUTTS START FROM FLAT PRONE POSITION (ON YOUR STOMACH WITH HANDS EXTENDED) 1. BACK EXTENSION 10 REPS x 2 SETS KEEPING YOUR TOES ON THE GROUND LIFT YOUR UPPER BODY AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE 2. OPPOSITE ARM / LEG LIFT 10 REPS EA SIDE x 2 SETS RAISE R ARM & L LEG REPEAT WITH L ARM & R LEG 3. HEEL LIFTS 10 REPS x 2 SETS PLACE HANDS UDER THIGHS AND LIFT LEGS OFF GROUND AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE 4. PUSH-UP POSITION HIP EXTENSION 10 REPS EA LEG x 2 SETS ASSUME A PROPER PUSH-UP POSITION, WITH ARMS EXTENDED AND HIPS INLINE WITH SHOULDERS RAISE ONE LEG, FOCUSING ON KEEPING IT FULLY EXTENDED WITH TOE POINTING DOWN. ONLY RAISE THE LEG UP TO THE POINT THAT THE HIPS ROLL FORWARD. 5. GRASSHOPPERS 10 x EACH LEG x 2 SETS WHILE KEEPING YOUR HANDS ON THE FLOOR, SLIGHTLY LIFT YOUR RIGHT LEG AND SLIDE IT UNDER YOUR CHEST UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE GROUND ON YOUR LEFT SIDE WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, REVERSE DIRECTIONS AND SLIDE YOUR LEFT LEG OVER TO YOUR RIGHT SIDE 6. STABILIZATION BRIDGE HOLD FOR 30 SECONDS x 3 TIMES DRAW LOWER ABDOMEN TOWARDS THE SPINE. CONTRACT THE GLUTEUS AND LIFT BODY OFF THE FLOOR AND ONTO FOREARMS. 1. PUSH-UP POSITION HIP EXTENSION 10 REPS EACH LEG ASSUME A PROPER PUSH-UP POSITION, WITH ARMS EXTENDED AND HIPS INLINE WITH SHOULDERS RAISE ONE LEG, FOCUSING ON KEEPING IT FULLY EXTENDED WITH TOE POINTING DOWN. ONLY RAISE THE LEG UP TO THE POINT THAT THE HIPS ROLL FORWARD. 2. JACK KNIFE 10 REPS BEGIN LAYING ON YOUR BACK WITH STRAIGHT LEGS AND ARMS EXTENDED OVER YOUR HEAD SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISE YOUR ARMS AND LEGS IN THE AIR ABOVE YOUR MIDSECTION TOUCH YOUR HANDS TO YOUR FEET. RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION BY LOWERING YOUR ARMS AND LEGS TO THE GROUND INHALE UP, EXHALE DOWN. 3. DIVE BOMBERS 10 REPS BEGIN WITH HANDS ON THE GROUND, SHOULDER WIDTH APART. YOUR FEET ARE ON THE GROUND AND YOUR LEGS ARE ALSO SHOULDER WIDTH APART. WITH YOUR BUTTOCKS IN THE AIR AND HEAD LOOKING BACK TOWARD HEALS. INHALE BEND YOUR ELBOWS AND LOWER BODY IN A CIRCULAR ARC, UNTIL YOUR ARMS ARE STRAIGHT. YOUR CHEST IS UP AND YOUR HIPS ARE ALMOST TOUCHING THE GROUND. LOOK TO THE SKY. EXHALE. RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION BY PUSHING BACK TOWARD YOUR HEELS, STRAIGHTENING YOUR ARMS, AND STRETCHING YOUR LEGS BACK TO SAME POSITION AS DESCRIBED BY NUMBER ONE. 4. STABILIZATION BRIDGE 3 x 30 SECONDS DRAW LOWER ABDOMEN TOWARDS THE SPINE. CONTRACT THE GLUTEUS AND LIFT BODY OFF THE FLOOR AND ONTO FOREARMS. P0UR P0R TNR C0RR" PLTR 9RRlR9
EXERCISES ARE TO BE PERFORMED WITH A 35 OR 45 LB PLATE ONE SET EQUALS 15 REPS OF EACH EXERCISE DONE BACK TO BACK (NO REST)
9N0UL0RR PRRN0 Y-T-I ROUTINE 1. LIE FACE DOWN ON BENCH WITH LIGHT DUMBBELLS. 2. WITH A THUMBS UP GRIP AND YOUR ARMS FORMING A Y WITH YOUR BODY, SLOWLY RAISE AND LOWER THE DUMBBELL FOR 10 REPS. 3. FORM A T WITH ARMS OUT TO YOUR SIDE, THUMBS UP, SLOWLY RAISE AND LOWER WEIGHT FOR 12-15 REPS. 4. KEEP ARMS AT SIDES, PARALLEL TO BODY WITH PALMS UP, SLOWLY RAISE AND LOWER WEIGHT FOR 12-15 REPS. ROTATOR CUFF ROUTINE THE EXERCISES DESCRIBED BELOW ARE TO HELP YOU STRENGTHEN THE MUSCLES IN YOUR SHOULDER (ESPECIALLY THE ROTATOR CUFF --THE PART THAT HELPS CIRCULAR MOTION-- MUSCLES). THESE EXERCISES SHOULD NOT CAUSE YOU PAIN. IF THE EXERCISE HURTS, STOP EXERCISING. START AGAIN WITH A LIGHTER WEIGHT. LOOK AT THE PICTURES WITH EACH EXERCISE SO YOU CAN USE THE CORRECT POSITION. WARM UP BEFORE ADDING WEIGHTS. STRETCH YOUR ARMS AND SHOULDERS, AND DO PENDULUM EXERCISES: BEND FROM THE WAIST, LETTING YOUR ARMS HANG DOWN. KEEP YOUR ARM AND SHOULDER MUSCLES RELAXED, AND MOVE YOUR ARMS SLOWLY BACK AND FORTH. PERFORM EACH EXERCISE SLOWLY: LIFT YOUR ARM TO A SLOW COUNT OF 3 AND LOWER YOUR ARM TO A SLOW COUNT OF 6. EXERCISE 1 START BY LYING ON YOUR STOMACH ON A TABLE OR A BED. PUT YOUR LEFT ARM OUT AT SHOULDER LEVEL WITH YOUR ELBOW BENT TO 90AND YOUR HAND DOWN. KEEP YOUR ELBOW BENT, AND SLOWLY RAISE YOUR LEFT HAND. STOP WHEN YOUR HAND IS LEVEL WITH YOUR SHOULDER. LOWER THE HAND SLOWLY. REPEAT THE EXERCISE UNTIL YOUR ARM IS TIRED. THEN DO THE EXERCISE WITH YOUR RIGHT ARM. EXERCISE 2 LIE ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE WITH A ROLLED-UP TOWEL UNDER YOUR RIGHT ARMPIT. STRETCH YOUR RIGHT ARM ABOVE YOUR HEAD. KEEP YOUR LEFT ARM AT YOUR SIDE WITH YOUR ELBOW BENT TO 90AND THE FOREARM RESTING AGAINST YOUR CHEST, PALM DOWN. ROLL YOUR LEFT SHOULDER OUT, RAISING THE LEFT FOREARM UNTIL IT'S LEVEL WITH YOUR SHOULDER. (HINT: THIS IS LIKE THE BACKHAND SWING IN TENNIS.) LOWER THE ARM SLOWLY. REPEAT THE EXERCISE UNTIL YOUR ARM IS TIRED. THEN DO THE EXERCISE WITH YOUR RIGHT ARM. EXERCISE 3 LIE ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE. KEEP YOUR LEFT ARM ALONG THE UPPER SIDE OF YOUR BODY. BEND YOUR RIGHT ELBOW TO 90. KEEP THE RIGHT FOREARM RESTING ON THE TABLE. NOW ROLL YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER IN, RAISING YOUR RIGHT FOREARM UP TO YOUR CHEST. (HINT: THIS IS LIKE THE FOREHAND SWING IN TENNIS.) LOWER THE FOREARM SLOWLY. REPEAT THE EXERCISE UNTIL YOUR ARM IS TIRED. THEN DO THE EXERCISE WITH YOUR LEFT ARM. EXERCISE 4 IN A STANDING POSITION, START WITH YOUR RIGHT ARM HALFWAY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND SIDE OF YOUR BODY, THUMB DOWN. (YOU MAY NEED TO RAISE YOUR LEFT ARM FOR BALANCE.) RAISE YOUR RIGHT ARM UNTIL ALMOST LEVEL (ABOUT A 45ANGLE). (HINT: THIS IS LIKE EMPTYING A CAN.) DON'T LIFT BEYOND THE POINT OF PAIN. SLOWLY LOWER YOUR ARM. REPEAT THE EXERCISE UNTIL YOUR ARM IS TIRED. THEN DO THE EXERCISE WITH YOUR LEFT ARM.
Plyometric Exercises
ANKLE HOPS BEGIN WITH A SLIGHT COUNTERMOVEMENT (SLIGHTLY DIPPING THE KNEES). PROPEL THE BODY STRAIGHT UP USING ONLY THE ANKLES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. LAND IN THE STARTING POSITION AND IMMEDIATELY REPEAT THE MOVEMENT. s q uat j umps ASSUME A SQUAT POSITION WITH HANDS PLACED BEHIND HEAD. JUMP STRAIGHT UP FORCEFULLY AND RETURN TO STARTING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY REPEAT THE MOVEMENT. LATERAL CONE J UMPS JUMP OVER THE CONE LATERALLY WHILE PULLING LEGS TO CHEST IMMEDIATELY CHANGE DIRECTION AND JUMP BACK TO STARTING POSITION. REPEAT FOR DESIRED NUMBER OF JUMPS. SPLIT SQUAT j umps ASSUME A LUNGE POSITION, JUMP UPWARD USING THE FRONT LEG, WHILE IN THE AIR SWITCH LEGS LAND IN THE LUNGE POSITION IMMEDIATELY REPEAT SWITCHING LEGS ON EACH JUMP PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES DOUBLE LEG TUCK j umps ASSUME SHOULDER-WIDTH STANCE. BEGIN WITH A COUNTERMOVEMENT, FORCEFULLY JUMP STRAIGHT UP. PULL THE KNEES INTO THE CHEST AND GRAB BOTH KNEES WITH BOTH ARMS. RELEASE BEFORE LANDING. UPON LANDING IN THE STARTING POSITION, REPEAT JUMP IMMEDIATELY. CAN SWING ONE OR BOTH ARMS TO PROPEL BODY UPWARDS. STANDING TRIPLE J UMP BEGIN WITH A RAPID JUMP OFF OF TWO FEET, TRYING FOR MAXIMUM DISTANCE. LAND ON RIGHT LEG, IMMEDIATELY JUMP OFF OF RIGHT LEG AND LAND ON LEFT FOOT. IMMEDIATELY PUSH OFF LEFT FOOT AND LAND ON BOTH FEET. STRIVE FOR MAXIMUM DISTANCE ON EACH JUMP. STANDING LONG j umps ASSUME SHOULDER-WIDTH STANCE. SWING BOTH ARMS FIRST BACKWARDS, THEN FORWARDS WHILE SLIGHTLY FLEXING THE KNEES. JUMP AS FAR FORWARD AND AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE. LAND IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION AND IMMEDIATELY JUMP AGAIN. ALTERNATE LEG BOUND JOG INTO THE START OF THE EXERCISE PUSH OFF WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT AND BRING THE LEG FORWARD, WITH THE KNEE BENT AND THE THIGH PARALLEL TO THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME, REACH FORWARD WITH YOUR RIGHT ARM. AS THE LEFT LEG COMES THROUGH, THE RIGHT LEG EXTENDS BACK AND REMAINS EXTENDED FOR THE DURATION OF THE PUSH-OFF HOLD THIS EXTENDED STRIDE FOR A BRIEF TIME, THEN LAND ON YOUR LEFT FOOT THE RIGHT LEG THEN DRIVES THROUGH TO A FORWARD BENT POSITION, THE LEFT ARM REACHES FORWARD, AND THE LEFT LEG EXTENDS BACKWARD MAKE EACH STRIDE LONG, AND TRY TO COVER AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE YOU SHOULD LAND ON THE SOLE OF THE FOOT (FLAT FOOTED), ALLOWING ENERGY TO BE STORED BY THE ELASTIC COMPONENTS OF THE LEG MUSCLES, AND IMMEDIATELY TAKE OFF AGAIN PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES DOUBLE LEG HOPS FROM ATHLETIC POSITION, JUMP UP & OUT, TRY TO REACH MAXIMAL DISTANCE AND SOME HEIGHT. FLEX KNEES AND BRING SLIGHTLY UNDER BUTTOCK, LAND AND IMMEDIATELY REPEAT. FOOT CONTACT TIME SHOULD BE MINIMAL. HEIDEN J UMPS ATHLETE STANDS WITH FEET SHOULDER-WIDTH APART. BEGIN MOVEMENT WITH A DOUBLE ARM SWING, SLIGHT BENDING OF KNEES. JUMP OFF RIGHT LEG TO THE LEFT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE LANDING ON THE LEFT FOOT UPON LANDING, ATHLETE IMMEDIATELY PUSHES OFF THE LEFT LEG AND JUMPS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS MOVEMENT IS INCREASED THE FARTHER THE ATHLETE JUMPS. THE MOVEMENT SHOULD RESEMBLE A SKATING MOTION BACK AND FORTH DOUBLE LEG VERTICAL POWER j umps ASSUME SHOULDER-WIDTH STANCE. USING A SLIGHT COUNTERMOVEMENT (KNEE DIP) & JUMP VERTICALLY AS FORCEFULLY AS POSSIBLE, REACHING UPWARDS. LAND IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION AND IMMEDIATELY REPEAT. CAN SWING ONE OR BOTH ARMS TO PROPEL BODY UPWARDS. PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES
Flexibility
LEG SWINGS STAND WITH FEET A LITTLE CLOSER THAN SHOULDER WIDTH APART. BALANCE ON LEFT FOOT. SWING RIGHT LEG FORWARD (IT SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN A FOOT AND A HALF OFF GROUND) THEN BACK UNTIL IT PASSES BEHIND YOUR LEFT FOOT. CONTINUE SWINGS FOR 15 SECONDS. SWITCH TO LEFT FOOT AND REPEAT. DO 4 TIMES FOR EACH LEG. MOVEMENT SHOULD BE AT THE HIP WITH THE KNEE LOCKED, OR SLIGHTLY BENT. IN A SIMILAR MANNER, SWING LEG AT AN ANGLE, AWAY FROM BODY, DO BOTH LEGS 15 SECONDS, 4 TIMES EACH. REPEAT MOTION ACROSS BODY, AGAIN 4 TIMES FOR 15 SECONDS EACH. (WHEN EXERCISE BECOMES EASY PERFORM WITH EYES CLOSED. LATER, TRY LEG SWINGS WHILE PLAYING CATCH WITH A BALL.) PARTNER STRETCHING PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION (PNF) IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE BEST METHOD TO INCREASE OVERALL FLEXIBILITY IN TARGET MUSCLE GROUPS. IN SIMPLE TERMS, THIS INVOLVES THE TARGET MUSCLE GROUP BEING STRETCHED TO ITS MAXIMUM RANGE OF MOVEMENT (ROM), AT WHICH STAGE THE MUSCLE IS CONTRACTED STRONGLY FOR AT LEAST 6 TO 8 SECONDS. AT THIS POINT THE MUSCLE IS RELAXED BY A REFLEX TRIGGERED BY THE GOLGI TENDON ORGANS AND DELIBERATELY RELIEVED BY THE STRETCHER. ONCE THE STRETCH IS REAPPLIED, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE MUSCLE GROUP SLIGHTLY FURTHER THAN ON THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPT, EVENTUALLY REACHING THE MAXIMUM ROM. WITH WORK, THE ROM SHOULD INCREASE, RESULTING IN IMPROVED FLEXIBILITY. ALTHOUGH PNF TECHNIQUES MAY BE EXECUTED QUITE EFFECTIVELY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, IT IS OFTEN EASIER TO HAVE A PARTNER TO WORK WITH AS THEY ARE ABLE TO CHECK THAT THE SUBJECT'S BODY AND JOINTS ARE ALIGNED CORRECTLY FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT. ALL THE FOLLOWING STRETCHES ARE PARTNER BASED FOR THIS REASON. BENT LEG HAMS MUSCLE GROUP: HAMSTRINGS THE STRETCHER LIES FLAT ON THE FLOOR, THE LEFT LEG STRAIGHT AND THE RIGHT KNEE BENT AND LIFTED AS FAR TOWARDS THE CHEST AS IS COMFORTABLE. THE PARTNER THEN PLACES THE STRETCHER'S RIGHT FOOT ON THEIR SHOULDER WITH THEIR RIGHT HAND ON TOP OF THE STRETCHER'S LEFT THIGH IN ORDER TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT AND THEIR LEFT HAND BEHIND THE STRETCHER'S RIGHT KNEE TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE LEG. THE STRETCHER NOW ATTEMPTS TO PUSH THEIR LEG DOWN TOWARDS THE FLOOR (ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION) FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 6 SECONDS, DURING WHICH TIME THEIR PARTNER RESISTS THE MOVEMENT. THE STRETCHER SHOULD NOW RELAX FOR AN EQUAL PERIOD BEFORE THEIR PARTNER BEGINS TO STRAIGHTEN THE STRETCHER'S KNEE SLIGHTLY IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE STRETCH. REPEAT THIS METHOD FOR UP TO FOUR TIMES, TAKING CARE NOT TO EXCEED THE STRETCHER'S ROM THEN PERFORM THE SAME STRETCH ON THE LEFT LEG. SUPINE STRAIGHT LEG HAMS MUSCLE GROUP: HAMSTRINGS THE STRETCHER LIES FLAT ON THE FLOOR WITH BOTH LEGS STRAIGHT. THE LEFT LEG IS THEN RAISED, KEEPING THE KNEE STRAIGHTENED, UNTIL THE CURRENT MAXIMUM ROM IS ACHIEVED. AT THIS POINT, THE PARTNER SUPPORTS THE LEG BY THE HEEL AND JUST BELOW THE KNEE AND RESISTS ANY MOVEMENT AS THE STRETCHER TRIES TO BRING THEIR LEG BACK DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THIS ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION SHOULD LAST FOR ABOUT 6 SECONDS, FOLLOWING WHICH THE STRETCHER SHOULD RELAX FOR A SIMILAR PERIOD, THE LEG RAISED A LITTLE FURTHER AND THE STRETCH REINITIATED. REPEAT THIS METHOD UP TO FOUR TIMES, TAKING CARE NOT TO EXCEED THE STRETCHER'S MAXIMUM RANGE OF MOVEMENT (ROM) THEN PERFORM THE SAME STRETCH ON THE LEFT LEG. NOTE: FOR THIS STRETCH TO BE EFFECTIVE, THE SUBJECT'S HIPS SHOULD REMAIN PARALLEL AND FLAT TO THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE TECHNIQUE. SITTING INNER THIGH MUSCLE GROUP: SHORT ADDUCTORS THE STRETCHER SITS ON THE FLOOR WITH A STRAIGHT BACK AND THE SOLES OF BOTH FEET PRESSED TOGETHER, AS CLOSE TO THE GROIN AS IS COMFORTABLE. THE STRETCHER THEN MOVES THEIR KNEES TOWARDS THE GROUND UNASSISTED AND WITHOUT SEPARATING THE FEET. ONCE THE MAXIMUM UNASSISTED ROM HAS BEEN REACHED, THE PARTNER PLACES A HAND ON THE INSIDE OF EACH KNEE AND RESISTS THE MOVEMENT AS THE STRETCHER ATTEMPTS TO BRING THE KNEES TOGETHER. THIS PROCESS SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 6 SECONDS BEFORE THE STRETCHER RELAXES FOR A SIMILAR PERIOD AS THEIR PARTNER GENTLY ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE STRETCHER'S KNEES STILL LOWER. REPEAT THIS SEQUENCE FOR UP TO FOUR TIMES, TAKING CARE NOT TO EXCEED THE STRETCHER'S MAXIMUM ROM. SIDE LEG LIFTS MUSCLE GROUP: LONG ADDUCTORS THE STRETCHER LIES ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE LEFT KNEE BENT AT THE KNEE AND THE RIGHT LEG FULLY EXTENDED, KEEPING BOTH THIGHS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE TORSO (I.E. BOTH KNEES SHOULD BE LEVEL WITH THE HIPS AND SHOULDERS). THE STRETCHER THEN LIFTS THE RIGHT LEG DIRECTLY UPWARDS AS FAR AS IS COMFORTABLE, WHERE UPON THEIR PARTNER SUPPORTS THE FOOT AND RESISTS ANY MOVEMENT AS THE STRETCHER USES THE LONG ADDUCTORS TO BRING THE FOOT BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND FOR A PERIOD OF 6 SECONDS. THE STRETCHER THEN RELAXES FOR SIX SECONDS AND THEIR PARTNER EASES THE FOOT SLIGHTLY HIGHER. THE STRETCH IS REPEATED FOR UP TO FOUR TIMES, TAKING CARE NOT TO EXCEED THE STRETCHER'S MAXIMUM RANGE OF MOVEMENT (ROM), BEFORE PERFORMING THE SAME STRETCH ON THE LEFT LEG.