2 Insanely Effective Mobility Exercises for the Lower Body

Here are two exercises I just filmed on my alternative YouTube channel (Muscle VIP).    Both are highly effective for increasing the mobility of the hips, dynamically stretching the hamstrings and warming-up the entire body for a training session.

Spiderman Crawls (with Rotation)

Coaching Cues:

• Stay low to the ground
• Keep a neutral torso and head position
• Try and lay forearm to ground on initial movement
• Rotate toward the forward leg
• Watch hand during rotation
  

Squat to Stand

Coaching Cues:

• Grab under foot and hold throughout
• Drive hips upward straightening knees, dropping the head (dynamic stretching of hamstrings)
• Swing hips through while pushing chest through and upward
• Head should be in neutral
• Drive knees outward with elbows
  

Diesel Crew Compilation 2009-2010

by Jim Smith, CSCS

Finally, a new video compilation of training here at the compound.  I haven’t made one in years, but the last video compilation I made inspired so many.

Hopefully this new video will do the same.  It contains some never-before-seen footage and exercises guaranteed to kick your training programs in overdrive.

As always, please click on the video itself and when it takes you to YouTube, please “LIKE” the video at the bottom left.  It really helps with ranking!

INNOVATIVE SLED DRAGGING VARIATION

by Jim Smith, CSCS

Today we are going to talk about sled dragging and a very unique variation I came up with.  Most  anaerobic alactic / anaerobic lactic sports (especially combat athletics) require not only specific metabolic adaptations but a general conditioning foundation (GPP).  It is this foundation that allows more specific, higher level conditioning to be implemented and developed.

Sled dragging is an excellent tool to help develop this general conditioning baseline.

Different types of sled dragging:

• forward dragging
• backward dragging
• lateral dragging
• rotational dragging

You can also attach different attachments to the sled to drag it to make it more difficult

• tow ropes
• thick ropes
• thick “V” handle
• and now a car tire!

The Setup

Hook the tow rope through the car tire and anchor it back onto the sled.  Grab over the circumference of the tire and perform a tight chest crush.  Now walk backwards.  We also did a variation where we perform a strong rotation to move the sled.

Standard Setup

Holding Lacrosse Balls

In the video I show another variation of holding lacrosse balls.  This makes the chest crush even harder.

Cool Metabolic Core Training Exercise

Great for Conditioning and Power

Check out this cool exercise from Martin Rooney.  He demonstrates the proper execution of the movement with a powerful rowing motion with the arms and an explosive flexion at the hips.  Pulling in the lats and upper back is key to any real core training movement.
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Hardest Core Exercise EVER

Part 1

I am starting a new series on Diesel to really jack up your core training.  It is titled the “Hardest Core Exercise EVER” series.  It will contain some of the hardest core training exercises ever created.  Most are used with the athletes or bodybuilders I train at Diesel.  Needless to say, there are very tough.
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