Essential Lower Body Training for Athletes

One of the biggest mistakes you’ll see in a strength program designed for athletes (or anyone for that matter) is the exclusion on unilateral lower body work.  Of course the foundational compound movements like the bench, squat, deadlift, military press, power clean & press, pull-ups, etc. have to be there.

But the supplemental work pulls everything together.   Common lower body unilateral exercises include; lunges, step-ups, Bulgarian split squats, power skips, one leg glute bridges and one leg hip extensions on bench.

In addition to building a well balanced program, unilateral lower body work will also reveal imbalances that are “masked” with conventional bilateral barbell work.

Does the athlete shift left or right when performing lunges?

Does the athlete fall forward during db step-ups?

Everything you have the athlete do is a screening opportunity for you as a coach.  Always be watching!

Benefits of Unilateral Lower Body Training

• stabilization of appropriate lower kinetic segments (ankles, knees, hips, torso)
• mobility of appropriate lower kinetic segments (ankles, hips)
• balance, coordination, proprioception
• torso rigidity
• mental toughness / acuity / alertness
• improved reactivity
• charged CNS
• dynamic stretching of the hips, glutes and hamstrings

How to Modify Unilateral Lower Body Training

• overloaded – with chains, dumbbells, kettlebells, sandbags, barbells, weight vest, partner’s bodyweight
• explosive – done explosively
• static – EQI’s
• barefoot – all done barefoot, highly recommended!
• hybrids – movement of the upper body independent of the lower body’s movement, ie.  lunges with twist

In the article today, I will be showing you two advanced unilateral lower body exercises.  Both should be done once the athlete demonstrates proficiency in their progressive transitional components.

Braced Bulgarian Split Squats

Key Coaching Points:

1. Upright torso posture
2. Brace core outward, and hold isometrically
3. Center weight in the middle of your foot and anchor foot by grabbing floor with your toes

Explosive Bulgarian Split Jumps

Key Coaching Points:

1. Spend as little time on the ground as possible
2. Explode up as hard as possible and flow between reps without stopping
3. Stay upright as possible throughout the movement

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Exclusive Interview – Martin Rooney – Part 1

Just got back from Fair Lawn, NJ for an exclusive interview with Martin Rooney.  After training at the Parisi Speed School, Martin and I sat down for this 30+ minute interview done for Elitefts.com.

You Could Win a FREE DVD If You Can Beat This Time!

——————————–
Rules for the Contest
——————————–
TIME TO BEAT: 1:53  min:sec

1. Film yourself lunging with 50 lbs for 100 yards. You could hold 2 – 25lb dumbbells in your hand, or put a 50 lb sandbag on your shoulder, or a weighted back pack, it doesn’t matter.
2. Load video into Youtube with the title: Lunges of Death Contest Entry – www.DieselCrew.com
3. Email me at smitty [dot] diesel [at] gmail.com with the video link
4. Lunges must be legitimate, judged by me.

Entries are put into drawing to win renowned 2-Disc Combat Core DVD set HERE:

http://www.combatcorestrength.com/combat-core-DVD.htm

Here is an old video of us hitting heavy support grip holds for time on the GRex.

Support grip is one component of grip strength. The others are crush, pinch, wrist postures and hand health.

Grip strength is the forgotten element of functional training and is essential since the hands are involved in all athletic and strength training endeavor (including building muscle or losing fat).

In fact the hands are the end point of the kinetic chain, so they must be developed if we hope to transfer the power created and accumulated from our bodies and express it through our hands.

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs | Build Muscle, Muscle Gaining Workouts | Build Muscle Membership Site

You’ve probably heard of using foam in the weightroom.  Previously, you might have only thought of using it for resting your knee on, while your stretching your hip flexors.

Well, a recent talk with Mike Hanley of HanleyStrength.com changed that.

He told me that he had his clients marching on thick foam to help with their knee and hip problems.  He said Louie Simmons had told him about it.   How he has been using it for activation and rehab purposes.

It is also well recognized in the powerlifting community that foam can also be used on the box squat, and we will talk about this too, later in this article.

Now, this of course got me thinking about other uses of foam.  I ordered a few blocks and started incorporating it into my program and the program of my clients.

Let’s look at a few different ways that you can incorporate foam into the weightroom.

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Quick Studies:

As you learned in the Chaos Manual:

Unstable foam surface = good rehab

Unstable foam surface = not good for power development

Studies from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) confirm my publication:

“Instability resistance exercises induce high muscle activation of postural limb and trunk muscles. The increased activation has been attributed to the increased stabilization functions.  Instability resistance training with its high muscle activation and lower external stress on joints could also be beneficial for general musculoskeletal health and certain types of rehabilitation.”

“Unstable conditions can lead to decreased force and power output, decreased range of motion and velocity. Furthermore ground based weight training exercises such as squats and dead lifts can provide equal or greater trunk activation than using instability devices. Another study has also reported that highly trained individuals do not experience greater trunk activation when performing exercises under light or moderately unstable conditions.”

“Since many of the benefits of instability devices can be achieved with high resistance involving ground based free weights, advanced resistance trained individuals may not need to emphasize this type of training in their strength and power training programs.”

“The benefits of instability resistance training may be more pronounced for those individuals pursuing primarily general health and rehabilitation benefits and not participating in training with free weights involving high loads.”

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This video demonstrates a tornado ball rotation while bridging on a swiss ball. Dynamic stabilization of the entire torso; the abdominals AND posterior chain. The lifter has to bridge and remain parallel to the floor throughout the movement and remain fixed while the tornado ball is rotating.

If you do not have a tornado ball, a med ball in a sandbag/dufflebag/pillow case can be used.

The great thing about this exercise is that the lifter is isometrically contracting the anterior and posterior chains against a dynamic, ever changing tension.  This increases the frequency AND intensity of the motor unit recruitment which is exponentially more beneficial than a static, long duration contraction.  Not only that, there is also a deceleration and acceleration component to the lift as well.

Think interval training rather than slow, low intensity treadmill.

Also, this version is easier on the shoulders than the standard swinging overhead version of the tornado ball.

Oh yeah, the video is a LITTLE FOGGY :).  We were in the middle of a conditioning circuit and the camera guy was heated!

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Got Torso Strength?

The core is not only about building strength in fixed movement patterns, it is also defined as developing the required torso rigidity (isometric contraction of the anterior and posterior chains) to prevent injury and express power.

Lats are part of the core too!

In this new video, you’ll see another Diesel Crew original, Kettlebell Rocks.  They are named rocks because you have to remain rigid and unwavering during the partner engagement.

The partner will throw the kb side to side at the peak of the swing.  This is the exact moment that the lifter will brace, flex their lats, contract their abdominals and entire posterior chain to keep the kb path in line with a conventional swing.

The partner should be forceful and not tentative with their part of the movement.  This movement is very CNS intensive and because of this, I would recommend anywhere from 8-12 reps to ensure quality.

Embed this video on your blog or point to it in your newsletter, let’s get the word out.

Oh yeah, check out the side bar.  Make sure you follow us AND send me an email to let me know what your favorite Diesel articles and videos are and we’ll get them up in our new Popular section!

If you want to learn more about strengthening the core, pick up the product that Eric Cressey called “the best product of 2008!”

Thanks everyone,

Smitty

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You might be wondering to yourself why is Konstantinov, arguably one of the best deadlifters in the world, wearing his belt so high in this deadlift video.

Well, to the untrained eye, his belt is WAY TOO high and he is going to get injured.

BUT,

Upon further inspection, you can see that through the years, Konstantinov has:

– perfected his deadlift form

– isolated and created strength and rigidity in the segments (lower lumbar L2-S1) of his spine that REQUIRE stability

– built up strength, thickness and muscle hypertrophy in the musculature surrounding* the spine in the area that resists anterior SHEAR forces under load.

* Most notably the longissimus thoracis.

When the spine is neutral the pennation of the longissimus aligns at approximately 45 degress to resist shear force, ie. protect your back and provide the stiffness to deadlift or squat without injury.

So, Konstantinov is using the belt correctly for his body type (antrhopometry).  He is bracing his abdominals outward via a powerful isometric contraction and utilizing intra-abdominal pressure to push out against the belt, which is aligned across the musculature taking the load, ie. the thoracic portion of the longissimus (one of the spinal erectors).

References:

Mcgill – Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance

Eric Cressey & Mike Robertson

Combat Core

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This video shows one arm floor presses with a dumbbell.  The goal is to isolate the pressing arm with no leg drive.

Benefits:
Build Tricep Strength
Increase Pressing Power
Build Shoulder Stability

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AB(Duction) Band Squats

Benefits:
No More Knee Pain
Hit Your Squat Depth
Improve Hip Mobility
Activates Glutes
Activates / Strengthens Hip Abductors
Improves Patella Tracking

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

AB(Duction) Band Squats

Benefits:
No More Knee Pain
Hit Your Squat Depth
Improve Hip Mobility
Activates Glutes
Activates / Strengthens Hip Abductors
Improves Patella Tracking

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

Here is footage of Brad and Eli squatting.

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Here is a video of some unique step-up squat variations.

VERSIONS
1. Standard – Straight down with back leg, focusing on driving through lead leg
2. Extended Back Leg – Creating more of a hip dominant movements, increasing hip strength mobility
3. Extended Back Leg onto FOAM – Creating more of a hip dominant movements, increasing hip strength mobility, forcing all the focus on the lead leg, negating driving off back foot

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

How to Build Muscle | Muscle Building Workouts | How to Lose Fat | Six Pack Abs

Check out my new article in Men’s Fitness.  The original article was titled How to Increase Punching Power for MMA Athletes, but it has been restructured to:

Get a Fighter’s Physique

Throw serious punches to build muscle and burn fat

Get yourself a copy of the magazine for this month, or check it out online.  The article comes with a pretty extensive workout program.  In the magazine, I have a couple other small blurbs too!

Men’s Fitness Article HERE

Check out my new article in Men’s Fitness.  The original article was titled How to Increase Punching Power for MMA Athletes, but it has been restructured to:

Get a Fighter’s Physique

Throw serious punches to build muscle and burn fat

Get yourself a copy of the magazine for this month, or check it out online.  The article comes with a pretty extensive workout program.  In the magazine, I have a couple other small blurbs too!

Men’s Fitness Article HERE

Utilizing an Elite Swiss Bar, grappler presses build isometric and decelerative strength in the biceps, shoulders and back.  Football players, grapplers, combat athletes, rugby players and many other sports will benefit from this movement.

Here’s an example of an anaerobic conditioning circuit for a wrestler or combat athlete.

1a)  Hindu-Push-ups, 30 sec

1b)  Power Rope Double Slams, 30 sec

1c)  KB swings, 30 sec

1d)  Overhead Med Ball Squats, 30 sec

1e)  Partner Zercher Good Mornings, 30 sec

1f)  DB Clean & Press, 30 sec

The athletes will do as many reps as possible in the 30 second blocks and switch on the whistle.  Each run is roughly 3:30 minutes.  3 minutes of resistance and :30 seconds of total rest which is the accumulated time to switch between exercises.  Run through this circuit 3-5 runs, dependent upon the sport.

Here is the video that I promised for this previous post located here:

http://www.dieselcrew.com/tire-flipping-modification/

It is not hard to incorporate strongman training techniques in your athletes programs, but you have to make sure the technique is right.

Otherwise, the benefit will not outweigh the risks.

Key points:

– Do not deadlift the tire
– Keep arms straight
– Hips back
– Drive through the tire
– Do not deadlift the tire

If you are TOO CLOSE TO THE TIRE when flipping (i.e. deadlifting the tire) when you STAND UP you are in a bad spot and have to wrestle with the tire with your biceps. Also, a more athletic position starts with your hips back (in about a 45deg angle) and driving forward.

The video also demonstrates a quick way to modify a tire to make it easier for younger athletes or for tires with bad tread and low profiles.

Smitty

Most strength coaches teach tire flipping all wrong!

Are you in this group?

Do you tell your athletes to get real close to the tire, setup in a deadlift stance and lift.

WRONG!

You are immediately in a mechanical disadvantage, especially with a larger tire. To improve leg drive and explosiveness you have to setup with your feet and hips back and assume a posture at about a 45 degree incline.  If you are too close, after the initial lift, you’ll be fighting with the tire on your knee and with your biceps in a bad position.  Watch the pros, their hips are back and they drive the tire with their chest, not lift straight up.

Do you tell your athlete to lift straight up?

WRONG!

You have to drive through the tire with your chest, not lift with your arms. That is the first step in tearing or irritating your biceps.  And this will not work with a larger tire.  Your arms should be straight and with no degree of flexion.  You will get away with it with a smaller (lighter) tire, but you should drill good form so that as you progress to larger tires, you don’t run into problems.

VIDEO COMING…

Smitty

Nick McKinless

Photo courtesy of beyondstrong.typepad.com

Tip #1 – Falling Forward in the Hole

– Keep elbows facing down

– Chest up, head up

– Keep weight on heels

– Force abdominals out, create intra-abdominal pressure with breathing

– Incorporate Anderson (bottoms-up) squats at various pin levels

– Incorporate RDL’s, back extensions, bent over rows, good mornings and pullthroughs

Tip #2 – Not Going Deep Enough

– Work on hip mobility

– Stretch and activate glutes / rectus femoris / psoas

– Work on ankle mobility

– Widen stance slightly, toes turned out, knees tracking over toes

– Incorporate more full range, single leg movements

– Just go lower!

Tip #3 – Upper Back Rounding / Shoulders & Elbows Hurting

– work on thoracic mobility

– develop upper back musculature

– technique, technique, technique

– improve scapular mobility and strength of serratus anterior

– utilize specialty barbells until improvement is seen from corrective exercises

– incorporate more rowing and external rotation movements

– check mobility of opposite hip and ankle

Smitty

If you’ve been visiting Diesel for a while or read any of our articles, you know we’ve been hyping grip strength training for years. It is the endpoint of the kinetic chain and power is expressed through the hands.

Training for his upcoming fight Jens Pulver hits us with a very innovative training tip for grip strength.

Check it out:

Smitty

Rumor has it that a Kimbo vs. Tyson bout is a possibility. Kimbo first has to get through James “The Colossus” Thompson on May 31st. I last pics I saw of Tyson, he was about 300 lbs. That much weight on a 5′ 10″ frame isn’t a good thing for the former champ.

Obviously the fight would be a publicity stunt and wouldn’t prove anything as far as Kimbo’s legitimacy, but I’m sure Tyson could use the money.

I’ve been a Tyson fan since the beginning and think he was one of the top 5 heavyweights of all time, but Kimbo is in his prime right now (even though he is in his mid-30’s) and Tyson is far from his fighting weight.

It wouldn’t make it out of the first round, Kimbo by KO.

Weigh in with your predictions…

Smitty