Hello to all…
Hope you’re still motivated and making
progress with those New Year’s resolutions.
Before I get started discussing one of the “specialty bars”
for this month’s topic I want to throw out a reminder that Valentine’s Day is
only a few days away, so don’t forget! …and make sure you have something
planned for that special someone.
Ok, on to this month’s topic; “Specialty Bars”. Specialty Bars are commonly used with high level
athletic training, but can provide great options to the basic traditional lifts
as well as options for working around some injuries.
This month, lets take a look at the TRAP BAR – it is designed for use as an alternative to
regular barbell deadlifts. The trap bar design allows a more natural body
position compared to that of the regular barbell deadlift, where the bar is in
front of the body and requires a more equally distributed engagement of the
upper body and complete posterior chain. The trap bar is gripped with the hands
by your sides and the palms facing inward. This puts you in a more comfortable,
natural athletic position which targets the glutes and hamstrings more directly
and reducing some stress of the erectors and lower back.
While
regular barbell deadlifts will always arguably be the king of all lifts, the
trap bar deadlift can also build huge lower body power and could be a better
option for athletic training purposes or those with lower back concerns.
Check out this short video demonstration of a few Trap Bar
training options, including the deadlift.
Stronger hip flexors, hamstrings and glutes are not only
critical for athletic performance, that strength can also enhance climbing,
hiking, running, cycling etc.. How so? Well of course no lift can replace the
benefits of running to get better at running or honing specific techniques and
skills, however improving on strength training exercises that develop the
upperbody, posterior chain and core strength can improve joint integrity, help improve
or correct imbalances and develop the extra strength for sprint bursts up hills
or at the end of a race.
Don’t forget March 21
st, LT’s Primal Fitness in Asheville, N.C. will once again host on of
the State’s most popular drug free bench press competitions… the annual N.C.
BATTLE OF THE BENCH.
This event is the IBP (Iron Boy Powerlifting) N.C. State
Bench Press Championship and bench for reps competition.
IBP State and National bench press records will be on the
line!
http://www.ironboypowerlifting.com/IBPrecords1.html
FREE ADMISSION: Come on out and support this awesome event!
