Everyday Systems

Hello, people!

I don't usually post 'round here, but I do lurk and read.. Anyway, I found this link on working with sledgehammers: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/inmag10.htm, and wanted to share it.

Admittedly, it's more of a summertime-workout, but it's something to look forward to, I guess.

Ink

This is precisely what I do when there's daylight. I've been doing this on and off for over a year. It's a great variant on straight SG.

I guess I like the fact that there is actual impact involved.. This is to SG what heavy bag work is to shadowboxing.

Thanks for the link, Ink.

It's a decisive tad too inconvenient/public for me to actually do, but
it looks like a lot of fun.

Reinhard

I was toying with calling this variant "Tire Iron", to give it a clever, EDS name.

I have done it in my basement, too. It disturbs the peace at home though, so now I stick to outside.

Thanks for the link.

Kevin: "Tire Iron" sounds real good! It's got a nice ring to it.

What size tire do you use? I've got a friend who works at the junkyard, so I can get my hands on anything up to and including tractor-size tires. Not that I've got room for anything that big..

Reinhard: The neighbors probably think I'm crazy, anyway. Doing kettlebell drills in the yard and pullups on the garage is for some reason not considered normal here in Norway. Or anywhere, I guess.

I use a light truck tire... it's measured in U.S. measures. I believe it's 16x33. It's the size of tire that you might find on a large U.S. pickup truck.

By the way, I've "broken" the side walls on several tires, so you may actually "use them up".

I would find a good size tire with a flat tread surface - that is a tire that will be easy to stand on end - because you'll stand it up against the garage wall to take "chop the tree" strokes at it. I don't think you have to get a tractor tire or anything like that, just a good size truck tire. Also, a tire that size makes an excellent implement for lifting and tossing, which is exceptional "power" exercise. Squat, flip, repeat. You'll be breathing hard in 20 reps.

Another thing I like about it is you get the impact. Though I worry that that might not be such a good thing done daily for many years... Still, mixed in with vanilla shovelglove, could be very nice.

There's also a restrained elegance in not actually smashing anything. Sort of like "I in my awesome power will NOT destroy you. Behold my awesome power and CONTROL." It's (slightly) sublimated brutality.

Not to knock tire bashing. It sounds excellent in many respects (and that guy is HUGE!), and I'd probably do it myself if I lived somewhere less densely populated.

Reinhard

Also, I think the act of halting the Sledgehammer brings into play the muscles in a different way, that may be more beneficial than the jaring impact of hitting something.

I agree that pounding the tire every day could be a little too much. Alternating with SGing or other types of slow/controlled weight training is probably the best alternative.

Heretic that I am, I'm trying to gain a bit of weight. Using tire bashing and walking as my preferred modes of GPP/cardio instead of running and the like should facilitate muscle (and not fat) gain. I hope.

....and it's a lot more fun than jogging or running are, too

C.

In my (for once, informed) opinion, Impacting a tire is actually a lot easier on your connective tissue than "braking" the hammer. The tire is a very soft impact. It's not like hitting the ground, or splitting wood, it's much softer than that. I wouldn't have a worry in the world about it being hard on you.

I got a used truck tire from my father-in-law (he works at Big-O) and started whacking it last week. I have to say that it makes a nice finish to a SG workout. I would advise wearing gloves if you handle a used tire, not only are they dirty, but some of the steel belt thingys can get broken and be quite spikey.

In my experience, it's more aerobic and less muscle building. That is, I breath harder, but my arms aren't as sore. I'm guessing this is because I'm not "braking" the hammer on the downstroke.

What's you feel?