Chop Tree
Chop Tree
OK, so what are people doing with this movement? I've only found one reference to it on the SG page.
I like to perform this one with the lighter sledge; I use my wife's 8 pounder.
Those baseball fans, this movement is very similar to a baseball stance and swing.
Stand with your feet wide. One hand at the base of the handle, the other as close as you can get to it while maintaining control of the sledgehammer. Start with the left hand on the bottom, and the right on top.
1. Use your ab muscles to pivot your shoulders to the right. Swing the hammer back, 2 feet-ish off the ground, getting ready to plunge your "axe" into the trunk of the mighty tree that stands before you.
2. After you've reared back, use your ab muscles to quickly bring your shoulders to the left. Keep the hammer at the same height and swing it around, stopping when the "axe" has hit the tree.
3. Repeat.
This exercise gets some serious momentum going. And in particular if you aren't used to working your abs, BE CAREFUL. Start slowly and work up a comfortable rhythm.
I put this into my 21-14-7 routine (tack it on to the end of 5b).
How are other people doing the "chop the tree" movement?
I like to perform this one with the lighter sledge; I use my wife's 8 pounder.
Those baseball fans, this movement is very similar to a baseball stance and swing.
Stand with your feet wide. One hand at the base of the handle, the other as close as you can get to it while maintaining control of the sledgehammer. Start with the left hand on the bottom, and the right on top.
1. Use your ab muscles to pivot your shoulders to the right. Swing the hammer back, 2 feet-ish off the ground, getting ready to plunge your "axe" into the trunk of the mighty tree that stands before you.
2. After you've reared back, use your ab muscles to quickly bring your shoulders to the left. Keep the hammer at the same height and swing it around, stopping when the "axe" has hit the tree.
3. Repeat.
This exercise gets some serious momentum going. And in particular if you aren't used to working your abs, BE CAREFUL. Start slowly and work up a comfortable rhythm.
I put this into my 21-14-7 routine (tack it on to the end of 5b).
How are other people doing the "chop the tree" movement?
JWL[.|@]Freakwitch[.]net
- Jammin' Jan
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I do this in a forward stance (right foot forward if I'm swinging off my left shoulder), then swing forward halfway, because that tree that I'm chopping is right in front of me. Then return to shoulder and repeat for the number of reps.
I don't think I could do this as Batting the Ball, which would require a full swing. Don't think I am strong enough for that!
I don't think I could do this as Batting the Ball, which would require a full swing. Don't think I am strong enough for that!
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I think it's good you're using the lighter sledge on this, Freakwitch. It's a great move, but particularly twisty and dangerous if you overdue it. I had a false start on this one myself and didn't do it for a while, but since I started up again doing fewer reps (14 each side) more slowly and carefully, I haven't had any problems (it's been at least 6 months, maybe more).
I should definitely get a video clip up for this one soon...
P.S: if anyone wants me to post clips of their routines/movements, please let me know.
I should definitely get a video clip up for this one soon...
P.S: if anyone wants me to post clips of their routines/movements, please let me know.
- gratefuldeb67
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- gratefuldeb67
- Posts: 6256
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
- Location: Great Neck, NY
Chop the tree
Is this "the Fireman?" I do this at about shoulder/head high. I can pull off about 35 each side with my 14 lb hammer before the muscles on the front of my shoulders are screamin.
But it's my favorite exercise.
But it's my favorite exercise.
Kevin
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."
1/13/2011-189# :: 4/21/2011-177# :: Goal-165#
"Respecting the 4th S: sometimes."
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Thanks for the detailed description James. I tried tree chopping once before, and it felt very awkward. I think I was doing it too high, bc it ended up almost identical to my drive-fencepost movement, the way I was doing it. But you said to hold it just a couple feet off the ground... hmm, I'll try that again. I love movements that work the abs.
No, it's different from the fireman, Kevin. At least the way I do it is. The fireman strikes me as being sort of halfway between "chop the tree" and "drive the spikes." Or something. The way I do chop the tree is almost exactly like a baseball swing.
One side effect; I really want to go and smack something with that stroke. Hard. Just to see what happens.
::pant pant::
One side effect; I really want to go and smack something with that stroke. Hard. Just to see what happens.
::pant pant::
JWL[.|@]Freakwitch[.]net
- gratefuldeb67
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- gratefuldeb67
- Posts: 6256
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:26 pm
- Location: Great Neck, NY