Mike
04-17-2004, 01:53 PM
After spending some time wielding the bruiser in my basement I thought I'd give some pointers for those of you just starting out with ABC and the heavier clubs. At first the Bruiser seemed like an impossibility, but through trial and error I've come to the realization that it is indeed possible to be a bruiser user!
1. Buy The ABC Manual
This is probably quite obvious, but for a cheapo like myself I was actually considering doing without the manual. Doug gives essential info on proper grip technique, breathing, stance, hip movement etc. Not to mention he shows you how to perform dozens of exercises and their variations to help keep your training fresh and challenging.
2. Swing Baby!
For those of you who find the 45 lb. club too heavy, don't sit and dwell about how you should've gotten a lighter club. You'll be suprised just how fast you can progress by doing a few front and side swings. This will prime your CNS and get you more accustomed to gripping the club. Not only that, it will help you adjust to the resistance of the club. Believe me, this ain't NO 45 lb. dumbell!
3. Call To Order
Once you're comfortable swinging the club a bit, try to get it into the order position. Doug goes into greater detail about this stance, but IMO the order position is the equivalent to the E major chord on the guitar!! It's involved in SO MANY club exercises and combos, so don't skip any time in learning it!
4. DO NOT TRAIN ANYWHERE NEAR FAILURE
When I first started out, I was training to the point of near exhaustion. While I do agree that we should push ourselves from time to time, I feel that it is much easier to progress when we don't push ourselves to the point of NEAR DEATH! When I made proper adjustments and left a few reps in the tank, my strength and gains skyrocketed, I slept better and I felt near euphoria after my sessions. Try to leave your sessions feeling good rather than feeling trashed! I may be able to do 12 reps of a certain movement, but I would rarely go above 6-8!! I can hear those bodybuilders snickering right now...........don't listen to them!
5. Single Reps Are OK!!
Since technique is so important, I spent a great deal of time just doing single reps on movements I was just starting out on. Rather than risking my toes and furniture, I really took the time to learn the new exercise ONE REP AT A TIME!! Unlike barbells and dumbells, you can't just pick up a club and rep out, take your time and learn!!!
6. It's Art
Try to view training as practice and each movement as being an art form. Pretend that someone is judging your form and strive to make each stroke perfect. Pumping dumbells can be boring, but there is an artistry to clubs that can be expressed to the fullest and it can make your gains much more enjoyable.
P.S. You don't have to wear make up or anything.
7. NO MIRRORS
In my first year of college I took a motor learning and control course where we learned about visual stimuli. Basically, we believe what we see!! So when I was looking at the reflection of my self swinging the club right, when I was actually swinging it left, I truly believed if caused my form to break. Lose the mirrors.
8. Yes You Can
Trust me, when you look at that mammoth club, you'll will question yourself, "Can I really move that thing?" You may doubt yourself, "There's no way I can budge that!" Hogwash, you CAN do it. Just take your time!!!
1. Buy The ABC Manual
This is probably quite obvious, but for a cheapo like myself I was actually considering doing without the manual. Doug gives essential info on proper grip technique, breathing, stance, hip movement etc. Not to mention he shows you how to perform dozens of exercises and their variations to help keep your training fresh and challenging.
2. Swing Baby!
For those of you who find the 45 lb. club too heavy, don't sit and dwell about how you should've gotten a lighter club. You'll be suprised just how fast you can progress by doing a few front and side swings. This will prime your CNS and get you more accustomed to gripping the club. Not only that, it will help you adjust to the resistance of the club. Believe me, this ain't NO 45 lb. dumbell!
3. Call To Order
Once you're comfortable swinging the club a bit, try to get it into the order position. Doug goes into greater detail about this stance, but IMO the order position is the equivalent to the E major chord on the guitar!! It's involved in SO MANY club exercises and combos, so don't skip any time in learning it!
4. DO NOT TRAIN ANYWHERE NEAR FAILURE
When I first started out, I was training to the point of near exhaustion. While I do agree that we should push ourselves from time to time, I feel that it is much easier to progress when we don't push ourselves to the point of NEAR DEATH! When I made proper adjustments and left a few reps in the tank, my strength and gains skyrocketed, I slept better and I felt near euphoria after my sessions. Try to leave your sessions feeling good rather than feeling trashed! I may be able to do 12 reps of a certain movement, but I would rarely go above 6-8!! I can hear those bodybuilders snickering right now...........don't listen to them!
5. Single Reps Are OK!!
Since technique is so important, I spent a great deal of time just doing single reps on movements I was just starting out on. Rather than risking my toes and furniture, I really took the time to learn the new exercise ONE REP AT A TIME!! Unlike barbells and dumbells, you can't just pick up a club and rep out, take your time and learn!!!
6. It's Art
Try to view training as practice and each movement as being an art form. Pretend that someone is judging your form and strive to make each stroke perfect. Pumping dumbells can be boring, but there is an artistry to clubs that can be expressed to the fullest and it can make your gains much more enjoyable.
P.S. You don't have to wear make up or anything.
7. NO MIRRORS
In my first year of college I took a motor learning and control course where we learned about visual stimuli. Basically, we believe what we see!! So when I was looking at the reflection of my self swinging the club right, when I was actually swinging it left, I truly believed if caused my form to break. Lose the mirrors.
8. Yes You Can
Trust me, when you look at that mammoth club, you'll will question yourself, "Can I really move that thing?" You may doubt yourself, "There's no way I can budge that!" Hogwash, you CAN do it. Just take your time!!!