How Bodyweight Exercises Can Give You Strong Legs
- Image via Wikipedia
“Bodyweight Exercises cannot make you bigger or stronger. If you want to get bigger, lift weights. Bodyweight Exercises are nothing but a warm up.”
If someone ever makes a statement like the above to you, the first thing you should ask them is “Do you train with Bodyweight Exercises of any kind?” I’ll guarantee you, the answer will be a big ‘No’. Most likely he (and it will most likely be a HE making this statement) well be a devoted weightlifter and will simply not know what he is talking about.
Have you ever taken a look at the legs of Olympic Speed Skaters? They’re HUGE. What’s more, they don’t train for size for sizes sake. They train their legs for speed and endurance. Despite this, however, they’re legs are huge.
The ultimate example of this is the Great Gama of India. He was an undefeated wrestler at the turn of the last century. He stood 5 foot 7, weighed 260 pounds, and had thighs like tree trunks. How did he train? By following exercises like those found in Natural Fitness, in particular Hindu Squats and Hindu Jumper Squats.
The point is this. Contrary to those who say otherwise, you can get stronger from low reps and with high reps. You can load a bar with 500 pounds and do on rep. Or, you can do 500 reps with your own bodyweight. Both will make you stronger. However, only one will give you the true athlete’s treasured combination of strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, explosive muscular force and lung power.
Can you guess which one it is? I know you could ;)
Yours in Good Health,
Dave
My Bodyweight Workout Log
Here’s what I did yesterday:
Mini workout
Isometric stomach flattener
Isometric stomach Vacuum
50 Hindu Pushups
2 minute back bridge
15 elevated Pike Pushups
Chest Routine from “7 seconds to a perfect body”
In tomorrow’s Bodyweight Exercises Blog
I’m going to talk about the difference between isometric and isotonic exercises.
PS – I just thought I should add that if you DON’T want huge, speed skater legs, no problem. All you need to do is cut down on the number of reps you are doing. For most people, 100 hindu squats is plenty. This will give you strength, endurance, as well as a great look. Unless you’re a world champion speed skater or wrestler, there’s really no need to do 500 Hindu Squats
