Home Workout Testing with the New TRX Force Kit

The TRX suspensin trainer is fantastic; at least in my humble opinion. I've had fun with it in the past, watched the company grow, watched them infuse their product into the workouts of professional sports teams, etc., and I applaud their success.

BUT, it has been a long time since I owned the TRX suspension trainer! Now hold on, I have a good reason for this, and I'll keep it brief. I started with my own homemade suspension trainer made from rope and pvc pipe, and it worked great for less than $20! It was only after I had been using this thick-handled beast for some time that I bought my first TRX, and by then I was more comfortable with the homemade suspension trainer. (You can read about it here:  Homemade Suspension Training in the Garage .)

However, as with a lot of do-it-yourself items, this one eventually wore down and was converted into something else. Since then, I haven't done a lot of suspension training (homemade rings though, that's another story .) That is, until TRX came out with their new TRX Force kit. Ooooh, slick. At first I thought it was just another TRX Force with different colored straps, and it basically is. However it does have new handles, stylish new packaging, and includes a military grade 12 week workout. Okkk,

AND it's on sale! So I decided to get one, and this time I decided I would videotape my progress and post the videos here! (Well, on Youtube and then here.)

The reason is 1.) to ensure it gets put to a proper public test, and 2.) going public should provide me with ample motivation to complete their 12 week cycle, which I'm guessing is not easy, even for a guy who throws stones around in his backyard.

Stay tuned as we put the TRX Force (2.0) to the test and decide for ourselves if it is worth the price! Oh, and if you want to follow along, grab one of your own:

TRXTraining.com - Save Over 20% on The FORCE KIT! While Supplies Last! Click Here!

Professional Sports Teams Love the TRX Suspension Trainer

It would be easy to dismiss the TRX as a fitness fad. As one writer said, they are basically "redesigned gymnastics rings." But rings were not chosen by over a dozen NBA teams to breathe fresh air into their conditioning workouts; The TRX suspension trainer was.

The TRX simulates what players do on the court, and builds incredible core strength and endurance. This is why it crosses multiple sports borders. MMA, BMX, volleyball, football; everyone needs stability and strength while increasing (or at least maintaining) their range of motion.

In fact, TRX has gone international. The head of fitness for the English football team Liverpool relies on the TRX for preventing injuries and developing "agility, speed and power in all directions."

So what is the easiest way to put this versatile tool to use for non-pro athletes? Pick one of the inexpensive, sport specific dvds or digital downloads. By inexpensive, we're talking about $25-50 dollars. Better yet, get one of the bundled packages. The Adventurer's Bundle gives you the TRX Winter Sport Conditioning download, the Surf Stronger workout and the TRX Summit Workout Guide for the mountaineers out there.

The workouts can be streamed over your phone, so leave the dvd player at home. The best part? Take it all on the road for only $25. Nice,eh. A final word: Good instruction on this simple tool is definitely worth a few bucks. A little education will prevent a lot of injuries, and make your workouts much more efficient.

Hard to argue with abs like this

TRX Rip Trainer-Killer Applications to MMA Training

TRX suspension trainers are becoming more popular every day, and with good reason. They are serious equipment that challenges just about every type of athlete or fitness enthusiast. But what the heck is the TRX Rip Trainer?

The Rip Trainer is basically a take on resistance cable training, with some innovative, uh, twists. It consists of a stiff grip bar that attaches at either or both ends to variable resistance (light, medium or heavy) resistance cords. Made with the same intense black and yellow colors of the trx suspension trainer, TRX says that the Rip Trainer will help develop "rotational power, strength and core stability."

But wait, isn't that what the suspension trainer does? Yes, but the Rip cords add an element of dynamic motion to the drill. In other words, you can really develop explosiveness, or power, with the Rip Trainer.

Designed with the same 'anchor it anywhere' concept, the TRX Rip Trainer is priced the same as the TRX Pro Pack, and comes with a door anchor, carrying bag, instructional DVD and color guide to slap on your wall. This is all beautiful, but the video below is an excellent demonstration of how this piece of equipment is applied:



You can read more about the TRX Rip Trainer by clicking on any TRX link on this site.

Use Your Bodyweight to Build Unusual Strength?

Learning to Move Your Bodyweight Takes You Beyond Basic Strength

In fact, it is not uncommon to see someone with serious muscle who has trouble touching their toes, can not do a pull-up, or simply has trouble manipulating his or her body outside of their programmed range of motion.

To improve functional strength, a program of bodyweight exercise must be added to the cycle. Consisting of movements that strengthen your muscles and increase endurance, but also that increase flexibility, focusing on using your body will teach you to move with more fluidity and variety.

I have to admit I am speaking from personal experience here. For a long time I did nothing but lift heavy. My goal was to build big muscles, and whether they could function outside of the gym or not I didn't care.

Then I got injured. Too much repetition of the same movements without any therapeutic recovery left me with a pulled trapezius muscle. As with any muscle in the back, this was painful and debilitating; forget about working out, I just wanted to move freely!

I tried getting back into heavy lifting, but with no knowledge at the time of 'pre-hab' work and a fairly limited knowledge of exercises outside of common bodybuilding movements, I kept getting re-injured.

Of course at the time I thought I knew plenty, but I had to humble myself; if I knew so much, why couldn't I keep from hurting myself in the gym?

One day a friend of mine introduced me to yoga, and seeing a path to help alleviate my recurring pain, I started my road to recovery.

Now yoga is fantastic, and I stuck with it diligently for a couple of years, with no other modalities except walking the dogs and playing the occasional game of soccer; and you know what? It worked! My body felt like new again, and I had no more pain in my upper or lower back, neck, or shoulders.

Something was definitely missing though. I felt like my body was getting a fresh start in more ways than one. While I had developed great flexibility and muscular endurance, my power and strength were dismal! I felt weak, and although I did not want to give up the lessons I had learned practicing yoga, there had to be a way to incorporate strength exercises into the mix as well.

Since that time I have discovered the right balance, and I use a variety of methods to maintain and increase my endurance, strength, mobility, and flexibility. This includes kettlebells, odd object lifting, clubs, and of course, my own bodyweight.

I still practice some yoga, because it can be a great workout and very therapeutic; but the majority of my program consists of bodyweight exercises. They are highly effective and help you focus in on your weakest areas.

I laugh at myself when I'm able to press a 65 lb. kettlebell or a 70 lb. dumbbell over head, but I have trouble doing a steep decline pushup! For a long time, pressing up into a bridge presented even more of a challenge!

Using your body's mass alone will never be a substitute for a powerlifter or competitive bodybuilder; but both sports can reap huge benefits by incorporating drills in their routines which stress flexibility and increase strength through different ranges of motion.

The key is having a full repertoire of exercises to choose from. This is vital to keeping routines interesting and challenging. You can look up tons of individual bodyweight exercises online, but I have found it much easier to have a comprehensive 'guidebook' handy.

A really innovative reference can be found at:   bodyweightcoach.com
These guys seem to do nothing but come up with functional workouts that force the body to move in ways you may never have imagined.  When you go to their site, get the free newsletter, you'll get a new exercise sent to you every week, with some insightful knowledge.

The other tool I have found invaluable is probably clear from looking around this site, the TRX suspension trainer.  Now I am an affiliate, but only because I love this product.

With the knowledge from the bodyweight coach website and a TRX, your body will undergo amazing changes, and believe me you will never get bored!  Personally, my workouts are so much fun now, I really look forward to it.

Ok, so seriously I do have fun, but enough with the plugs.  Check those products out and I'm sure you will get excited.

So how has it all turned out for me?  Taking my workout routines in this direction has helped me find the balance between strength and mobility I had been searching for.  Now the only pain I get is from a good workout, not an injury.  Plus, I feel like I can move my body even better than I did when I was a teenager, and I'm almost 39!

So take a good look at the Bodyweight Coach and TRX websites, there are some really entertaining videos at both.  Or just check out the posts here on Flexible Functional Strength.

Until next time, keep moving!


           

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