Who uses bands

[kbellguy]

I have been using the bands for a while now. I thought I would write to mention how I train with them. I have used them with great success with working up to body weight chins and dips. I also use them around my waist to have the kettlbells off my wasit for weighted dips.

To make a kettlebell heavier I use the band as well and hang onto it, very challenging.

Push-ups- around my shoulders for increase resistance-hard exercise

Squats- two bands crossed over my shoulders to feet, before I got a power rack this was great.

Kettlebell swings, attach bands to feet and to the kettlebell handle for speed swings, as the negative is just gravity the bands act as a slingshot. You also work harder from the hips, great exercise for hip power development.

Clean and jerk- one foot on band and other in hand, great for shoulder stability and increase strength, a lot harder with a heavy band than with the kettlebell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boxing- heavy band around upper back, hold each end in the hand and do heavy bag work, again great for developing the hips to carry the puhch instead of just using shoulders. Your fists feel like hammers after this.

Anyway these are just a few ways that I use these, the bands have been great to use with the kettlebells as well as making body weight exercises harder/easier.

Cheers
Mat

[vladimir]

Hi Mat,

I don't know why i didn't think of this before, but you gave me an idea for exercise while i'm away on business. I have powerbands at home and they are easy to pack, so i'll just take them with me.

vlad

[jasebro]

hey i like the idea of using the bands whislt boxing, thats great.

the other day i used two blue meduim strength bands to suspend a pair of 24s off an oly bar bar for bench press, i managed it but almost lost my skull in the process, thank goodness for being aware of high tension techniques.
i excitedly got my brother in law to perform the lift also, he has a bizzare natural strength that i do my best not to envy. i neglected to remind him to stay tight, and him not being a KB freak, couldnt get out a half rep.

this is fantastic for training the stabilizers.
and brother in laws

[David Obeid]

I use them for resisted sprints indoors (I live on a farm and don't have reliably flat ground for sprints - that and the drought means that I roll an ankle or eat dust if I train outdoors).

I also plan to (but haven't started yet) using some of the lighter ones to add resistance to speed bag sessions.

[jd]

i use them for most of the exercises above

i remember seeing a video of bulgarian squats with KBs hanging from each end of the oly bar - think it was diesel crew

i also like to use them for stretching the lower back

[Graeme]

i just got the assisted chin up set, since i really want to work on my chin up capacity. But none the less though i only have 3 singular bands, the difference i strength i will be able to use them for different body weight based excercise, plus the conveinance of being able to take them any where i go.

Even with the Purple band (50-180lb) for chin up assistance doing a set of 20 was a killer, followed by a set of 15 then 3 set of 10, but with time will come capacity and i will be able to reduce the assistance but still be able to the reps. I'd like top be able to rip a set of 30 with no drama in the future.

I guess along with chin ups i'll be using them to help me with doing muscle ups on my power rings, since they look so much more impressive than just doing bulk chin ups.

Since i am training more for leg strength and speed for BMX racing, i guess i'l be also using the smaller band i have for added resisitance on the plometric type work i do to get the leg muscle to learn to fire rapidly, since i also do heavy squats of moderate reps 6-10 reps.

[Natem]

I mainly have used bands for chinups, rowing and pressing. pretty standard really.

[Paul in Hobart]

Finding them useful in GS training : the static stretch behind neck (arms straight out to side, I work up to the thick grey one and hold the tension ; takes shoulder/interscapular/trap tension away) and for windmills as a warmup/cool down stretch. Better than KB windmills IMO.
Also good to have at work in sedentary job.

[Bronson]

Ive had a set of the iron woody bands for bout 4 yrs. Use them for lots of mobility stuff / shoulder work. Handy for accomodating resistance stuff, and as I am away for work a bit, they are great for a mobile gym, also sprint starts and stuff. well worth the money