The Battle Rope

Why do trainers make you use that darn thing and the why the heck is it so difficult?!

Well, the best answer to both of those questions is that it is a great full body workout.  You are using multiple muscle groups when you are moving the giant rope back and forth and up and down.  If you have ever used one, you have probably noticed that in just a matter of 30 seconds you are breathing like you've been running for 10 minutes.  Not only are the ropes great for strengthening and toning but are also a great non-impact alternative to cardio training.  

The Battle Rope has been used in MMA training for awhile now, but it is just becoming more popular in gyms and training studios.  It is a great tool for me because anyone can use it and I can make the workout as intense as it needs to be to properly train my client.  I love the back to basics functional training it provides.  We don't use one muscle group at a time in our daily activities, why should we train that way?  

Give it a try the next time you are in the gym or with your trainer.  I think you'll be surprise how good of a workout it is.  You might even find it to be a little fun!