Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In teaching you must start by creating a common language: “terminology”
Phase 1 Terminology From the teacher’s mouth to the student’s ears/mind
Phase 2 Terminology From the student’s mind to his her/his body (action)
Scapular movement
● Protraction scaps move away from spine
● Retraction scaps move in toward spine
● Elevation scaps move up
● Depression scaps move down
● Upward rotation bottom of scaps move away from spine, top of scaps move toward
spine
● Downward rotation bottom of scaps move toward spine, top of scaps move away
from spine
● Internal rotation (really arm movement)
● External rotation (really arm movement)
Exercise : Sit on floor with legs out straight, arms straight up overhead, shoulders depressed.
Elevate scapulas as only movement to touch partner’s hands positioned just above. Each
time partner moves hands slightly higher
Exercise (scap push ups): In with plank with full scapular protraction, hold for 3 seconds then
partner touches spine; move to full retraction, then back up. 10 reps
Progression: Shift forward to tops of toes, feet straight, shoulders in front of feet
Uncoupling movement reversing commonly paired movement patterns to increase
movement capacity/options. Examples:
● Upward rotation and elevation / downward rotation and depression practice inverting
movements to upward rotation and depression / downward rotation and elevation
Pelvic movement
● Anterior tilt front of pelvis tips downward; glutes and abs are turned off
● Posterior tilt front of pelvis tips backwards; glutes and abs and engaged. (Couples
with feet turning out)
Chest movement
● Open chest couples with protraction and external rotation
● Closed chest couples with retraction and internal rotation
Exercise : Lay down, knees bent, feet together, arms crossed, posterior pelvic tilt (low back
flat)
Partner slides hand to butt; minimal posterior pelvic tilt to lift butt out of the way
Partner slides hand to low back; minimal anterior pelvic tilt to lift low back out of the way
Partner slides hand to shoulders; minimal shoulder elevation (like beginning of a situp) to
lift shoulders out of the way
Partner chooses at random which points to move toward; singling visibly where s/he is
going
Goal with all partner exercises is to have partner succeed 80% of the time. This allows
them to work at a pace that is functional and shows results. Do not make too easy but not
seek to trick or beat, this does not allow for optimal growth but focuses attention of
frustration .
Handstand
One necessary aspect of a handstand is having your center of mass over your point of
contact with the ground
Should be as straight as possible, not “hollow”
Need stability to remain rigid with mass over support
To spot a chest to wall handstand, squat down in a wide stance, cup under partner’s
shoulders and brace as they walk up and when they come down
Exercise : “Front line drill” lay on face, feet together, arms out 45 degrees. Partner rotates
your hips into a posterior tilt, belly button should stay on the floor. Practice a steady hold,
partner poking to test glute and ab contraction 60 seconds.
Same as above, only arms over head with hands and wrists slightly elevated off the
ground
Same as above only hold a PVC overhead. If you lose tilt or bodyline three times
move back in the progression
Wrist prep low dosages as a part of your warmup
First knuckle raises : Plank with index fingers parallel. Press off palms onto only fingers
(whole fingers, not tips), thumbs off ground
Steps down: on knees; on knees, butt on heels; leaning against wall
Fin pushups : Pushups on wrists with fingers pointed back. Hands should be wide enough
that forearms are vertical at bottom.
Same step down variations
Dorsal pushups : Pushups with arms internally rotated, ideally pinkys pointed back, at least
inward.
Example of hand balancing session:
A. General mobility work
B. Specific joint prep (shoulders/wrists) 13 sets
C. Bodyline work (front line drill 60 sec/ rest 60 sec 35 sets)
D. Chest to wall handstands 3060 sec 11 work to rest ratio (m ake sure to use the
same variation as the bodyline drill)
E. Extra wrist prep 3 sets (can do a circuit of 3 exercises, 10 reps, 3 circuits)
Day 1 Sessions 2
Stick drills
Types of grip
Pronated
Suppentated
Eagle (extreme suppenated)
Exercises :
The following are examples of “kinetic koans”
Hold stick at hips, pike, hold stick with hips and let hands hang. Restand
Variation: same but add squat after pike
Hold with double supinated grip, slide to one side, twist to eagle and back (rotating body
into open side makes it easier)
Same thing at eye level, overhead, behind the back (flexing at the pelvis makes it
easier), same between legs
Hold with one eagle, one supinated grip, slide toward supinated, then rotate to eagle
Same thing overhead, between legs, in front keeping parallel, behind back
Grip stick with fingertips, step over one foot at a time then back without touching
Hope over and back; Jump over and back; Jump over and back off rebound
Sit with feet off of the ground, hold stick and move from touching hips to butt without
touching your feet
Progression same with straight legs; straight feet
Stick on floor, rotate 360 degrees while keeping stick planted and body on same side (twist
stick around, then lower stick and untwist arm)
Same in reverse direction
Same with two sticks (starts the same but once arms are tangled, step out on high
arm side. Try same in reverse direction.
Lay on back with legs up, stick balancing on feet; end laying on stomach, knees bent with
stick still on feet don’t use your arms
( two answers: twist to one side; backward roll)
Activation game: partner drops stick at different angles, catch as close to the ground and
quietly as possible
Try catching in squats
Try catching in pike
Partner calls which hand you catch with
Hanging
Anything with an anchor point and straight arm
Scapula and grip tend to bring weak links in pulling movements
If you can’t maintain a particular hang for at least 30 seconds use a support
Look at Dr. Kirsch book on hanging for surgical rehab (t his book? )
Types of hang (should be totally relaxed except for grip)
1. Dead/passive start with pronated grip, elevate upwardly rotated scapulas
2. Active start with depressed scapula
Practice moving from passive to active, hold 3 seconds, dead hang 1 second x10
reps
3. Arch “nipples to the sky,” arch and retract scapulas, externally rotate arms
4. German Start on low hanging rings and rotate arms into position then squat as low
as possible to simulate full range. Actively protract scapulas
5. Onearm
6. Levers
7. Meat hook
8. Others
Dynamic hang has movement
● Front to back kipping is most common
● Side to side is safer and should be taught first. Once swing is strong, practice letting
go on flexed side. Then practice changing grip (supinated to pronated then back)
End of day workout
3s NFT (3 sets not for time):
● Active hang variation x5 (arch 3sec, release)
● Stomach to wall handstand walk up x3 (bodyline variation)
● German hang variation (rings x10 sec)
● Scap pushups (full x10)
Day 2 Session 1
Finite isolation
Neck
● Hold up index fingers about one inch from either side of chin, practice gliding neck
side to side until touching fingers. No turning or rotating, glide just the head with
orientation staying constant
● Same thing but forward and back so that fingers disappear from peripheral vision
● Circles
Sternum
● Hold arms straight out to sides, practice gliding sternum side to side. No turning or
rotating chest or hips, glide just chest keeping arm and hip orientation constant
Simple seeming movements but hard to do, present a new neural pattern. Once you are
able to do one easily, find a new challenge
Exercises :
Partner chops to neck slowly, glide away, then back and around
Shoulder blades depressed, chop under ear, drop head to shoulder then down and around.
Think about head moving forward and down not just down
Arms straight out to sides, partner chops to ribs, glide away then back and around
Arms straight out to sides, partner chop to ribs, flex sternum to side, then rotate forward and
down and around
Arms straight out to sides, partner chop to ribs, flex sternum to side, then rotate backward
and down and around (if needed can flex hips, tilt head back, raise heels to make easier)
Partner squats and chops to waist, glide pelvis to side then hinge and circle backward and
around (if needed can bend knees or raise heels to make easier)
Partner squats and chops to knees, rotate each knee inward, back and around as needed
Combine different heights at random with other random chops.
Combine at random but include stepping
Combine at random, responder avoids as much as needed then stays still until next chop
Person chopping closes their eyes
Everything without having to remain in spot (??)
Try to maintain consistent speed
Zen archer game
Participants walk around the room making eye contact with everyone they pass. When the
moderator says “start” one person begins as an “attacker” the other “defender.” Do nto
bother talking, someone will naturally assume the role and start attacking by slowly
ingressing with all body parts in all manner of movement. The defended flows with them,
moving all ways possible to avoid while staying close. On cue change roles or continue
walking until you start again.
Can be done with variations such as defender maintains point of contact with a wall
Example of an “eternal game.” It has the right tools to be played forever like soccer,
wrestling, etc.
Day 2 Session 2
Human movement 101
● With the spine we organize the body in space: needs mobility
● With the hands we manipulate: needs complexity of range, ability to control loads
● With the legs we create locomotion: needs strength and power
● Mobility trumps stability
● Scapulas create complexity, hips create intensity
● Closed kinetic chain: Center of body mass moves toward the peripheral
● Open kinetic chain: Peripheral moves toward the center of body mass
Why gymnastics is preferred for upper body training
● More complexity
● Complexity creates transferability of strength to other applications
○ Weight training is too specific in it’s range of motion/ expression of strength
● Straight arm, bent arm, push, pull all at many angles if you move to a new discipline
you probably have something that works for it
● Certain amounts of risk allows for greater activation need to find the sweet spot
where there is the right ratio
● Develops proprioception and a lot of other attributes beyond strength
● Develops grip strength
● Those who work with closed kinetic chains fare better with an open kinetic chain than
the inverse
● Multiplanar movement
● Develops stability
○ Rings are “sweet spot” of instability that still allows loadability
○ Rings can transition between push and pull
● Moves from isolation to integration to improvisation
○ Improvisation is the heart of the human condition: expression
Muscle up group
Need to develop false grip used as a support mechanism during the transition from pull to
push
Grip
● Start by gripping at the top of the ring
● Rotate until grip is under the strap
● Close elbows in toward one another to lock the grip
● Start high with bent elbows and feet on ground for 15 second hold.
● Progress to full hang with eagle grip
○ With grip think about actively suppenating
Support (at the top of the muscle up/finish)
● Most important things are scapular depression and full elbow lock out
● Rings turned out 3045 degrees increases instability (2nd step in progression)
● Release contact with straps by moving rings out from body (3rd step in progression)
Try 3 sets of 15 seconds hang, rest, then 15 seconds
From hang practice pulling rings to chest. Be in active arch
From support dip until forearm touches biceps
To reduce instability have partner touch your wrists with her/his fingers
Bottom of dip: elbows up, forearm and biceps touching, thumbs touching body
From bottom of dip, keep thumbs touching body and trace body line (around edge of chest)
until in false grip hang. Hold for one minute x2 sets.
Bent arm strength workout examples
1) For beginners
AMRAP 30min (a s many reps as possible) rest as little as needed
a) 1030 seconds eccentric dip + 1030 seconds eccentric chin
b) 90 seconds external rotation work x3 sets
2) Intermediate, working toward muscle up
AMRAP 30min
a) 2 reps false grip pull up + 5 seconds pause on second rep
b) 2 dips: 3 second eccentric, no pause at bottom, fast as possible concentric, 1
second pause
c) Muscle up transitions 60 seconds, 6090 seconds rest x3 sets
3) Working to get multiple muscle ups
AMRAP 2030min
a) 1 muscle up + 2 second pause RTO (rings turned out) support and controlled
eccentric
4) Advanced rIng routine, 35 sets:
a) 24 muscle ups
b) Lsit 5 seconds
c) Shoulder stand 5 seconds, lower to support
d) 24 forward rolls
e) Roll back, inversion hang
f) Back lever 5 seconds, pull to front lever 24 reps
g) 35 minutes rest
Sample 8day program
1. Bent arm strength
2. Straight arm strength
3. Legs and handstands
4. Rest
x2
Day 2 Session 3 (afternoon)
Squat exercises:
● Pushone knee out
● Pump the knee out
● Head or elbow to floor (use fingers/fists to make a shelf to touch so something
touches floor)
● Raise one heel, press knee forward to stretch big toe
● Same but then internally rotate knee to touch opposite shin
● Rotate knee in toward ground without lifting heel 10 second hold for 10 reps
Locomotion
● Hands and feet low butt crawl (knees off ground)
○ Raise contralateral hand and foot, hold 3 seconds before replacing
○ Same, hold 1 second
○ Place outside palm bone and roll onto fingers and ball of foot
○ Do with PVC balanced on hips, don’t drop
● Side squat, extend one foot out to side, touch toe then plant foot, shift weight across,
step into squat. Repeat.
● Side squat, plant hands in front, press into, slide feet across floor keeping in contact,
then slide hands
● Side squat, plant hands in front, move rear hand across then place other, rear leg
passes in front of front leg, then front leg moves to return to squat
● Side squat, plant hands in front, “helicopter” to rotate shoulders and hips in direction
of movement, press into hands and glide feet across, back to squat (application of
press up)
● “Dragon squat” step rear leg behind front in direction of movement, plant ball of foot,
stay low. Twist all the way around, staying low then step out to side back to squat
● “Crab walk” Side squat, straighten front leg out in direction of movement staying low,
step back leg up to meet in squat
● Side squat, straighten front leg out in direction of movement staying low, step behind
into a dragon squat, untwist, step out to squat
● “Wipe your ass, look at it, check your foot that you didn’t step in it, reach far far to the
garbage can, replace hand with foot” From a plank step one foot up by your hand,
with that side hand make a motion like wiping your ass, then bring the arm up high
over your head, look at it, raise your opposite foot and arch across to look at it, place
the first hand on the floor far in front of you, then the raised foot places down where
the hand on that side is and repeat on opposite side.
● Same thing but bring your ear to the ground at the end