Odd Object Liftitng Part Three

We are finally into our final installment of the odd object lifting series; for this weeks article I will be talking about the use of sandbags and tractor tires.

I saved these two items for my last article because I have no experience with either one. However, I am enthusiastic about the subject of odd object lifting and have really wanted to exercise with both.

As far as a sandbag goes, I know it can be used in a variety of ways: swung, pressed, carried and squatted only to name a few.

The purpose of using a sand bag is that the sand inside moves around a little bit making it hard to manipulate. It is supposed to work on the same principle as the keg with its unstable weight, yet I would imagine that a sand bag would feel like it has more dead weight.

One thing that is different about the sand bag is that (as opposed to a keg) the object containing the weight is not an immobile solid. Basically, the sand is contained in a canvas bag so you can squeeze or grip the bag a lot more then the aluminum of a keg.

The reason for putting it in the canvas bag is to cause more tension through the muscles. This would essentially combine lifting and isometric training into one exercise.

Isometric training is the tightening of a muscle in a static position to force it to grow stronger; early bodybuilders and Bruce Lee popularized this training.

Tractor tire training is becoming popular with mixed martial art athletes and strongman.

The tires weigh about 200-300 pounds and can be used a number of ways, but is most commonly used for tire flips.

The best way to describe a tire flip is like endurance dead lifting and Olympic lifting combined. In essence, a person gets into dead lift position with their hands underneath the tire and flips it for a specified distance.

It sounds pretty crazy but the goal is to be as explosive as possible. This differs from dead lifting, the forward motion you do while lifting the tire.

In dead lift the body remains pretty static, not moving forwards or backwards, but only up and down with the barbell. With tire flipping, you are constantly going forward and there is an added bench press element when you get the tire at its peak.

You have to basically rely on the pressing power of your legs and your pectorals to move the tire forward and over.

Other things that I have seen done with tire are sled drags/pushes and hitting it with a sledgehammer. But those topics have already been covered.

Finally in closing there are numerous objects that are considered odd objects like slosh pipes, macebells, Indian clubs, softball pull up grips, anvils and etc.

The point is that if it is heavy or awkward then lift it. I hope I have peaked peoples interest in the topic and inspired them to be creative and build something that they can use for a work out.

Be on the look out for my next article on complex or circuit training with a focus on Tabata and Javorek complexes.