Battling Ropes: Can a Piece of Rope Replace a Gym?

by Scott Shetler
June 23, 2006

I attend many strength training and conditioning conferences and seminars. At these seminars there are usually presentations from some of the best in the industry. I recently attended one such seminar for strength and conditioning coaches. A new training method that made a big impact on me is the Battling Ropes system, a creation of John Brookfield.

In the strength community John Brookfield is a legend. Not only does he possess the strongest hands in the world, capable of bending steel bars and ripping decks of cards and telephone books in half, he is also an innovator. John comes of up training methods that accomplish one thing, results. The Battling Ropes system is no different.

The Battling Ropes system is an easy to implement, highly effective form of training and conditioning for athletes and general fitness enthusiasts alike. Battling Ropes drills will improve grip strength, improve your ability to create power and sustain the power output for longer periods of time, improve your aerobic and anaerobic capacity, teach the muscles of the entire body to work together to maximize performance, and add a fun new twists to your workout.

There are hundreds of exercises that John has created as well as many variations. Drills may be performed independently or with a partner. Traditional strength exercises like pressing and squatting drills may be performed as well as exercises unique to the ropes themselves. The wave system drills are a good example. The athlete doubles a length of 50' rope around a pole or immovable object creating two 25' lengths. Holding an end in each hand the athlete swings the rope up and down creating large waves in the rope. This sounds like nothing but I guarantee 99% of you reading this would have quite a bit of trouble lasting a mere 30 seconds! It's that tough!

Granted I don't think Battling Ropes will ever replace barbells and dumbbells, but in my opinion they deserve a spot right next to them and make an excellent addition to any strength training and conditioning program. Just ask any of my athletes who are lucky (or unlucky, depending on if you ask them or me) enough to have this method as part of their training arsenal.

For more information on Battling Ropes visit John Brookfield's website at www.battlingropes.com.