"Plyometric" exercises

[Ali]

Think I've heard the name before, but didn't know what they were about.

[Only Registered Users Can See LinksClick Here To Register]

From wikipedia:

"Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities."

So basically these exercises help you become fast rather than simply strong Doing Parkour itself must be plyometric exercise anyway, but I now will have an excuse for jumping up on platforms at the gym during my strength training sessions "It's plyometric training!"

[Danno]

Ahhh thats like my favorite word. Hahah

I tend to incorporate a lot of specific plyometric exercises into my training, it's really good for developing explosive speed/power.
原帖地�: Aberdeen Parkour [Only Registered Users Can See LinksClick Here To Register]
An example of what we do would be; From Point A only using 2 steps up to a jump then double footed jump to another ledge and as soon as you land jump a gap to point B

and you try and do this as quickly as possible spending as little time on the actual obsticles inbetween points A & B. Then rinse & repeat :P

I hope that made at least a little sence, haha.

[ScottON]

Important thing to note is this bit : 'in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence'

If you jump then step off something before jumping again it's an explosive exercise- still worthwhile.

Plyometrics involve loading the muscle with tension and then performing the explosive move.
原帖地�: Aberdeen Parkour [Only Registered Users Can See LinksClick Here To Register]

An example would be tuck jumps. You jump, land, and as you come up from the landing jump as fast as possible aiming to minimse contact time with the ground.

As a general rule you are trying to minimise contact time with the ground when performing plyometrics whereas when training for pure explosive power you can have rest periods in between each jump.

Both are important.

[Flan]

Iv got to empahise that yes plyometrics is a good way of conditioning, but there are some things to remember before going all out with them.

Plyometrics is basicly working on your power. Speed and strength is what creates your power, so if we'r deficient in one area then our power is going to suffer.

This is why you need to work on your strength and get to a level you feel comfortable with before moving onto plyometrics, which in turn will be working on your optimal speed.

If you can find a book called the "Jump Bible" theres plenty more to be said about it, and a hell of alot more excercises. Unlike other jump based books iv seen the workouts are more based towards safety and actualy getting a higher jump, rather than just making you jump for half an hour, when you do nothing but work on endurance, and eventualy give yourself a concussion.