One of the things that I am most proud of our DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training program is we always challenge ourselves to do better. Whether it is creating better fitness solutions via new exercises, or better fitness programs that both challenge people and help them progress to their fitness goals. Sometimes such an idea will rattle some cages as demanding more means we have to constantly be asking ourselves if we are doing the right things an more importantly we can’t be lazy! Unfortunately, much of the fitness industry is VERY lazy about the information they are giving the public and heck, each other!

Does Ultimate Sandbag Training Follow

The Basic Rules of Fitness?

The basis for my feelings about this is the consistent promotion of the idea that using “the basics” is good enough and where most people should spend their time in their fitness programs. It drives me insane for multiple reasons….

1. There isn’t a governing idea of what makes for “the basics”. Some would tell you push-ups are the basics while others will say the bench press. Is it squatting or lunging? That is why I am happy our Ultimate Sandbag Training program is not married to exercises as much as it is solutions!

2. How many basic exercises are there? Many text books will outline a host of exercises that fit into a “basic program” where some of today’s most popular fitness trainers will claim there may only be 5. How boring and not innovative!

3. What is “basic” for one person may be advanced for another. Again, what we have strived so hard to create in Ultimate Sandbag Training is not a distinction upon “basic”, but more of foundational movements that have a multitude of progressions so that we are incrementally working through more advanced movements.

4. What other industry asks LESS of themselves than fitness! While many sports and activities are rooted in learning foundations, they almost ALL also progress to more advancing techniques. Imagine if all we learned in math was addition? How about only dribbling with our dominant hand in basketball? What if artists only knew primary colors? What if we only taught athletes to run in a straight line? You get my point, seems almost silly, yet we allow such a line of thinking to happen all the time fitness, why is that?

I can appreciate the fact that most fitness professionals do this in an effort to simplify what could be viewed as “overcomplicating” fitness. The truth is, it is our responsibility as fitness professionals to not sacrifice the quality of the training information, rather, create BETTER systems that anyone can apply. That is what I honestly believe in Ultimate Sandbag Training we have accomplished. Once you know the foundational rules you can create a host of very exciting and progressive exercises. Yet, there is one more BIG reason that doing the “basics” doesn’t work, RESULTS!

Results? Shouldn’t the basics give us the best results? I don’t believe this to be the case, but it shouldn’t be up to my opinion, rather, let’s put it to the test. The following table below outlines two workouts given to an individual proficient in both kettlebells and Ultimate Sandbag Training drills. Why did I pick the kettlebell swing to compare to Ultimate Sandbag Training Rotational High Pull? It isn’t to show kettlebells vs. Ultimate Sandbag Training, rather the kettlebell swing has become a standard exercise for many fat loss programs by many top fitness professionals. The point isn’t to diminish this great exercise either, rather, what if we don’t get STUCK in believing the “basics” are the best way to always go?!

 Ultimate Sandbag Training Complexity Secrets to Ultimate Fitness!

Three things really stand out in this comparison….

1. The peak heart rate is a difference of almost 5%, which may sound like a lot, but it is the difference of a peak heart rate of 91% versus almost 96%!

2. The weight of the Rotational High Pull was almost HALF of that of the swing even though the amount of work was the same and the time was almost identical.

3. The calories burned during the swing workout was about 17.92 a minute, that of the rotational high pull was 20.28, about 2.5 calories more per minute, but you already see over a 40 calorie difference in about 14 minutes work of work. There is one more secret!

This workout wasn’t just swings and Ultimate Sandbag Training Rotational High Pulls. Each set of swings or rotational high pulls was alternated with a set of 10 suspended push-ups or a set of body rows for 10. Each set was also managed by 30 seconds of rest in between and the goal was 100 reps of the 88lb kettlebell swing and 100 reps (50 per side) of rotational high pulls. So the amount of work was the same all the way around and wasn’t just a  gut busting “how fast” and “how much” workout we could make. I did this deliberately because I wanted this to reflect more accurately a possible real workout. Now what do YOU think about just “sticking to the basics”? In the near future we will talk about how to integrate a progressive approach to really powerful Ultimate Sandbag Training workouts.