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• Conquering Tactical Pull-ups

• Kettlebells for Boxers

• Neck Training for Boxers

• Power to the People + H2H Drills

• Building a Strength Base

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H2H: Kettlebells Circuits

 Tell-A-Friend About T.A.

I am always looking for new ways to exercise. I don’t mean “new” like I invented it, just new to me. Sometimes it means using my equipment in a new way and sometimes it means using new equipment.

I recently incorporated the Pack Weight into my training program. Its versatility allows me to use it in new ways and as variations on old ways.

I use the Pack Weight for the same exercises I use my kettlebell for. I do swings, snatches, Turkish getups and shoulder presses. I really like that I can add or decrease the weight at any time during my session. I am using sand, which is so easy to pour some out or pour more in. It really depends on how I feel that day or how I feel during the workout. 

I have just started a new lower-body exercise involving the Pack Weight. I try to sprint while dragging a “sled” loaded with 60+ pounds of rocks. The sled is really the bottom half of an automobile gas tank. I drilled a couple of holes in the front, attached it to a rope and hook the rope to a belt around my waist. When I need weight quickly, I just toss on the Pack Weight. I can make the sprint, unhook the rope, remove the Pack Weight from the sled and go on using it for upper body exercises.

I recently took the Pack Weight to a martial arts class that I teach. I wanted to use it for warm-up and some impact drills. The bag weighed about 30 pounds. We began by chest passing it to each other like you would with a medicine ball. Next we did sit-ups and passed the bag to our partner as we sat up.

We had a couple of students who had never felt the impact of a punch, kick or takedown. Using the Pack Weight to create the impact is a great way to get the feel without being punched, kicked or taken down by a person. The first drill involves having a student get in a stable stance. Give the Pack Weight to their partner and tell them to hold the bag with both hands. Using the chest pass motion, the partner holding the Pack Weight begins to strike their partner with the bag (without letting go of it). They just pump their arms in and out striking the upper back, shoulders, stomach and upper leg areas. No striking to the face, groin or joints.

It’s a great way to feel impact without being in a fight, and it’s a great workout for the person holding the bag as they work up and down the body. We did the drill for a minute at a time. One other fun drill we did was to chest pass the Pack Weight at your partner and have them strike it to the ground with a punch, slap or elbow. It’s better if you don’t strike the buckles. The class loved the drills and we didn’t damage the floor with the falling weight.

Tomorrow, I might wake up and get a real exercise inspiration as I am getting dressed to go outside to my workout spot. I might want to hang my Pack Weight on my T.A.P.S pull-up bar and do some striking, or I might want to chest pass the Pack Weight down the length of my gravel driveway.

It’s great being inspired early in the morning. Now that I think about it, I'm 54 years old, so it’s just good to see morning.