ROCK CLIMBER EXERCISE: 8 WAYS TO BUILD STEEL ABS
Climber is an effective abdominal exercise. It perfectly works the core muscles and helps to achieve the coveted “cubes”. The main load falls on the muscles of the abdomen and thighs, the auxiliary load is on the muscles of the back, buttocks and legs. Regular exercise develops physical endurance and tone your muscles.
No special equipment is required to perform the Climber exercise. Therefore, you can exercise anywhere: at home, in the park, or in the gym.
EXECUTION TECHNIQUE
The Climber exercise can be done in a variety of ways. The main thing is to follow a few general rules:
- Distribute your weight evenly to your arms and legs.
- When moving your legs, do not roll over to the right or left side.
- Draw in your stomach and keep your muscles taut.
- Don’t bend your lower back.
- Straighten your shoulders and keep your shoulder blades apart.
- Bend your arms at the elbows, otherwise the entire load will fall on the elbow joints.
- Breathe evenly.
EXECUTION OPTIONS
Basic exercise “Rock climber”
Why: Workout abs and glutes.
How: Lie on a rug with your hands on the floor and place your palms shoulder-width apart. Raise on your hands without bending your elbows. Keep your body parallel to the floor. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and pull your right knee towards your chest. While inhaling, return to the starting position. Repeat the same with your left foot.
Experienced athletes can increase the load. In the video, we show you how to perform a complicated version of the “Climber” exercise with a barbell.
Twisting
Why: Train the abs, obliques and buttocks. Additional stress on the pectoral muscles.
How: Lie on a mat, place your arms shoulder-width apart and rest your palms on the floor. Raise on your hands without bending your elbows. As you exhale, tighten your abdominal muscles, pull your right knee to your left shoulder, while twisting slightly at the waist. While inhaling, return to the starting position and do the same with your left leg.
With expander
Why: The main load on the legs and buttocks, hip biceps training.
How: Tie an expander to your legs just above your knees and take a lying position. Rise on your hands, bending them slightly at the elbows. Keep your body parallel to the floor. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and pull your right knee towards your chest. While inhaling, return to the starting position and repeat the same with your left leg.
Hands on the bench
Why: Workout the glutes, deltas and core muscles.
How: Get into a prone position and place your hands on the bench. Palms – shoulder width apart. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and pull your right knee towards your chest. While inhaling, return to the starting position and do the same with your left leg.
On fitball
Why: Additional stress on the biceps, triceps and deltoid muscles.
How: Lie on the floor and place your hands on the ball. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and pull your right knee towards your chest. The exercise is performed alternately on each leg.
“Rock climber” biped
Why: Train your abs, biceps, back, deltas, core muscles.
How: Lie down on a rug. Spread your arms shoulder-width apart. Keep your body parallel to the floor. As you exhale, raise your arms, contracting your abdominal muscles. In a jump, pull your knees to your chest and return to the starting position while inhaling. Repeat the exercise several times.
No foot landing
Why: Additional stress on the abs and buttocks.
How: Lie down on slightly bent arms. As you exhale, contract your abdominal muscles and pull your right knee towards your chest. As you inhale, quickly change your left leg. Repeat the exercise.
Diagonal steps
Why: Training for the muscles of the thighs and buttocks. Additional stress on the pectoral muscles.
How: Take a prone position and place your arms shoulder-width apart. Your body should be parallel to the floor. As you exhale, pull your right knee toward your left shoulder. While inhaling, return to the starting position and repeat the same with your left leg.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To make your workout as effective as possible, we recommend:
- For beginners, do the exercise with your hands on a raised platform, not on the floor.
- Take your time, build up the pace gradually.
- Do not lift your pelvis too high.
- Observe the position of the body, the body should form a straight line (from shoulders to ankles).
- Straighten your legs and not bend your knees.
- Breathe evenly.
- Perform the optimal number of sets – 4-5.