I always scoffed at strongman training. I would wonder when would I ever have to pick up a huge rock and throw it over my shoulder. Well, today I am happy to have stepped into the world of functional fitness training and to be exposed to movements like tire flips and sandbag carrying.
All of this came in really handy when I found myself a new homeowner and built a terrace from scratch in my back then lousy garden. I'm talking about clearing soil, pulling up tree roots, shoveling hundreds of pounds of earth, laying 24-inch by 24-inch pavers, and hauling a trash can full of garden debris over 50 yards.
Surely I was glad I had spent some time with buckets full of stones.
All of this, to say the least, strange object training comes in handy.
What is Odd Object Training?
Training on odd objects refers to training on any type of object that is, well, odd. That means your usual barbells, dumbbells, bumper plates, and kettlebells - all things that are intentionally easy to move around - are off-limits.
When exercising with unusual objects, use objects that are not ergonomic (that is, they make it difficult to set up a lifting position) or objects of variable weight (such as a sandbag, where the weight shifts according to the grip). .
Exercising with strange objects forces you to exercise more muscle fibers than you normally would with a barbell or other traditional weight. There is no isolation exercise when training with odd objects as your entire body must work as one unit to move the weight safely and effectively.
In advance, you will learn about five different strange object items and their uses.
