A Beginner's Guide to Battling Ropes

Increased range of movement and shoulder endurance are two of the benefits of trading in traditional barbell workouts. Image by Shutterstock.

Ropes aren't just for sailing and S&M.

They're a must-have tool for anyone looking to pack on lean mass. "The key to their effectiveness is that they work each arm independently, eliminating strength imbalances as they sculpt your muscle," says John Brookfield, creator of the original battling-ropes system. They also provide a killer cardio workout. Read on to maximise your burn—and brawn.

Battle Fat at Home
Training ropes come in various lengths and thicknesses, but a 50-foot, 1//-inch-thick rope works best for most guys ($155, ropegalore.com.au ). You can also craft your own: buy 15 metres of generic 1 1/2-inch rope and wrap the ends in electrical tape. To anchor it, just loop it around a pole.

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TRAINING RULE 1: Move in Many Directions
Don't just wave the ropes up and down. "Try different motions to work different muscles and skills," says Brookfield. Going from side to side, for example, places more emphasis on your hips and core, building total-body stability. Moving the ropes in circles improves shoulder mobility and range of motion, boosting athleticism and reducing your risk of injury. Switching among different motions in your training sessions will help you sculpt functional real-world strength.

TRAINING RULE 2: Use Ropes for Everything
Lots of guys use battling ropes as a finisher or as one exercise in a larger circuit. "But ropes also make for a great workout in and of themselves," Brookfield says. You might do each exercise for 10 minutes, for example, or do waves alone for a full 20 minutes. "Doing one task for extended periods teaches your mind to focus and helps your body flush lactic acid." It also extends the time your muscles are under tension, helping you build strength as you shed fat.

TRAINING RULE 3: Adjust the Resistance
The amount of slack in the rope determines the load. "Moving away from the anchor point decreases exercise intensity, while stepping toward the anchor point increases it," Brookfield says. Adjust the slack so you're challenged to complete each set. If you're doing a battling-rope workout, alternate between two minutes closer to the anchor point and one minute farther away. "The time you spend farther from the anchor is active recovery," says Brookfield.

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Two Rope Exercises You Must Master

1. Battling-Rope Waves
This is the classic battling-rope exercise. "It works each arm independently and keeps your muscles under tension for extended periods," says Brookfield.

Directions:
Hold the ends of the rope at arm's length in front of your hips with your hands shoulder-width apart. Brace your core and begin alternately raising and lowering each arm explosively. Keep alternating arms for 1 to 20 minutes.

2. Battling-Rope Crossovers
Instead of making waves, slam the rope to the ground. "You'll build more power and hammer your core," says Brookfield.

Directions:

Keep both feet flat on the floor as you move the ends in an arc above your head, lifting them to your left and slamming them down hard to your right. Repeat in the opposite direction. Continue alternating for 1 to 20 minutes.