THROWING
The remarkable ability to throw objects and perform a variety of “throwing” movements, along with our brain, has undeniably made us the dominant species on this planet. This unique capability has allowed us not only to create and utilize tools and weapons for hunting but has also played a critical role in constructing and building complex civilizations throughout history. Now, in our modern civilized world, this same ability has enabled us to adapt various forms of this movement to engage in sports, contributing to both recreation and competition. However, as we navigate this contemporary lifestyle, we have, unfortunately, lost the ability to effectively train this crucial movement pattern, particularly if we do not participate in athletics or manual labor. Even in fields that involve such activities, individuals often find themselves relying predominantly on their dominant side, which can inevitably lead to imbalances in strength and function, manifesting as pain over time.
Most mainstream workouts and commercial gyms typically emphasize frontal and sagittal plane movements, focusing primarily on straight-line exercises. While this approach works effectively for building linear strength, it is important to recognize that very little of what we do in life adheres strictly to a straight line. Our bodies naturally move in various forms of rotation; every item we pick up and manipulate in our daily routines involves some degree of rotational movement. In essence, sports themselves are characterized by fluid and powerful rotations, emphasizing the necessity for us to incorporate that training style into our workouts. Make no mistake, embracing rotational movements can drastically enhance every aspect of your life, provided that you develop the capacity to rotate and move with agility and control.
Utilizing heavy clubs, maces, or what I like to refer to as “leverbells” represents possibly the oldest form of training, dating back to ancient times. This valuable training method has often been forgotten or neglected, despite its continued practice in many countries around the globe—though it seems to be less acknowledged here in the United States. It is essential to avoid a closed-minded approach that assumes mainstream workouts are the only effective means of training. In reality, these leverbells serve as some of the best equipment available for enhancing rotational strength and are beneficial for virtually all sports. By adding these dynamic tools to your training regimen, you not only foster your athletic performance but also cultivate a more balanced and capable version of yourself, ultimately guiding you toward becoming a better human being.
