GMMA Instructor,Student,Fighter.: Resistance Bands

Going back to one of my recent blogs titled "Skipping rope", there is few simple, small and lightweight tools that I use and carry with me at most of the time. Running shoes, skipping rope, resistance bands, and Suspension ropes.
Each one of those, used in various ways, with a bit of imagination and will power can bring very complex workout in very simple environment.
You can use them almost everywhere.

There is many different types of resistance bands that can help you make your training more efficient, more interesting, and push the boundaries.

"Loop cross-fit bands" for example; can be used instead or in addition to weights. Simple moves like squats, sit ups, press ups, bench press, handicapped with loop bands can really bring a lot of good struggle and make your workout complete. I see ladies in the gym working on the pull up frames, supporting themselves with cross-fit bands while performing the pull ups.

"Heave duty resistance bands" with attachment bits at both ends and different types of hands/legs collars or belts that they can be attached to. What a fun! What a workout!
I have been introduced to this type of fine equipment years ago by one of our GMMA Academy team Mates; Jimmy, who is well known of his passion to training and and great collection of exercise gadgets.
We used to organize special training directed by Jimmy every now and then. When Jimmy would pull out his toys and in some funky East London locations, like; car parks, block of flats corridor, park etc,... Jimmy would make us work like never before.
We would:
Do some sprints and jumps with extra strong and long band connected at the back with use of belt.
Crawl, frog jump, lunges walk forward and back while also being pulled by the rope.
Lots of different types of pad work and sparring workouts with resistance bands connected at the back or directly to the limbs that we were working on.
Adding up some more simple equipment like: medicine balls, cones, hurdles,... Makes use of the bands limitless and fun.

"Yoga bands" are my personals best. They are not taking much room I do always keep one or two in my gym bag, right next to the skipping rope. They do not give as much resistance as "crossfit bands" but they still do. There is also different levels of resistance they can give and if you wish to make workout harder you can always double them up or simply shorten them.
Shadowboxing, punching pads or doing press ups with each end of the band wrapped up in either hand and stretched over the back. Shadow kicking or kicking the pads with band tied up leg to leg or post ( bench leg, etc ) to leg. That's just some of the regular activities that I would do on the days when I cannot make it to the gym and cannot hit the bags.
Trust me, your muscles work differently and both ways; in and out while hitting connected to the band. When you not used to them, after good workout, you will most likely discover muscles you never new you've got. Especially at your back, back of your arms and legs. That's why is worth to use them.

"Yoga Bands" (as its name says) as well as "loop cross-fit bands" can also be great stretching equipment. Giving a little pull back or gradually increasing the stretch.

To make our training and our body more efficient, we need to vary the way we exercise. Trigger our brains and muscles with new activities. Make it interesting and more fun.

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