Rowing Off A Block

[[old] Yoda1]

Since I have been unable to really pull on the ERG I thought I would try raising the rear a bit to give a little more resistance prior to actually pulling through with my arms. For the last several weeks I've been rowing with a 4x4 block under the rear leg. I try to keep the SPM at 18-20 for anywhere from 2K-5K. Am I going to gain anything from doing this or am I wasting my time? Pace ranges from 2:30 to 2:45 per 500 meters.<br /><br />Perhaps there is another method I could use. Suggestions anyone. <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Yoda

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--QuoteBegin-Yoda1+May 19 2005, 07:25 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Yoda1 @ May 19 2005, 07:25 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Since I have been unable to really pull on the ERG I thought I would try raising the rear a bit to give a little more resistance prior to actually pulling through with my arms.  For the last several weeks I've been rowing with a 4x4 block under the rear leg.  I try to keep the SPM at 18-20 for anywhere from 2K-5K.  Am I going to gain anything from doing this or am I wasting my time?  Pace ranges from 2:30 to 2:45 per 500 meters.<br /><br />Perhaps there is another method I could use.  Suggestions anyone.  <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Yoda <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Bill,<br />Xeno Muller shows some rowing on his workout DVD #1 where certain parts are isolated. One of the exercises is rowing with the arms straight. I wonder if that would be a way to ease into rowing without putting too much strain on the shoulders. I highly recommend his workout videos. They are great fun and time really flies when you row along with him or with him and Lucas. <br />He uses slides but the only place where slides are essential are with the one-legged exercises. Even for those, I imagine you could put the foot down on a slippery surface or skateboard.<br />Byron

[[old] michaelb]

Oh oh, here we go. Search the archived forum for "erg jacking". This has been discussed and debated in great length in the past. Someone here has experimented with this quite a bit.

[[old] Godfried]

<!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+May 20 2005, 04:20 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ May 20 2005, 04:20 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->This has been discussed and debated in great length in the past.  Someone here has experimented with this quite a bit. </td></tr></table><br />See <a href='http://concept2.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=704' target='_blank'>Slope Of The Railing</a><br />

[[old] Yoda1]

Thank you for the "Thread". It answered my question.<br /><br />Yoda

[[old] Canoeist]

<!--QuoteBegin-Yoda1+May 20 2005, 12:25 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Yoda1 @ May 20 2005, 12:25 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For the last several weeks I've been rowing with a 4x4 block under the rear leg..... Am I going to gain anything from doing this or am I wasting my time?<br />Yoda <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You should be developing leg strength by doing this. Using a block forces you to use your legs more than your arms.<br /><br />If I wasn't training on slides, I would use a 2" or 4" block occasionally to develop leg strength. Erging "level" feels so much easier after training with a block under the rear of the erg.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] PaulS]

Paul,<br /><br />Get some 1x4 planks and put them under the rear Slide (One down each side to support the whole thing a little higher), I did this accidentally (a very dense rug under the rear slide) and since both slides were level there was no problem with using them, but I did wonder for some time, why my 8k had slowed, before getting it back on par. Or placing a 2x2 under the rear foot and "zip tying" the whole thing to the carriage can get you a "reversed jacked" Erg on slides.<br /><br />Or of course we can just drive a little harder if we want to get more leg work.

[[old] The Matinator]

Rowing is a sport of pushing with the leggs NOT pulling with the arms the movement of the arms should be quick but does have to be strong, a good example of this is that in my club on a number of occation in our winter training a half hour erg was followed directly by heavy weights.<br />