Sandbag training

[speed_monkey]

Hi all,

After moving away from a long time training MMA I am missing training in general.

I used to lift conventionally for a few years.

I have seen quite a bit of hype about sandbag training and wondering if any of you guys have had any experience with it?

I imagine it is similiar to kettle training but quite a bit more of an unstable weight, so would work a lot of stabilising muscles too.

What would you recommend as a training programme, i have always used a 5x5 push/ pull/ compound split routine, i guess i could keep the same routine but chopping and changing some of the movements for sandbag specific ones, like round the worlds etc

Obviously with a lot of CV too (I do a lot of running and sport climbing)

So..... What do you think?

[didelydoo]

I've got an 80kg one- good fun, pretty tiring and tough though.

[Lost_BMW]

Another advocate here - I'm increasingly moving away from weights (just doing a bit and even wondering whether to stop that) and moving more to bodyweight and sandbag training.

I've got/use home made sandbags of different weights (army stores bags and packs with sand in), a wrestling dummy - so shaped like a human - had a Powerbag, use heavy bags including walking laps of the garden with a 140lb massively wide Monster Bag which was so hard and my utter favourite the Bulgarian Bag.

If I had the money I'd get a wider range of weights as mine is too heavy to do some things for long - like round the worlds - though hopefully my middle will get stronger and I'll survive the circuits better.

It's a real killer for the grip, great for cardio and hits many muscles hard. There are some great clips on You Tube like these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHXsnT5eFZc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9d1K-GKZs


Also Barry Gibson of Grapple Fit who writes for some MMA magazines has lots to say about sandbags. All good!

http://www.grapplefit.com/

[speed_monkey]

didelydoo said:

I've got an 80kg one- good fun, pretty tiring and tough though.

Do you have a link for the 80kg ones??? I can only seem to find ones that go up to 50kg

[didelydoo]

speed_monkey said:

Do you have a link for the 80kg ones??? I can only seem to find ones that go up to 50kg

An old French Army Duffle bag filled with bags of sand sand and a few weight plates, sewn shut with fishing wire. Got it off ebay for £7.50. As effective as any thing else, but nice an cheap I'm all for being a cheap bd.

Pretty much this one in fact - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Army-Kitbag-Duff... Remove the strap etc...Seams are weak too, hence the fishing wire.

[speed_monkey]

didelydoo said:

An old French Army Duffle bag filled with bags of sand sand and a few weight plates, sewn shut with fishing wire. Got it off ebay for £7.50. As effective as any thing else, but nice an cheap I'm all for being a cheap bd.

Pretty much this one in fact - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Army-Kitbag-Duff... Remove the strap etc...Seams are weak too, hence the fishing wire.

Ah!!! Lightbulb moment..... I have one of those in the loft!

Superb.

Thank you.... You've just save me about 80 quid

[didelydoo]

speed_monkey said:

Ah!!! Lightbulb moment..... I have one of those in the loft!

Superb.

Thank you.... You've just save me about 80 quid

Glad to be of help

A good tip- when you put sand inside it, put the sand into smaller individual bags first (like freezer bags or similar)- it won't settle, saves mess/leakage, and makes it easy to +/- weight if required. The seams may pop if you pack too full, but it's easily fixed.

Have fun.