Toughness is not fighting when someone else picks an unnecessary fight. It makes the goons look like goons instead of channeling their inner "Chunk". Hey, you guys!
But what about kangaroos? Man, I wish kangaroos were reading these "In Defense" odes. They would get a chuckle.
You can learn a lot by watching the animal kingdom. Their movements are precise. Their behaviors are interesting. Translating exercises from animal movements is very common. The kangaroo, a marsupial in the family Macropodidae, offers a touch of athleticism, strength, power, balance, agility, and speed that can be demonstrated but not exactly duplicated. Of course, the genetic make up of kangaroos and human beings are different. But, you could, by observation, look at this marsupial and adopt some exercise movements that will improve areas in your movements.
Watch the kangaroo hop. It hops at about 17 mph, which is faster than your average treadmill; but slightly slower than a very fast sprinter. Actually, the kangaroo really jumps because hopping occurs on one leg and not two. Basically, kangaroos get around like a plyometric drill. They are a plyometric or a good conduction of muscle shortening and lengthening.
Watch the kangaroo box in the same video above. Plyometric is not only reserved for the lower body. When a boxer punches someone or something and connects, he or she has performed a plyometric drill. Look at their stance. So, what can kangaroo exercises help improve:
Glutes (butt), gastrocnemius (calf), quadriceps (thighs), hamstrings, deltoids (shoulders), triceps.
The exercises per group: kangaroo hopping (glutes, gastrocs, quads, hamstrings), kangaroo standing (gastrocs), kangaroo boxing (shoulders, triceps), kangaroo wall holds (triceps, calf). You can have fun from there on...
With heart,
Derek
Derek Arledge, MS, CSCS www.teempt.com TEEM Performance Training
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