Steel clubs, like the ones from Onnit Academy, are a modern variation on an ancient type of fitness equipment from Persia and surrounding areas around 2000 years ago. They were used by wrestlers and soldiers to enhance their overall strength, endurance and speed for competing and for better weapon management in battle.
Benefits of Steel Club Training:
Grip Development
Steel club training enhances grip strength and dexterity similar to that of a kettlebell but in a more advance way by differentiating the weight distribution though the fingers. At various points in steel club exercises, the stress the exercise places on the hand can be learned by the practitioner to minimize fatigue and maximize efficiency. You can imagine that when this ability to redistribute the loading of the hands enhanced both the warriors and wrestlers endurance and strength alike (especially with grappling). This could have meant the difference between winning or death in ancient times!
Enhanced Connective Tissue & Joint Development
Swinging weight through large ranges of motion creates a tractional force as opposed to compressive force. Tractional force decompresses the joints and lengthens connective tissues; compressive force like loaded squats, presses, and deadlifts compresses the joints and shortens connective tissues. Implementing tractional force exercises like the ones used in steel club training can help halt or counteract degeneration of the intervertebral disks within our spine.
Deceleration Training
By learning how to slow the momentum of a swinging a club you develop decelerative strength. Decelerative strength can be useful in minimizing the risk of injury becuse as many sports and training injuries are the result of the inability to decelerate and change direction when necessary.
Mobility & Stability
The incorporation of a variety of pullover, rotational and swinging drills and exercises in varying planes of motion while using the steel club can be useful in both increasing the range of motion as wells as increasing muscular stability around the shoulders.
FUN!
Lastly I would have to add that besides the fact that steel clubs are useful for both strength and mobility, the most important reason for buying a steel club and learning how to use it for me was because it’s FUN! There aren’t many other fitness tools out there that let you feel like an ancient warrior or superhero like the steel club. Go ahead train like the hidden warrior within and buy a steel club today!
