Few would dispute that the introduction of indoor ovens – as well as – central heating has made human lives easier, however if there is one downside to ditching real fires it’s the consequent lack of a need to chop wood regularly. Unfortunately, those days are long gone, but you are still able to recapture some of the magic with the woodchop exercise.
The woodchop exercise is a fantastic functional movement to add to your core workout routine. Your abdominals and obliques are working overtime as you twist and lift. The global movement of the exercise means the core strength benefits generated will translate into everyday activities as well as sports.
If you’re a golfer, the woodchop exercise should definitely be part of your regular workout routine. The rotational movement of the exercise enlists exactly the same core muscles as are needed to send a golf ball coasting down the fairway, so if you are looking to add 30 or 40 metres to your drive, hit the gym and start chopping wood!
What Are The Benefits Of The Wood Chop Exercise?
The woodchop exercise targets the transverse abdominis muscle as well as the oblique muscles. These are the muscles which allow you to twist at your waist and to swing a bat or racket utilising the weight of your body and not only your arms.
In addition, the woodchop engages the muscles of your back, shoulders as well as legs. In addition to sports that use a stick or racket (baseball, golf, tennis, hockey, cricket, etc.), twisting the abdominals under load is a prominent movement in sports including football and basketball.
Of course, this approximate movement is slightly different in any number of sports. This exercise is also safe during pregnancy.
How To Do The Wood Chop Exercise
- Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell with both of your hands.
- Rotate your torso to the right. After this, raise the dumbbell until it’s over your right shoulder.
- Squat as you rotate your torso to your left and bring the dumbbell diagonally across your body until it’s very close to your left hip.
- Repeat the movement and then switch sides.
What Is The Proper Form And Breathing Pattern To Adopt With The Wood Chop Exercise?
Engage your core, keep your feet and knees pointing in the same direction, maintain your arms straight and then breathe out as you twist your torso.
Try out these variations on the wood chop exercise for additional challenges.
- Reverse cable woodchop or standing cable lift: Set the adjustable system of the cable machine at the bottom so that you can pull the cable from low to high.
- Woodchop lunges: Step forward into a lunge as you bring the cable down across your body.
- Woodchops with weights: You are able to perform the woodchop using a dumbbell as opposed to a cable machine.
- High-speed woodchops: Perform the movement at high velocity, rest for 10-15 seconds, then repeat. This exercise is best utilised for power.
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