Fitness method

• US 6,190,291 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard Schwarz
• Original Assignee: Leonard Schwarz
• Inventors: Schwarz, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US08/883,122
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 482/91, 482/111, 482/23, 482/44, 482/45, 482/49, 482/109, 482/108, 482/148
• US Class Current: 482/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00

Abstract

A fitness method for an exerciser combines the benefits of isometric-like exercising with isotonic exercising for simultaneous training of the exerciser'"'"'s cardiovascular and skeletal musculature systems and strength and endurance buildup. The method entails coupling the exerciser'"'"'s hands together in any one of a number of configurations and generating an isometric-like force during the coupling stage. The coupled hands can then be moved in any number of directions or coupled differently while maintaining or varying the isometric-like force during the movement. In addition, further training can be achieved by moving one or more other body parts during the coupled hand movement. The legs, torso, shoulders, and/or neck can be moved in any number of directions or sequences to exercise different muscle groups in conjunction with the muscle groups being worked by the movement of the coupled hands.

Claims

1. An exercise method that fuses whole body muscular strength with overall muscular endurance and flexibility, cardiovascular efficiency, and skill without the need for any external exercise equipment, comprising the steps of:

a) developing upper body strength by first clasping the hands of the exerciser together, and then moving the arms of the exerciser back and forth in a generally back and forth lateral motion, and at the same time having one hand pulling the other hand when moving the clasped hands and arms in one direction, the other hand pulling on the one hand when moving the clasped hands and arms in another direction, the pulling of one hand against the other aiding in said development of upper body strength through resistance by the other hand, wherein the step of clasping the hands further comprises moving the clasped hands in at least four segments whereby the palms are;

i) generally facing each other with one hand beneath the other and the fingers intertwined, the under hand being the pulling hand and the thumb of the under hand leading the movement of the hand clasp in the one direction as the first segment;

ii) generally facing each other with one hand over the other and the fingers intertwined, the over hand being the pulling hand and the thumb of the over hand leading the movement as the second segment;

iii) generally facing each other with one hand beneath the other and the fingers intertwined, the under hand being the pulling hand and the little finger of the under hand leading the movement as the third segment; and

iv) generally facing each other with one hand over the other and the fingers intertwined, the over hand being the pulling hand and the little finger of the over hand leading the movement as the fourth segment;

v) controlling the back and forth lateral motion of the arms between horizontal, vertical and oblique directions, selection of one of the horizontal, vertical and oblique directions developing additional upper body strength by working muscles linked to the selected back and forth lateral motion directions;

vi) varying a range and tempo of the back and forth motion as part of said upper body strength development and to gain endurance and flexibility; and

vii) varying a pulling force of one hand on another during the back and forth motion as part of said upper body strength development;

b) during the back and forth movement of step (a), changing the hand clasps between each of the first through fourth segments as part of the fitness method, the changing of the clasps as part of said back and forth movement allowing an exerciser to work the entire upper body musculature;

c) at the same time of moving and controlling the back and forth lateral motion of steps (a) and (b), flexing the exerciser'"'"'s torso repeatedly, with varying tempo and in concert the arm motion to enhance work imposed on muscles of the upper body and to work muscles associated with the torso; and

d) at the same time of moving and controlling of the arms and hand pulls of steps (a) and (b), and movement of the torso of step (c), moving the legs repeatedly in step with the varying movements of the torso and arms to enhance the musculature work imposed on the torso and upper body while working leg muscles;

e) whereby the simultaneous and varying movements of the upper body via the arms and clasped hands, the torso, and the legs results in;

i) development of whole body musculature and the ability to use increased amounts of muscle volume per unit time than exercises focusing on selected body portions of an exerciser;

ii) gains of overall flexibility through orchestration of muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons worked by said simultaneous and varying movements;

iii) improved endurance in conjunction with said development of whole body musculature;

iv) increased cardiovascular effects by mobilizing large amounts of skeletal muscle as part of said simultaneous and varying movements; and

v) increased skills of the exerciser based on selection of particular skill-related movements.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the movement in at least one of steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) to regulate the degree of strength, flexibility, and endurance in muscles associated with each step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in addition to the movement in the first through fourth segments, the clasped hands are moved in a fifth segment whereby the fingertips of one hand engage the fingertips of the other hand, each hand being rotated about 180 degrees and the fingertips are then reengaged for changing movement as part of step (b).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in addition to the movement in the first through fifth segments, the clasped hands are moved in a sixth segment whereby the fingers of one hand are between the index finger and a thumb of the other hand, and the fingers of the other hand are between the index finger and the thumb of the one hand, each hand being rotated about 180 degrees and the fingers are then reengaged between the thumbs and index fingers for changing movement as part of step (b).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an exerciser'"'"'s body is in water.