Odd object training – generally – involves exercise using heavy ‘found objects’ or implements that you can modify for strength training. Many odd objects such as Atlas stones have been traditionally used as part of strongman training. This type of exercise is nothing new, but it has been coming back into favor recently. An odd object is a non-rigid implement with a center of mass that is not fixed. In conventional strength training, the pattern of movement is fixed, whereas the load given by odd objects will cause adjustments during the movement. Some label this style of training ‘real world training’, and odd objects certainly have benefits, including versatility, portability, and simplicity. The only limit is your own creativity, as well!
Odd object training used to be done because there were no other options – people either had no access to special equipment, or it simply had not been invented yet. Many old school strongmen also became very well known for using rather heavy odd or awkward objects. Such objects include kegs, anvils, Atlas stones, medicine balls, and sandbags. In this modern era, with all of the scientifically designed equipment and training routines that we can get access to, we can still benefit from odd object training. An increasingly popular philosophy of training – Dinosaur Training – promotes returning to the exercises and training of strongmen. I have personally found that working with odd objects and the exercises I have discovered for them have helped with coordination, wrist and forearm strength, and more.
Next, I recommend some odd objects and other implements that I prefer to use, as well as alternative methodologies. I realize that this is far from a comprehensive treatment on the subject.
Equipment List
Old car tires
Have a partner hold the tire so that you can practice body blows on it. Make sure to wear MMA or boxing gloves (or similar hand protection). You can also practice front kicks and roundhouse kicks. You can also modify a martial arts striking dummy or makiwara board by adding a car tire to it. ‘The Art of Hojo Undo’ illustrates a few ideas. Alternative idea – if you can acquire a used truck / tractor tire and a sledgehammer, there are many drills you can use.
Cinder blocks
Curls, presses, plank variations, wide squats, calf raises, lunges, shrugs, single arm rows, swings, farmer’s walk, step-ups, and more! For squats, you can also practice assisted one leg squats – step 9 in the squat progression of Convict Conditioning. Instead of using a basketball or similar object, you will use the cinder block for support as you squat down and ‘find’ the block with your hand. For calf raises, you can practice them standing on the cinder block. You will stand with on the balls of the feet on the edge of the block and lower your heels slowly, with control. Make sure you have a sturdy chair or other piece of furniture, a training partner, or a wall nearby to maintain a safe level of balance. Check out the second Convict Conditioning book for the calf raise progression.
Where to find used tires and cinder blocks?
Many times, auto repair shops will have plenty of old tires lying around they are happy to get rid of. If you’re looking for cinder blocks, try the Freecycle Network or ask friends or local businesses. Abandoned buildings will often have old materials lying around, but investigating such buildings can involve legal and safety issues, so exercise discretion.
Rice Bucket
There are wrist strengthening exercises that you can work using a bucket full of rice. Such exercises are common in baseball and physical therapy.
Heavy Bag
Any boxing, MMA, or similar heavy bag, or a heavy bag of your own construction. You can use different materials to both make the bag and fill it to your desired weight. Keep in mind that if you want your own constructed bag to be useful for martial arts practice, that the contents of the bag are not so hard that they do not allow any ‘give’ or cushion when you strike it. A heavy bag can be suspended by rope or chains. I would recommend visiting a sporting goods store or asking a local boxing, karate or similar instructor for advice on how to hang up bags. The book ‘The Art of Hojo Undo’ has a section titled ‘Other Tools and Methods’, which lists small heavy bag.
The use that the book lists is as follows –
‘Swinging a bag or ball filled with cement and allowing it to land on various parts of the body, conditions the mind and body to the effects of impact.’
There are many exercises you can practice with heavy bags. These include, but are not limited to, slams, squats, and fireman’s carry.
Rope Climbing and Towels for Hang Grip Work
These make great additions to any grip or pullup training. Rope climbing is common in military style workouts. Like many odd object training methods, rope climbing and towel hangs build strength in the hands, wrists, forearms, tendons, and ligaments. Overcoming Gravity, a book I recommended earlier, recommends the use of a towel in its one arm pullup training progression. Also, the second Convict Conditioning book has a progression for hang grip work that includes the use of towels. The two progressions supplement one another very well.
Sandbag training
Sandbags can normally be purchased at a hardware store for a few dollars each, and commonly weight 40 to 45 pounds – making them very cheap lifting implements! You can do almost any type of lift with them, and the fact that the sand shifts around forces you to stabilize the bags, giving you a harder workout. Sandbag training is very useful for firefighters and combat athletes, such as cage fighters and wrestlers. I have personally put sandbags into a duffel bag, which you can normally pick up for $15 or so at an army surplus.
Some other ideas for strength training without special equipment
Car pushing, chopping wood, using monkey bars or rafters for pullups and various gymnastics exercises, using chairs or picnic tables for ‘chair dips’ and decline pushups.
The staples that frequently appear at strongman competitions include the following, a number of which use odd objects –
Atlas Stones
Axle Press
Car Flip
Deadlift
Dumbbell Press
Fingal’s Finger
Frame Carry
Keg Toss
The clock
Deadlift hold
Hercules hold
Vehicle pull
Log Clean and Press
Squat
Tire Flip
Yoke
Log press
Farmers Carry
Husafell Stone
Sand Bag Carry
Power stairs
(Source – Wikipedia entry for Strongman (strength athlete)
Hojo Undo / martial arts tools
This is hardly a comprehensive list of implements that martial artists use.
Lifting Tools of Hojo Undo that I personally use.
Chi ishi – weighted levers or ‘strength stones’. A ‘chi ishi’ is basically a wooden pole with a concrete weights attached.
Makiage kigu – wrist roller. Traditionally, a wooden handle is used, with a weight hanging from it via a length of rope. I personally purchased a modern wrist roller, but the use is the same.
Tan – it is like a modern barbell, and made from a wood post that has concrete weights on each end. I use a steel barbell for the exercises recommended in ‘The Art of Hojo Undo.’ It is also a good idea to train bojutsu (staff technique) movements with a barbell that is light enough for you to use.
Impact Tools of Hojo Undo that I personally use.
Jari Bako – A bowl or bucket filled with sand, smooth stones, marbles, or even rice or beans. It is used by striking your fingers into it, in order to condition your fingers and fingertips.
Makiwara – a padded striking post traditionally used in some karate styles.
‘Tapping sticks’ – almost any piece of wood can be held and used to tap various parts of your body to build a familiarity with getting hit. The point is not to hit yourself as hard as possible, but to slowly build up a tolerance to light striking. I personally use a shinai – a bamboo practice sword used for kendo practice. This kind of tool can be safely used to strike yourself or your training partner moderately hard to the muscles of the legs, arms, and core, but proper cautions must be used.
Alternatives – there are striking bags available for sale that can be filled with dried beans or shot, which can help condition your striking tools. Wall punch pads can also be made or purchased. You can also use thick phone books wrapped up with duct tape as an alternative to makiwara boards. Also, there are plenty of ‘ude tanren’, or methods of forearm conditioning. This generally consists of partner blocking drills that can be used to toughen up the arms as well as help with reflexes.