As a follow-up to last week’s 10 Primal Plyos to Make You Fitter, Faster, Stronger that focused on the lower body, we present 10 explosive exercises for your upper body. Thanks to reader dusty for the suggestion!
Animation via Sports Fitness Advisor
You’ll love this explosive twist on the classic push up. To do, assume standard push-up position, with feet together and hands under shoulders. Dip down as if doing a standard push up, but forcibly push yourself up so that your hands come up off the floor. Catch yourself with your hands and then go straight back down into the push up position.
As with all exercises, but specifically this one, if you have any type of shoulder injury, please do not do this exercise. Perform a headstand, resting the heels lightly against the wall with hands just slightly closer than shoulder-width apart. Bend your elbows slightly and then explode up into a headstand. Push feet off wall and on to floor and then reset into headstand.
Image from brianmac.co.uk
To perform this drill, you’ll need two mats or boxes, 3-4 inches thick, placed shoulder width apart and a 8-12 inch box to elevate your feet above your shoulders when in the push up position. With feet on box, assume the push up position between the mats, push off the ground and aim to land with one hand on each mat. Push off the mats and land in your starting position.
For the following exercise, you will need a medicine ball weighted at no more than 5lbs. If you don’t have one readily available, a basketball or dodgeball is a good substitute.
Animation via Sports Fitness Advisor
Stand facing a wall – preferably with no windows or other breakable elements – with feet about hip width apart, one foot slightly in front of the other. Raise medicine ball over and behind the head and then forcefully throw it at the wall. Aim to catch the ball as it rebounds off the floor in front of the wall. Bring the ball back over the head and repeat.
Stand in front of the wall, feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart and facing forward. Grasping medicine ball, scoop down so that ball comes between the knees and then forcefully throw the ball up and forward. Catch the ball as it rebounds off the floor in front of wall, draw back between the knees and repeat.
Animation via Sports Fitness Advisor
Stand sideways to the wall, feet hip width apart with the leg closest to the wall approximately one foot in front of the other foot. Hold the medicine ball with both hands, arms slightly bent. Bring medicine ball back towards hip farthest from the wall and forcefully throw the ball towards the wall using an underhand toss. For maximum force, engage your core by keeping your stomach muscles pulled in. Catch the ball as it rebounds off the floor in front of the wall, draw back to the hip and repeat.
Stand with feet shoulder width apart, feet parallel and knees slightly bent. Pull the medicine ball back behind your head and then forcefully throw down on to the floor. Aim to catch the ball as it rebounds up from the floor and then pull back over the head and repeat.
Stand in a fighting position. With your back hand holding a small medicine ball throw an explosive straight punch. At the end of the punch release the medicine against a punching bag or wall. Catch the ball and repeat.
Image from NSCA.com
This one throws some lower body into the mix as well and is similar to the Vertical Scoop Toss above. Again, stand with feet hip width apart, feet parallel and facing forward. Hold medicine ball at chest level and then squat down until upper thighs are parallel to the floor. Explode up and jump as high as you can while simultaneously throwing the ball as high as you can over your head. When completing this exercise, aim to minimize the amount of time spent in the squat position so that it takes on a more fluid, constant motion
Stand with feet shoulder width apart in a semi-squat position with your hands atop the medicine ball resting on the floor. Shift your weight to your legs, bring medicine ball up to your chest, and forcefully throw it. After the ball has been released, sprint forward a few steps. Retrieve the ball, crouch down again and repeat.
Animation via Sports Fitness Advisor
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