Before I start nailing 2X4s to my wall to build this piece of equipment, I would like to get your thoughts about this exercise....especially Chappy and Naxis. What do you two think about the "Captain's Chair" for an ab exercise? I have heard that of the total gamut of ab exercises that it ranks right up there in the top three with the reverse crunch and the bicycle. I plan on doing 3 sets of 15, 3 times per week with ankle weights, moving from 1 lb each ankle up to 10 lbs per ankle as my strenth develops.
Keep in mind that I am now a skinny middle aged guy who used to be fat.
So..........whatayathink??
Thanks.
I await your responses with breathless anticipation.
I am assuming that its the same as Roman Chair? My personal approach to abs has always been crunches and different variations on crunches. I think the chair can put great strain on the hips and may not isolate abs as effectively.
My personal approach to abs has always been crunches and different variations on crunches. I think the chair can put great strain on the hips and may not isolate abs as effectively.
Ok. I'll play with it for a few weeks and report back.
Hmmm... I thought the Captain's Chair was where you start standing, support your weight on your elbows, and lift your legs by crunching your abs... and the Roman Chair was where you are lying face down bent over the apparatus and then lifting your upper body to parallel (as if you were arching your back)... also called a Back Extension? Am I wrong about these names? From your description of nailing some boards to a wall I'm thinking you are talking about the former and not the latter...
Hmmm... I thought the Captain's Chair was where you start standing, support your weight on your elbows, and lift your legs by crunching your abs... and the Roman Chair was where you are lying face down bent over the apparatus and then lifting your upper body to parallel (as if you were arching your back)... also called a Back Extension? Am I wrong about these names? From your description of nailing some boards to a wall I'm thinking you are talking about the former and not the latter...
Now that you mention it philly.......I believe you are correct. The Captain's Chair was originally done by supporting the body on the elbows between parallel bars. The body hung between the bars. Then the legs were slowly lifted to be parallel to the ground, and slowly dropping back to a perpindicular position. That would be one rep. To take some pressure off the lower back the exercise can be done without the legs completely extended. To increase the intensity of the exercise a weight can be held between the ankles, or ankle weights can be used.
BTW..........My abs are firing like I have never felt them before with this exercise. I bet I will be sore for the weekend.
Yeah, I added those to my routine this week too... so that and the fact that the "regular" ab instructor at the gym returned from her maternity leave and basically ripped us up in class last night will have my midsection growling for the rest of the weekend. But that's what it's all about, right?
You know after 20 years and advanced degrees I would have heard of that but, I have never known that was called Captain's Chair. Now that I know- Yes, that is a good abdominal exercise.
Yeah, I added those to my routine this week too... so that and the fact that the "regular" ab instructor at the gym returned from her maternity leave and basically ripped us up in class last night will have my midsection growling for the rest of the weekend. But that's what it's all about, right?
Hehehehe. Yup...it sure is.
What I like about the exercise is the fact that you can add resistance. But I think that form is really important. If you find yourself rocking from the elbows then I think you can end up straining your back. I'm taking my last set of three very, very slow. Its killer! lol.
You know after 20 years and advanced degrees I would have heard of that but, I have never known that was called Captain's Chair. Now that I know- Yes, that is a good abdominal exercise.
It used to be called, (and probably still is) the "Vertical Leg-Hip Raise". I guess it's one of those things that has been renamed over time. Something like "the Core" which I posted about a few days ago. Oh.....now I'm hearing that the abdominals are not just the "core" but also the "Powerhouse". What I know today is that they are the things that are sore the day after you do the Captain's Chair/Vertical Leg-Hip Raise.
