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5 of the best exercises for all-round strength

Scott Birdby Scott Bird | December 4, 2007
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GubernatrixThis is a guest article by All-round Strength Training’s Sally - 5 of the best exercises for all-round strength.

There’s more to all-round strength than just lifting a heavy barbell - although that’s pretty important too. All-round strength is about being able to lift heavy, explosively and using the whole body.

All-round strength means a strong core and a strong grip, as well as a strong arm. If your leg press is out of this world but you can’t do a pull-up with your own bodyweight, how strong are you really?

There are plenty of ways to get strong. Here are five of the best!

Deadlift

Performed with good form, this exercise will make you uber-strong. It will train back, legs, shoulders, core and grip. It also takes your central nervous system out for a sprint round the block! A good deadlift has a crossover effect on all your other exercises. This will probably be your heaviest lift, a real test of maximal strength.

Mastering the deadlift

Snatch

This exercise is all about moving a heavy weight from the floor to above your head at speed. It requires real mastery of your body: balance, control and explosive power. If you’ve never tried it before, the one-arm dumbbell version is relatively easy to learn compared to the two-handed barbell version. This lift is unlike anything else out there. It will make you feel like a god or goddess of power!

A Beautiful Snatch

Pull-up

The ultimate test of bodyweight strength. It is amazing how many dedicated bench pressers cannot manage this exercise. Use a towel or ropes to make it harder and get even more grip training in.

Sandbag clean and press

The sandbag version of the clean and press is more challenging than using a barbell or dumbbell. It’s all very well lifting cleanly and clinically in the gym - can you also handle a weight that is awkward, unstable and difficult even to get hold of? Another great grip trainer to boot. Who needs hand grippers?!

Sandbag construction kit

Sled push

Pushing a heavy sled is a full body workout. Legs, posterior chain, core, shoulders are all put through the mill, not to mention the cardiovascular system. This is Mike Boyle’s answer to the question ‘if you could only do one exercise, what would it be?’

Which are your favourite exercises for all-round strength? While you’re thinking about it, here’s Eva T in an impressive display of strength!

Written for Straight to the Bar by Gubernatrix - on a mission to find the best in all-round strength training.


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Comments

1

Nice…

Posted by: carpediemcat | December 5, 2007 8:44 AM

2

Sally,

Nice list. I would add my favourite upper body exercise - the parallel bar dips.

Posted by: Curtis Penner | December 5, 2007 12:09 PM

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