cap n chris
Well-known member
Graham, if you like I'll ask if the CoS would like to kiss your butt too. It could even end up being a good exercise.
Training for caving
- Thread starter kay
- Start date
SamT
Moderator
All the obvious things have been covered I think - drinking etc.
However. I reckon this guy is going to want to break this down scientifically.
So - why do otherwise super fit rugby players/rowers struggle when they go caving.
Well I reckon its all to do with specific muscle groups.
Its all well and good having good lungs - which a good session on the tread mill/bike/rowing machine etc will get you.
So step one - good Aerobic fittness. Fairly easily achieved.
Taking it further - if you are going to taylor your gym session to caving you are going to have to concentrate on the specific muscle groups.
For caving I reckon these are
shoulders - climbering around, crawling, SRT lugging bags etc.
So pull ups (srt) pushups (crawling) and specifically lat work (both). Climbing wall training would be best for this.
Then the other over looked area are the abs and "core strength"
I always find that crawling/stooping and flat out work really works my abs. (not to mention digging etc).
Who ever mentioned Yoga -
Yoga is awesome - the dogs nuts. You need to find a class thats slightly more biased on the physical streatchy/breathing side rather than sitting about under candlelight listening to wales and chinging bells.
I did two years - and in that time my climbing ability rocketed. It allows you to use the power you have in your muscles most effectively and most importantly - without injuring yourself. Not to mention contorting through all those squeezes.
Last of all - did I mention Drinking.
However. I reckon this guy is going to want to break this down scientifically.
So - why do otherwise super fit rugby players/rowers struggle when they go caving.
Well I reckon its all to do with specific muscle groups.
Its all well and good having good lungs - which a good session on the tread mill/bike/rowing machine etc will get you.
So step one - good Aerobic fittness. Fairly easily achieved.
Taking it further - if you are going to taylor your gym session to caving you are going to have to concentrate on the specific muscle groups.
For caving I reckon these are
shoulders - climbering around, crawling, SRT lugging bags etc.
So pull ups (srt) pushups (crawling) and specifically lat work (both). Climbing wall training would be best for this.
Then the other over looked area are the abs and "core strength"
I always find that crawling/stooping and flat out work really works my abs. (not to mention digging etc).
Who ever mentioned Yoga -
Yoga is awesome - the dogs nuts. You need to find a class thats slightly more biased on the physical streatchy/breathing side rather than sitting about under candlelight listening to wales and chinging bells.
I did two years - and in that time my climbing ability rocketed. It allows you to use the power you have in your muscles most effectively and most importantly - without injuring yourself. Not to mention contorting through all those squeezes.
Last of all - did I mention Drinking.
cap n chris
Well-known member
- insert gratuitous Welsh-ist stereotypical bleating, "Boyo" etc. -
Yes, it appears this thread is going off on a tangent. It also appears that questions like "Why do fit rugby players have trouble caving" support the previous comment that caving is the best exercise for would-be cavers since it exercises the relevant muscle groups (we just need to single out the relevant muscle groups and I think SamT has gone a pretty good job on that score already). Grace, stamina and relevant strength plus refuelling mid-trip are key to this topic.
D
Dave H
Guest
Do it with flat feet and without holding the door handle to get the best benefit for both strength and technique. Then sit on the edge of a table and lift you knees up to the horizontal many times to excercise the other leg muscles. (You could even hold your jammer, with your feet in the footloops for this to exercise your arms a bit as well)Rachel said:
Last year a couple of us knackered out a fitness instructor on a trip to sump one in Swildons!
T
tubby two
Guest
Do any of you actually do all these sitting on tables waving your arms around holding doors type stuff? and does it work? I used to try doing sit-ups and push-ups and stretches every night to try and improve my climbing about a year ago but i just got really bored (after about 2 weeks!) and went climbing more instead. I've never really trained for caving- other than riding my bike, but thats only to keep fit generally and cos i enjoy it.
tt.
tt.
langcliffe
Well-known member
MSD said:
LUSS 2 Spring 1972 - "Unfit Speleologists Start Here" by Joe Medhurst, Director of Physical Education, University of Lancaster.
He recommended skipping, press ups, step ups, sit ups, wrist roller, squat thrusts, and chins.
M
MSD
Guest
langcliffe said:
Well bugger me. My memory was spot on there (though I say so myself). Whoever examines this report is going to give full marks for background research, that's for sure
S
scoop
Guest
My first energetic trip was down Swildons. My arms and shoulders ached for days afterwards. If my first trip had involved more vertical stuff, I suppose it would have been my legs that would have suffered. Caving affects the parts that other exercises don't reach! As someone said the best exercise for caving is caving.