Battle Rope Exercises for a HIIT Full-Body Workout

                                                                                                                              – Battle Rope –

Battle rope workouts are no passing fad. They’ve been around since the mid-noughties and interest has steadily increased to the point where nearly all gyms have a set. And there’s a good reason for such widespread adoption. Throwing these thick, heavy ropes about does more than looking impressive – it’s a ruthlessly effective workout.

Remember those giant ropes you used to play tug of war with as a kid or? Well, you can also use them as a tool to blast calories and build muscle at the gym. Do not confuse battle ropes with skipping ropes.

Along with increased strength and fat loss, battle ropes provide an intense cardio workout – they develop muscular endurance for both kids and adults. What’s not to love?

It’s also an easy-to-acquire piece of kit which is simple to set up outside and takes up minimal storage space. We recommend you get a battle rope from Valuehubservices.

In fact, you only need a few minutes at the end of your regularly scheduled strength workout to get your burst of cardio in, along with a full-body workout burn. Some say to an extent, it has the same effects as using dumbbells.

With the five battle rope exercises below, you’ll strengthen your abs, arms, and shoulders, as well as activate your leg muscles and increase both upper and lower body power production.

Even better, you get high-intensity conditioning all at the same time, says Liz Adams, athlete, and coach at CrossFit Union Square.

To top it off, any move can remain low-impact, which means they’re great for athletes with joint issues, and you can cater each exercise to any fitness level, Adams adds.

So, next time you see those burly ropes at the gym, head over and give them a whirl (or whip) for 10 minutes.

Research from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning shows that’s all you need to achieve a vigorous full-body workout. These five battle rope exercises will give you a creative, seriously taxing Tabata-style routine, so get slamming!

Battle Rope Exercises Anyone Can Do

Before you start swinging away on your battle rope, make sure you anchor the rope around a heavy kettlebell (think more than 50 pounds), a weight machine, or a railing. You can spice things up by combining them with a treadmill. When you’re set, it’s time to wave in the results.

1. Jumping Power Slams

Power slams offer a total-body plyometric burn that tires your muscles out fast, says Adams. Now, add an explosive lower-body element and you turn up the benefits even more.

How to: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart in a quarter squat, facing the anchor. Hold one side of the rope in each hand, then lower the battle ropes down to your sides with your arms extended (

• Lower into a squat, tighten your core, and then explode into the air, jumping high, while raising both hands overhead
• As you land softly back down into a squat, forcefully slam the ropes onto the ground in a wave motion
• Repeat 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Do 3-4 sets.

2. Squat to Shoulder Press

Strengthen your shoulders as you work your lower body and core, too. This movement is especially beneficial for barbell athletes because it uses the same muscles as the thruster or clean and jerk, Adams says. Instead of going for HIIT-style for this movement, focus on form. When your form starts to break, it’s time to stop, she says.

How to: Start with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Hold the ropes on your shoulders, making sure that there is very little slack in the rope itself

• Lower down into a squat
• As you stand back up, simultaneously press the ropes overhead to straighten your arms
• Then, in one fluid motion lower the ropes back to the tops of your shoulders as you sink back into a squat
• Repeat for 10-20 reps, rest for 60 seconds, then repeat for 3-4 sets.

3. Alternating Wide Circles

The wide circle motion in this full-body move puts extra emphasis on your back and grip strength, says Adams. Make the circles as big as you can, using your legs only if you need to.

“I recommend keeping as much momentum going throughout the exercise as possible because the more you slow down, the heavier those ropes will feel and the harder it will be to get those ropes moving again,” Adams says.

How to: Stand with feet hip-width apart in a shallow squat. Grip one end of the rope in each of your hands. Tighten your core, and move each rope out to the side in a circular motion

• Then, complete the circle by bringing your arm back in front of your body
• Use the momentum to keep the circular motion going. Each arm should move independently, but still in-sync
• Repeat for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Do 3-4 sets.

4. Jumping Jacks

Jack up your heart rate, strengthen your core, and expand your chest while working the smaller muscles in and around the shoulders. You’ll definitely feel this in your core and obliques, too, Adams says.

How to: Start by holding one end of the rope in each hand, elbows bent and feet about hip-width apart (a).

• Jump your feet out wide as you bring your arms up and out to the sides, keeping your elbows bent so you can lift the ropes to shoulder height
• Then, slam the ropes back down as you jump your feet back together
• Continue the jack for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Do 3-4 sets.

5. Alternating Jump Wave

Finish up arm day with a little full-body workout action that requires solid coordination and power. You’ll feel it in your shoulders, arms and back, while the squats target your glutes and legs, too.

How to: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and grab one side of the rope with each hand. Place both hands to the right side of your hips and drop down into a squat.

• Explode off the ground as your swing the ropes up and over to the outside of your left hip, landing softly back into a squat
• Continue alternating swings as you do jump squats for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds.
• Do 3-4 sets.

Battle ropes are one of the most effective ways to tone muscles, make your workouts metabolic, and sneak in some cardio.

Danielle Hopkins, a master trainer at Printing House Equinox in New York City and the creator of the gym’s Ropes & Rowers program has created a workout that will exhaust your entire body and rev your heart rate pushing you into the fat-burning zone.

If you’re looking for a total-body workout to incorporate into your strength-training program, try a battle rope today. And what’s more, they are relatively cheap and long-lasting.