Björnsson outfitted himself with some fancy new gear.
In early 2023, Hafthor Björnsson revealed he can be returning to both professional strongman and powerlifting. Nonetheless, after notable feats of progress in coaching, the previous 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion tore his left pectoral muscle, briefly derailing a few of his deliberate aggressive timeline. As he continues working to regain power, Björnsson not too long ago revealed he’s been busy in different avenues.
On July 20, 2023, Björnsson posted a video to his YouTube channel the place he defined how he used a brand new (complete) $116,000 funding to broaden his private gymnasium in Kópavogur, Iceland. The athlete seemingly considered each avenue, buying and showcasing varied high-quality items of apparatus targeted on constructing leg, higher physique, and again strength.
With a view to make area for his new items of apparatus — that are primarily for larger-sized athletes — Björnsson bought the unit subsequent door to his gymnasium’s main facility. Right here’s an outline of what he ran via within the video:
Belt Squat
Björnsson mentioned his new belt squat machine was his favourite buy. The machine permits an athlete to carry out squats with out a barbell and with out further stress on the neck, shoulders, and again muscular tissues. Athletes lock into the machine by sporting a belt from a seated place.
“That is the belt squat, which might be the perfect funding that I’ve made,” Björnsson explaned. “As a result of I’ll have the ability to practice my legs instantly … I’ve been wanting this for years, and at last I personal one.”
Mendacity Hamstring Curl
A mendacity hamstring curl permits athletes to construct muscle and power of their hamstrings by both curling with each legs or performing a single-leg variation from a inclined place. Björnsson’s new curl machine was virtually double the dimensions of a conventional machine.
Standing Calf Increase and Leg Extension
Like most of his gear, Björnsson’s calf raise machine may load extra weight than normal machines, making it a probably supreme implement for extra sturdy, larger athletes. In the meantime, the leg extension machine was extra of a conventional selection and can assist mildew quad muscular tissues accordingly.
Flat Chest Press and Incline Chest Press Machines
Björnsson positioned his flat chest press and incline chest press machines close to the doorway of his new unit to accommodate athletes searching for to refine their pectoral muscular tissues. Each current high quality choices to work out the chest as alternate options to a extra conventional barbell bench press.
Combo Pec Flye-Reverse Flye, Cable Machine, and Inverse Leg Curl
Additional alongside in his tour, Björnsson introduced a dual-purpose higher physique machine to carry out chest flyes in addition to rear delt flyes. He additionally displayed an adjustable cable machine to isolate and contract upper-body muscular tissues from a wide range of angles. The inverse leg curl machine presents a change of tempo however is nonetheless an efficient solution to work on steadiness and useful power from an unconventional place, just like the bodyweight-only Nordic hamstring curl. The train may very well be more difficult for bigger athletes, given how a lot body weight they must elevate, and the inverse curl machine permits resistance to be added to help the motion.
Björnsson seemed to be a giant fan of the latter.
“It [the inverse curl] may be very cool for heavy guys,” Björnsson mentioned. “It’s a killer for the hamstrings. The extra weight you placed on, the simpler it will get. I feel it was made for large guys, as a result of massive guys have a tough time doing this particular motion.”
Seal Row, Hip-Quad Machine, Hack Squat
To complete his tour, Björnsson launched the seal row, gear with athletes performing a strict barbell row variation. The distinction is that athletes lay face down on the seal row bench to carry out the row, taking the legs and decrease again out of the equation. The hip-quad machine successfully isolates the thigh muscular tissues, and a hack squat calls for much more from the quads than a barbell squat because of the machine’s positioning, whereas additionally offering higher physique assist which reduces decrease again fatigue.
Per a July 2023 Instagram publish, Björnsson is nicely on his method towards full restoration after his pec harm. The athlete clarified he was beginning to regain a “full vary of movement” and was “feeling higher” by the week. Maybe, when wholesome in due time, he’ll begin utilizing his new gear throughout in earnest.
Featured picture: @thorbjornsson on Instagram
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