Dynamic Isometrics & Sprinting: Explosive Strength Training (Part 6)

This is Part 6 in the series titled Plyometrics, Ground Contact Time, and Sprinting.

Part 1 Plyometrics, Ground Contact Time, and Sprinting was simply to demonstrate the faster the movement, the shorter the ground contact time.

Part 2 covered How to Weight Train without Weights and it focused on speed strength.

Part 3 was Driving Resistance Band Training with a video from Remi Korchemny.

Part 4 discussed the 5 different types of “strength training”.

Part 5 was a presentation by Tim Egerton on Explosive Strength Training

What the heck is Dynamic Isometrics?

This is not to be confused with regular isometrics as I discussed in the past article on Isometrics and Core training back in 2009.

In a way, I’ve been doing them for years without knowing it.

For example, in the bench press, I would do 3 x 3 with 275 lbs (125kg) as my goal was benching 3 plates on each side (315lbs or 140 kg).  Instead of a the standard movement of “up and down”, I would take the bar off the rack, slowly with control going down until it touched my chest, pause, then explode up on a rapid but controlled movement.  Rinse and repeat.  I called them 3-pause-3.

Dynamic Isometrics are a form of weight training where a prolonged stop is maintained at a specific joint angle within the range of motion during an exercise.  In this case, the arms are in a position to throw or push. 

Sarcastically, I don’t know of an Olympic sport where you are lying down on your back with someone sitting on your face, and you have to push them off!

You’ll have go back and review Plyometrics, Ground Contact Time, and Sprinting (Part 4)  to understand all the different types of strength training.

The logic behind this is often the movement is stopped in the same position for that particular portion in sports.  You can argue the starting blocks where the optimal knee angles are 129 and 95 degrees (see diagram below).  Or, a baseball outfielder in a half squat position with your hands and glove on your knees..  In most cases, you have to hold the position for 2 or 3 seconds followed by the explosive push in the concentric phase (and not eccentric phase, that’s another story)

With baseball (and track) a “game of inches”, that first step is important!

The Delayed Squat

You can thank Michael Yessis and the Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and Training for making Dynamic Isometrics popular.   Back in 1987 he described the “delayed squat” where you do several “stops” before the explosive concentric phase. 

For weight numbers, they recommend 60-70% of the one RM squat with only 2 or 3 reps.  (see my chart on calculating 1RM and Weight Percentages as well as Weight Training, Reps, Intensity and Benefits)

To perform the delayed squat:

1. slowly descend by bending hips and knees until there is a 160° angle in the knee joints, and hold this position for 3-4 seconds.
2. Lower with the same controlled speed until there is a 145° angle in the knee joint, and hold again for 3-4 seconds.
3. Again lower to 115°, hold 3-4 seconds,
4. and then finally to 90° and hold again.
5. Rise in an explosive push, if you can!

As you can see, the whole movement takes 12-16 seconds.  This method develops explosive power out of a static position.

Another study came from Weineck 2004 and they suggests 6 sets 6 repetitions using 60-70% of the one repetition maximum, but I think that is overkill.

Sprinting Applications

I like bench press for 2 reasons:  bragging rights, and holding my arms steady in the SET position.

For sprinters and developing leg power and strength, you can use angles of 129 and 95 degrees, since those are the numbers coming out of the blocks “SET” position.  Even back in 2007, Ralph Mann suggested you train at those angles with the force-velocity considerations.

Optimal theoretical starting “set” position. Illustration by Derek Hansen of Running Mechanics.

So Dynamic Isometrics for sprinters would look like this (adjust your weights and reps accordingly):

1. Using a squat rack, lift the bar off the rack.
2. Lower to 129°, hold 3-4 seconds,
3. Lower to 95° and hold again 3-4 seconds,
4. Rise in an explosive push

Remember, this isn’t the one-all-end-all for squats.  We squat to parallel AND squat PAST parallel to ensure adequate hamstring involvement.  (see the series on hamstrings)

Okay this is the end of Part 6.  Still so much more to cover…