A grasp of his craft, Hooper determined to cross alongside some strongman knowledge.
Amongst present elite strongman rivals, Mitchell Hooper could be the following huge factor. After storming onto the scene in 2022 — notching a podium end in six of seven contests and profitable two of his final three, together with the 2022 Arnold Strongman Basic UK — many understandably count on much more from Hooper in 2023. Nonetheless, earlier than he tries to construct on a terrific debut yr that noticed him captivate the game, the Canadian athlete is first dishing out some worthwhile coaching ideas.
On Jan. 11, 2023, Hooper posted a video to his YouTube channel the place he gave a bunch of athletes a walkthrough on easy methods to carry Atlas stones correctly. The session isn’t essentially new for Hooper, who often shares comparable method coaching movies in between moments of refining his personal energy.
Hooper wastes no time diving into his de facto lecture on Atlas stones.
Set Your Stance Mid-Stone
He first diagrams how one begins from a high quality lifting stance, noting that the balls of an athlete’s toes ought to be even with the middle of the stone when establishing. One other vital issue is making certain that the toes have extensive sufficient positioning.
“You need to be in a spot the place you’ll be able to see your toes [on either side of the stone]. See your toes on the edges of the stone.”
If an individual’s toes are too near the Atlas stone, Hooper maintains that it may negatively change the palms’ positioning as they grip the stone. As well as, with the stone in hand, the knees would possibly rub up in opposition to an athlete’s elbows, making for a non-ideal setup whereas lifting.
Cup the Stone with Arms and Forearms
With reference to particular notes about an athlete’s palms whereas making an attempt to carry an Atlas Stone, Hooper clarifies that the palms ought to by no means be instantly below as a result of that can power the comparatively weaker biceps muscular tissues to help the load.
“The secret is creating friction by creating as a lot floor contact as doable. You need your hand and as a lot of your forearm to be on the stone as doable.”
As a substitute, the purpose ought to be about having as a lot of 1’s arms touching the stone as doable, nearly “cupping” the big trademark strongman implement by inserting your palms barely ahead of the load’s heart.
“Straight arm, palms ahead, arms locked in. That approach, we’re utilizing our chest and our lat to squeeze the stone. We’re not utilizing our biceps to select up the stone.”
Deadlift Excessive and Lap the Stone
Hooper maintains that after an athlete is in a correct place, their objective ought to be to carry the stone to their lap by placing it as far above their knees as doable. Then, as soon as prepared, the hips can sink again, and the stone can naturally be rolled into the lap.
“What it’s best to purpose to do is deadlift the stone as excessive as doable. You don’t need to simply get to your knee and instantly sit it in.” Hooper stated. ” … Take into consideration how muscular tissues oppose power and the place that power goes.”
A standard method precept for strongmen and strongwomen, lapping the stone helps the athlete seamlessly re-grip for improved leverage earlier than standing.
“The primary objective is to get the stone from the bottom to your lap … As soon as the stone passes your knee, you’ll be able to sit and roll. You substitute your palms, and you’ll carry it up [to a standing position].”
Get Hips Beneath the Stone to Stand Up
Per Hooper, as soon as somebody is ready to alter their grip for the hip motion, the stone ought to “sit on the sternum” with the physique as tight as doable to the stone. The stone ought to then transfer straight up because the athlete stands up.
Hooper clarifies that some make the error of really making an attempt to carry the stone increased when it’s in opposition to their sternum. To fight this overcorrection, the strongman advises making a stringent effort to maintain the stone tight to the chest and easily extending the hips beneath for improved leverage and full extension.
“In terms of extending [into a standing position], you shouldn’t take into consideration bringing the stone up … Your thought ought to be to shoot your hips below the stone, after which it is going to roll up.”
Particular Method for Excessive Platforms
If a strongman or strongwoman competitor has the duty of lifting the stone onto a taller podium, Hooper stated they need to attempt to guarantee their palms aren’t instantly across the heart of the stone when repositioning grip. This kind of “hugging” leaves restricted flexibility for energy maneuverability with the stone at a better place and has a better probability of a failed carry.
As a substitute, when an athlete is working for his or her re-grip, the arms ought to be positioned at a 45-degree angle excessive of the stone, leaving extra room to work the stone onto a better platform.
Finally, Hooper provided a reminder that the balls of the toes point out the place the middle of the stone is. As such, the arms ought to nonetheless be in lockstep with the balls of the toes on preliminary positioning. Whereas reviewing a number of video members’ pattern performances, Hooper provided one ultimate correction to a standard mistake being made within the early section of the carry.
“The movement off the bottom just isn’t a squat, it’s a stiff-legged deadlift. Hips actually excessive.”
Already a longtime famous person, Hooper, the instructor, will quickly seamlessly shift to Hooper, the strongman. The athlete is ready to compete on the 2023 Australia’s Strongest Worldwide (ASI) on Jan. 21, 2023, in Yapeen, Australia. If his exploits there go wherever near his success from 2022, Hooper simply would possibly begin the brand new aggressive yr with a bang.
Featured picture: Mitchell Hooper on YouTube
