What gives Ropeflex advantages over many other exercise equipment? Although I did not invent the Ropeflex machine, as a dedicated user, and as a trainer, I’ve learned rather quickly how it works. You can pull on the rope with 2 fingers and it will move, but as you pull with your whole arm, or with 2 arms, the resistance increases accordingly with the speed and power you’re pulling. That is the magic of the Ropeflex! Wait, there’s more to it than just this progressive resistance.
Ask just about any weight lifter, and they will tell you how joints were injured during their lifting years. Sometimes during their lifting sessions, some joints or muscles will get pulled or tweaked. Weight lifting requires both concentric and eccentric motions. Meaning you lift the weight, and you have to return or lower it to its original place. Lowering the weight also known as negative motion, or an eccentric contraction. While this phase is necessary for bodybuilding, it can make one very sore as it breaks down muscle tissues. For general fitness, we may not need the eccentric phase of motion to be fit and strong. There are many exercises or motions in real life we do without any negative phase at all. For example, Bicycling, running upstairs, swimming... Bicyclists have one of the biggest legs in sports with just concentric motion aka pushing down on the pedals fast. Countless other sports also have the same principle of concentric motions as major movements too. This is where Ropeflex comes into play in a major way.
Ropeflex offers no negative phase of motion, it is the reason one can work out 5 to 6 times a week worrying about overtraining myself. A person can enjoy biking or swimming every day, a person can also enjoy pulling on a Ropeflex every day, though I must say that in this case enjoy is a relative term, Ropeflex works you hard. I have pulled as many as 900 reps in 1 session before, but for an average user, 300-400 reps is more than enough to get fit and become stronger. As time went on, I’ve developed and refined my Ropeflex routing, and I continue to adjust and modify it.
I have identified 4 fitness levels when working with Ropeflex
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advance
- Elite
An advanced puller, who does 20 reps (per hand) on Ropeflex, would get as tired as a beginner who also pulls 20 reps. No matter how fit one is, one will get the benefits from using Ropeflex trainers. That is also the magic of variable progressive resistance, which automatically adjusts according to the force applied. Remember with only two fingers, one can pull on the rope and it will move. However, some movements will seem to be awkward and harder than others.
I am 64, and yet I’ve been pulling the Ropeflex 5-6 times a week without feeling over-trained. As I got stronger and more fit with Ropeflex, I have come up with more ways to advance. One can do that by slowly adding the leg works to the routine. Everyone I’ve met lately has made a comment on my physic, and how I look much more "robust". Of course, I always say “It’s the Ropeflex”. Everyone who happened to look my way during my sessions would hear it from me (shamelessly or passionately). In short, I always say “Have you tried this rope machine? You should try it, it’s the best routine I’ve ever used”.
Those that know me at Golds Gym, know that I am the “Rope Guy”. Remember that salsa sauce commercial on TV, where cowboys were eating, and they needed some Texas salsa sauces? One dude brought the wrong brand (from New York, not San Antonio), and a tough-looking angry cowboy said: “get the rope”. Yup, I would be that rope guy who brings…the rope. The 1992 commercial link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3nRLC6PlP4
Back to the Ropeflex
Since it offers no eccentric contraction, it will also lessen the chance of being injured. How have I arrived at this conclusion? Have you ever tried to run downhill? The chances to hurt your knees will increase quite a bit by running downhill because it is an eccentric motion if one is to run downhill. One hundred percent concentric contraction allow your body to exercise on the Ropeflex daily, just as in swimming or bicycling
I feel strongly that astronauts in the Space Station should all be using the Ropeflex for their health benefit. With just one Ropeflex and proper pulley system attachments, and 20-30 minutes daily exercise, I am pretty sure they could retain their muscle and bone mass better. Weight lifting doesn’t work in space? Speaking of a zero-gravity environment, the astronauts will also need foot restraining apparatus to keep them “grounded” to the space platform. Although simple strap contraptions would anchor their feet/ankles solidly. I love to be the one who trains them if it comes to that. Let NASA see how the Ropeflex affects my body at 64 years old, I am stronger and bigger than ever before, and all that is happening in 5 weeks going on 6th week.
What about pro and armature athletes? The advantages of Ropeflex can be clearly above weight lifting in many aspects of strength training. Take NFL players: During the season their bodies get beat up playing. It is a very brutal physical game for a body to endure the whole season. After Sunday, many have to get back to the gym and lift to stay competitive. The negative phases of lifting give their body no break, then Sunday comes again. I don’t think 1 or 2 days of rest is enough in many cases. The negative phase is exactly what it is: NEGATIVE. Ropeflex advantage is obvious in this case strength and muscular endurance is a must. Can Ropeflex make an athlete stronger? Take a look at the video where a fairly built male is struggling to finish a triceps extension in 1 set with Ropeflex, and yet he had no problems pulling the rope with just 2 fingers.