Staying In Axe Throwing Shape
This COVID-19 outbreak might have our axe throwing facilities in the St. Louis area temporarily closed, but it hasn't stopped us from thinking and training for axe throwing. We're thinking about staying in proper axe throwing shape so we'll come back stronger!
Axe Throwing Shape Basics
The axe that you throw at Top Notch is technically hatchet. The weight is around 1.5 lbs. Your job is to throw the axe several feet and get it to stick to the target. This axe throwing action uses your arm muscles, shoulders, core, hamstrings, and calves. It's is a little bit of a workout - a fun, functional workout! We're targeting these body areas to stay in axe throwing shape with the exercises below.
Staying in Axe Throwing Shape Exercises
Since we're mostly stuck at home due to COVID-19, we figured we would stay in axe throwing shape with a few exercises. We're sharing "our workout" with you, so you're ready when we re-open.
To keep things simple, we're recommending bodyweight exercises, so you don't need weights. We do the following exercises in this order. Although the order probably doesn't matter, we're certainly not experts here, just sharing what we're up to!
- Lats (Latissimus Dorsi) - To work out our lats, we get into a pushup position and raise one arm at a time straight up near our body, leading with your elbow. We do this about 20 times per each arm. Sometimes we take a break before we get in 20. As an alternative, we do side raises. To do side raises, lay on the ground on your side. Get up on one elbow and straighten your legs. Now raise your hips/body up while keeping your feet on the ground.
- Shoulders - We love a good push back push-up. You'll be moving between almost doing a push-up and downward dog (it's a yoga move). To do this, sit down with your hands out in front of you, creating a table with your back. Get into a push-up position, but quickly push yourself back up with your hands as if you're going to stand up. Be sure to really push yourself back upwards with your hands to work your shoulders.
- Core - Just plank for as long as you can. Don't forget to breathe while you plank.
- Hamstrings - We like hammy isolations. Start by lying on your stomach with arms extended in front, legs fully extended, toes pointing up. Lift one or both legs off the floor. Keep your hips steady. Hold for a few seconds, and then lower your legs back to the floor and repeat. Your back will also benefit from this exercise.
- Calves - First, you can just walk around your house like you are walking in women's shoes with heels. After a couple of minutes, you'll start to feel a burning sensation in your legs. You can stop after a couple of minutes. Or, you can do calve raises where you stand in one spot but raise and lower body. This will work additional leg muscles.
As you can tell, we REALLY miss axe throwing at Top Notch. We miss seeing all our Axe Masters and our customers and friends. But we're not going to let ourselves get out of shape because when Top Notch Axe Throwing does re-open, we're going right back to greeting everyone and throwing axes.
