Level 1 – White Belt
Wall slide hip lock
stay vertical
Variations
-Off heel or allow plantar ext
-Hold DB variation or punch elbow through
-Start from hip hinge position
Coaching points
-Use from heel if you have calf soreness.
-Make sure you hold at top. And get the inside hip closest to the wall HIGHER than the outside hip.
Volume
30 reps in sets of 4-8
Use from heel if calf soreness
Reaching wall spindles
use hurdle whenever possible
Variations
-reverse the hip direction from inside to out
Volume
2-3 sets of 4-8
Back to wall hip lock
Variations
-Plate/DB overhead, or hands only
-Arms across chest
Coaching points
-Push hips forward, keep shoulders/head only touching the wall
-Should feel through the standing side hip
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps
Reaching wall lockout
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps
Single-leg snatch to hip lock
With plate
Variations
-Finish with foot on wall or box if possible
-Execute at 45 degree angle to the wall
Coaching points
-Must hover before foot plant or at top of movement to encourage hip lock
-Throw plate up above head rapidly
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Walking hip lock
plate overhead
Variations
-Add DB load overhead, add offset (uneven) DB load
-Barbell overhead
-Can move flexed hip to the side instead of up in front
Coaching points
-Take continuous steps into the hip lock reach pose (without the wall cue)
-Aim to hold for 1-2s at the top of the movement
Volume
2-3
10 metres each side
Prone hip drop - straight
Coaching points
-keep free leg stable and strong
-get hips close to ground in bottom position
Volume
2-3 sets
4-8 reps
Level 2 – Yellow Belt
supine bridge from hands with abduction
Coaching points
-keep hips high and stable
-abduction and adduction must be slow, controlled and maximum range
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
star side bridge with hip drop
Coaching points
-motion must be slow and controlled with top leg not resting on bottom leg
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps
prone hip drop - side
Coaching points
-keep free leg strong and stable, abducting maximally
-get hips as close to ground as possible in bottom position
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
supine hip rotation
Coaching points
-keep hips up through entire motion
-create the largest range of movement possible with the free leg
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps
Back to wall hip lock open & close (plate overhead)
plate or dumbell
Variations
-Off heel or allow plantar ext
– DB or plate
Coaching points
-Use from heel if you have calf soreness.
-Make sure you hold at top. Get free side higher before open and close hip.
-Keep plate HIGH
Volume
2-3 sets of 4-6 each side.
Wall Slide Hip Lock
Banded resistance
Variations
Dumbells or plate (5-10kg)
Coaching points
-Make sure you hold the hip lock for at least a second before stepping down.
-Use mirror.
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Lateral Wall Slide Hip Lock
Jerry step
Variations
Overhead options
Coaching points
-Make sure you hold the hip lock for at least a second before stepping down.
-Use mirror.
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps
Walking hip lock (karate)
Plate overhead
Coaching points
-Maintain lock position & feel through stance leg
-Reach up high above head
Volume
2-3 sets
10m each leg
Tap to wall slide hip lock
From 20kg plate
Variations
Dumbells or plate (5-10kg)
Coaching points
-Make sure you hold the hip lock for at least a second before stepping down.
-Use mirror.
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Reaching wall hurdle spindle with jump between sides
Reach high - fast switch
Variations
Coaching points
-Make sure you hold the hip lock for at least a second before switching.
Imaging the leg going around a massive hurdle before holding, then switching.
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Leaning lockout with single switch
Hand position variations
Variations
-Barefoot & soft floor/grass (if no calf soreness)
Coaching points
-Switch straight into lock position
Volume
2-3 sets of 4-6 each side
Level 3 – Blue Belt
prone internal hip drop with inward rotation
Coaching points
-slow and controlled motion
-do not rest on ground
Volume
2-3 sets
4-8 reps
Back to wall hip lock open & close
Fast switches
Coaching points
-keep plate HIGH all the time. Push it HIGH!!
Volume
2-3 sets
4-8 reps
Leaning lockout with multiple switches
Hand position variations
Coaching points
-stay LONG from heel to head
-switch fast and keep LONG while switching
Volume
2-3 sets
4-8 reps
Explosive wall slide hip lock from low box
Coaching points
-foot hovers just above box (4-8 cm)
-explode from initial contact with the box
Volume
2-3 sets
4-8 reps
Barbell tap to hip lock
From plate
Variations
-With or without box/plate
-More lateral end foot placement
Coaching points
-Free hip stays high as long as possible before landing
-Keep hips pushed forward
Volume
3-4 sets
4-5 reps
Hurdle jump to falling hip lock
Into wall
Variations
-Jump over hurdle
-Step & spindle over hurdle
-Arms/medicine ball overhead
Coaching points
-Delayed contact with hands on wall for as long as possible
-Move hurdle further from wall for more difficulty
Volume
2-3 sets
3-4 reps each side
Band side anchored overhead hip lock
Variations
-Bring arm closest to anchor in front of body for more rotational torque
-Can do with partner
Coaching points
-Reach arm closest to anchor above head
-Hold lock position against band resistance for 3s
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Side Plank Kick Throughs
Variations
-height of the box
-shoes or bare feet
Coaching points
-keep body long and strong during the movement
-extend hip fully in front of body
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Fast 1-2 hip lock
Off plate
Variations
-Overhead, hands on hips, hands across chest position
-Overhead load (plate, DB)
Coaching points
-Focus on maintaining length through the body vertically
-Bang the foot into the floor
-Hold lock position
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Strong Feet
When we are young we did many things in “bare feet”. That kept your feet, and the “intrinsic” muscles in the feet very strong.
If you have been in boots and runners now for many years, your intrinsic muscles of the foot, and also the calf muscles, can get a bit weak.
So, do some of the above Hip training bare foot. Not all the time, but maybe 50%. Best to wear shoes if you are doing the jumping or “switching” exercises, but the simple ones can be done barefoot.
Level 4 – Red Belt
Hover to hip lock (Smith Machine)
Loaded
Variations
-Change/play with angle of stepping direction
Coaching points
-Begin holding foot just above box
-Produce a stiff step to drive onto the box and continue to elevate the free leg hip into lock position
-Hold this pose for 1-2s
Volume
3-4 sets
3-5 reps
Hurdle step bounces
With plate rotations
Variations
-Aquabag rotations
-Big spindle steps
-Twisting plate with rotations
Coaching points
-Refrain from going into spindle position (keep hips pointed forward)
-Push for speed through hurdles
Volume
5 sets
10 steps
Hurdle spindle to wall (w medicine ball slams)
Slams in end position
Variations
-Standing start
-Walk-in start (time pressured)
Coaching points
-Straight arms with throws
-Hover before planting foot on wall
Volume
2-3 sets
6-8 reps total
Double-leg split jump to hip lock landing
Stick or light barbell
Variations
-90 degree pivot on single-leg landing
-Add multiple switch jumps before vertical jump
Coaching points
-Hold end (lock) position for 2s
-Change direction of turns and starting foot position
Volume
2-3 sets
3-5 reps
Barbell press to hip lock
Finish on box
Variations
-DB variation
Coaching points
-Simultaneous overhead press with tap to hip lock movement
-Same cues as above
Volume
3-4 sets
4-5 reps
Step-up hurdle spindle
Unstable load
Variations
-Start from deep lunge
-Start with walk in
-Unstable load
-Overhead load
Coaching points
-Slow, smooth spindle over hurdle and return back to start position
-Can add finish at wall position for walk-in variation
Volume
3-4 sets
3-4 reps
Hack squat hip lock
Heavy
Variations
-Have box under free leg at start (must lift up above box height)
Coaching points
-Keep plates pinned into wall – rolling bar up the wall into hip lock
-Bring knee right across and out to wall
Volume
3-4 sets
3-5 reps
Band side anchored overhead hip lock switches
Very fast
Variations
-Bring arm closest to anchor in front of body for more rotational torque
Coaching points
-Reach arm closest to anchor above head
-Switch fast straight into lock
-Hold lock position against band resistance for 3s
Volume
2-3 sets
4-6 reps
Canoe snatch
W aquabag
Variations
-Step-up into snatch
-Deep lunge into step-up and snatch
Coaching points
-Swing bag fast across body
-Make a splash with water
-Plant foot straight – aim for target between two lines
-Keep back leg from twisting either direction
Volume
3-4 sets
4-6 reps
Level 5 – Black Belt
contralateral db support hip drop
Coaching points
-motion must be slow and controlled
-hips close to ground in bottom position
Volume
3-4 sets
3-5 reps
Hack squat hip lock
Open & close
Variations
-Have box under free leg at start (must lift up above box height)
Coaching points
-Keep plates pinned into wall – rolling bar up the wall into hip lock
-Bring knee right across and out to wall
Volume
3-4 sets
3-4 reps
Spindle jump to 90 degree turn & hip lock at wall
Medicine ball optional
Variations
-Medicine ball overhead (land on ball)
-Catch and turn (without hurdle)
Coaching points
-Hold finish position
-Increase distance from the wall for difficulty
Volume
3-4 sets
3-4 sets