Quick entry to capture a concept for leather ab straps. I’ve really only committed to physical fitness in the last couple of years or so. I get it now. It feels good to be strong and to see progression happen over time. Because the gym is on my way home from work, it’s been a surprisingly easy to maintain a habit of going 3x per week. I’m a sucker for a good MacGuffin; to stay interested and intentional in the gym I’ve found that working towards certain fitness party tricks to be a plot motivating device. Many of my gym MacGuffins require core activation with an engaged back, which I haven’t specifically been training for. Hanging out in San Antonio for the past couple of days for the DCI Southwestern Championship, Auriana and I found ourselves killing time in Armadillo Boulders, where I got to try a well worn pair of ab-straps. The idea of these is simple- you thread your elbows through these web slings attached to a pull up bar so your triceps are supported, engage your back, then isometric hold in various leg raise positions or rep out leg raises. This allows isolation of the specific core/back simultaneous activation that is a key part of most upper body calisthenic techniques without being grip or lock off limited. I want to make a set of my own, in a style that matches my dip belt: veg tan leather + oversized stainless steel hardware:
