A plyometric exercise ladder. A frame has two, spaced-apart, upright posts. A fixed arm is mounted to each upright post, each fixed arm being adjustable along the length of the frame. A removable pull-up bar is supported by the fixed arms. Two spring-loaded arms disposed above the fixed arms are pivotally mounted to the upright posts of the frame. An electromagnet is connected to each spring-loaded arm for initiating movement. A freestanding bracket having at least one scissor arm is connected to the frame and to a wall or other solid structure to support the ladder. In place of the spring-loaded arms and electromagnet, a set of pegs can be removably placed along the length of the upright posts for retaining the pull-up bar as an athlete progresses upwardly. The ladder frame itself can be replaced with a skeletal frame when the ladder is used in conjunction with a conventional squat rack.

A device and method of use thereof provide a gripping element having a hexagonal cross-section. A weightlifting bar having a hexagonal circumference forming non-circular, substantively planar surfaces enables weight training. A pull up bar or other bar attached to a structure, wherein the gripping surface has a hexagonal circumference forming six surfaces enables gymnastic exercise. A kettle bell, a dumbbell and/or barbell exercise equipment each present a hexagonal circumference forming six planar surfaces. A structure or equipment presenting the gripping element may include knurled portions and/or smoothed portions. The gripping element may be positioned on a curved bar.

A weight arm assembly for use with a weight lifting rack is provided, the weight arm assembly including a mounting bracket configured to be attached to a vertical surface in a fixed position, an arm mount configured to be coupled to the mounting bracket so as to be pivotable about a first axis, a stop member coupled to the arm mount and configured to move between an engaged position to prevent pivoting of the arm mount through interaction with the mounting bracket, and a disengaged position to allow pivoting of the arm mount, and a weight arm configured to be coupled to the arm mount, proximate a first end of the weight arm, so as to be pivotable about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis.

The present invention provides for a gymnastics swing trainer. The device comprises two parallel side support members and two fixed rungs forming a rectangular frame. An adjustable rung may be positioned along the side support members to accommodate the size of the user. A gymnast grasps the adjustable rung while placing her feet on the lower fixed rung. The rungs should be spaced the proper distance apart to allow the gymnast to maintain the proper hollow body position required for uneven parallel bar skills. Repeated training with the device allows for the proper body position to become an automatic response or to be retained in “muscle memory” such that the gymnast can focus on the skill while maintaining proper position.

A versatile exercise bar includes a support structure formed of a pair of diverging, horizontal support legs with contiguous rear ends, spaced front ends, and an intermediate portion therebetween. A side rail vertically extends from the intermediate portion of each support leg. Adjustably mounted between the two side rails is an exercise bar that is grasped by a user when performing chin-ups or a myriad of other exercises as explained herein. When moved to a desired height and released, the bar is automatically held by a retention mechanism to allow the user to safely anchor a pair of clamps before performing a given exercise.

An exercise apparatus configured to be readily stowed and transported. The apparatus includes a lifting bar and a pair of frames. Each of the frames includes a support member and base. The support member of one frame has a cavity that is sufficiently large to slidably receive the support member of the other frame. Each base has a stowage hole adapted to receive one end of the lifting bar. The apparatus includes fasteners by which the ends of the lifting bar can be secured within a pair of the adjustment holes in the support members to define a deployed configuration of the apparatus, as well as secured within the stowage holes in the bases to define a stowed configuration of the apparatus. The apparatus includes weights each having a slot and configured to rest on one of the base with one of the support members located within the slot.

A device and method of use thereof provide a gripping element having a hexagonal cross-section. A weightlifting bar having a hexagonal circumference forming non-circular, substantively planar surfaces enables weight training. A pull up bar or other bar attached to a structure, wherein the gripping surface has a hexagonal circumference forming six surfaces enables gymnastic exercise. A kettle bell, a dumbbell and/or barbell exercise equipment each present a hexagonal circumference forming six planar surfaces. A structure or equipment presenting the gripping element may include knurled portions and/or smoothed portions. The gripping element may be positioned on a curved bar.

A weight arm assembly for use with a weight lifting rack is provided, the weight arm assembly including a mounting bracket configured to be attached to a vertical surface in a fixed position, an arm mount configured to be coupled to the mounting bracket so as to be pivotable about a first axis, a stop member coupled to the arm mount and configured to move between an engaged position to prevent pivoting of the arm mount through interaction with the mounting bracket, and a disengaged position to allow pivoting of the arm mount, and a weight arm configured to be coupled to the arm mount, proximate a first end of the weight arm, so as to be pivotable about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis.

A vertical exercise device for triggering sympathetic and/or parasympathetic system responses comprising at least one foot support and a handlebar assembly. The foot support(s) may have a support surface configured to contact the entire ball of a user's foot during use, which may be inclined at an angle and substantially flat. The handlebar assembly may have at least an upper handle configuration and a lower handle configuration, and be adapted to keep a user's wrist within a safe range of motion during use. The positioning and orientation of foot support(s) and the handlebar assembly may each be independently adjustable in various aspects, such as horizontal and vertical displacement, rotation, tilt, angle, etc. The angle and depth of the support surface may each be independently adjustable. A horizontal vibration system may move one or more components of the device along the horizontal plane. Handlebars may have thumb plates to restrict grip.

A plyometric exercise ladder. A frame has two, spaced-apart, upright posts. A fixed arm is mounted to each upright post, each fixed arm being adjustable along the length of the frame. A removable pull-up bar is supported by the fixed arms. Two spring-loaded arms disposed above the fixed arms are pivotally mounted to the upright posts of the frame. An electromagnet is connected to each spring-loaded arm for initiating movement. A freestanding bracket having at least one scissor arm is connected to the frame and to a wall or other solid structure to support the ladder. In place of the spring-loaded arms and electromagnet, a set of pegs can be removably placed along the length of the upright posts for retaining the pull-up bar as an athlete progresses upwardly. The ladder frame itself can be replaced with a skeletal frame when the ladder is used in conjunction with a conventional squat rack.