Long Stretch Club Exercises
Long Stretch Club Exercises by Harry and Pat Allick, using Baseball Bats as Clubs.
Fancy Indian Club Swinging
Harry Allick was taught Indian Club Swinging by his father in the 1940s and 1950s and is an accomplished master in the style known as “Fancy Indian Club Swinging”. In addition, over the years Harry has swung many different clubs, like teardrops (sceptres) and custom made steel sabres.
Long Stretch Club Exercises
Competent
It is highly recommended that you have trained and are competent in the use of proper Indian Clubs of various lengths, weights, and styles, before attempting to try Long Stretch Club Exercises. Please read through this information carefully regarding the items and information below.
Descriptions and Details
The following are descriptions and details of my three pairs of Baseball Bat/Clubs I use for Long Stretch Club Exercises.
- The longest clubs are the BLACK/GOLD painted with an oriental design. Length 32 inches, Weight 2 lbs or 0.9 kg each. Medium hardwood
- The mid-length pair are the RED & NATURAL painted with an oceanic design. Length 30 inches long, Weight 1 lbs or 0.45 kg each. Medium softwood
- The shortest clubs are decorated with Postdiluvian symbols representing the recent floods in Cumbria. Length 25 inches, Weight 1.16 lbs or 0.53kg each. Hardwood
The three lengths of Harry Allick’s Baseball Bats
Pre Amble Information
Following purchasing one Baseball Bat to practice some of Mike Simpson’s Sheffield style single club exercises with one or two hands. And also for basic 10-2 Gada training moves. I found the 32” inch length a bit of a challenge. Also on occasions the Club/Bats swings were just missing my head or catching my feet whilst conducting some of the swings.
Offending Swings
After careful analysis of some of the offending swings, I eventually found a way of avoiding some of the self-inflicted pain, and decided to purchase another Baseball Bat and carefully practice with both at the same time, which has been a reasonable challenge, to say the least, but found it quite exhilarating and refreshingly different.
My Manager, Director & Chief Critic
Also, Pat my Bonny Bride, who is my Manager, Director & Chief Critic was impressed with my efforts. She suggested we try to make them look different by using a black lacquer and dress them with oriental style motives, then finally spraying them with clear lacquer.
I must admit they look different and quite impressive, so along with the above information, I feel that it’s worth showing and demonstrating these exercises, and last but not least, the safety items required, together with swings and body movements to be aware of.
Swinging Baseball Bats/Clubs
For the benefit of anyone feeling they would like to try and swing Baseball Bats/Clubs, I have made a list of does and don’ts together with a basic training progression schedule.
The information below must be clearly understood.
The length of the Baseball Bats/Clubs must be in proportion to your own height, a good guide would be from a “standing at ease position” with your arms down by your side and holding the Club/Bats in a relaxed downwards grip, the length of the Club/Bats should be just clear of your toes or trainers.
- To accommodate this advised length, most Club/Bats manufacturers make bat lengths from 24” to 36” inches. Longer and Shorter lengths are also available along with a variety of weights. A careful choice of the pommel and handgrip diameter to fit your personal needs is essential for your, and others safety!
- The safety area for your exercises needs to be increased to 4×4 metres square. The exercise clearance height needs to be 3.5 to 4 metres depending on your own height.
- Before conducting any swing variations make sure you have adequate head and body clearance. Always check and test with a few primary slow test swings, especially when conducting transitional moves.
- A more positive grip and also more wrist manipulation is required to accommodate the extra length and “inertia” generated by the length of the Club/Bats. This needs to be carefully and progressively worked on with more grip changes than for normal clubs. To give you the feel of the Club/Bats always practice static warm-up exercises first!
- You will need to keep your arms fully extended at all times (Fully Stretched) as with heavier club exercises, these require more “Concentration and Stamina”
- To prevent head or body injury when conducting PARALLEL SWINGS or conducting arm swings with Club/Bats “NEVER CONDUCT WRIST TWISTS OR WRIST SWINGS where both your thumbs are holding the Club/Bats in a grip facing each other!
- Also always conduct your wrist swings with the Club/Bats to the OUTSIDE of your arms, and angled away from your body especially when conducting swings in front of your body. REASON YOU WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH ARM ROOM TO CLEAR YOUR HEAD AND BODY!
- Remember when conducting inner wrist swings or twists with any type or style of club, the manipulation of your wrist and grip shortens your arm length. As previously mentioned always first check a new manoeuvre with a slow steady swing.
- Beware of letting your Club/Bats collide due to tired arms and wrists becoming too bent, or becoming distracted for any reason.
- With Club/Bats try to manoeuvre wrist twists slightly away from your body to prevent the Club/Bats colliding in front or behind you.
Length comparison of Indian Clubs and Baseball Bats
BASIC WARM-UPS for Long Stretch Club Exercises
The exercises listed below are for general warm-up, and to prepare your body, along with your posture, and also to help you become aware of the safe space requirements you will need.
Static Exercises
- With arms fully extended in front of you and the Club/Bats held horizontal count to five.
- Next with your arms still horizontal raise the Club/Bats vertical for a count of five.
- Next whilst holding the Club/Bats vertical raise your arms above your head at all times keeping the Club/Bats vertical and hold this for a count of five.
- Now slowly lower your arms into the crucifix position again keeping the Club/Bats vertical and hold this position again for a count of five.
- Next With your arms held in this position lower the Club/Bats slowly to face forward “horizontally“ hold for a count of five.
- Next, move the Club/Bats in line with your arms in the crucifix position and hold this for a count of five.
- Now whilst in this position raise the Club/Bats to a vertical position hold for a count of five. Next slowly and carefully lower the Club/Bats to face the rear horizontally and hold for the count of five.
- Now again raise the Club/Bats vertical for the count of five.
- Next, raise your arms above your head keeping the Club/Bats in a vertical hold for a five-count, then slowly lower your arms down to your front keeping the grip so the Club/Bats are in line with your arms and pointing forward, hold this for a five-count.
- Now relax your arms and wrists letting the club /bats down by your side.
NOTE the above exercises can be repeated as many times as you wish, also you can conduct the above exercises whilst walking if you have space.
The above exercise formats can be conducted with a single-arm, with the other resting down by your side, or held out to your side horizontally with the Club/Bat likewise.
Following reading and digesting the above advice and information, you may like to try your own workout and style starting with basic simple arm swings without wrist swings or twists.
When you feel confident add a wrist swing, then add more additional wrist swings into both the traditional Inward and Outward arm swings.
Long Stretch Club Exercises for one Club/Bat
The Single Club exercises using one or both hands/arms can be viewed on Mike Simpsons Videos You MUST remember that the Club/Bat is longer than the average single club regardless of the club weight.
Warning
Warning due to the extra length, it is advised not to toss and catch the Club/Bat. In addition to Mike Simpson’s excellent video instruction and demonstrations, listed above.
Memory, Manoeuvre, and Concentration
The additional swings listed below are a good workout for Memory, Manoeuvre, and Concentration. I would advise you to conduct the swings slowly before moving to a faster pace!
Example
Starting in a clockwise direction with the Club/Bat straight up at 12 o’clock position, try changing hands after one and a quarter turns.
From the 12 o’clock position, conduct one and a quarter turns at all times, changing at 3 o’clock then at 6 o’clock, then 9 o’clock and back to 12 o’clock.
Repeat five times, then conduct the same swings anticlockwise.
I’m sure you will find that the above exercise will require quite a fair amount of concentration.
Following reading and digesting all the above advice and information, you may like to try your own workout and style starting with basic simple arm swings without wrist swings or twists.
Once you are confident add a wrist swing, adding more additional wrist swings into both the Inward and Outward movements till you feel reasonably comfortable with the Club/Bats.
Harry Allick
Go to Harry Allick’s YouTube Channel to see some of Harry’s Fancy Indian Club Swinging.
I would like to thank Harry and Pat Allick for providing this in-depth, Long Stretch Club Exercises tutorial, your work and commitment is much appreciated.
bonjour,
une grande originalité ,super un grand merci a ce Monsieur
Marcel Karre
Hello Marcel, and thank you for your comments. I hope that you give the Fast Slow technique a try. Regards. Paul
bonjour,
une grande originalité ,super un grand merci a ce Monsieur
Marcel Karre