Training or exercise apparatus

This invention relates to a training or exercise apparatus having particular, but not exclusive, application to martial and like arts. The term ‘martial and like arts’ is used herein as a portmanteau term to include what are normally termed martial arts and also other personal combative arts such as boxing and wrestling. However, the apparatus may also be applied to training for sports, or simply exercise, without a combative element or even without a competitive element.

In boxing and other martial arts, it is usual to practice with a punchball (usually mounted to the top of a long, fairly stiff spring on a base standing on the ground) or a punchbag (usually suspended) or a like object adapted to be punched and resile, e.g. due to springiness and/or gravity. Particularly with martial arts, a number of attempts are known to the present inventor to make these ‘punch objects’ require, teach or induce more skill. These attempts have been impractical.

One method considered by the present inventor, in order to improve practicality, is to suspend smaller balls (or other target members) on flexible arms from the top of the punch object so that they flail around upon punching the punch object and will have to be dealt with by the user, e.g. by hitting them, blocking them, touching them or avoiding them (the meaning of the term “target” as used herein is intended to include an object which has to be avoided), which will hone his skills. A simplified aspect of the invention provides (suspendable) training or exercise apparatus comprising suspension means and target members to be contacted or avoided by the body and adapted to be suspended by the suspension means such that the target members can move around one another. However, the (suspension part of the) arms can be so flexible (e.g. being simply of string or chain) that they become entangled with one another. Again, the arms may be so stiff that they fail to move freely enough to exercise adequately the skills of the user, such that the target members cannot move around one another. The inventor considers that what is required is training with surprising rebound and moving targets, preferably without the arms twisting around each other (becoming entangled).

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided training or exercise apparatus comprising suspension means and target members to be contacted or avoided by the body and adapted to be suspended by the suspension means, the suspension means being such that the target members can move around one another, the apparatus comprising inhibiting means to inhibit tangling of the suspension means for respective target members during use.

The apparatus need not be limited to use with a punch object (it may be suspended on its own) but, in its main application, the said suspension means will be adapted for connection to, or above, the top of a (main) punch object, e.g. to be suspended from the suspension chains of a punchbag, or bands around the top of the punchbag. The apparatus (e.g. as sold) may include the punch object. The adaptation for connection may comprise anchor means to anchor the suspension means to, or above, the top of a punch object. Thus, the suspension means comprise anchor means to effect the aforesaid connection. The anchor means may comprise loop means, hook means, and/or a collar. Preferably, the suspension means comprise a plurality of flexible arms, which may include part or all of the anchor means, or, more usually, be adapted to (depend from or otherwise) be mounted to the anchor means (if separate); i.e. the arms may comprise all of the anchor means or may be mounted to part or all of the anchor means. Usually, at least one said target member will be mounted to each arm. For example, there may be a plurality of the target members, one after another, in line, along a said arm. Normally, the target members will be remote (or away) from the anchor means.

The anchor means may be adapted to be detachably anchored to (e.g. they are adapted to be unhooked from) a point of suspension on a support, e.g. the main chain of a punchbag. Each arm independently of the other/s may be adapted to be anchored to, so as to be detachable from (e.g. it is adapted to be unhooked from), a point of suspension. Preferably, the anchor means have a ready-release feature for a plurality of the arms so that these can be readily released individually, e.g. if they have become slightly entangled they can be unhooked near the top, disentangled, and then re-anchored individually on the support, whatever it is, that has been used for the apparatus, in order to cure any entanglement that might interfere with training.

Thus, in an embodiment the target member balls will be captive on the separate arms and able to move around, above and below each other without their arms having to be disentangled, except possibly at long intervals. The balls and their arms should be able to curve around one another, substantially in all directions, and recoil, and not rapidly entangle. They require a means to inhibit entanglement.

The inhibiting means may comprise a suitable stiffening of the arms to inhibit the entanglement while still allowing the target members to move around one another.

According to another aspect of invention, there is provided a training or exercise apparatus comprising anchor means to anchor the apparatus to, or above, the top of a punch object, a plurality of flexible arms (depending from or otherwise) mounted to the anchor means, at least one target member mounted to each arm (remote) away from the anchor means, the apparatus having means for reducing or inhibiting tendency of the arms to entangle with one another. The apparatus may have particular application to martial and like arts.

A said (or each) arm may comprise a chain but preferably comprises an elastic cord. Preferably, a said (or each) arm comprises a flexible core member, e.g. said chain or elastic cord, running through a sleeve of semi-stiff material. Preferably, the sleeve comprises a relatively thick-walled material (tube) with a relatively narrow bore to receive said core member. Preferably, said material is a flexible elastomeric material, preferably spongy, e.g. a sponge rubber, more particularly a semi-stiff sponge rubber, e.g. flexible, closed-cell, elastomeric nitrile rubber. Preferably, each arm comprises a plurality of segments articulated together. Preferably, the sleeve is broken or interrupted at the, or each, articulation. The apparatus may be adapted to be suspended independently of the punch object, or adapted to be suspended from a supporting suspension of a punch object, and may have target members of differing weights and/or sizes.

In a preferred embodiment, this is a martial arts, boxing and similar disciplines training apparatus which hones the aspects of agility, balance, accuracy, power and speed in all of the skills of striking, blocking and evading strikes, as well as helping the user to perfect his techniques. It comprises plastic balls (as targets) that are suspended from the supporting chains of a punchbag. The balls are suspended on the ends of elastic cords. The elastic cords are run through the flexible closed-cell elastomeric nitrile rubber insulation described above (effectively, sponge rubber tubes); this prevents the elastic cords from becoming entangled with each other, while allowing the elastic to retain, available for use by the user, a lot of its properties, e.g. its recoil and flexibility. The rubber tubes are not in one piece but are broken apart at intervals into segments to give more flexibility (the length of tube for each arm is made up of separate pieces). A detachable coupling is fitted at the top end of each arm and each arm is detachably attached separately to the chain of a punchbag. In one possible scenario, the user may begin by hanging two balls, one at head height, the other at calf height. Then, after a period of time (which may be during one practice session or after several practice sessions, e.g. for warm-up, for practice, or after becoming experienced), may hang a third at knee height, then again another at chest height. Thus, new parts can be added to the apparatus as the users skills improve. The balls can be punched, kneed and/or kicked by the user, they can also be blocked and ducked from when they recoil. All moves can be practised in random combinations. The central punchbag can be utilised at intervals to hone technique. Eventually, the brain and body are trained to cope with the fast-changing demands of a martial arts or boxing, sparring or ring scenario. As many or as few detachable balls as required can be attached at one time. The length of the cord (arm) depends on what part of the body the user wants to praise with or defend, e.g. long for the balls to be in the region of his legs, short for his head.

Thus, this embodiment provides a sports etc training or exercise apparatus that develops co-ordination and trains reflexes, which can be used by, for example, all sports trainees to develop reflexes and co-ordination but is especially useful as a martial arts or boxing training apparatus, which consists of one or more targets or balls suspended on arms such that entanglement of the balls or targets does not interfere with training. It can be suspended on its own or hung on a punchbag. Each ball or target position relates to a different part of the body.

A familiar example of said flexible dosed-cell elastomeric nitrile rubber insulation material suitable for covering the elastic cord is found as central heating pipe insulation, i.e. the ordinary dark grey tube-like soft insulation pipe covering which is used as a heat insulator on copper central heating pipes in most houses, or “pipewrap” as some call it. This actual tubing has a slit along its whole length, and each segment of it for the present apparatus is therefore preferably encircled with a reinforcement of fastening tape near each end of the segment, but it should be borne in mind that this was used for prototypes, and in a production run closed tubing may be used, although the reinforcement could still be useful. The elastic cord is ordinary elastic cord that can be bought by the metre off the roll in local hardware or d.i.y. stores; its strength and resilience characteristics and its dimensions can readily be chosen to be suitable for this apparatus. The type of coupling used to attach each arm is not described in full detail, since what is important is only that it should be detachable while firm when attached (closed, as described herein). The target members may conveniently be the same type as the children\'s plastic playing balls that one would find in a shop, diameter in the range 20 cm to 40 cm. However, for production, these target member balls may have to be manufactured with an attachment coupling to fasten the elastic cord directly to the ball. The balls used in prototypes did not have this direct attachment, so this difficulty was overcome by putting each ball in a cover (e.g. net, pouch or bag) and attaching the cover to the elastic arm. Similarly, if an upstanding punchball is used as a support for the apparatus, this can be anchored to the top of a cover (e.g. net, pouch or bag) fixed to the punchball and surrounding the ball thereof. In any of these embodiments, the target members may be of differing weights, apes and sizes; or all of them could be quite light or, as an alternative, all of them could be chosen quite weighty; the choices would depend upon the type of training required.

Thus, embodiments of the invention may be considered as follows: Conventional kinds of apparatus known to the inventor do not cater for the ever-changing demands of the martial arts or boxing ring, or they attempt to make use of stands and rods in a effort to keep the moving targets apart, whereas a trainee would benefit from a number of moving targets that have the ability to rebound and move in a chaotic fashion, without any suspended targets quickly becoming entangled with one another. Embodiments of the invention provide, in use, a number of suspended readily-moving targets which can be used to develop reflexes and co-ordination in all sports but are especially useful in martial arts and boxing training where they simulate an opponent. To minimize or avoid entanglement, the present embodiments provide any number of balls suspended on elastic cord with the elastic cord running through a soft resilient stiffing material, e.g. pipe insulation. The pipe insulation of each arm is in separate pieces, articulated together so as to allow for movement in all planes. Various properties of the pipe insulation are important: The pipe insulation is a wide very light durable pipe. It has the ability to return to its shape after being crushed by a kick for example. It has a thick wall but has a narrow bore. The thick wall gives stiffness to prevent the arms coiling around each other; this coiling would occur if the pipe had thin walls. The bore of the pipe is wide enough to allow adequate movement of the elastic cord inside. This pipe also has some flexibility. Another important property that the pipe has is that it is soft so it does not hurt if it strikes the user. Properties of the elastic cord such as flexibility and elasticity and rebound are retained while the surrounding pipe-insulation tubing prevents entanglement from interfering with the training. Any entanglement occurs at the top of the apparatus and is slight and can be released by unhooking the arms at the top, for example at the end of each training session. The balls can be hung at any height and in any number. Balls can be suspended at different heights to train different parts of the body, e.g. knees, feet, hands. They allow punching, kicking, use of knees, blocking and evasive movements. They also rebound and provide the element of surprise. The balls move in all planes. Entanglement of the apparatus does not occur so as to interfere with training. More balls can be added as the level of skill increases. As many balls as deemed necessary may be applied. It is a very light and easy-to-install opponent simulator. It can be hung on a punchbag and conventional strikes to the punch-bag can be done in conjunction with this ball training. It can be made very robust and inexpensive, yet safe to use. It reacts to the level of intensity at which it is being used: that is to say, as the user increases his speed the speed of the bails increases, so the level of skill can be increased further, therefore the user controls the levels of speed and skill applied.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there can be provided a training device or apparatus which is, or may be, suspended:

which consists of suspended balls or targets where the entanglement of the balls or targets does not interfere with training;

which may be unhooked at the point of suspension;

where each arm may be unhooked independently;

where the arms consist of balls or targets suspended on elastic cord running through sections of a narrow-bored wide-walled pipe;

which can be suspended on its own or on the chains of a punchbag;