Better than Xingyi

[Taijikid]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-animalwalk18-2009sep18,0,4808360.story

[nianfong]

we do animal movements as part of our shuaijiao warmup drills. BJJ guys do similar ones.

[meeks]

i hear this exercise is good for people who wear contact lenses...

[Andy_S]

Interesting. The idea that humans have so many back problems because we have evolved from four legged to a bipedal species is not new, but I know of no other exercise routine that has specialized it taking us back to our four-legged, pre=human past.

I am familiar with a couple of the BJJ crawling routines...is there any footage out there of more detailed 4-legged regimens?

TIA

[Chris Fleming]

Interesting. The idea that humans have so many back problems because we have evolved from four legged to a bipedal species is not new, but I know of no other exercise routine that has specialized it taking us back to our four-legged, pre=human past.

Or maybe all the back problems come from people being fat as hell and never doing any exercise, developing bad posture from slouching all the time, and never strengthening the back and core muscles.

[Michael]

Design flaw = God's fault
Fat & lazy = my fault

Results of poll are design flaw because lazy people won't admit their own problems.

PS—Do I sound like John Wang?

[Alexander]

Interesting. The idea that humans have so many back problems because we have evolved from four legged to a bipedal species is not new, but I know of no other exercise routine that has specialized it taking us back to our four-legged, pre=human past.

Or maybe all the back problems come from people being fat as hell and never doing any exercise, developing bad posture from slouching all the time, and never strengthening the back and core muscles.

Yeah... an evolutionary theory for back problems is, imho, just ignorant of the facts.

[Steve James]

I don't know about the evolutionary bit, but I agree 110% with the walking on all fours as exercise. That's why I generally don't buy that we were "designed" to work that way. It's far less efficient --which makes it great exercise, but useless for hunting food or ... just getting from place to place. It would be interesting to hear about studies that suggest why it helps alleviate back troubles.

[meeks]

it looks like it really could open the back up a bit. I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'a martial art' though.

[Chris Fleming]

Steve Cotter and Pavel have included "forms" such as the Lizard Crawl, Bear Crawl, and the Dog Walk in their exercise material. Difficult body weight exercises indeed.

[Taijikid]

The chimpanzee thingy probably work like a half inversion table for your back! May be good for throws.