Body Scissors

Training your legs for scissors

Medic20 (10)

8/20/2023 2:58 PM

For me it’s kettle-bell squats with increasing weights. My top weight is 2 sets of 12 70 lbs squats. I’m working towards 100 lbs. I agree abductor and abductor exercises are great. I do those too!

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Grizzled Wrestler (10 )

12/06/2018 3:00 AM

Another exercise I have used at the gym to build scissoring power are the hip abductor machines. There are two types. One is where the pad is on your inner thighs and you squeeze your legs together. The other version is where the pads are on your outer thighs and you spread your legs apart.

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john el (13)

12/06/2018 5:57 AM

(In reply to this)

For inner, what you mean is adductor. Adduction is movement toward the centerline.
Abductor is outward.
This muscle helps, but the power comes from your quads mainly working against locked ankles, and your glutes.
Adductors are good though for a good non ankle locked squeeze.

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Juggernaut (0)

8/19/2023 6:00 PM

(In reply to this)

As you suggest, those exercises make everything stronger. And the abductor specifically targets the glutes.

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InkedRican (30)

9/17/2020 11:25 PM

(In reply to this)

Excellent !
Thanks for that eloquent tip, it's hard for me to give it language, so I appreciate those that can explain it.

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Grizzled Wrestler (10 )

12/06/2018 5:55 PM

(In reply to this)

Thanks for the clarification.

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ribcrusher (28)

12/15/2017 4:38 PM

Well given I do a lot of multitasking for myself, I do train my legs both in the gym for overall body conditioning. But I also find myself on the computer a lot just typing away. So I found a cool way to help aid me in using bodyscissors for both over all crushing power as well at building endurance in my legs. I place a good sized rubber ball and lock it in a scissors. So while I am typing I will constrict the ball just as hard and see just how much I can causing it to deform, this would be for like 10 sec or so, just about the same amount of time many guys tend to panic in a squeeze and tap. But then the other side of this I will tighten around the ball at maybe just about 50% of my pressure, and just see how many min I am able to keep that level of pressure up. I will just say after a few months of just working the muscles used for scissors, both the amount of time, as well as causing the poor ball to deform has gone up tons!! So end result the muscles used for squeezing some poor guy become much better and you still get all your computer typing in all at the same time!

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Grizzled Wrestler (10 )

12/06/2018 2:57 AM

(In reply to this)

I'm going to try that exercise to help increase the power of my scissors hold.

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ultimatescissorsjobber (2)

2/13/2018 3:47 PM

(In reply to this)

I'd love to have you head scissor me !! Both the high power version, again & again, & the half power version for very long durations !!

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InkedRican (30)

12/15/2017 11:18 PM

(In reply to this)

That's fantastic RibCrusher.
Practical tip/exercise while on the computer.
It's perfect.
I have a football I work-on that way occasionally.
What kind/size of ball are you using ?
Thanks Again.

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JHK49 (51 )

12/30/2017 12:49 PM

(In reply to this)

I use about a 7in basketball.

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ribcrusher (28)

12/28/2017 11:50 PM

(In reply to this)

it is about a 14 in rubber ball, it is not super hard and gives in a lot just like a guys waist does when you tighten. The ball conforms around my quads a bit and you can watch the ball deform when you flex and tighten. The funny thing is that is has a smile face on it and if you squeeze it tight enough you can make it change face---just like guys do in real life when the squeeze gets tight enough!–lol But for some odd reason the ball never gives up. But just like others also when you squeeze it tight enough–it does not talk back---ha-ha

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InkedRican (30)

11/17/2017 11:26 PM

Good Points. Thanks for the tips.

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Azalku (24)

11/17/2017 3:20 PM

This is all very useful , thanks.

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alexxwrestler (182)

11/17/2017 11:02 PM

(In reply to this)

You don't need to train your legs for scissors holds mate!!

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phil rouen (4)

10/02/2018 7:23 PM

(In reply to this)

Sur les photos. Tu aimes beaucoup les ciseaux

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Azalku (24)

11/18/2017 12:52 PM

(In reply to this)

Hahaha, I’m not sure if I read it on this post or his previous one but the comment about supporting the ankles to be able to apply the hold for longer makes a lot of sense. Next time I’ll scissor you with my shoes on ;)

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phil rouen (4)

9/18/2020 7:34 PM

(In reply to this)

Avec baskets de boxe ou lutte très bien pour bloquer les chevilles

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ChrisWrestling (37 )

11/18/2017 5:35 AM

(In reply to this)

That depends on the person. I know many people who want stronger scissors or want to be able to squeeze for longer. Many people have found this information helpful and I'm sorry you don't agree. As someone who likes long scissor sessions both as a top or bottom I do believe in training for both strength and endurance.

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ChrisWrestling (37 )

11/16/2017 7:18 AM

When it comes to bulking and cutting understand that when you cut you lose muscle mass and that includes cardiac muscle. There are no peer reviewed credible studies showing that bulking and cutting increase your gains more than just building gradually. Likewise there is no scientific evidence that eating excessive amounts of protein increase muscle size or strength but excessive protein consumption has been shown to increase the risks for kidney problems, gout, and certain types of cancer especially when a protein supplement is involved. If you must take a protein supplement check out it's rating at www.labdoor.com before you buy. Supplements are not checked by the FDA and are only pulled when the FDA is able to link the supplement to a series of health complications or deaths in a number of people typical of government efficiency.

Your muscles use predominantly glycogen which is a muscle sugar when you work out, it is important that your muscles are properly fueled before your workouts and you replenish your blood sugar by consuming carbs immediately after your workout. Your daily carb intake should be between 50-70% of your caloric intake, protein 15-30%, and fats, 10-30%. To calculate your caloric need multiply your weight by 10, then multiply that by your activity factor: sedentary 1.2-1.3, moderately active 1.4-1.6, and active 1.7-2.0. To figure out your macro balance multiply your caloric need with your macro percentage. To convert that to grams divide your protein and carbs by 4, fats by 9. If you are more active you may consume simpler carbs, if you are sedentary try to stick to fiber rich complex carbs. Aim to keep your simpler sugars to right after your workouts. If you are sedentary keep your carbs closer to 50%, if you're more active go with a higher percentage.

This was longer than I wanted. Again if you have questions feel free to post them here or message me directly. Thanks

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ChrisWrestling (37 )

11/16/2017 7:18 AM

To increase your endurance start incorporating high rep high speed exercises
Like plyometric high steps

Jump squats
Plyolunges
Drop lunges with heavy weights and high reps
Kettlebell swings (not American style, that has fewer reps per minute)
Shuttles (maintain a low squat while shuttling)

I would design my program by supersetting two exercises, doing 3-5 sets of 12 reps with progressive overload to near failure with 3 minutes rest between sets. Then go to your next superset of two exercises. Get through all your movements. Spend a couple months focusing on building strength doing legs no more than twice a week (not neglecting the muscles not relevant to scissors). In this phase only lift slow and heavy, maybe adding in isometrics (holding exercises). Then spend 6 weeks working in a 20 rep max for 4-5 sets with 90 seconds of rest between sets. Then start going easy into high rep lower resistance exercises like the jump squats hitting 20 reps without pausing. Work your way up to doing high intensity circuits and shortening your rest periods. After a few months start supersetting your heavy lifts with your high intensity lifts starting heavy then doing your plyometrics, then resting. This helps your type IIx become type IIa.

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ChrisWrestling (37 )

11/16/2017 7:17 AM

Here's one of my favorite exercises for the quads. I like this one because your quads work under high load for a very long time without a break again building up endurance.

Eccentric high steps. I don't like this guys form. When you go up and down imagine there is a string attached above your sternum and it is pulling you straight up and keeping you up when you go down. Try not to let your knee travel past your mid foot. Take as much time as you can coming down to the ground. When picking the height of your step put your leg on the step and look at it, it should be 90 degrees or slightly below. You don't want your knee to be at an acute angle.

Now, yes, squats are great, do squats just try to spend as much time in motion as possible, avoiding pauses at the top and bottom.

For your adductors:
I like this movement because it's a relatively safe way to hit the adductors in the anatomical position.

You may also incorporate the seated hip adduction.
For both these exercises you should focus on time under tension and potentially incorporate in isometrics by holding for 10 seconds in various positions.

To work on your internal rotation you can place a foam roller between your legs, bend at the knees to 90 degrees, put ankle resistance bands on your ankles and pinch your knees together as your bring your ankles apart. The bands could the therabands or the bands that Velcro around your ankles.

Weighted bridges and sumo squats would also be good to add.

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ChrisWrestling (37 )

11/16/2017 7:17 AM

To start off I will say that I am a personal trainer. The first thing to understand is that we have 3 types of muscle fibers, type I, type IIx, and type IIa and so we should consider what is the most applicable type to train for bodyscissors. I'm not going to say that you should aim for more type IIx or IIa but for the sake scissors type I are not applicable. Type I are defined as being low resistance and use oxygen to create energy. They almost never tire but they have no applicable strength. These are the muscle fibers we use when we run or do jumping jacks or other activities which have low resistance but high rep output. Type IIx are bulky muscle fibers which use muscle sugars called glycogen as their primary energy source. They produce a lot of CO2 and don't process energy well so they tend to burn out fast. These are great for getting someone to tap out fast but for long scissor torture they will cause you to tire quickly. Type IIa are type IIx except that they have developed more mitochondria which helps them process energy better and get rid of waste more efficiently. These muscle fibers behave more like a blend of type I and IIx.

To understand muscle contraction I'd recommend looking up sliding filament theory on youtube. It's better to see it than to have me describe it. What you can gather from that is that we only get strength within the range of motion we train so it's important when designing your program that you consider the full safe range of motion that you train. Some exercises will only work a partial range of motion like a dumbbell triceps kickback (depending on the elbow joint's relationship to gravity parts of the exercise will have no resistance in the triceps). Also keep in mind that over-training some muscles while not working the opposite can create muscle imbalances (such as working the quads more than the hamstrings can alter the front to back tilt of the pelvis creating low back pain).

For straight scissors, as mentioned in my last post, the power of a scissor comes from the straightening of the legs, driving the heels away, not from the squeezing of the knees together so focusing on hip adduction exercises, especially in the seated adduction machine is not going to generate a significant amount of added power to your scissors. The power of a scissors starts from a solid lock at the ankles which is a achieved with an isometric (non moving) contraction of the anterior tibialis (the muscle on the front of your shin), a straightening of the knee (shortening of the quads), the shortening of the adductors, and internal rotation generated in the medial glutes with stabilization of the knee through the iliotibial (IT) band via a flexing of the glutes.

For specific exercises I will be linking youtube videos as well as describing exercises.

For the anterior tibialis you can use a cable machine or elastic band. Anchor your elastic band and then hook it over your foot, moving closer to the hard point to lesson the resistance and further away to increase it. Obviously if you point your toe away from you too far the band will fly off but that's ok because for our purposes we want to be working from just past 90 degrees on one side and coming as far into dorsal flexion (toes to your nose) as possible. We don't have to go super heavy but we want to spend as much time under tension as possible to build more endurance in the muscle.

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InkedRican (30)

9/20/2020 7:32 AM

(In reply to this)

You are have a lot of knowledge in this area, and am glad you're willing to share what you know. Some of it goes over my head, but after re reading I understand. Thank You - Chris in Seattle.

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phil rouen (4)

9/17/2020 6:22 PM

(In reply to this)

Vous préférez quel type de ciseaux. Fort et court ou moyen et très long

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