If you've ever watched a men's gymnastic competition, you've probably been awed by the pure power and strength displayed with the rings.
They actually have been around since the mid-1800's in Germany and were exclusively used in school fitness programs until 1903, where they were used in an international competition in Belgium. They were then introduced in the 1924 Olympics and have been a major men's event ever since.
It's a shame that more gyms don't use them. They used to be a staple in gymnasiums in the olden days but have gone to the wayside because of the Nautilus machine phase in the past 50 years. They require a certain skill to perform as well as teach/ coach and today's globo-gyms don't want to have to deal with that, let alone the liability.
Here are reasons why you should add these to your repertoire.
1. They work every muscle in your upper body and core.
Working biceps, tricep, chest, back/ lats and core with every exercise, you can hit every muscle with only a few exercises.
2. They are adjustable for your fitness level.
They are easily set up on a pullup bar, squat rack or even a strong tree limb. You can then adjust the height. The lower the height of the rings, the harder the exercise (in most cases).
3. They require tons of core stabilization
All exercises require that you engage your core. If you have ever done a "plank" for your abdominals, you know what I mean. Now add the instability of holding yourself on two free moving rings while moving your body through a range of motion. Awesome!
4. You can make your own.
You can buy rings from Elite Rings here. Or you can make your own. Last year I made an instructable on how to make your own. They are quite easy to make and will cost under $20!! Compared to $90 from Elite Rings. Here is the instructable.
Once you make or puchase your own, you can then try these exercises!
Enjoy!
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