29 Things to do with a Barbell in the Corner

From: http://www.straighttothebar.com/2007/10/29_things_to_do_with_a_barbell.html

by Jason Kirby | October 11, 2007

Have you been looking for a way to

attract some attention in the gym, or some new tricks to slip up
your sleeve? Here are a few twists on some old moves using 1 or
2 barbells against a wall. The set up is painfully simple; find
some space to place a barbell or two, make sure you have at
least 5 or 6 feet on either side of you (for safety reasons) and
some plates. In our experience we find that it is a good idea to
have several 10 pound weights due to their ease in loading the
barbell with steady increments, and they help to increase the
range of motion, but to also have a some 45’s as well because
sometimes, you just need more weight.

Here’s the set up.

1. The Modified Hammer Jammer

This is an extremely low tech high effect solution to a hammer jammer system.

As you press on the barbell it moves upwards in an arc like fashion. You can
 isolate the pressing motion by keeping your legs in an athletic lean position

without bending them and initiating the force through your core, or you can tack

some weights and lower the stack with your legs, and while driving through your

heels, explode the weight forwards.

2. Lumberjack Squat

This is an exercise that can help beginners learn how to squat using their hips. It

removes the large majority of compressional forces on the spine, that can be

associated with back squats. The idea is to interlock your fingers as high up on

the barbell as you can, and then allow the bar to rest at the bottom of your chest,

or right on your sternum. You want to actually be leaning into the barbell, so as

you squat your hips come into play and act as a set of brakes. Then drive your

weight through your heels so you’re leaning forwards again. This is one of the

exercises that I highly recommend using the 45 pound plates; if weight is not an

issue. Otherwise you can always progress upwards in increments of 2.5 all the

way to the 45’s.

3. Bent-over Rows

These ones actually change then angle of pull from parallel to the floor, to about

45 degrees, depending on limb length and how far you start and end. Essentially

you want to have your back facing the wall, and the execution is the same as a T-

Bar row except that you are only using one barbell. Here is another situation

where you will most likely want to use many smaller weights instead of few

larger ones, due to the R.O.M. decrease that happens with bigger plates.

4. Modified High Pulls

This one takes advantage of the high pull motion with a change of feel. You’ll

want to actually face the barbell perpendicular so that you become a larger

extension of it. Reach down and grasp the bar near the end (the closer to the end,

the heavier) while keeping a straight back, and pull your elbows as high as you

can.
5. Overhead Squat

This is not what is considered the overhead squat, however it can add a whole

new challenge, especially in the shoulders and core. You basically outstretch

your arm(s) (one arm version showed here) and squat down as you would in the

lumberjack squat.

6. The Floor Press

This is a modified version in which you lay down on the floor with the end of the

barbell sitting over your the crease in your elbow. Essentially press straight up,
 and the weight will move up and behind you as it does with that arc like

movement. This one is a bit tougher because the nature of the barbell when

compared to a dumbbell tends to swivel 360 degrees, plus upwards, downwards,

and side to side as well.

7. Modified Jefferson Lift

This is where you straddle the barbell with both legs, and grasp above the

weights while you lower yourself straight down as if sitting down into a chair. The

R.O.M. is limited so you can use heavier weights if you feel comfortable.
8. Modified Stiff-legged Deadlifts

The same concept as a regular stiff-legged deadlift except that you choose a side

to start with and grasp the barbell only with one hand. The motion is the same,

but this time the stretch is a bit more intense.

9. Suitcase Deadlift

This one is an older movement beginning to resurface itself into the main scene.

Essentially it’s the exact same thing as the stiff-legged version mentioned above,

except that you bend your legs and sit back as you pull up, so a deadlift where

only one arm is holding the weight, and the opposite side as to contract very

tightly to keep you from tipping over.

10. Modified Seated Overhead Press

This one’s a bit harder than it looks, the weight will rise behind you as you lean

into it, and the weight feels significantly heavier than it really is.

11. Push-ups

Just like it sounds, except that you place one hand on the barbell to raise

yourself a bit higher. It really helps to use the big plates as this will make things

a bit more challenging. If you want to add some more core stability and

coordination you can push up, and then power yourself over it and land with the

opposite hand on the end.

12. Barbell Wrist Flexion

Just like it sounds, grasp the edges of the bar, and roll your fingers up to your

wrist, activating the wrist flexors and improving your overall grip strength as

sometimes sweaty hands can make this part of the bar harder to hold. You also
 get the bonus of dealing with a larger surface area, rather than the body of the

barbell.

13. Bent-over Raises

Basically you bend at the waist preventing your back from rounding as you stand

on the side of the barbell, and then raise it as high up to your sides as you can.
 This one is harder than it looks, and can be a new facet to rear delt training.

14. Modified Barbell Windmills

This one is a bit difficult to explain since the bar somewhat throws off the motion

of the windmill, and it’s much less stable, but if you’re looking for a challenge or a

new take, this might be the trick for you. Get under the bar, and outstretch your

hand, as you go down you’ll want to stare up at the bar to keep your focus high,
 and bend at the waist so that your trunk becomes parallel to the floor.

15. Single Arm Barbell Fly

This one is an excellent challenge for overall core stability, and this one stresses

the chest, shoulders, and elbows very heavily. You want to lock your feet into the

ground and maintain a tight waist as you allow the outstretched barbell to drift

as far to your side as you can, any lower than parallel can become very

dangerous to your shoulder so exercise with caution.

Now we add two barbells to the mix, and essentially double the fun.

Here’s the setup, essentially same as the first, and altering the distance between

the barbells can shift the arcs and angles a bit differently.
16. Modified Hammer Jammer (Double Barbell version)

This time you use two barbells, and most likely cut the weight down, as this one

can become very difficult very quickly. Same as above although you’ll have to use

your legs a bit more to drive the weight upwards.

17. Double Overhead Squat

Same as it is with the single except you’re going to have to exert more core

stability to keep from caving in or falling backwards.

18. Double Bent-over Barbell Row

This one I think is a bit easier than with a single barbell, due to the balance from

side to side. Essentially you want to lean back, squat down to a quarter squat or

so, and pull elbows back as if giving someone an elbow to the ribs.

19. Double Floor Press

This one you will most likely want a partner to pass you the weights because it is

extremely awkward to roll onto each side to grasp the barbell, however once you

give these a try, you may find that work very well for hitting the upper chest,
 because the barbell moves up and back.

20. Double Incline Fly

This one is absolutely amazing, and difficult to describe where you will feel the

tension because it shifts all over the upper body depending on how you are able
 to transfer forces.

21. Double Seated Military Press

This one is a bit challenging to get into position, but when done unilaterally it

helps you generate a tremendous amount of core force to maintain an upright

position. The weights moves forward, and upwards so it really challenges you to
 maintain a tight position.

22. Double Lateral Raises

These can be extremely difficult to get used to, but not only are they stressing

the lateral head of the deltoid, but the posterior comes into play very heavily the

higher up you go. It also challenges the rotators because the arc like movement

goes against the conventional lateral raise, and can help with stubborn external

rotators.
23. Double Standing Russian Twist

This one is probably one of the toughest core exercises with a rotational

component, with or without weights. The idea is to get the barbells swinging in

succession so that one is a few inches or feet away from the other, and they

move as a windshield wiper. With weight this is extremely difficult and not for the

faint of midsection.
24. Double Barbell Shrugs

This one can be a test of grip strength if held on the edge of the barbell, and the

shrug pulls the weight behind you, really loading Trapezius 3 and 4. If you’re going

for a pure strength perspective grab the business portion of the barbell and
 shrug, the only real difference is grip strength.

25. Double Barbell Deadlift

This may soon become my new favorite exercise due to the new angle on an old

favorite. Essentially you get in between the bars, and deadlift away, the

movement is the same, except that it might be less stressful on the back if you
 lean into the pull of the movement.

26. Push ups

Don’t have a set of push up bars? Feel free to give this one a shot, it also doubles

as a fly if you allow the barbells to roll to your sides. If you do not keep your arms

close to your sides, you may find the barbells rolling to your sides. I’d recommend

using the 45 lbs. on this so that you can really get a deep stretch. If this is not

difficult enough try it with your feet on a bench or box, a weighted vest, or a

partner giving you manual resistance.

27. Bench Dips

Or in this case double barbell bench dips. Essentially the same set up as the push

ups except that you face the other directions with the barbells to your back, you

can add a box to the mix, some weight, or aim for high reps. This one also has a

tendency for the barbells to roll away to your sides, so it keeps a deep

contraction of the chest, and shoulders, to prevent this. Also makes a good

beginning progression to the iron cross if you have your feet up on something.

28. Double Barbell Standing Calf Raises

Now this one hits the calf from a whole new approach. The key differences

between this and the machine standing calf raises, is that instead of moving

upwards, you’re moving upwards and forwards with the arc of the movement. Add

some plates below your feet to deepen the stretch. You may want a partner to
 help pass you the weight, because too much weight can be risky when picking up

the barbells.

29. Double Barbell Front Squat

Like the standing calf raise this one forces you to drive forwards as well as

upwards, hitting the muscle in a new way. Like the previous exercise you may

want a partner to help you load the weights up to your shoulders.

EXTRAS...
from the book “Training for Warriors” by M. Rooney