Isometric Training has gone through many variations over the years from the days of the Shaolin, Yoga and throughout the 60's. The man that took Isometric Training to a peak until many decades later was Alexander Zass who utilized Isometrics to create the best strength program for building tendons and ligaments which evidently helped solidify him as one of the greatest strongmen of all-time. Using handles and an adjustable chain, Zass turned simple and advanced exercises into a powerhouse of training modalities that still baffles those in the Physical Culture World today.
Although he was around 5'7 and 170 lbs, Zass had strength that many today can't even fathom. The way he bent steel was extraordinary and the musculature would make even today's physique contestants look weak. His style of Isometrics can still be seen today from another perspective. Very few famous strongmen since then have really dug into the very depths of Isometric Training and some even refer to Charles Atlas as an Isometric Advocate. Although Atlas did practice certain aspects of Isometrics, Dynamic Tension wasn't an actual Isometric intended program. The exercises done in DT can be used as Isometric Exercises but it was never programmed that way.
In today's world of miss/complicated information, gadgets, gizmos, gimmicks, equipment that is sometimes a little out there and costs more than a down payment of a car, Isometrics is pushed more to the side and even fewer people truly practice it as an art and programmed training system. I would think in some ways, Zass would be rolling in his grave in shame to what has become in Physical Culture. Don't get me wrong, some of the stuff today is good and some people really go after Isometrics with a vengeance such as the Bioneer, Matt Schifferle of Red Delta Project, Johnny Grube, the mysterious Paul Wade with the Iso-Chain and others. The two biggest advocates of Isometrics in their time were Bud Jeffries & Steve Justa. In their time here on this big blue, green and crazy rock we call earth, they were experimenting with Isometrics more than anybody else. They came up with stuff some of us are still doing today and there were things they were doing most wouldn't even try to attempt cause of how crazy they were. Justa himself was doing workouts that lasted hours, did holds that ranged from 3 seconds to over 5 minutes and exercises that hit angles more than the Wonkavator went around a city in England. They were revolutionary in the modern era, they were our generation's Zass.
More studies have been done in recent times on Isometrics but it's still not so much a taboo in fitness but more of a Black Sheep in the world of Fitness in the sense that it's pushed to the side and doesn't get the attention that it deserves. It isn't sexy or glamorous looking unless you see some crazy motherfuckers at a playground in New York where exercise is treated like the badassery of Basketball in Rucker Park. One of the best authors today on the subject of Isometrics is Matt Schifferle of Red Delta Project who's enthusiasm is just contagious. His take on using your bodyweight and/or minimal equipment goes to another level of building muscle and strength. His style of Hybrid Isometrics takes strength training to another realm of 21st century Physical Culture. Although guys like Steve Maxwell gives a ton of credit and powerful admirations to Isometrics, Matt brings that youthful and simplistic approach that's relatable to a younger audience. Maxwell is a legend no question and his style works great with most people, I'm just a bigger fan of Matt's approach. I find he brings more energy and excitement as oppose to Maxwell who's a bit more low key, still simple and full of knowledge since he's been training longer than most trainers today have been alive.
I will always say that the best Isometric Equipment is the Transformetrics Isometric Power Belt but it's hard to promote that since it never really got off the ground. You can use just about anything to do Isometrics with and some have made DIY equipment like Maxwell, Schifferle and the late Bruce Tackett that made the Hook. Today's big products on Iso Training is more geared towards the Bullworker (like the Iso-Bow) and the Worldfit Iso Trainer. These are incredible for training Isometrics and can be used by anybody from the couch potato to the world-class athlete. Create workouts that take your fitness into the stratosphere. Zass would be a big fan of these.
Practice Isometrics regardless of your age and make them interesting, simple and as low-skilled as they can be because those are the best exercises that will get the job done. Build strength most would be baffled by and lessen your chances of injuries. Keep being amazingly awesome everyone.
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