JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?TʴZEcbCcj|0t]V+ OC_[%,H;[kPN~5_hõB7@H#k12;nUf>52%4zO֙jWcp\ qOJfX[ {/=v;ƎosMgiZ˨,wQmmN HE%i0>P#=m$;=F}+@R't8\SKTvkT;ˑ?g@0yfQxq4I?v8V+#A#Ӣ*+(zTlqOcBY"yEﮅщqcЎ:o,2ghg'i%tycJ1=WH ΑrWA<g0Hq^A7\WEg{Aފ;\f8 SЁ}j0iLG%N#qW +Zy?A\'o|Fu>C>:"`O=bj# ?~?WuXE3#/2:>`Ey-J"}MO)%#ݤXZ8jYpM`j?2yq3q~< Z]Y |cԶuoo8$@&PHDħyk躚yt5 dq(qaG*Zz5z;`hԔ쑥9GV_U60%cЂ=-HyP@C~zߋP rrzү,,0mWw$q\ Aц~ކm0Սgx#W$ zoz_YgV?#54%9*F=ZzY+w!8$Wx96Jx3ƴH_)943RZrK?q9 %vGsמ1V~"'ޅ[OxB4$ܪ`7VK)e<|S4֛**fՒ$p?,5`e*S<èbN< \ω|O ?Qw֔}0̘1^_šjdIzxa"5z!kZ!-KmCPbZxV "\즼FQ^ Ć\י|?ݭhg=Q~s봿WkLJxtK|niFO(UGx \!Ai4M0[V`4(++UWXSJ?>+"NWӁ\T]&uR<qTs HOjܶ1,N)0 HztF+L[q'<̓1<Zf}b8! ^EA$ NO="nY&TS ƑǚCG$tƥ娲yלD_mF%h[$}q(dC 6 K!oU5'f&8B\E >bWv17 灁W˶?/iQ興Q+"]gzY%ǩ=y/Vr--c#\XZƫqݔ.\B[)RtUie|Sk0PyS*5V~R8V{mfN{u<_ow\gmĞ($錚/E6,$A;a(F=r\+<;k ֊i]iFI& cF29g}4 4<*pQH:)(Q6bOAIvF?5F k9b.I#cd꺍Ҽe@xMt4yl{lحGԚbY8%ߌ{NZ@9w5bI K* _, .$ԓ}xkcͳW?q[> eA6? ֞䳑qHWxeyQ1WJs#}jChgvs \4#-ji6Dϡl4m$ ԗ'Je#}N=j~B鄭Hb֓ÊK#kMw ,H?쎟KEjQy-XfRxR1g5z SN[UW_B Rǩ br(=@'jm. Xݲ=*) bǒEj9P\dc#81-fU,Wz ۜ8[-МAݏWEsZo{gfWd^*=ƝHhMF$qH@2A=ݦjncV?\32\+)5Y1SPbd}))0i RJoxwh1fff@8`Op ='_A a dSk*Z+4Z^]Gu~>Tَ:R,(I$sEDp?*cƊ*1n*RhjJ S R 1E P9h"sSd(HG)first research study on plyometrics was published in 1964, but he had been researching the subject for several years before then as part of his post-doctoral work.<br><br>In recent years, Verkhoshansky has shared a considerable amount of his findings in plyometrics with Dr. Mel Siff, a sports scientist from South Africa and popular expert in the field of strength training who consults for the Chicago Bulls. According to Siff, the most effective type of plyometrics is what Verkhoshansky calls the shock training method. Siff, who is currently writing a how-to book on this subject for coaches and athletes, says that shock training  is a method of mechanical shock stimulation that forces the muscles to produce as much tension as rapidly as possible. It is characterized by an intense muscular contraction that is preceded by a relaxed state. <br><br>Stepping off a box (not jumping, as the thigh muscles must be relaxed during the fall) and immediately rebounding upward upon landing is considered an example of a shock training exercise for the lower body. Performing Marine Corps push-ups where you clap your hands, land, and then immediately perform another repetition is an example of shock training for the upper body. One of the characteristics of shock training is a brief transition phase, which is the pause that occurs immediately after the eccentric phase ends and before the concentric phase begins. Such dynamic activity is required to take advantage of two processes: 1) the reflex increase in muscle tension caused by the sudden impact stimulus, and 2) the release of elastic energy stored in the tendons and muscles developed during the eccentric phase energy that can be refocused to help an athlete jump higher and farther and run faster. As illustrated in Figure 1, a delay as long as .25 seconds would prevent the athlete from being able to use that energy, and the activity would have to be regarded as low- or medium-level plyometrics. Says Siff,  A useful visualization of shock training is to imagine that the surface being touched by the hands or feet during the plyometric contact phase is red hot, so that any prolonged contact would be dangerous. Verkhoshansky s research has revealed that shock training is the most effective type of plyometrics. In one 12-week study, Verkhoshansky divided track and field athletes into two groups. The first group performed 1472 low-and medium-level plyometric activities, including squats. The other group performed 475 jumps using the shock training method. Although the shock training group performed a third less work, these athletes showed greater improvement in reactive ability than the group using traditional methods.<br>Again, this is why you should regard weight training (including the Olympic lifts) and most forms of commonly used plyometrics as valuable  readiness activities for shock training. <br><br>Shock training is a powerful tool for athletic training, but because it places such high levels of tension on the muscles and stress on the nervous system, it must be approached with caution. This entails first develop