The evolution of free weights: ViPR

ViPR inventor and human movement expert Michol Dalcourt was inspired to invent ViPR during his time as a strength and conditioning coach for NHL hockey players.

In this article, Michol expands further on some of the ideas that led him to understand the importance of "movement" when it comes to strength development.

Stuck in a rut

Although they look shiny and exciting, there's a big disadvantage to heavy, fixed exercise equipment: they force the body to move within a predetermined path. They restrict freedom of movement.

Freedom of movement

By taking the concept of freedom of movement, ViPR challenges how we interact with training tools. Simply put, it is the evolution of free weights. ViPR is an acronym for Vitality, Performance, and Re-conditioning – three key concepts that could define any exercise programme.

ViPR was created to allow training and exercise to be more purposeful and free. There needs to be an objective (beyond counting to 12 reps!) behind every exercise that you do. Think of daily tasks such as putting shopping away, playing sports, carrying heavy bags – they all have an objective.

Unfortunately most movements and exercises that we perform in a gym are void of any real objective, and this mind-numbing process robs individuals of the opportunity to achieve fitness for life. Our bodies lift things, shift from place to place, and rotate to achieve optimum performance. Isolation training doesn’t often exist in real life because it’s too inefficient and ineffective – the body and its parts would wear out far too quickly. The body is designed to spread forces and stress out into the system, through each joint and tissue in the body. The more effectively that this is accomplished, the less injury will plague the system.

Only ViPR, with its unique design, offers enough comfort and freedom to accomplish such things.

Freedom to movement; freedom to create

Made of rubber and available in seven different weights, ViPR has an abundance of exercises to challenge any ability level. It can be carried, tilted, dragged, thrown, flipped, stepped on and rolled. Each movement has been carefully organised into elements according to the application.

If you want to improve strength in functional lifting, then choose a "lift series" of exercises. If you have a desire to improve coordination, then certainly a "rolling series" of exercises will accomplish this goal.

The special design enables it to be used inside and out – with elite athletes and beginners alike – and as an adjunct tool in a training session or all by itself.