Isokinator Classic Mobile Home Gym in Compact Size Made in Germany

I do NOT use the IK as per Koelbel's instruction. I use it only as an ISOMETRIC training device like one would use a BULLWORKER (also invented by Koelbel.) Two reasons. First, I have severe shoulder impingements and those motions exacerbate the condition. Secondly, even if I had no injury, I would still use it purely isometrically. This is the best isometric trainer on the market-superior in many ways to the BULLWORKER which I have (both the classic and steel bow), and have trained with for four and a half years. NOTE: Training with isometrics has improved my shoulder condition by about 50%.Call it what you want, the IK IS an isometric trainer-the main difference between THE IK and the BW, is size, and the fact that the IK has you train using MOTION. You can train with motion with A BW, but it is awkward. Isometrics work! A multitude of studies have proven this, and I did so myself. In May of 2014, I dropped all other modes of strength training, and trained exclusively with a BW steel bow. After six months, I was 30 to 40% stronger in all my isotonic and free weight lifts. Also, a slew of studies have shown that isometric training is one of the best ways to improve bone strength and stop bone loss in older people, and isometric training has proven to lower blood pressure. There are NO studies showing that using isometrics with motion is superior than using isometrics with static holds.Why is the IK such a great strength trainer/bone loss-bone builder? LEVERAGE! I can train with my hands close to my body when I train purely isometrically on the IK, and can exert more force on the IK than I could on the BW, where my hands start 20 inches apart-about 20 to 30% more force. If you use the IK with motion, as soon as your hands move away from your body, you cannot exert near as much force as you can with your hands close in to your body, and those little gold balls will sink to the center, and you will have to adjust your starting resistance lower if you want those balls to stay over the holes. I'm NOT saying DON'T train using motion-I'm sure that will be effective, but you have the choice, and either way you'll get results, but for pure strength, I would go with static holds. I do the static holds at different positions, so the argument that I'm not strengthening the muscle through a"full range of motion" has proven not to be.Another reason the IK is so effective: Its external resistance-the spring inside the device, which forces you to press against the resistance to keep the balls over the holes. This external pressure-up to 200 lbs (the CLASSIC MODEL) you have to fight against is truly a great way to build strength. NOTE: The IK is a great device EVEN if you doing other modes of strength training, like free weights. Using isometrics is a proven method of getting you past sticking points on many free weight lifts. If you are very strong, they have model that has 400 lbs of resistance (THE GREEN GIANT).The amount of exercises is up to your imagination. I bought mine with the isohook which allows many more exercises. I have another strap I use with the isohook, and hook the IK to some of my other equipment and do isometric one legged leg presses, isometric lat pulldowns, isometric one arm presses, plus all the ones I could do on the BW, plus the ones in the IK exercise book-except I do them statically. I train ONLY ONCE A WEEK, as isometric training, is very hard on the central nervous system (studies have shown) and my further strength gains do not justify more training. In fact a bit of advise. The IK manual says train 3 times a week-make that 2 times a week, I guarantee you'll get better results. NOTE: Even the IK exercise manual says, when you get up to where you want strength wise, "you only need to train every TEN DAYS". I pretty much reached my strength limit at my age, but my gains with the IK have led to another 15% strength increase, and much improved definition. The IK is built like a tank, and is durable to a fault. I do use the BW classic to do ab exercises and a few other exercises along with the IK, but if I had to choose just one device to train with, the IK would be it.

Who I am: mid-40s elementary music teacher. High school track, cross country, and wrestling. Black beltin Tae Kwon Do, brown belt in Shotokan Karate. I was in top shape until my late 20s, when I stopped runningand working out. I'm now 60 lbs overweight, all of it in my gut.I agonized over this product for months. Was it a gimmick? Was it really worth all that money? Couldisometric exercises really build muscle?Well, I'll keep updating this review to let you know!I've had the Isokinator for a week now. Shipping was very fast, but untrackable through Amazon.It took 7 days to get to me. Very well packaged. I ordered the long strap along with it, but I nowsee that the original 7 exercises you're supposed to do don't use the long strap! (It was only $25.)The Isokinator itself looks very high quality.I think I like the workout so far. I've done the exercises for one full week now (3 days of exercise).I'm starting very low, so I'm on 22 lbs of resistance.I like the feel of resisting the springs and then doing slow movement. It does feel a bit like Tai Chito me.The only things I don't like thusfar are: you can't really watch the golden balls as you exercise,so the whole idea of seeing that they're over the holes doesn't make sense to me. On almostall of the exercises, you can't watch the balls for the entire movement. Also, the straps diginto your hands...and I'm only on 22 lbs resistance! What will it be like when I'm at the topresistance? (I'll probably need to invest in some gloves.)I'll write more in a month or so...**Update**It's been over a month of regular use now. 3 sets of 10 exercises. I do the 5 upper body exercises (I don't yet do the abs or legs exercises). My weight has increased from 22 to 66 lbs. I see a definite increase in muscle mass and I feel stronger. I can feel the distinct muscles in my triceps when I flex...couldn't before. This product definitely works! And it's awesome to have it in such a small package. My complaints are the same: the straps really hurt for some exercises. I really need to invest in some lifting gloves. Also, you really can't watch the golden balls while you exercise. You just have to pull as hard as you can and hope that you're getting them over the holes. Finally, the bicep/tricep exercise is a little awkward. It's building lots of mass in my tri's, but I don't really see in in my bi's.Overall, I'm glad I purchased the isokinator. I'll update in a month or two.