GB2546629A

GB2546629A - A training device and method of training

Info

Publication number: GB2546629A
Application number: GB1700882.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Martin Porter Luke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-18
Filing date: 2017-01-18
Publication date: 2017-07-26
Also published as: GB201700882D0

Abstract

A device 200 for core muscle or core stability training has an arcuate guide member 202 defining a substantially curved path to guide movement of the user in a swinging motion, and at least one flexible elongate resisting member 204. The cord 204 has a portion guided by a resisting member guide 208. The guide 208 is attached to the curved member 202 and arranged to guide the resisting member 204 in proximity to the path defined by the arcuate frame 202. The cable 204 has an unguided portion with a free end 206b to be gripped by and to resist movement of at least one of the user's hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 202. The device 200 may include a support 210 with a guide member support 212 in connection with the guide 208. A method of training is also disclosed.

Description

A TRAINING DEVICE AND METHOD OF TRAINING

The present invention provides a training device and method of training. In particular, the present invention is related to a training device suitable for core muscle or core stability training and a method of training suitable for developing core muscles or core stability. More particularly, the present invention is related to core stability training for sports such as club, bat and racquet sports, for example golf.

The present invention provides a training device for developing core stability and core strength required for sports where a club, bat or racquet is swung around the body. The present invention is however not limited to the training of core muscles, but also provides training for muscles throughout the body, e.g. legs, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. The present invention therefore provides a trainer for general muscle strength and movement in the rotational delivery of body power to the arms and hands.

Many sports involve a participant wielding a club, racquet, bat or other sports specific piece of equipment which is swung or moved in a generally circular motion around the body. Known training apparatus for such sports involve a circular guide along which equipment such as a golf club is swung in order to teach a person the correct swinging motion. However, in order to improve the accuracy, timing, repeatability and strength of the swinging motion, it is important for a person to build core strength and stability which allows the body to maintain a stable and secure position during the swinging motion. Currently, this can only be achieved using general exercise (e.g. sit-ups), which is not specific to developing a swinging motion.

In one example, a training device suitable for core muscle or core stability training, comprises: an arcuate guide member defining a path to guide movement of the user’s hands in a swinging motion; and a resisting member arranged to resist movement along the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

Known devices include that shown in US2011/0230315A1 which discloses a resistance training device with an arc shaped track having a concave side that is mounted upon a support structure that supports the arc shaped track at a position centred above the user’s head in which the concave side of the arc faces downward to extend to each side of the user. A handle to be gripped by the user is coupled to a track follower that engages the track and slides along the length of the track to follow a path defined by the shape of the arc and guide a user’s side-to-side bending movements. US5151070 discloses a resistance training device with a curvilinear track in which a track follower attached to a handle is disposed so that the handle is moved down the track when performing an exercise. The track follower is connected to a set of weights via a cable and pulley arrangement. GB2228421A discloses a resistance training device comprising a frame which supports an arcuate track and a handle which is slidable along the track to practice a golfing stroke. A wire rope connected to the part of the slidable handle received in the track passes back to the start of the track along a return track portion and out of an exit track portion to a biasing mechanism comprising weights and pulleys such that the movement of the handle is resisted. US 6165110A discloses a resistance training device including a curved track along which a slidably mounted transducer moves as a user pulls a handle attached to a cable. The transducer is biased towards one of the track by a force produced by a rope and a pulley attached to weights or a set of elastic tubes. The cable passes through the transducer and anchors to the other end of the track such that the transducer is slid toward the other end of the track against the force when the handle is pulled. US7056224B1 discloses a golf swing training apparatus including a swing guide track, track follower and handle attached thereto. The swing guide track is mounted on a base in such a manner that the track follows the golfer’s normal swing and is manoeuvrable by the golfer during the swing, wherein a consistent resistance is provided to the handle which the user golfer swings.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a training device suitable for core muscle or core stability training, comprising: an arcuate guide member defining a substantially curved path to guide movement of the user in a swinging motion; at least one flexible elongate resisting member comprising a guided portion guided by a resisting member guide attached to the arcuate guide member and arranged to guide the resisting member in proximity to the path defined by the arcuate guide member, the resisting member further comprising an unguided portion having a free end adapted to be gripped by at least one of the user’s hands to resist movement of the at least one of the user’s hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

By moving a user’s hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member whilst gripping an end of the resisting member, the user’s movements are made to simulate the swinging of a club or similar sports equipment in a swinging motion around the body. The resisting member provides resistance acting against the user’s movements as they move along the path defined by the arcuate guide member. The end of the resisting member gripped by the user is generally free and thus a portion thereof is unguided and may extend away from the resisting member guide. The path of the user’s hands therefore is not forced to follow a certain path but is afforded a degree of freedom of movement towards and away from arcuate guide member during the exercise. This gives a user the flexibility to roll the hands or to cock/uncock the wrists during the exercise while still experiencing a resistive force opposing the movement of the user’s hands. This is therefore advantageous over gripping a handle forced to move only along a fixed track as provided by known training devices, where the motion of the handle (and therefore the user’s hands) is fixed by the path of the track.

This allows the user to experience a feeling for how the body and muscles are working in order to successfully maintain the swinging motion. Through repetition of the movement, the user is able to exercise and train the relevant core muscles required to maintain a secure body position, thus improving the accuracy, timing, repeatability and strength of the swinging motion.

Optionally, the resisting member may be arranged to exert a force on the user’s hands tangential (or generally tangential) to the path defined by the arcuate guide member (e g. perpendicular (or generally perpendicular) to the radius of curvature of the path or guide member) and opposite (or generally opposite) to the direction of movement along the path. This engages the muscles required to successfully maintain the position of the body during the swinging motion and allows the user to specifically develop those muscles.

Optionally, the arcuate guide member may be arranged to guide movement of the user’s hands. This allows the user to experience the swinging motion without wielding any equipment such as a club or racquet. This concentrates the exercise on core stability training, rather than developing the correct movement of the equipment.

Optionally, the arcuate guide member may comprise a tube, rod, plate or other smooth elongate member having an outer surface along which the user may move their hands, or a handle attached to the resisting member, in close proximity to or at a constant or varied separation from in order to follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member. This allows the user’s hands to be guided through the swinging motion. Alternatively, the inner surface of the tube may provide a surface along which the user may move their hands.

Optionally, the arcuate guide member may define one of a circular path, an elliptical path or a complex curved path. This allows the training device to be used to train for a variety of sports. The swinging motion required for some sports, e.g. golf, may be a circular path, whereas the swinging motion for other sports, e.g. tennis, may be elliptical.

Optionally, the arcuate guide member may define a path which is less than a complete circle or ellipse. This allows the guide member to be made from a shorter length of material than is required for a complete circle or ellipse. The means that the training device is smaller in overall physical size, and is therefore easier to store and transport.

Optionally, the resisting member may comprise one or more of: an elastic member, a spring member, or a weight suspended on flexible connection member of fixed length (such as a string or cord) via a pulley mechanism which guides the flexible connection member to form a hanging portion thereof from which the weight is suspended. This provides a resisting member with a generally free end which is easily gripped by the user and provides a force flexibly maintained in the direction opposing the movement of the user’s hands along a path, where the path of the hands is close or touching the arcuate guide member. The end of the resisting member may be gripped with one hand or two hands.

In some embodiments, the resisting member may comprise a handle connected to the free end arranged to be gripped by the user with one or both hands. In some embodiments, the handle has similar dimensions to a golf club handle or baseball bat handle or cricket bat handle. The resisting member may be an elongate stretchable elastic member that returns generally to its original length after stretching, for example a plastics or polymer material rope or tube or band.

Optionally, the force applied by the resisting member may be in the range between 0.1 N and 300 N. This provides a wide range of forces so the training device can simulate a wide range of sports. For example, the swinging of a golf putter may be simulated with a low resistive force, e.g. around 0.1 to 0.5 N. Furthermore, the user may have difficulty performing the swinging motion to the extent that any small resistive force, e.g. 0.1 N, is sufficient to provide useful training. The swinging of a cricket bat or baseball bat may be more suitably simulated using a greater resistive force, e.g. up to 300 N.

Optionally, the force applied by the resisting member may be, or may be of the order of, 0.1 N, 0.5 N, 1 N, 5 N, 10 N, 20 N, 40 N, 60 N, 80 N, 100 N, 120 N, 150 N, 160 N, 180 N, 200 N, 220 N, 240 N, 260 N, 280 N, 300 N, or greater than 300 N. In some embodiments, the force applied by the resisting member may be in a range defined by any one of the above points. The force applied is therefore substantially greater than that experienced if the user were to perform the swinging action whilst gripping a club, racquet or similar piece of sports equipment.

Optionally, the training device may further comprise a resisting member guide arranged to guide a portion of the resisting member along the path defined by the arcuate guide member. The resisting member guide keeps the resisting member close to the arcuate guide member during use and in a correct position to apply force to resist the user’s movements.

Optionally, the resisting member guide may comprise at least one guide member attached to at least one axle connected to the arcuate guide member, or to a support that is common to the guide member and the resisting member guide, wherein the guide member may more preferably be arranged to rotate about the axle. In some embodiments the guide member may be a V shaped formation (stationary or rotatable), such as a roller or a pulley. This allows the resisting member to be held in place by the rotating member, whilst still being able to stretch and move along its length. In many embodiments (e.g. when the resisting member is an elastic member), the resisting member also stretches at an end at which it is gripped by the user as the user moves their hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

Optionally, the at least one guide member may comprise an indentation arranged to receive the resisting member and define a position in which the resisting member is retained. This helps to ensure the resisting member does not slide off the at least one rotating member during use of the device.

Optionally, the training device may comprise a support structure arranged to support the arcuate guide member. This supports the arcuate guide member securely in a position suitable for use.

Optionally, the support structure may comprise at least one first support leg, wherein the at least one first support leg may be extendible or moveable (e.g. pivotable) such that it is arranged to determine the vertical position of the arcuate guide member. This allows the height of the arcuate guide member to be adjusted according to the height of the user.

Optionally, the support structure comprises a second support member arranged to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member relative to the vertical. This allows the angle of the path defined by the arcuate guide member to be adjusted to accommodate different swing movements, in particular movements associated with different sports.

Optionally, the second support member may comprise at least one second support leg, wherein the second support leg may be extendible or moveable (e.g. pivotable) such that it is arranged to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member relative to the vertical.

Optionally, the at least one first support leg is pivotally attached to the at least one second support leg such that the second support member may collapse into a stowed configuration. The support structure may therefore be collapsible by movement between an extended position and a stowed position. This allows the support structure to collapse so that the training device can be flat packed and more easily transported or stored.

Optionally, the second support member comprises a flexible tether. This allows the training device to be tethered to a fixed point. The tether may preferably be variable in length to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member relative to the vertical. The tether may be provided in place of the second support leg and advantageously reduces the physical size of the training device and allows it to be more easily collapsible for storage and transport.

Optionally, the support structure may further comprise a strut member linking the at least one first support leg and the at least one second support leg, wherein the strut member is preferably extendible such that it is arranged to set the angle between the support legs. The extendible strut allows the distance between the first and second support legs to be adjusted, and therefore can be used to adjust the angle of the arcuate guide member and add stability to the training device.

Optionally, the support structure may comprise at least one projection arranged to brace the training device against the action of tension in the resisting member. This allows the stability of the training device to be improved by bracing or securing it against a solid object such as a wall. This braces the training device against the action of the tension in the resisting member causing the training device to move laterally or fall over.

Optionally, the at least one flexible elongate resisting member comprises a pair of elongate resisting members, each connected at or near to a respective end of the arcuate guide member. This may provide a force acting in either direction along the length of the arcuate guide member.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a kit of parts arranged to be assembled into the training device defined above. The training device may be provided in flat packed kit of parts which is easy to transport, and can then be assembled by the user.

Optionally, the kit of parts may comprise a first arcuate guide member having a first radius of curvature, and a second arcuate guide member having a second radius of curvature different to the first. Arcuate guide members of different sizes may be provided for users of a different height or training for different sports where the swinging motion follows a path of differing radius of curvature.

Optionally, the kit of parts may comprise a first resisting member having a first elasticity and a second resisting member having a second elasticity which may be different to the first. Resisting members having different elasticity may be provided to give a variety of resisting forces and therefore alter the difficulty of the training. This allows the training device to be used by users of different strength and ability. A user can also use more than one resisting member at the same time, should they chose to do so.

Optionally, the kit of parts may comprise a flexible connection member having a fixed length (e g. such as a cord) and a plurality of weights having different masses to be attached to the end of the connection member. This provides a variety of forces to resist the swinging motion of the user.

Optionally, the kit of parts may comprise a plurality of handles with differing sizes and shapes. In some embodiments, the sizes and shapes may be similar in dimensions to any one or more of a golf club handle or a baseball bat handle or a cricket bat handle.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of training suitable for developing core muscles or core stability, the method comprising: moving a user’s hands along a path defined by an arcuate guide member by brushing their hands along the arcuate guide member or moving their hands along at a constant or variable separation from the arcuate guide member; and gripping a free end of a resisting member whilst performing the movement such that movement along the path defined by the arcuate guide member is resisted.

The user’s hands may be moved such that the path of the user’s hands is not fixed to (e.g. not forced to) follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member. The user’s hands may be moved such that they are afforded a degree of freedom of movement towards and away from arcuate guide member during the swinging motion. This may give flexibility to roll the hands or to cock/uncock the wrists during the swinging motion while still experiencing a resistive force opposing the movement of the user’s hands.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a training device according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the training device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a front view of the training device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the training device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of a training device according to a second embodiment;

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the training device of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a first rear perspective view of the training device of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows a second rear perspective view of the training device of Figure 5;

Figure 9 shows a side view of the training device of Figure 5;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the training device of Figure 5 including a weight and pulley mechanism;

Figure 11 shows a front plan view of a training device according to a third embodiment; and

Figure 12 shows a front plan view of a training device according to a fourth embodiment. A first embodiment of a training device 100 according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4. The training device 100 comprises: an arcuate guide member 102 defining a path to guide movement of the user in a swinging motion and a resisting member 104 arranged to resist movement along the path defined by the guide member.

The arcuate guide member 102 is arranged to guide movement of the user’s hands. The guide member 102 defines a path over which the user is to move. By moving with the hands close to, or touching the guide member, the user is able to follow the path defined by the guide member 102. As the guide member is arcuate in shape, the path it defines approximates the path taken by the user’s hands if they were performing a swinging motion with a club or racquet or other similar piece of sports equipment. When using the training device 100, the user does not grip a club or racquet, instead the user grips a free end 106b of a flexible resisting member 104 and follows the arcuate guide member 102 with their hands to simulate the swinging motion. This concentrates the exercise on core stability training, rather than developing correct movement of the equipment. The user typically slides their hand(s) along the guide member, with at least one of their hands in contact with an outer surface of the guide member.

In some embodiments, when using the training device 100 the user grips a handle attached to the free end 106b of the resisting member 104. The handle may have dimensions similar to a golf club handle or a baseball bat handle or a cricket bat handle, be held in one or both hands and may be brushed or moved closely to the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102. The handle may, for example, be moved at close proximity to or at a constant or varied separation from the arcuate guide member 102 in order to follow the defined path.

In some embodiments, the radius of curvature of at least part of the arcuate guide member 102 may be in the range between 0.5 m and 2m. In other embodiments the radius of curvature of at least part of the arcuate guide member 102 may be 0.5 m, 0.75 m, 1 m, 1.25 m, 1.5 m, 1.75 m, 2.0 m, 2.25 m, 2.5 m, 2.75 m or 3.0 m. In some embodiments, different parts of the arcuate guide member 102 may have a different radius of curvature, each chosen from those given above. A radius of 3 m for at least part of the arcuate guide member 102 may be appropriate where the swinging motion for the sport may include the user taking a step or more during the course of the swing. For example, a hockey player swing may include the player taking a step or steps during the motion of swinging the hockey stick which would for this part of the arcuate path require the radius of curvature to be larger than before or after the step(s). In another example, a tennis player may take a step or steps during the course of swinging the racquet in a similar manner.

The arcuate guide member 102 comprises a tube member formed into a circular path. In this embodiment the arcuate guide member 102 comprises a hollow tube to reduce the overall weight of the training device 100. In other embodiments, the arcuate guide member 102 may be a solid bar or rod that has been shaped to give the required arcuate path. In yet other embodiments, the arcuate guide member 102 may comprise a plate or other smooth elongate member having a surface over which the user can move (e.g. slide) their hands such that they are guided along the required path.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the tube member has an outer surface along which the user may move their hands in order to follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102. This provides a smooth surface along which the user can brush their hands along or maintain at a constant or varied separation from in order to follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102. In other embodiments, the inner surface of the tube may provide a surface along which the user may move their hands.

In the embodiments where the arcuate guide member 102 comprises a tube, the tube may have an external diameter of the order of 1 cm, 2 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, or greater than 20 cm. In other embodiments in may have an external diameter in a range defined by any one of the above points. The thickness of the tube wall may be of the order 0.1 mm. In other embodiments, the thickness of the tube wall may be in the range between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. In the embodiments where the arcuate guide member 102 comprises a solid bar or rod, the external diameter of the bar or rod may be between 5 mm and 30 mm.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the arcuate guide member 102 defines a circular path. This provides a path that is suitable for simulating a swinging motion around the body. A circular path is particularly suited to the simulation of a golf swing, but is applicable to other sports such as tennis, squash, baseball, cricket or other similar sports where the user swings equipment around their body. In other embodiments, the arcuate guide member 102 defines an elliptical path or a complex curved path. The path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 may therefore be tailored to a specific sport. Alternatively, a generic shape may be provided which can be used for training with a number of different sports. For example, the swinging motion experienced during a golf swing may be more suitably simulated using a circular path, whereas the swing motion of a tennis stroke may be more suitably simulated using an elliptical path.

The resisting member 104 is arranged to exert a force on the user’s hands tangential to the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 e.g. perpendicular (or generally perpendicular) to the radius of curvature to that point and opposite to the direction of movement along the path. The resisting member 104 therefore resists movement of the user’s hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102, thus engaging the core muscles of the user in the way they will be engaged in use of a golf club and allowing the user to develop those muscles.

The force applied by the resisting member 102 may be, or be of the order of, 0.1 N, 0.5 N, 1 N, 5 N, 10 N, 20 N, 40 N, 60 N, 80 N, 100 N, 120 N, 150 N, 160 N, 180 N, 200 N, 220 N, 240 N, 260 N, 280 N, 300 N or greater than 300 N. In some embodiments, the force applied by the resisting member is in the range between 0.1 N and 300 N. In other embodiments, the force applied by the resisting member may be in a range defined by any one of the above points. The force applied is therefore substantially greater than that experienced if the user were to perform the swinging action whilst gripping a club, racquet or similar sports equipment. In some embodiments, the force applied may be or the order of 10, 100, 1000 or greater than 1000 times the force that would be experienced by swinging only a club or racquet. This helps engage the core muscles and allows them to be developed by repetition of the movement, and developed faster than merely swinging a club in free space the same number of times as swinging in the training device 100. The resistive force in some embodiments may be as small as 0.1 N or 0.5 N to provide a user with a resisting force which is commensurate with a golf putting motion.

As shown in Figure 1, the resisting member 104 comprises an elastic member with a first end 106a and a second end 106b. In this case an elongate elastic tube or band, which is preferably flexible such that it may follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102. The resisting member is arranged to be gripped by the user’s hands at the second (free) end 106b so that when the user moves their hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 the resisting member 104 is stretched and applies a force acting against the movement of the user’s hands. In other embodiments, the resisting member 104 may be a spring arranged to stretch and resist the movement of the user. In other embodiments, the resisting member 104 may have a portion that is of a fixed length in combination with an elastic or spring portion. In yet other embodiments, the resisting member 104 may comprise a weight coupled to an end of a string, rope, chain or other similar member of a fixed length. In this embodiment, the user grips the free end of the resisting member 104 at an end furthest from the weight such that when the user moves along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 the weight is lifted and the user experiences resistance to their movement.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the free end 106b of the resisting member 104 is arranged to be wrapped around one or both of the user’s hands such that they can achieve a secure grip. In some embodiments the resisting member 104 is wrapped around the same hand that the user slides along the arcuate guide member. In other embodiments, the user may join their hands together (e.g. as if holding a two handed piece of sports equipment such as a golf club) and wrap the resisting member 104 around the hand not in contact with the arcuate guide member 102. In other embodiments, the free end 106b may be provided with a handle or grip portion that the user may hold in order to more securely grip the resisting member 104.

The training device 100 further comprises a resisting member guide 108 arranged to guide the resisting member 104 along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102. The resisting member guide 108 keeps the resisting member 104 close to the arcuate guide member 102 during use and in a correct position to apply force to restrict the user’s movements. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the resisting member guide 108 comprises a plurality of guide members 108a, 108b, 108c (only three of which are labelled in Figure 1). The guide members 108a, 108b, 108c are distributed around the length of the arcuate guide member 102. In this embodiment, there are 24 equally spaced guide members 108a, 108b, 108c arranged around the arcuate guide member 102. This allows the resisting member guide 108 to sufficiently guide the resisting member all the way around the length of arcuate guide member 102. In other embodiments there may be a greater number of guide members 108a, 108b, 108c in order to more fully guide the resisting member 102. In yet other embodiments there may be fewer guide members 108a, 108b, 108c, and they may extend over only a portion of the arcuate guide member 102.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a portion of the resisting member 104 is guided by and extendable over the resisting member guide 108 arranged to guide the resisting member in close proximity to the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 during movement of the user’s hands. The second end 106b of the resisting member 104 (i.e. the end gripped by the user) is generally free and thus there is an unguided portion 106c which extends away from the resisting member guide 108. The unguided portion is therefore not guided by the resisting member guide 108, but is provided a degree of freedom of movement with respect to the resisting member guide (e.g. it may move towards or away from the resisting member guide 108). The free end 106b of the resisting member 104 is thus movable towards or away from the arcuate guide member 102 during the movement of the user.

The path of the user’s hands therefore is not forced to follow a certain path but is afforded a degree of freedom of movement towards and away from arcuate guide member 102 during the exercise (e g. a component of their motion may be in a radial direction away from the centre of the tube member, in addition to being able to move along the length of the arcuate guide member). The user’s hands are only guided along the path of the arcuate guide member 102 and can be moved towards or away from the arcuate guide member 102, rather than being restricted to movement only along the path defined by the arcuate guide member. This gives a user the flexibility to roll the hands or to cock/uncock the wrists during the exercise while still experiencing a resistive force opposing the movement of the user’s hands.

The shape of the arcuate guide member allows a force tangential (or generally tangential) to the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 to be applied to the user’s hands (or handle connected to the resisting member) where the freely held handle/user’s hands is passed closely to or touching (brushing against) the arcuate guide member 102. The training device 100 therefore does not require a track or member slidably connected to the track which causes the handle/user’s hands to only follow a certain path. The resisting member 104 may therefore provide a precise tangential force where the handle gripped by the user is held at 90 degrees to the curvature of the arcuate guide member 102 at any point, but also at any point the handle/user’s hands may slightly vary in its angle and/or separation in relation to the path or curvature of the arcuate guide member 102. The present invention may therefore allow a resistive force to be flexibly maintained behind the path of a handle/user’s where the path of the handle/user’s hands is close or touching the arcuate guide member 102.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c each comprise a rotating member, such as a sheath or tube, surrounding an axle extending from the arcuate guide member 102. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the rotating member of each of the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c is arranged to rotate freely around the axle. This reduces the friction between the resisting member 104 and the resisting member guide 108.

In other embodiments, each of the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c may comprise a solid bar or rod. In this embodiment, the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c are arranged not to rotate, but comprise a low friction material such that the resisting member 104 is free to move past them.

In some embodiments the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c may be a V shaped roller or a pulley. This allows the resisting member to be held in place by the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c whilst still being able to stretch and move along its length. In some embodiments, the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c may comprise an indentation arranged to receive the resisting member 104. In such an embodiment, the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c define a position in which the resisting member 104 is retained. This helps prevent the resisting member 104 from sliding off the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c and fixes the separation of the resisting member 104 and the arcuate guide member 102 (i.e. the resisting member 104 is prevented from moving towards or away from the arcuate guide member 102).

The training device 100 further comprises a support structure 110 arranged to support the arcuate guide member 102 securely in a position suitable for use. The support structure 110 comprises a guide member support 112. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the guide member support 112 is generally circular in shape and is arranged to support the arcuate guide member 102 by connection via the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c. Each of the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c provides a rigid connection between the arcuate guide member 102 and the guide member support 112 such that it is sufficiently held in place during use. In the embodiment where the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c comprise an axle and a rotating member, the axle is arranged to provide a rigid connection between the first support 112 and the arcuate guide member 102. Furthermore, in embodiments where the arcuate guide member 102 comprises a flexible elongate member, the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c keep the arcuate guide member in a fixed shape in order to define the path along which the user’s hands are guided.

The support structure 110 further comprises a pair of first support legs 114a, 114b. In other embodiments, only a single first support leg may be provided. The first support legs 114a, 114b are connected to the arcuate guide member 102 via the guide member support 112 and the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c. In other embodiments the first support legs 114a, 114b are connected directly to the arcuate guide member 102. In some embodiments the first support legs 114a, 114b are extendible such that they may be altered in length to determine the vertical position of the arcuate guide member 102. This allows the height of the arcuate guide member 102 to be adjusted according to the height of the user.

The support structure 110 further comprises a second support member. In this embodiment the second support member comprises a pair of second support legs 116a, 116b. The second support legs 116a, 116b are connected together via a cross member 118. The second support legs 116a, 116b are connected to the arcuate guide member 102 via the cross member 118, the guide member support 112 and the guide members 108a, 108b, 108c. In other embodiments the second support legs 116a, 116b are connected directly to the arcuate guide member 102. In some embodiments, the second support legs 116a, 116b are extendible such that they are arranged to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member 102 relative to the vertical. This allows the angle of the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102 to be adjusted to accommodate different swing movements, in particular movements associated with different sports.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the first end of the resisting member 106a is attached to one of the first support legs 114b. But in other embodiments it may be attached to the other of the first support legs 114a. The first end of the resisting member 106a is attached close to a distal end of one of the first support legs 114a, 114b, e.g. it may be low down on the support structure 110. By attaching the resisting member 104 in this way a substantial portion of the force applied by the resisting member 104 to the support structure 110 is directed along the length of the one of the first support legs 114a, 114b which improves the overall stability of the training device 100. . In other embodiments, the resisting member 104 may be attached to one of the guide members 108.

The second support legs 116a, 116b are pivotally connected to the cross member 118 such that the support structure 110 may collapse into a stowed configuration. The training device 100 is therefore collapsible. This allows the training device 100 to be flat packed and more easily transported or stored. For example, by collapsing the support structure 110, the training device 100 may be stored flat against a wall when not in use (i.e. it may be arranged to stand vertically upright against the wall when not in use). This allows the training device 100 to be conveniently stored when not in use. The support 110 may quickly be folded out to allow use of the training device 100. In some embodiments, when the support structure 110 is folded out from the wall, one of the first or the second support legs may remain in contact with the wall. In other embodiments, the first support legs 114a, 114b may be pivotally attached to the second support legs 116a, 116b such that they may collapse into a stowed configuration.

The support structure 110 further comprises a strut member 122 linking one of the first support legs 114a and one of the second support legs 116b. In some embodiments the support structure 110 may comprise a second strut member, similar to the first, linking the other of the first support legs 114b and the other of the second support legs 116a. In yet other embodiments the strut member 122 may be absent from the support structure 110. The strut member is arranged to further improve the rigidity of the support 110. In some embodiments, the strut member 122 may be extendible such that it is arranged to set the angle between the support legs. In such an embodiment, the strut member 122 allows the distance between the first 114a, 114b and second 116a, 166b support legs to be adjusted, and therefore can be used to adjust the angle of the arcuate guide member 102. A second embodiment of a training device 200 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 5 to 9. The training device 200 of this embodiment also comprises: an arcuate guide member 202 defining a path to guide movement of the user in a swinging motion and a resisting member 204 arranged to resist movement along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 202. Features which are common to both the first embodiment described above and the second embodiment are labelled accordingly in the figures. Any of the alternatives or modifications mentioned above in relation to the first embodiment may be equally applicable to the second embodiment.

The training device 200 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment 100 in that the arcuate guide member 202 defines a path over part of a complete circle or ellipse. In this embodiment, the arcuate guide member 202 defines a semi-circular path, but in other embodiments may define a path which is less than a semi-circle or greater than a semi-circle, but less than a complete circle. By reducing the guide member 202 to a path less than a full circle, the length of material required to manufacture the guide member is reduced without reducing the functionality of the training device 200. This is because not all of the complete circular path of the first embodiment may be needed in order to perform the training exercise. A path which is less than a complete circular may provide a more suitable path for some sports, such as racquet sports of example, where the movement of the racquet may be less than a golf club.

The training device 200 comprises a support structure 210 arranged to support the arcuate guide member 202 securely in a position suitable for use. Similarly to the first embodiment, the support structure 210 comprises a guide member support 212. The guide member support 212 is generally semi-circular in shape in this embodiment and is arranged to support the arcuate guide member 202 by connection via guide members 208a, 208b, 208c.

As in the first embodiment, the support structure 210 further comprises a pair of first support legs 214a, 214b. In other embodiments, only a single first support leg may be provided. The first support legs 214a, 214b are connected to the arcuate guide member 202 via the guide member support 212 and the guide members 208a, 208b, 208c. In other embodiments, the first support legs 214a, 214b are connected directly to the arcuate guide member 202. In some embodiments the first support legs 214a, 214b are extendible such that they may be altered in length to determine the vertical position of the arcuate guide member 202. This allows the height of the arcuate guide member 202 to be adjusted according to the height of the user.

The support structure 210 further comprises a second support member. In this embodiment, the second support member comprises a flexible tether 222. In some embodiments the second support member may comprise at least one second support leg similar to the second support legs 116a, 116b of the first embodiment. For example, two second support legs may be coupled to the guide member support 212 or the arcuate guide member 202. The tether 222 is arranged to secure the training device 200 in position during use. The tether 222 comprises a flexible rope or cord fixed at one end to the guide member support 212. The free end of the tether 222 is attached to a fixed point to secure the training device 200 in place and prevent it from falling over during use. The tether 222 may be of a variable length (or attached to a fixed point at different points along its length) to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member 202 relative to the vertical. As with the first embodiment, this allows the angle of the path defined by the arcuate guide member 202 to be adjusted to accommodate different swing movements, in particular movements associated with different sports. The tether 222 is advantageous over the second support legs 116a, 116b because it results in the training device 200 having a smaller physical size and is easier to flat pack for storage when not in use.

The support structure 210 further comprises a first and second projection 224a, 224b. The first and second projections are arranged to extend outwards from the arcuate guide support 212 in a generally horizontal directions so that they can brace the training device 200 against a vertical surface such as a wall. In other embodiments, the projections 224a, 224b may extend from any other point on the support structure 210. During use, the training device 200 is braced against a wall by one of the first and second projections 224a, 224b to improve its stability. The projections 224a, 224b brace the support structure 210 against movement in a lateral direction that may result from the action of tension in the resisting member 204. In other embodiments, one of the projections 224a, 224b may be connected to a wall in order to further improve the stability of the training device 200. The projection may be disconnected from the wall when the training device 200 is to be flat-packed for storage. The projections 224a, 224b may also be provided on the training device 100 of the first embodiment to further improve its stability. In yet other embodiments, only one of the first and second projections may be provided. In yet other embodiments, the first support legs 114a, 114b may be connected via the projections 224a, 224b. In such an embodiment, the projections may each form an axle about which the second support legs 116a, 116b may pivot.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the first end 206a of the resisting member 204 is attached to one of the guide members 208, in particular that labelled 208a. In other embodiments, the resisting member 204 may be attached to any of the other guide members 208. Alternatively, the resisting member may be attached to one of the first support legs 214a, 214b as in the first embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 10, the resisting member 204 comprises a flexible connection member of fixed length (such as a cord or string, for example), wherein a first end 206b is free to be gripped by the user and a second end 206a is attached to a weight 220. The cord comprises an unguided portion 206c, a guided portion guided by the guide members 208 and a hanging portion from which the weight 220 is suspended.

The cord passes through or over a pulley mechanism 230 which guides the cord and separates the guided and hanging portions of the cord. The weight 220 is lifted upwards as the user pulls the connection member along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 202. In other embodiments, the resisting member 204 may pass through a second pulley attached to the weight 220, with the second end 206a of the resisting member 204 being connected to a point on the support structure 210 (e.g. to one of the projections 224a, 224b). The flexible connection member of fixed length shown in Figure 10 may also be used with any of the other embodiments described.

In some embodiments, the pulley mechanism 230 may comprise one or more pulleys connected to the arcuate guide member 202, the guide member support 212 or both (or any other part of the support structure 210). In one embodiment, the pulley mechanism 230 may comprise a pulley arranged to rotate about an axle connecting the arcuate guide member 202 and the guide member support 212. The pulley may be connected at or near either end of the arcuate guide member 202, so that the resisting member 204 can be guided along its length. This may also allow the weight to be suspended to the side of the training aid so that its movement is not inhibited by the support structure 210 or other component parts.

Another embodiment of a training device 300 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 11. Any of the features, alternatives or modifications mentioned above in relation to other embodiments may be equally applicable to this third embodiment. Furthermore, any of the features of the third embodiment may be combined with those of any of the other embodiments described herein.

The training device 300 similarly comprises a support structure arranged to support an arcuate guide member (not visible in Figure 11). As with the previously described embodiments, the support structure comprises a guide member support 312 to support the arcuate guide member. The support structure also comprises a pair of support legs 314a, 314b coupled to the guide member support and provided to support and position the arcuate guide member as previously described. The support structure may take any other suitable form as described in relation to any other embodiment described herein. For example, other support legs or tethers may be provided as required to support the arcuate guide member.

The training device 300 differs from that of the previously described embodiments in that a pair of resisting members 304a, 304b are provided. Each of the pair of resisting members 304a, 304b has a respective free end which may be gripped by the user or to which a handle may be coupled. Each of the pair of resisting members 304a, 304b may be connected separately at (or near) to each opposite end of the arcuate guide member or the guide member support (or both). The pair of resisting members may be attached by a respective pair of pulley mechanisms 330a, 330b as shown in the Figures. In other embodiments, the pair of resisting members may be connected at any other suitable point along the arcuate guide member or the guide member support 312. Each of the pulley mechanisms 330a, 330b may be similar to those described above in connection with the embodiment shown in Figure 10. A weight 320a, 320b is connected to a respective second end of each of the resisting members 204a, 204b to provide resistance to the movement of the user along the arcuate guide member. Each of the weights 320a, 302b may be the same or a different mass to vary the force applied in each direction. In other embodiments, a pair of elastic resisting members may be provided as described above, or the pair of resisting members 304a, 304b may be of different types to each other. By providing two resisting members 304a, 304b, extending from each end of the arcuate guide member, resistance may be provided against movement along the arcuate guide member in either direction along its length, depending on which of the pair of resisting members is gripped by the user. This may improve the flexibility of the training device by applying forces in both directions to provide training for a wider range of motions.

Another embodiment of a training device 400 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 12. Any of the features, alternatives or modifications mentioned above in relation to other embodiments may be equally applicable to this fourth embodiment. Furthermore, any of the features of the fourth embodiment may be combined with the features of any of the other embodiments described herein.

The training device 400 shown in Figure 12 similarly comprises a support structure arranged to support an arcuate guide member (not visible in Figure 12). As with the previously described embodiments, the support structure comprises a guide member support 412 to support the arcuate guide member. The support structure also comprises a pair of support legs 414a, 414b coupled to the guide member support 412 and provided to support and position the arcuate guide member as previously described. The support structure may take any other suitable form as described in relation to any other embodiment described herein. For example, other support legs or tethers may be provided as required to support the arcuate guide member.

Similarly to the embodiment shown in Figure 11, the training device 400 comprises a pair of resisting members 404a, 404b, each of which pass through a respective one of a pair of pulley mechanisms 430a, 430b. The pulley mechanisms are attached to an upper part of each side of the training device 400 (e.g. at or near each distal end of the acrucate guide member or guide member support 412). This may provide more cord length forming the resisting members 404a, 404b to be available for the user to extend around the arcuate guide member during use. As can be seen in Figure 12, each of the resisting members 404a, 404b may extend around a pulley of each pulley mechanism 430a, 430b, before being guided by the resisting member guide (not shown in Figure 12) as described above. In other embodiments, each of the pulley mechanisms 430a, 430b may comprise one or more additional pulleys to direct each of the resisting members 404a, 404b towards the resisting member guide.

After passing through each of the pulley mechanisms 430a, 430b each of the resisting members 404a, 404b may be coupled to a respective weight 420a, 420b. In this embodiment, the resisting members 404a, 404b may be coupled to their respective weight 420a, 420b via a second pulley 431a, 431b. Each of the second pulleys 431a, 431b may be releasably attached to the respective one of the weights 420a, 420b to allow the weights 420a, 420b to be varied (e.g. interchanged with other weights of differing mass) in order to provide a different level of force to be applied during use of the training device 400. In other embodiments, each of the resisting members 404a, 404b may be releasbly coupled directly to each of the respective weights 420a, 420b.

Once each of the resisting members 404a, 404b has passed through the respective one of the second pulleys 431a, 431b, they may extend upwards and are then anchored to an upper part of the support structure of the training device 400. In the described embodiment, each of the resisting members 404a, 404b may be anchored to a respective one of a pair of protrusions 424a, 424b extending from the guide member support 412. Each of the protrusions 424a, 424b may extend from at or near the distal ends of the guide member support 412 as shown in Figure 12. This arrangement may provide a greater length of cord forming each of the resisting members 404a, 404b. In other embodiments, the protrusions 424a, 424b may be coupled to the arcuate guide member, or to any other part of the support structure. The protrusions 424a, 424b may further be coupled to one or more support legs forming the support structure as described previously.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a kit of parts arranged to be assembled into the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 of any of the previously described embodiments. This allows the training device to be flatted packed so it is more easily transported or stored when not in use.

In some embodiments, the kit of parts may comprise a first arcuate guide member 102, 202 having a first radius of curvature, and a second arcuate guide member 102, 202 having a second radius of curvature different to that of the first. In other embodiments there may be three, four, or any other suitable number of arcuate guide members 102, 202. By providing the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 with a range of differently sized arcuate guide members 102, 202, the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 may be more suitable for use by users of different height, or for training for sports where the radius of curvature of the swing is different.

In some embodiments, the kit of parts comprises a first resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b having a first elasticity and a second resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b possibly having a second elasticity different to the first. In other embodiments there may be three or four or any other suitable number of resisting members 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b each having a different elasticity. This provides a variety of different resisting members 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b each with a different elasticity in order to give a variety of resisting forces and therefore alter the difficulty of the training exercise. This allows the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 to be used by users of different strength and ability. In some embodiments, the resisting members 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b may be used in combination to further increase the variety of resisting force produced. Of course, more than one resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b of the same elasticity could be provided. Different users could then use one or more resisting members 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b of the same elasticity to vary the resistive force experienced.

In some other embodiments, the kit of parts may comprise a resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b having a fixed length (such as a cord or string) and one or more weights 220, 320a, 320b, 420a, 420b to be attached to the end of the cord. A plurality of weights may be provided having different masses to provide a variety of forces to resist the swinging motion of the user. In some embodiments, the kit of parts may comprise one or more handles with sizes similar in dimensions to a golf club handle or a baseball bat handle or a cricket bat handle. In some embodiments, a plurality of differently sized or shaped handles may be provided to allow different sports to be practiced.

In use, the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 of any of the previously described embodiments provides a method of training comprising: moving a user’s hands along a path defined by an arcuate guide member 102, 202 by brushing their hands along the arcuate guide member 102, 202 or moving their hands along at a constant or variable separation from the arcuate guide member 102, 202; and gripping a free end 106b, 206b of a resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b (or one or both of the pair of resisting members 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b) whilst performing the movement such that movement along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102, 202 is resisted. In order to use the training device 100, 200, 300, 400 the user stands close to the arcuate guide member 102, 202 such that they can brush their hands along the path it defines in order to simulate a swinging motion. Alternatively, because the second end 106b of the resisting member 104 (gripped by the user) is generally free and the unguided portion 106c, 206c extends away from the resisting member guide 108 the user’s hands may move at a constant or variable separation from the arcuate guide member 102, 202. The path of the user’s hands therefore is not forced to rigidly follow a fixed path but is afforded a degree of freedom of movement towards and away from arcuate guide member 102 during the exercise. This gives a user the flexibility to roll the hands or to cock/uncock the wrists during the exercise while still experiencing a resistive force opposing the movement of the user’s hands.

The user may adopt a stance according to the sport for which they are training. For example, if the user were training for golf, they would adopt a stance as if they had a golf club in their hands and were about to swing the club in order to strike a golf ball. The height and slope of the arcuate guide member 102, 202 may be adjusted to accommodate the particular user’s height and stance. The support structure 110, 210 is arranged such that it does not block access to the arcuate guide member 102, 104.

Whilst the user has their hands positioned close to, or brushing the arcuate guide member 102, 202, they are able to grip the free end 106b, 206b of the resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b. In the embodiments where the resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b is an elongate elastic tube, the user may wrap the free end 106b, 206b resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b around their hands in order to provide a tight grip. In this position the user is still able to maintain their hands in the same position as if they were gripping a piece of sports equipment such as a golf club or tennis racquet. In other embodiments the user grips a handle provided at the free end 106b, 206b of the resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b.

Whilst gripping the resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b the user then moves their hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102, 202. They may do this by brushing their hands along the arcuate guide member or moving their hands close to the arcuate guide member 102, 202 at a constant or variable separation.

As the user moves, the resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b is arranged to resist their movement. This engages the core muscles of the user and by repetition of the movement allows the core muscles to the developed. The resisting member 104, 204, 304a, 304b, 404a, 404b provides a force in a direction that is tangential (or generally tangential) to the path defined by the arcuate guide member 102, 202 and perpendicular (or generally perpendicular) to the radius of curvature to that point and opposite to the direction of movement along the path. This allows the force experienced when swinging a piece of sports equipment such as a golf club to be experienced.

Claims

1. A training device suitable for core muscle or core stability training, comprising: an arcuate guide member defining a substantially curved path to guide movement of the user in a swinging motion; and at least one flexible elongate resisting member comprising a guided portion guided by a resisting member guide attached to the arcuate guide member and arranged to guide the resisting member in proximity to the path defined by the arcuate guide member, the resisting member further comprising an unguided portion having a free end adapted to be gripped by at least one of the user’s hands to resist movement of the at least one of the user’s hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the resisting member is arranged to exert a force tangential (or generally tangential) to the path defined by the arcuate guide member and opposite (or generally opposite) to the direction of movement along the path.

3. A training device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the free end of the at least one resisting member is movable towards or away from the arcuate guide member during the movement of the user’s hands along the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

4. The training device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one resisting member comprises a handle connected to the free end of the at least one resisting member, the handle adapted to be gripped by the user during the movement of the user in a swinging motion.

5. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the arcuate guide member comprises a tube, rod, plate or other smooth elongate member having an outer surface along which the user may move their hands, or a handle attached to the resisting member, at close proximity to, or at a constant or varied separation from, in order to follow the path defined by the arcuate guide member.

6. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the arcuate guide member defines one of a circular path, an elliptical path or a complex curved path.

7. The training device of any of any preceding claim, wherein the arcuate guide member defines a path which is less than a complete circle or ellipse.

8. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the resisting member comprises one or more of: an elastic member, a spring member, or a weight suspended on flexible connection member of fixed length.

9. The training device of claim 8, further comprising a pulley to guide the flexible connection member to form a hanging portion of the flexible connection member from which the weight is suspended.

10. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the force applied by the resisting member is in a range between 0.1 N and 300 N.

11. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the force applied by the resisting member is, or is of the order of, 0.1 N, 0.5 N, 1 N, 5 N, 10 N, 20 N, 40 N, 60 N, 80 N, 100 N, 120 N, 150 N, 160 N, 180 N, 200 N, 220 N, 240 N, 260 N, 280 N, 300 N or greater than 300 N.

12. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the training device further comprises a support structure that supports the arcuate guide member, wherein the support structure comprises a guide member support arranged to support the arcuate guide member by connection to the resisting member guide

13. The training device of claim 12, wherein the support structure is collapsible by movement between an extended position and a stowed position.

14. The training device of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the resisting member guide comprises at least one guide member providing a rigid connection between the arcuate guide member and the guide member support.

15. The training device of claim 14, wherein the at least one guide member comprises an axle rigidly connecting the arcuate guide member to the guide member support, and wherein the guide member further comprises a rotating member arranged to rotate about the axle.

16. The training device of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the at least one guide member comprises an indentation arranged to receive the resisting member and define a position in which the resisting member is retained.

17. The training device of any of claims 12 to claim 16, wherein the support structure comprises at least one first support leg, wherein the at least one first support leg is preferably extendible such that it is arranged to determine the vertical position of the arcuate guide member.

18. The training device of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the support structure comprises a second support member arranged to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member relative to the vertical.

19. The training device of claim 18, wherein the second support member comprises at least one second support leg, wherein the second support leg is preferably extendible such that it is arranged to determine the angle of the arcuate guide member relative to the vertical.

20. The training device of any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the at least one first support leg is pivotally attached to the at least one second support leg such that the support member may collapse into the stowed configuration.

21. The training device of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the support structure further comprises a strut member linking the at least one first support leg and the at least one second support leg, wherein the strut member is preferably extendible such that it is arranged to set the angle between the support legs.

22. The training device of claim 18, wherein the second support member comprises a flexible tether.

23. The training device of any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein the support structure comprises at least one projection arranged to brace the training device against the action of tension in the resisting member.

24. The training device of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flexible elongate resisting member comprises a pair of elongate resisting members, each connected at or near to a respective end of the arcuate guide member.

25. A training device substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

26. A kit of parts arranged to be assembled into the training device of any one or more of claim 1 to 24.

27. The kit of parts according to claim 26, comprising a first arcuate guide member having a first radius of curvature, and a second arcuate guide member having a second radius of curvature different to the first.

28. The kit of parts according to claim 26 or claim 27, comprising a first resisting member having a first elasticity and a second resisting member having a second elasticity different to the first.

29. The kit of parts according to any of claims 26 to 28, comprising a plurality of handles with differing sizes and shapes.

30. A method of training suitable for developing core muscles or core stability, the method comprising: moving at least one of a user’s hands along a path defined by an arcuate guide member by brushing at least one of their hands along the arcuate guide member or moving at least one of their hands along a path at a constant or varied separation from the arcuate guide member; and gripping a free end of the at least one resisting member with at least one of the user’s hands whilst performing the movement such that movement along the path defined by the arcuate guide member is resisted.

31. A method of training according to claim 30, wherein the free end of the resisting member is movable towards or away from the arcuate guide member during the movement.

32. A method of training according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the user grips a handle connected to the free end of the at least one resisting member with at least one of the user’s hands while performing the movement.

33. A method of training substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.