As well as this logical reason to train the lower body (because it plays a large role in the paddle stroke) there are also a number of other reasons you will find exercises like front squats, single leg squats and dead lifts in the Paddle Stronger training plans.

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Doing them actually makes your upper body and core stronger!

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How? Keep reading.

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Muscle recruitment

On the surface a squat, even a front squat (which involves more upper body activity), looks like a 'lower body' exercise or an exercise for the 'quads' especially to a person who has not done one before.

 

However, if you load the bar up and perform a few sets yourself you soon realise that your legs are the least of your worries. You see the front squat requires a huge amount of stabilisation through the core/trunk and upper back to keep you from collapsing in half as you squat down. 

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The same goes for the deadlift. To the untrained eye it looks very much like a 'lower body' exercise, that is again until you actually perform a few sets. Lifting a loaded bar off the ground using a deadlift you have to contract your whole body (not just your legs) as hard as you can.

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Anabolic hormones

There is a large body of evidence that shows heavy squats and deadlifts stimulates a large response in human growth hormone and testosterone. These just happen to be the two key anabolic hormones the body requires to increase the strength capability of muscles.

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These hormones are then circulated around the WHOLE body in the blood. This is another reason that you can increase your upper body strength with 'lower' body training.

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So there you have it.

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If you are a paddler and are not doing at least some form of squatting or dead lifting then please start.

 

Train hard, but remember to train smart.

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Paddle Stronger

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Matty G