Zen and the Art of Hammer Throwing
Koji Murofushi Throws Conference Loughborough University Dec 15th -16th , 2007 Personal Info
Koji Murofushi Personal Bests Hammer: 84.86m 8 October 1974 in Numazu-city Japan Power Clean: 195kg Snatch (narrow): 132.5kg Snatch (together): 120kg 1.87m (6’2”) Bench Press: 170kg 100kg (221 lbs) Full Squat: 240kg 83.33m @ 94kg (Doha) SLJ 3.60m 84.86m @ 97kg 5 Bounds 19.30m (Prague) 5 Steps 18.20m 60m 6.43s Baseball: 82mph/131kmh History
Hammer 1994 69.54 1 Sapporo 27-Aug 1995 72.32 1 Fukushima 19-Oct 1996 73.82 1 Kyoto 06-Oct 1997 75.72 1 NGPF Marugame 19-Oct 1998 78.57 1 AsianG Bangkok 13-Dec 1999 79.17 1 Kokutai Kumamoto 24-Oct 2000 81.08 1 Super Yokohama 09-Sep 2001 83.47 1 Toyota 14-Jul 2002 83.33 1 GP Doha 15-May 2003 84.86 AR 1 Odložila Praha 29-Jun 2004 83.15 1 Seiko Yokohama 23-Sep 2005 76.47 1 NC Tokyo 04-Jun 2006 82.01 1 WCp Athína 16-Sep 2007 82.62 1 Rieti 9-Sep My Family
Father: Shigenobu: 75.96m Sister: Yuka: 67.77m The Importance of Rivals
You need challenges! My first Rivalry Adam Connolly
1984: Los Angeles Koji: 10 years old Adam: 9 years old All Challenge is good!
Barrel Toss! Current Rivals There are no Borders!
Hammer Throw is International…
Many Friends around the World…
It is not about how many metres? My Ultimate Goal
Discobolos Total Relaxation Japanese Culture
Small Movements Greater Control of Body Flow through Movement
Lots of this training when young Dr Hammer!
2007: Focus on PhD Studies Biomechanics of Hammer Throw Less focus on Training 2008: Now Free to Train fully Biomechanics
What do we know?
How can we apply this? Research Project Research Project Research Project Tension on Wire: Azimuth angle
Wire Tension
More tension=more distance Vertical Displacement
What is the relation between the vertical displacement of the hammer head and the thrower’s centre of gravity ? Center of Mass of Thrower against High and Low point of Hammer Vertical Displacement: 80m
Hammer Trajectory
Cg of Thrower Right foot touch down: 80m Vertical Displacement: 60m
Hammer Trajectory
Cg of Thrower Right foot touch down: 60m Vertical Displacement: 50m
Hammer Trajectory
Cg of Thrower Right foot touch down: 50m What does this mean?
Good Throwers move against the Hammer Drop c.o.g at High Point Maintain c.o.g at Low Point Footwork is important Not by too much bending of knee Poor throwers move with the hammer (c.o.g high at High Point) Asynchrony
The vertical asynchrony patterns between the thrower’s centre of gravity and the hammer head are resulting from lowering body during single support Also from consciously keeping his/her body at a certain height during double support phases. Centre of Gravity
How was the relation between the vertical displacement of the hammer head and the thrower’s centre of gravity again ?
Trajectory of the thrower’s centre of gravity. Centre of Gravity
Do not lose against gravity! Winding and Unwinding
We know that dragging is not good!
How to unwind (untie) from wind @ entry?
How to accelerate the hammer from wound up position? Translational movement
Translational movement is the key!!
You are already moving across the circle, with just using the heel and toe movement. But there is no active movement for center of rotation. Speed is important Radial Velocity
High Point
A B C
Low Point Radius
Is the main factor of an 80m thrower to lengthen the radius ?
Hammer rotational acceleration is derived from the translational movement of the centre of rotation. Radius of Curvature Radius is constantly changing
Centre of Rotation
60cm 120cm
180cm
r = 180 r >180 r < 180 Radius is constantly changing
Centre of Rotation
60cm 120cm
180cm
eg 150cm
r = 180 r >180 r < 180 Change of Radius of System
60cm 120cm
180cm
Trajectory of hammer
Time of throw
r >180 r < 180 What does this mean?
The Radius is not fixed Constantly moving Not always trying to lengthen radius Understand the patterns Individual Timing Must have Image/Understanding What type of speed
It is not only about rotational speed BUT Speed towards Centre of Rotation Speed TOWARD hammer head Maintain Tension on Wire Balance between Hammer and Body Hammer and Body = System Wire is KEY for system Philosophy of Training
There is no Manual!
Find concept for the future. 90m?
Is it possible? How to get there? New training methods What was good from past training Learn from past…create future! Challenge should be Fun! Don’t feel forced to do it. Always enjoy your training! Past: Continuous Training
Stress on Body Body Changes due to aging Stopped competing in 2005 Same Routine Year on Year Increase in Load Same Movement Patterns Repetition of Same exercise / movement Becomes Routine Lack of Training Effect! Need for New Concept
Always feel fresh Physically and Mentally Excited about Training New challenges No Repetition No “Getting used to it!” Feeling is Key! Improvise wherever possible Future Technique?
We are missing something…
We can learn from the past… We can learn from Science…
Perhaps “Feeling” is missing…
how to develop this? New methods of Training
Hammerobics Free-moving weights Air Training Lighter = stronger Splitting Spreading forces
Training without routine! Newspaper training! Inspiration for the future.
Appreciation for British throwers Togher, Weir, Pickering Competitors of my Father: Chris Black, Paul Dickenson, Hoping London 2012 will be success! Swansong for Koji? Want to encourage British success Understand your role as Athlete… Be Inspirational for Future. Thank You