Bullworker X5
Bullworker X5 -
the Bullworker X5 was the last model to be designed by the original Bullworker
designer Gert F Kölbel (sometimes written as GERT F KOELBEL) . In many respects it was the best of
Kölbel's designs as
its twin cable design gave a far greater range of motion of exercises than was
ever previously available. With this model the training protocol was advanced to
include the concept of repetitions but still with the classic isometric hold
phase on the final rep. This model was marketed heavily in newspaper adverts as
well as being sold through many mail order
 catalogues
such as Argos in the UK. Gert F. Kölbel studied the workings of the human body
for over ten years. He then produced a prototype machine the Tensolator from
which the Bullworker was developed. Most of the exercises that come with the
original Bullworker and Bullworker 2 were developed personally by Herr Kölbel (KOELBEL),
based on the principle of Isometrics or Isometric Contraction. The Bullworker
has been ordered by European Government bodies and Hospitals. The German Olympic
Team have trained with it, it was hugely popular in France and the instruction
manual was also in French (check out French
Bullworker X5 training manual) and it became very popular with Boxers including
Mohammed Ali and Barry McGuigan who even produced his own training guide for the
product.
The X5 was the first to be designed as a three tube system where each side could
move independent of the middle bar The theory behind this was that you could
have a better workout due to the fact that each side of the body could be
exercised independently. It also allows each side of the body to pull its own
weight emulating the effects of say a set of dumbbells. The X5 also introduced
straps instead of cables and had plastic bar handles (not liked by hardcore
Bullworker enthusiasts who wanted to PUSH STEEL not PLASTIC) to perform
additional exercises.
The Bullworker X5 devices came with a wall chart that showed the various
exercises and how to
perform them. The X5 was hailed as a whole body home gym with the standard
protocol being different to previous incarnations in that you did 7 repetitions
then held the exercise at a point of 70% tension for a full ten second count
.Some of the best exercises where for working your upper body. Also in
contradiction to previous Bullworkers, mainly to appease the demand for greater
physique development it was also recommended that you perform a number of sets
of each exercise.
The basic principal behind
the original bullworker was that of isometric muscle contraction. Isometric contraction, is one
in which the muscle is activated, but instead of being allowed to lengthen or
shorten, it is held at a constant length. This isometrics muscle contraction is
not done through a range of movements but in a static position. Isometrics is
based on the principles of creating
muscular tension while opposing the force of
an immovable object or gravity. Isometrics are done with high levels of
intensity (70-100%) rather than repetitious movements typically for a period of
7-12 seconds. Once the muscle is relaxed after the contraction increases blood
flow to the muscles occurs which equals more nutrition and energy uptake which
in turn increases the muscle mass (size). Later on, with the launch of the X5, the principals behind the bullworker were enhanced so as to make it more of a muscle building, as opposed
to just pure strength building piece of home gym apparatus with the introduction
of repetitions. This involved several repetitions pushing or pulling and
releasing throughout the full range of the movement (or as far as your strength
would allow you) and on the final repetition then doing the traditional
bullworker hold phase or isometric contraction.
BULLWORKER X5
exercises
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