Turkish and regular get-ups

[karky]

Simple question:
Should I alternate which hand I hold the DB in on the turkish and alternate what leg I lunge up with (like, alternate which "way" I do the getup) on both of them?

Also, what have you found works best. Treat one get-up as one set and go heavy. Or treat one get up as one rep and do sevral reps?
Different approaches for different results I guess. Share some experiences/thoughts?

[John Izzo]

There are so many schemes you can use with the TGU because it is a fun, challenging exercise. When I first discovered the exercise, I used to have my clients use it as a warm-up. The problem that people have with the TGU is the with non-dominate side. I literally have clients "freeze" because they cannot move a limb because their CNS are wired a specific way and holding the DB overhead confuses the f*ck out of the them. They are afraid of dropping the dumbbell; bending the elbow; losing their footing; or using there free hand.

So you can use different rep schemes:
Alternate sides with 5 reps left; 5 reps right side (I usually start with non-dominate side) or, 10 reps one side and then the other.
Speed: slow pace vs. fast pace
Heavy/Light
Start to finish: you can determine where you want to start (from the floor supine) or from the knees, and you can determine by the weight you use.

[karky]

Would you recommend using it as more of a warm up then? I was thinking of putting it at the end of my workout, sort of as a finisher of some kind.

[John Izzo]

I still like it as a warm up because it really lights up your CNS and get your muscles ready for heavier loads. Depending on your workout, putting it at the end may impede its benefits if your taxed out, no?

Its also a good auxiliary exercise when you can't find anything else to do. The point I'm trying to make is there really is no specific best time to do them.

[karky]

Thanks a lot! I'm probably gonna try them at the gym tomorrow.