What Is a TRX Training Suspension System and Why Was It Invented?

TRX training improves body strength and cardiovascular health without any traditional weigh-lifting.

It was invented by a former Navy SEAL and the system became incredibly popular all over the world, with every branch of the military and professional athletes using it for training.

Let’s take a look at the history of the TRX training suspension system and how it works.

Who Invented the TRX Training Suspension System?

Weight training with ropes goes back to ancient times, with the Romans and Chinese using it in gymnastics.

In the 19^th century, rock climbers and military units developed various types of exercises with ropes to prepare for difficult expeditions and fight.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that the TRX training suspension system was invented.

Its inventor was Randy Hetrick, a history graduate from the University of Southern California and a former Navy SEAL.

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Why Was the TRX Training Suspension System Invented?

In 1997, Hetrick was a Navy SEAL Squadron Commander and was looking for a method to help him and his colleagues maintain a great physical condition during demanding missions.

He created the first version of a suspension system using just parachute webbing and a jiu jitsu belt.

In 2001, Hetrick earned an MBA from Stanford University and developed the first version of the TRX Suspension Trainer, called the Travel X, which he initially sold out of the trunk of his car in San Francisco.

In 2006, TRX entered the international market, and in 2007, it was incorporated as a training program by the US Marine Corps.

By 2009, the system had more than one million users in over 60 countries, and in 2013, TRX introduced an online Suspension Training course.

How Does TRX Work?

Suspension exercise with the TRX incorporate seven basic movements: pull, push, plank, rotate, hinge, squat, and lunge.

This type of training uses body weight and movement to make the body work hard while integrating strength, balance, and mobility in one movement.

You can train multiple muscle groups during each movement when exercising with a TRX.

Because your centre of gravity is out of balance at all times, you’ll have no choice than engage your core, shoulders, back and hips to make the movement steady.

Unlike in the case of regular exercises such as planks, squats, and push-ups, TRX training is more efficient because it engages other muscle groups to support your main move.

How is the TRX Training Suspension System used today?

The TRX system has made its way into the training gyms of professional sports, including the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and National Football League.

It also became an essential exercise component for professional sportspeople in football, basketball, skiing, tennis, swimming, triathlon, and basically any other sport that you can think of.

Moreover, suspension exercise was introduced in dozens of athletic programs and schools in the US and around the world. Today, TRX is the basis for regular fitness exercise in gyms worldwide, too.