Technical Field

[0001 ] The present invention relates to a training device. Embodiments of the invention find particular, but not exclusive, use in as a training device, in sports such as martial arts and wrestling.

Backgrou nd of the Invention

[0002] In Martial Arts training, it is important for a student or practitioner to practice individual movements so as to perfect the manner in which they interact with their opponent. One manner in which martial artists and their students practice individual moves is to practice on each other, but of course, it is not always possible to have a sparring or training partner as many artists and students prefer to train at their own pace or by themselves.

[0003] Practitioners also use dummies which model the limbs and body shape of a human opponent. A known device is the grappling dummy which is usually made of a thick fabric in the form of a human stuffed with fabric fillings or sand.

[0004] These grappling dummies allow a user to practice their individual grappling moves by being able to provide a human like platform for them to practice their moves. These moves may include locks, twists, grabs, throws or wrestles where the artist is attempting to overpower the dummy. However, as the dummy is usually in a stable state, that is, as a lifeless object, it does not in any way offer any resistance against the user who is practicing their grappling moves on the dummy, and thus, reducing the effectiveness of the training as a real life opponent is likely to resist against the martial artist.

[0005] The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the filing date of the application. Sum mary of the Invention

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a training device comprising: a body having at least one limb extending outwardly from the body;

wherein the body is defined by a resilient chamber arranged to resiliently return pressure exerted by the user against the body during an interaction between the device and the user.

[0007] In one embodiment, the spherical body has five limbs. The spherical body and the limbs may be arranged to a form a near human like shape.

[0008] The plurality of limbs may be integrally formed with the spherical body and at least one of the body and the at least one limb may be inflatable.

[0009] In one embodiment, the body includes a re-sealable opening arranged to receive or release an inflating medium and the re-sealable opening may be arranged to control the volume of the inflating medium allowed to be released from the body.

[0010] A device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is shaped to assist the user in performing interactions including a grappling manoeuvre, a wrestling manoeuvre, a sparring manoeuvre, a throwing manoeuvre or any combination of one or more manoeuvres thereof.

[001 1 ] The limbs may include a resistive structure arranged to resist contact from the user, wherein the resistive structure may include a spike shaped structure.

[0012] In one embodiment, the device may be shaped to be unstable when interacting with the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating various isometric views of a sports training device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Description of Embodi ments

[0014] Reference numerals in the following description represent like (or equivalent) functional and/or structural components or features in the related Figures.

[0015] Broadly, the embodiment described herein is a device for interacting with a user comprising: a generally spherical body having a plurality of limbs extending outwardly from the body, wherein the body is defined by an inflatable chamber arranged to resiliently return pressure exerted by the user against the body during an interaction between the device and the user.

[001 6] In more detail, referring to Figures 1 through 3, the device 100 for interacting with a user includes a generally spherical and resilient body 102 having a plurality of limbs 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e, etc., extending outwardly from the body 102. Preferably, the device 100 is made from a plastic material and can be filled by air or a liquid so as to give the body a defined yet yielding and resilient shape.

[0017] Once inflated, the body 102 can be used by a user (not shown), such as a martial artist to practice their grappling moves. As the body 100 is inflatable and generally of a spherical or elliptical shape, the body is quite resilient when a user is grappling the device. In other words, the device generally resists pressure applied by the user and remains in an unstable configuration when a user is wrestling with the device. That is, the resilient body returns any force or pressure applied by a user on the body to the user. Moreover, the generally spherical structure of the body makes it very difficult if not practically impossible for a user to balance themselves on the device. In other words, when a user attempts to balance themselves on top of the device, the spherical nature of the device results in the user being rolled off the device and onto the ground (except in instance where a user has developed exceptional balance).

[0018] The device is preferably manufactured from a durable plastic polymer material. In some embodiments, the body has a valve (not shown) which can be used to inject or release air (or another fluid, whether liquid or gas) into the body so as to inflate or deflate the device. As different types of training require different levels of resilience, the valve, in one embodiment, is arranged to release air from within the body in a controlled manner so that the body will only be deflated after a predetermined number of interactions with a user. This is advantageous as a user can set the valve to control the duration of their training.

[0019] Once the device is inflated, it can be used by a user in the practice of grappling moves, including the practice of locks, grabs or twists on the limbs, as they represent the four limbs and head of a human, whilst also allowing the user to effectively wrestle and use their own body weight to force the device on the ground. This is similar to a wrestling move in which the user is attempting to overpower an opponent.

[0020] As the device is generally resilient and unstable, the device will tend to resist the user when the user applies a force on the device. This would result in the device escaping from the user's lock, twist or wrestle thus training the user to improve their technique. As an example, when the user is on top of the device, using their body weight to pin the device on the ground, as would be performed in a wrestling move, the device would resist the user's body weight due to the resilience of the body. As the body is also generally spherical, the device is likely to roll, thereby tending to move away from the user's body and therefore escape the user's lock or wrestle.

[0021 ] In addition to these advantages, as the device is preferably inflatable it is also easily transportable and stored, leaving valuable space for martial arts gyms to store other equipment.

[0022] In some embodiments, the limbs of the body may not be part of the inflatable body but could be formed from a more solid material such as rubber, metals or wood. The limbs may also be smooth so as to make it difficult for a user to grip or otherwise hold the limbs. In one embodiment (not shown in the figures), the device includes resistive devices such as sharp implements (e.g. thorns or spikes) which would make it more difficult for a user to grapple, thereby providing a tool that assists the user in improving their skill.

[0023] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. [0024] Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.