A cord-winding exercise apparatus for exercising wrists and forearms configured for mounting in a doorway, and for supporting at least one weight member to provide gravitationally influenced resistance, including a winding bar; at least one cord attached to the winding bar; an arrangement attached to the at least one cord for supporting the at least one weight member; and at least two brackets for mounting to a door frame, each bracket being formed with a winding bar receiving area for receiving and releasably supporting the winding bar in a rotatable, cord winding position wherein the door frame restricts lateral movement of the winding bar while the winding bar is disposed within the brackets.