A portable, stable rope-pulling exercise machine. The machine has a stable
support frame, a number of rope pulleys and rope guides mounted on the
frame, an endless rope extending around the pulleys and guides to form a
path which includes a horizontally extending rope pulling portion, and
hydraulic braking assembly coupled to the pulley system for controlling
the rate of movement of the rope based upon the strength of the user when
said user is pulling the rope. The machine allows a user to pull a rope
continuously as in a simulated tug-of-war. The short frame allows the
device to be installed anywhere. A seat with a footrest allows a user to
gain leverage when exercising with the rope.