Arms lagging behind on Rippetoe's

[Flabbergasped?]

Yes, I practice with them 3-4 times a week (I cut back from 5-6 so I could lift, ironically). Most of our best dancers are pretty jacked (not huge, but good upperbody musculature). I never asked them how they got to it.

Before lifting, all my strength gains (especially in the arms) came from practice. For example, the more handstands you do (and I did a lot last year), the bigger your shoulders and stuff get. It's painstakingly slow though, it took me like 6 months to go from my strength last year (I benched like 115) to when I started lifting 3 months ago (benching 135), whereas through lifting I PR'd at 175.

In that aspect, Throttle, I don't think breakdancing is taxing enough in a strength sense. It requires killer flexibility and balance, but you can't get strong that fast by just dancing.

For example, people do planches to build upper body strength. I can hold a planche for maybe a split second. I would need to build that up to like 5 seconds in extremely tiny increments, it would take about a year.

That's a little more background to explain my position and goals.

Throttle, is there a lifting program you recommend that targets those three areas?

 

[Throttle]

Yes, I practice with them 3-4 times a week (I cut back from 5-6 so I could lift, ironically). Most of our best dancers are pretty jacked (not huge, but good upperbody musculature). I never asked them how they got to it.

then ask them. they know better than any of us here.

Throttle, is there a lifting program you recommend that targets those three areas?

i think option B on the Where to Start thread is probably more appropriate for you than Rippetoe:

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=125444

which will have you squat once a week rather than thrice. also, this goes for everyone, but esp. when you're looking to gain strength rather than size, make sure you warm up properly: http://www.ironaddicts.com/Warm-ups.html

 

[kickureface]

dumb misread

 

[Quagmire911]

are you saying warmups are not necessary when sizing up?

No.

 

[Flabbergasped?]

I asked my breaker friends how they got their buffness, and all of them said they just danced regularly. Each of them, however, has been dancing for five years or over. I'm only 18 months in.

Our most senior crew member, who's 7 years into it, said the most important muscles are abs, back, and shoulders (good call, Throttle). I think any program that focuses on those would be good.

I've decided I'll switch to program B on the Where to Start page. It seems to involve a more complete upperbody workout.

Where it is labelled "tricep exercise" and "forearm exercise", are there any particular exercises you would recommend?

 

[Throttle]

i'd recommend skullcrushers (http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Triceps/BBLyingTriExtSC.html)
for triceps & wrist rollers (http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/WristFlexors/CBRollerWristFlexion.html) for your forearms. others may have other suggestions.