Squat for big arms

[spesmilitis]

bump

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

There's a million different concepts one could use to transfix this in your mind, as to what the "correct" path to lifting is. I personally can't see why you'd do "DEFINING" or "TOUCH UP" work, when your Michelangelo hasn't even BEGUN to be chiseled.

Like someone who creates sculptures, you do not work with the MINOR tools (ie. direct body work), BEFORE you do the major lifting and chiseling.

When building a house, the major trucks and contractors do the work, such as pouring the foundations, hoising the frames, and using fast-moving machines. Finesse work is left to the craftsmen, and to the very end.

A doctor doing operations will utilize cutting tools, like rotary saws and rib spreaders, before they get specific.

Vehicles are built by the FRAME and BODY first, before performance parts, radios, leather, heated seats, and all other luxuries are put in.

ANY person born, who has not eclipsed their genetic potential, doesn't need extravagant methods. This should LIBERATE you from the programs that are holding you back. Of course, if you're a beefy, 6'2" +, from a family of large oafs, then you'll build muscle quickly, just as you would fat. I know tons of guys like these, and although they can build it fast and recover fast and their base strength is far great than most (that should be obvious since they possess more muscle at birth and beyond), they can still make great progress, JUST doing core body work, that being deads, squats, rows, pullups, chinups, dips, benchpresses, and other powerlifting movements.

If you're, right now, 150, or whatever weight you are, with no experience, and can't say you've added even more than 10lbs, then what does it matter that you consume glutamine, creatine, or any other funky supplements? Gobs of protein, excess calories, and heavy, big lifts will MAKE YOU A BIG MAN. Think about it. It's VERY obvious.

It should be even more obvious, that the guys doing the ABUNDANCE of the supplementary work are THOSE WITH NO MUSCLE, or THOSE WITH TONS MUSCLE. Of course, guys who have no muscle assume that what they are DOING TODAY is what got them to where they are, but that's a false lie of the worst kind. No guy with a body worth respect, that is well-balanced, has only done bicep work and cheesy programs like Body For Life, etc. That might be ok plan for losing fat, and getting acclimated to lifting in general, but you'll find the likelihood of injury GREATER on those programs, than on POWERLIFTING.

Why?

Because most kids and newbies set out to get bigger in the more NOTICEABLE parts, i.e. those that are club-worthy, and end up lifting MORE than their muscle, tendons, ligaments, and joints can handle. A guy who ONLY progresses on bicep exercises through pullups, chinups, deads, and rows, won't hurt himself doing an isolation exercise. Yet a guy who tries to JUST work the smallest muscles on his body will not only set himself back, and waste valuable time, but he can injure himself since he's really putting the cart before the horse.

It's sad that MOST affordable gyms only focus on the stuff that DOES not work. It's most likely a case of profitability and liability, as most gyms wouldn't generate the kind of money to stay open if they had women squating, deadlifting, doing pullups, etc (the core group from now on), that they do with machines and massive rows of cardio equipment. I do see new "bootcamp" gyms opening up, which seeks to flavor up the workout as if you're a marine, but they still don't hit what truly works the body.

If we did not have machines and tools, the very exercises you do in the gym to grow, i.e the core group, would be what is needed to live and survive. Deads, pullups, bench presses, squats, are all exercises you'd do to build a house, or truck through forrests, or carry heavy things, or carry an injured person, etc. They're the closest thing to the ACTUAL movements, which is why also, many professional strong man focus on lifting boulders and stones, and move trucks.



A-Unit

 

[BluEyes]

Originally posted by A-Unit
It's sad that MOST affordable gyms only focus on the stuff that DOES not work. It's most likely a case of profitability and liability, as most gyms wouldn't generate the kind of money to stay open if they had women squating, deadlifting, doing pullups, etc (the core group from now on), that they do with machines and massive rows of cardio equipment.

Haha, I can attest to that. I walked in to the gym I used to go to awhile back today, with the intent of getting a new membership there sometime. I went to snoop around first to see if it has everything I'm looking for...To the point, I walk upstairs and I KID YOU NOT, there were ranks/files of treadmills(20+), and about 15 elipticals. The real gym part of it was away in the back of the joint, stuffed into a corner.

Needless to say, I walked.

p.s. It was a YMCA, what can ya do

 

[MetalFortress]

Great post, EFFORT. The routine that had me get the biggest and strongest in the quickest amount of time was one that consisted of nothing but lots of squats, power cleans and jerks, with literally one or two sets of bench presses or chinups thrown in every so often. I felt like I was on roids, both because of how fast I gained and because of the quantity of testosterone that my body naturally made in response to the total-body stimulation.

 

[simba_]

bump

 

[spesmilitis]

The less I bicep train, the more my biceps grow.

Triceps are where it's at, since they supposedly comprise something like 2/3 of total arm mass.

Ditto, I stoped all isolated bicep work last may, and my biceps grew at the same rate if not more than when I was doing curls. Then, when I started doing weighted pull-ups, my biceps got big real fast.

 

[NickSCFC2000]

We have one of these at our gym, is this the kinda thing you guys are talking about?

 

[Throttle]

no, they're talking about free weight squats, not a machine.

 

[kickureface]

for weighted dips/pullups, whered you attatch the weights? i assume they are plates and not dumbells (??)

also, what is the general time i can proceed to do pullups/dips weighted?

 

[shaunuk]

for weighted dips/pullups, whered you attatch the weights? i assume they are plates and not dumbells (??)

Get a 'dip belt' and attach some weight.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=dip+belt&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Alternatively, you could wear a weighted backpack, or even hold a dumbbell between your feet, if you're able to..

also, what is the general time i can proceed to do pullups/dips weighted?

I reckon when you can do 10 reps, add some weight.

-shaun

 

[NickSCFC2000]

no, they're talking about free weight squats, not a machine.

Yeah but surely whther you're using a free bar or the machine you're still forcing your body to do the SAME thing?

The machines give you a bit of lower back support, the worry of ****ing up my lower back is what's put me off squats before.

EDit: Also if the big thing about squats is the hormone release, does this mean you should be doing a session of squats with every workout (3 days a week) or just on maybe a shoulders/legs day?

 

[Throttle]

Yeah but surely whther you're using a free bar or the machine you're still forcing your body to do the SAME thing?

no.

The machines give you a bit of lower back support, the worry of ****ing up my lower back is what's put me off squats before.

and this is just part of the reason why (I don't see how they give you any back support, per se, but they certainly don't require the same degree of stabilization). i suspect it's easier to screw up your back on a machine, because there's a stronger temptation to overdo it.

EDit: Also if the big thing about squats is the hormone release, does this mean you should be doing a session of squats with every workout (3 days a week) or just on maybe a shoulders/legs day?

there are routines, especially for beginners (i'm thinking of rippetoe), that are built on precisely this principle. but you'd want to pick between either squats 3x a week OR a 20-rep squat once a week.

 

[NickSCFC2000]

Think I'll go for the latter, and pick a day of the week where I can get a lift home lol

 

[Throttle]

exactly

 

[NickSCFC2000]

I remember the 1st time I did upper leg on my 1st day at the gym, I play alot of football so my mate made me do the whole lot...

I had to pull a sickie cause I couldn't sit down! :mrgreen:

 

[Ryan69]

Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the ‘80s Robby Robinson was a favorite and currently Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman,

All those guy are gross. veins and **** sticking it out everywhere..yuck
Girls dont find it attarctive

 

[insidious]

Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the ‘80s Robby Robinson was a favorite and currently Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman,

All those guy are gross. veins and **** sticking it out everywhere..yuck
Girls dont find it attarctive

LOL I seriously doubt whether many of us will reach that stage you're talking about.

And besides, who gives a flying phuck what girls think. If I'm bettering myself and reaching small self-inflicted goals regularly, I really don't care if it's a hit on the pvssy circuit.

 

[mrRuckus]

And besides, who gives a flying phuck what girls think. If I'm bettering myself and reaching small self-inflicted goals regularly, I really don't care if it's a hit on the pvssy circuit.

What a load of crap.

 

[insidious]

What a load of crap.

mrR, thanks for your typically caustic input, but please don't even pretend to presume to understand my private motivations.

If your mental boundaries define your worldview, I think you've quite well displayed that those boundaries are in fact the size of a flea.

 

[Flyer]

bump.