What happened to the Bicep curl???

1001, 1002...

This is making me hot.

It's decided then. When i get home, i'm going to curl in the fkn squat rack and reflect on how funny I'm not being.

Awesome sauce!! Sounds like fun! Make sure you post a pic so we can ALL reflect on the non-hilarity with you. :bigsmile:

you be careful what you wish for! :bigsmile:

if i took pics, I would make sure to put on my knee sleeves, lifting belt, wrist wraps, and chalk up for it. maybe give myself a big pep talk before jumpin in to the set. i guess this would be better as a video than a mere pic!

It's decided then. When i get home, i'm going to curl in the fkn squat rack and reflect on how funny I'm not being.

Awesome sauce!! Sounds like fun! Make sure you post a pic so we can ALL reflect on the non-hilarity with you. :bigsmile:

you be careful what you wish for! :bigsmile:

if i took pics, I would make sure to put on my knee sleeves, lifting belt, wrist wraps, and chalk up for it. maybe give myself a big pep talk before jumpin in to the set. i guess this would be better as a video than a mere pic!

Your onesie, too. (I can NEVER remember the name for lifting onesies, it's like hole in my brain)

Correct! Pronation and supination...basically twisting your wrist lol. Very little of the force your biceps exerts is used for curling...and if you force more than its designed for...you'll rip it right off your forearm.

The isolated function of the bicep is Elbow Flexion. What is a curl? - Elbow Flexion.

Odd, all of my substantial research while I was recovering from my major biceps surgery, along with the repeated explanations of my sports ortho surgeon say you are incorrect.

Here's a little experiment for you. Put your arm down your side, palm facing forward. Relax it completely while maintaining the palm forward position. Place two fingers of your other hand into your biceps peak with moderate force. Now, without consciously 'flexing'...bend your elbow until your forearm is roughly 90* to your upper arm (palm should be facing upwards now). Lower it. You will immediately notice no change in the tension of your biceps. It's NOT FLEXING, at all.

Now, place your arm in the opposite position (extended with palm facing back), fingers of your other hand on the peak of your biceps. Bend it 90* again, your palm should be facing down. Maintain the bend while rotating your wrist until your palm faces up.

Amazing, your biceps has now flexed...probably substantially, because over 75% of it has been utilized in its intended function. Which is clearly twisting your wrist. Less than 25% of your biceps strength goes into elbow flexion (some argue as much as 40%...I believe it's probably genetic differences in test subjects, i.e. the connection point of the tendon etc). I'm sorry, but its a fact.

As for the compound/iso argument...I've got to agree with Sarah. There's been little to no 'bashing'. I personally believe iso's are unnecessary for a complete and balanced physique (unless you're competing)...that doesn't mean they're useless (I've clearly stated more than once that I've used them in the past for various purposes). No, the guy who wrote SL5x5 didn't teach me this. Nor did any other single source. Examples of physiques built with the types of lifts I perform are the inspiration for my lift program. Not 'kool aid', sorry to say.

In the end, if you have the time and inclination...do them. If not, as long as you target the muscle group in some kind of exercise, who cares?

To the OP...thanks for the entertaining read my friend .

I prefer dumbells to the barbell, but I'm at 25 lbs each hand and can do 3 reps. I laugh a bit, but several months ago I could barely do 20 lb at 3 reps, so i'm happy. I do both compound and isolation lifts.

I think because there's been a lot of research regarding building strength over the last few years and there is more focus on compound lifts for building strength. If you look at Barbell Rows and Chin-Up's there is considerable bicep recruitment in those exercises, which reduces the need for much more curling be it barbell or dumbbell. I curl maybe once a week if I feel like doing them and for the purpose of maintaining muscle balance but otherwise I really don't worry about doing them. Regarding my workouts I, BB row 2x a week, DB row once a week, and do pull-ups/chin-ups at least twice a week. My best curl ever is 125lbs on a short oly bar for a single, but I haven't worked up to a heavy single in about a year. I can curl 95lbs for 8 reps. For arm development I actually concern myself more with my tricep development because it more directly impacts my bench strength, OHP strength, and affects more upper arm mass than the bicep does (for vanity purposes LOL). For that I like doing weighted dips and repetition effort dumbbell pressing.

Edit: Not that I'm a fan of doing a lot of isolation work, but I feel like my upper arm appearance has improved more from doing iso-work on my anterior deltoids (yes, shoulder).

Concentration Curls, Hammer Curls and Preacher Curls are a staple to developing big arms PERIOD..!!

i curl in the sguat cage because i curl an olympic bar with weights on it. that is the safest place to be as the bar is too wide to be anywhere else!!!

I curl twice a week, on back day and on tricep/bicep day. Mix it up.. iso/concentration movements.

Bump......because I still do not know what happened to the bicep curl. I am thinking colonel mustard in the ballroom