Learn the lifts first!

[_Wolf_]

Eric,

a part of me wants to say something really smart-ass like "someone teach how to do curlzz" but i agree with what ur saying. flexible programming is essential for beginners and they do need to figure out how to do exercises correctly before they jump onto brand-name programs.

[hrdgain81]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

its because its monday and its early

maybe 45 degrees is too precise but generally elbows tucked in. yeah thats around 45 degress, matt.

Still not getting it, but thats ok, I am fairly sure I'm benching correctly

I looked up some pics on google, but alas I think I'm just dumb today, I dont see a 45 degree angle anywhere in there.

[_Wolf_]

if u tuck ur elbows in when u bench, u will form a 45 degree angle. roughly.

[EricT]

A forty five degree "humeral angle". Meaning your upper arms form a roughly 45 degree angle with your torso. SO...if your upper arms were against your upper torso, call that zero degrees. If your upper arms were out straight so that they were aligned with your shoulders ("bodybuilder style bench"or like a db flye position) that would be 90 degrees. In between that is 45. The number of course is not strict...

[hrdgain81]

Ok, thanks, sorry for cluttering up the thread with my stupidity. I can see what your talking about now.

[Cradler]

Originally Posted by Eric3237

But to tell the truth, Cradler, the question suprises me cause I can't bench at all with my arms tucked against my side accept with db's. Not only does it cause discomfort in my shoulders but I my wrists won't turn enough in that position, so it hurts the wrists as well as the elbows. It doesn't seem like a natural way to do it. But what's very important is the the angle is maintained thoughout. You may find the angle drifting out during the lift or even worse just plain flailing around. You gotta keep the elbows tucked solid, but no, "tucked" does not mean completely against you sides. I think you probably would find it better to bring em out.

This is weird to me. I feel really uncomfortable with my elbows even slightly out - like, my arms rub against my torso when I do bench reps, that level of closeness. I don't feel at all comfortable on bench unless my arms are totally tucked, and you're the opposite. Something weird about that, haha.

I don't think most will do it. They will come asking for a program. If you ask them if they know all the lifts they will get insulted, as if bench press technique is handed out at birth or something, and then they will proceed to have problems but be unwilling to compromise in any way in their quest to be "strong and big".

Hahaha this is funny, but sadly true. I'm no expert but I've wandered over to a few wrestlers on my team and asked them if they know the right form for a squat (usually if I see them doing 1/8 squats like everyone does...) and they get furious. And then they don't get any bigger. C'est la vie, I guess.

[EricT]

I guess, Cradler, that's just the way your shoulders are. Definitely don't do anything that is uncomfortable. Shoulders are way complicated.

[EricT]

I'm not sure that everybody will get what I was talking about in the begining. Although of course I agree wholeheartedly with the things Boris said about continually questioning and tweaking...so this isn't aimed at that.

My purpose was not to just criticize people's lack of ability to use good technique. It was to make a point that if you ARE trying to learn and practice a new lift then it really pays to have a "honeymoon" with it before you become involved in trying to aggressively load the bar and all that. When I was growing up in the south they way they taught you to swim was to toss you in the pond. Well you "learned" to swim to "save yourself" but you never became a good swimmer that way. In order to learn to swim I had to UN-LEARN all the things I did before and to this day I still can't swim for shit.

Sink or swim ain't the way to learn things. That is what I am getting at.

[Cradler]

Hmm, will do. Thanks for the advice/feedback Eric, it's much appreciated.

[Kane]

Here's my 2 cents. Its not how much you lift...its how you lift it. I think that sums up my opinion on form.