The Simple but Mighty Barbell Curl - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

meera · 03-03-2006, 10:31 PM

I extracted this from Body Fitness and have improvised it for ease of reading here:

Barbell curl

Raise the bar until biceps are fully contracted but be careful not to raise it too much because thre is a point where the tension will come off of the bicep.
Observe that during this movement, many people simply allow the bar to drp without resistance. This is not only counterproductive, it can cause muscle tear.
The strength of the muscle is built during the resistance (or negative) part of the movement.
Another common mistake that people make while doing barbell curls is that they allow their torso to swing back as they attempt to lift the weight upwards. This does not help the muscle at all, since momentum is used to lift the weight instead of the muscle.

Majesticpower · 16-04-2006, 07:55 PM

This is all well and good for a complete newbie, but thats where the usefulness of it stops imo.
Your not going to take that into the gym as a hardcore trainer and benefit from it.
Not a dig at you btw Meera, more at the person whom wrote it if they wrote it for anyone other then a complete newbie imo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meera

Another common mistake that people make while doing barbell curls is that they allow their torso to swing back as they attempt to lift the weight upwards. This does not help the muscle at all, since momentum is used to lift the weight instead of the muscle.

The part i have underlined i strongly disagree with.
If your curling while swinging from rep 1 to 8 then thats crap form. If your swinging slightly or arching while repping from rep 6 to 8 then that could be construed as a 'cheat rep'.
Which can be of benefit.
MP.

meera · 21-04-2006, 07:47 PM

It's simply an article about the "perfect" BB curl whether for a newbie or a more experienced lifter. Surely even for an experienced lifter the BB curl is very much an important part of training is it not? There are variations of grip stance, bar type (ez or straight for instance), weight, reps.....

If I am not making any sense Majestic, I shall close my case quietly...the size of them biceps of yours in your av is enough to make me wanna run and hide for cover:gun:

Majesticpower · 22-04-2006, 12:17 AM

Lol dont be silly hun, im not on here to try and hush anyone.

I was just merely saying it was written with a complete newbie in mind, as not only did it state the obvious but suggested somthing i personally didnt agree with.

I know its a guideline(a good if not basic one), but its a weak one from a hardcore point of view imo.

As the last pointer mainly proved to me.

The best way to get the most out of your biceps imo, is to train them to complete failure.

Its the only way i train them, and to go to complete failure you cannot really achieve that without abit of 'momentum' which that guidline suggests to be totally pointless- Which is incorrect when going for cheat reps specially without a spotter.

Anyway, im sure you could teach me a thing or two, about a thing or two.

MP.

pookie69 · 01-08-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meera

bar type (ez or straight for instance)

Yea, speaking of which, which is 'better'? An EZ bar or straight?

I've only ever used straight, but have seen loadsa ppl using the EZ but for some weird reason, i've never decided to give it a go :confused:

Mr Chef · 02-08-2006, 12:19 AM

the ez curl bar should work the outside head of the bicep as well as the main part.
The straight bar is just main bicep.

I can normally lift more on an ez curl as there is more muscles working

invisiblekid · 02-08-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pookie69

Yea, speaking of which, which is 'better'? An EZ bar or straight?

I've only ever used straight, but have seen loadsa ppl using the EZ but for some weird reason, i've never decided to give it a go :confused:

Straight bar all the way for mass

Keyser Soze · 02-08-2006, 04:10 PM

Deffo E-Z bar, straight plays merry hell with my wrists, and as mentioned above the EZ recruits more of the bicep. Put 3.5" in a few months with the EZ - although they're only 17.5" now.

Always best to throw in som DB curls every so often though, as with everything else in BB you should mix it up if it mysteriously stops working.

Keyser.

DB · 02-08-2006, 04:13 PM

straight bar all the way for mass.... EZ doesn't come close imo

Ironman · 02-08-2006, 04:16 PM

Agree ^^^^^ definatly straight bar for mass.

the_gre8t_1ne · 02-08-2006, 04:19 PM

Alternet dumbell curls are jsut as good..

DB · 02-08-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_gre8t_1ne

Alternet dumbell curls are jsut as good..

if u say so spagetti arms

the_gre8t_1ne · 02-08-2006, 04:55 PM

oi! there only an inch away from urs junkie!

pookie69 · 02-08-2006, 08:25 PM

Alotta ppl saying straight bar curls for mass. Why is that if EZ bar is supposed to recruit more of the bicep?

Captain Hero · 02-08-2006, 08:47 PM

have started doing straight bar curls and have noticed A lot of difference in my biceps compared to before.

03-03-2006, 10:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
meera CEE...mmmmmm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 299	The Simple but Mighty Barbell Curl I extracted this from Body Fitness and have improvised it for ease of reading here: Barbell curl Raise the bar until biceps are fully contracted but be careful not to raise it too much because thre is a point where the tension will come off of the bicep. Observe that during this movement, many people simply allow the bar to drp without resistance. This is not only counterproductive, it can cause muscle tear. The strength of the muscle is built during the resistance (or negative) part of the movement. Another common mistake that people make while doing barbell curls is that they allow their torso to swing back as they attempt to lift the weight upwards. This does not help the muscle at all, since momentum is used to lift the weight instead of the muscle.

02-08-2006, 04:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
DB UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW London Posts: 11,821	straight bar all the way for mass.... EZ doesn't come close imo __________________ Affiliate of Bulk Supplements Direct Discount Code= BSD290 UKBFF southcoast 2008, O80kg Champion

21-04-2006, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
meera CEE...mmmmmm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 299	It's simply an article about the "perfect" BB curl whether for a newbie or a more experienced lifter. Surely even for an experienced lifter the BB curl is very much an important part of training is it not? There are variations of grip stance, bar type (ez or straight for instance), weight, reps..... If I am not making any sense Majestic, I shall close my case quietly...the size of them biceps of yours in your av is enough to make me wanna run and hide for cover:gun:

22-04-2006, 12:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Majesticpower Gym Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 190	Lol dont be silly hun, im not on here to try and hush anyone. I was just merely saying it was written with a complete newbie in mind, as not only did it state the obvious but suggested somthing i personally didnt agree with. I know its a guideline(a good if not basic one), but its a weak one from a hardcore point of view imo. As the last pointer mainly proved to me. The best way to get the most out of your biceps imo, is to train them to complete failure. Its the only way i train them, and to go to complete failure you cannot really achieve that without abit of 'momentum' which that guidline suggests to be totally pointless- Which is incorrect when going for cheat reps specially without a spotter. Anyway, im sure you could teach me a thing or two, about a thing or two. MP.

02-08-2006, 12:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mr Chef Gym Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 157	the ez curl bar should work the outside head of the bicep as well as the main part. The straight bar is just main bicep. I can normally lift more on an ez curl as there is more muscles working

02-08-2006, 04:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Keyser Soze Banned Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Harrow, London, England. Posts: 729	Deffo E-Z bar, straight plays merry hell with my wrists, and as mentioned above the EZ recruits more of the bicep. Put 3.5" in a few months with the EZ - although they're only 17.5" now. Always best to throw in som DB curls every so often though, as with everything else in BB you should mix it up if it mysteriously stops working. Keyser.

02-08-2006, 04:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ironman Sculpting the masterpiece Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,464	Agree ^^^^^ definatly straight bar for mass.

02-08-2006, 04:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
the_gre8t_1ne Your Friendly neighbourhood pusha! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Ghetto (West, London) Posts: 4,103	Alternet dumbell curls are jsut as good..

02-08-2006, 04:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
the_gre8t_1ne Your Friendly neighbourhood pusha! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Ghetto (West, London) Posts: 4,103	oi! there only an inch away from urs junkie!

02-08-2006, 08:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
pookie69 Robot In Disguise Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 201	Alotta ppl saying straight bar curls for mass. Why is that if EZ bar is supposed to recruit more of the bicep?

02-08-2006, 08:47 PM	#15 (permalink)
Captain Hero strongest straight person on UKM (as everyone else is gay) Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6,919	have started doing straight bar curls and have noticed A lot of difference in my biceps compared to before.