Donkey Calf Raises...

Reid04 · 08-25-2008, 01:56 PM

I live in a small town & workout at the local YMCA, we are 6 months away from completion of our new facility, so right now it's little to no frills when it comes to equipment (most of it is hand-me downs from sister YMCA's). Anyway, I've been in need of a killer calf workout so I built my own calf-block & fixed up the existing dip belt & VOILA!(sp) In my experience nothing feels better than some donkey calf raises! I remember in the ol' days when I had to convince someone to get on my back & hold a dumbbell/plate. I did compound sets of DCR's & calf presses on the leg press, man it sucks having a straight drive truck on leg day! In honor of TANK, I killed the steel today!

ironwill2008 · 08-25-2008, 02:03 PM

Donkeys are another forgotten exercise, lost in the maze of machinery in the modern gym. The fact that you start out bent over at the waist, causing your hammies to be pre-stretched, allows you to hit your calves in a unique way. Definitely worth the effort!

alec_braithwait · 08-25-2008, 02:47 PM

Ah yes, I remember the days when I was living in Mobile AL, trying to persude a member of staff at the gym to sit on my back so I could do those.

9 times of 10 I'd have to do regular raises, it's not the same though, you really do feel your muscles have that extra stretch when you are bent over.

raffim · 08-25-2008, 03:35 PM

Donkey Calf Raises is what got me hooked on this sport. After doing them for the first time and feeling that burn in my calves (could barely walk) I knew this was something I would do for a long time.

Yeah, if you have to, get someone to sit on your back or something..... do whatever you gotta do till you get some decent equipment....

.

domineaux · 08-25-2008, 03:56 PM

I don't mind spotting some guy, but riding him, don't set with me.

All you have to do is put a barbell on your shoulders, stand with your toes on a 2 x 4 (flat side down) and do calf raises.

This way you lift your entire body along with the weight of the barbell.

It's not hard to keep your balance either.

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dbx · 08-25-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

Donkeys are another forgotten exercise, lost in the maze of machinery in the modern gym.

Try to imagine this; me and my two sons (15 & 17 at the time) working out at home. The oldest decides he wants to do DCRs. The youngest son is told to mount up. I'm standing there watching when the oldest looks up at me. I kinda shake my head like, "this doesn't look right"....and the oldest convulses with laughter, causing the younger brother to fall off

. I guess you had to be there, but it was pretty damn funny.

alec_braithwait · 08-25-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domineaux

I don't mind spotting some guy, but riding him, don't set with me.

All you have to do is put a barbell on your shoulders, stand with your toes on a 2 x 4 (flat side down) and do calf raises.

This way you lift your entire body along with the weight of the barbell.

It's not hard to keep your balance either.

---------------------------------------

I have to disagree, if you are bent over at 90 degrees, you are stretching your hams and calves before they are even beginning to do any work.

The whole point of this exercise is to put the weight on the hips directly over the calves and hams. If you have the weight on your shoulders, you'd be flat on your face because you would never be able to keep balance.

domineaux · 08-25-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alec_braithwait

I have to disagree, if you are bent over at 90 degrees, you are stretching your hams and calves before they are even beginning to do any work.

The whole point of this exercise is to put the weight on the hips directly over the calves and hams. If you have the weight on your shoulders, you'd be flat on your face because you would never be able to keep balance.

Everyone to his own way of doing it. Here is a video and this dude isn't falling on his face either.

It is easier with dumbbells or a smith machine for sure.

Regardless, I prefer the calf machine where I lift my whole body straight up.

dbx · 08-25-2008, 06:06 PM

I have to agree with Alec here. Domineaux, what you posted is simply a standing calf raise. Alec's jpeg is exactly what a donkey calf raise is.

foobar68 · 08-25-2008, 07:07 PM

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

dbx · 08-25-2008, 07:10 PM

Yeah, that's definitely innovative!

sytennison · 08-25-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

Wow, I have GOT to try those. Thanks for finding the video.

Keltron · 08-25-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

I'm gonna try that. Thanks. Is it just me or is the guy in the vid inadvertently rounding his lower back? Or is that the correct way to do them? I'd imagine if you kept the lower back straight, you'd get a better stretch on your hammies.

ironwill2008 · 08-25-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keltron

Is it just me or is the guy in the vid inadvertently rounding his lower back? Or is that the correct way to do them? I'd imagine if you kept the lower back straight, you'd get a better stretch on your hammies.

I don't think it would make a lot of difference, since the belt is right over the hips, and the lower back isn't directly loaded. A clever way around not having a training partner, or two!

BTW, foobar68, that's a good find on the vid!

tomdana · 08-26-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

I did them on the smith but under the bar with a pad on my low back, and it was not the most comfy way to do it. Thanks

sytennison · 08-26-2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdana

I did them on the smith but under the bar with a pad on my low back, and it was not the most comfy way to do it. Thanks

Yeah, that sounds nasty. One could also try DCR's in a vertical leg press, but I've yet to see one outside the Internet.

alec_braithwait · 08-26-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

Thanks for posting that link, got it in my bb favorites now and will be using it at the gym. I am sure my trainer will enjoy killing my calves with that one

Reid04 · 08-26-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

That was a very unique way of doing DCR's , no doubt , thanks for the video!

Do_Somethin · 08-26-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reid04

I live in a small town & workout at the local YMCA, we are 6 months away from completion of our new facility, so right now it's little to no frills when it comes to equipment (most of it is hand-me downs from sister YMCA's). Anyway, I've been in need of a killer calf workout so I built my own calf-block & fixed up the existing dip belt & VOILA!(sp) In my experience nothing feels better than some donkey calf raises! I remember in the ol' days when I had to convince someone to get on my back & hold a dumbbell/plate. I did compound sets of DCR's & calf presses on the leg press, man it sucks having a straight drive truck on leg day! In honor of TANK, I killed the steel today!

That's a fantastic idea! I may have to try that next calf day. I have a dip belt and the Y I'm at has a platform I do calf raises with and if that isn't high enough for the belt I can try something else to do it with.
Sharp thinking!

StressMonkey · 08-26-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alec_braithwait

The whole point of this exercise is to put the weight on the hips directly over the calves and hams. If you have the weight on your shoulders, you'd be flat on your face because you would never be able to keep balance.

Thanks for posting that picture. I'm reading this thread without a clue what a DCR is. Definitely have never seen that in action!

plumher · 08-26-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domineaux

Everyone to his own way of doing it. Here is a video and this dude isn't falling on his face either.

It is easier with dumbbells or a smith machine for sure.

Regardless, I prefer the calf machine where I lift my whole body straight up.

no way to stretch the calves, FTL

dcr's are the boss calf developer

chitown70 · 08-26-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foobar68

Here is a very innovative approach this may help if you have problem getting someone to sit on your back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMn_E7Q_dLQ

Awesome idea! Now I'm debating whether or not to get Smith out of storage and lugging it to the city to complement the power rack.