Learning how to contract certain muscles

[Rinkamd]

I'm wondering how do I learn to contract certain muscles alone, when I try and contract triceps I can't do it without contracting biceps too etc. For example, if someone came and asked you to contract your right outer triceps. I'm not sure how to put my thoughts into words so if any know what I'm talking about please share your knowledge.

[mAssholio]

posing helped me a lot...and just when sitting around with noting to do contracting my right/left pec, tricep, calf, etc... it really just comes with practice

and im no doctor but im pretty sure you can't contract you're "outer" tricep without contracting the whole thing but then again my long head (inside) is teh weak

edit: by the way just visualize what the muscles do... triceps contract to extend your arm so its gonna contract as the arm approaches extension...

[Rinkamd]

Originally Posted by mAssholio

posing helped me a lot...and just when sitting around with noting to do contracting my right/left pec, tricep, calf, etc... it really just comes with practice

and im no doctor but im pretty sure you can't contract you're "outer" tricep without contracting the whole thing but then again my long head (inside) is teh weak

edit: by the way just visualize what the muscles do... triceps contract to extend your arm so its gonna contract as the arm approaches extension...

There's no way I can contract my chest too, even less chance one pec at a time. When did you learn to contract it for the first time. I can't bounce or move my pecs at all.

[mAssholio]

ive been able to do it for over a year now... i think a lot of it also had to do with my tempo when lifting weights at the time.. i would do the slow and controlled reps and focusing on the contraction at the top

really just trying to visualize the muscle working during the reps

[Rinkamd]

Well I just tried and I can flex my pec a bit but not without having some sort of movement or contraction near the lat or of the lat itself but it still isn't my pec that's contracting so much.

[sirwazzles]

Originally Posted by Rinkamd

Well I just tried and I can flex my pec a bit but not without having some sort of movement or contraction near the lat or of the lat itself but it still isn't my pec that's contracting so much.

I think it's just a coordination/mind-muscle connection thing really. Some people are just born with a lot of mind-body coordination allowing them to do things like martial arts a lot easier than other people can because they can control themselves better. Although some people are born with a lot more coordination than others, coordination and mind-body/muscle connection can be learned with practice. Like flexing and posing for mind-body connecting (trying to focus on only flexing one muscle at a time.) is good. And things like balancing on one foot and handstands are great for developing overall coordination and balance.

[xXiwillbebigXx]

next time you do a bicep curl, at the bottom flex your arm, this should put more "flexness" on the tricep and at the top squezze your bicep. This should give you a good feeling.
Im not too sure what else to say, i just do it naturallly.....

[Brown_Lifter]

i have ridiculous control of my pecs...frequency and volume ftw >_>

[tagger]

Originally Posted by Rinkamd

I'm wondering how do I learn to contract certain muscles alone, when I try and contract triceps I can't do it without contracting biceps too etc. For example, if someone came and asked you to contract your right outer triceps. I'm not sure how to put my thoughts into words so if any know what I'm talking about please share your knowledge.

If you contract your triceps without contracting your biceps too, wouldn't that just be straightening your arm?

Try using your fingertips to lightly touch just the muscle you want to contract.

[creb]

To learn what you suggest seems to me to be 'unlearning' how your muscles work.

The muscles in your arms and legs, for example, work in pairs so if you lack a bicep or hamstring the joint becomes unusable. The muscles pull in opposition to protect and stabilize the joint, correct?

If one is pulling too hard without opposing resistance maybe the joint would just come apart and maybe your arms and legs would bend backwards or more than they should at least!?