Bodybuilders vs Powerlifters

[DavisForman]

I've seen this all over this site about how people who strength train will become stronger than people who bodybuild. And Bodybuilders will be bigger than people who strength train. Can someone explain this to me? Using common sense, that sounds ridiculous. And from everything I personally know, it is ridiculous to say that.

Look at Johnnie Jackson. He can deadlift 800lbs, bench over 500, and he is only 250. Thats not weak at all.

And then you have the strong men. Dude, they are not lacking size at all. I have watched a number of strongmen competitions, and I have rarely seen any competitors who are below 300lbs. I really don't think thats very small.

I've seen a guy compete at 440! Thats ****ing huge!

If you have more muscle, your going to be stronger. Thats common sense. If you get stronger, natuarally your body will build muscle. Also common sense. So what is all of this stuff people are saying on this site about how they differ so much?

[Donkeyno9]

Johnnie Jackson is a Powerlifter. (Busy fella,has 2 jobs)

[SuffolkPunch]

The way I view it, there is a big of 'wriggle room' between training for strength and training for size. The former emphasises myofibrillar hypertrophy, the latter emphasises sarcoplasmic hypertrophy. But you can't isolate types of hypertophy, the can't have one without getting some of the other - so there will always be a strong correlation between strength and size.

[Donkeyno9]

Powerlifters achive incredable pound for pound strength via central nervous system adaptation. Workouts that use periodization focus on the CNS.The stickies in the PL section explain all that.

[DavisForman]

I'm not saying there is not difference between the two. Obviously there is. But I think the differences are much smaller than people are saying.

[SuffolkPunch]

Powerlifters achive incredable pound for pound strength via central nervous system adaptation. Workouts that use periodization focus on the CNS.The stickies in the PL section explain all that.

How does the CNS lift weights? All it does is send electical signals to your muscles

Periodization is just a way to protect the CNS from burnout

[SuffolkPunch]

Powerlifters are usually a bit fatter too

[DavisForman]

How does the CNS lift weights? All it does is send electical signals to your muscles

Periodization is just a way to protect the CNS from burnout

My thoughts exactly.

The only difference I could really see between the two are which muscles they focus on. I doubt powerlifters really care if their biceps are 21 inches. They would focus more on leg and back strength while a Bodybuilder needs to build EVERY muscle.

[SuffolkPunch]

Ironaddict has plenty to say on this topic:

http://www.bodybuilding.net/training...dict-2027.html

There are lots of powerlifters turned bodybuilders - all they had to do was get leaner, they didn't have any deficiencies in certain muscle groups.

It seems you can build a good chest with just plain old bench press - no need for fancy cable crossovers, flies, pec decks, pullovers etc.

[DavisForman]

Ironaddict has plenty to say on this topic:

http://www.bodybuilding.net/training...dict-2027.html

There are lots of powerlifters turned bodybuilders - all they had to do was get leaner, they didn't have any deficiencies in certain muscle groups.

It seems you can build a good chest with just plain old bench press - no need for fancy cable crossovers, flies, pec decks, pullovers etc.

Thanks for the link man.

[morbid8desire]

Thats same as asking whats the difference between sprinters and distance runners..."Well, they both check how much their legs can take" - wrong...Different things can be achieved using same equipment differently.

[Orlando1234977]

I'm not saying there is not difference between the two. Obviously there is. But I think the differences are much smaller than people are saying.

You're exactly right for beginners and up to early to mid intermediates.

After that, the differences start to show up more. Bodybuilders may need more volume, which will decrease frequency (per bp), which will result in less neural efficiency along with a whole array of other issues. Bodybuilders will also need to work a much greater range of reps (and more exercises), which will limit how much work is geared towards reps that provide a significant improvement to 1RM.

[DavisForman]

Thats same as asking whats the difference between sprinters and distance runners..."Well, they both check how much their legs can take" - wrong...Different things can be achieved using same equipment differently.

Have you looked at the physical differences between a long distance runner and a sprinter?

Most sprinters are pretty ripped. Long distance runners as skinny as tooth picks. Thats because sprinters need powerful and strong leg muscles to move them quickly. Long distance runners need great cardio. Totally different.

Bodybuilders and Powerlifters both require a lot of muscle. The former, for a great physiqu, the latter, for incredible strength.

Runners are not a good comparison.

[DavisForman]

You're exactly right for beginners and up to early to mid intermediates.

After that, the differences start to show up more. Bodybuilders may need more volume, which will decrease frequency (per bp), which will result in less neural efficiency along with a whole array of other issues. Bodybuilders will also need to work a much greater range of reps (and more exercises), which will limit how much work is geared towards reps that provide a significant improvement to 1RM.

That goes to what I was talking about how BBers simply focus on more muscle groups then Powerlifters. BBers may have to a few extra and different exercises to hit the muscle slightly different so that it will shape better. Powerlifters only really care about the large and strong muscles that will asist them in competition.

[SuffolkPunch]

The runner analogy is not good because endurance vs. power are quantifiable differences. Size vs. strength are not so easily seperated.