AJ you were right... I admit it

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 06:05 PM

A couple months ago we had a pretty good debate on whether direct work was necessary to build good forearms. AJ said that heavy back work was all that was necessary, and if you didn't have good genetics, you were screwed if that didn't do it for you. I said direct work was essential for building good forearms. Well, long story short I have done no direct work for my forearms and just by prioritizing deadlifts and heavier shrugs and rows, my forearms have been one of my fastest developing areas. I know everyone's different and all that, but I wanted to man up and let everyone know how my little experiment turned out.
"You know, you don't need to do this. Young kids, young guys... if you masturbate, that's enough." - Lee Priest speaking intelligently on this very topic

USMARINE8152 · 02-19-2006, 06:11 PM

I agree i used to do direct forearm work and yes while it gave them a pump i didnt see much growth but heavy deads and even doing Hammer curls worked and actually developed them.

dparm99 · 02-19-2006, 06:20 PM

Bodybuilding.com rule #1 - NEVER tell $AJ he was right in an arguement!

Hola Bola · 02-19-2006, 06:29 PM

I do two sets of EZ Bar wrist curls after my Bicep/Tricep workout and my forearms are 15".

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hola Bola

I do two sets of EZ Bar wrist curls after my Bicep/Tricep workout and my forearms are 15".

Yeah, I started out with the intention of doing some forearm work, but never had time for it on my push/legs/pull. I used to do it on arm days though... with no significant results.

dparm: Yeah, I'm a little worried as to how this'll turn out. Has anything like this ever happened before? Hopefully the universe won't implode.

Mikey1 · 02-19-2006, 07:00 PM

AAAAWWWWW......group hug?

Kilburn · 02-19-2006, 07:16 PM

reverse curls have given me good results on the forearms. Also, tell this to bruce lee (if he was alive). His forarms had huge cuts in them and where "like grabing a baseball bat" then again, he worked out his forearms constantly because he believed they were key to striking with power.

MantisShrimp · 02-19-2006, 07:25 PM

yeah i mean has anyone ever thought while doing wrist curls "now THIS is what i call overloading!!!" ?

no

~Serpent~ · 02-19-2006, 08:04 PM

Hard to say. Doing back work without straps definitly will work your forearms more. It will increase your grip strength. At the same time tho your forearms fatigue much quicker than the back (being the biggest muscle group). It could be beneficial to cycle workouts with and without straps, and throw in some iso's for them too.

kethnaab · 02-19-2006, 08:10 PM

vigorous masturbation is the closest I'll ever come to working my forearms directly.

coincidentally, vigorous masturbation is the closest I'll ever come to working my calves directly as well, but I digress.

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kethnaab

coincidentally, vigorous masturbation is the closest I'll ever come to working my calves directly as well, but I digress.

Oh man, if only I had a dollar for every time I heard that...

Hola Bola · 02-19-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

Oh man, if only I had a dollar for every time I heard that...

Remind me never to visit Wisconsin.

FarEastBeast · 02-19-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

dparm: Yeah, I'm a little worried as to how this'll turn out. Has anything like this ever happened before? Hopefully the universe won't implode.

I wouldn't worry about it. You're a sample of one doing an experiment with no controls or independent observation. It's not as if the argument has been settled in AJ's favor.

I could just as easily say that I've done heavy back work, etc., for years and only recently have started doing serious direct forearm work, but in that time I've seen some progress on my forearms.

But I do commend you for reporting back on your experiences even if it meant eating a little crow.

Brown Pile · 02-19-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

A couple months ago we had a pretty good debate on whether direct work was necessary to build good forearms. AJ said that heavy back work was all that was necessary, and if you didn't have good genetics, you were screwed if that didn't do it for you. I said direct work was essential for building good forearms. Well, long story short I have done no direct work for my forearms and just by prioritizing deadlifts and heavier shrugs and rows, my forearms have been one of my fastest developing areas. I know everyone's different and all that, but I wanted to man up and let everyone know how my little experiment turned out.

Next time PM.

porcupinetree · 02-19-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dparm99

Bodybuilding.com rule #1 - NEVER tell $AJ he was right in an arguement!

Yeah, what gives!

Aw, I'd agree with AJ here. I rarely do any direct forearm training and my forearms are great. Got a few compliments today. I always do heavy barbell rowing and it works my forearms just fine.

I'd like to do some wrist curls, but they are just so boring and don't seem to do anything for me, so I rarely bother with them. If I thought my forearms were lagging, I might be more motivated, but since they aren't...

So, horray for AJ.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming: KISS OFF, AJ!

rulanfistccd · 02-19-2006, 10:42 PM

B/S are you guys saying that this is for everyone?

I started do direct forearm exersises exactly 4 weeks ago, reverse curls, farmers walk, etc.... and my forearms have gotten noticeably diffrent.

I disagree.

But naturally and genetically, and have VERY small forearms so maybe it diffurs among human beings.

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rulanfistccd

B/S are you guys saying that this is for everyone?

No, I'm saying that many of us are so quick to think that what we do is best. I used to think that direct work was the only way to get big forearms, now I think that making pullups and heavy deads and rows priorities (no straps, of course) is the best way. Just showing that having an open mind about things is good and that... sometimes... AJ can be right.

Holy **** I said it again

Hola Bola · 02-19-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

No, I'm saying that many of us are so quick to think that what we do is best. I used to think that direct work was the only way to get big forearms, now I think that making pullups and heavy deads and rows priorities (no straps, of course) is the best way. Just showing that having an open mind about things is good and that... sometimes... AJ can be right.

Holy **** I said it again

Theres nothing wrong with using straps. I use straps and my forearms haven't suffered.

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hola Bola

Theres nothing wrong with using straps. I use straps and my forearms haven't suffered.

I guess I should have mentioned earler. I used to use hooks and justify it with a few sets of wrist curls. So doing the back work hookless was a bigger deal to me than to others... maybe I'll restate my message. Here goes: In my experience, doing heavy back work without straps/hooks is better for the forearms than doing back work with hooks/straps and then doing isolation work for the forearms.

Hola Bola · 02-19-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

I guess I should have mentioned earler. I used to use hooks and justify it with a few sets of wrist curls. So doing the back work hookless was a bigger deal to me than to others... maybe I'll restate my message. Here goes: In my experience, doing heavy back work without straps/hooks is better for the forearms than doing back work with hooks/straps and doing isolation work for the forearms.

That makes sense.

I've never used hooks, but with straps you still have to hold on. The straps just make it so you can continue the set after your grip fails. So either way, my grip is still getting worked to failure.

rockhuddy · 02-19-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hola Bola

That makes sense.

I've never used hooks, but with straps you still have to hold on. The straps just make it so you can continue the set after your grip fails. So either way, my grip is still getting worked to failure.

Yeah, the hooks you still have to hold on, but only to keep the weight in place on the hook. I still pull out the hooks for shrugs, but that's about it.

JoeDirtBody · 02-19-2006, 11:24 PM

even a broke clock is right twice a day

haha jk, but i isolate the forearms and i think it helps. cant hurt.

FarEastBeast · 02-19-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeDirtBody

even a broke clock is right twice a day

haha jk, but i isolate the forearms and i think it helps. cant hurt.

Exactly, can't hurt, but definitely can help.

Hola Bola · 02-19-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarEastBeast

Exactly, can't hurt, but definitely can help.

Its elementary my dear Watson.

porcupinetree · 02-19-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockhuddy

Just showing that having an open mind about things is good and that... sometimes... AJ can be right.

Yes, it is possible, but rare....

AlexT · 02-20-2006, 12:03 AM

Farmer walks do wonders for your forearms to, try them, they really set your forearms (and hands) on fire

AHTTG · 02-20-2006, 01:54 AM

"well let's not go sucking eachother's dicks quiet yet."

lemina · 02-20-2006, 01:58 AM

I'm going to have to side with the minority here, and side with forearm work. Wrist curls I am not for, but FW, plate pinching, reverse curls, and double-overhand-grip deads work for me.

aiwass · 02-20-2006, 03:23 AM

A friend of mine has built massive forearms--about 15 inches cold, unflexed, hanging straight down--doing barbell wrist curls. He doesn't even deadlift.

I'm not saying you can't build your forearms without wrist curls, but wrist curls are definitely good for something.

dparm99 · 02-20-2006, 04:00 AM

Alot of it is no doubt genetic (i have a friend with 17" forearms who doesn't do any direct work on them). But i'm not totally convinced you can't increase their size through direct work. I'm actually thinking about starting some direct forearm work just to try to prove $AJ wrong