The purpose of this thread is to present you a detailed analysis of 8 best exercises for arms, and that includes biceps and triceps. I will explain why certain exercises work, how to use them and how to put it all together for an incredible arm workout. Building bigger arms was one of my basic priorities when i began working out, and that let me to studying and trying a large variety of exercises. I came to the conclusion that the basic exercises are still the best, and should not be overrated.
1.BARBELL CURLS
Can be done using a straight bar or an EZ bar. This is probably the best known biceps exercise, and there is a reason for that: it works. It allows the biceps to curl a decent amount of weight, and that increases mechanical tension applied to the muscle. It is an isolation movement, but it stimulates the stabilizer muscles from the core and lower back. Because of the arm position relative to the torso, it equally targets both biceps heads, and that's why this exercise is considered the king of mass building biceps exercises. However, many gym rats often curl with their egos, adding to much weight to the bar. This will remove much of the tension on the biceps, and transfer it to the front deltoid. You must be smarter than that. Choose a challenging weight and do 3 sets of 6-10 reps at the begining of your biceps workout.
2. INCLINE DUMBELL CURLS
This is definitely an underused exercise. Curling on an incline bench has the advantage of targeting the biceps long head like no other exercise. The biceps long head is responsible for most of the mass in the biceps, so you should always include some sort of incline dumbell curls in your routine. I usually do them towards the middle of the biceps workout. I curl with both hands simulateosly. Not too much weight will be used here, because not too much can be used. So leave your ego at the door and train smarter.
3. HAMMER CURLS
Hammer curls do not target only the biceps, but the brachialis too. This is a great exercise if you want to get big arms, because well developed brachialis will push that biceps out, making it appear even larger. I usually do them at the end of my biceps workout, for 2 or 3 sets. A great replacement for this exercise is the reverse EZ bar curl.
4. PRECHER CURLS
These are one of the best peak builders for the biceps. Given the position of the upper arm relative to the torso, this exercise focuses on the short head of the biceps, which is responsible for that peak in the biceps. Also, this exercise allows only the biceps to work, by resting your arms on the bench, which removes the shoulders from the equation. If your gym has a preacher curl machine, use it, because the normal bench will not keep the tension on the muscle all the time. My advice for you is not to do 2 of the following exercises in the same biceps workout: preacher curls, concentration curls, spider curls, because they one exercise is more than enough to target the biceps short head. Instead, focus on targeting each head of the biceps using different exercises and good form. My biceps workout right now consists of 3 exercises: Barbell curls, incline dumbell curls and preacher curls. I will change the preacher curls with hammer curls every week.
5. CLOSE GRIP BENCH PRESS
Time to talk about the triceps. The close grip bench press is, in my opinion, the best mass building exercise for the triceps. It allows overloading the muscle with heavy weight, and because the arms are perpendicular to the torso, it targets all 3 triceps heads. I include this exercise in almost every triceps exercise, towards the middle of my workout, after my elbows have been warmed up.
6. DIPS
Dips are another compound exercise for the triceps. The main difference between dips and close grip bench press is that dips target more of the lateral head and less of the long head, and that's because the arms are parallel to the torso.However, i don't recommend doint dips and close grip bench press in the same workout. You should choose one depanding of your priorities. I usually choose the close grip bench press, mainly because my lateral head is well developed, but my long head needs more size.
7. OVERHEAD EXTENSIONS
These can be done using dumbells, barbells or cables. I can't stress enough about the importance of this exercise when it comes to triceps development. Overhead work is absoloutely necessary to build that long head of the triceps, which is resonsible for most of the mass in the upper arm. The long head is attached on the scapula, and that's why, when going overhead, it is stretched the most. I highly recommend doing some sort of overhead extensions in each of your triceps routine. However, this type of movement is pretty taxing on the elbows, so I do it towards the end of my triceps routine, after the elbow join has been properly warmed up.
8. CABLE PUSHDOWNS
One of the most popular triceps exercises of all time, without a doubt. Pushdowns are great to target the lateral head of the triceps. I always begin my triceps routine with some sort of pushdowns or kickbacks, which are similar to the pushdown. I prefer the rope attachment, as it allows me to get the best contraction in the triceps. This is one of the few elbow friendly triceps exercises, and that is the reason i do it first in my workout: to get the blood in the muscle and in the elbow joint, and to prepare the triceps for what's to come. After pushdowns I go to the compund moves, such as close grip bench press or dips, and i finish with some overhead extensions.
This would be all about the best arms exercises.If you use these 8 exercises wisely, there is nothing else you need to build some huge arms.
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