There are 2 fairly obscure exercises that I've added to my program the last 2 months that have really impacted my training in a positive way. The first is a JM press. I credit this exercise as the which broke me out a long time bench max plateau. The second is a belt squat. After 2 herniated disks, I've found that traditional heavy back squats trigger painful sciatica, so I stopped squatting. I ran across belt squats 3 months ago, and found that I can do them with absolutely no lower back pain, and my quads are growing again. So, what obscure exercises do you love and why?
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04-19-2018, 12:07 PM #1
- Join Date: Nov 2009
- Location: Tennessee, United States
- Age: 52
- Posts: 1,256
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Most obscure exercise that you love, and why...
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04-19-2018, 12:44 PM #2
Pec Deck Machine. I know everyone's gonna say Bench Press is better, but I love this machine. After years of benching I just couldn't fit my triceps into my routine consistently over the days. Sure some workouts would go pretty good, but eventually I'd switch it up and it just didn't work. Between the triceps and the bench press, the bench would always come out ahead and the triceps would be forgotten. So the time came when I had to make that dire decision. Either drop the bench or say goodbye to any hope for my triceps. A good while went by and I was without a clue of what to do. Don't get me wrong, the triceps were getting plenty of love, but it was like a piece of me was missing. One day, I was in the machine room for some reason and I just couldn't help but think; what damage is it gonna do to just give this a try? Nothing permanent, just a test-run to see how it fits. Sure enough I tried the pec deck and have not regretted it one bit. Is it better than bench press? I'm not the one to ask about that, but one thing is for sure. My chest is getting the attention it deserves.
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04-19-2018, 02:18 PM #3
- Join Date: Apr 2006
- Location: Bristol, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
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1. Front box squats. They allow me to squat around hip impingement because they limit hip flexion at the bottom and allow for a vertical torso; also, they keep my depth consistent and give me more control over knee tracking. What's not to like!
I do them like this btw.
2. Barbell seal rows. I feel that my lumbar gets enough work as it is from squats and deads, so I like to spare it when I perform rows with this awesome variation, which, incidentally, is a favourite of Chinese weightlifters.Last edited by Luca2; 04-19-2018 at 02:30 PM.
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04-19-2018, 02:23 PM #4
- Join Date: May 2014
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Wide grip seal row with my bench grip. I never seen anyone else build and do this
But i get weirdest looks when i do these isometric pulls when im peaking.
You pull in a rack with the pins set lowest level and when you hit the pins with the bar you keep pulling against them as hard and as long as you can.
Looks fukd up but i swear by it for a guaranteed deadlift prretired from powerlifting, retired from the misc
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04-19-2018, 10:22 PM #5
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04-20-2018, 04:55 AM #6
Flactoid Extensions.
Because............................jacked flactoids.No brain, no gain.
"The fitness and nutrition world is a breeding ground for obsessive-compulsive behavior. The irony is that many of the things people worry about have no impact on results either way, and therefore aren't worth an ounce of concern."--Alan Aragon
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04-20-2018, 05:27 AM #7
- Join Date: Nov 2009
- Location: Tennessee, United States
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I've never done these. After watching a couple of videos, I think I'll be adding them to my next program.
Goblet squats...Maybe these would be best in a cutting program, with interval training and high volume? It seems like there would be significant limitations with weight on this exercise because how you hold the kettlebell/dumbbell.
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04-20-2018, 01:33 PM #8
- Join Date: Jul 2013
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- Age: 36
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heels elevated cannonball squat for quads - why? because i can't walk afterwards
also, i think they are called "21's" for barbell curls (but i call them half, half, full bb curls lol) - half reps at the bottom x 7, half reps at the top x 7, then full rom curls x 7 - why? because they give me the best bicep pump
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04-20-2018, 01:53 PM #9
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04-20-2018, 01:58 PM #10
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04-20-2018, 01:59 PM #11
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04-20-2018, 03:03 PM #12
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04-20-2018, 03:17 PM #13
- Join Date: Apr 2006
- Location: Bristol, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Age: 41
- Posts: 2,585
- Rep Power: 22566
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04-23-2018, 06:50 AM #14
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04-23-2018, 07:24 AM #15
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04-23-2018, 08:16 AM #16
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04-23-2018, 08:19 AM #17
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04-23-2018, 09:43 AM #18
Dumbbell curls with an unbalanced bar. (a few extra pounds on the end opposite to your thumb) Adds extra tension, since biceps also supinates forearm.
Last edited by HomeGymChains; 04-23-2018 at 09:51 AM.
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04-24-2018, 06:41 AM #19
- Join Date: Dec 2017
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2 resistance band exercises i do.
Neck training - sit on chair, put band around both feet and head. Grip band at head and twist head side to side and up and down. For the front of neck wrap band around chair with high back, put band around head.
Scapulae, shoulder and pec warmups - wrap band around each shoulder and tape the middle of it (ie- centre of back/centre of chest area). Place the band either around your back or your chest and shrug the shoulderswith the right frame of mind you can achieve your goals
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04-26-2018, 05:51 AM #20
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04-26-2018, 01:21 PM #21
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04-26-2018, 10:23 PM #22
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04-26-2018, 10:24 PM #23
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