Posing, flexing, isometrics

[IR45N]

Any value in these; isometrics mainly? I understand posing and holding is tough work; just wondering if it or the others are of any value; say, helping with hardness or are they just taking away letting the muscles rest from lifting. One example holding a broom handle and trying to pull it apart or push it in; can't hurt or waste of time and energy?

[robrus]

Good topic. I have read that Arnold quit lifting about 2 weeks before a competition and he would then hold poses for a long time, which in essence are isometric contractions. The Germans and Russians researched them and use them with their Olympic athletes. Bob Hoffman of York barbell promoted isometrics in the 60's.

You can do an isometric contraction on the last rep of any exercise by keeping the muscle flexed and hold it for 10 seconds. I've got to know Marlon Birch, who comptetes in the International Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation ( google their site & you see him at the second shot on the home page ), He trains with body weight exercises, self resistance and isometrics. Looking at him they have value. There is debate on how long to hold the contractions, but a lot of the classic strongmen and physical culturalists incorporated them in their routines.

Check out Larry Scott's monthly trining tip at http://larryscott.com/bio/newsletter/06march.htm

[emf]

i was taught by a pro,to squeeze the muscle and hold it.ive been doing this for years and at times i think i can feel my biceps pushing up and shaping.
it feels like that anyway.

[redweston]

need some more opinions on this subject, i've been told this before but never really kneew if true!

keeponpumpin!-red

[IR45N]

Red, ok if I reply even if I asked the question?

From doing say, an isometric pull on the racked bar for shrugs when done, sitting here reading and one arm in the arm wrestle tensed position-Godzilla loses to relaxed forearms on the knees and tensing the pecs til kingdom come, seems it would add a little to helping general muscle definition.

Can't harm, tho can hurt good if you go hard enough.

[joed]

In the 1950's Charles Atlas sold his "dynamic tension" course which used these principles; even today it's still being sold.

http://www.charlesatlas.com/

It's yet another way to work a muscle & IMO it has its place in the grand scheme of things.

[IR45N]

Talk about a trip back to the back of '50s comic books! Amazing it's now a website lol. Yeah, I'm actually doing this to kick sand! Thx.

[StartinOver-68]

I believe the principle of dynamic tension was to pit one muscle group against another, I could be wrong though. At any rate if I tense a muscle too long I cramp up, so I do not do that.

[robrus]

I've actually done the Atlas course & it's a mix of body weight exercises ( big on incline push ups, deep knee bends, sit ups ( military style) , etc. ), self resistance exercises pitting muscle against muscle, and calesthenics. Any exercise can be turned into an isometric with an added contraction and hold.
Practitioners I know are convinced that iso's build strength, and add definition, but don't really add a lot of size. I think they aren't a stand alone way to train, but can be beneficial when added with weights, body weight, elastics or any other form of resistance exercise. I'll try a 3 month trial with an old course I have and see what it does.

[widebody195]

I'll have to admit that I did the Charles Atlas course when I was about 14. It didn't turn me from the 97 lb weakling into the he-man that he promised, but it did give me a bit more definition. His course had as its centerpiece the pushup, which we all know is not isometric, but does benefit much of the upper body development.

[wide lats]

If you got a low bodyfat year round isometrics might help in making you look harder, Tom Platz could flex his right quad and have definition nobody had seen before but he could only do this with his right quad (later turns out he used to only flex his right quad and not his left, so al the years of quad flexing might have got him that look) I dont think isometrics beat a cutting phase for definition - my opinions.

[someday]

i swear i have the abs i do because i have always held my stomach in. i concentrate on my abs and my glutes/hams especially while on the treadmill. can't say it's helped on the later, but i do believe it's helped my mid section.

[emf]

its going to to some extent,some more then others.
i agree with the ab post by the lady.
if we are a bit cut we will see a little more.if not then poss. nothing visibly.