Thread: anyone use chains or bands?

no, sounds weird.

I would love to try it, but do not have the means.

Chains are the shit, I would like to throw then on the squat rack and give em a try. They are a cool thing to do if you are lookin to mix it up. Definately a powerlifting technique

Never used them on weights like you have implied. I have used bands for strengthening the rotator cuff muscles though. I would also like to try chains, they seem pretty cool.

i have never seen chains or bands. wtf?

No chains or bands at my gym either.

I used them in the Military gyms I went to and they work. Most gyms are not very happy about their use unless it is a serious strength facility that caters to powerlifters and not just the fitness crowd.

Most gyms around here would be afraid the bands and chains might scratch up the furniture if you know what i mean. Chains can also break the cute little neon lights that circle the gym.

If you go to a REAL gym they will gladly accept the use of these great strength tools.

This is one reason I work out at home in my own gym. I can punch holes in the wall if I like.

I've used bands before on flat bench press. Works very well, feels weird though. I too wanna try chains.. seems like they'd work pretty well.

Originally posted by MeatheadSam


This is one reason I work out at home in my own gym. I can punch holes in the wall if I like.

I hear ya on that man, my buddy's basement is like dungen. It's beautiful... Scream all yea want, toss shit around, blare the music, bleed all over the fucking place! haha - yeah and working out in a basement don't put me to sleep like damn "Fitness Center".

Originally posted by plouffe
I hear ya on that man, my buddy's basement is like dungen. It's beautiful... Scream all yea want, toss shit around, blare the music, bleed all over the fucking place! haha - yeah and working out in a basement don't put me to sleep like damn "Fitness Center".

The sweet freedom of home!

I do maintain a membership at the local Golds but only use it once in a while. But my program is very basic so I do not really need all the fancy scmancy machines. But our Golds has fallen into that poofy glittery pit as well.

REAL gyms have bands, chains, power platforms, squat racks with hydraulic lifts, and $hit growing in the shower stalls.

Could someone explain the technique of using chains for benching, I've about this but have never seen it done. Thanx

I'm not familiar with the purpose of bands or chains, but the gym I go to is owned by a powerlifter and many of his kind train there. You'll see some rather strange stuff let me tell you.

One guy told me the bands help overcome sticking points.

Originally posted by flexster
Anyone use chains or bands or both for benching? Something I might try.

I have used bands for benching, cable pulls, abs, legs, etc......

You drape the chains over the then end of the bar so theres an equal amount on each side. So when you decend the weight is taken off the bar ( the chains resting on the floor ) then as you push the bar up, the weight increases. Get it? It's just something differnet that'll shock your muscles and allow you to bust through platues.

Now bands.. Elastic bands that are tied to the bar and secured by either some heavy dumbells lieing on each side of the bench, or w/e u can figure out. This gives you more of a resistance workout. But you can change stuff up like more resistance, less actually weights. Or lets resistance and more weight or just a nice balance. This too will allow you to break plataues, and this is a hell of a burn! Goodluck man.


* local hardware store you can get some think as change. get like 2 / 8 foot chains cut. That'd probally work.

You hang the chains over each end of the bar. In the starting position, the entire length of the chain is hanging in the air, thus adding to the weight of the bar. As you lower the bar towards your chest, the chains hit the floor, and the weight of the bar plus chains gradually lessens. The lowest total will be when the bar is touching your chest. As you push the bar up, the weight gets heavier.

This technique is used to increase the strength at the lockout position, a weak point. Chains also working similarly for squats, providing more weight at lockout.

GO HERE TO : http://www.jumpstretch.com/Benefits_of_Bands.htm

These are the exact bands I use, when I use them with my weights.

Here is what it looks like:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/schultz38.htm

The guy is shown doing close grip presses with 315. His name is Curtis Schultz. Cool article. Even has a link to where you can buy some chains if you dont want to go to the local hardware store.