Thread: squat, deads, bench and straight bars-avoid??

This one has been posted before, I wouldn't agree with it.

Presses behind the neck I wont do, but it was noted that if you dont go below the ears you should probably be ok, I prefer front presses on a smith machine or free weight standing are ok also.

No deadlifts? I am actually liking them again.

I think some of what he says definitley makes sense. What he says about bars being straight and not built for a normal arm position seems like a good point.

He says doing partial deadlifts, starting at the knees on a Smith can help avoid injury. Do folks agree with this?

Does anyone use a cambered bar for things like bent over row?

Originally posted by Willdebeast
Just surfin and came upon this site. The dude seems to know what he is talkin about. he is trashing squats, deads, sculls straight bars and even bench press.

http://www.flexonline.com/train/6?page=1

My question to you is:

What makes you think that he knows what he is talking about? is it because he is big and ripped?

In my opinion the article sucks and who ever wrote it (probably not him anyway since most of those are ghost written) is a living on the moon. You can not deny the impact that those exercises have on your body. Things like squats and deadlifts the most metabolic exercises you can do and have an enormous effect on your endocrine system.

Next question:

What makes you think I know what I am talking about?


Conclusion:

try his workout for 6 weeks and chart your results. then try a workout using those exercises as your main lifts and see what works for you. Without knowing anyhting about you (body type, past injuries, training experience, etc) I would guess that doing the workout wich focuses on those basic lifts will give you the best results.


just my $0.02

I agree with his point about using straight bars, and also avoiding presses behind the neck. Both barbell curls and lying tricep extensions have screwed up my elbows, and using DB's instead alleviate the problem.

I have a bad lower back and it flares up from time to time. I believe I messed it up by too much pounding caused by long distance running in the mid 80s. For whatever reason, for me leg presses are worse then doing squats. I concentrate on doing DEEP squats, slow, controlled and higher reps. I have absolutely no problem with bent over barbell rows, although deadlifts are out. To each his own I guess.

I take numerous exceptions with this statement. "There are at least 10 exercises superior to free-weight benches, starting with incline presses, machine bench presses and dumbbell flyes. As with shoulder presses, I avoid the lowest position in any chest press."

At least 10 exercises that are superior to 'free-weight' benches? What are they? He first mentions incline press. Isn't the incline press considered a 'free-weight' bench movement? DB flyes are superior to bench press for building mass? He recommends incline press over flat (I love both), but if you've ever had shoulder problems you know inclines can be more painful then flat bench depending on the injury. He avoids the lowest position on any chest press? So does that mean he recommends high up on the chest? Again, if you have shoulder problems higher up can mean over stretching the shoulder girdle and rotator cuffs. Plus this shifts the stress away from the pecs and towards the delts. Not good advice.

That's my .02 cents.

Ridiculous.