What is a Skull Crusher?

[silencer]

As you can tell...Im quite the newbie, so I've seen this word past by the last couple of years, and only recently have i been curious about it..What is it ? I did a search on the site , and checked Bb.com's execises and it is not there either..is it slang for an exercise ...

 

[NEW_IN_THE_GAME]

skull crushers are a tricep workout, like take the easy curl bar, lay on you back then bend byour arms backwards while holding the bar, when at the end of the rep the bar should be above your face , get it if you cant handle you will drop the bar, hence the name skull crusher.

 

[BurgerPimp07]

Yes, also known as 'Lying Tricep Extensions' if you're having trouble looking up skull crushers.

 

[silencer]

oh shit!...Yea this PT made me do it once when I was 15..i was so scared I was going to drop that thing on my face

Thanks though, at least I know what it is now

 

[NEW_IN_THE_GAME]

no prob bro

 

[ryuage]

h

oh shit!...Yea this PT made me do it once when I was 15..i was so scared I was going to drop that thing on my face

Thanks though, at least I know what it is now

hence the name skull crusher

 

[min0 lee]

SkullCrushers

Purpose of Exercise: To develop your triceps. This is a fundamental tricep exercise.

Execution of Exercise: Take a narrow over hand grip on an ez curl bar. Lie down on a flat bench, with your feet firmly on the floor. Start with your arms fully extended in line with your shoulders, keeping your upperarms motionless, slowly bend your elbows and allow the bar to travel down towards your nose/forehead in a motion that resembles a reverse arm curl. Once the bar makes 'light' contact with your nose/forehead use the strength of your triceps to return the bar to the starting position. Make sure to hold for a second and squeeze your triceps hard in the finish position.

Important Points: Do not move the bar up and down in a jerky or uncontrolled manner. Always use the assistance of a spotter on this exercise and ENSURE that their hands are under (and close to) the bar at all times to avoid painful and dangerous accidents. This exercise can be done with a straight bar and at an advanced level with dumbbells if you desire. Always be strict on this exercise and make sure your upper arms do not move at all.

 

[min0 lee]

 

[Tommy]

Just wondering if it is possible to do these with dumbbells?the gym im currently at does not have an ez curl bar,I used to do these all the time at my old gym, but untill I start at my new gym im stuck with dbells

 

[NEW_IN_THE_GAME]

yes you can either use one heavy dumbell and hold with both hands or alternate with lighter ones.

 

[Tommy]

yes you can either use one heavy dumbell and hold with both hands or alternate with lighter ones.

When you say alternate do you mean do one arm than do the other or just use lighter ones at the same time?

 

[DOMS]

The Skull Crusher is know as the Barbell Lying Triceps Extension.

Then again, it's also know as the French Press. Personally, I call it the Surrender Press...

 

[j rizz]

no offense, but WHAT GYM DOESNT HAVE AN EZ CURL BAR??!!!..

 

[Seanp156]

Is it just me or does the animation on the exrx site for skull crushers not have the right form? The bar's going over the top of his head and his upper arms have to rotate some to get it there. Maybe I'm just retarded, but is that right?

 

[min0 lee]

It's looks more like a pullover to me.

 

[ACEOUTDOOR]

Is it just me or does the animation on the exrx site for skull crushers not have the right form? The bar's going over the top of his head and his upper arms have to rotate some to get it there. Maybe I'm just retarded, but is that right?

yeah, looks to me like he is doin a pullover, not a skull crusher. i believe the pullover stretches your rib cage.

 

[ChrisROCK]

It's looks more like a pullover to me.

yeah that doesnt appear to be proper form for a skull crusher!

 

[j rizz]

not at all..

 

[Tommy]

no offense, but WHAT GYM DOESNT HAVE AN EZ CURL BAR??!!!..

It's A community center,just using it for now untill this new gym opens up.

 

[Mags]

The skull crusher is a 12th century european weopon of war. A handle or staff weighing approx 12lbs would be attached to a solid chain harnessing a bloody great metal ball on the end with big pointy pertruding spikes. Plays havoc if you get one of them slapped round ya chops.

Nah, soz. It's a french press, can do it lying down, sitting down (although i'm sure that's just an extension) or standing upright (that variation used to be one of big louies favourite exercises apparently).
As with the form of the french press on that clip above, I personally think that's shocking, yet i've read in a few fitness articles etc (and alarmingly seen PTs and posters in gyms) saying you have to do it like that so you get the greater range of motion and to avoid hitting the face (probably an absurd health and safety regulation so gyms can't get sued). If you go too heavy for your tri's to take, you will smash ya face, do it properly and it's a great builder (I get a twinge in an elbow every now and again though so have to thoroughly warm up and pyramid the sets).

P.S. Who is the proper tidy bird in pink on ya post 'rock?

 

[BigDyl]

It's my fist.

 

[min0 lee]

It's my fist.

 

[Mags]

What's your fist?

 

[ACEOUTDOOR]

Doesn't a dumbell pullover work your triceps nearly as much as a skull crusher, but also involves other muscles like your pecs and lats?

 

[sgtneo]

i do lying tricep extensions very hard work and i use 20kg on the bent shaped bar which i think weighs about another 10kg but it is a very good way of excersising your triceps but just dont drop the bar lol

Neo

 

[Mags]

No, a dumbell pullover tends to work the lats, chest and serratus muscles (Arnold used to use this as a flushing exercise and also, what he believed, to increase the size of the thorax/rib cage-argued to be impossible after puberty, but when looking at Arnie, you have to wonder). The triceps should only stabilise and help the rate at which the arm lowers/raises etc, the arms shouldn't have a bending movement, just a near straight hold, elbows slightly bent yet fixed. A skull crusher completely focuses on the tricep, being a good mass builder from the tie in at the elbow right up to the shoulder.

 

[Mags]

Keep doing the extensions neo, you'll be surprised how quick your arms will react to something as focused as an extension movement, and you'll be happy to see that you can up those plates in no time and realise you can go rather heavy with this and even use it as a mass/power move. Yes, don't drop it on ya chevy chase.

 

[ChrisROCK]

skulls are definitely a good mass building exercise.

 

[Mags]

Really, 'Rock whose that chic?

 

[ChrisROCK]

my girlfriend...