How to put on some Popeye arms...

[TheRuss]

Except, while you are doing deadlifts and pull-ups (which develops forearms more than chinups), you are working dozens of other muscles, making your workout more efficient.

And because you're recruiting other muscles, the "weakest link" in the chain will limit the loading and volume of all the other muscles. Which is great - if that weakest link is the one you're trying to target.

Re-read the original post.

[golgo]

And because you're recruiting other muscles, the "weakest link" in the chain will limit the loading and volume of all the other muscles. Which is great - if that weakest link is the one you're trying to target.

Again, muscles dont act in isolation, so it doesn't matter. The goal shouldn't be to target specific muscles but to increase strength or endurance for a certain activity or movement. I cant think of a single situation where i would need to perform the movement involved in a wrist curl.

Re-read the original post.

I did... and it sounds like he might be overtraining. I didn't read anything that suggested he needs specific forearm training other than the recommendaton of his rock-climbing friend.

Obviously we have two different outlooks on lifting. There is a big division in the weight training world right now; one crowd avoids isolation lifts and the other crowd doesn't.

[TheRuss]

Again, muscles dont act in isolation, so it doesn't matter.

I'm going to lose my mind here. You should head back to Newbietown for a while.

[golgo]

I'm going to lose my mind here. You should head back to Newbietown for a while.

Being a noob in this forum has nothing to do with my weight training background. You can go back to your gym and do 100 sets of wrist curls, listen to Jay-Z and then finish up by doing bicep curls in the squat rack.

[TheRuss]

Being a noob in this forum has nothing to do with my weight training background. You can go back to your gym and do 100 sets of wrist curls, listen to Jay-Z and then finish up by doing bicep curls in the squat rack.

Get back to Newbietown, and take your strawman with you. Final warning.

[golgo]

Get back to Newbietown, and take your strawman with you. Final warning.

Sorry, not really sure what you are saying here. Are you threatening me over an internet message board? Sounds like you have anger management issues.

[Hiro Protagonist]

[Teh El Macho]

Isolation exercises are a waste of time, unless your goal is body building. Muscles dont act in isolation. If you are lifting for performance, train the way your body works - multiple muscle groups working in conjunction to perform a task. Compound lifts like deadlifts (as are all olympic lifts), pull-ups, etc are great.

Uh, tell that to the Westside Barbell guys. They do a shitload of isolation exercises specifically for wrist/forearm strength, rehab and repetition effort.

If all you do are isolation exercises, then yeah, you'd have a point. Actually, I cannot think of a single successful bodybuilder that has gotten what he has by just doing isolation exercises.

Also, I cannot think of a successful strongman/powerlifter who has gotten to where he is just by doing compound exercises.

This is the same retarded logic by which people praise or hate bodyweight exercises, kettlebels, or whatever make PE partisan nuts tick and click.

Isolation exercises are just a tool for a specific function, for a specific time, place, goal and population. And just like any tool, there is a right way and a wrong way to use them. For example:



That vice is an awesome tool for holding things fast, it is terrible for sexual gratification.

Same with whatever execise you consider a "waste of time".

[BackFistMonkey]

That vice is an awesome tool for holding things fast, it is terrible for sexual gratification.

Maybe in your screwed up reality .

That thing is sexy hot .

[golgo]

Same with whatever execise you consider a "waste of time".

You make some good points, although I would argue that the OP's original logic on needing forearm exercises was flawed - He has pain from martial arts/fighting and weightlifting, so he is following the advice of a rock climber friend (and not a PT or doctor)?

Like I said in a previous post, the weight lifting world is split right now (isolation vs. compound). I can respect the differences of opinion; others may not.

I am not a PT, but pain in the hands and wrists = needs more forearm isolation exercises doesn't quite right to me.