It’s alien to me… Growing up, I’ve never seen anyone do it till I joined the military, and I saw a couple of guys doing it to get the weight up. No matter how hard it is for me, My lower back stays flat on the bench. I’m no powerlifter (more of a bodybuilder), but I like to train for strength as well. My best bench at my current weight of 221 is 405 for 13 reps.
Why do people arch their back, and is this even safe? I tried doing a search, but for some reason my computer just locks up in the search function. Thanks for the responses.
BTW, the reason for asking is because I was about to tear someone a new ass and tell them they were doing it wrong, but I’ve seen a couple of Power Lifters doing it so I figured I’d ask first…
yes… arching is safe and effective at putting up heavier loads. it shortens the range of motion and for me, puts me in a more efficient position of power. i can tuck my elbows better, activate the lats for a more controlled decent and stay tighter throughout the range of motion.
i really need to see the video of a 405 x 13 bench at 221. I consider myself a fair bencher and i can get 405 x 10 at a bodyweight of 265.
^^^ I’d really like to provide that for you guys, but unfortunately I have 10 more months here in Iraq, and I’m working off of a slow as Satellite internet system in the boon docks. Sorry I can’t prove my lift. Thanks for the answer so far though…
BTW, my upper body is just as strong as my legs. It’s genetics I think. I’ve always made it a point to work legs and lower back at the start of my week, but I can’t get past 405 with squats for my working sets, and 355 with deadlifts for my working sets…
[quote]zohan2020 wrote:
BTW, my upper body is just as strong as my legs. It’s genetics I think. I’ve always made it a point to work legs and lower back at the start of my week, but I can’t get past 405 with squats for my working sets, and 355 with deadlifts for my working sets…[/quote]
I would say that your upper body is stronger than your legs if you are benching more than you can pull.
[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
HolyMacaroni wrote:
people who arch their back when they bench are pussies.
You are what you eat, young man.[/quote]
Thanks you wench. Now I’m picking oatmeal out of my keyboard.
I guess my arch isn’t sick enough because Court and I were once lectured by a db doing crunches with gloves on how arching is bad for your back. I think she throat punched him. I like how when we’re together, I’m the nice one.
I would call bullshit on the numbers too, but I have seen some freaks out there that can walk into a gym and bang out reps with 405-495 without breaking a sweat. I find this frustrating to no end.
One guy at my old gym would come in wearing his mechanic overalls and plop down with 225, then 315, then 405, then 495 for 5-6. No spotter, no liftoff. Dude had a mullet that would bring tears to your eyes with its beauty too. He would bench one day, squat the next. I think that’s all he did.
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I would call bullshit on the numbers too, but I have seen some freaks out there that can walk into a gym and bang out reps with 405-495 without breaking a sweat. I find this frustrating to no end.
One guy at my old gym would come in wearing his mechanic overalls and plop down with 225, then 315, then 405, then 495 for 5-6. No spotter, no liftoff. Dude had a mullet that would bring tears to your eyes with its beauty too. He would bench one day, squat the next. I think that’s all he did.[/quote]
I’ve seen enough as well to not dismiss anything. that’s why i sincerely wanted to see it. the OP posted in the 405lb bench thread and he stated that he stopped short of his chest on each rep. we have a lot of guys at my gym that will load up the bar and do these half reps where they bring the bar part of the way down and then back up. in my mind, that is what i see happening here.
i could be wrong. I’m always up for seeing those true freaks of nature that defy the bodyweight to weight lifted norm. especially since i’ve never been a strength freak. I’ve had to bleed for every stinking pound i’ve ever lifted.
[quote]maraudermeat wrote:
Steel Nation wrote:
I would call bullshit on the numbers too, but I have seen some freaks out there that can walk into a gym and bang out reps with 405-495 without breaking a sweat. I find this frustrating to no end.
One guy at my old gym would come in wearing his mechanic overalls and plop down with 225, then 315, then 405, then 495 for 5-6. No spotter, no liftoff. Dude had a mullet that would bring tears to your eyes with its beauty too. He would bench one day, squat the next. I think that’s all he did.
I’ve seen enough as well to not dismiss anything. that’s why i sincerely wanted to see it. the OP posted in the 405lb bench thread and he stated that he stopped short of his chest on each rep. we have a lot of guys at my gym that will load up the bar and do these half reps where they bring the bar part of the way down and then back up. in my mind, that is what i see happening here.
i could be wrong. I’m always up for seeing those true freaks of nature that defy the bodyweight to weight lifted norm. especially since i’ve never been a strength freak. I’ve had to bleed for every stinking pound i’ve ever lifted.
[/quote]
You work your ass off and you deserve every pound you lift, but you my friend are at the level of Strength Freak!
[quote]HolyMacaroni wrote:
and i call bullshit. i have plenty of friends in iraq who send me pictures and videos all the time on the ‘slow ass satellite’
at 225lbs, i’m still shaky trying to get 405 once.[/quote]
I’m at JSS Istaqla’al. We have nothing here. A little MWR and a makeshift gym. I’ve been training for over ten years now, and I’ve been able to press 315 for reps for a couple years as well. If you saw me in person, you’d understand why I can press more then I can pull or squat. genetics plays a big factor in that on my part.
[quote]Hanley wrote:
Do you have a spotter when your benching or do you do all the work yourself?[/quote]
For those who have actually answered my question, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I see that because there are some on this site that aren’t able to do certain things because you are weak, you call bullshit on others. The sad thing about it, is I don’t consider myself strong by any standard,and you all are giving me a hard time for my benching Abilities. I could understand if I came in and said " I can bench 500, squat 600, and deadlift 600" at my weight, then sure, but as you can see, I cannot. You all say 405 for 13 is hard? Hahah… I’ve seen guys my weight back where I grew up throw that up easily. GUYS THAT NEVER LIFT WEIGHTS AT THAT. Ever heard of good genetics? … I hate to be a bitch ass about this, but I’m just responding to some of the responses I’ve gotten.
[quote]zohan2020 wrote:
Hanley wrote:
Do you have a spotter when your benching or do you do all the work yourself?
For those who have actually answered my question, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I see that because there are some on this site that aren’t able to do certain things because you are weak, you call bullshit on others. The sad thing about it, is I don’t consider myself strong by any standard,and you all are giving me a hard time for my benching Abilities. I could understand if I came in and said " I can bench 500, squat 600, and deadlift 600" at my weight, then sure, but as you can see, I cannot. You all say 405 for 13 is hard? Hahah… I’ve seen guys my weight back where I grew up throw that up easily. GUYS THAT NEVER LIFT WEIGHTS AT THAT. Ever heard of good genetics? … I hate to be a bitch ass about this, but I’m just responding to some of the responses I’ve gotten. [/quote]
Now that, my friend, is a steaming pile of bullshit
