I recently read CT’s article about “accentuated Eccentric Training” and it has all of this great information about how focusing on eccentric in a 10 week period equals 4% more muscle growth and how basically just performing eccentric training led to something like 11% more muscle growth in 11 weeks!!!
so my question (and discussion) for you is since these eccentric studies are essentially proven why dont people (whether, bbers, models, average gyme goers, ect.) just perform eccentric training or at least FOCUS on the eccentric portion of the lift.
I for one focus on eccentric. I will use a weight I could do around 15 times but with the eccentric part (tempo for me is usually 1-4-0) only allows to do it maybe 7 or 8. And if Im not getting a set in where Im feeling the pump enough (i dont really count reps) Ill do 2 or 3 eccentric lowerings to positive failure. but than again the question to you all is the same to me if eccentric training leads to more muscle growth/strength gains, why dont we just perform those and not ever lift the weight?
Everything works for a while doesn’t mean its meant to be used exclusively. Most people who lift weights for a long time have went through different routines in their lifetime. The bodybuilders you see obviuosly figured out something that worked for them. In the end for some people it’s the results and accomplishments that trumps the science.
i definitly dont just do eccentric I was merely making a thoughtout statement from the article but I do think that the negative portion of the workout should be focused on regardless of the routine or how often u do it
Arthur Jones experimented with negative only training, everyone thought so much of it and gained so much off of it that…
just about nobody does it today. Controlled eccentrics should be a part of any muscle building plan, but there comes a point when it goes beyond a good thing and crosses into the realm of obsessive compulsive bodybuilding. As soon as someone gets out a stop watch or bases their training around one principle they need to reevaluate what they are doing.
[quote]Scott M wrote:
Arthur Jones experimented with negative only training, everyone thought so much of it and gained so much off of it that…
just about nobody does it today. Controlled eccentrics should be a part of any muscle building plan, but there comes a point when it goes beyond a good thing and crosses into the realm of obsessive compulsive bodybuilding. As soon as someone gets out a stop watch or bases their training around one principle they need to reevaluate what they are doing. [/quote]
Agreed, and funny how that worked out isn’t it?
Another problem with negative only training is that you really have to use supramaximal weights to get the full benefit. This is extremely taxing on the CNS and can’t really be continued for long periods of time.
Now that doesn’t mean that you can’t always incorporate controlled eccentrics like Scott mentioned above into your program though. I personally always control my negatives regardless of what program I’m using (perhaps the only exceptions might be doing olympic lifts or other lifts where really trying to slow down the eccentric might be potentially harmful).