How Come We Never See Huge Zercher Lifts?

Off Topic
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[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Also, This was written in the post you quoted:

And OP specifically stated:

[quote]xjusticex2013x wrote:
Hypertrophy isn’t the goal for me, powerlifting is. [/quote]

…yet, you, a bodybuilder who doesn’t squat, bench press, OR deadlift are still here arguing.[/quote]

My comment wasn’t directly to the Original Poster…so what is your problem?

There are several other movements for lower back development that do not put the biceps tendon in a position to be injured…so why even approach this as if this needs to take first in line over all of those?

Are YOU recommending people start using Zercher lifts for this purpose? Or are you just here arguing with me because I posted?

Tell us, do you think this lift is the best way to get the job done?

Or am I your main focus still?[/quote]

If that’s your slant, then why don’t you illustrate the alternate methods and means to develop lower back and hip power for the squat and deadlift? And, have you ever done a zercher or are you making assumptions about the bicep tendon? It actually causes more forearm discomfort than anything.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
Also, this shit was posted in the GET A LIFE section yet idiots are acting like only powerlifters can respond? Shouldn’t it be in that section if that is the goal? I think this was moved from the bodybuilding section.

That would mean we all get to comment on how ridiculous this movement is in comparison to others.

LOL @ retards.[/quote]

Ahh, I knew it wouldn’t be long before “idiots” and “retards” followed. LOL. If anything, you’re predictable. Didn’t even take a page.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:

[quote]Quick Ben wrote:

I’m saying some people just like to train, and see how much weight they can move. A buddy of mine is like that, he wants to know how much he can do on farmer walks, zerchers, old school weight lifter exercises, whatever.
[/quote]

I know…and most of them fall into the category I talked about before…the type who never make much physical (or even much overall strength) progress but use something arbitrary like “function” to justify the time they spend on this.

To each his own…but I think most would agree that when it comes to getting shit done and actually accomplishing something that translates as significant progress to others (whether that be bodybuilding or powerlifting) those types are NOT the ones to pull it off.[/quote]

Where the fuck is this shit coming from? Where is the discussion about “progress” except from you? You can sneeze at a 400lb zercher when you can bang out a few. OP is a strong kid. Period.

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[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Also, This was written in the post you quoted:

And OP specifically stated:

[quote]xjusticex2013x wrote:
Hypertrophy isn’t the goal for me, powerlifting is. [/quote]

…yet, you, a bodybuilder who doesn’t squat, bench press, OR deadlift are still here arguing.[/quote]

a “bodybuilder” who has never competed, to be fair. [/quote]

I was going to include that fact, but I figured if I did he’d pull the race card.

lol

85

I know for a fact that wide stance zerchers from pins have definitely helped my deadlift, from off the floor to lockout. TBH, I would not be doing them if my goal wasn’t powerlifting. But, I do know zerchers have played a large part in increasing my deadlift and they will continue to. If it aint broke, why the fuck fix it?

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I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats.

87

[quote]pbclax1 wrote:
I know for a fact that wide stance zerchers from pins have definitely helped my deadlift, from off the floor to lockout. TBH, I would not be doing them if my goal wasn’t powerlifting. But, I do know zerchers have played a large part in increasing my deadlift and they will continue to. If it aint broke, why the fuck fix it?[/quote]

So you’ve got experience with the lift, have goals similar to the OP, and is in the exact same sport as OP…

Uh oh, you don’t have 20 inch arms. Sorry, your opinion is invalid.

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[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats. [/quote]

Trap tears from squats are an epidemic, duh.

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[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats. [/quote]

Not trying to be a dick, but don’t you think holding a large amount of weight in a flexed position might be more dangerous than say, holding a weight on muscles that are stable?

90

But seriously, here’s how you’re gonna tear your bicep:

Do you FUCKING know how your bicep tendon attaches to your arm?! No, you don’t. I do, though, because I AM A DOCTOR. Read a FUCKING biology book! Then an anatomy book. Then, if you even realize how right I am after reading those books, read a thousand more books, because that’s what I had to do when I was putting MYSELF through med school ALL while gaining 872 pounds of LBM on a budget. This thread has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with me, but I’ll tell you how I did it anyway. FUCKING bodypart splits and FUCKING cheeseburgers is how I did it.

You shouldn’t even be doing zercher lifts for lower back development anyway. Use them as a bicep exercise because they REST on the bicep and thus that receives the most strain which will lead to the most hypertrophy - and that’s ALL that matters. I don’t care what your goals are; They have now been replaced with “EAT BURGERS AND GET BIG FUCKING ARMS.”

You’re a FUCKING idiot for even having an opinion on the matter, anyway. I’m done with you retards.

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I’ve been using the Zercher harness as an accessory in my PL training to improve deadlift lockout. I’ve done it from the rack against bands in the past, but just recently started doing them from the floor. I probably wouldn’t be doing them if I didn’t have access to the harness.

rrjc: do you use the harness for ME work? Personally I’ve never done a heavy single with them.

To the OP: maybe we don’t see big Zerchers because it’s not a tested lift? That said, I bet if you actually searched for it, you could find some big numbers. Also, good luck training with your limited setup and way to go giving something as gnarly as Zerchers a shot.

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OP sounds pretty badass to me. Keep that fire kid it will take you far far far in life.

Don’t lose it,

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[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
You also completely ignored the fact that two of this sites most impressive lifters, hungry4more and maraudermeat, both include them in their training.
[/quote]

You have completely ignored the fact that neither of those two are anywhere near as butthurt that X doesn’t agree with your opinion.

LOL @ the interwebs.

This discussion could have been good, but no, you guys have to pull out every tired bullshit personal attack you can think off. Should I do a check box for you?

rrjc, your dumb anti-X posts aren’t’ helping the OP anymore than what you are complaining about X doing is.

Fact is, OP is a strong kid with a bright future looking to learn. And rather than have a conversation about this, you guys would rather critique X’s post rather than what he said.

COme the fuck on.

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[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:

[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats. [/quote]

Trap tears from squats are an epidemic, duh.[/quote]

That’s why X doesn’t do them.

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[quote]Most Major wrote:
rrjc: do you use the harness for ME work? Personally I’ve never done a heavy single with them.
[/quote]

Generally, no. I usually do them as an accessory lift. My ME and DE lower-body days usually consist of either a geared squat or geared DL, then some raw work of the other lift. (If I did a box squat in briefs as my first movement, I might do raw pulls from a defecit or just some raw pulls. If I do a geared DL as my first movement, I may do raw box squats or just raw squats in the 3-5 rep range.)

I usually included zerchers as a secondary movement on a day where I used a squat as my first/main movement. So basically I count it as an accessory lift as a DL variation. I mostly do them from the rack around knee height.

I did extend the harness one day (so the hooks are in the lower position, around dick level, lol) and do pulls from the floor as a ME movement, but have yet to do that since. I’ll probably just continue to do them from the pins.

I was talking to a friend a while ago and he was saying he likes them because they kill (in a good way) his upper back, which I don’t feel because I’m not supporting the bar with my arms, obviously… so I may give it a shot holding the bar in the crook of my arms, but with the 2x4 inbetween the bar and my arms and see how that changes it.

One thing with zerchers that I find very beneficial is to REALLY throw your hips into it and try to contract your glutes and keep your upper body upright for a second before starting your next rep. Like I said before, [at least using the harness], it’s VERY hard to keep an upright stature with a loaded bar trying to pull you forward, so I think that’s the best part of the lift.

I don’t know if I explained the above well, but think of it the same way you do rows: contract your glutes as hard as you possibly can at lockout - similar how you want to contract your back muscles as hard as you can - even as you start to lean forward to begin the lowerinng part of the motion.

[quote]
Also, good luck training with your limited setup and way to go giving something as gnarly as Zerchers a shot.[/quote]

This. Considering how many threads are created (especially by kids your age) asking for shortcuts, you’d think a thread like this wouldn’t turn into the clusterfuck it has. Jeez.

96

Ok, here’s a real post.

If performing a zercher lift correctly, the bar shouldn’t be resting on your bicep tendons. In order for the bar to rest on the bicep tendon, your arms would have to be straight out in front of you. The zercher lift requires you to clasp your hands, which means that the arms are rotated in such a way that the bicep tendons aren’t under the bar.

Of course, if someone has never even attempted the lift, then I wouldn’t expect them to know that. Of course, I would also expect someone who has never even attempted a particular exercise to make broad, general comments regarding the safety and efficacy of that lift.

97

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
LMAO

Edit: LMAO @ deezweez[/quote]

He has the most flexible spine I’ve ever seen! How does he NOT damage himself?

Good job on the Zerchers OP, and better job on taking the initiative to make “it” work without having a rack. Lots of kids would just give up and do bicep curls.

98

[quote]chimera182 wrote:

[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats. [/quote]

Not trying to be a dick, but don’t you think holding a large amount of weight in a flexed position might be more dangerous than say, holding a weight on muscles that are stable?[/quote]

Well, I’m just trying to wrap my mind around it. Your traps are also contracted in order to shelve the barbell on a squat. In both cases, the muscle is fully contracted. Tears happen when fully extended.

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[quote]jskrabac wrote:

[quote]chimera182 wrote:

[quote]jskrabac wrote:
I’m not sure I follow the logic of how these are any risk to your bicep tendon. That’s analogous to saying you risk a trap tear from back squats. [/quote]

Not trying to be a dick, but don’t you think holding a large amount of weight in a flexed position might be more dangerous than say, holding a weight on muscles that are stable?[/quote]

Well, I’m just trying to wrap my mind around it. Your traps are also contracted in order to shelve the barbell on a squat. In both cases, the muscle is fully contracted. Tears happen when fully extended. [/quote]

I see what you’re saying… and since I’m no expert on how these things work I’m not going to argue.

100

In any case, maybe this will contribute to the discussion. I don’t know if this means anything whatsoever, but I’ve noticed any guys I see at my gym training the zercher’s also do some kind of fighting: martial arts, boxing, etc… Consequently, I could see it working for fighters, not just powerlifters.