How Much Do You Curl?

Training Bodybuilding
81

[quote]SteelyD wrote:
I know some lifting competitions have curl events. Never seen one, though.

What are the rules for them? Are they fixed curls like preacher curls? Full ROM? Standing?

In other words, is there a standard for competition curls (like bench, deads, squats)?

Anyone ever curl in competition?[/quote]

There are two types of competition curls. The first is a “standing” strict curl. As the name implies you curl the bar up to your chin while standing straight up. This is the easier version and allows more weight but it is difficult to judge because it is hard to decide what amount of lean back to allow.

NASA does this type of curl and is relatively popular, if you youtube NASA curls you should get some good hits so you can see the form (I don’t think they are super strict).

The other type of strict curl is as a previous poster mentioned, up against the wall. Your upper back and butt must be up against the wall at all times, your upper arms can move.

This version is much harder as it allows for no hip drive which is crucial in a big curl, most people find they need to take off about 20% of their standing curl on the strict curl. 100% RAW among others uses this method.

Both types of curls use an EZ bar (which is a good call IMO).

Interesting bit of trivia: curls where included in the first powerlifting competitions along with the Big Three but then dropped over.

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[quote]hardgnr wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
hardgnr wrote:

Discussing curls can be a taboo subject here sometimes…

Clever, I give you that. Seeing as how I’m usually the guy defending curls in every anti-curl discussion in the bb forum.

How about you guys post up something more useful along with your current numbers though: How your curl progress has been the last 10 workouts? What you curled at the beginning of the year and what you’re curling now?
That way we can at least see if anyone is stuck or only improving only at snail’s pace… And some people who are curling a little more than others might be able to give you a few pointers.

(ok, so this should really have been my first post in this thread)

That original comment wasn’t so much directed at you in particular, just the forums in general.

Anyway, my curl progress has been shit, strength wise anyway. About a year ago when I was going to a gym, I could curl the 40kg bar for about 5 reps. Now I curl 45kg for 4 reps although my arms have grown 2.5’ but this is probably just beginner gains and the fact I’ve put on a fair amount of weight since then.
Since the beginning of November, I’ve done a bit of higher rep, light weight work using strict form, and made some progress, but I’m lacking the strength. I always suspected as much but from hearing what others are curling, and most are at lighter a body weight then me, I’ve confirmed this.

So now my approach is throwing about my 5RM on the bar for about 3-4 sets for about 3 exercises - Standing BB curl, Alt DB curl and reverse BB curl and seeing how I go with this.[/quote]

We’re talking about arms here… All reps I read from you are low.
I’d really suggest bumping those rep-ranges a little higher and using the standard modern bb approach (ala Professor X) for now.
Any chance that you added some tricep mass? That can easily account for the increase you’ve seen.

If you want, pm me and we can discuss this a little… If you want any suggestions etc. Just tell me what your routine is like in detail and all that…

How’s your progress been on everything else?

Edit: The high-rep “light weight” thing isn’t exactly great either (if we’re talking about 12-20 reps on a regular set here).

83

[quote]SteelyD wrote:
I know some lifting competitions have curl events. Never seen one, though.

What are the rules for them? Are they fixed curls like preacher curls? Full ROM? Standing?

In other words, is there a standard for competition curls (like bench, deads, squats)?

Anyone ever curl in competition?[/quote]

The Fed I compete in holds a curl event, it is free standing with an EZ bar, but from what I’ve seen they don’t seem to care too much about how strict the curl is.

84

[quote]Tim Henriques wrote:
There are two types of competition curls. The first is a “standing” strict curl. As the name implies you curl the bar up to your chin while standing straight up. This is the easier version and allows more weight but it is difficult to judge because it is hard to decide what amount of lean back to allow.

NASA does this type of curl and is relatively popular, if you youtube NASA curls you should get some good hits so you can see the form (I don’t think they are super strict).[/quote]

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.

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anyone RP their arm movements? Would you recomend it to others?

86

Standing EZ curl bar 130 x 8.

D

87

[quote]Bill Roberts wrote:

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.
[/quote]

I agree that the lift was impressive, 225 is very nice. However I would not call that a ‘strict’ curl. I am not “hating” on the lift, I do what is a legal in whatever fed I lift in and if that form is legal then I will go with that form, but that is exactly why I like the curls up against the wall because it eliminates what swing you can do and what you can’t. That way if somebody beats you by 5 lbs you know it was because they curled more than you and not because they “cheated” better than you. That is my take on it anyway.

88

[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
Nards wrote:
I walked into my gym a few weeks ago and found this on the bar…I think they were 35s, I can’t recall as I’ve come in other morinings and found three 25s on each side also.
This is Taiwan…I’ve only seen one or two guys even squat over 315…so I don’t believe any real lifting could’ve ever taken place with this bar.

i used to do rack pulls on the e-z curl. so im sure people had their share of thought when they saw 405 on the preacher curl, maybe since people are small in taiwan they are using it for shrugs or something.[/quote]

Or there was a short guy doing squats…

89

[quote]Cockney Blue wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
Nards wrote:
I walked into my gym a few weeks ago and found this on the bar…I think they were 35s, I can’t recall as I’ve come in other morinings and found three 25s on each side also.
This is Taiwan…I’ve only seen one or two guys even squat over 315…so I don’t believe any real lifting could’ve ever taken place with this bar.

i used to do rack pulls on the e-z curl. so im sure people had their share of thought when they saw 405 on the preacher curl, maybe since people are small in taiwan they are using it for shrugs or something.

Or there was a short guy doing squats…[/quote]

LOL

90

[quote]Tim Henriques wrote:
Bill Roberts wrote:

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.

[/quote]

Since when do curl bars weigh 45 lbs? Unless I’m mistaken and that’s a different one. Not knocking the guy.

91

[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
Tim Henriques wrote:
Bill Roberts wrote:

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.

Since when do curl bars weight 45 lbs? Unless I’m mistaken and that’s a different one. No knocking the guy.[/quote]

blues are 20kg, I’ve seen 25kg red plates before, but idk what those are becuase I can’t see them. It is a state record though, so it must be legit.

92

[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
Tim Henriques wrote:
Bill Roberts wrote:

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.

Since when do curl bars weight 45 lbs? Unless I’m mistaken and that’s a different one. No knocking the guy.[/quote]

http://www.ironcompany.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=221

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got ya

94

45 lbs 100 times

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[quote]Tim Henriques wrote:
Bill Roberts wrote:

The lift in this video was impressive:

Actually his form is stricter than in another clip which is of a lift apparently earning a world record at a slightly-lighter 223 lb. If the lifter in the video is one of the respondents in the accompanying thread, his lift is not a world record simply because it was held at only a regional meet and therefore is only a state/regional record.

I agree that the lift was impressive, 225 is very nice. However I would not call that a ‘strict’ curl. I am not “hating” on the lift, I do what is a legal in whatever fed I lift in and if that form is legal then I will go with that form, but that is exactly why I like the curls up against the wall because it eliminates what swing you can do and what you can’t. That way if somebody beats you by 5 lbs you know it was because they curled more than you and not because they “cheated” better than you. That is my take on it anyway.[/quote]

My English wasn’t the best: really there should be no such thing as “stricter” as strict is already strict. I didn’t mean that his lift was perfectly strict, it is not, but rather that it was much closer to such than was the case for the world record video, and as a bonus “more easily” completed and apparently with a touch more weight as well.

Agree completely on the problem of competitive lifts where “some but not much” lack of strictness is permitted. Kudos to those, like this lifter, that keep it pretty close. But such a situation gives the lifter reason to want to get the form as loose as will be permitted. Much clearer to just have absolutes. E.g., not for the bench press “not much bounce” but rather full stop and lift on command. Or as you say, for the curl, up against the wall.

But for a standing curl where some movement was permitted, I thought his was very nice for that weight.

96

How much does an EZ curl bar weigh? 35lbs?

97

[quote]Nards wrote:
How much does an EZ curl bar weigh? 35lbs?[/quote]

most just weigh 15.

98

[quote]Nards wrote:
How much does an EZ curl bar weigh? 35lbs?[/quote]

that would be one hell of an EZ bar

99

I wouldn’t know, I never touch the things!

100

[quote]youngblood52 wrote:
just curious, what is harder to curl with a straight olympic bar or an ez bar?[/quote]

It may be important to do it yourself and find out. I find the Olympic bar very damaging to the wrists but it actually hits the belly of my biceps properly. The ez-curl bar is easy on the wrists but I find it hits the biceps very little and all the work is being done by that piece of muscle that connects the upper arm to the lower arm at the elbow joint. Arnold was able to get away with the straight barbell curls and had great success. Try it out, maybe you will too!