I Can't Zercher, Looking For Advice

Bigger Stronger Leaner Powerlifting & Strength Sports
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[quote]threewhitelights wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks that because this guy whines about sucking at front squats that he should just do front squats?[/quote]

I was just scrolling down the thread to type that in…you beat me to it.

OP…the first thing that I thought as I was reading your post based on having no rack and needing a replacement for Zerchers was, “Well…front squats seem like a natural choice.”

Then I read your, “Front squats suck monkey balls!” and thought to myself, “Oh, this guy definitely needs to do some front squats.”

I have always found that the exercises I hate the most are always the ones I need to work on the most. And then after working on them I find the carry over to other exercises to be the greatest when compared to gains made in exercises I am comfortable with.

So my advice…replace Zerchers with front squats.

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JP… You are right on the money as well…

When an athlete HATES an exercise, they typically suck at it… It’s kind of funny, most high school kids that I begin working with typically HATE squatting because they are so focused on getting their bench press up… Then typically my college and pro guys, are the opposite, they’d rather squat and deadlift because they understand that it is more beneficial in making them more explosive for their particular sport…

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[quote]The other Rob wrote:
threewhitelights wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks that because this guy whines about sucking at front squats that he should just do front squats?

After malonetd’s advice I’ve decided to get better at them. Won’t be doing any 1rm’s any time soon, but I’m going to be using them in 5 reps+ as my main squatting work[/quote]

I’d personally go for more sets and less reps on the front squat.

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[quote]The other Rob wrote:
Ah, I actually am pretty good at keeping the weight off the forearms, I think it’s a nerve issue. I can prod certain parts of my forearm and get pretty serious shooting pains in my knuckles, unfortunately this means no zerchers.

I like/liked to think of relaxing the biceps, flexing the delts and pushing my elbows forwards to keep the bar in the crook, and I allow my upper back to round. Before the injury I barely felt the weight in my arms, it makes a huge difference.

I think the problem was related to crushing my fingers together whilst doing the heavy weights, definitely felt severe enough to cause some damage. The irony is I changed to doing them that way as before I was fucking up my wrists by using my right hand to grip the back of my left hand.

Live and learn etc, if this heals then I’ll probably try to learn to do them without my hands touching each other.

EDIT: I guess the thread title is a bit misleading, maybe should have thrown in the word “anymore”[/quote]

I think you should look into ART to fix this nerve problem

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[quote]Kalle wrote:
The other Rob wrote:
threewhitelights wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks that because this guy whines about sucking at front squats that he should just do front squats?

After malonetd’s advice I’ve decided to get better at them. Won’t be doing any 1rm’s any time soon, but I’m going to be using them in 5 reps+ as my main squatting work

I’d personally go for more sets and less reps on the front squat.[/quote]

That’s a really good idea, does 5*3 using straight sets sound sensible?

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find a local gym with guys that are bigger and stronger than you… learn from them… i hate to say it, but you aren’t going to get very far in strongman if A. you don’t do event training or have the right equipment to train with B. you complain about doing front squats because “they suck monkey balls”… strongman is a sport that a lot of people get involved with, but don’t go anywhere because they don’t want to do the work or they get hurt once and can’t stand the pain… you’re never going to be 100% in strongman and pain is just a part of the sport that you have to love, otherwise, go play badmitton

i hate to sound like a dick, but its true… i’ve met tons of guys that were really gifted and strong, but when push came to shove, they couldn’t handle the mental aspect of strongman and they’d give up once it got hard and from the sound of it, you don’t want to push yourself through training an event that isn’t conducive to your strengths… i fucking hate drag events and the yoke, but i train them all the time cause they’re not my best event, its just part of being a well rounded athlete

27

[quote]The other Rob wrote:
Fuck. So I’m posting this to vent, and to try and get some suggestions. My eventual goal is to compete in strongman, so I am posting this here in the hopes of getting advice geared towards the requirements of strongman.

I train at home with (currently) nothing but a barbell and a set of rings. Since starting training at home I have been using the Zercher squat as my main means of squatting and building leg strength/size.

As of my last training session I can’t fucking Zercher anymore, the bar puts pressure on a certain part of my forearm and pain shoots through my forearm and between my first 2 knuckles.

I’m guessing it’s a trapped nerve, but it completely shuts me down - I can feel it even during light warm up sets. What I’m looking for is a decent alternative, I have no squat rack and not exactly a lot of money to buy one. I’m not a fan of cleaning the bar to front squat as:

A) Front squats suck monkey balls

B) High rep front squats suck even harder

C) If I had to dump the bar (would probably happen sooner rather than later) I’d smash the patio

How important is a squatting variation in strongman? Are cleans a suitable alternative?
I’m trying to look on the bright side of this shit sandwich, so I’m thinking this will allow me to focus on my deadlift, I just need to find a way to get some quad work in.

I had just finished a cycle of 5/3/1 before this happened and planned to follow it until June. I have no bench so I have been simply pressing, zerchering and pulling and had one day of press assistance.

Maybe now I’d be better off doing some kind of 4 day a week upper/lower split (A-Press heavy B-Pull heavy C-Press light D-Pull light) with plenty of assistance (lunges, some front squats staying away from failure, and romanian deads as far as leg work goes)?

Basically I’m looking for advice from someone with experience in the sport as to my best move to make currently.[/quote]

get alot of padding for the bar when u do zercher squats and set up 2 folding steel chairs at each end of the barbell, set the loaded barbell on it and start ur zerchers from the bottom position

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[quote]Kalle wrote:
The other Rob wrote:
threewhitelights wrote:
Am I the only one that thinks that because this guy whines about sucking at front squats that he should just do front squats?

After malonetd’s advice I’ve decided to get better at them. Won’t be doing any 1rm’s any time soon, but I’m going to be using them in 5 reps+ as my main squatting work

I’d personally go for more sets and less reps on the front squat.[/quote]

yes never do more than six reps for front squat youll just comprimise ur form witch can be very dangerous with front squats(even more if ur not in a power rack) got for a set/rep scheme of like 6x6 or 8x3

29

[quote]desenuts wrote:
find a local gym with guys that are bigger and stronger than you… learn from them… i hate to say it, but you aren’t going to get very far in strongman if A. you don’t do event training or have the right equipment to train with B. you complain about doing front squats because “they suck monkey balls”… strongman is a sport that a lot of people get involved with, but don’t go anywhere because they don’t want to do the work or they get hurt once and can’t stand the pain… you’re never going to be 100% in strongman and pain is just a part of the sport that you have to love, otherwise, go play badmitton

i hate to sound like a dick, but its true… i’ve met tons of guys that were really gifted and strong, but when push came to shove, they couldn’t handle the mental aspect of strongman and they’d give up once it got hard and from the sound of it, you don’t want to push yourself through training an event that isn’t conducive to your strengths… i fucking hate drag events and the yoke, but i train them all the time cause they’re not my best event, its just part of being a well rounded athlete[/quote]

I needed to hear that, thanks. There used to be a strongman gym in my town, but it closed down shortly after I discovered it. Last I read, they were trying to set up again so I may try and get down there once they are up and running.