The Branch Warren Thread

Here’s the stuff I learned/knew but needed reminding.

Alright well Evan demostrated how to squat properly. Said it was good to stretch everything including chest before squats.

Evan really emphasized stretching. Said it helped prevent injury. Says he didn’t give stretching and warming up too much importance as a youth and that was a mistake. The whole bull shit of stretching making you weaker seems to be bull shit.

For taller dudes rest the bar on the lower traps to stay away from bending over during the lift. To use lighter weight and focus on the muscle rather than balling out and fucking good morning the weight.

They also stressed hitting the weak links first. Everyone builds up quads but that’s not a complete leg.

Dorian went over his rowing, how to squeeze the bar and how it’s stupid to move the torso during the lift. Basically being very strict, taking the bar to the lower belly and focusing on the squeeze. After you can’t complete a full rep do half reps.

He also talked about how machine pullovers were his best back exercise. How they target only the lat and elimnate the biceps, the weak link in back training. Also showed us how to deadlift. Said intensity is what builds a champion not volume and that he would hit 9 sets of back every 6-7 days ramping sets.

Rodney and Kevin English went on to discuss proper pressing technique, how you should push your shoulder back and retract the scapula rather than rounding the shoulders during presses. Stuff we know. Also reaffirmed that these dudes barbell bench and incline every workout so you don’t need all the crazy shit, and benching ain’t bad unless you’re a pussy. When I say benching, I mean flat, incline etc, or some variation because everyones chest responds differently

Rodney went on to explain that hitting heavy weights is majority mental. He gets pissed at the bar psyches himself up and gives it his all. Can’t doubt yourself.

Branch went over shoulders, talked about his training, explained why he doesn’t lock out his militaries because it’s delts not tris we are training. Explained how military press was his main shoulder exercise.

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.

Vic was arms. He showed proper curling technique. To raise the arm so in a way your trying to touch you shoulder and get a full contraction. Said do not wrist curl the bar when curling and don’t use straps. Said he prefers free weight moves first, machines after.

Went onto explain that dips and bench dips were his favorite tricep builders, god his triceps were enormous, and went over that. Said to come down to about 4 inches off your chest on close grips. Any lower and you get chest involvement. Mentioned overhead rope extensions were great. And some other exercise I’ll video cause I don’t know it’s name.

Ohhh and when doing preachers, the more the set goes on the more our elbows tend to turn and our arms become wider and wider apart. He said to keep the elbows tight and to try and keep the arms from moving.

If I didn’t explain something clearly, please ask.

Thanks heaps for that man, i like the hammer curl position laterals advice and evans info on stretching. Also ive got bis and tris 2moro so i may just put some bench dips in, havent done them in ages. Thanks again. See you at the olympia 2020 :wink:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.
… [/quote]

Instead of a hammer grip try them so your hand is slightly turned in (about 45 degree angle) so it makes a sort of roof shape at the top of the movement. Learnt this from a recent MD article, fucking AMAZING. Get such a pump in the front delts, which I’ve never had before; better than hammer grip imo.

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Here’s the stuff I learned/knew but needed reminding.

Alright well Evan demostrated how to squat properly. Said it was good to stretch everything including chest before squats.

Evan really emphasized stretching. Said it helped prevent injury. Says he didn’t give stretching and warming up too much importance as a youth and that was a mistake. The whole bull shit of stretching making you weaker seems to be bull shit.

For taller dudes rest the bar on the lower traps to stay away from bending over during the lift. To use lighter weight and focus on the muscle rather than balling out and fucking good morning the weight.

They also stressed hitting the weak links first. Everyone builds up quads but that’s not a complete leg.

Dorian went over his rowing, how to squeeze the bar and how it’s stupid to move the torso during the lift. Basically being very strict, taking the bar to the lower belly and focusing on the squeeze. After you can’t complete a full rep do half reps.

He also talked about how machine pullovers were his best back exercise. How they target only the lat and elimnate the biceps, the weak link in back training. Also showed us how to deadlift. Said intensity is what builds a champion not volume and that he would hit 9 sets of back every 6-7 days ramping sets.

Rodney and Kevin English went on to discuss proper pressing technique, how you should push your shoulder back and retract the scapula rather than rounding the shoulders during presses. Stuff we know. Also reaffirmed that these dudes barbell bench and incline every workout so you don’t need all the crazy shit, and benching ain’t bad unless you’re a pussy. When I say benching, I mean flat, incline etc, or some variation because everyones chest responds differently

Rodney went on to explain that hitting heavy weights is majority mental. He gets pissed at the bar psyches himself up and gives it his all. Can’t doubt yourself.

Branch went over shoulders, talked about his training, explained why he doesn’t lock out his militaries because it’s delts not tris we are training. Explained how military press was his main shoulder exercise.

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.

Vic was arms. He showed proper curling technique. To raise the arm so in a way your trying to touch you shoulder and get a full contraction. Said do not wrist curl the bar when curling and don’t use straps. Said he prefers free weight moves first, machines after.

Went onto explain that dips and bench dips were his favorite tricep builders, god his triceps were enormous, and went over that. Said to come down to about 4 inches off your chest on close grips. Any lower and you get chest involvement. Mentioned overhead rope extensions were great. And some other exercise I’ll video cause I don’t know it’s name.

Ohhh and when doing preachers, the more the set goes on the more our elbows tend to turn and our arms become wider and wider apart. He said to keep the elbows tight and to try and keep the arms from moving.

If I didn’t explain something clearly, please ask.[/quote]

Was there any comment by Yates on why he felt the “Yates row” (supinated grip, high back angle) was superior?

I was also at this seminar. Truly a great learning experience, I can hardly believe it was free considering the caliber of bodybuilders there. Prob a once in a life time type of experience. I know some of you watch these bodybuilders on dvds, youtube, MD, and Flex but to see them grab the weight and demonstrate certain movements really is special. The best analogy I can give would be if a person were to ask/watch Kobe, Lebron, or Wade shoot jumpers, textbook form… especially Dorian.

God, branch is so fucking huge in those stage shots. . .and looks so damn short next to you lol

I guess this is camera angle FTW

Thanks for posting the notes again. . .nothing new but nice to see them :slight_smile:

[quote]giterdone wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Here’s the stuff I learned/knew but needed reminding.

Alright well Evan demostrated how to squat properly. Said it was good to stretch everything including chest before squats.

Evan really emphasized stretching. Said it helped prevent injury. Says he didn’t give stretching and warming up too much importance as a youth and that was a mistake. The whole bull shit of stretching making you weaker seems to be bull shit.

For taller dudes rest the bar on the lower traps to stay away from bending over during the lift. To use lighter weight and focus on the muscle rather than balling out and fucking good morning the weight.

They also stressed hitting the weak links first. Everyone builds up quads but that’s not a complete leg.

Dorian went over his rowing, how to squeeze the bar and how it’s stupid to move the torso during the lift. Basically being very strict, taking the bar to the lower belly and focusing on the squeeze. After you can’t complete a full rep do half reps.

He also talked about how machine pullovers were his best back exercise. How they target only the lat and elimnate the biceps, the weak link in back training. Also showed us how to deadlift. Said intensity is what builds a champion not volume and that he would hit 9 sets of back every 6-7 days ramping sets.

Rodney and Kevin English went on to discuss proper pressing technique, how you should push your shoulder back and retract the scapula rather than rounding the shoulders during presses. Stuff we know. Also reaffirmed that these dudes barbell bench and incline every workout so you don’t need all the crazy shit, and benching ain’t bad unless you’re a pussy. When I say benching, I mean flat, incline etc, or some variation because everyones chest responds differently

Rodney went on to explain that hitting heavy weights is majority mental. He gets pissed at the bar psyches himself up and gives it his all. Can’t doubt yourself.

Branch went over shoulders, talked about his training, explained why he doesn’t lock out his militaries because it’s delts not tris we are training. Explained how military press was his main shoulder exercise.

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.

Vic was arms. He showed proper curling technique. To raise the arm so in a way your trying to touch you shoulder and get a full contraction. Said do not wrist curl the bar when curling and don’t use straps. Said he prefers free weight moves first, machines after.

Went onto explain that dips and bench dips were his favorite tricep builders, god his triceps were enormous, and went over that. Said to come down to about 4 inches off your chest on close grips. Any lower and you get chest involvement. Mentioned overhead rope extensions were great. And some other exercise I’ll video cause I don’t know it’s name.

Ohhh and when doing preachers, the more the set goes on the more our elbows tend to turn and our arms become wider and wider apart. He said to keep the elbows tight and to try and keep the arms from moving.

If I didn’t explain something clearly, please ask.[/quote]

Was there any comment by Yates on why he felt the “Yates row” (supinated grip, high back angle) was superior? [/quote]

X2

[quote]Tancredi wrote:

[quote]giterdone wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Here’s the stuff I learned/knew but needed reminding.

Alright well Evan demostrated how to squat properly. Said it was good to stretch everything including chest before squats.

Evan really emphasized stretching. Said it helped prevent injury. Says he didn’t give stretching and warming up too much importance as a youth and that was a mistake. The whole bull shit of stretching making you weaker seems to be bull shit.

For taller dudes rest the bar on the lower traps to stay away from bending over during the lift. To use lighter weight and focus on the muscle rather than balling out and fucking good morning the weight.

They also stressed hitting the weak links first. Everyone builds up quads but that’s not a complete leg.

Dorian went over his rowing, how to squeeze the bar and how it’s stupid to move the torso during the lift. Basically being very strict, taking the bar to the lower belly and focusing on the squeeze. After you can’t complete a full rep do half reps.

He also talked about how machine pullovers were his best back exercise. How they target only the lat and elimnate the biceps, the weak link in back training. Also showed us how to deadlift. Said intensity is what builds a champion not volume and that he would hit 9 sets of back every 6-7 days ramping sets.

Rodney and Kevin English went on to discuss proper pressing technique, how you should push your shoulder back and retract the scapula rather than rounding the shoulders during presses. Stuff we know. Also reaffirmed that these dudes barbell bench and incline every workout so you don’t need all the crazy shit, and benching ain’t bad unless you’re a pussy. When I say benching, I mean flat, incline etc, or some variation because everyones chest responds differently

Rodney went on to explain that hitting heavy weights is majority mental. He gets pissed at the bar psyches himself up and gives it his all. Can’t doubt yourself.

Branch went over shoulders, talked about his training, explained why he doesn’t lock out his militaries because it’s delts not tris we are training. Explained how military press was his main shoulder exercise.

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.

Vic was arms. He showed proper curling technique. To raise the arm so in a way your trying to touch you shoulder and get a full contraction. Said do not wrist curl the bar when curling and don’t use straps. Said he prefers free weight moves first, machines after.

Went onto explain that dips and bench dips were his favorite tricep builders, god his triceps were enormous, and went over that. Said to come down to about 4 inches off your chest on close grips. Any lower and you get chest involvement. Mentioned overhead rope extensions were great. And some other exercise I’ll video cause I don’t know it’s name.

Ohhh and when doing preachers, the more the set goes on the more our elbows tend to turn and our arms become wider and wider apart. He said to keep the elbows tight and to try and keep the arms from moving.

If I didn’t explain something clearly, please ask.[/quote]

Was there any comment by Yates on why he felt the “Yates row” (supinated grip, high back angle) was superior? [/quote]

X2[/quote]

Actually he did. He said the high back angle was a good place to “lock” into position keeping you strong throughout the lift as well as keeping the lower back safe. Granted you need to keep locked into the position, no swaying of the torso to cheat. He said the supinated grip gives a better stretch especially in the lower lats. And he really emphasies squeezing the lats as hard as you can at the top of all the sets. Now get into that position and you can feel what he is talking about, try both hand positions, with the supinated grip you can definitely feel a bigger stretch.

He tore his biceps he said, because he was being stupid, needed to go heavy when he shouldn’t have and was trying to hit crazy weights pre contest…

[quote]
Thanks heaps for that man, i like the hammer curl position laterals advice and evans info on stretching. Also ive got bis and tris 2moro so i may just put some bench dips in, havent done them in ages. Thanks again. See you at the olympia 2020 ;)[/quote]

Yeah, Bench Dips will be added to my regiment as well. Hopefully I won’t disappoint on the 2020 Olympia :).

[quote]
Instead of a hammer grip try them so your hand is slightly turned in (about 45 degree angle) so it makes a sort of roof shape at the top of the movement. Learnt this from a recent MD article, fucking AMAZING. Get such a pump in the front delts, which I’ve never had before; better than hammer grip imo.[/quote]

Good idea, I just tried them for shits and giggles and you are right, good contraction.

[quote]
I was also at this seminar. Truly a great learning experience, I can hardly believe it was free considering the caliber of bodybuilders there. Prob a once in a life time type of experience. I know some of you watch these bodybuilders on dvds, youtube, MD, and Flex but to see them grab the weight and demonstrate certain movements really is special. The best analogy I can give would be if a person were to ask/watch Kobe, Lebron, or Wade shoot jumpers, textbook form… especially Dorian.[/quote]

Word. Definitely a great time, I probably saw you, it was the perfect sized crowd. The Pros were great dudes.

[quote]

God, branch is so fucking huge in those stage shots. . .and looks so damn short next to you lol

I guess this is camera angle FTW

Thanks for posting the notes again. . .nothing new but nice to see them :)[/quote]

Yeah which means I’ll have to weigh like 350 to be as dense. Haha, the camera angle was part of the reason but I did tower over the dude.

Exactly though, it more or less reaffirmed things I knew and really made my routine justifiable because who can argue with these dudes on how to grow. It also made me put more importance on things, such as squatting with the bar lower on my traps, and doing some sort of pullover movement for back. When you here these guys talk about lifting heavy, and explosive, using a lot of free weights and basically picking a couple exercises, ramping the sets and hitting things where intensity is the most important factor made me say “fuck anyone on here that questions that attitude and wants to get big/strong.” These guys were great! Some good personalities too, awesome for the sport, Rodney Roller was a trip.

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
Here’s the stuff I learned/knew but needed reminding.

Alright well Evan demostrated how to squat properly. Said it was good to stretch everything including chest before squats.

Evan really emphasized stretching. Said it helped prevent injury. Says he didn’t give stretching and warming up too much importance as a youth and that was a mistake. The whole bull shit of stretching making you weaker seems to be bull shit.

For taller dudes rest the bar on the lower traps to stay away from bending over during the lift. To use lighter weight and focus on the muscle rather than balling out and fucking good morning the weight.

They also stressed hitting the weak links first. Everyone builds up quads but that’s not a complete leg.

Dorian went over his rowing, how to squeeze the bar and how it’s stupid to move the torso during the lift. Basically being very strict, taking the bar to the lower belly and focusing on the squeeze. After you can’t complete a full rep do half reps.

He also talked about how machine pullovers were his best back exercise. How they target only the lat and elimnate the biceps, the weak link in back training. Also showed us how to deadlift. Said intensity is what builds a champion not volume and that he would hit 9 sets of back every 6-7 days ramping sets.

Rodney and Kevin English went on to discuss proper pressing technique, how you should push your shoulder back and retract the scapula rather than rounding the shoulders during presses. Stuff we know. Also reaffirmed that these dudes barbell bench and incline every workout so you don’t need all the crazy shit, and benching ain’t bad unless you’re a pussy. When I say benching, I mean flat, incline etc, or some variation because everyones chest responds differently

Rodney went on to explain that hitting heavy weights is majority mental. He gets pissed at the bar psyches himself up and gives it his all. Can’t doubt yourself.

Branch went over shoulders, talked about his training, explained why he doesn’t lock out his militaries because it’s delts not tris we are training. Explained how military press was his main shoulder exercise.

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.

Vic was arms. He showed proper curling technique. To raise the arm so in a way your trying to touch you shoulder and get a full contraction. Said do not wrist curl the bar when curling and don’t use straps. Said he prefers free weight moves first, machines after.

Went onto explain that dips and bench dips were his favorite tricep builders, god his triceps were enormous, and went over that. Said to come down to about 4 inches off your chest on close grips. Any lower and you get chest involvement. Mentioned overhead rope extensions were great. And some other exercise I’ll video cause I don’t know it’s name.

Ohhh and when doing preachers, the more the set goes on the more our elbows tend to turn and our arms become wider and wider apart. He said to keep the elbows tight and to try and keep the arms from moving.

If I didn’t explain something clearly, please ask.[/quote]

a_b – this post is worth copying/pasting into the “Bodybuilding Bible” thread, IMO. That thread outlines the basic principles that the biggest bodybuilders have generally used. You got this info right from the biggest of the biggest. Good info.

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
I met Branch today. Huge mother fucker![/quote]

If you met him in an alley, you think you could take him?

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
I met Branch today. Huge mother fucker![/quote]

If you met him in an alley, you think you could take him?
[/quote]

Only if I kicked him in the nuts and gouged his eyes.

cool thread :smiley:

branch warren is my favorite bodybuilder, he`s workouts are hardcore. gotta love it.

thanks to all the people who found does youtube videos.

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:
I met Branch today. Huge mother fucker![/quote]

If you met him in an alley, you think you could take him?
[/quote]

Only if I kicked him in the nuts and gouged his eyes.[/quote]

or after 2 weeks of MMA training, lol

Good stuff A-B, good luck on your 2020 quest.

Branch is the man, his videos taught me what intensity means.

[quote]babaganoosh wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.
… [/quote]

Instead of a hammer grip try them so your hand is slightly turned in (about 45 degree angle) so it makes a sort of roof shape at the top of the movement. Learnt this from a recent MD article, fucking AMAZING. Get such a pump in the front delts, which I’ve never had before; better than hammer grip imo.[/quote]

I used to make use of the hammer grip front raises as well, great for targeting the anterior head. Eventually I figured that if you actually rotate your hand fully to an actual underhand grip, as long as you don’t over-contract your bicep, you will get the sickest front delt isolation (of course I’ve always been a big fan of doing reverse grip military presses, so this fits in with that approach).

S

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]babaganoosh wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.
… [/quote]

Instead of a hammer grip try them so your hand is slightly turned in (about 45 degree angle) so it makes a sort of roof shape at the top of the movement. Learnt this from a recent MD article, fucking AMAZING. Get such a pump in the front delts, which I’ve never had before; better than hammer grip imo.[/quote]

I used to make use of the hammer grip front raises as well, great for targeting the anterior head. Eventually I figured that if you actually rotate your hand fully to an actual underhand grip, as long as you don’t over-contract your bicep, you will get the sickest front delt isolation (of course I’ve always been a big fan of doing reverse grip military presses, so this fits in with that approach).

S
[/quote]

I know this is the Branch Warren thread, but I think we have some leeway to post Kai Greene :wink:

Starting around 1:45 he does underhand barbell front raises, then transitions into exactly the neutral-to-underhand db front raise you describe, Stu.

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]babaganoosh wrote:

[quote]austin_bicep wrote:

Branch also said when doing front raises to keep your hands in a hammer curl position because it targets the front delt better.
… [/quote]

Instead of a hammer grip try them so your hand is slightly turned in (about 45 degree angle) so it makes a sort of roof shape at the top of the movement. Learnt this from a recent MD article, fucking AMAZING. Get such a pump in the front delts, which I’ve never had before; better than hammer grip imo.[/quote]

I used to make use of the hammer grip front raises as well, great for targeting the anterior head. Eventually I figured that if you actually rotate your hand fully to an actual underhand grip, as long as you don’t over-contract your bicep, you will get the sickest front delt isolation (of course I’ve always been a big fan of doing reverse grip military presses, so this fits in with that approach).

S
[/quote]

Thanks for posting. I’ll give them a shot next shoulder session… though I think I may have tried them that way before; they seem familiar somehow.

Note: When doing the underhand front raises, don’t round your shoulders! (well, don’t round them in any event when stressing them like that).
Danger of bicep tendon isses (tendon crossing the shoulder) otherwise.

Smart man that Kai Greene,… I predict he’ll go far -lol

S