This debate seems to keep rearing its head at my gym. Basically the question is should BB Bicep Curls be put into a training program when hypertrophy is the goal?
Many gym goers and staff members are on the no direct arm exercises wagon at the moment. They claim to be getting good results.
I wouldn’t mind hearing what the T-Nation faithful seem to think on this topic.
I personally say Curl.
I say do what you want to reach your goals. If you want the hugest biceps you can, you should obviously curl. If you want to be a faster runner, you don’t need to curl.
If hypertrophy is the goal, bicep curls are a must IMO.
Chins and Rows will hit the biceps, but not like a good set of culrs will.
Curl.
If the goal is hypertrophy, I suggest curling.
DeFranco has bicep curls in there for his football players and they seem to be animal athletes too.
I also think, you are only as strong as your weakest link. So why not take a bit of time to train your biceps?
you need to train your elbow flexors at some point…
Why does everyone seriously avoid curls?
I understand that there has been a serious abuse of them but you don’t need to completely forsake them.
If you’ve been doing curls for ages and your biceps haven’t grown- sure switch shit up.
But there is such a thing as a healthy medium… i mean wtf…
Not to Curl.
[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
you need to train your elbow flexors at some point…
[/quote]
Chins, DB Rows, BB Rows, Lat Pulldowns and etc.
I don’t think that is what he was saying he was simply asking our views.
As I said before. Chins and etc will do enough for them.
Hmmm. Is this a problem with you? Doing curls and not growing. Some might put some simple arithmetic to the equation.
[quote]
But there is such a thing as a healthy medium… i mean wtf…[/quote]
Fuck it man, he just asked a simple question with some reason behind it. “I mean wtf”.
[quote]De sleeplijn wrote:
Why does everyone seriously avoid curls?
I don’t think that is what he was saying he was simply asking our views.
[/quote]
That is what he was saying. He was saying because people have tried to actually give that retarded advice on this forum. They blame it on some trainers who write articles here yet I still have yet to read an article that said do absolutely no isolation work.
It is amazing to me that it is now NOT common knowledge that you would need to do curls if the goal is to have the largest muscular arms you could get.
Over reaction then under reaction, cosgrove is on to something
I say curl.
It always amazed me that anyone recommended not curling, if the ultimate goal was hypertrophy. Yes, rows, chins, etc. will develop your arms - but there’s nothing wrong with direct arm work - and surely combining the two will give the best results.
I suppose the anti-curl sentiments are just a backlash to the trend of idiots doing endless sets of curls (possibly even in the squat rack) and neglecting the other muscle groups.
What everyone else has said, you should curl. If hypertrophy is your goal, than there is no reason you shouldn’t be doing direct arm work.
As long as you’re not in the squat rack, curls are OK :-] I personally do very little direct arm work but I like to add in some isolation work on my core/cardio days. If nothing else it’s nice to get that “pump” going.
Man, this is like the no direct shoulder work argument that’s been thrown around lately. Basically, if you have arms that grow like a mofo, then you may get away without much direct work. If you have shoulders that grow with the slightest hint of loading, then they might not need much direct work. If they have low work load tolerance, they might grow even faster without direct work.
If this is not the case and these bodyparts are not growing - then clearly you need to work the motherfuckers! Advice is generally trainee specific. There is no perfect programme for everyone.
[quote]Kliplemet wrote:
i tried to do some curls last week, but a middle aged physical loser kept bugging me about technique, so i gave him the barbell and walked away frustrated[/quote]
Technique? Bend at the elbow! lol
[quote]Kliplemet wrote:
yes it was kind of a fad to avoid direct arm work, but now it is definately a fad to say it was a fad and you don’t understand why
i tried to do some curls last week, but a middle aged physical loser kept bugging me about technique, so i gave him the barbell and walked away frustrated[/quote]
Your technique doesn’t seem to be working too well these days either. 
another thing, what fucking retard doesn’t know how to curl?
[quote]Kliplemet wrote:
baretta wrote:
Kliplemet wrote:
yes it was kind of a fad to avoid direct arm work, but now it is definately a fad to say it was a fad and you don’t understand why
i tried to do some curls last week, but a middle aged physical loser kept bugging me about technique, so i gave him the barbell and walked away frustrated
Your technique doesn’t seem to be working too well these days either.
another thing, what fucking retard doesn’t know how to curl?
he said i had to keep my elbows fixed against my body in a way that seems anatomically impossible, i gave him a few hints i didn’t give a fuck, but the bastard kept bugging me…[/quote]
That’s when you ask him to give you a spot and as soon as he’s in front of you, drop the barbell (make sure to get the plates on one of his feet). Then just look him in the eyes, grin like a motherfucker, and say “sorry, with my elbows at my sides like that I couldn’t hold the bar well enough.”
[quote]Wayland wrote:
Over reaction then under reaction, cosgrove is on to something[/quote]
cosgrove stole that from wendler who stole it from the devil who stole it from me. it’s true.
but, regarding the thread topic … how many f*cking times do we have to discuss this? do you have any idea how busy i am?
Hammer curls 3 sets twice a week.
[quote]BASTARD GUY wrote:
but, regarding the thread topic … how many f*cking times do we have to discuss this? do you have any idea how busy i am?[/quote]
Is that why you haven’t called me lately…?
[quote]The Grizz wrote:
This debate seems to keep rearing its head at my gym. Basically the question is should BB Bicep Curls be put into a training program when hypertrophy is the goal?
Many gym goers and staff members are on the no direct arm exercises wagon at the moment. They claim to be getting good results.
I wouldn’t mind hearing what the T-Nation faithful seem to think on this topic.
I personally say Curl.[/quote]
Its simple, if you want big biceps curl.
Proper curling technique from the master.