Traps - I Really Need Some Help

Training Bodybuilding
81

[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
The quote posted by kyle where D talks about rack pulls to bring the traps up… Guess what, that was meant for people on the 2-way variant of DC.

In that particular split, you don’t get a “trap” slot, just “backthickness”, a necessary compromise in order to keep the overall frequency high but also allow for enough off-days to be able to use Rest-Pause on so many exercises.

Sacrificing a backthickness slot for an exercise that only works the traps (and forearms) is not a good idea. Hence Dante talking about deads, rack pulls etc.

Guys on the 3-way or other variants could just throw a shrug widowmaker in on back day if they still had weak traps.

Incidentally, I do remember some post of Dante where he talks about shrugs as the fastest way to get big traps, and traps alone (i.e., shrug 600 for reps or something like that). They just don’t fit into the 2-way.

Traps are one of my faster-growing bodyparts… But even so I had the problem that they just didn’t look as impressive when I stood relaxed (and without messing up my posture on purpose) or with squared shoulders. Especially compared to the trap/shoulder-areas of assisted lifters. Most assisted bodybuilders I’ve seen in person (the big ones, not the local moron who uses every drug there is but still looks half as big as everyone else) look practically just as impressive when standing totally relaxed as they do when flexing…

It did take direct work in the form of shrugs to remedy that issue (well, I still don’t have traps like Ronnie or Jonnie or every other big black guy with a name ending on -ie, but now they really stand out even when relaxed)…
And adding direct work doesn’t mean “ok, I’ll try shrugs for 2-3 weeks and if my traps don’t look huge after that, I’ll go back to powercleans”.
It means working your way from 135x10 to 225, 315, 495, 585 (depending on the individual)…
[/quote]

I understood the context in which the comment was made by DC, and how it applies to DC training. I gave reason in a separate post as to why I posted the quote. Coincidentally, as you know, you specifically discussed traps in the DC thread recently.

The post you are thinking of was just mentioned by anonym a page back, and absolutely it’s all about progression regardless of which exercise you are using.

82

angus_beef, is that avi/avatar a pic of your own arm, if it is HOLY CRAP!. Just as impressive as Prof. X’s delts and traps.

83

this thread definately went full retard.
lots of movements work the traps, but only one does directly. guess which that one is??
oh and said movements are not mutually exclusive.

84

[quote]angus_beef wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

[photo]24057[/photo]

And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

I know right, forget those traps, let me get those DELTS.
[/quote]

He got them like that from military presses, only. No laterals.

Hehe

Hmm…I wonder if there is any correlation between heavy laterals and wide shoulders and heavy shrugs and big traps.

85

[quote]adamhum wrote:
Did anyone say upright rows? I think they worked pretty well for me.[/quote]

Dead right. Upright row is the best trap movement no doubt.

86

Is it me or does prof x look like he would have trouble wiping his ass? He’s super cool and all, i’m just sayin…

87

[quote]kylec72 wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
The quote posted by kyle where D talks about rack pulls to bring the traps up… Guess what, that was meant for people on the 2-way variant of DC.

In that particular split, you don’t get a “trap” slot, just “backthickness”, a necessary compromise in order to keep the overall frequency high but also allow for enough off-days to be able to use Rest-Pause on so many exercises.

Sacrificing a backthickness slot for an exercise that only works the traps (and forearms) is not a good idea. Hence Dante talking about deads, rack pulls etc.

Guys on the 3-way or other variants could just throw a shrug widowmaker in on back day if they still had weak traps.

Incidentally, I do remember some post of Dante where he talks about shrugs as the fastest way to get big traps, and traps alone (i.e., shrug 600 for reps or something like that). They just don’t fit into the 2-way.

Traps are one of my faster-growing bodyparts… But even so I had the problem that they just didn’t look as impressive when I stood relaxed (and without messing up my posture on purpose) or with squared shoulders. Especially compared to the trap/shoulder-areas of assisted lifters. Most assisted bodybuilders I’ve seen in person (the big ones, not the local moron who uses every drug there is but still looks half as big as everyone else) look practically just as impressive when standing totally relaxed as they do when flexing…

It did take direct work in the form of shrugs to remedy that issue (well, I still don’t have traps like Ronnie or Jonnie or every other big black guy with a name ending on -ie, but now they really stand out even when relaxed)…
And adding direct work doesn’t mean “ok, I’ll try shrugs for 2-3 weeks and if my traps don’t look huge after that, I’ll go back to powercleans”.
It means working your way from 135x10 to 225, 315, 495, 585 (depending on the individual)…

I understood the context in which the comment was made by DC, and how it applies to DC training. I gave reason in a separate post as to why I posted the quote[/quote] I was just trying to clarify to the others where it came from/what the context was [quote]. Coincidentally, as you know, you specifically discussed traps in the DC thread recently. [/quote] Yep. [quote]

The post you are thinking of was just mentioned by anonym a page back, and absolutely it’s all about progression regardless of which exercise you are using.[/quote] ← yeah, while I was typing my reply and trying to eat at the same time, roughly 3000 people posted in this thread lol

88

[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:
[/quote]

I took that this morning after cardio and after training chest.

89

[quote]VonStinkle wrote:
Is it me or does prof x look like he would have trouble wiping his ass? He’s super cool and all, i’m just sayin…[/quote]

Sign me up for the “wants to look like he can’t wipe his ass” club then.

Oh wait, is that nut swinging?

90

[quote]VonStinkle wrote:
Is it me or does prof x look like he would have trouble wiping his ass? He’s super cool and all, i’m just sayin…[/quote]

Come on now, only large sumo wrestlers have lower ranked helpers/wrestlers who wipe their asses, he is not Konishiki (a retired Samoan American sumo wrestler who wrestled at 600+ lbs at the ozeki rank). Konishiki Yasokichi - Wikipedia

91

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

[photo]24057[/photo]

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:

I took that this morning after cardio and after training chest.[/quote]

Dude I can paypal you like 7 bucks to buy a different tank top. I fully understand that you spend the hard earned cash on soy smoothies and carrotz but it’s no big deal to splurge a little on some new workout gear… =)

92

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:

I took that this morning after cardio and after training chest.

Dude I can paypal you like 7 bucks to buy a different tank top. I fully understand that you spend the hard earned cash on soy smoothies and carrotz but it’s no big deal to splurge a little on some new workout gear… =)[/quote]

The sad thing is, I bought like 50 of those back when Old Navy had those Under Armour rip offs on sale for 6 bucks a piece about 2-3 years back. Now I HAVE to wear them. LOL.

Believe it or not, that is the most comfortable shirt I could ever train in…and so are all of his brothers. Hell, about 30 of them are still in the packaging. I plan ahead!!!

93

[quote]Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

[photo]24057[/photo]

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:
[/quote]

That is the most impressive pic I have seen of you to date. Great work. Traps and shoulders have been mentioned but your chest is rediculous.

94

[quote]DJS wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:

That is the most impressive pic I have seen of you to date. Great work. Traps and shoulders have been mentioned but your chest is rediculous.[/quote]

Thanks, man. I worked hard on that chest. I used to not have any upper pecs. Heavy inclines work.

95

[quote]Professor X wrote:
DJS wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:
Professor X wrote:

My pic has been posted too many times to count. Let’s see your own now.

Is that a more recent one than the last one I’ve seen? You look somewhat leaner there, but the lighting is better, too. And of course, like clockwork, your shoulders look EVEN BIGGER.

You should really stop training them now, you know, before all that mass and density collapses into a black hole :slight_smile:

That is the most impressive pic I have seen of you to date. Great work. Traps and shoulders have been mentioned but your chest is rediculous.

Thanks, man. I worked hard on that chest. I used to not have any upper pecs. Heavy inclines work.[/quote]

Can you post a pic of your chest development? Have you ever posted on the rate my physique forum? I’ve read a lot of your advice and was always curious what you looked like.

96

that pic is insane. I mean that’s crazy development. It looked like someone slabbed several kilos of clay onto your chest and then carved in the detail with a knife.

97

You have the choice of the following protocols.

Trap Workout:
Squats and Milk
Hold a lot of heavy shit and throw a lot of stuff in your mouth
Direct neck work and throw a lot of shit in your mouth

Either way get gain weight.

98

[quote]DaFreak wrote:
Train them frequently - I used to work at at my father’s store when I was 15 and everyday after school I would take beer boxes from the basement and bring them upstair to that big fridge while going throught aisles and customers. My traps began growing then and now I never train them at all, I only deadlift - and they’re my most developped bodypart.

While you probably can’t copy that now, you can work traps with shoulders AND back for 10 work sets, one day heavy for 4-6 reps, one day for 8-12 with longer TUT (use peaks and rest pause sets). Work them on your beach day too if you have one, do that for a month then take 2-3 weeks without any direct trap work. I don’t care who you are, if you eat enough and get your sleep they will grow. And deadlift too, in case you dont - from the floor up too!!![/quote]

Good advice

99

Hey Prof X:

You gotta change your avatar it does you no justice, hes too small.

100

Prof X-Do you recommend any certain rep ranges for shrugs? Heavy low reps (1-5 reps) or higher reps 12 reps, etc?

Thanks.