Big arms might let people know that you work out. Six-pack abs might tell the world that you eat right. But a big back immediately screams that you’re a savage who loves lifting heavy. Wide lats, thick rhomboids and tall traps command respect. Plus a strong upper back is the foundation of all the big …
If there’s one thing we can learn from high-level bodybuilders, it’s that hitting a muscle from slightly different angles can help spark new muscle growth. Exercise novelty doesn’t equal guaranteed hypertrophy, but if subtle variety keeps you motivated and helps you discover exercises that get you a really strong contraction and quality soreness in the …
It’s no secret that a big upper back is important for being strong at just about anything. And I feel like it’s a strength training rite of passage when you realize that in order to build a big bench press, you need to train your upper back like there’s no tomorrow. In Bench Like A …
It seems like every article on pull-ups is about how to go from zero reps to one, but what about those of us trying to do MORE pull-ups? Sometimes, straight sets and reps can be boring or unproductive if you’re trying to go from a pull-up intermediate to a master of your own bodyweight. Here …
Corner rows provide a great alternative to the bent-over row. They crush your upper back without taxing your lower back nearly as much, which is always a plus. However, given the somewhat awkward setup, corner rows are often done incorrectly. This week’s Techinque Tuesday gives you a rundown of how to set up and perform …
I recently finished reading Dr. Stuart McGill’s Back Mechanic book during my return flight from presenting at the Encore Sports Medicine Symposium in Alabama. One of the world’s best spine experts, Dr. McGill presents some extremely practical methods for identifying, avoiding and relieving many types of back pain, along with a slew of back friendly …
Chin-ups are no doubt an excellent exercise to build upper body strength. A big strong upper back may be THE limiting factor in the squat, bench press, and deadlift, so chin-ups have a place in almost any powerlifting program. The only problem: they can be super uncomfortable for many lifters, especially in their shoulders. That’s …
Technique Tuesday: 3 Ways to Make Chin-Ups More Shoulder Friendly Read More »
This week’s Technique Tuesday continues to focus on assistance exercises to increase your powerlifts, and no other exercise builds upper body strength quite like chest support rows. Upper back strength is paramount for all three powerlifts. You hold the bar on your back when you squat. You support your bodyweight on your upper back when …
Technique Tuesday: Chest Supported Rows for Upper Back Strength Read More »
A strong upper back is arguably THE most important physical attribute for any strength endeavor. You can have monstrously strong legs, but without a strong back, you’ll never squat or deadlift impressive weight. And no matter how big your arms are chest are, you’ll still look like a weenie in a t-shirt if your lats and …
4 Ways to Sneak More Upper Back Volume into Your Workouts Read More »
I had the privilege of having Fred DiMenna, a former WNBF pro bodybuilder and exercise physiology PhD, as a professor in grad school. Fred is hands down one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s got a serious arsenal of peer-review research articles to back it up. Perhaps the greatest lasting impression he …
