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Back training
requires a pulling action. The first major problem happens when you
employ too much biceps power into the movement. this is a common problem
with beginner weight lifters as well as most experienced lifters. It's a
natural reaction to pull with your arms first then employ the back as a
secondary muscle group. This is wrong! If you're training your back,
think about nothing else but your back! Initiate the pulling action in
the back first. Shift the stress of the weight pass your biceps and onto
your shoulder blades (lats). This muscle group is much larger and more
powerful than your biceps could ever be.
Related
Article: Train like
a Beast - The Back
The second
major problem happens when you attempt to pull heavy weight without
using wrist straps. Too often, your grip will give out before your back
will. Using wrist straps allows you to relax your grip to a certain
degree and concentrate on the section of your back you are targeting.
Without the straps, you will find yourself tiring and gradually shifting
your emphasis from your back to your biceps. So when the judges ask for
a rear double bicep pose, all they will notice is how big your arms are
and the lack of size and definition in your back. Never train your back
without wrist straps!
Now that I've
stressed the two major problems with back training, let's design your
back training program. Remember the major muscle groups in the back are
trapezius, posteroid deltoid, teres major, rhomboids, latissimus doris
and erector spinae. (a little bit of Anatomy & Physiology) To effectively
stimulate these muscle groups you should divide your back into three
focal points: upper, mid, and lower back. This will make it easier to
concentrate on your total back without neglecting areas you cannot see.
When training any one of these three focal points, you should only feel
the stress in that target area of the back. If you don't, then you will
immediately recognize that something is not right and start making
adjustments to correct it. Those adjustments could be as simple as
changing the height of your seat, readjusting your hand position, or
just relaxing your arms and slowing down your movements.
Which exercises
are most effective when training the back? There are many choices but
the most common exercises, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger's
Encyclopedia of
Bodybuilding, are:
Upper Back:
upright rows, cable pulldowns, wide grip pull-ups, T-bar rows(using a
high grip), shrugs
Mid Back:
bent over barbell rows, seated cable rows, one-arm dumbbell rows, T-bar
rows(using a lower grip)
Lower Back:
deadlifts (gotta do them and learn to love it!), hyperextensions
Note: When
performing these exercises, keep in mind these points.
Upright Rows
- Always keep your elbows higher than your hands. Don't rush this
movement, slow deliberate reps are best. Never allow your upper body to
jerk backward placing the lower back into excess extension.
Cable Pulldowns
- It's natural to start the movement with the arms. Don't do it!
Initiate the movement in your back by pulling your shoulder blades
downward. Relax the stress in your hands and arms, so you can
concentrate on your back.
Wide Grip
Pull-ups
- This exercise can be very demanding on your body during the off-season
when you are weighing a bit heavier than usual. So be careful b/c you
can easily strain your shoulders. Always warm-up before performing this
exercise.
T-bar Rows
(high grip)
- Keep your back straight. Try to keep your body close to parallel from
the floor. Avoid standing high during this exercise. That happens when
the weight is too heavy and you over compensate the movement. Draw your
elbows upward pinching your shoulder blades together.
Shrugs
- Never lower your head down to your shoulders. Keep the head up and
bring the shoulders to the ears. DO NOT roll your shoulders in a
circular motion.
Bent-Over
Barbell Rows
- Great exercise! If mass is what you're after, then you better be doing
these. From my experience, this exercise is most effective when
performed at the start of your back training routine. Keep your back
straight and pull the bar into your waist, not towards your chest.
Seated Cable
Rows
- Keep your chest up and into the pad but don't over extend your arms.
Over extension on the eccentric phase of the exercise will shift the
stress off your back and turn your back workout into an arm/shoulder
workout. A definite no-no in back training.
One-Arm
Dumbbell Rows
- Keep elbows close to your body. Start with the weight in a full
extension position then draw the dumbbell up and back towards your hips.
Start with your weaker side first.
T-Bar Rows
(lower grip)
- Keep elbows close to your sides. Remember not to over extend your
reach on the eccentric phase of the exercise.
Deadlift - Be
careful!
This exercise could cause lower back pain if performed improperly, so
take it slow and don't start off too heavy. Keep the back straight, head
up and the bar close to or touching the body.
Hyperextension
- Keep your hips on the pad. If your hips are too far on the pad, you
will no longer be training lower back. Instead, you will be training
hamstrings. Once again, a definite no-no in your quest for a bigger,
more defined back.
Now that you
have the fast facts, you can go and revamp your back training routine.
And the next time you step on stage or even take your shirt off, they
won't just notice the size of your arms. They will also notice your
extraordinary back! Train hard, train smart, think BIG!
Phano
Paul Som
Natural
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