Weightlifting for Kiwis - Discussion and support regarding the art of swole

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That said, I did recently hit 1pl8 (lmao) on my deadlift.

The strain on my lower back doesn't bother me that much, like I said I got some DOMS when I finally got up to 60kg,
60kg is your deadlift PB?
Is this you?

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Like I said, grip lets me down
Try doing pull-ups. Also, one arm dumbbell rows.
 
Just a point of caution, mixed grip deadlifting introduces the risk of shoulder and bicep injury into the deadlift. Straps are a far better option, if deadlift is outpacing grip there's really no good reason to not use straps unless you're competing and can't use them. You can always train grip strength to try and catch up to your deadlift. Hangs, pull ups, farmer's carry, plate carry (pinch grip)
Yes, I'm against overunder for longterm use as well, but if you're starting off with lower weight you won't injure yourself with that grip, and the muscle imbalance will be minimal.
Also the OP doesn't want to use straps so oh well. But yes, straps all the way IMO.
 
Ab wheels are fantastic. With proper form, leg raises are also fantastic. Just be sure to not just drop your legs down (go slower on the way down) so you can work your lumbar some. Also be sure that when your feet are at the top of the rep you pick your butt/lower back off the ground to engage all of your abdominals
If possible, depending on your setup, my favorite way to do Hanging Leg Raises (a GOATed exercise) is to have your back against a wall. No cheating is even possible, no momentum at all.
 
Honestly, doing Deadlifts for grip is a little retarded. You have an exercise designed for the posterior chain to lifts loads of weight, and your using it for your forearms. Nigga, we've evolved.
Farmer's Carries, Dead-Hangs, Fat Grips on curls and Chin-ups, Wrist Rollers, rice bucket work, those will juice the fuck out of your forearms and give you wicked grip. It's basic specificity, use straps on Deadlifts to smoke your posterior chain and then use a specific forearm exercise to smoke them, and lo' and behold you get the best of both.
 
Farmer's Carries, Dead-Hangs, Fat Grips on curls and Chin-ups, Wrist Rollers, rice bucket work, those will juice the fuck out of your forearms and give you wicked grip.
This is the comment I need, thank you. I like the idea of farmer's carries - you can measure them easily for progression and you can progressively load them effectively by picking up a bigger rock.

They sound good... But there's basically zero space to move around in the gym, even carrying nothing I'm dodge duck dip dive and dodging around people and equipment. Would dumbbells on a treadmill work? I guess safely getting on and off the machine would be questionable.

Also how long/how heavy do you recommend? I see people talking about distance (80', one mile), about half bodyweight per hand (and then go as far as you can), and about time. Half bodyweight sounds impossible, I don't weigh much but I'm also incredibly weak.
Ganbare mister skeletal
はい!これからも頑張ります!応援してくれてありがとうございます
 
hey sound good... But there's basically zero space to move around in the gym, even carrying nothing I'm dodge duck dip dive and dodging around people and equipment. Would dumbbells on a treadmill work? I guess safely getting on and off the machine would be questionable
Just march in place holding the weights, that’s fine as well.
 
Would dumbbells on a treadmill work?
Don’t do this.
Also how long/how heavy do you recommend? I see people talking about distance (80', one mile), about half bodyweight per hand (and then go as far as you can), and about time. Half bodyweight sounds impossible,
Just do an elliptical and rowing machine if you want cardio and some light upper body to start if there is no room for farmer carry. You can measure your progress with ease on that by going longer and faster.

Also what everyone else said here. You need to start doing pull ups. Just get on an assisted machine.
 
I saw that other people in this thread were talking about martial arts and I had a question. Should I do Judo classes or BJJ classes if I'm just starting out? I've never done martial arts, but I've always wanted to. The place near me does both, but I'm leaning towards Judo becasue it looks cooler, less awkward and it's cheaper.

Also are martial arts gyms a good place to make friends? I need to talk to more people irl.
 
I saw that other people in this thread were talking about martial arts and I had a question. Should I do Judo classes or BJJ classes if I'm just starting out? I've never done martial arts, but I've always wanted to. The place near me does both, but I'm leaning towards Judo becasue it looks cooler, less awkward and it's cheaper.

Also are martial arts gyms a good place to make friends? I need to talk to more people irl.
I’m my opinion as a dude who does both Judo and BJJ, class sizes and class quality being equal if you find the idea of grabbing a dude and throwing him, following by finishing him off in a definite and brutally rapid manner appealing, go for Judo. If you find the idea of making a guy say ‘Tio!’ and strangling someone until they submit to your will because they are at your unequivocal mercy, go for BJJ.
And martial arts gyms, good and chill ones that is, is a great place to make friends and meet people. You are immediately trusting someone else who you don’t really know to not terribly harm you, and they are doing the same. So you get to know someone pretty quick and you can find some certified bros. You’ll somehow find your goon squad consisting of a Latino dad, a bright pink princess, a pro/amateur fighter, an autistic guy, and a hockey player just because you all beat each other up hundreds of times. But things like that are what you make of them, I’ve personally met a lot of great people through martial arts.
 
I’m my opinion as a dude who does both Judo and BJJ, class sizes and class quality being equal if you find the idea of grabbing a dude and throwing him, following by finishing him off in a definite and brutally rapid manner appealing, go for Judo. If you find the idea of making a guy say ‘Tio!’ and strangling someone until they submit to your will because they are at your unequivocal mercy, go for BJJ.
And martial arts gyms, good and chill ones that is, is a great place to make friends and meet people. You are immediately trusting someone else who you don’t really know to not terribly harm you, and they are doing the same. So you get to know someone pretty quick and you can find some certified bros. You’ll somehow find your goon squad consisting of a Latino dad, a bright pink princess, a pro/amateur fighter, an autistic guy, and a hockey player just because you all beat each other up hundreds of times. But things like that are what you make of them, I’ve personally met a lot of great people through martial arts.
Judo definitely sounds more appealing. Is there any serious risk of brain damage? I understand all sports have that risk to some extent, but am I going to get thrown on my head repeatedly and end up more retarded?
 
Judo definitely sounds more appealing. Is there any serious risk of brain damage? I understand all sports have that risk to some extent, but am I going to get thrown on my head repeatedly and end up more retarded?
Literally the first thing you learn is how to fall safely, and you drill that every single class. If you’re at a good gym, as most are, they don’t want to actually hurt you because that would be wrong.
You will take some bumps, it’s a combat sport that’s the fact of the matter, but it’s a lot less of a concern than in other arts or even things like soccer.
 
Just a point of caution, mixed grip deadlifting introduces the risk of shoulder and bicep injury into the deadlift. Straps are a far better option, if deadlift is outpacing grip there's really no good reason to not use straps unless you're competing and can't use them. You can always train grip strength to try and catch up to your deadlift. Hangs, pull ups, farmer's carry, plate carry (pinch grip)
Or you could learn to hook grip and not concern yourself with straps for anything other than high volume sets or dealing with torn calluses/injuries.
 
new years resolution was to start lifting again after a 2 year layoff (dropped barbell on bare foot and shattered it + plus crazy work deadlines).

My goal isn't strength and athletic performance as it has been in the past, but just aesthetics. Going for the Steve Reeves golden ratio look. Doing this on a 'recomp' or small caloric deficit and tracking to make sure my weight stays roughly constent while progressing in lifts.

Workout has been a full body workout 3x a week. I've always used barbell, so to switch it up, restricted only to dumbbell. Dumbbell press, seated overhead dumbbell press, dumbbell incline press, chest supported dumbbell rows, dumbbell squats/deads (high reps), db shrugs, plus a ton of other accessory exercises (cables and bands). For resistence bands, I do something I call "walk the band", you stretch it out to max resistence, do exercise till failure, then take a few steps back, go to failure, until you're at practically no resistence. It's like a drop-set for resistence bands. This is amazing for overhead tricep extensions and lateral raises.

Current program is sort of a steve shaw "double progression" approach: AMRAP for each set. Once total number of reps for 3 sets goes over the "rep goal", you bump up the weight 2.5-5lbs and go on.

Planning on adding normal barbell routine into the mix after I max out the DBs for press (~100lbs for powerblock + magnet weights). It will be interesting to see what the strength curve change will be from just dedicated DBs to barbell. I'm not heavy squatting or deadlifting at the moment because I just want to look good without a shirt on again, and will add in to normal routine after I hit my short-term goal.

Some observations:
- i've noticed I can pack on much more muscle with the DBs.
- my grip strength is strongest it's ever been and I'm getting popeye forearms.
- Dumbbell shrugs have blew up my traps far more than deadlifts ever did, and I'm having to do them only once a week to keep symmetry.
- Dumbbell incline has FAAAR increased mass on my upper pecs than barbell incline.

Thank you for reading my livejournal post.
 
Oh also, if you are doing a 3x a week high volume full body workout like me, and a bit older. I highly recommend Versa Gripps.
Previously, I developed horrible elbow tendonitis from 3x/week heavy single-arm lat pulls, but haven't had any flareups from that with the VGs.
 
I developed horrible elbow tendonitis from 3x/week heavy single-arm lat pulls, but haven't had any flareups from that with the VGs.
Golfer's elbow is a bitch, especially when you don't golf.

I had to work on my grip strength to fix the issue.
Judo definitely sounds more appealing. Is there any serious risk of brain damage? I understand all sports have that risk to some extent, but am I going to get thrown on my head repeatedly and end up more retarded?
Depends on how much your training partner doesn't like you.

Generally, your first lessons in judo is how to protect you from yourself (how to fall down without breaking your own neck). Then you move on to footwork and entries (a lot of judo throws only work if your feet are in the correct position relative to your uke[training partner/throw bitch]), then gripwork (sleeves, collar, belt, armpit), then putting it altogether into the magic of throwing people on the ground.
 
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