Probably one of the most interesting things about bodybuilding is the fact that it can be approached from so many different angles. This is true about training philosophy, and also about individual exercises. Angles are, quite literally, everything. However, oftentimes, when we’ve come to know an activity, we know it in a way that is very singular. That is to say, we know the inroads toward achievement in one particular way. After awhile, we become so accustomed to that one way that we often begin to believe that it’s the only way. In fact, for a great many reasons, we’re eager to keep it familiar. It’s easier to have a customary method for doing things. But as with anything, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat. And sometimes, ...

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The time is coming… you just turned 28 and your 10-year high school reunion is just around the corner. You’re going to Cabo in 2 months! Or maybe you just want to Get Ripped for summer? Who cares what the reason is! We’re all in the same boat and we need to Get Ripped FAST! A wise man once told me that when a person won’t do something, it’s for one of 3 reasons. 1. They either don’t know how to do it, 2. Don’t know why they should do it, or 3. They simply just don’t care. I’m going to assume that you don’t know how, or you would already be ripped to shreds. Be it to get the chicks, personal satisfaction, a reunion… everyone has their own reason why. But ...

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Having full, pumped biceps with distinct peaks is the classic sign of a true bodybuilder. But what if you’re a serious guy who trains them every week, only to find them exactly the same size as last year? Or worse yet, the year before that? If this sounds like you, take a step back and look at the big picture. Whatever you’re doing right now is obviously not working. Instead, let’s turn a fresh page and approach the issue from a new angle. Here is a 10-week recipe for jump-starting even the most stubborn biceps. Week 1: Setting the Agenda If your biceps are not growing, chances are it is because you use pretty much the same old routine every workout. Other factors include training too much and/or ...

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Don’t think you’re any different than your buddy in the gym who still idolizes Arnold and keeps an ongoing yearbook of articles about the “Austrian Oak” tucked inside the drawer of his bedside table. Okay, granted, you may not be fanatical about it. It isn’t likely that you’re on the FBI’s current stalker list - yet. You may just religiously comb the pages of the latest bodybuilding ‘zines to find the freshest front double biceps shot of your “secret” hero. Innocent enough, but are you a fan, or an idol worshiper willing to do anything to have what the pros have? Something is drawing you back to that sweaty, smelly dungeon you call a gym. We know it isn’t the juice bar that catches your fancy, because there isn’t one unless you count the spit on the floor. It’s not the ...

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When asked the magic question, “What are your workout goals?” chances are you will get one of two answers. People, regardless of age or sex will usually answer A) “I want to get huge,” or B) “I want to lose weight,” Or you may get a variant of B), “I want to get cut/toned/ripped.” Too often, it seems that people isolate their focus on one of these two goals when it comes to physical fitness training. Either they are trying to gain muscle mass, or they are trying to lose bodyfat. So what happens when you fall into that special category of those who want to both gain mass AND lose bodyfat at the same time? Many “experts” seem to think that you cannot have it both ways. It is commonly felt that you have to first gain mass, and then go ...

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Everybody wants a better bench press, but most bodybuilders and powerlifters aren’t willing to make the changes to their lifting styles necessary for growing their numbers. Let’s examine a few of the most commonly overlooked essentials for big bench pressing - Safely! Keep your feet on the floor Everybody has seen that floundering fool on the flat bench, arching his rear end up in the air in an effort to push the weight off of his body using leverage, and not the muscles of the chest. Avoid becoming that spectacle, or anything less than a perfect lifter, by keeping your feet planted flat on the floor while bench pressing. This will force your body to cling to the bench, which in turn removes leverage and many of the support muscles. At this point, your pectorals have to ...

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Walk into any gym in America, and it doesn’t matter if the trainers you see are new to the iron game, or have been training for years, they all seem to have a goal in common: They want to learn how to build a big chest. The great Arnold Schwarzenegger had a chest you could sit a beer upon, and has been the benchmark for complete chest development ever since. If you’re looking for a few lessons on how to build a big chest, you have come to the right place. Let’s get started! Compound Movements If you want your chest to grow to larger dimensions, you are going to want to use heavy weights that push your entire upper body – but particularly the chest – to new dimensions. ...

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If you want to find a bodybuilding or powerlifting article on how to train for power and strength, you haven’t come to the right place. By now you should know that heavy squats, leg presses, stiff-legged deadlifts, and calf raises are the core movements you should be utilizing to add beef to your legs. Four to five sets of each in the 8 to 10 repetition range, coupled with a pile of food and sleep, and you’re going to have some legs ready for growth. Now, that being said, such a heavy workout isn’t always what you’re looking for. If you’re a perma-bulker who spends his lifetime padded at 20% body fat, this should work fine. However, there are going to be times when this sort of brutal training routine isn’t going to be right for ...

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Take a look at top IFBB professional bodybuilder Phil Heath. He finished fifth in the world at the 2009 Mr. Olympia show, and he could have been even higher. When he flexes his arms, he is probably one of the most impressive human beings on the planet. His back is thick and shredded. His legs are full and crisp. He has one of the top physiques in the world – almost. Phil was cursed with narrow clavicles. His shoulder blades are 2 to 4 inches closer than those of his peers. When you see bodybuilders like Victor Martinez or Jay Cutler standing next to him, the differences become more than obvious. He carries just as much muscle, but his torso just appears to be crunched together. This is something that will ...

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The Triple Shot is a training technique which allows the bodybuilder to stimulate each muscle group from the three most important angles. It’s not a super-set, which is designed for fast blood loading. And it’s not a giant set, designed for complete muscle annihilation. Rather, the Triple Shot is a technique designed to isolate the three largest parts of a muscle group, then delivering the three most effective movements for hitting these areas. The goal, of course, is the most possible muscle group stimulation leading to growth. Let’s check out routines for some of your muscle groups. Chest Flat bench press, immediately followed by incline dumbbell flyes, immediately followed by decline bench press. Keep the weight heavy enough to challenge you for 6 to 10 repetitions on all sets. Back Deadlifts, immediately followed by lat pulldowns, ...

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