Isolation?

Discussion in 'Strength & Conditioning Discussion' started by LCDforMe, Aug 3, 2005.

  1. LCDforMe Purple Belt

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2005
    Messages:
    2,362
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    I'm confused. I hear it a lot on here that you're not supposed to use isolation excersizes, so what do you do for like your biceps and for calves? Are things like calf raises bad or is that not an isolation excersize?

    Sorry for being a retard.
     
  2. Urban Savage Mystic

    Joined:
    May 16, 2003
    Messages:
    16,942
    Likes Received:
    60
    Location:
    Sippin on sunshine
    they're not bad really (adding ONE isolation exercise to your routine is not going to make you overtrain) but calf raises specifically have virtually NO athletic carryover. Want to build up your calves for athletic purposes? push a car, drag a sled, do sprints (or hill sprints) while carrying a sandbag, etc.

    Same goes for curls. IMO the best bicep exercise is climbing a thick rope.
     
  3. Urban Savage Mystic

    Joined:
    May 16, 2003
    Messages:
    16,942
    Likes Received:
    60
    Location:
    Sippin on sunshine
    I'm not sure if this is what you're confused about or not, but for strength development you should be thinking in terms of movements not muscles. This means using more muscles in combination with eachother to mimic the way you use them in your chosen activity. it trains yoru central nervous system to recruit several muscles simultaneously to accomplish a given feat. Isolation exercises simply don't do that.
     
  4. Mikeultra Yellow Belt

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Killadelphia
    Urban is right. Calves? Biceps? Sounds like you want to fallow a Bodybuilder split
     
  5. Mark Limbaga Amateur Fighter

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2004
    Messages:
    6,117
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    asia
    Isolation is not bad but keep it to a minimum and focus on the basic free weight exercises.
     
  6. LCDforMe Purple Belt

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2005
    Messages:
    2,362
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    What if you don't have a thick rope to climb, I can't climb one anyway I doubt, but I don't have access to a rope anyway.

    Urban, your second post is basically what I was getting at. Thanks for the replies.
     
  7. Urban Savage Mystic

    Joined:
    May 16, 2003
    Messages:
    16,942
    Likes Received:
    60
    Location:
    Sippin on sunshine
    Buy 4 feet or so of thick rope, swing it over a pull-up bar and do pullups on it.
     
  8. slayer36 Blue Belt

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2004
    Messages:
    774
    Likes Received:
    0
    do some weighted chinups
     

Share This Page

X
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.