Time to MonteGROW like a Finaflex Freak!

kenpoengineer said:
Monte, what app are you using to track your workouts? JeFit? If so how do you copy the completed session log to AM? Thanks
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Open your Jefit log in Safari, or whatever your phone browser is, and press the screen to copy and paste.
 
jimbuick said:
They're awesome.

I alternate between high pulley and low pulley.
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They are awesome, but, I have just learned something new with the alternating. Sometimes it's hard to think outside of the box, I s'pose.
 
Tricep day. Did four sets of dumbbell hammer curls just to get the blood in there. Continuing with my evening strategy.

Barbell Close Grip Bench Press
Set 1 : 185.0x15
Set 2 : 235.0x14
Set 3 : 275.0x9
Set 4 : 285.0x8
|
Cable Triceps Pushdown
Set 1 : 150.0x12
Set 2 : 150.0x12
Set 3 : 160.0x9
Set 4 : 160.0x8
|
Laying Triceps Extension
Set 1 : 70.0x14
Set 2 : 70.0x13
Set 3 : 70.0x12
Set 4 : 70.0x12
|
Cybex Triceps Extension
Set 1 : 90.0x15
Set 2 : 90.0x15
Set 3 : 90.0x12
Set 4 : 90.0x12
 
How you close grip 285 I will never know. My body doesn't work like that. Close grip is like 40% of max for reps. You're not human.
 
CountryLiftin said:
How you close grip 285 I will never know. My body doesn't work like that. Close grip is like 40% of max for reps. You're not human.
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For real...
 
I actually feel stronger with a close grip then wide. The wider my grip is the weaker I feel especially in the shoulder region hence why I bench with my hands just inside the bar rings on regular bench. The numbers are actually not far off from each other.
 
You're just a weirdo with big arms and a small chest then ;)
 
I wouldn't say my chest is small.....(last pic I took a couple weeks ago)
 

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No not small, I have had similar experiences, I am very proficient at close grip bench and not so much on regular. I can lift more with bench but the difference is much less than I would have thought it should be.
 
I have a stupid huge chest though, way over powers my tris, so to me it's not huge... If are you benching narrow just as well as wide it means your tris are very strong. I wasn't trying to insult you but just making an observation. I bet if you hit your pecs a little more and got used to a wider grip, you would see bench numbers skyrocket in several months. Either way just keep doing what you do man.
 
Might be do to shoulder injuries also...the wider you go the more the shoulders seem to get involved. I do find as I have focused more on keeping the chest more involved I can lessen the shoulder strain. I am going very wide on the smith with lighter weight to try and deal with this issue.
 
I stay away from the wider grip mostly for comfort and safety sake. I seem to always be dealing with some type of shoulder pain despite tweaks in form when going wider on barbell. Dumbbells are fine but bb is a pain in the titts.
 
Leg day. Getting better but my right knee wants to buckle outwards on squats. Foot position is good but the weaker knee is showing its ass some.

Barbell Squat
Set 1 : 295.0x8
Set 2 : 315.0x8
Set 3 : 345.0x8
Set 4 : 365.0x7
|
Leg Press (feet low and together)
Set 1 : 405.0x12
Set 2 : 585.0x10
Set 3 : 585.0x10
Set 4 : 670.0x7
|
Leg Extensions
Set 1 : 170.0x12
Set 2 : 190.0x10
Set 3 : 200.0x9
Set 4 : 200.0x8
|
Standing Leg Curls (slow tempo)
Set 1 : 100.0x12
Set 2 : 100.0x12
Set 3 : 100.0x12
Set 4 : 100.0x12
 
Nice work Monte, and good numbers on everything. I have a pretty strong Close Grip myself, I have been doing JM presses more lately though. Do you ever do those?
 
Here you go... Dave Tate teaching it.[video=youtube_share;I2ElVaNFltQ]http://youtu.be/I2ElVaNFltQ[/video]
 
I do not use an open grip but love the straight up and down motion is is like a stronger version of a skull crusher when you do them.
 
Nothing wrong with close grip at all. I say work with what suits ya best.

I like a medium grip (ring finger on the ring for a guy my size) and keep the elbow tucked well to focus on the chest and keep too much off the shoulders. I too learned from issues early on.
 
[video]http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=open+grip+bench+misha ps+youtube.&view=detail&mid=AF6F054B1A00DB925A6BAF6F05 4B1A00DB925A6B&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR[/video]
 
iparatroop said:
I use open grip when I bench.
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yup, me too
in fact, use this grip on about every single thing I do - even reverse-curls most of the time

DreamWeaver said:
Were thinking really kind of dumb too...
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that's kind of a dumb statement to make :hitwithrock:
just because you cannot/do not do it, does not make it stupid for someone else who can

DreamWeaver said:
[video]http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=open+grip+bench+misha ps+youtube.&view=detail&mid=AF6F054B1A00DB925A6BAF6F05 4B1A00DB925A6B&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR[/video]
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...aaand? so what?
I can show you retarded car accidents too, where it was OPERATOR error most often due to lack of paying attention..
ppl have been known to do the most goofy things, sometimes :dunno:
it still does not make it "unsafe" for those who are versed in it, aware of what they are doing, and proficient with such grip

would I teach/advise this grip to one of my trainees? of course not, that would not be a good course to go..
but I tell you what: if you were ever to walk by me while I am training and say something about my grip being "stupid", there would be no hesitation in my coming unglued on you
 
Open grip is something that I don't think is safe, but can be done safely, espeically if that's how you always lift. I wouldn't walk into the day and try and max out with an open grip when I have never trained like that before.

On another note, a tight grip using the thumb helps engage secondary muscles for more power. So as long as you have your wrist position and weight distribution right theoretically you should be a little stronger closed grip.
 
CountryLiftin said:
Open grip is something that I don't think is safe, but can be done safely, espeically if that's how you always lift. I wouldn't walk into the day and try and max out with an open grip when I have never trained like that before.

On another note, a tight grip using the thumb helps engage secondary muscles for more power. So as long as you have your wrist position and weight distribution right theoretically you should be a little stronger closed grip.
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precisely - all about perspective
i do not "max out", period..why would i? does not fit nor suit my training style
but i have maxed out bench before -- no spotter, ~425 on the bar -- and i certainly used the same grip i am accustomed and used to using (and still did it for more than 1 rep) :D

but i guess therein may lie the issue: i train alone, not with a partner so have no spotter..is slightly different when you are racking/unracking iron from the bar with no assistance & not being handed weight
even when i do have a spotter on the rare occasions tho - still use my same ol grip, just how i roll
 
CountryLiftin said:
Open grip is something that I don't think is safe, but can be done safely, espeically if that's how you always lift. I wouldn't walk into the day and try and max out with an open grip when I have never trained like that before.

On another note, a tight grip using the thumb helps engage secondary muscles for more power. So as long as you have your wrist position and weight distribution right theoretically you should be a little stronger closed grip.
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Agree with all. Maybe it's just me, but I feel it's easier for me to focus on the chest and feel it better by taking some of the muscles required for a closed hand grip out of the equation. To be totally honest though, if I were to bench heavy enough to require a spot, I would use closed grip.
 
i'm sitting here scratching my brain, running thru exercises and thinking what there is i wrap my thumb around on..all i can think of is cable pulldowns, and this ab roller..sometimes some DB work (actually there are a few here w/ DBs)
maybe there is something else, but i'll be damned if i can think of it right now
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
i'm sitting here scratching my brain, running thru exercises and thinking what there is i wrap my thumb around on..all i can think of is cable pulldowns, and this ab roller..maybe there is something else, but i'll be damned if i can think of it right now
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Upright rows?
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
waiting for the first wise-guy to ask me what grip i use to jac.... oh n/m, maybe i won't be asked that question here :p
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Wouldn't the response be... "No I actually have to use two hands!"

The only problem with the false grip is the chance of the golgi tendon reflex to force the arm straight causing the bar to be dumped. It has to do with being overstretched under too much weight. Not really a freak issue, but is considered unsafe and is not often taught by those who could be held liable for teaching it that way. Like you said though Snags, since you don't have anyone unrack the weight for you you are controlling the stretch and and of course proper hand placement in that grip applies more tension across the bone and not overstretching the tendon. However to teach it to a novice, not the best way to do it. If you learn the other way and develop the wrist strength you can push as much if not more but the reason for people lifting less when switching to a full grip is often wrist strength which comes up pretty quickly. Not too many things we do have us strengthen the back side of the wrists which is needed to stabilize during the lift if done with a closed grip.

I found my elbow tendonitis got better using the full grip because I was stretching the tendon less under weight which is part of why I swear by it now. However most of my pulling is done with a false grip and when I press on a machine you can be sure it is a false grip.
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
i'm sitting here scratching my brain, running thru exercises and thinking what there is i wrap my thumb around on..all i can think of is cable pulldowns, and this ab roller..sometimes some DB work (actually there are a few here w/ DBs)
maybe there is something else, but i'll be damned if i can think of it right now
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you must be a real man if you DL with an open grip. clean too? LOL. just messin with ya.
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
waiting for the first wise-guy to ask me what grip i use to jac.... oh n/m, maybe i won't be asked that question here :p
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I was ACTUALLY planning on asking as soon as I caught up. Ooh the excitement was building and I was getting all giddy thinking that I had a good one. And then you just went and stole my thunder like that. Oh well... so what grip DO you use to Jack off? Since you brought it up. XD
 
MrKleen73 said:
Wouldn't the response be... "No I actually have to use two hands!"
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i was tryin to be modest ;)
The only problem with the false grip is the chance of the golgi tendon reflex to force the arm straight causing the bar to be dumped. It has to do with being overstretched under too much weight. Not really a freak issue, but is considered unsafe and is not often taught by those who could be held liable for teaching it that way. Like you said though Snags, since you don't have anyone unrack the weight for you you are controlling the stretch and and of course proper hand placement in that grip applies more tension across the bone and not overstretching the tendon. However to teach it to a novice, not the best way to do it. If you learn the other way and develop the wrist strength you can push as much if not more but the reason for people lifting less when switching to a full grip is often wrist strength which comes up pretty quickly. Not too many things we do have us strengthen the back side of the wrists which is needed to stabilize during the lift if done with a closed grip.

I found my elbow tendonitis got better using the full grip because I was stretching the tendon less under weight which is part of why I swear by it now. However most of my pulling is done with a false grip and when I press on a machine you can be sure it is a false grip.
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good stuff, insightful (as usual of course)
and yeah - been lifting weights since i was 12, long as i can remember i been using this same grip..
but as i said earlier - i surely do not teach it, and when queried by my trainees (if they even notice to begin with :p) i simply bypass it with an offhand remark and say it's not something i would incorporate if i was them

other than that, i really do not think too much about it..is like second nature

CountryLiftin said:
you must be a real man if you DL with an open grip. clean too? LOL. just messin with ya.
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:doh:
but of course, knew there was something i was forgetting..all that went thru my mind was squats; i spose if i did front squats i would use different grip as well

1ifeblood said:
I was ACTUALLY planning on asking as soon as I caught up. Ooh the excitement was building and I was getting all giddy thinking that I had a good one. And then you just went and stole my thunder like that. Oh well... so what grip DO you use to Jack off? Since you brought it up. XD
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meh..damn Iowans :tired:
 
I only wrap my thumb around on heavier shoulder presses and bench upwards of 275. Oh and heavy rack/full deads.

Everything else is open. Not using my thumbs has increased my back muscle activation greatly. And builds my forearms without addition work.

And I workout alone 75% of the time
 
MrKleen73 said:
Here you go... Dave Tate teaching it.Invalid Link Removed
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This is how I do my "CG BP" didn't know they had a name. I do it this way to alleviate shoulder pain. Reg bench the wider I go the better it feels

MrKleen73 said:
I do not use an open grip but love the straight up and down motion is is like a stronger version of a skull crusher when you do them.
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Exactly

iparatroop said:
I use open grip when I bench.
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Me too

iparatroop said:
Long distance phone calls?
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Lol

snagencyV2.0 said:
speakerphone
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Perfect

snagencyV2.0 said:
waiting for the first wise-guy to ask me what grip i use to jac.... oh n/m, maybe i won't be asked that question here :p
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No comment
 
I always train alone. And I always use open grip. Word to ya motha.
 
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