Hammer Curls vs. Regular Curls (working out, biceps, train, eating)

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Originally Posted by mbuszu

I don't know where you heard this but it is flat out wrong. What you are saying is simply a myth probably spread from one martial artist to another in your social circle.

Sorry to disappoint you mbuszu but you are absolutely dead wrong. Try talking to a real martial artist instead of a MMA guy and you'll get the real deal. I've been involved in boxing and martial arts my entire life and any boxing trainer who is even remotely halfway decent will tell you that boxers are urged to NOT build huge bicepts. Why? Because huge bicepts greatly hinders force transfer (i.e, power).

[belovenow]

Originally Posted by DaBeez

Sorry to disappoint you mbuszu but you are absolutely dead wrong. Try talking to a real martial artist instead of a MMA guy and you'll get the real deal. I've been involved in boxing and martial arts my entire life and any boxing trainer who is even remotely halfway decent will tell you that boxers are urged to NOT build huge bicepts. Why? Because huge bicepts greatly hinders force transfer (i.e, power).

I'll just agree to disagree with you on the grounds that I can name many direct examples where old-timer advice regarding weight-training having adverse or negative effects on an athlete's performance having been proven wrong. I can also point you and others to current exercise science research results which scientifically validate the performance increases you now see in the top athletes of all sports today, athletes who weight-train without concern of "tightening up", "losing their flexibility", "losing their coordination", nor "losing speed" despite outdated conventional wisdom.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

I agree with you 100% on all that you said in your post. However, its only huge bicepts that I am talking about that hinders punching power/transfer of force.

[ptdudeboston]

Doing curls is probably one of the least productive things you could do during a weight training workout. I mean, unless you wanna be bicep joe. Pullup variety, rows, and pulldowns are all gonna work your arms. A few sets of curls can be thrown in if you want extra arm work. Any variation will probably lead to a better response. Hammer curls actually work the brachioradialis and brachialis muscles more so than regular curls. That will beef up the forearms a bit and increase grip strength which is always good. Overall, the focus should be on multi-joint compound movements such as deadlifts, squats, pullupos, dips, benches and rows. All in good form of course....

[SPNARD1]

I've always done regular curls followed by hammer's during a bicep workout.
Hammer curls develop the muscle behind the bicep( I forgot the name) more than regular curls

[mattmc25]

i do hammer curls every time i work my arms. i usually do 4 to 5 sets of 8 to 10 reps but use really heavy weight. somewhere around 100 to 130 pounds.

[Rggr]

If you're counting on getting punching power from the arms, then you will have no punching power.

[dude1984]

Originally Posted by ptdudeboston

Doing curls is probably one of the least productive things you could do during a weight training workout. I mean, unless you wanna be bicep joe. Pullup variety, rows, and pulldowns are all gonna work your arms. A few sets of curls can be thrown in if you want extra arm work. Any variation will probably lead to a better response. Hammer curls actually work the brachioradialis and brachialis muscles more so than regular curls. That will beef up the forearms a bit and increase grip strength which is always good. Overall, the focus should be on multi-joint compound movements such as deadlifts, squats, pullupos, dips, benches and rows. All in good form of course....

+1...I completely agree. I haven't done any cosmetic arm exercises in about three or four years, and my arms continue to grow because they get enough work from only performing multi-joint compound lifts.

If you want punching power, you work with bands.

[Visit a Library]

Originally Posted by mattmc25

i do hammer curls every time i work my arms. i usually do 4 to 5 sets of 8 to 10 reps but use really heavy weight. somewhere around 100 to 130 pounds.

Only 100 to 130? Why so little weight?

[OngletNYC]

It's old but this is a really good thread. I learned a couple things, very useful for me. Thumbs up everyone!