Bench Dips
Description
As mentioned in our triceps training article, the triceps are at their greatest strength potential when they are positioned below shoulder level. Since tricep bench dips are performed with the triceps being at their strongest angle, this is a great exercise to build strength and size. Especially considering the amount of weight that can be added to the movement.
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Execution
- Stand between two flat benches. Place your palms on the inside edge of one and your heels on the other. Your arms should be at shoulder-width and your elbows should be facing behind you throughout the movement.
- If needed, have your spotter rest a barbell on top of your thighs. The added resistance will increase the difficulty.
- Inhale and lower down slowly by bending at the elbow until arms reach a 45-65degree angle. Allowing the arms to bend to 90 degrees will place unnecessary stress on the shoulder joint.
- Exhale and extend arms back up to starting position.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Placing your feet at a higher elevation than your arms may help to increase the blood flow to the triceps.
A good way to drop set this exercise is to have your spotter place a few barbells on your thighs and have him/her gradually remove then one by one as you reach failure.
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Tricep Press
The close grip press is considered to be one of the best ways to add lean mass to your triceps because if they’re done with enough weight, they recruit all 3 heads of the triceps.
The close grip press is also an excellent movement to perform immediately after reaching failure on a set of lying triceps extensions with an easy-curl bar. Super-setting the two movements would be classed as the pre-exhaustion method and is effective in bringing the muscle to complete failure.
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The Close Grip Press Demonstration Video Is Coming Soon!
Execution
- Lie with your back flat atop the bench and grasp the barbell using an open hand grip. Your hands should be positioned between 6-12 inches apart - whatever is most comfortable.
- Lift the barbell of the rack and hold it with your arms extended. This is the starting position for the exercise.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, lower the barbell down to a position approximately 4-6 inches from the lower chest. The elbows should be right alongside of the rib cage.
- Exhale and drive the barbell back up to starting position by extending your arms. Keep your elbows facing downwards (towards legs) throughout the movement.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Performing the close grip press using an underhand grip is also a great way to target the triceps.
Seated Triceps Extension
Description
The seated tricep extension - as with most other machine exercises - is a great way to gain introductory experience to the new movement. The minimal need for stability allows the trainee to focus on feeling the contraction rather then trying to perform a complex motor movement.
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Execution
- Adjust the machine to the appropriate settings (seat height and resistance). Sit down and place the back of your arm against the padding provided.
- Grasp the handles using a neutral grip and ensure that the elbows are positioned shoulder width apart.
- Exhale and extend your arms while keeping your triceps in contact with the padding. Once your arms are straight, briefly hold the position and focus on the contraction.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, allow your arm to bend back to starting position.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
As your arm moves back into flexion (the eccentric portion of the movement) you’ll typically be able to handle more resistance as our muscles are stronger as they’re lengthening. Having your spotter apply additional resistance by pushing against the metal handle supports is a great way to increase the difficulty of the exercise.
Dumbbell Kickbacks
Dumbbell kickbacks are a great finishing movement for the triceps. Since it’s an isolation movement that is typically performed with little weight, it’s not the best selection to begin your workout with. Dumbbell kickbacks have some unique characteristics that differentiate it from other movements for the triceps.
For example, studies have been conducted that show that the triceps produce their most effective isometric contraction when the arm is bent at a 90 degree angle. Exercises with an external torque pattern that mimic this loading pattern are the close grip press and standing tricep extension exercise.
Dumbbell kickbacks on the other hand have an opposite torque pattern that overloads the muscle at its weakest position in extension. With the overload occurring while the arm is fully extended, all three heads of the triceps are recruited.
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A Video Demonstrating How To Perform Dumbbell Kickbacks Is Coming Soon!
Execution
- Grasp an appropriately weighted dumbbell. If the dumbbell is being held in your right hand, flex your left leg at the knee and rest it atop a flat bench.
- Bend over at the waist and support yourself by placing your left hand atop the bench as well. Proper positioning at this point has your back flat, your left arm extended with hand atop the bench and the upper portion of your right arm should be parallel with the floor.
- Exhale, fully extend your arm and briefly hold the contracted (extended) position. Keep your back flat throughout the motion.
- Inhale and slowly return back to starting position, ensuring that you control the resistance the whole time as opposed to simply dropping your arm.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
- Switch sides and repeat.
Standing Dumbbell Curls
Standing dumbbell curls are so effective because the dumbbells allow for great mobility. The key when performing standing dumbbell curls is to turn your palm from a neutral to supinated position (gradually turn palms up) as you’re flexing your arm. The bicep muscle is involved in supination so turning the palms up as you flex your arm is the most effective method to achieve an optimal contraction.
When working with individual dumbbells instead of a single barbell, you have the freedom to train one arm at a time. A great time to do this (perform reps with 1 arm at a time) is once you’ve fatigued while performing simultaneous repetitions. Performing alternating arm curls post-failure allows you to take the muscle fibers to a further extent of exhaustion.
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Execution
- Grasp appropriately weighted dumbbells using a closed grip. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and slightly bend the knees. While standing upright, roll shoulders back and slightly spread the chest. Hands and dumbbells should be in neutral position.
- Exhale, flex at the elbows and gradually supinate hands at around the mid-point of the motion (wrist should begin rotating into a position with palm facing upwards when arm reaches a 90 degree angle).
- Continue motion until hands are fully supinated and approximately 6-8inches from shoulders. Briefly hold the position and flex the biceps.
- Inhale and lower the weights back down using a reverse motion that has you shifting hand position back into neutral at a 90 degree angle.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Performing standing dumbbell curls using the rope attachment and a pulley system is yet another way to perform the exercise. The same principals apply, especially turning the palms upwards during the midpoint of the contraction.
Once fatigue sets in and you are unable to perform anymore duel repetitions, you can perform reps with one arm at a time. This will allow for a longer rest period between repetitions. This technique is a good way to further exhaust the biceps.
Preacher Curls
Description
Due to the angle, the preacher curl exercise is an excellent way to target the biceps - particularly the lower portion of the muscle. When performing the preacher curl exercise, it’s important to keep your back and neck in an upright position and your elbows on the padding. Doing so will prevent injuries to both the spine and the elbows.
Video
The Preacher Curl Exercise Video Is Coming Soon!
Execution
- Grasp the easy-curl bar, sit down and ensure that you don’t round your shoulders or allow your head to protrude forward.
- Exhale and while keeping your triceps in contact with the pad, flex your arms, drawing your palms towards your shoulders.
- Inhale and lower weight down in a controlled motion until your arms reach full extension.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Using dumbbells instead of an easy-curl bar when performing the preacher curl exercise allows you to strengthen one arm at a time. The use of dumbbells also allows you to rotate your palm upwards throughout the contraction - which further enhances the recruitment of the biceps.
Preacher Curl Machine
Description
The preacher curl machine - along with most other machine exercises - is a great way to gain introductory experience to a new movement. The minimal need for stability allows the trainee to place primary emphasis on the muscle contraction rather than performing a complex motor movement.
Video
The Preacher Curl Machine Exercise Video Is Coming Soon!
Execution
- Adjust the machine to the appropriate settings, sit down and place the triceps (upper/rear arm) against the padding on the machine.
- Grasp the handles using your desired grip. Remember, a wide grip stresses the inner region while a narrow grip stresses the outer region of the biceps.
- Exhale, flex at the elbows and curl the handles up towards the shoulder region.
- Inhale, extend at the elbows and lower back down at a controlled speed.
- Repeat until desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Allowing your training partner to apply slight resistance against the handles during the downward (eccentric) phase of the exercise is an effective way to increase the difficulty through variable resistance.
Barbell Bicep Curl
Description
The barbell bicep curl is a great exercise to build up the biceps providing that the movement is executed with strict form. Avoid arching the lower back and throwing the shoulders forward in an effort to create momentum for assistance.
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Execution
- To establish the starting position, stand in anatomical position(palms forward) and where your hands naturally gravitate to is where you should grasp the bar. This is typically around shoulder width with your pinkie finger touching the outer thigh.
- While holding the bar, spread the chest, bend the knees slightly and position your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Exhale and flex the arms until your hands come within 5 inches of your shoulder.
- Inhale and lower the bar back down to starting position in a controlled fashion.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
Variations
Using a wide grip when performing the barbell bicep curl will effectively recruit the outer long head of the biceps.
Using a narrow grip when performing the barbell bicep curl exercise will effectively recruit the inside short head of the biceps.
Using a curl bar places less stress on the wrist but since the biceps are involved in supination, this method isn’t as effective in training the biceps to their full functional ability.
Performing reverse curls with a straight bar increases the recruitment of the forearm muscles (radiobrachialis & brachialis). However, holding the wrist in pronation (palms down) can be hard on the joint.
Performing reverse curls using a curl bar instead of a straight bar reduces the strain on the wrists while still delivering a great workout to the forearms.
Leaning over a bench while performing the movement is a variation that ensures that each repetition is completed with strict form because it takes away the athletes ability to swing and use momentum.
Preacher Curls With Rope
Since preacher curls prevent swinging and force you to use strict form, they are a great way to isolate the biceps. The only problem associated with the typical version is that during the finishing point of the movement (as the arms are fully flexed), the biceps are somewhat alleviated from the tension.
This is where the rope version comes into play. By using a rope attached to a cable column (seated rope curls), tension is placed upon the biceps throughout the entire stage of the movement. Using a rope also allows you to rotate the palms upwards throughout the contraction. This movement, which is termed as supination, is very effective when it comes to maximizing bicep recruitment.
Execution
- Slide the cable column to the very bottom, attach the rope attachment and position the preacher bench towards the column.
- While seated on preacher bench, have your spotter pass you the rope. Grasp the rope using a neutral grip and rest triceps atop the padding.
- Exhale and flex your arms drawing your hands towards your shoulders. Keep in mind that the hands should be rotated upwards throughout the contraction.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, allow arms to extend back to starting position. There should be only a very slight bend at the elbows at this position.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.
High Cable Curl
Description
The high cable curl exercise for the biceps are most effective when performed as a finisher. Light weight is typically used and you should focus on feeling the movement and allowing the biceps to get a good stretch. Training the biceps from this elevated angle has also been shown to draw optimal recruitment from the long head of the biceps.
Video
A Video Demonstrating How To Perform The High Cable Curl Exercise Is Coming Soon!
Execution
- Hook a single grip attachment onto the each cable column. Select appropriate weight and slide each column to the top.
- Grasp a cable attachment in each hand with palms facing up. In this position, your arms should be extended and you body should replicate a T position.
- Exhale and flex arms, drawing your hands towards the side of your head. Hold this flexed arm position for 1-2 seconds for an optimal contraction.
- Inhale and at a controlled speed, extend arms back to starting position.
- Repeat until the desired number of repetitions are completed.