Post by Steve Gardener on Feb 2, 2009 15:06:30 GMT
Today's stimulus was a 'how to add weight and work out reps, etc' type question relating to grippers.
My quite short answer was 'the same as other muscle groups'. Now we are either in a 'me need to be to,d cos me no think for myself' situation or they actually think that grip really differs that much in muscle type and how it should be trained.
I'll accept the fibre type make up argument (slow twitch, fast twitch, type I type II etc) which goes something like grip muscles/forearm muscles are like the calf and can take a higher volume of work. I've also said that the grip can be, esp by someone who competes like myself, worked more often than say legs because it doesn't have the same impact on the CNS (central nervous system) but making progression??
If you set a target number of reps to hit then hit them, add weight, do more reps, whatever. It's not rocket science!! Surely, as per the person asking (cos I checked) if they already train with weights it's bleeding well obvious??!! What sort of answer was they expecting 'add 100 more reps, tis the secret method of the champions'.
Their question was two fold, the second part being 'and on holds how long'. The reply is 'as above'. In fact that was part of my reply. If there was a target weight or time and you hit it, add weight or time. I mean come the fuck on!! There is no magical time for stimulus of strength and or muscle tissue in a grip lifting involving time. There might be some science behind the time under tension theories, ditto the super slow protocol and similar but if you're suing thick handled dumbbell and holding it for time and only add weight when YOU hit your target, say 30-seconds, do that.
Having interviewed champs and referred to this point before the reason why some do a set time, number of reps, weight increments, etc is cos that's what they like and what should work for them. You can do it or what works for you. The secret is in looking at what other sets and rep schemes work for you already. A tip might be looking at similar muscle groups (ie: calves) and copying that.
Let's be honest I could have said any old shit, backed it with some pseudo reasoning and the muppet would have gone for it. As a champ/coach what I'd offer, on a one to one basis, is a whip cracking like they've never had before and enough small technique tips, encouragement and the like to get the best out of the subject. I would not use some BS complicated mathematical formula to pretend to know how to work out a set and rep scheme.
My quite short answer was 'the same as other muscle groups'. Now we are either in a 'me need to be to,d cos me no think for myself' situation or they actually think that grip really differs that much in muscle type and how it should be trained.
I'll accept the fibre type make up argument (slow twitch, fast twitch, type I type II etc) which goes something like grip muscles/forearm muscles are like the calf and can take a higher volume of work. I've also said that the grip can be, esp by someone who competes like myself, worked more often than say legs because it doesn't have the same impact on the CNS (central nervous system) but making progression??
If you set a target number of reps to hit then hit them, add weight, do more reps, whatever. It's not rocket science!! Surely, as per the person asking (cos I checked) if they already train with weights it's bleeding well obvious??!! What sort of answer was they expecting 'add 100 more reps, tis the secret method of the champions'.
Their question was two fold, the second part being 'and on holds how long'. The reply is 'as above'. In fact that was part of my reply. If there was a target weight or time and you hit it, add weight or time. I mean come the fuck on!! There is no magical time for stimulus of strength and or muscle tissue in a grip lifting involving time. There might be some science behind the time under tension theories, ditto the super slow protocol and similar but if you're suing thick handled dumbbell and holding it for time and only add weight when YOU hit your target, say 30-seconds, do that.
Having interviewed champs and referred to this point before the reason why some do a set time, number of reps, weight increments, etc is cos that's what they like and what should work for them. You can do it or what works for you. The secret is in looking at what other sets and rep schemes work for you already. A tip might be looking at similar muscle groups (ie: calves) and copying that.
Let's be honest I could have said any old shit, backed it with some pseudo reasoning and the muppet would have gone for it. As a champ/coach what I'd offer, on a one to one basis, is a whip cracking like they've never had before and enough small technique tips, encouragement and the like to get the best out of the subject. I would not use some BS complicated mathematical formula to pretend to know how to work out a set and rep scheme.
