what do you call this?

[tim_mcf]

From time to time I have seen people do this exercise...get a curl bar, load some plates on, lay on a bench and do a kind of bent-elbow pullover (lots of reps pretty fast) and follow it with a lot of presses (also fast and only about 1/2 way up). What do you call this, and what is proper form?

[threenorns]

sounds like compound skull-crusher + french press to work triceps.

start with a skull-crusher: push EZ curl bar straight up, then bring the bar back down BEHIND your head (not to your forehead, as it puts too much stress on elbows and wrists). straighten back up with a controlled explosive movement, then bring elbows down so the bar ends up crossing at your stomach before pushing it straight back up and starting over again.

pumping them out really fast is designed to impress onlookers. ALL exercises should be done with force and control, but not just banging them out with tin on the bar.

[gcs118]

They were either doing pull-overs or skull crushers like three said, but the repping at the end is like a close grip bench press - it finishes off the triceps after they can't do any more at the first exercise.

[pmcgough]

Originally Posted by threenorns

sounds like compound skull-crusher + french press to work triceps.

start with a skull-crusher: push EZ curl bar straight up, then bring the bar back down BEHIND your head (not to your forehead, as it puts too much stress on elbows and wrists). straighten back up with a controlled explosive movement, then bring elbows down so the bar ends up crossing at your stomach before pushing it straight back up and starting over again.

pumping them out really fast is designed to impress onlookers. ALL exercises should be done with force and control, but not just banging them out with tin on the bar.

thats actually worse for both your elbows and wrists going behind your head, and it puts more stress on shoulders then tris

[threenorns]

http://www.ast-ss.com/training/exerc...p?bp=Arm&pn=16

[tim_mcf]

Thank you...you're all unimpressed with the idea I see. I'll just forget about it, then.

[pseudonym]

Originally Posted by tim_mcf

Thank you...you're all unimpressed with the idea I see. I'll just forget about it, then.

why not give it a try first ?? see if it works for you cause one mans pain is anothers pleasure and all that.

Keep it light as you learn (good trick for all new exercises I rekon) and get to know your limits on the particular exercise and an injury is fairly unlikely.

I say don't 'forget it' just because a few people might not like it in their routine.

just my thoughts

P.S. I don't see that anyone really seemed to 'dislike' the exercise ... maybe just the fast repping part, that is rather a dated training concept (in terms of building size anyway)

P.P.S. I like the exercise ... I just don't do a laydown version because I find pulldowns work my tris more. :

[Lift2Live]

Skullcrushers are an awesome mass builder, I think it's more of the way that a person does them that people are unimpressed with. Doing a few close grips after them is fine but like has been said, keep it slow and focused, there's no need to pump em' out like described unless you are trying to show off. Biggest thing i've taken to heart that i've heard and been told in respect to lifting is to "check your ego at the door!". It's more important to use your muscle to lift the weight, not the ego.

[rookie]

my tricep routine conists of 4sets of weighted dips, then i do skull crushers, but the close grip bench at the end i feel is just blood work, its gets that pump and all but i dont feel it builds much mass. now if you want to dip, skull crushers, then go to a bench after resting a few minutes and do close grip bench than thats ok, but i feel doing close grip bench right upon completing skull crushers is pointless. also those guys doing it fast are wasting their time, sure their working out but fast paced weight lifting doesnt produce the same results as to maybe a 3 second negative 2 second positive on most lifts, those numbers change on back and leg days of course. i think you should try skull crushers on a flat bar, thats how i learned, it teaches you to keep your elbows in instead of pushing them out. good luck.

[gcs118]

Although repping out the skullcrushers as a "CGBP" at the end of their sets very quickly may be for attention or that pump so many love, speed work DOES have a place in lifting rookie. Speed is what blasts you through sticking points. Next time you bench, or do deadlifts, BLAST them. Push or pull like it's your max weight on the bar. You'll find you can do a lot more weight when you pound through your sticking points. More weight = more strength = more muscle. Going slower (2 seconds positive for example) you are much more likely to hit a sticking point and plateau.

[rookie]

very true, i dont what you speak of on bench press, squat, and military press. i do a 3 second down, and explode up. but for skull crushers i dont feel that is what should be done, ify ou go slow on the way up that keep the concentration on the muscle, i feel what you speak of should be done on compound lifts and compound lifts only. no squeezing the muscle is the most important part of lifting, on a bicep curl or maybe a tricep ext squeezing it even if its not necessary.

[gcs118]

I do agree with you, sorry if I was unclear. Compound lifts, yes, explosive power. Isolation lifts have a totally different purpose in my book and a slower rep is probably more beneficial there, you're right.

[rookie]

no i wasnt clear with my first post.