Got a cable machine? Then you’ve got access to one of the most fundamental exercises to directly target and isolate the triceps. The triceps pushdown, sometimes called a pressdown, is perfectly suited to beginners and experienced lifters alike. Credit: sakkmesterke / Shutterstock The cable’s pulley system puts tension — and lots of it — right
Exercise Guides
The first barbell curl was probably performed about three minutes after the barbell was invented and it’s been a gym staple ever since. This timeless exercise has always been reliable and effective for building a set of bulging biceps. Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock It might be seen as a very simple movement — grab the
When most lifters make the decision to commit to the gym, the barbell bench press is often one of the first exercises selected for building a stronger and bigger chest. However, despite its reputation as a “must-do” movement, the barbell bench alone is not going to produce the type of well-developed chest most hope for.
The bench press is seen as the go-to chest exercise by many lifters looking to build a well-rounded set of pecs, but it has some limitations. Most significantly, it’s not actually a “chest” exercise. It’s a “chest, shoulders, and triceps” exercise because it’s a compound (multi-joint) movement and it lacks the ability to effectively target
Back workouts will always require both vertical and horizontal pulling exercises for complete development. While pull-ups and pulldowns are common vertical pulls, one of the most fundamental horizontal pulling exercises is the single-arm dumbbell row. The single-arm dumbbell row is a unilateral (single-side) exercise that builds the strength and size of the latissimus dorsi (large
An exercise’s name doesn’t usually hold too much value beyond summarizing what it is or how it’s done. The bench press has you lying on a bench while pressing. The barbell row has you, well, rowing a barbell. Squat’s gonna squat. But when a specific exercise variation is named after an individual lifter or coach,
There are typically two camps when it comes to ab training. There are those who are purely focused on strengthening their abs to hoist more weight and perform better as an athlete. And then some folks are mainly interested in whittling their middle a la Brad Pitt in Troy. But hear us now: You can
Many gym-goers are well aware of the pull-up, but struggle to perform their first rep. While it may be fairly easy for some, for others, it is a much longer journey that can be shortened by spending time building the strength of the back musculature. This is where the lat pulldown, sometimes called the front
Bigger, stronger arms are usually high on the list of priorities for some lifters, even if they half-whisper it for fear of being labeled “a bodybuilder,” as if there’s anything wrong with training specifically to add muscle. While there are countless varieties of curls to work the biceps with different angles or equipment, most lifters
Glenn Pendlay was one of the leading coaches in American weightlifting — he held a Level 5 accreditation from USA Weightlifting (the highest available) and coached many high-level athletes to medals in national and international competitions. In addition to his lifters’ success on the platform, he’s known for popularizing a strength-building exercise known as the
A simple barbell in a squat rack may not seem like a piece of modern-day technology, but it kinda is. Up until a few decades ago, lifters were either making their own racks by hand from scrap metal and wood, or they were figuring out how to get the bar lifted by any means necessary.
If you plan on being in the gym long-term, you need to avoid beating up your joints. The shoulders, in particular, can be tough to train intensely without excessive wear and tear. Fortunately, the lateral raise can be a very effective way to build the shoulders without attacking the joints. Beyond joint-friendly training, if you
The pull-up is the meat and potatoes of any back workout. It’s one of the few exercises that nearly every experienced lifter agrees is essential for building a foundation of size and strength. You’ll find it performed and praised by bodybuilders, strength athletes, and traditional sports athletes due to its wide benefits. This battle-tested exercise
The classic sit-up is one of the first exercises most people learn to perform. Sometimes on their own at home as an early attempt to get into better shape or in school during gym class where it was less painful than dodgeball and more fun than square dancing. The sit-up remains a time-tested fitness evaluation
On one hand, the deadlift is as simple and straightforward as “pick the heavy bar up off the ground and stand up.” On the other hand, the deadlift is an intricate series of muscular coordinations, involving muscles from your ankles and thighs to your abdomen and lower back to your shoulders, wrists, and hands. Because
The bench press is the reigning king of upper body barbell exercises for many lifters. Even non-lifters are familiar with muscular athletes demonstrating their strength performing a bench press. It’s almost universally recognized as the way to build your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Because you have the potential to put so much weight on the
The barbell skull crusher, also known as the barbell triceps extension, is one of the most well-known exercises for the triceps. Yet it is heavily underrated due to a misunderstanding of how to perform the exercise effectively. The barbell skull crusher can improve strength in a variety of activities, especially the bench press and overhead
Back exercises come in two basic patterns: vertical, or overhead, pulls, like the classic pull-up, and horizontal rows. Many lifters are familiar with standard pull-ups, chin-ups, and pulldowns, but the wide variety of rows requires more specific attention. The seated cable row offers distinct advantages over barbells, dumbbells, or other machines. The combination of body