John Grimek and Muscle Confusion

[Bodybygamma]

I wrote this on a different thread but it applies to here:

Muscle Confusion and Isolation exercises I have a joke, the right arm's bicep looks at the left arm's bicep doing triceps extensions, confused and curious he asks his counter part, "why the hell are you doing triceps extensions for your bicep growth"? the left bicep replies " MUSCLE CONFUSION, my body won't know whats coming!"

This is my view and take on that word. To me you must target weakness and bring them up to par with your strengths. It is no so much confusing the muscle as the popular term goes, but as much as bringing a neglected muscle to snuff. Muscles do in fact build tolerances, and you must overcome them to keep making progress however, I still don't feel confusion is the best word.

Why do deadlifts, squats, overhead presses, and bench presses always work , and why are compound movements considered the best Because they leave no muscle fibers untouched. Some additional work may be done, but these exercises, correct and expose muscular imbalances. However once those imbalances are exposed you must take the proper steps to fix them.Many factors come into play:

-Sometimes compound movements are too hard on beginners, and stabilization muscles have not been developed.

-Smaller muscles in my opinion need higher reps then bigger muscles.

-Underdeveloped or neglected muscles need more focus than "show" muscles.

-Sometimes unilateral work must be done. Some time rehab is necessary. There is no one universal answer to this.

For the most part though I agree with you can't go wrong with the basics.

[BendtheBar]

You are wise beyond your years BBG. I learn something every time you post.

[glwanabe]

Why do deadlifts, squats, overhead presses, and bench presses always work , and why are compound movements considered the best Because they leave no muscle fibers untouched. Some additional work may be done, but these exercises, correct and expose muscular imbalances. However once those imbalances are exposed you must take the proper steps to fix them.Many factors come into play:

I like this paragraph, and agree with you for the most part. For arguements sake.

There are two ways to deal with those imbalances. Continue to work the compound until those weak areas catch up, or isolate them.

If you isolate them, do you then have to break all of the muscles groups into isolation and work seperately while you strenghten all aspects of the chain, before you can put the chain back together again? Westside style

If you continue to work the whole as a compound it may appear that your stalled, but infact your letting the system build it's weak spot so that at the end the compound movement is balanced in it's strength needs to perform the task. Stick with the basics style

-Sometimes compound movements are too hard on beginners, and stabilization muscles have not been developed.

Beginners are weak regardless, so using lighter weights and working form can be an approach taken here. Their strength will move up quickly until true weak links are exposed. Now were back at the first scenario.

-Sometimes unilateral work must be done. Some time rehab is necessary. There is no one universal answer to this.

Agreed.

For the most part though I agree with you can't go wrong with the basics

Agreed.

[jslep]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

You are wise beyond your years BBG. I learn something every time you post.

x2 i love reading your stuff.

[BendtheBar]

I'm about to confuse my legs by putting weight on my back

[Bodybygamma]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I'm about to confuse my legs by putting weight on my back

LMFAO That made me chuckle hard!

[Trevor Lane]

Slightly unrelated, but has to do with Grimeck... I was reading about "his" curl & press and I think I'm gonna throw this down in an upcoming workout.

[jwood]

Originally Posted by Trevor Lane

Slightly unrelated, but has to do with Grimeck... I was reading about "his" curl & press and I think I'm gonna throw this down in an upcoming workout.

I read about that also a few weeks ago and I have thrown them in and I really like them. My arms were torn up the day after I did these, and they are a fun lift since I feel like I am curling close to 200 pounds.

They also hit some different muscles too, hit the rear delts pretty hard.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Bodybygamma

LMFAO That made me chuckle hard!

Mission accomplished!