ExRx.net

From this page:

http://fitnessforoneandall.com/powerlif ... adlift.htm

"Biceps Work - The biceps are not really used in DLs nor in either of the other two powerlifts. However, there is quite a bit of strain on the biceps when doing DLs. And with the amount of work the triceps get in training the bench press, it would be prudent to add some bicep work for injury prevention and to maintain muscle balance. The biceps are worked in most upper back exercises, like rows and cable pulls. And that would suffice for some. But most will want to add a few 'curls for the girls.'"

Well I guess we never have to discuss it again.

We will. It is cyclical. Eventually someone will come asking haha.

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"Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door"

Kyle Chandler

What about chin ups? Chin ups are just an overhead inverted curl. If you do lots of chin ups, you don't need to curl.

However, I think I'm about to add curls to my routine. About to. I think.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

I've been trying to add them for about 6 months but consistency (well, time) is a major issue.

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Thanks TimD

BTW I read that "standing barbell curl" is a contested event in some places. Some will need your back to lean against the wall to prevent cheating.

I have read Arnold saying cheat curls are ok. As long as you don't "Cheat" too much. Just want to be careful on that lower back.

Now that I think of it on non deadlifting days thats exactly what I will add to my routine. When my biceps and back are smoked I'll do some cheat curls. Great idea.

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"Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door"

Kyle Chandler

Yeah, perhaps like how Matt Kroc did it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF_rWAYJS6M

Erick alternates between strict-form and looser-form curls. Allows the benefits of strict form, but also move bigger weight.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

The problem is, you can get a little better contraction when you isolate them IF you have larger muscles. You also need more volume when you are more advanced. Your CNS can't keep up with all the volume if you do all compound stuff. Your arms are muscles that are just used to being used a lot. As you get more advanced, it just takes more volume, which would overtrain your back. You also want to do isolation with smaller muscle like biceps to failure, because it increases the intensity, but doesn't burn out your CNS like going to failure on compounds. So this kind of digs into the reasons why advanced bodybuilding would differ from beginning and intermediate, or lifting for something other than hypertrophy.

Now granted if you did your back right, with a mix of grips, with about half being underhand, your biceps should be noticeably weaker. You can still get some more sets in with lighter weight though. But you only need to do that if you are more advanced. I'm usually down on the isolation, but that's because I'm usually not talking to semi-advanced to advanced bodybuilders.

True enough. But more than one newbie to this site has posted routines that were loaded with every possible variation of the biceps curl and little else.

The curl fetish that many rank beginners have might lead some more advanced lifters to shun the exercise. OK for us mere mortals, but not for a hardcore lifter.

But a hardcore lifter would have gotten a laugh out of the sorry dude who worked out in my gym last fall. He wore an expensive lifting belt and fancy gloves, but his "workout" consisted of endless sets of barbell curls - in a squat stand! Thankfuly, he was gone by Halloween.

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Thanks, TimD

there's one really bad offender for that at my gym. He's a nice guy but it makes me cringe watching him train. All he does is those full body curls, you know the ones I mean, and those roll-your-shoulder-around shrugs. Of course he's wearing a belt and gloves the whole time.

He also tore his right pectoral benching. I made the mistake of asking to see it once, it's hideous. All bunched up and off to the side. I hope to god it never happens to me, would ruin your physique completely.