DIPS
UPPER • 1m 0s
The Dip is the king of chest & triceps exercises. And if you perform it properly, it also smokes the rear shoulders & upper back. Like the pullup, it’s an extreme joint angle exercise except your shoulder is in extension instead of flexion. Just like with pushups, keep your forearms vertical to the floor to get the most out of the exercise & take pressure off the elbows.
There are 3 primary ways to help you build up to perfect dips. One, use band-assistance which helps you the most out of the bottom position. Two, use self-assistance from your lower body. Three, do eccentric-only reps where you cheat up and then lower slowly for 3-5 seconds. I recommend mixing between all 3 for best results.
Though some fitness experts say to never do off-bench dips, I think it’s an excellent exercise if you have the hip & shoulder mobility to do it pain-free. It’s easier to do than parallel bar dips and it stresses the triceps more than the chest. Progress from knees bent to legs straight to feet-elevated. I love to do max reps parallel dips immediately followed by off-bench dips for an epic pump & burn.
Up Next in UPPER
-
PRESSES
Consider Presses to be the open-chain companion of the closed-chain pushup. Because your hands move independently in free space, presses increase the stability & mobility demands and strengthen each arm independently. Like with pushups, keep your elbows at a 30-45 degree angle from your trunk to ...
-
BICEPS CURLS
It’s important to prioritize multi-joint compound exercises over single-joint isolation exercises, especially when you’re short on time. But there’s nothing wrong with some dedicated work for the elbow joint. Not only will this maximize muscular development, but bigger & stronger biceps will make...
-
TRICEPS EXTENSIONS
Though the triceps get a ton of work from presses, dips & pushups, it’s still important to isolate them for best results. For one, they comprise approximately 2/3 of your upper arm mass so they have the biggest overall impact on arms size. In addition, the meaty long head of the upper arm is pref...