Seated or standing dumbell alternate curls?

I do seated alternate dumbell curls. The seat at my gym has a back to
it so you can keep yourself firmly in place which gives you the most
from the curls without twisting or jerking yourself.
But I was wondering, is there any difference to standing barbell
curls? Or is it all the matter of personal preference?

On Oct 12, 1:34 pm, Homo Lifter <xxxzx...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I do seated alternate dumbell curls. The seat at my gym has a back to
> it so you can keep yourself firmly in place which gives you the most
> from the curls without twisting or jerking yourself.
> But I was wondering, is there any difference to standing barbell
> curls? Or is it all the matter of personal preference?



Barbell curls are typically harder than dumbbell curls, and seated
curls are often harder than standing ones (though I've never heard of
anyone curling barbells while seated).

It's still mostly a matter of personal preference, however.
Difficulty doesn't really matter, since poundage can be adjusted.

Dnia Fri, 12 Oct 2007 o 21:09 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 12, 1:34 pm, Homo Lifter <xxxzx...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I do seated alternate dumbell curls. The seat at my gym has a back to
>> it so you can keep yourself firmly in place which gives you the most
>> from the curls without twisting or jerking yourself.
>> But I was wondering, is there any difference to standing barbell
>> curls? Or is it all the matter of personal preference?
>
> Barbell curls are typically harder than dumbbell curls, and seated
> curls are often harder than standing ones (though I've never heard of
> anyone curling barbells while seated).

Arm-wrestlers do it sometimes.

> It's still mostly a matter of personal preference, however.
> Difficulty doesn't really matter, since poundage can be adjusted.

More "difficult" moves recruit less muscles, so they isolate them
better. "Easier" moves recruit more muscles, so you train more muscles
at one time.

Choose according to your preferences.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Oct 12, 4:07 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Arm-wrestlers do it sometimes.

Well, if you mean wrist-curls, yeah.

> More "difficult" moves recruit less muscles, so they isolate them
> better. "Easier" moves recruit more muscles, so you train more muscles
> at one time.
>
> Choose according to your preferences.

Hmm...I'd not considered what made something more difficult or less
difficult before...I thought it had to do with stronger muscles, not
simply more or less muscles...by your statement, compound movements
involving whole muscle groups should be easier to perform??

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia Fri, 12 Oct 2007 o 22:18 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 12, 4:07 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Arm-wrestlers do it sometimes.
>
> Well, if you mean wrist-curls, yeah.

No. I mean seated barbell curls.

[...]
> simply more or less muscles...by your statement, compound movements
> involving whole muscle groups should be easier to perform??

Try squatting your curling weight and check if I'm right.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Oct 12, 4:24 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> No. I mean seated barbell curls.

What would be the advantage to arm-wrestlers from doing half-curls
like that?

I haven't arm-wrestled in years, but I seem to recall that it hadn't
much to do with biceps, anyway.

> Try squatting your curling weight and check if I'm right.

I don't see how you put squat-weight and curl-weight together like
that.

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia Fri, 12 Oct 2007 o 22:31 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 12, 4:24 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> No. I mean seated barbell curls.
>
> What would be the advantage to arm-wrestlers from doing half-curls
> like that?

They strengthen a specific angle.

> I haven't arm-wrestled in years, but I seem to recall that it hadn't
> much to do with biceps, anyway.

If you had much weaker link in the chain, but otherwise it has a lot to
do with the biceps.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

"Homo Lifter" <xxxzx987@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1192210464.961485.95040@q3g2000prf.googlegrou ps.com...
>I do seated alternate dumbell curls. The seat at my gym has a back to
> it so you can keep yourself firmly in place which gives you the most
> from the curls without twisting or jerking yourself.
> But I was wondering, is there any difference to standing barbell
> curls? Or is it all the matter of personal preference?

The question is, "What do you mean by 'the most?'" I would argue that
by standing and keeping yourself from moving, you'd actually both work
_more_ muscles _and_ do more to strengthen the relatively small number
of muscles you're trying to work.

Another way to approach this is to actively cheat on your barbell curls,
which turns them into something approaching a reverse grip clean.

Bottom line: it's all good, and you could do worse than to train all
these variations from time to time.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Thanks for the responce. I appreciate it. I should have mentioned I
also so standing barbell curls, plus preachers, seated alternates and
concentrations. It's all good.
Was just wondering after seeing guys at the gym doing the standing
alternates. From the post's it's a personal preferance. I really like
the seated, they are working well for me. I do vary exorcises.
Recently I switched form barbell preachers to dumbells and can really
feel a difference. Been gaining in size lately fromm upping my weights
in all the routines. Again thanks.

Dnia Sat, 13 Oct 2007 o 07:01 GMT Homo Lifter napisa³(a):
> Thanks for the responce. I appreciate it. I should have mentioned I
> also so standing barbell curls, plus preachers, seated alternates and
> concentrations. It's all good.
> Was just wondering after seeing guys at the gym doing the standing
> alternates. From the post's it's a personal preferance. I really like
> the seated, they are working well for me. I do vary exorcises.

Those exorcisms you vary, still obviously do not work. You are
possessed by a curl demon!

> Recently I switched form barbell preachers

You see? You should preach more, and maybe the demon will go away.

> to dumbells and can really
> feel a difference. Been gaining in size lately fromm upping my weights
> in all the routines. Again thanks.

Try increasing volume to at least one set per fiber. ;-)

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

"Andrzej Rosa" <> Those exorcisms you vary, still obviously do not work.
You are
> possessed by a curl demon!
>

He's a HOMO LIFTER. Obviously a major issue is the limp wrists.

On Oct 12, 4:51 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> They strengthen a specific angle.

Now that's something I don't get: how does half an exercise strengthen
any particular angle better than all of the exercise?? Presumably a
full curl passes through those angles, too....

> If you had much weaker link in the chain, but otherwise it has a lot to
> do with the biceps.

What do you mean, "much weaker link in the chain"?

I seem to recall that biceps really come into play only when one is
losing -- it becomes most like a biceps curl, then. When winning, I
think it's the wrist and, even, the shoulder!

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia Mon, 15 Oct 2007 o 05:02 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 12, 4:51 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> They strengthen a specific angle.
>
> Now that's something I don't get: how does half an exercise strengthen
> any particular angle better than all of the exercise?? Presumably a
> full curl passes through those angles, too....

Seated barbell curls (SBC) are a sport specific movement, not a
bodybuilding movement. Strength is angle specific. Guys even train
isometric preacher holds and open palm grip to simulate conditions of
the match in training.

Arm wrestling match starts with bent arms - just like SBC. In an arm
wrestling you try to explode from bent position. Could you train this
explosion with standing curls? Nope. You'd explode from extended
position, when you pretty much already lost a game.

>> If you had much weaker link in the chain, but otherwise it has a lot to
>> do with the biceps.
>
> What do you mean, "much weaker link in the chain"?

If an opponent is able to extend your wrist, then you simply can't use
your biceps efficiently.

> I seem to recall that biceps really come into play only when one is
> losing -- it becomes most like a biceps curl, then. When winning, I
> think it's the wrist and, even, the shoulder!

Arguing about the role of biceps in arm wrestling seems quite absurd to
me. Really. I do no curls, so I try to avoid arm-wrestling, but when
I'm not strong enough to turn down a challenge (once every several
years) I'm sore for *weeks* afterwards.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Oct 15, 6:45 am, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Seated barbell curls (SBC) are a sport specific movement, not a
> bodybuilding movement. Strength is angle specific. Guys even train
> isometric preacher holds and open palm grip to simulate conditions of
> the match in training.

Interesting...I had tried open-palm dumbbell curls for fun on a few
occasions, but didn't notice anything dramatically different...?

> Arm wrestling match starts with bent arms - just like SBC. In an arm
> wrestling you try to explode from bent position. Could you train this
> explosion with standing curls? Nope. You'd explode from extended
> position, when you pretty much already lost a game.

Hmm, I never thought of it like that before.

So would that be "harder" to do, starting from the half-way point like
that? I ask because I was wondering that about the bench press, too;
I usually wind up working to muscular failure (without exactly meaning
to) and so the bar is on the side racks (I use the power rack because
I don't have a spotter) for the next set, when, hopefully, I'd have
recovered enough to put the bar back up...but I've always wondered
whether it was harder to start from the "bottom" than from the "top,"
or whether it was just me being tired out by then....

> If an opponent is able to extend your wrist, then you simply can't use
> your biceps efficiently.

Yes, I do remember the wrist being a focal point! That was the
trick. That, and most guys try to "throw" their shoulders into it,
which I thought was cheating.

Actually, now that I'm remembering more and more of this...I seem to
recall some guys having a certain technique where they pull towards
themselves (using their pecs??)...so instead of "pushing" left or
right in front of them, they try to pull you in towards them! I hated
that, too.

> Arguing about the role of biceps in arm wrestling seems quite absurd to
> me. Really.

Who's arguing? I'm arm-twisting your brain!

> I do no curls, so I try to avoid arm-wrestling, but when
> I'm not strong enough to turn down a challenge (once every several
> years) I'm sore for *weeks* afterwards.

Why would you arm-wrestle if you know you're in no shape for it?? I
used to turn down challenges to deadlift or squat 'cause I just never
did them. (I do now, but still feel a bit shy about it.)

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia Mon, 15 Oct 2007 o 15:40 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 15, 6:45 am, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Arm wrestling match starts with bent arms - just like SBC. In an arm
>> wrestling you try to explode from bent position. Could you train this
>> explosion with standing curls? Nope. You'd explode from extended
>> position, when you pretty much already lost a game.
>
> Hmm, I never thought of it like that before.
>
> So would that be "harder" to do, starting from the half-way point like
> that? I ask because I was wondering that about the bench press, too;
> I usually wind up working to muscular failure (without exactly meaning
> to) and so the bar is on the side racks (I use the power rack because
> I don't have a spotter) for the next set, when, hopefully, I'd have
> recovered enough to put the bar back up...but I've always wondered
> whether it was harder to start from the "bottom" than from the "top,"
> or whether it was just me being tired out by then....

In general it's harder to start from bottom position. You lose so
called muscular reflex. I don't know how it works for curls in this
specific example.

>> If an opponent is able to extend your wrist, then you simply can't use
>> your biceps efficiently.
>
> Yes, I do remember the wrist being a focal point! That was the
> trick. That, and most guys try to "throw" their shoulders into it,
> which I thought was cheating.

It's not cheating in real competitions.

> Actually, now that I'm remembering more and more of this...I seem to
> recall some guys having a certain technique where they pull towards
> themselves (using their pecs??)...so instead of "pushing" left or
> right in front of them, they try to pull you in towards them! I hated
> that, too.

That's also perfectly legal technique.

>> Arguing about the role of biceps in arm wrestling seems quite absurd to
>> me. Really.
>
> Who's arguing? I'm arm-twisting your brain!
>
>> I do no curls, so I try to avoid arm-wrestling, but when
>> I'm not strong enough to turn down a challenge (once every several
>> years) I'm sore for *weeks* afterwards.
>
> Why would you arm-wrestle if you know you're in no shape for it??

Because I win anyway. Still, I'm reduced to brushing my teeth with my
left arm afterwards.

> I
> used to turn down challenges to deadlift or squat 'cause I just never
> did them. (I do now, but still feel a bit shy about it.)

You live in a beautiful world, where people challenge others in squat
and deadlift. I'm feeling jealous.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Oct 15, 10:32 am, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> In general it's harder to start from bottom position. You lose so
> called muscular reflex. I don't know how it works for curls in this
> specific example.

"Muscle reflex"?? I know what that is in terms of stretching a muscle
-- it will automatically contract at a certain point to prevent
further stretching -- but I don't know what that has to do with
lifting from the bottom position. You are right that something is
lost, though. It simply doesn't feel the same, though I can't imagine
why not, logically or biomechanically speaking. Maybe it simply isn't
"primed" like it would be with starting from the top position, and
carefully lowering the bar....

> It's not cheating in real competitions.

Oh, so it's not?? No wonder they beat me!!!

> That's also perfectly legal technique.

LOL...I think I'll have to give this arm-wrestling thing another shot,
then...how about lining up elbows? Is that how it's supposed to be
done, too?

> Because I win anyway. Still, I'm reduced to brushing my teeth with my
> left arm afterwards.

It's true, arm-wrestling really tires out the arm. I usually limited
myself to only one match, unless it's against the same opponent,
'cause there's no way I can recouperate to try with someone else.

> You live in a beautiful world, where people challenge others in squat
> and deadlift. I'm feeling jealous.

That's how college gyms are, and to a slightly less extent, actually,
gyms on Army posts. I sure miss 'em for the "camaraderie."

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Dnia Mon, 15 Oct 2007 o 17:41 GMT Prisoner at War napisa³(a):
> On Oct 15, 10:32 am, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> That's also perfectly legal technique.
>
> LOL...I think I'll have to give this arm-wrestling thing another shot,
> then...how about lining up elbows? Is that how it's supposed to be
> done, too?

Not necessarily. You need to have your elbows on elbow pad and your
palms should be above a centerline of the table. You could move your
elbows on top of elbow pad, though. But it's frowned upon when having
fun with friends, as well as overusing wrist leverages.

>> Because I win anyway. Still, I'm reduced to brushing my teeth with my
>> left arm afterwards.
>
> It's true, arm-wrestling really tires out the arm. I usually limited
> myself to only one match, unless it's against the same opponent,
> 'cause there's no way I can recouperate to try with someone else.

Even if you know you can beat them too? I'm not that disciplined. ;-)

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

On Oct 15, 1:05 pm, Andrzej Rosa <bakt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Not necessarily. You need to have your elbows on elbow pad and your
> palms should be above a centerline of the table. You could move your
> elbows on top of elbow pad, though. But it's frowned upon when having
> fun with friends, as well as overusing wrist leverages.

Aha! See, I knew it, something was real fishy...these people, they
just twist your wrist, pull your arm towards them, lean their whole
shoulder into it...I even suspect they're pulling on their chair with
the other hand! I don't know why folks can't do it in a "clean"
way...I mean, what's the point of winning something where you're
squirming and wiggling every last bit of leverage possible...it's like
people wiggling their deadlifts up or something...I only do this stuff
for fun, but people act like, I don't know, like it's the last sale of
X-Mas or something, scrambling all over....

> Even if you know you can beat them too? I'm not that disciplined. ;-)

I have in mind them close matches. When it's a clear-cut victory, no
one bothers asking for another go. But when I win a close match, the
loser ALWAYS wants to do it again. And I always try to back out, but
sometimes it's not possible. And even if I still win again, they will
ALWAYS want another round! It just never ends. But yeah, no matter
what happens, I would wind up having problems brushing my teeth, too,
or washing my hair or just lifting up a cup of water!!!

> --
> Andrzej Rosa 1127R

I prefer to teach my client standing curls, unless they are lifting
huge weights. once i have taught them to stablize their mid section
and am sure they can contract their abs in the correct way, i get them
doing curls whilst standing. by doing this, they get a workout for
their biceps, abs, lower back, and to some extent their glutes, all at
the same time... an efficient use of their time... and money!

Tim.

--
TeamWorks Fitness
Personal Training in your home
Bristol, UK
t: 01454 853 835 (evenings)
or 07960 844 554 (any time)
http://teamworksfitness.googlepages.com
teamworksfitness@gmail.com

But them curls are supposed to be isolation/concentration
exercises...if you want bang-for-the-buck efficiency, why not do the
deadlift, then...lemme tell you, you really hit them legs, glues,
shoulders, back, and forearms!

Besides, seated dumbbell exercises are harder than standing
ones...curls, lateral raises, shoulder presses, you name it...you can
generally do more weight standing than seated...in terms of muscle
isolation, it seems like seated variants are most "efficient"!


On Oct 17, 12:25 pm, "teamworksfitn...@googlemail.com"
<teamworksfitn...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> I prefer to teach my client standing curls, unless they are lifting
> huge weights. once i have taught them to stablize their mid section
> and am sure they can contract their abs in the correct way, i get them
> doing curls whilst standing. by doing this, they get a workout for
> their biceps, abs, lower back, and to some extent their glutes, all at
> the same time... an efficient use of their time... and money!
>
> Tim.
>
> --
> TeamWorks Fitness
> Personal Training in your home
> Bristol, UK
> t: 01454 853 835 (evenings)
> or 07960 844 554 (any time)http://teamworksfitness.googlepages.com
> teamworksfitn...@gmail.com