Top 10 Tips from a Pro Bodybuilder
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
*Master basic form and technique. Use full range of motion. When you get more advanced you can begin to bend those rules to increase intensity.
*You can push harder. When the pain becomes unbearable, the pro's are just getting started.
*Phil Heath has a coach. Jay Cutler has a coach. Amit Sapir has a coach. It doesn't make you inferior to have a coach. Get one.
*Master the Olympic lifts.
*Try to improve every workout, whether it's an extra set, more reps, more weight, or better technique. Over time you'll accumulate massive improvements.
1 – LEARN FORM AND TECHNIQUE
NOVICE TIP:
The worst things I see in the gym include rounded backs during deadlifts, quarter squats, and partial pressing with no apparent reason.
Take the time to learn the movements and you'll set yourself up for a long career of continued success. Begin with body weight, then progress to a broomstick, and then work your way up to a bar. After that, keep feeding yourself more and more weight. If your technique isn't perfect with no weight, then it makes no sense to keep adding weight to the bar. Once your technique is perfected, the sky's the limit.
If your pattern of movement isn't right, then you won't be able to advance. You can't sprint before you walk, so learn to walk first! There's a lot of video material and information here on T Nation that will teach you the basics.
ADVANCED TIP:
After you've learned and perfected your form and technique, you can use these techniques to make your training goal-oriented.
For example, if you want big quads, do more Olympic-style squats. If you want to gain strength, do more powerlifting-style squats. Likewise, do Olympic deadlifts for explosive power, regular deadlifts for strength, or sumo deadlifts to hit more of the glutes and hams.
2 – LEARN THE BASICS
NOVICE TIP:
Figure out how to do all variations of squats, deadlifts, rows, chin-ups, dips, and presses.
Learn them, and 70% of your battle's already been won. These basics are a must for any serious lifter/athlete to build a basic strength and physique base. Similarly, compound/multi-joint movements are always the "bread and butter" for every good training program – learn them, master them, repeat them, and improve them! Keep in mind that sometimes a workout of 10 sets of heavy deadlifts or squats will give you a better workout than any "fancy" leg/back session.
ADVANCED TIP:
Now that you know the basics you can enhance them using endless types of tempo manipulation techniques in the compound movements.
Using these will make your exercises harder, more stimulating, muscle fiber-wise, and more interesting. For example: Do three 12-rep sets of squats. Do the first 4 reps using a pause at the bottom, then do the next 4 reps using a five-second negative. Finish the set up with 4 "normal" reps. Or do three 10-rep sets of chin-up. Do the first 5 reps with a 3-second pause at the top and a 3-second eccentric. Do the second 5 reps explosively
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
*Master basic form and technique. Use full range of motion. When you get more advanced you can begin to bend those rules to increase intensity.
*You can push harder. When the pain becomes unbearable, the pro's are just getting started.
*Phil Heath has a coach. Jay Cutler has a coach. Amit Sapir has a coach. It doesn't make you inferior to have a coach. Get one.
*Master the Olympic lifts.
*Try to improve every workout, whether it's an extra set, more reps, more weight, or better technique. Over time you'll accumulate massive improvements.
1 – LEARN FORM AND TECHNIQUE
NOVICE TIP:
The worst things I see in the gym include rounded backs during deadlifts, quarter squats, and partial pressing with no apparent reason.
Take the time to learn the movements and you'll set yourself up for a long career of continued success. Begin with body weight, then progress to a broomstick, and then work your way up to a bar. After that, keep feeding yourself more and more weight. If your technique isn't perfect with no weight, then it makes no sense to keep adding weight to the bar. Once your technique is perfected, the sky's the limit.
If your pattern of movement isn't right, then you won't be able to advance. You can't sprint before you walk, so learn to walk first! There's a lot of video material and information here on T Nation that will teach you the basics.
ADVANCED TIP:
After you've learned and perfected your form and technique, you can use these techniques to make your training goal-oriented.
For example, if you want big quads, do more Olympic-style squats. If you want to gain strength, do more powerlifting-style squats. Likewise, do Olympic deadlifts for explosive power, regular deadlifts for strength, or sumo deadlifts to hit more of the glutes and hams.
2 – LEARN THE BASICS
NOVICE TIP:
Figure out how to do all variations of squats, deadlifts, rows, chin-ups, dips, and presses.
Learn them, and 70% of your battle's already been won. These basics are a must for any serious lifter/athlete to build a basic strength and physique base. Similarly, compound/multi-joint movements are always the "bread and butter" for every good training program – learn them, master them, repeat them, and improve them! Keep in mind that sometimes a workout of 10 sets of heavy deadlifts or squats will give you a better workout than any "fancy" leg/back session.
ADVANCED TIP:
Now that you know the basics you can enhance them using endless types of tempo manipulation techniques in the compound movements.
Using these will make your exercises harder, more stimulating, muscle fiber-wise, and more interesting. For example: Do three 12-rep sets of squats. Do the first 4 reps using a pause at the bottom, then do the next 4 reps using a five-second negative. Finish the set up with 4 "normal" reps. Or do three 10-rep sets of chin-up. Do the first 5 reps with a 3-second pause at the top and a 3-second eccentric. Do the second 5 reps explosively