Isometric exercises?

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

Grab the front bumper of your car. Try to pick it up. Keep trying.

JMW said:

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

Grab the front bumper of your car. Try to pick it up. Keep trying.

I saw Criss Angel do that on TV the other night. Picked up the front of
a cab, so, I guess it wouldn't be isometric for him.

A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
chalk it up to magic.

David

"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Grab the front bumper of your car. Try to pick it up. Keep trying.

Quoted message said:

I saw Criss Angel do that on TV the other night. Picked up the front of
a cab, so, I guess it wouldn't be isometric for him.

Quoted message said:

A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
chalk it up to magic.

Maybe its safe to assume that isometrics are for weaklings.
Like you said, if you move the car, its no longer isometric.

BTW, doing an isometric with 500 pounds, for the avarage person, will have
the same effect as 50.000 pounds...

----
Pete

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

What exactly is an isometric exercise?

Jen

"Jen" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

Quoted message said:

What exactly is an isometric exercise?

Its a static hold with a given weight/resistance.
For example, you hold a dumbell in front of you, but you dont move.
Or you push/pull against an imoveble object. Like in Johns example.

----
Pete

Pete said:

"Jen" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

Quoted message said:

What exactly is an isometric exercise?

Its a static hold with a given weight/resistance.
For example, you hold a dumbell in front of you, but you dont move.
Or you push/pull against an imoveble object. Like in Johns example.

----
Pete

The push for isometric exercises started as a way for weight lifters to
sell books and methods. Jack LaLane for example pushed his system of
"dynamic tension" falsely
claiming that weight training would make one "muscle bound". That
stupidity went into the sport's world, and baseball players were told
not to push weights. Heck, I'm a bass player and was told to stop
pushing iron.

Pete said:

"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
>how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
>back? Please.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Grab the front bumper of your car. Try to pick it up. Keep trying.

Quoted message said:

I saw Criss Angel do that on TV the other night. Picked up the front of
a cab, so, I guess it wouldn't be isometric for him.

Quoted message said:

A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
chalk it up to magic.

Sardinian blood?

Quoted message said:

Maybe its safe to assume that isometrics are for weaklings.

(sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

Weaklings. Hmpph! ;o)

Quoted message said:

Like you said, if you move the car, its no longer isometric.

Nevertheless, that's true.

Quoted message said:

BTW, doing an isometric with 500 pounds, for the avarage person, will have
the same effect as 50.000 pounds...

Hmmm.

I don't understand what you just wrote.

Also, if my max deadlift is 365 pounds then doing an isometric pull
against 500 pounds would have the same effect as doing an isometric
pull against 1000 pounds, right? I mean, the max force I'm exerting
would be 365 pounds, right?

--
Curt

Curt James said:

Pete said:

"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

> >Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
> >how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
> >back? Please.

Quoted message said:

> Grab the front bumper of your car. Try to pick it up. Keep trying.

Quoted message said:

I saw Criss Angel do that on TV the other night. Picked up the front of
a cab, so, I guess it wouldn't be isometric for him.

Quoted message said:

A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
chalk it up to magic.

Sardinian blood?

No. Magic.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe its safe to assume that isometrics are for weaklings.

(sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

Weaklings. Hmpph! ;o)

Quoted message said:

Like you said, if you move the car, its no longer isometric.

Nevertheless, that's true.

Quoted message said:

BTW, doing an isometric with 500 pounds, for the avarage person, will have
the same effect as 50.000 pounds...

Hmmm.

I don't understand what you just wrote.

Since isometric, by definition, involves resistance without movement,
an isometric deadlift of 500 pounds is the same as an isometric
deadlift of the planet Earth.

Quoted message said:

Also, if my max deadlift is 365 pounds then doing an isometric pull
against 500 pounds would have the same effect as doing an isometric
pull against 1000 pounds, right? I mean, the max force I'm exerting
would be 365 pounds, right?

No. Deadlifting 365 pounds involves all kinds of force vectors and
variables, not just "max force". Isometric exercise of a specific
muscle develops different strength parameters than concentric exercise
or eccentric exercise. Best to do all of them, with most work in
concentric movements, less in eccentric, and even less in isometric, as
that is the way real world life, and sports, work.

See how nice non-trolling is? Keep it up 🙂

David

Cohen <[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

See how nice non-trolling is? Keep it up 🙂

A messa mashee af deer!

I simply post and reply, David Cohen. What people see as trolling and
non-trolling is opinion and typically, imo, very related to how they
feel about themselves.

Hth.

And this is reply 1 of 2.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric
exercises and how to do them (pictures), particularly for
training legs and lower back? Please.

There are many exercises that train the lower back primarily
isometrically - the deadlift is one of them. It hits the lower back and
the abs this way - you try to get your lower back into a good position
and, with the help of your abs, try to keep it there throughout the
lift. (A slight oversimplification, perhaps, but that's the general
idea.)

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

"Curt James" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
chalk it up to magic.

Quoted message said:

Sardinian blood?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe its safe to assume that isometrics are for weaklings.

Actually, my first thought was to write "do "NOT give this advice to
Franco."
But then again i remembered that he pulled a Fiat or something. Perhaps a
Citroen.
Not an Oldsmobile or a Caddilac. I once pulled a Porsche 2 feet of the
ground by grabbing the front bumper.

Quoted message said:

(sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

Quoted message said:

You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

My job is to keep you sharp. It will give you an edge.

Quoted message said:

Weaklings. Hmpph! ;o)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Like you said, if you move the car, its no longer isometric.

Quoted message said:

Nevertheless, that's true.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BTW, doing an isometric with 500 pounds, for the avarage person, will have
the same effect as 50.000 pounds...

Quoted message said:

Hmmm.

Quoted message said:

I don't understand what you just wrote.

Well, i saw that David wrote an excellent response to this, i couldnt have
done it better myself.

Quoted message said:

Also, if my max deadlift is 365 pounds then doing an isometric pull
against 500 pounds would have the same effect as doing an isometric
pull against 1000 pounds, right?

Yes, that is right.

I saw that Beach Runner mentioned some of the old school bodybuilders.
Even Charles Atlas claimed that if you stand in a doorway, push against the
walls the delts will grow.
Problem is, how hard are you going to push and how do you measure any
progress?

Quoted message said:

I mean, the max force I'm exerting
would be 365 pounds, right?

I think its less.

You probably allready have read Davids explanation about this.
If you are able to pull 365, the quads, glutes and hams will shorten. The
spinals and traps dont move that much, but they also shorten to a certain
degree. Then theres the negative phase, which to some experts, is more
important wrt hypertophy then the concentric. With isometrics you have
neither. The muscle stays in a fixed position, like the object you pull/push
against.

Isometrics are nice "add-ons" at best.
Also, the lactic acid buildup is terrible. Try to hold 30 pound dumbells in
the same manner as the lateral raise, with the arms at a 180 degree angle.
This is probably a good example of isometrics, since the muscles are
allready in a shortened position. You can do the the same with a peck-deck
(butterfly) for chest.
Or every back exercise for that matter. Leg extensions/curls might work.

What you read about some BBers "squeeze" the legs at the end of a squat
should be taken with a huge pile of salt. The resistance is gone, so
squeezing doesnt make any sense anymore...

----
Pete

Quoted message said:

Can somebody please suggest a good site for a isometric exercises and
how to do them (pictures), particularly for training legs and lower
back? Please.

André

My personal favorite is going for a new full squat PR. Squat a heavy
single, add 10# to the bar, rest a few minutes, repeat. Eventually
(okay, soon) I get buried. I fight hard, even stalled out, for ten
seconds or so before I set the bar on the power rack's safety pins.* I
figure that's concentrated isometric work exactly where I need it.

* I wouldn't recommend trying this outside a power rack, mind you; not
squatting, and absolutely not benching.

Pete said:

"Curt James" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> A cynic might think it was a rigged car with a couple thousand pounds
> of counterbalance behind the rear axle in the truck, but I prefer to
> chalk it up to magic.

Quoted message said:

Sardinian blood?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Maybe its safe to assume that isometrics are for weaklings.

Actually, my first thought was to write "do "NOT give this advice to
Franco."
But then again i remembered that he pulled a Fiat or something. Perhaps a
Citroen.

Probably both. :o)

Quoted message said:

Not an Oldsmobile or a Caddilac. I once pulled a Porsche 2 feet of the
ground by grabbing the front bumper.

How did that come about? Sounds like an interesting story to share.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

Quoted message said:

You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

My job is to keep you sharp. It will give you an edge.

Thanks.

[...]

Quoted message said:

I saw that Beach Runner mentioned some of the old school bodybuilders.
Even Charles Atlas claimed that if you stand in a doorway, push against the
walls the delts will grow.
Problem is, how hard are you going to push and how do you measure any
progress?

I will guess that measuring progress under those Charles Atlas-like
circumstances would have consisted of looking in the mirror.

[...]

Quoted message said:

Isometrics are nice "add-ons" at best.

I've never been a fan. No pump, no progressive resistance, no...
movement. What's there to like???

[...]

Quoted message said:

What you read about some BBers "squeeze" the legs at the end of a squat
should be taken with a huge pile of salt. The resistance is gone, so
squeezing doesnt make any sense anymore...

Hmmm. My *Weider Principle Sense* is tingling. Isn't that contraction
or "squeeze" something that Arnold said would offer somethingsomething
benefit? Especially on an exercise like concentration curls? Get a
super strong contraction at the top of the curl?

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

"Curt James" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not an Oldsmobile or a Caddilac. I once pulled a Porsche 2 feet of the
ground by grabbing the front bumper.

Quoted message said:

How did that come about? Sounds like an interesting story to share.

Actually that was a joke. The engine is in the back remember 😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My job is to keep you sharp. It will give you an edge.

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

Kinda like what Robert de Niro did to Al Pacino in "HEAT."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I saw that Beach Runner mentioned some of the old school bodybuilders.
Even Charles Atlas claimed that if you stand in a doorway, push against
the
walls the delts will grow.
Problem is, how hard are you going to push and how do you measure any
progress?

Quoted message said:

I will guess that measuring progress under those Charles Atlas-like
circumstances would have consisted of looking in the mirror.

I guess so.
But i think many people would be dissapointed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Isometrics are nice "add-ons" at best.

Quoted message said:

I've never been a fan. No pump, no progressive resistance, no...
movement. What's there to like???

Hehehe... nothing much i guess.
Perhaps increased grip strength, which could come in handy on back/pulling
exercises, but thats it, i guess.
I have never been a fan either, and like i said, the lactic-acid buildup is
terrible.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What you read about some BBers "squeeze" the legs at the end of a squat
should be taken with a huge pile of salt. The resistance is gone, so
squeezing doesnt make any sense anymore...

Quoted message said:

Hmmm. My *Weider Principle Sense* is tingling. Isn't that contraction
or "squeeze" something that Arnold said would offer somethingsomething
benefit? Especially on an exercise like concentration curls? Get a
super strong contraction at the top of the curl?

Yes.
The "Weider Peak Contraction Principle."
Squeeezing a muscle for the sake of squeezing doesnt make any sense.

----
Pete

Wow, this forum is really knowledgeable- glad I found my way to it,

On Fri, 2 Jun 2006 04:33:08 +0200, "Pete" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Curt James" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not an Oldsmobile or a Caddilac. I once pulled a Porsche 2 feet of the
ground by grabbing the front bumper.

Quoted message said:

How did that come about? Sounds like an interesting story to share.

Actually that was a joke. The engine is in the back remember 😉

D'OH! I've seen a Corvette's engine and an old VW's engine, but
apparently I'm Porsche ignorant. :o/

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> (sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My job is to keep you sharp. It will give you an edge.

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

Keep me sharp and now basic auto mechanics? Thanks again.

Quoted message said:

Kinda like what Robert de Niro did to Al Pacino in "HEAT."

Who died at the end of that movie again...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I saw that Beach Runner mentioned some of the old school bodybuilders.
Even Charles Atlas claimed that if you stand in a doorway, push against
the
walls the delts will grow.
Problem is, how hard are you going to push and how do you measure any
progress?

Quoted message said:

I will guess that measuring progress under those Charles Atlas-like
circumstances would have consisted of looking in the mirror.

I guess so.
But i think many people would be dissapointed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Isometrics are nice "add-ons" at best.

Quoted message said:

I've never been a fan. No pump, no progressive resistance, no...
movement. What's there to like???

Hehehe... nothing much i guess.
Perhaps increased grip strength, which could come in handy on back/pulling
exercises, but thats it, i guess.
I have never been a fan either, and like i said, the lactic-acid buildup is
terrible.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What you read about some BBers "squeeze" the legs at the end of a squat
should be taken with a huge pile of salt. The resistance is gone, so
squeezing doesnt make any sense anymore...

Quoted message said:

Hmmm. My *Weider Principle Sense* is tingling. Isn't that contraction
or "squeeze" something that Arnold said would offer somethingsomething
benefit? Especially on an exercise like concentration curls? Get a
super strong contraction at the top of the curl?

Yes.
The "Weider Peak Contraction Principle."
Squeeezing a muscle for the sake of squeezing doesnt make any sense.

But that's trumped by the "Weider Whatever I Say Goes Principle" or
did you forget that one, hmmm! That and the "Weider Buy My Stuff
Because All The Other Stuff SUUUCKS Principle" is another part of the
Weider Bodybuilding System that one should always consider.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

"Curt James" <[email hidden]> schreef:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Not an Oldsmobile or a Caddilac. I once pulled a Porsche 2 feet of the
>ground by grabbing the front bumper.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How did that come about? Sounds like an interesting story to share.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Actually that was a joke. The engine is in the back remember 😉

Quoted message said:

D'OH! I've seen a Corvette's engine and an old VW's engine, but
apparently I'm Porsche ignorant. :o/

Hehehe... those 911 dont weigh much anyway. Never tried to lift them, but i
suspect that you can do it.
You pulled 365 right? The engine is so far back that it actually stays on
the ground, the front of the engine will be tilte several inches. I think it
can be done.

BTW, i never pulled more then 352 (160 kilos)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> (sets Isometrics for Dummies on coffee table)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> You know, Pete, you're REALLY beginning to get on my nerves.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>My job is to keep you sharp. It will give you an edge.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks.

Quoted message said:

Keep me sharp and now basic auto mechanics? Thanks again.

Dont mention it 😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Kinda like what Robert de Niro did to Al Pacino in "HEAT."

Quoted message said:

Who died at the end of that movie again...

Hmmm... Well Robert did. But after he wacked Waingro and Roger Van Zandt.
And with Waingro, he did his famous "Look At Me!" 3 times!

But the point is, Robert got wacked because he kept Al sharp.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>I saw that Beach Runner mentioned some of the old school bodybuilders.
>Even Charles Atlas claimed that if you stand in a doorway, push against
>the
>walls the delts will grow.
>Problem is, how hard are you going to push and how do you measure any
>progress?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I will guess that measuring progress under those Charles Atlas-like
circumstances would have consisted of looking in the mirror.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I guess so.
But i think many people would be dissapointed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Isometrics are nice "add-ons" at best.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've never been a fan. No pump, no progressive resistance, no...
movement. What's there to like???

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hehehe... nothing much i guess.
Perhaps increased grip strength, which could come in handy on back/pulling
exercises, but thats it, i guess.
I have never been a fan either, and like i said, the lactic-acid buildup
is
terrible.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>What you read about some BBers "squeeze" the legs at the end of a squat
>should be taken with a huge pile of salt. The resistance is gone, so
>squeezing doesnt make any sense anymore...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hmmm. My *Weider Principle Sense* is tingling. Isn't that contraction
or "squeeze" something that Arnold said would offer somethingsomething
benefit? Especially on an exercise like concentration curls? Get a
super strong contraction at the top of the curl?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yes.
The "Weider Peak Contraction Principle."
Squeeezing a muscle for the sake of squeezing doesnt make any sense.

Quoted message said:

But that's trumped by the "Weider Whatever I Say Goes Principle" or
did you forget that one, hmmm! That and the "Weider Buy My Stuff
Because All The Other Stuff SUUUCKS Principle" is another part of the
Weider Bodybuilding System that one should always consider.

Do you remmder the ads in 1984?

Anabolic Mega Packs ring a bell?
There were ads about 4 pages big, printed in the smallest font i ever saw in
a mag. The article came from "The Weider Research Clinic." Some people
actually looked for that "clinic." They are still out there, searching 😉

Tom Platz had his picture in the the ad saying;

"Hey, its Great!"
"Now i can go into my high intensety mass building cycle without worry or
stress!"

Funniest thing is, that Weider for YEARS claimed that steroids did NOT work.
So he came up with a "safe" supplement to replace those terrifying dangerous
steroids.

Who didnt work...

----
Pete

Pete <[email hidden]> wrote:

re Porsche 911's

[...]

Quoted message said:

Never tried to lift them, but i suspect that you can do it.
You pulled 365 right? The engine is so far back that it
actually stays on the ground, the front of the engine will
be tilte several inches. I think it can be done.

BTW, i never pulled more then 352 (160 kilos)

My knuckles touch the ground while I'm standing. It helps. ;o)

re "Weider Omnipotence Principle"

Quoted message said:

Do you remmder the ads in 1984?

Anabolic Mega Packs ring a bell?

I'm certain I went through at least one box of those critters.

I worked at a GNC during that time. Twinlab was God, but Weider sold
plenty. Cybergenics was in the mix as well.

Quoted message said:

There were ads about 4 pages big, printed in the smallest font i ever saw in
a mag. The article came from "The Weider Research Clinic." Some people
actually looked for that "clinic." They are still out there, searching 😉

That's on my list of things to do this summer. Locate and then tour
The Weider Research Clinic! Iirc, I actually did some artwork for a
Joe Weider fan magazine back in the day.

Damn. Google's no help and my memory is failing me, but the newsletter
was a nice piece of fan work, imo. (Well, barring my one or two
doodles of the Trainer of Champions.)

Quoted message said:

Tom Platz had his picture in the the ad saying;

"Hey, its Great!"
"Now i can go into my high intensety mass building cycle without worry or
stress!"

Funniest thing is, that Weider for YEARS claimed that steroids did NOT work.
So he came up with a "safe" supplement to replace those terrifying dangerous
steroids.

Who didnt work...

heh

JOE WORKS! He is now and ever shall be... THE TRAINER OF CHAMPIONS!

Uh, just don't ask him squat about the martial arts, okay? See:

http://www.usps.com/judicial/1972deci/1-131.htm

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/