Abdominal Crunches

Ab crunches are significant exercises for core strength, but mastering them requires attention to detail. These exercises target your abdominal muscles and are top-notch moves for core development. If you’re looking to enhance your performance in ab crunches, read on.

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Executing ab crunches isn’t solely about lifting heavy weights; it’s about executing the movements safely and effectively. Similar to other exercises, proper form is crucial in ab crunches to prevent injury and maximize gains. Begin by ensuring your core is engaged and your body is properly positioned on the ground or a mat before initiating the crunches. This helps stabilize your body and maintain control throughout the movement. Additionally, keep your feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart. Push through your heels during the crunches to maintain stability and engage your core muscles.

During the crunches, start by contracting your abdominal muscles while lifting your shoulders and upper back off the ground. Aim to bring your chest towards your knees while maintaining proper posture. Avoid pulling on your neck or using momentum to minimize the risk of injury. Ab crunches can be physically demanding, potentially affecting the rest of your workout. A helpful tip is to consider using a cushion or mat under your lower back for added comfort and support.

Abs Exercises in Gym with Sets & Reps (youtube.com)

Below is a video from Buff Dudes a great resource for beginners to learn the correct form. I recommend watching this for better insight.

In summary, perfecting your ab crunches requires consistent practice. Focus on executing the movements correctly and incorporate these tips into your routine to gradually improve your performance over time.

Skull Crushers

Skull crushers are super important for building strong triceps, but you’ve got to pay attention to how you do them. These exercises really target your triceps and can help your arms get bigger and stronger. If you want to get better at skull crushers, keep reading.

Incline Skull Crusher Workout To Increase Strength and Mass | DMoose
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Doing skull crushers isn’t just about lifting heavy weights; it’s about doing the moves right to stay safe and get the most out of them. Just like with bench pressing, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing it with good form to avoid hurting yourself and to see better results. Start by making sure your core muscles are tight and your body is in a good position on the bench before you start. This helps you stay stable and in control while you’re lifting. Also, keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, about shoulder-width apart. Push through your heels as you lift to stay steady and give your muscles more power.

When you’re doing skull crushers, straighten your arms out all the way while squeezing your triceps at the same time. Try to lower the barbell down towards your forehead while keeping your body in the right position. Don’t arch your back too much or make any unnecessary movements that could lead to injuries. Skull crushers can be tough on your body, and they might make the rest of your workout harder. One thing you can do to help is to wear elbow sleeves to reduce any discomfort and to keep your elbows in line. Friction from the barbell can sometimes cause discomfort, which can slow down your progress.

Below is a video from Buff Dudes, this is a great page who helps new lifters easily and understandably learn the correct form. I recommend watching this for better insight.
How to Perform Skull Crushers – Triceps Exercise Tutorial (youtube.com)

To sum it up, getting good at skull crushers takes practice. Make sure you’re doing the moves correctly and use these tips to help you get better over time.

Curl Variations

Dumbbell curls and hammer curls are significant workouts, but mastering them requires attention to detail. These exercises target your biceps and are top-notch moves for arm development. If you’re looking to enhance your performance in dumbbell curls and hammer curls, read on.

Inclined curl with dumbbells: How to do this exercise?
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Executing dumbbell curls and hammer curls isn’t solely about lifting heavy weights; it’s about executing the movements safely and effectively. Similar to bench pressing, proper form is crucial in these exercises to prevent injury and maximize gains. Begin by ensuring your core is engaged and your glutes are activated before initiating the curls. This helps stabilize your body and maintain control throughout the movement. Additionally, plant your feet firmly on the ground, approximately shoulder-width apart. Push through your heels during the curls to maintain stability and generate power.

During the curls, start by fully extending your elbows while contracting your biceps simultaneously. Aim to bring the dumbbells or hammer down towards your thighs while maintaining proper posture. Avoid excessive leaning or unnecessary movements to minimize the risk of injury. Dumbbell curls and hammer curls can be physically taxing, potentially affecting the remainder of your workout. A useful tip is to consider using wrist wraps to alleviate discomfort and maintain proper wrist alignment. Friction from the dumbbells can lead to discomfort, which can impede your progress.

Below is a video from Buff Dudes, this is a great page who helps new lifters easily and understandably learn the correct form. I recommend watching this for better insight.

In summary, perfecting your dumbbell curls and hammer curls requires consistent practice. Focus on executing the movements correctly and incorporate these tips into your routine to gradually improve your performance over time.

Tricep Pushdown

Tricep pushdowns are a big workout but getting them right isn’t always easy. Pushdowns work your triceps and are sometimes called the top move for triceps. If you want to get better at tricep pushdowns, keep reading.

Rope Tricep Pushdown by Martel Berry - Exercise How-to - Skimble
(Skimble)

Tricep pushdowns aren’t just about lifting heavy stuff; they’re about doing the move safely and well. Like bench pressing, doing tricep pushdowns the right way is important to avoid getting hurt and to get the most out of it. First, make sure your belly is tight and your butt is squeezed before you start. This helps you stay steady and in control. Also, put your feet firmly on the ground, about as wide as your shoulders. Push through your heels while you do the pushdown to stay steady and strong.

As you do the pushdown, start by straightening your elbows and squeezing your triceps at the same time. Try to bring the cable down toward your legs while keeping your back straight. Don’t lean too much or wiggle around too far to avoid hurting yourself. Tricep pushdowns can wear you out and make you tired for the rest of your workout. A good tip I can give you is to use wrist wraps; this can help keep your wrists and hands feeling good. Cables can rub and cause pain, which really hurts.

Below is a video of reputable YouTube creator who safely shows new lifters how to execute certain lifts. I used this video when I was starting out my fitness journey and I strongly recommend you do the same.

How To Build Huge Triceps with Optimal Training Technique (youtube.com)

In short, getting your tricep pushdowns just right takes practice. Focus on doing it the right way and follow these tips, and you’ll get better over time.

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Barbell Rows

Barbell rows are a significant exercise in the gym, but mastering the form isn’t always easy. Row’s is a back excursive and sometimes called the king of all movements involving your back. If you’re looking to improve your barbell rows, read on.

How to Barbell Row Properly: Tips, Benefits and Variations | Gymshark  Central
(Gym Shark)

Barbell rows aren’t solely about lifting heavy weights; they’re about executing the movement safely and effectively. Similar to bench pressing, performing barbell rows correctly is essential to avoid injury and maximize gains. To begin, ensure your core is braced and your glutes are engaged before starting the row. This stabilizes your body and enhances control. Additionally, plant your feet firmly on the ground, approximately shoulder-width apart. Focus on driving force through your heels during the row to maintain stability and generate power.

As you perform the row, initiate the movement by bending your elbows and retracting your shoulder blades simultaneously. Aim to bring the barbell close to your lower chest while maintaining a neutral spine. Avoid excessive arching or rounding of the back to prevent strain. Barbell rows can be extremely taxing and take out most of your stamina for the rest of your workout session. An insider tip I can give you is to use straps; this can help preserve your forearms and or condition of your hands. Barbells can commonly rip hand skin resulting in callous’, which are sometimes too broken and begin to bleed which can be extremely painful.

In summary, perfecting your barbell row technique requires consistent practice. Concentrate on form and adhere to these guidelines, and you’ll notice improvements in your performance over time.

Gymshark. “Gymshark.” Ctfassets.net, 2024, images.ctfassets.net/8urtyqugdt2l/5JyoMOTRMiqUgeX3xcFAot/adc9c772286fb52694a1d39de481709a/barbell-row-tile.jpg. Accessed 3 Apr. 2024.