free weights

[doug maverick]

just posting up something about this. i usually don't do free weights anymore(i was told they are bad for internal kung fu) i just do restance. two weeks ago i went to the gym and did something stupid and now my kneee is paying the price. i decided to do some free weights just for fun(i'm weird like that i love to excerise) i stretched for a good while(did some nei gung excerise's sterch's you right out) and starting lifting. i started with about 180(including the bar) then gradually moved up(doing bench work first) then i started doing some knee bends(i think thats what they're called i could be wrong, the one when the bar is on your shoulders) i was about at 300lbs which is my max, but then i noticed some girl watching us(me and my homeboy who was spotting me) and decided to go to 350 now i would've been fine if i did two or three rips and then put the **** thing down, but i had to do ten(i think it was ten) to show off, now i was fine at first kept working out as normal then as we left the gym my left knee gave out on me, and now i have a little knee injury(not serious the doctor told me). the moral of this story is don;t show off for hot girls not matter how much they stair you down.

P.S. i got them digits thou, so i gues it was kinda worth almost blowing my knee out.

[bodhitree]

internal kung fu is bad for free weights and common sence! seriously.

[doug maverick]

well my sifu was the one who told me free wieghts are bad for internal kung fu cause it makes your muscles more tense. i was just being a moron and got what i deserved. i'm back on using the machines(at least on upper body) and not doing any free wieghts.

[Mr Punch]

free wieghts are bad for internal kung fu cause it makes your muscles more tensethis is load of bull. not warming up properly and not stretching properly make your muscles more tense.

trying to impress chicks may do too! :D

btw, your knees probably went because you're weak from training the wrong patterns by using machines. most pro trainers recommend free weights over machines. is your sifu a pro weight/exercise specialist? no, right? ok, so would you trust a pro weight/exercise specialist to teach you internals? no, right? get the point?

machines have their place, but free weights are generally far superior.

[Drake]

Bad form got ya... not the weight. Count yourself lucky that it was your knees and not your back.

[doug maverick]

this is load of bull. not warming up properly and not stretching properly make your muscles more tense.

trying to impress chicks may do too! :D

btw, your knees probably went because you're weak from training the wrong patterns by using machines. most pro trainers recommend free weights over machines. is your sifu a pro weight/exercise specialist? no, right? ok, so would you trust a pro weight/exercise specialist to teach you internals? no, right? get the point?

machines have their place, but free weights are generally far superior.

actually my sifu use to be on taiwans pro weight team. and thats why i took his advice.

[doug maverick]

Bad form got ya... not the weight. Count yourself lucky that it was your knees and not your back.

thats what i think. i should've checked myself before going into it but i just went straight for it without thinking(well i was thinking just with the wrong head).

[Mr Punch]

actually my sifu use to be on taiwans pro weight team. and thats why i took his advice.
Fair enough, even more unusual then. Machines will mess up your body in every way more than free weights.

[unkokusai]

The Punchman is correct.

[bodhitree]

what has been said is true. machines restrict your range of motion and do not work your stabilizers. next thing you know someone will tell you weightlifting restricts your flexibility, which is also a myth

[sanjuro_ronin]

If you have issues with free weights, for what ever reason, you can try your hand at the bowflex or cross bow, they give you a "free range" of motion and work the stabalizers.
Free weights are better, but there are alternatives if you don't want the free weights.
For some exercises, cable machines can even be "better" and they can allow you to do some "sport specfic" movements with added resistence.

[doug maverick]

Fair enough, even more unusual then. Machines will mess up your body in every way more than free weights.

explain please. need that info asap

[doug maverick]

If you have issues with free weights, for what ever reason, you can try your hand at the bowflex or cross bow, they give you a "free range" of motion and work the stabalizers.
Free weights are better, but there are alternatives if you don't want the free weights.
For some exercises, cable machines can even be "better" and they can allow you to do some "sport specfic" movements with added resistence.

actually just purchased one of these and start using it. theirs this other cable machine at the gym thats like a giant version of that machine jackie chan was selling. it was perfect for kicking and punching(not the bowflex the other machine). but yeah i'll let you know in a few weeks weather the bowflex is right or not.

[sanjuro_ronin]

explain please. need that info asap

Most machines have an artificial range of motion that does not equate to "real life".
It doesn't not take into account different body types and limp lengths and other times, they just put people in the worse possible position to do a give exercise.

Smith machine squats for example, are horrible on your lower back and create an range of motion that is totally incorrect for performing the squat.
Actaully, smith machine ANYTHINGS are horrid.

[sanjuro_ronin]

actually just purchased one of these and start using it. theirs this other cable machine at the gym thats like a giant version of that machine jackie chan was selling. it was perfect for kicking and punching(not the bowflex the other machine). but yeah i'll let you know in a few weeks weather the bowflex is right or not.

I know some guys that swear by it, one as a matter of fact, to make a point to another guy did seated military presses with 220lbs for 9 reps with a barbell and hadn't done them in years since he started with the Bowflex.

[bodhitree]

Machines restrict range of motion which therefore doesn't work the stabilizing muscles, creating imbalances. I'm actually not a big fan of most movements that 'isolate muscles' even with free weights. Don't get me wrong, I'll do some of these movements, but they should never be a focus point of a workout. The more joints move in an exercise, the better. Compound movements are better in every way! In any type of sport, you rarely do an isolated movement. Watch a football player run or block, a golfer swing, a boxer punch, or anything else. You'll see compound movements. Compound movements also give you a greater hormonal response when recovering.


P.S. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum called "Strength Training Links (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19757)", I suggest you read through it and hear these things coming from the experts, rather than us relaying what we've read.

[bodhitree]

Most machines have an artificial range of motion that does not equate to "real life".
It doesn't not take into account different body types and limp lengths and other times, they just put people in the worse possible position to do a give exercise.

Smith machine squats for example, are horrible on your lower back and create an range of motion that is totally incorrect for performing the squat.
Actaully, smith machine ANYTHINGS are horrid.


it's called a shirly machine, or a coat rack! i was squatting over 300lbs the other day, and in the gym the squat rack is next to the sally machine, i was finished with my set and this dude on the Sarah machine came up to me and asked me to spot him. he was doing overhead presses on the ****ing suzy machine??? wtf do you need a spotter for, and for like 10 reps. what a *****! I should have bashed his skull in w/ a plate!

[sanjuro_ronin]

it's called a shirly machine, or a coat rack! i was squatting over 300lbs the other day, and in the gym the squat rack is next to the sally machine, i was finished with my set and this dude on the Sarah machine came up to me and asked me to spot him. he was doing overhead presses on the ****ing suzy machine??? wtf do you need a spotter for, and for like 10 reps. what a *****! I should have bashed his skull in w/ a plate!

Actually, what you do is kick him in the nads and the bar will slide down on his head and knock him out.

Not that I have ever done that to anyone...

[bodhitree]

Actually, what you do is kick him in the nads and the bar will slide down on his head and knock him out.

Not that I have ever done that to anyone...

it was on a sasha machine, the bar would have slid down too slowly:D

[sanjuro_ronin]

it was on a sasha machine, the bar would have slid down too slowly:D

He's not going anywhere if you kick him good :D

[bodhitree]

He's not going anywhere if you kick him good :D


he'll be slumped over and the sandra machine bar will only hit his back

[Mr Punch]

explain please. need that info asap


Most machines have an artificial range of motion that does not equate to "real life".
It doesn't not take into account different body types and limp lengths and other times, they just put people in the worse possible position to do a give exercise.

Smith machine squats for example, are horrible on your lower back and create an range of motion that is totally incorrect for performing the squat.
Actaully, smith machine ANYTHINGS are horrid.


Machines restrict range of motion which therefore doesn't work the stabilizing muscles, creating imbalances. I'm actually not a big fan of most movements that 'isolate muscles' even with free weights. Don't get me wrong, I'll do some of these movements, but they should never be a focus point of a workout. The more joint move in an exercise, the better. Compound movements are better in every way! In any type of sport, you rarely do an isolated movement. Watch a football player fun or block, a golfer swing, a boxer punch, or anything else. You'll see compound movements. Compound movements also give you a greater hormonal response when recovering.


P.S. There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum called "Strength Training Links", I suggest you read through it and hear these things coming from the experts, rather than us relaying what we've read.What they said.

1) Most machines are designed for old ladies: they will corrupt your form completely, forcing you to mold your body into a barely adjustable cookie-cutter movement pattern which may be unnatural for your body. To echo Ronin, it's impossible to get a good squat form on the Shelly machine, and deadlifts with it are even worse. This kind of bull will blow your joints through bad form.

2) Machines encourage over-specific movements which utilize fewer muscles and negate the need for stabilizer muscles. If you work a big major muscle without working the stabilizers around it you will blow the stabilizers resulting in larger stress on the major muscle group and eventual repeated injury in both kinds. This kind of bull will blow your joints through not working the important stabilizers which actually connect muscles around the joints.

3) Machines encourage you to lift too much. I can leg press almost twice as much as I can squat free, and while I've never blown a joint with my perfect squat form, I have with leg presses. Again, this is because I'm forcing my muscles to work without stabilizers.

As Bod said, read the links, especially T-Nation (you'll soon work out who's worth reading on there) and people like Alwyn Cosgrove.

Not all machines are bad. But most.


it's called a shirly machine, or a coat rack! i was squatting over 300lbs the other day, and in the gym the squat rack is next to the sally machine, i was finished with my set and this dude on the Sarah machine came up to me and asked me to spot him. he was doing overhead presses on the ****ing suzy machine??? wtf do you need a spotter for, and for like 10 reps. what a *****! I should have bashed his skull in w/ a plate!

That pretty much gets my vote for funniest post of 2007, unless GDA comes up with something between now and new year.

[bodhitree]

well put mr.punch, well put.

[sanjuro_ronin]

he'll be slumped over and the sandra machine bar will only hit his back

Your lack of chi and subterfuge tactics is quite worrisome.

[bodhitree]

Your lack of chi and subterfuge tactics is quite worrisome.

well put mr. ronin, well put

[doug maverick]

well most of the machines i use are cable machines that i use for resistance. when i do use free wieghts their mostly for arm curls and kick backs. but thanks for all the advice.

[sanjuro_ronin]

While the utility of arm curls can be somewhat debated, kickbacks are useless and a pointless waste of time.
Unless you are kickback the Mob so you won't be swimming with the fishes.
:D

[bodhitree]

While the utility of arm curls can be somewhat debated, kickbacks are useless and a pointless waste of time.
Unless you are kickback the Mob so you won't be swimming with the fishes.
:D

yeah, i'm not even going to comment on that....

[doug maverick]

While the utility of arm curls can be somewhat debated, kickbacks are useless and a pointless waste of time.
Unless you are kickback the Mob so you won't be swimming with the fishes.
:D lol thanks for the advice.

[sanjuro_ronin]

lol thanks for the advice.

Oh, and kickbacks are also great for working those "jerking" muscles so need in prison.
:D

[doug maverick]

Oh, and kickbacks are also great for working those "jerking" muscles so need in prison.
:D

LMFAO. Too Funny

[SevenStar]

While the utility of arm curls can be somewhat debated, kickbacks are useless and a pointless waste of time.
Unless you are kickback the Mob so you won't be swimming with the fishes.
:D

kick backs are useless, but what about back kicks?

[sanjuro_ronin]

kick backs are useless, but what about back kicks?

Mules swear by them.
:D

[SevenStar]

well my sifu was the one who told me free wieghts are bad for internal kung fu cause it makes your muscles more tense. i was just being a moron and got what i deserved. i'm back on using the machines(at least on upper body) and not doing any free wieghts.

"muscle tone" is really nothing more than residual tension in a relaxed muscle. free weights are not the only thing that produce that effect. machines and bodyweight training will also.

[doug maverick]

I know some guys that swear by it, one as a matter of fact, to make a point to another guy did seated military presses with 220lbs for 9 reps with a barbell and hadn't done them in years since he started with the Bowflex.

been a week since i used it and am actually liking it. it feel like a full work out. think i'm gonna skip the gym for a while and see how this works out. so far so good.