[quote]Jarvan wrote:
[quote]dt79 wrote:
Alright, as long as you’re not high…
While doing bodyweight exercises is a fine addition for overall physical development, why do people like you have such a false sense of secuirity when it comes to them? Because they’re somehow more “natural” since you’re using your own bodyweight?
500 reps of pull ups? 4 times a week? Would you do 500 reps on the bench press 4 times a week even at a weight you can get for 12-20 reps? What about 500 reps of deadlifts?
I got into the stupid habit of doing multiple sets of pull ups everytime I saw a pull up bar when I was in the military. After years of doing that, my left shoulder is fucked and any form of vertical pulling done with sufficient intensity is impossible without days of moderate pain after that. This has not changed even after I took almost a DECADE off from training.
And please don’t tell me about olympic gymnasts training for hours everyday. These people are physically built for it. They have above average joint mobility and flexibility as well as the perfect limb length ratios for appropriate weight distribution. Can the average guy do a real split without crying like a little girl or give himself a blowjob?[/quote]
Well… On the other hand… My entire workout is based around the pull up itself, and have been that way for nearly 4 years now. Here’s the key though. My pull up training repetition ranges from 30 - 50 per workout. I guess if you added that up with me working out at an average of four times a week, would be anywhere between 120 - 200 reps (a lot less if I’m going hard at BJJ or Muay Thai). It’s nowhere near 500 reps, but still much more than your average Joe. So the accepted thought is that one must either add weight or repetitions in order to progress. Not so much for me.
My pull up sets range from 1 to 6 reps, for the most part. But the difference is that I pay attention to the nuances, the details, phases of movement, and apply all sorts of additional texture to the movement. Such as, static holds, pulsing, ripping the pull up bar (on neutral grip. Same concept Dave Tate talks about with squeezing the bar in on the bench press) exploding, rapid descents, etc etc.
And since I have began predominantly bodyweight training, I have jumped leaps and bounds in my physique, BJJ, and even strength. My shoulders never, ever hurt or even feel stiff. But something to note is that I pay extreme attention to my shoulder mobility, which probably is the biggest component in being pain free, even with daily pull ups.
I’ve only recently added a weight belt to my pull up program, and what I’ve come across absolutely demolishes the popular thought of linear pyramid progression. So although I’ve only used bodyweight for so long (140lbs), I was able to pull up 8 reps with 90 additional pounds around my waist. I could have done more, but I stopped because I wanted to do more sets.
So perhaps, and this is just speculation, you aren’t performing the pull ups correctly. Or maybe you have a pre existing injury that was exacerbated? [/quote]
I agree with everything you wrote actually. There is nothing wrong with bodyweight exercises and high frequency training. The problem is the false sense of security people have towards these exercises.
I am also not singling out pull ups. I used them as an example because of personal experience.
What I’m saying is:
- Bodyweight exercises are very much the same as exercises with weights when we’re talking about wear and tear of joints and tendons over time and injury potential. They should be approached with as much caution as free weight exercises and not done excessively.
You are right in questioning my form, which I doubt was crossfit level of bad, but how many people approach these exercises with the same attention to form as they would with, for example, the bench press?
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Bodyweight of the individual must be taken into account. I have weighed below 110lbs and over 200lbs before. There is a big difference and it is not a question of relative strength but again, durability of joints and tendons according to the individual.
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Type of bodyweight exercises. How an individual is affected would depend on his physical structure. I have friends above 200lbs who can’t do bodyweight dips without shoulder pain while I could do them daily with added weight and not experience any.
Yet they have been doing pulldowns with 45lb plates added on the machine Branch Warren style for years without any injury lol. My shoulder would get inflamed just watching that.
Again, I am not saying there is anything wrong with bodyweight exercises. Anything done excessively and without regard for common sense will fuck you up. I mean, just look at the guy recommending 500 reps and then comparing us to gorillas and apes.
PS. Pull ups with 90lbs of added weight for reps is impressive man.