Throwing around heavy weights at the gym may feel impressive, but is it the most
effective way to grow bigger arms? Let’s go ahead and assume the answer is no.
A quick word of warning: Just because you’re going from free weights to
bands doesn’t mean you won’t be lifting heavy loads. The X3 bar will test your
will and take your muscles to complete exhaustion. But you will be greatly
rewarded for the effort.
If you haven’t tried arm exercises with resistance bands, give these two moves a
shot. And see if you don’t wake up feeling bigger, stronger, and less sore.
You could go from Clark Kent to Superman without going through countless reps
and sets.
The X3 Bicep Drag Curl #
What’s the first muscle people tend to notice on guys? If you just whispered
under your breath, “biceps,” you’d be right. Now, what if I told you that
there’s a better, more effective way to grow your biceps into shock and
awe-inspiring behemoths? Is that something you might be interested in?
Introducing the X3 bicep drag curl. What is a drag curl, you ask? First, let’s
discuss the standard bicep curl.
As you know, a normal curl position involves bringing the bar up to around the
bridge of your nose. in doing so, your lower arms move to a position where they
are nearly perpendicular to the ground. And when this happens, your biceps are
no longer engaged; essentially, your bicep muscles shut off.
A drag curl eliminates this problematic off-and-on phenomenon that is so common
with normal curls. Instead, it keeps your biceps in a constant state of tension,
which is instrumental in
growing your biceps faster and more effectively
.
The X3 bicep drag curl, demonstrated in the link above, provides your biceps
with the highest tension and hardest contraction. The trick is in the motion of
dragging the bar up and along your body, rather than lifting it away from your
body.
A Multi-Joint Movement #
That simple adjustment turns what is normally an isolation movement into a
multi-joint movement that engages the posterior deltoids and the trapezius
muscles. One wonderful aspect of multi-joint movements is that they stimulate
more growth and create more lean muscle tissue than a single-joint movement. And
they are
more effective at burning fat and preventing injuries
.
When performing this bicep resistance band workout, just know that your head
will naturally want to track forward a little. Not to worry, this is normal.
This X3 bicep curl also allows you to handle more weight and handle it more
safely.
Lifting free weights underloads muscles and overloads your joints, especially in
the weak ranges of movements, such as the bottom of a deadlift or bench press.
And as you fatigue, it becomes difficult to maintain the proper form, putting
you at even greater risk of spinal and joint injuries.
With bands, the force is lowest in the weakest range of motion, where your
joints are compromised. The force increases as you move to the strong range of
an exercise, where you’re 7x stronger. For this reason and more, X3 is far safer
and easier on joints.
If incredible bicep growth is what you’re after,
that’s what the drag curl delivers
.
And if you’re wondering if you can really get a great arm workout with heavy
resistance bands, the answer is an emphatic YES.
The X3 Resistance Band “Skull Crusher” Tricep Press #
This tricep resistance band exercise won’t crush any skulls, in case the name
makes you feel a bit apprehensive, but it will provide you with a powerful
alternative to the old standard―the tricep pushdown.
When performing the X3 tricep press, you never actually push down; you’re
pushing the bar more out, away from your body. If you try pushing down, perhaps
out of habit, you’ll find that the band will slip down as your arms move in that
direction.
To begin the tricep press
, run the
resistance band across your back below the traps and over the deltoids. The band
will be in a similar position to doing a chest press. And the bar position in
front of you should be at clavicle level.
Keep your arms bent at a 90-degree angle in front of you. Then slowly straighten
your arms, making sure to hinge only at the elbows, as demonstrated in the video
link above.
Quick Tips #
There are some key points to remember when you’re performing this resistance
band tricep exercise. Keep your elbows tucked in, as opposed to flailing out.
The motion should be slow and controlled. And as mentioned above, you’re pushing
out and just slightly down as you extend your arms in front of you.
Just like with the X3 bicep drag curl, the tricep press keeps constant tension
on your triceps, and believe me, you’ll feel it. Towards the end of your set, as
your muscles become more fatigued, try diminishing the range of motion during
the last few reps to get every ounce of effort you can muster.
Let’s be honest, we all want arms that make average men weep with envy. The kind
of bigger biceps and stronger triceps that leave bystanders breathless.
You know what?
These two simple but powerful resistance band exercises will achieve both of
those objectives. And you don’t even need a cape, tights, or a big red S on your
chest.