Deadlifters and big-time squatters place a significant emphasis on leg training. Bench press fanatics exert effort to develop their chests. Athletes devote their energies to sport-specific training, honing their bodies to top performance conditions. Most people who go to the gym have sculpted a pair of muscular arms among their top objectives.
Benefits of Training Arms Frequently
Why focus on your arms in addition to their involvement in large compound movements that build strength? Arm muscle development may appear to be a futile endeavor that does not provide the same performance and real-world benefits as these other muscle groups. However, your arms are essential for so many motions, including those that the majority of people assume to target other muscle groups. It’s impossible to deadlift or squat without using your hands and arms to grip the bar and maintain the right posture. Even if you have the world’s strongest posterior chain, it will be extremely difficult to pull a hefty weight off the floor if you cannot grip and hold the barbell. That being said, here are the top five training exercises for your arms.
#1. Biceps Exercise – Biceps Curl
This is a standard, time-tested exercise that is the key to developing large biceps. For proper execution, squeeze your shoulder blades, glutes, and abdominal muscles. Keep your upper arms perpendicular to the ground with your lats contracted. Remove any weight or momentum from your waist. Keep your focus on your biceps. As you curl up, contract your biceps and rotate the dumbbell upwards. The greater the number of rotations, the more the bicep is worked. Want a more difficult challenge? Add an isometric hold halfway through the repetition. Hold for 2 to 5 seconds.
#2. Triceps Exercise – Skull Crusher
The skull crusher is a triceps-building exercise. Isolate the skull-crushing motion with a bar, devoid of momentum. Keep flat feet on the floor. Lying back on the bench, flex your glutes as hard as possible. This is your solid foundation. Don’t let your ribcage flare. Keep your abdominals tight. Shoulder blades should be driven into the bench. Reduce the load and contract your triceps to generate tension. Maintain firm wrists and keep a 90 to 92-degree angle an inch from your head. Keep your elbows tight and in. Squeeze your triceps at the top for 1 second.
#3. Forearm Exercise – Farmer’s Carry
The farmer’s carry exercise entails walking while carrying a large load, which strengthens the back, forearms, and core. To set up, imitate a deadlift. Contract your abdominal muscles and stand with your weights. Grab the weights aggressively and keep them consistent. Squeeze your glutes and keep your pelvis neutral. Squeeze your abs and draw in your ribcage. Roll back your shoulders to engage your lower lats and rhomboids. Maintain a neutral neck position while walking straight ahead.
#4.Towel Hammer Curl
The towel hammer curl strengthens the brachialis muscle, similar to the dumbbell variation. However, the towel adds gripping strain, which helps to make your forearms bigger. Wrap your towel around the handle of a kettlebell, then grasp the fabric as tightly as possible at either end. Do hammer curls with proper form, keeping your core engaged and your movements flowing to accommodate the hanging weight.
#5. Long Lever Forearm Rotation
Simplicity is key for this exercise. Use anything – from a light bar to a broomstick. Hold it tightly for additional benefits, and rotate and twist your wrists. Go slowly and keep control of the weight.