So, cards on the table, I recently reread The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum. The result of Randall Strossen’s meticulous collecting, The Complete Keys details McCallum’s numerous articles for Strength and Health magazine. Admittedly McCallum’s work was more concerned with rapid bulk and strength building practices, The Complete Keys still has some things to say about bodybuilding and defining exercises. One such example was the Lat Pulldown Curl.
For McCallum, the Lat Pulldown Curl represented one of the best, and easiest, means of building a peak on the biceps. Even for me, this was an entirely new and unique model. So what’s to know about the exercise?
I’ve found in my own experience that it works well when done near the end of a workout and within a particularly high rep range. As is shown in the below video by Mark Alvisi and Jim Stoppani, the curl is done behind the neck. It’s an entirely different stretch on the biceps and one that’s worth doing at least once.
For those struggling with the concept and the technique, the below video was of great use to me in helping to visualise what McCallum was speaking about.
So, readers, indulge me. Have you used this exercise in the past? And if so, who taught you?
For the rest, try out the exercise and let us know what you think in the comments below!
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The authority of peaking movements is only granted by the body when sufficient “working the biceps whilst lengthened movements” have been employed.
An example of this is well meaning, but ill informed guys with lots of blue ink in their skin will do overhead triceps extensions and overhead fulcrums, then “wanting” the same bulge for their biceps, abandoning the “work the muscle stretched” and do endless concentration curls to the point of some, having a negative peak, when the arm is in a neutral, resting position.
Without spider curls and overhead skull crushers, any concentration curl, or triceps’ kickback is a close second to: playing ping pong and jerking off, when it comes to effectiveness regarding muscle development.
Hi Rick, thanks for stopping by. This is fascinating stuff – definitely food for thought!
Very interesting your comment, thanks!
I like the spider curl and the skull breaker, but this pulley exercise is good for finishing the bicep routine.
Hi Beti Ona. How are you? It’s a great finisher isn’t it? Have always been fond of spider curls
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Thanks Alice. Glad you enjoyed it!