curtisymoo
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boneyard!!
update of a recent back picture!!
update of a recent back picture!!
Some pointers:
Most of what we call lat width has a lot to do with the teres major (muscle near arm pit).
Movements where your arms are in front of you (e.g: close grip pulldowns, pulley rows) will recruit your lats further than a orginal pulldown, that works primarily the teres major and near second, the lats.
So, essentially what you call the "lower lats" are the actual lats, and the "upper" is the teres major.
That said, depending on what's lagging create your lat workouts. Agreed also remember to use mind-muscle connection with any pulling movement similar in nature.
This would be my typical back day.
Wide Grip pullups, Close Grip pulldowns, seated rows, bent-over barbell rows and One arm dumbell rows and deadlifts
Some pointers:
Most of what we call lat width has a lot to do with the teres major (muscle near arm pit).
Movements where your arms are in front of you (e.g: close grip pulldowns, pulley rows) will recruit your lats further than a orginal pulldown, that works primarily the teres major and near second, the lats.
So, essentially what you call the "lower lats" are the actual lats, and the "upper" is the teres major.
That said, depending on what's lagging create your lat workouts. Agreed also remember to use mind-muscle connection with any pulling movement similar in nature.
just use your back not arms
Guess who's troll account it is.
On the lats thing; I agree that mind muscle is important but that comes as part of many things, non of which are really described here.
1) Full contraction from full ROM
2) controlled motion (slow it down if you need to actually feel it, but don't go slow once you've got it)
3) contract the lats when not under load
4) pullups and chinups are not about width to work the lats
For (1) you should actually be pulling the clavicle to the bar. You will straight away notice the difference as you are actually fulling contracting the lats not just the arms. You should also not be kipping to reach the bar, do less reps and more sets if need be. By the way I've seen SFA people actually do a pullup or chinup like this.
For (2) you should not be struggling to reach the bar with the chin. It should be a smooth motion from full extension to clavicle touching bar.
For (3) practice actually contracting the lats. I find that doing this while seated is the easiest to do. You should be able to isolate which side and how hard they are contracted. If you can't do this you will not effectively be able to target the lats ever (unless they are already dominant). Try a lat stretch to get the idea of what to contract.
For (4) width of grip makes SFA difference to recruiting the lats. The only EMG study that showed any difference measured a difference in lat pulldowns vs chinups, not really a comparison of any meaning.