how do you work out triceps ?

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DaiShan

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
9,617
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Originally posted by: Spamela
Originally posted by: Koing
DIPS are a killer. DO NOT DO THE ONES where you barely break parallel with your arm. They are pathetic. GO LOWER and be a man.

Close grip bench press.

Planche work

Koing


you might be a man with sore shoulder joints, though.

Yeah I might actually give up on dips after my shoulder popped out of joint on incline the other day heh.
 

KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
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I did it as part of an arm building blast of workouts last year... my triceps have been pretty friggin huge ever since. My biceps never kept up... I do have long arms so I really need big tris for all the "push & press" exercises.

I do dips as a finisher... if I can do more than 3-4 at the end of my workout, I either didn't work out hard enough or next time it's more weight. I do a lot of tricep presses with cables/belts or machines since they have don't put as much stress on my joints. I did do skullcrushers for a bit but I went back to breadNbutter movements (Extensions Extensions Extensions!).

I don't like the compound movements like close grip bench press and kickbacks are very difficult to keep in proper form, everyone I see do them cheats the movement.

BTW. are you doing Hi-Intensity Training? Why do 50 reps otherwise?? I go with standard 8-9 total sets on the tris with reps around 10 per just because it's less time consuming.
 

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
Originally posted by: Spoooon
You could do diamonds. That's what we called them. Push ups, but put your index fingers and thumbs together in the shape of a diamond. Or a (I). :D

When I first started, I could barely do a set of 10 of those on my knees. Now I can do 15-20 elevated, I try to get in 200 or so during my graveyard shifts. Triceps built up in a hurry.

Make sure you go slow and maintain good form. Start on your knees if you have to.
 

Klixxer

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2004
6,149
0
0
Originally posted by: VanillaH
dips + diamonds + pull ups

pullups for the triceps? :confused:

Pullups works the latissimus primarily and the biceps secondarily (sp?) it doesn't involve the triceps in any way.

Did you mean pushdowns?
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
Originally posted by: Klixxer
Originally posted by: VanillaH
dips + diamonds + pull ups

pullups for the triceps? :confused:

Pullups works the latissimus primarily and the biceps secondarily (sp?) it doesn't involve the triceps in any way.

Did you mean pushdowns?


I think he means pushdowns/pressdowns
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
BTW. are you doing Hi-Intensity Training? Why do 50 reps otherwise?? I go with standard 8-9 total sets on the tris with reps around 10 per just because it's less time consuming.
I'm not a workout junkee (nor do I need to lose weight - I need to gain) and I'm doing this in preparation for Hawaii (heh does that sound bad?). I only have a 20lb dumbbell so I figured it was the best way (the overhead extensions). I ended up doing 8 sets of 10 with the 20lb and it did burn for a while toward the end... but no longer after a few hours. Only reason I went so far was because I hear about doing reps/sets till failure. I threw some bicep curls in there. I know about the 2-3 times per week only thing.

Am I doing anything positive here ? I will inherit my bro's universal in a few weeks so I'll have a bench and some varied weights to work with then (thx for the links)... but I wanted to get started on my triceps/biceps first...
 

stev0

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
5,132
0
0
I'm a fan of the cable machines at the YMCA here so we do a few different variations of the cable pull downs, everyonce and a while we'll throw in the skull crushers for variation :)
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Dips are like the squats of the triceps....pack on the mass and strength...the other exercises bring out the shape more....

My muscles stay fairly dense and compact, but I'd do reps with 100lbs hung from my waist that the guys with 19inch arms couldn't do (mine are around 16ish).
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
lol my triceps are still hurting 3 days later (today's the worst)... this is a good sign right... it's healing / building ? :confused:
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Pain 3 days later getting worse esp the 2-3rd day is usually Lactic acid.

This is a sign of working muscles to exhaustion when your body cannot get the right 'stuff' to them.

It should go away once your body gets in the groove.

Many athletes do not hurt post workouts after the initial 'getting used to it' phase is over. The best way to determine if you got a good workout is do 3-4 sets and make sure at the end you are fatigued. You don't want to not be able to move, but you don't want to be able to max 10mins later either ;)

For size and strength I find 8-12 a good number of reps for the triceps. I add weight once I am hitting 11-12 on a set.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Dips are like the squats of the triceps....pack on the mass and strength...the other exercises bring out the shape more....

My muscles stay fairly dense and compact, but I'd do reps with 100lbs hung from my waist that the guys with 19inch arms couldn't do (mine are around 16ish).
You can do your wieght plus an added 100 lbs and you arms are only 16"? Isn't that a little frustrating?
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Dips are like the squats of the triceps....pack on the mass and strength...the other exercises bring out the shape more....

My muscles stay fairly dense and compact, but I'd do reps with 100lbs hung from my waist that the guys with 19inch arms couldn't do (mine are around 16ish).
You can do your wieght plus an added 100 lbs and you arms are only 16"? Isn't that a little frustrating?

I prefer it actually. I am solid, nothing at all jiggles plus easier to find clothes. Even with a 16" arm some sleeves (esp 3button polo style) are tight.

I can curl in the mid 100's also, but I haven't maxed that in a while as the chance of back injury is too much, plus it doesn't prove anything to me.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Pain 3 days later getting worse esp the 2-3rd day is usually Lactic acid.

This is a sign of working muscles to exhaustion when your body cannot get the right 'stuff' to them.

It should go away once your body gets in the groove.

Many athletes do not hurt post workouts after the initial 'getting used to it' phase is over. The best way to determine if you got a good workout is do 3-4 sets and make sure at the end you are fatigued. You don't want to not be able to move, but you don't want to be able to max 10mins later either ;)

For size and strength I find 8-12 a good number of reps for the triceps. I add weight once I am hitting 11-12 on a set.

I've heard this as well, but I'm always sore for days after a workout. I work out exceptionally hard, that's the only reason for it I can think of. I'm used to lifting, I don't drink (too much) or smoke, I eat right. I build muscle, so something's working.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Dips are like the squats of the triceps....pack on the mass and strength...the other exercises bring out the shape more....

My muscles stay fairly dense and compact, but I'd do reps with 100lbs hung from my waist that the guys with 19inch arms couldn't do (mine are around 16ish).
You can do your wieght plus an added 100 lbs and you arms are only 16"? Isn't that a little frustrating?

I prefer it actually. I am solid, nothing at all jiggles plus easier to find clothes. Even with a 16" arm some sleeves (esp 3button polo style) are tight.

I can curl in the mid 100's also, but I haven't maxed that in a while as the chance of back injury is too much, plus it doesn't prove anything to me.
I guess it's all in the genetics. I do see some strong guys at the gym who are rather thin and don't look like they'd be capable of doing the weight that they do.

As for curling in the mid 100's, I hear ya about not wanting to hurt your back. That's why I concentrate on Preacher Curls and Seated Dumbell curls. In fact I rarely even see the big guys do real heavy standing Barbell or Dumbell curls. Those that do look more like they are doing some dangerous back exercise than arm exercises.


To the OP, sorry to get off topic.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Pain 3 days later getting worse esp the 2-3rd day is usually Lactic acid.

This is a sign of working muscles to exhaustion when your body cannot get the right 'stuff' to them.

It should go away once your body gets in the groove.

Many athletes do not hurt post workouts after the initial 'getting used to it' phase is over. The best way to determine if you got a good workout is do 3-4 sets and make sure at the end you are fatigued. You don't want to not be able to move, but you don't want to be able to max 10mins later either ;)

For size and strength I find 8-12 a good number of reps for the triceps. I add weight once I am hitting 11-12 on a set.

I've heard this as well, but I'm always sore for days after a workout. I work out exceptionally hard, that's the only reason for it I can think of. I'm used to lifting, I don't drink (too much) or smoke, I eat right. I build muscle, so something's working.
I just switched from working a muscle groups from twice a week to once a week and I have felt soreness that I haven't felt in months. I also noticed that I was able to work those muscle groups harder with a once a week regimen per group. Of course I do more reps and more exercises with one a week workout per group.
 

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
34
91
I do dips, skullcrushers, and close-grip bench press. I lean forward on my dips so that it hits my chest more, but it still hits the tri's just fine.