[TheJudoChop]

do you think reverse curls better suit the needs of Judoka because they seem to me to more closely mimic the pulling movements in Judo than standard curls?

[pknox]

Hmm. I don't know about that one. There's really two answers - you should do both, or you should do neither. It kind of depends on who you believe. First off, just to make sure we're talking about the same thing here, when I think of a reverse curl, I imagine someone taking a barbell or dumbbell, palms facing down, and moving it in an upward path parallel to their body, while not moving their upper arms. This would stress the forearms primarily, and the biceps secondarily (especially the biceps brachii). Reverse the grip to a standard curl (palms up) and perform the exercise along the same path, and you stress the biceps primarily, and the forearms secondarily.

While both the biceps and forearms are surely used to some degree when you pull an opponent towards you, I don't think the pulling we do in Judo is the same motion as a curl in the weight room. It's really more like a rowing motion, where you pull the person perpendicular to your body as opposed to parallel, and the muscles of the back come into play quite a bit - for some people more than the arms.

If you're trying to pick a motion that more closely mimics the actions of Judo, I think you'd be better off using rows (either cable, barbell, or dumbbell), or possibly high pulls, instead of direct bicep/forearm work. These movements would primarily target the back, but would also hit the biceps and forearms to some degree (that would be the "do neither" option).

That said, there is some controversy in the training community as to whether you should try to mimic sports movements at all - some people say that using a weight during said movement will actually teach your body to move slower, not faster. The same people say you're better off training for overall strength and power, and that you should just make sure to hit as many major muscle groups as possible. If that's the way you plan to go, realize that reverse curls and bicep curls are two different exercises, designed to hit two different muscles. In that case, you may want to do both. If you held a gun to my head and said I must pick one, I'd tell you bicep curls, because I think they'll give your forearms some work; more work than your biceps would get if you were doing reverse curls. Ultimately, I'd tell you that everyone's body responds differently, and that you should try all 4 approaches (bicep curls, reverse curls, both, neither), and see what works for you, as it may not be the same thing that works for me.

[Geoff]

Curls are a purely cosmetic exercise, give you good bicep definition but are'nt that useful for Judi IMO, as suggested earlier bent rows are a better judo related exercise

[Scott_Wignall]

I hope this is still on topic....

I just wondered - what about typing? Does that particular activity pay any dividends in terms of wrist/arm strength?

[pknox]

Scott_Wignall, on Jan 14 2004, 12:12 AM, said:

I hope this is still on topic....

I just wondered - what about typing? Does that particular activity pay any dividends in terms of wrist/arm strength?

Probably benefits on par with "12 oz. curls" -- i.e. drinking beer. ;)

[SAMURAI]

I,d say any exercise that strengthen's the arms , wrists and grip is bound to help a little in Judo.