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Ask the strongman

Men's Fitness, June-July, 2005 by Mark Philippi

What's the best way to make my biceps grow?

I don't enjoy working bi's as much as some do, but they are needed in strongman competitions (my domain). Variety is important. Incorporate straight-bar and dumbbell curls into your workout, as well as thick-bar curls to attack your forearms (wrap a towel around the bar if you don't have the real thing). Remember to vary the rep ranges you use and the speed at which you lift. For example, do one set of eight reps, then sets of six, four, and three reps with a straight bar, using a challenging weight for each. Then do two sets of 8-12 reps of dumbbell curls very slowly, taking three seconds to lift the weight, pausing for one second at the top, and then taking three seconds to lower the weight.

More Articles of Interest: Ask the strongman; Ask the strongman; Muscle meals; How to … measure your arms; Muscle mechanics: tune up your arms in eight weeks

Where is the strangest place you've ever competed as a strongman?

That's easy: the Faeroe Islands. It's a cold, rainy, hilly place in the North Atlantic, where they still-hunt whales. Everyone looked the same--maybe it's all the fish they eat. It was a very mysterious place, and everywhere I went, people just seemed to appear out of the dense fog. It reminded me of the movie The Island of Dr. Moreau. I'm not sure if Men's Fitness is available there, so I'd better not go back anytime soon. Maul is more my style, anyway.

Mark Philippi, C.S.C.S., is a two-time finalist in the World's Strongest Man competition and can be seen on the MHP All-Strength Strongman series every Wednesday on FOX Sports.

Ask the strongman

Men's Fitness, June-July, 2005 by Mark Philippi

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