💪 How to Cheat Your Exercise Form for Bigger Gains

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There are certain things you never want to cheat on. (Uncle Sam, in particular, gets a bit miffed when you fudge your taxes.) But you might actually benefit from cutting corners on these exercises.

Chris Bumstead further cemented his place as the top dog in the Classic Physique division by winning his fourth consecutive Olympia title in December. Oh, and he did it all with a torn biceps.

The 2023 Arnold Classic is shaping up to be, well, a classic. And even more top-tier names are joining the roster.

EXERCISE TIPS

Cheat Your Way to Gains

The form police are a diligent bunch. From the deepest reaches of social media comment sections to unwelcome solicitations in the weight room, you can always find someone willing to “help” you with your lifting technique, whether you like it or not.

While interrupting someone mid-set to advise them on their squats may run afoul of gym etiquette, good lifting form is as important to the newbie gymgoer as it is to the 10-year veteran pursuing another win in the IFBB Pro League. Or is it?

Resistance training should be safe, healthy, and effective. But some surgical deviations from “textbook” technique on specific exercises might help you squeeze out more gains from every rep you perform.

NEWS

Bumstead's Bum Biceps

When Chris Bumstead won his fourth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title this past December, it wasn't exactly a shock to fans of the sport. But what makes this win surprising is the revelation that he pulled off the W with a torn biceps.

According to a video Bumstead posted last week, the injury occurred roughly three days before the start of the show, and it became as much of an emotional hurdle as a physical one. Thankfully, the champ shouldn't be on the shelf too long.

“[It's] only mildly torn — it’s not off the insertion or the origin. It’s just in the muscle belly, so it’s really not that bad,” Bumstead said in the video. “They [medical professionals] said six to eight weeks to recover. I’m stubborn, so I’m going to say five to six weeks on that one. But I haven’t trained back or biceps. I really haven’t trained at all in four weeks. I’m just letting it heal, letting it recover, keeping down inflammation.”

The entire video is a rare glimpse into the mindset of an athlete who nearly saw all his hard work go to waste, only to pull through in the end. It's well worth a watch.

2023 Arnold Classic Update

More Big Names Are Heading to Columbus

On January 13, Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, a.k.a. Andrew Jacked, and Patrick Moore, added their names to the lineup at the 2023 Arnold Classic, which is set to take place from March 2-5 in Columbus, Ohio.

These recent additions could be connected to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s announcement that the prize money for the winner would be increased from $200,000 to $300,000. Here's the full roster for what's shaping up to be the most impressive crop of athletes outside of the Mr. Olympia:

• William Bonac

• Shaun Clarida

• Samson Dauda

• Kamal Elgargni

• Chinedu Andrew Obiekea

• Patrick Moore

• Justin Rodriguez

• Nick Walker

• Akim Williams

Jacked also won the Arnold Amateur bodybuilding contest in 2022. He could make history with a win in Columbus, as no one has ever won the Arnold Amateur, followed by a win at the Arnold Classic the next year.

THE DROPSET

Build Bigger Arms in Reverse

• Can you believe we have another way to grow your arms? This time, we’re talking about the muscle-building power of the reverse curl.

• ​​Protect your wrists and lift heavier for longer by perusing the wares in our wrist wraps buyer’s guide.

• Bodybuilders are already qualifying for the 2023 Olympia. See who earned a spot on the show by winning at this weekend's Saudi Arabia Pro.

SOUND OFF!

Your Guide to Bigger Arms