Note: I do not recommend that you only target (or isolate) a single muscle group for a complete work out. When you attempt to "isolate" muscles by performing single-joint exercises, you are actually creating a body that is non-functional and will be more prone to injury. Essentially, you are creating a body that is a compilation of body parts, instead of a powerful, functional unit that works together.
Part Five: Triceps Exercises
Close-Grip Barbell Bench Pres
Main Muscle Worked: Triceps
Other Muscles: Chest, Shoulders
Equipment: Barbell
- Lie back on a flat bench. Using a close grip (around shoulder width), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
- As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest. Tip: Make sure that - as opposed to a regular bench press - you keep the elbows close to the torso at all times in order to maximize triceps involvement.
- After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your triceps muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
- Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
- When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.
Decline Dumbbell Triceps Extension
Main Muscle Worked: Triceps
Equipment: Dumbbell
- Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and lie down with a dumbbell on each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
- Once you are laying down, move the dumbbells in front of you at shoulder width. The palms of the hands should be facing each other and the arms should be perpendicular to the floor and fully extended. This will be your starting position.
- As you breathe in and you keep the upper arms stationary (and elbows in), bring the dumbbells down slowly by moving your forearms in a semicircular motion towards you until your thumbs are next to your ears. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement.
- Lift the dumbbells back to the starting position by contracting the triceps and exhaling.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Dumbbell One-Arm Triceps Extension
Main Muscle Worked: Triceps
Equipment: Dumbbell
- Grab a dumbbell and either sit on a military press bench or a utility bench that has a back support on it as you place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs or stand up straight.
- Clean the dumbbell up to bring it to shoulder height and then extend the arm over your head so that the whole arm is perpendicular to the floor and next to your head. The dumbbell should be on top of you. The other hand can be kept fully extended to the side, by the waist, supporting the upper arm that has the dumbbell or grabbing a fixed surface.
- Rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand is facing forward and the pinkie is facing the ceiling. This will be your starting position.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell behind your head as you hold the upper arm stationary. Inhale as you perform this movement and pause when your triceps are fully stretched.
- Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps as you breathe out. Tip: It is imperative that only the forearm moves. The upper arm should remain at all times stationary next to your head.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and switch arms.
Incline Barbell Triceps Extension
Main Muscle Worked: Triceps
Other Muscles: Forearms
Equipment: Barbell
- Hold a barbell with an overhand grip (palms down) that is a little closer together than shoulder width.
- Lie back on an incline bench set at any angle between 45-75-degrees.
- Bring the bar overhead with your arms extended and elbows in. The arms should be in line with the torso above the head. This will be your starting position.
- Now lower the bar in a semicircular motion behind your head until your forearms touch your biceps. Inhale as you perform this movement. Tip: Keep your upper arms stationary and close to your head at all times. Only the forearms should move.
- Return to the starting position as you breathe out and you contract the triceps. Hold the contraction for a second.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Bench Dips
Main Muscle Worked: Triceps
Other Muscles: Chest, Shoulders
Equipment: Body Only
- For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will be extended forward, bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso. This will be your starting position.
- Slowly lower your body as you inhale by bending at the elbows until you lower yourself far enough to where there is an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. Tip: Keep the elbows as close as possible throughout the movement. Forearms should always be pointing down.
- Using your triceps to bring your torso up again, lift yourself back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Take these exercises, along with those from the previous articles and the ones that will follow in the next few articles, and combine them to create your own total body work out routine. In addition, put in place a healthy diet, and you will be well on your way to being healthy and fit.
Always remember to warm up for at least 5 - 10 minutes before beginning a work out routine.
Want some ideas for your abs? Give the Truth About Abs program a try.
Take a look at The Gabriel Method weight loss program, this guy lost over 200 pounds!
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5 Great At Home Bicep Exercises
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5 Great At Home Shoulder Exercises
5 Great At home Chest Exercises
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