Getbig Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Forums

Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: Meso_z on November 08, 2008, 02:04:07 AM

Title: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Meso_z on November 08, 2008, 02:04:07 AM
Do you think on an ARMS day its better than doing lets say bis first and then tris?
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Bluto on November 08, 2008, 02:31:05 AM
How often? Not very often.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: webcake on November 08, 2008, 02:55:49 AM
Well i don't give arms they're own day, so i generally train tris and bi's seperately. That being said, i don't really do direct bi work that much.

Anyway, i'd go with supersets. Seems like a time effecient way of training and gets a good pump in the arms.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Bobby on November 08, 2008, 06:35:19 AM
never.

when i train both on the same day i always start with tris
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 08, 2008, 06:51:06 AM
Personal preference. Some like it for the psychological effect of flushing the entire area, and/or because it can save a little time in each workout. I've always preferred to focus on one muscle more thoroughly at a time. The better use of supersets IMO is compound supersets, 2 consecutive sets done for the same rather than opposing muscles. This term is often confused with using only compound exercises, whereas i'm talking about using any 2 isolation or compound exercises for the same muscle consecutively.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: mitchyboy on November 08, 2008, 09:06:55 AM
If I work bis and tris together, I alternate bi and tri moves, for 3 -4 sets. First a curl, all sets, then an extension, all sets.
Back to a curl, then an extension. You stay real strong all the way through. That being said, I usualy work tris with chest, and bis with back. :)
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 08, 2008, 09:14:13 AM
I alternate bi and tri moves, for 3 -4 sets. First a curl, all sets, then an extension, all sets.
Back to a curl, then an extension.

That's an interesting permutation of the usual superset approach worth trying. I saw someone do something different like that, also worth trying-he supersetted 2 exercises for the same muscle in superset fashion, but with the usual minute rest in between sets.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: tbombz on November 08, 2008, 10:36:59 AM
i workout triceps then biceps.  my last movement for triceps is super setted with my first movement for biceps. both are high rep...but one is a burn out and one is a warm up.  normally it will be something like rope pull downs and cable curls.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 08, 2008, 10:39:56 AM
but one is a burn out and one is a warm up.  normally it will be something like rope pull downs and cable curls.

It's common to use something like this for a final burn out; also worth trying at the start or middle or a workout instead.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: tbombz on November 08, 2008, 10:43:19 AM
It's common to use something like this for a final burn out; also worth trying at the start or middle or a workout instead.
whaddya mean ?

heres what i am saying


straight bar push downs
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

overhead dumbell extension
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

close grip bench
warm up
warm up
waork set
work set


rope pull downs/cable curls
rpd burn out
cc warm up
rpd burn out
cc warm up
rpd burn out
cc warm up

barbell curls
warm up
warm up
waorkj set
work set

alt. dumbell curls
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

front double bicep curls
burn out
burn out
burn out


done.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 08, 2008, 10:52:58 AM
whaddya mean ?

Use what you've described as part of the main course of the workout, instead of just at the beginning/end. Sometimes we get locked in to suppositions of how something's only good as a finishing technique, etc. when it's not necessarily true.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: ozman on November 08, 2008, 12:51:33 PM
I don't
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: leonp1981 on November 08, 2008, 01:43:20 PM
If I'm training arms in one workout, I'll do something like:

CG Bench - 4 x 12/10/8/8
Barbell curl - 4 x 12/10/8/8
Lying extensions - 3 x 10
DB Curls - 3 x 10

then a superset of:
Pressdowns with Preacher curls - 3 x 15

The superset at the end is to get a lot of blood in there to finish.

There have been studies done that show that when supersetting antagonistic muscles, you are actually stronger in the second movement.  E.g. Start with a set of lying extensions, then go straight to barbell curls, you will be stronger in the curls than you would be if doing regular sets.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: big L dawg on November 08, 2008, 01:50:27 PM
you should start with which ever is weaker.I superset at the end of bi's leading into tri's.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 08, 2008, 01:57:47 PM


There have been studies done that show that when supersetting antagonistic muscles, you are actually stronger in the second movement.  E.g. Start with a set of lying extensions, then go straight to barbell curls, you will be stronger in the curls than you would be if doing regular sets.

I don't know about that.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: leonp1981 on November 08, 2008, 02:59:33 PM
I don't know about that.

I'll have a dig around and see if I can find it, although admittedly it was a magazine article.   :-\

I think it was one of those, "Univ. of x did a study and found..." mini articles.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: tbombz on November 08, 2008, 09:11:26 PM
you should start with which ever is weaker.I superset at the end of bi's leading into tri's.
everyboyd is different and i dont want to tell anybody what they should or should not do. everyone should stick to what works best for them.

but consider the following

99% of guys have overpowering biceps, because they train equal sets and equal reps with biceps and triceps and follow this mantra. the tricep is the larger muscle and is three heads, the bicep is a smaller muscle and is two heads. a roportional andaesthetic arm will be 2/3 tricep and 1/3 bicep.



IMO   the tricep should get more sets than the bicep and and should be trained first.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Meso_z on November 09, 2008, 03:30:40 AM
If I'm training arms in one workout, I'll do something like:

CG Bench - 4 x 12/10/8/8
Barbell curl - 4 x 12/10/8/8
Lying extensions - 3 x 10
DB Curls - 3 x 10

then a superset of:
Pressdowns with Preacher curls - 3 x 15

The superset at the end is to get a lot of blood in there to finish.

There have been studies done that show that when supersetting antagonistic muscles, you are actually stronger in the second movement.  E.g. Start with a set of lying extensions, then go straight to barbell curls, you will be stronger in the curls than you would be if doing regular sets.

I believe thats true because i noticed it on Friday when i did supersets.

Although i do supersets once in a couple of months, not too often.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: big L dawg on November 09, 2008, 03:45:37 AM
everyboyd is different and i dont want to tell anybody what they should or should not do. everyone should stick to what works best for them.

but consider the following

99% of guys have overpowering biceps, because they train equal sets and equal reps with biceps and triceps and follow this mantra. the tricep is the larger muscle and is three heads, the bicep is a smaller muscle and is two heads. a roportional andaesthetic arm will be 2/3 tricep and 1/3 bicep.



IMO   the tricep should get more sets than the bicep and and should be trained first.

alot of people don't know what works for them.my tri's are Superior to my bi's.because of this it makes sense to train bi's when I'm fresh early in the workout.and if I did what you suggest having more sets for tri's than bi's I would look very disproportionate.as I said my tri's genetically respond better than bi's.but your right everone is different.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 09, 2008, 08:10:35 AM
if I did what you suggest having more sets for tri's than bi's I would look very disproportionate.as I said my tri's genetically respond better than bi's.but your right everone is different.

Exactly, it's case by case, not so easy to generalize as to what to do first or what's more developed, varies by the individual.
 
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Rimbaud on November 09, 2008, 11:33:48 AM
Do you think on an ARMS day its better than doing lets say bis first and then tris?

I like having an "arms" day. I probably train arms twice a week.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Alex23 on November 09, 2008, 11:47:55 AM
I like having an "arms" day. I probably train arms twice a week.

I've been divided for years on this one. I love arm day; but it taxes your entire training split; following arm day, can't do chest, shoulder or back... well you can but you'll interrupt the recovery and little grow will occur...

My best mass split:

Day 1 morning: Chest- front shoulder 1 triceps 'heavy' exercise.  evening: light triceps
Day 2 morning Legs
Day 3 morning back - side delts 1 biceps'heavy' ex. evening: light biceps
Day 3 off.

Biggest I've been was on this routine.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: tbombz on November 09, 2008, 10:50:07 PM
following arm day, can't do chest, shoulder or back...
thats bullshit dude..  get that out of flex magazing mr.google??   ::)   


anyway you could try this on for size

day one = chest tris bis
day two = quads hams calves
day three = back shoulders traps
day four = rest
day five = repeat day one
etc etc

 ;)
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: io856 on November 10, 2008, 03:16:16 AM
following arm day, can't do chest, shoulder or back... well you can but you'll interrupt the recovery and little grow will occur...
Nosaka K, Newton M. Repeated eccentric exercise bouts do not exacerbate muscle damage and repair. 2005 Feb;16(1):117-22
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: CalvinH on November 10, 2008, 09:06:52 AM
I've been divided for years on this one. I love arm day; but it taxes your entire training split; following arm day, can't do chest, shoulder or back... well you can but you'll interrupt the recovery and little grow will occur...

My best mass split:


Same here dude.if I'm not combining them with another body part I always do them on Fri.
I lift all week and take off weekends so I have time to rest before the week starts.


as for tri's first,bi's first,supersets.I don't ever do the same workout so that doesn't matter 2 me.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Rimbaud on November 10, 2008, 09:23:34 AM
I've been divided for years on this one. I love arm day; but it taxes your entire training split; following arm day, can't do chest, shoulder or back... well you can but you'll interrupt the recovery and little grow will occur...  

My best mass split:

Day 1 morning: Chest- front shoulder 1 triceps 'heavy' exercise.  evening: light triceps
Day 2 morning Legs
Day 3 morning back - side delts 1 biceps'heavy' ex. evening: light biceps
Day 3 off.

Biggest I've been was on this routine.

True. I'll usually do one "detail" oriented arms day (maybe Tuesday) & then a heavy arms day on Saturday & take Sunday off. Because of some back problems I don't go too crazy when it comes to back so I'll usually hit back after training arms on Tuesday. Seems to workour ok for now.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Alex23 on November 10, 2008, 04:29:39 PM
True. I'll usually do one "detail" oriented arms day (maybe Tuesday) & then a heavy arms day on Saturday & take Sunday off. Because of some back problems I don't go too crazy when it comes to back so I'll usually hit back after training arms on Tuesday. Seems to workour ok for now.

Same here, back problems tend to slow me down; herniated a disk 2 years ago and although it recovered, it still flares up once in a while...
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Rimbaud on November 10, 2008, 05:16:41 PM
Same here, back problems tend to slow me down; herniated a disk 2 years ago and although it recovered, it still flares up once in a while...

Don't get me started on that. I've got a herniated L4 & L5. It flares up from time to time still. I've just learned to work around it. Basically no heavy squats, no heavy leg presses, & no heavy deadlifts. Now for legs & back it's lighter weight & higher reps.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Alex23 on November 13, 2008, 04:57:24 PM
Don't get me started on that. I've got a herniated L4 & L5. It flares up from time to time still. I've just learned to work around it. Basically no heavy squats, no heavy leg presses, & no heavy deadlifts. Now for legs & back it's lighter weight & higher reps.

Sciatica?
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: AVBG on November 13, 2008, 05:24:49 PM
I superset bicep/triceps regularly, keep the blood in the arms.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: madfox on November 13, 2008, 09:32:57 PM
Every Monday:

3 sets ez-bar curls
3 sets widegrip pushdowns
3 sets preacher curls
2 sets one arm pushdowns
2 sets reverse one arm pushdown
2 sets straight bar curl
3 sets close grip bench
1 set of hammer curls
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: thewickedtruth on November 13, 2008, 09:35:12 PM
Every Monday:

3 sets ez-bar curls
3 sets widegrip pushdowns
3 sets preacher curls
2 sets one arm pushdowns
2 sets reverse one arm pushdown
2 sets straight bar curl
3 sets close grip bench
1 set of hammer curls

overtrain much? sweet jesus!
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: mass 04 on November 14, 2008, 08:14:06 AM
overtrain much? sweet jesus!
It's not really that much volume IMO. 9 sets for bis and 10 for tris.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Zach Trowbridge on November 14, 2008, 01:47:16 PM
I used to do chest/tris Monday, back/bis Tuesday, then a high-rep bis/tris supersetted workout on Friday.  Worked ok, I suppose.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Rimbaud on November 14, 2008, 03:50:45 PM
Sciatica?

Pretty much...got most of the symptoms.  :'(
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Rimbaud on November 14, 2008, 04:03:36 PM
overtrain much? sweet jesus!

That's not that bad.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Permabulker on November 15, 2008, 09:20:26 AM
I hardly ever superset.  I do prefer to train bis and tris on the same day though.  Just not super-setted.  (maybe I should?) I alternate every other set from biceps to triceps.  Occasionally I will switch it up and do biceps w chest and triceps with shoulders, etc. 
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 15, 2008, 10:26:21 AM
I do prefer to train bis and tris on the same day though.  Just not super-setted.  (maybe I should?)

Try it for a while and see whether it appeals psychologically and whether you think it's hitting the muscles better. Supersetting opposing muscles doesn't work for me.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: Permabulker on November 15, 2008, 11:01:41 AM
Try it for a while and see whether it appeals psychologically and whether you think it's hitting the muscles better. Supersetting opposing muscles doesn't work for me.

Its not like I have NEVER supersetted.  I just know it will be mostly a pump effect and Im trying to get more out of my workout than that.  I think its good to occasionally throw in the mixxx.  Sure. 
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: pumpster on November 15, 2008, 01:50:57 PM
Its not like I have NEVER supersetted.  I just know it will be mostly a pump effect and Im trying to get more out of my workout than that.  I think its good to occasionally throw in the mixxx.  Sure. 

Well you asked whether you should do it, make up your mind lol maybe it's something worth trying for a little longer before giving up, or not. I think it takes at least a few weeks doing something to know.
Title: Re: How often do you superset biceps with triceps?
Post by: ASJChaotic on November 15, 2008, 08:20:29 PM
whaddya mean ?

heres what i am saying


straight bar push downs
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

overhead dumbell extension
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

close grip bench
warm up
warm up
waork set
work set


rope pull downs/cable curls
rpd burn out
cc warm up
rpd burn out
cc warm up
rpd burn out
cc warm up

barbell curls
warm up
warm up
waorkj set
work set

alt. dumbell curls
warm up
warm up
work set
work set

front double bicep curls
burn out
burn out
burn out


done.

why are you doing so many warm up sets?  ???
once a muscle is warmed up, it's warmed up, you don't need to do it for EVERY exercise IMO