• All
  • Back / Lats
  • Biceps
  • Chest
  • Coaches Corner
  • Delts
  • Exercise Execution
  • Hormones & Physiology
  • Legs
  • Nutrition
  • Premium Articles
  • Supplements
  • Training
  • Triceps

MI40 Strength: Hypertrophy & Strength Periodization Programming – Part 1

Covered:
> Where does hypertrophy training fit into a strength athlete’s training cycle?

> The science of strength

> The 7 fundamental ...

Read More

The Glycemic Index: Useful or Useless?

Popularized in the mainstream media & bodybuilding world, how does the G.I of a food actually apply when seeking physique ...

Read More

Taurine

Taurine is one of the best amino acids to help improve muscle soreness because it helps to push glutamate conversion ...

Read More

Super-Mineral Magnesium: Essential for Muscle Gains and more…

In their eagerness to increase strength and build muscle, most devoted iron trainees will ceaselessly pound down the protein, carbs, ...

Read More

Acetylcholine: Stimulating Mind and Body

Of the major neurotransmitters, acetylcholine just might be the most important from a muscle building standpoint. As a major neurotransmitter ...

Read More

Leptin: A Key Hormone in Controlling Hunger and Losing Fat

A new year has begun and now is the time to carve off that holiday excess. As fans of this ...

Read More
  See More

Shrugs


General guidelines for all shrugging movements
(unless specifically stated otherwise)

  • use lifting straps if desired, particularly for working sets
  • take a shoulder-width-grip ideally
  • chest up, head / neck neutral, elbows / triceps locked-out (unless stated otherwise)
  • if standing, lock out quads and contract glutes and abs (don’t let hips come back and forth)
  • pull everything back / retract scapula (not to an extreme, but to avoid any roll forward)
  • begin by retracting from around the mid-back
  • shrug right to the top of the neck and really squeeze
  • push / protract on the way downward to lower the weight (don’t let it drop).

Standing Shrugs – Dumbbell or Barbell

‘Beside body’ variation depicted

    Exercise Specific:

  • Be sure to keep everything pulled-back throughout with the weight(s) held (constantly) just slightly in front.
  • Dumbbell Optional Variations:
       > Hold DB’s Behind body: this is the position in which you will be weakest
       > Hold DB’s Beside body: hold with a neutral grip (palms facing) and pay extra attention not to rest during this variation in order to maintain constant tension.

 

Prone Incline Shrugs – Dumbbell or Barbell

Note how the shoulders are correctly down and back, not raised and forward

    Exercise Specific:

  • Actively resist the urge to let the shoulders rise up and sag forward during the movement.

 

Shrug + Upright Row Combination

    Exercise Specific:

  • once at the top, bend elbows and pull / row them upwards about 3 inches further.