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Curls and MMA

3K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  davidm724 
#1 ·
Sorry for all the questions.

Lately I've been hearing all this stuff from my grappling teacher and at the gym that curls are bad and curls are good.

Now I want your opinion.

Reverse Curls/Bicep Curls

Good for MMA or bad?

I'm stick to the fact that they are bad because you rarely ever use your bicep except in maybe an RNC...

Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
I'm completely new to MMA training so I could be way off here, but it seems to me like it couldn't hurt you. If you're talking about doing curls instead of an exercise that your coach or instructor recommends it's probably a bad idea, but if you're doing them in addition to what they recommend I don't see how it would hurt you. It seems like arm strength overall is important.
 
#3 ·
Biceps are pretty freaking useless in MMA TBH.

But I don't think it hurts, and I do curls, but I do them standing and alternate so they at least do a little for my core.
I would not let curls get in the way of anything else, they are probably the most useless exercise for MMA.
 
#4 ·
Well in my weight training class after I get done with like Bench or Squats or whatever we do I usually have a bit of free time so I usually do Dips/Pullups.

But I could be doing curls.
And sometimes curls is on the list of things to do so I want to know whether they're good or I should just stick to Dips/Curls in the spare time I have.

Or maybe do Reverse Curls.
 
#8 ·
Yeti-TSDWBJJ said:
Well in my weight training class after I get done with like Bench or Squats or whatever we do I usually have a bit of free time so I usually do Dips/Pullups.

But I could be doing curls.
And sometimes curls is on the list of things to do so I want to know whether they're good or I should just stick to Dips/Curls in the spare time I have.

Or maybe do Reverse Curls.
Bench, squats, dips, and pullups > curls any day. Don't substitute any of those lifts for curls, only add curls if you have extra time and have hit your major lifts for the day. Curls also won't do much for MMA, except maybe strengthen your forearms a bit, which could be useful.
 
#9 ·
the pulling motion of a curl can help arm-bar defense as well...but there are other ways to help bicepts as well.
 
#13 ·
wukkadb said:
Bench, squats, dips, and pullups > curls any day. Don't substitute any of those lifts for curls, only add curls if you have extra time and have hit your major lifts for the day. Curls also won't do much for MMA, except maybe strengthen your forearms a bit, which could be useful.
Hammer curls work forearms. But suspension type lifts like Deadlifts, Shrugs, Farmers Walk are vastly superior.

Strong biceps are nessciary for physical safety. If you have weak biceps, that leaves a weak point that could leave you open for injury.

Don't be a bicep warrior, but hit 'em good with BB , DB, and hammer curls.
 
#15 ·
SnakePit said:
Hammer curls work forearms. But suspension type lifts like Deadlifts, Shrugs, Farmers Walk are vastly superior.

Strong biceps are nessciary for physical safety. If you have weak biceps, that leaves a weak point that could leave you open for injury.

Don't be a bicep warrior, but hit 'em good with BB , DB, and hammer curls.
I dare you to ditch all those BB, DB, and hammer curls and throw in some chin ups, tell me if you notice a difference! Chins > curls any day. Only throw in curls if you still have energy and have finished the rest of your pulling movements
 
#16 ·
wukkadb said:
I dare you to ditch all those BB, DB, and hammer curls and throw in some chin ups, tell me if you notice a difference! Chins > curls any day. Only throw in curls if you still have energy and have finished the rest of your pulling movements

I have nowhere to do chins. How many chin ups are you doing? bw or weighted?
 
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#19 ·
Uchaaa said:
A bigger biceps increases the mass of your arm which mean you your punches will have a bigger impact.

Am I right?
No, you're not right.

SnakePit said:
I have nowhere to do chins. How many chin ups are you doing? bw or weighted?
I mix it up with chins. I like pull ups better but usually I'll do like 3x5 pull ups and 3x5 chin ups. I just started adding weight to them as well
 
#20 ·
wukkadb said:
No, you're not right.

So, explain why not?
but if you have big arms and a bad core of your body and no hip rotation your not gunna knock out anyone..just look at some of the better knock out guys..none of them have huge arms really

Boxers have big arms. SO what if you have hip rotation and big arms? You cant tell me thats only equal to hip rotation and small arms.
 
#21 ·
My thought is that you use so many large muscle groups in MMA all at once, so I stay away from isolation exercises. Exercises that use a group of muscles while also working your core are awesome for building MMA-functional strength and power. I agree with wukkadb... a strong, powerful core is invaluable not only to generate a powerful offense, but also to provide a durable defense.
 
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