Evo

What are the pro's and con's when compared to each other? If you don't know what I'm talking about I mean the differences between lifting weights such as bench press and hammer curls, and something along the lines of bowflex. I'm just curious as to which is better, and what the reasons are.

I would ask that if you respond that you give valid and factual reason as to why one is better than the other, although I don't mind hearing your opinion as long as its kept within reason (to but it plainly, no responses like "free weights are just better, why would you even wanna use bowflex?")

TheSuplexor

free weights are just better, why would you even wanna use bowflex? IMO....lol jk.
resistance gets harder as you get towards the end part of the lift which is better because you can work more weight in different areas of the lift.

__________________
Mac Danzig and his bird feeder once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands.
Mac Danzig can kill two fighters with one bird feeder.
Superman owns a pair of Mac Danzig bird feeder pajamas.

A-5best

Free weights are better unless you are using a Nautilus style system. Firstly with free weights, it also makes you use your stabilizing muscles when you bench and squat etc. This helps build minor muscles that contribute to a task. Also if you are using a mechanical work out machine it is generally easier since their is some type of mechanical advantage whether it be a pulley or lever or what have you.

The Nautilus machines are good because they give active resistance. I can only lift as much as the weakest part of my body allows. So when I am curling I can only lift as much as the part where my arms is extended can, whereas when my arm is closer to my bicep it is easier to lift and may no longer be exercising the muscle. With the Nautilus machine it supplies active resistance so it is always constantly maintaining a suitable resistance on your muscle whether it be stronger or weaker in certain areas.

gonzalez92

id say bodyweight exercises, such ass dips, pull ups, press ups lunges and squats( both weightless)done with high reps are better for mixed martial artists than free weight exercises. i think this becuase free weight tend to add too much muscle and that means putting on weight which could a fighter will be fighting above his natural weight class. however, i believe targetting the abs and core with weights is vital to mma performance.

-NoXxX-

I have always preferred free weights to resistance, because I feel like free weights tend to pay off more when it comes to strength. I use resistance as well on more power techniques and it's far harder to injure myself that way than with free weights..but, still I prefer free weights.

Javelin

Free weights forces you to work all those small twitch muscles of yours, I mean squatting with a free weight barbell is a lot harder than squatting the same weights on one of those smith machine squats...if you want beach muscles then I'd suggest hitting the smith machines but definitely use free weights if you want to be athletic...bowflex is just straight garbage coming from personal experience (I have one at my house), don't waste your time on that crap.

I guess a con with free weights is that you can injure yourself a lot easier if you're not doing it right but just have a spotter with you everytime.

__________________
"Right kick; hospital, left kick; cemetery" - Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Cyclist

I find resistance used more often in the forms of plyometrics, but that is more in the form of elastic tubbing. That is where I find the effects of having growing pressure to be more effective then constant pressure.

If you try plyometric sprints with a rope and weights, once the plate starts moving and gets its own inertia, it loses its effectiveness. The band keeps its pressure that increases so the workout doesn't die after you explode forward.

__________________

Yung Boss

i agree bodyweight exercises are the way to go just use free weights as a boost

mmawrestler

Free weights are far better because they force you to use more muscle groups and stablizer muscles