The Importance of Full Range of Motion

by Christian Duque

Lifters have been chasing crazy numbers for years. The obsession is largely due to ego & impressing others. The reality of the matter is that the single most important milestone in each and every workout, is the pump. When the muscle is pumped, it’s stimulated. Once the muscle is stimulated, then the real training starts. The numbers game is really more about bragging rights than anything else, and one of the most downplayed aspects of heavy lifting actually deals with the methodology involved.

Many times when you see a pipsqueak curling 135lbs or an out-of-shape type depending on his (poor) spotter to row off 225 off a bench press, you’re seeing lifter that’s employing poor form, twisting around, screaming like a banshee or two steps always from apparent death. What you’ll rare (if ever) see in anyone lifting outside of their abilities is full range of motion. The lifter who cares as much about the positive & the negative, is the lifter that’s more apt to grow & develop a quality look. Think of 1980’s superstar Bob Paris. Bob would come into the gym in an oversized sweatshirt & sweat pants. He was careful, focused on every detail of the lift, executing each rep with utter perfection. The muscle requires that careful attention.

When you train, you are building a better you. You’ve invested the money in awesome Tokkyo Nutrition supplements, you’ve hopefully joined a quality gym, and now you must focus on the task at hand. Numbers don’t matter. It’s all about the muscle.