There's some people that say don't train to failure, like the Hodgetwins and Omar Isuf. Omar has talked about not going to failure in a lot of videos, building strength instead of testing strength. His latest one talks about why we shouldn't do those grinder reps.

 

I used to train that way, pushing through the grinders or using my training partner to help me get those forced reps. I know Scott likes to get those forced reps too. I've also tried not training to failure, didn't keep going if it was a grinder.

 

I'm honestly really confused on which to do. I don't know if I should still be doing those grinder reps or having a spotter help me get in forced reps. Are forced reps considered going to failure?

 

Omar's video:

Robert,

 

First off, based on your most recent pictures you have some amazing progress and gains. Great job.

 

As for training to failure or not, it is an open ended question. Many people debate whether or not to do it. At the end of the day, muscles grow as part of adaptation to physical stress - be it more weight moved or higher volume over time. Using forced reps are good to do occassionally when you have a spotter - never a good idea when you train alone as the potential for injury goes up dramatcially. When you push a muscle beyond its ability via forced reps, you force an overload of all the muscle fibers to a higher degree. However, the microscopic damage it does to the muscles requires adequate time to heal. This is why I would not train to failure every workout. It is best to add them in every once in awhile or for lagging body parts to help spark some added growth.

 

I personally don't use them as I train alone and I respond better to higher volume training so the volume gives my muscles the overload they need. In my opinion, mixing it up is a good idea and settle on what style works best for you. If this includes forced reps, great. If not, don't use them. However you are training now is producing results as I have seen a major difference in your physique. As they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" :-)

 

John

Robert,

 

First off, based on your most recent pictures you have some amazing progress and gains. Great job.

 

As for training to failure or not, it is an open ended question. Many people debate whether or not to do it. At the end of the day, muscles grow as part of adaptation to physical stress - be it more weight moved or higher volume over time. Using forced reps are good to do occassionally when you have a spotter - never a good idea when you train alone as the potential for injury goes up dramatcially. When you push a muscle beyond its ability via forced reps, you force an overload of all the muscle fibers to a higher degree. However, the microscopic damage it does to the muscles requires adequate time to heal. This is why I would not train to failure every workout. It is best to add them in every once in awhile or for lagging body parts to help spark some added growth.

 

I personally don't use them as I train alone and I respond better to higher volume training so the volume gives my muscles the overload they need. In my opinion, mixing it up is a good idea and settle on what style works best for you. If this includes forced reps, great. If not, don't use them. However you are training now is producing results as I have seen a major difference in your physique. As they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" :-)

 

John

Right on bro, also there is something to be said to those who are grinding out a rep and thos who are using bad form.

What I mean is that if you are contorting your body to push-out a repetition you are losing that mind muscle connection where you focus on the area of your body you are trying to target to begin with.

For exampe, if you are doing a barbell bicep curl and you want that last rep and have a spotter help you curl you can still focus on the area for a quality rep and maximize muscle engagement. But if you throw your back into it, get the bar up, and then drop the weight... you had 0 time to focus properly on working and activating your biceps.

I couldn't of said it better myself John!

Yeah.. I've noticed that too when I'm doing a grinder rep especially in pull ups. Biceps will sometimes take over.

Not going to be going to failure so often anymore. Thanks Scott :)

Video in summary- he is generalizing. Most people who grind out reps tend to lose strict form. On large compund exercises, consistently training to failure will not increase your strength or power. Using a moderate-high amount of weight with strict form will increase strength over time.

 

If you are using a spotter to help get out forced-reps, keep the strict form. However this is more of a bodybuilding technique and should mostly be limited to smaller movements- such as isolation movements, and movements with less of a load.

 

Just my input!

-Eric