Performing repetitions, that is producing muscular tension to build muscular hypertrophy can be likened to pumping up a tire. If someone is helping you, but keeps releasing air at the valve, while you are trying to increase the air pressure you can pump all day and never get the tire filled. This in relation to training performance means you can never accrue the possible value of the repetitions if you let up on muscular tension during the movement.
When lifting weights you are the someone who is in control. You make the decision to ‘release air’ or tension based on effort or the discomfort you feel when pumping up your muscles. You can lift all day releasing muscular tension or you can get it done by maximizing effort.
Remember these points when training – you lose the value of the rep or you lose muscular tension:
1. If you relax during the movement
2. If you use momentum as an advantage to make the lift easier during the movement.
3. If you use leverage to your advantage during the movement.
4. If you use the top or bottom of the movement to recover and/or rest.
If you do reps and never lose muscular tension, pausing at the top of each movement, holding tension and feel the lengthening of the muscle on the descent…….you will maximize the growth potential of each repetition and Get extremely Strong.
