Muscle Evolution Muscle_Evolution__July-August_2017 | Page 47

TRAINING POWER TRICEPS! For Morné, tricep development is equally as important in giving his arms that desired shape and strength. “I WOULD SOMETIMES USE CHAINS AROUND MY NECK OR A PLATE HANGING FROM A BELT AS A CHALLENGING WAY TO INCREASE THE RATIO OF STRENGTH TO BODY MASS.” 44 Muscle Evolution DIPS He usually kicks off his tricep training with bodyweight dips. “The key to performing the perfect dip it to maintain a slow and controlled movement, with your focus squarely on working your arms, not your shoulders or chest. Where your triceps contract at the top of the movement is when you get the most bang for your buck.” Morné pauses momentarily when he is in the full upright position and focuses on squeezing his triceps. He admits that this particular exercise gets a bad reputation for injuring joints and connective tissue, but this is usually due to people performing it with horrible form. He also keeps his elbows tightly in to his body while he braces his abdominals. “If you dip forward it will work your chest, while dipping more in a vertical position, with your elbows tucked in to your sides and pointing behind you, will target the triceps.” He would sometimes use chains around his neck or a plate hanging from a belt as a challenging way to increase his ratio of strength to body mass. This extra resistance is an incredibly effective tool for taking the intensity of an exercise to the next level. Morné also recommends using two benches next to one another if you find traditional dips on the parallel bars brutally tough on your shoulders. It will change the position of the shoulders allowing for better movement and less joint stress.