Good Morning

[diamondpete]

Hi, I am doing Homegrown Muscle Series, beginners and I am moving on to phase 2. So a question about the Good morning exercise. I have seen two versions (in quicktime): the "regular" (i guess that would be straight back), and the arched back versions. What is the difference between the two?


Thanks

[chris_f]

Peter, i think when you say straight back, you mean arched (as in, your back in naturally arched as if you were standing up with good posture), and by arched you mean bent (as if you were curling your body into a ball).

Based on these assumptions, here's the difference: The method where you don't bend your back puts more emphasis on your hamstrings and glutes. Your lower back is involved isometrically (as in it stay contracted but doesn't move). You can use more weight with this method.

When you bend your back, you're doing more lower back work, and can't use nearly as much weight (you could really hurt yourself if you put on too much).

The version in HGM phase 2 is where you keep your back naturally arched. Check out the video here: http://www.menshealth.com/cda/articl...html#video_239

[Mahler]

I think shark has it covered. Nice reply.

Mahler

[Kam]

I just did good mornings for the first time ever on Friday after reading about them here and how they help with "ass to the grass" squats. My hamstrings are still pissed at me! Hopefully by tomorrow I wont be sore anymore.

[GqArtguy]

Good Morning! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[chris_f]

"My hamstrings are still pissed at me!"

Haha... yea goodmornings and stiff-leg deadlifts are both really brutal on the hamstrings... in a good way of course!!

[diamondpete]

SHARKBAIOT WROTE:

Peter, i think when you say straight back, you mean arched (as in, your back in naturally arched as if you were standing up with good posture), and by arched you mean bent (as if you were curling your body into a ball).

No, I found these clips:

1. Back is really arched backwards (not fetal, or ball like)
http://www.bsu.edu/webapps/strengthlab/home.htm

2. Back is straight as in good posture
http://www.bsu.edu/webapps/strengthlab/images/rbgm.mpg


But in anycase your answer (including the link does the trick. Thank you very much,

Peter

[Relentless]

I have seen this done both ways so many times I am just going to come out and ask. Performing the good morning, keep your legs perfectly straight or bend at the knee? And if those are two different ways of performing the exercise which way emphasizes what more than the other? Thanks, thanks.

[chris_f]

Relentless... bend slightly at the knee, or you set yourself up for an injury.

As for the two links Peter posted: If you look at the two, I find it impossible to physically SEE a difference between either of them. I will thus refer you to my prior response about keeping your back naturally arched vs. bending down as if to tuck your head between your legs.

Generally speaking, keeping you back naturally arched is much safer and hits the hamstrings and glutes harder, which is, after all, what the excercise is made for!

[Relentless]

Much thanks Shark this has been annoying me for a while, so a slight bend at thy knee.
Yeah I am on dial up currently so downloading a video clip would be like...well lets just say I'd rather do 50 sets of heavy good mornings and then wake up first thing in the morning and touch my toes in extreme pain than sit through a download on this pos.

[chris_f]

Relentless... don't take my word for it! that's just how I do them... I"ve seen plenty of people who keep their knee's locked.... for example:

http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hams...odMorning.html

[diamondpete]

Sharkbait wrote:
"I find it impossible to physically SEE a difference between either of them."

Sorry about the links,
http://www.bsu.edu/webapps/strengthlab/images/abgm.mpg

is the right link for the arched back, but as you say there seems to be little difference between the two except in the arched back version the back is more arched.

Thanks for your input-

Cheers

Peter