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| Display Name | Post: What’s on your list of ‘never again’ lifts? | |
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aussieluke Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 5439 
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03-25-20 12:09 PM - Post#896092
Did a quick, late indoor workout tonight and discovered that Airborne Lunges on my right leg cause me upper side abdominal/rib pain. I love this exercise but it’s always caused me pain there - but I always assumed it was from pull-ups, which I always alternated with the airborne lunges. But since I haven’t done a pull-up in days I now know that isn’t the case. Made me think of all the other lifts that these will now be joining in my ever growing personal bin of no hope. Which now includes: Barbell front squats. Wrist pain for days whether it’s 20, 40, 60 or 80kg Barbell bench. Nope. Guaranteed shoulder injury. Leg extension machine. Might as well stab knives under my patella Overhead squats. Always crick my neck. The last time I tried (several years ago) my hands went numb until I clicked my neck back in Airborne lunges. (Rib/ab pain for days) I’m sure there are many more I’ve forgotten and no doubt more to be discovered in the future. Thankfully I can still clean, press, swing, squat and snatch a kettlebell with no issue!
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Jg64 Getting the hang of it Posts 46 |
03-25-20 02:23 PM - Post#896099
Flat bench presses, behind the neck presses, skull crushers for painful reasons. Cable crossovers, concentration curls and db tricep kick backs for other reasons. I prefer picking a weight up and getting it overhead...be it a barbell, dumbbell, and/or kettlebell. Concentrating on training "movements" as opposed to body parts. |
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BChase Old hand here on IOL Posts 854 |
03-25-20 02:47 PM - Post#896100
Windmills, behind the neck presses, behind the neck lat pulldowns, skull crushers, lateral raises |
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Jordan D Old hand here on IOL Posts 771 
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03-25-20 03:32 PM - Post#896101
Pistols, single-leg deadlifts, snatch-grip deadlifts, any type of standing barbell row. All a guaranteed injury for me. |
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MrDave100 Getting the hang of it Posts 35 |
03-25-20 07:17 PM - Post#896111
Upright rows, more of a BB movement, but it has always caused me shoulder pain. |
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Gunny72 IOL rocks! Posts 410 
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03-25-20 07:33 PM - Post#896113
Bench Press Pistol Squats Upright row Leg extension/tricep pulldown (any isolation movements.) |
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aussieluke Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 5439
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03-25-20 08:08 PM - Post#896114
Windmills, behind the neck presses, behind the neck lat pulldowns, skull crushers, lateral raises Oh yeah I forgot about behind the neck presses. Ouch.
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Browser IOL rocks! Posts 507 
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03-25-20 09:30 PM - Post#896115
-barbell rows...always feel great for a workout or two and then my lower back goes kablooey -zercher squats...some actually strong people like them so I gave them a try and absolutely do not see the point -Turkish get-ups...same as zerchers -and especially PULLUPS... I always feel guilty for not doing them but every single time I try to take them seriously all I get is elbow and shoulder misery with no noticeable benefits
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Kiwi5 At home here Posts 264 |
03-26-20 03:35 AM - Post#896121
-Bent Press. Almost as stupid a move as kipping pullups! But, I do unloaded windmills, 2 reps both arms as a warm up occasionally -Bench. Dips are a far superior move/replacement. -Rear foot elevated split squat, knees feel like crap when I do these loaded. Replaced with step ups and reverse lunge loaded/unloaded. -Kettlebell TGU- replaced with sandbag TGU. Sandbag TGU preceded by a sandbag shoulder is brilliant stand alone session. |
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Dan John Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 12292 
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03-26-20 10:03 AM - Post#896127
Along with this great list of testimonials, I have cobble today discussions like this for years. Excellent, experienced athletes tell me the same things. Here's the rub: if I say, "We don't do X," I get 10,000 emails and questions demanding why. Yet, the same movements show up time and again. Watching my buddies video of him almost really hurting himself with a heavy TGU reminded me of how f---ing stupid this is. Mark's face after he had a face full of barbell after a slipped bench press...tons of people bitching about Patella Tendonitis from lunges (and varietals). Sometimes, the equipment helps. With rows, the TRX seems to have been the answer. I agree about Bent Over Rows (but they work in complexes as the load is very light...YMMV). Bent Press...almost destroyed a good friend's career demonstrating it for the Chief Commander Chairman (no warm up, no warning to do it, save "do it.") Upright Rows and BNPresses are always an issue. It seems like they are fine...then BOOM...locked up in the neck. Great list.
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GeoffreyLevens At home here Posts 357 |
03-26-20 10:39 AM - Post#896130
Pull ups have been a no go for me for some years. Arthritis added to (and quite likely caused by) tendency to easy impingement. Added KB snatches awhile ago for same reason. When I "pack" shoulders in overhead position or near to (TGU once up on elbow), I get toothache type pain in one shoulder, radiating down the arm. And that arm tends to turn to boiled spaghetti with no warning. I still do TGU's but light, 35 lbs max, as warm up with no issues. I won't ever go heavier than that. Barbell clean. If I get strong enough to use 45 lb plates I might some day but with 25 lb plates, not enough room under the bar when it's on the ground "in the event". I've seen to many "FAILS!" videos plus I almost did it myself awhile back and decided I'm just not nimble enough at 70. Really, since my goals are all functional, healthy, mobile as a geezer, I'm good with heavy swings and trapbar dl's or if access to squat rack, front squats or high bar back squats. I'll do loaded carries until I fall into my grave w/ weight in my hands HAH! |
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BrianBinVA Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 5140 
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03-26-20 10:49 AM - Post#896131
I don't know about "never again" or anything, but things that have never seemed to have a lot of value to me, relative to what is put into them, include heavy getups, bent press/windmill/armbar family, pullups/chin-ups, heavy bench press. I'm sure there are more, but these are some. Of course, if you have a need to do any of these, I'm sure you can work around what needs to be done, but they definitely won't be staples for me, to say the least. Editing initial post instead of adding more to note good mornings and mixed-grip deadlifts. |
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Jordan D Old hand here on IOL Posts 771
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03-26-20 11:15 AM - Post#896134
Burpees. I forgot burpees. I can't think of anything more asinine. |
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DanMartin Shomer Shabbos Posts 20705 
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03-26-20 11:16 AM - Post#896135
Too numerous to mention. But, I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it. What I do do is focus on those exercises I can perform safely and productively.
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Jg64 Getting the hang of it Posts 46 |
03-26-20 11:40 AM - Post#896136
I know I may get blasted here but I have another exercise to add. The "heavy" kettlebell snatch. I recently injured myself doing them. I'm ok but I realized in my case at this time the risk isn't worth it. I'm not trashing the snatch at all, great movement, but I personally at my age (55) don't want to snatch above 40 kgs again! |
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Jim James Settling in pretty good Posts 97 |
03-26-20 11:53 AM - Post#896137
Palms forward pullups. Neutral grip pullups are fine if the gym has that option, but often hotel gyms will just have a straight bar and I'll think,"a couple of sets can't hurt." But they do. A couple of sets is enough to aggravate one of my elbows. |
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Pontyclun Grand Pooh-Bah Posts 2191 
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03-26-20 11:54 AM - Post#896138
The "windshield wiper" part of a TGU. Jacked my knee up for a few months after doing it one day. The modified TGU where you plant your foot down at 90 degrees is far safer for the knees.
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Jim James Settling in pretty good Posts 97 |
03-26-20 11:59 AM - Post#896139
is the issue with heavy TGUs how they can be traumatic if you drop them on your face/body? Or do they tend to injure in other ways? I did the program that shall not be named to 32kgs, and have to admit they made my body feel good. If I recall correctly, I later did a few at 40kg, and that was definitely iffy and I could easily have lost control. I quit trying to go heavy mostly because one of my elbows doesn't fully lock out (should have tapped sooner), so if you can't lock out that 40kg becomes really hard to keep extended. |
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Pontyclun Grand Pooh-Bah Posts 2191
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03-26-20 12:04 PM - Post#896140
There’s a bit about heavy getups in Dan’s newly uploaded ‘Bounce’ video. Talks about the risk of a heavy ‘bell smashing your face in.
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BChase Old hand here on IOL Posts 854 |
03-26-20 01:00 PM - Post#896143
I found when I did TGU's with an 88, my elbows and wrists would be sore afterward. I still feel good doing a TGU with a 70. My pullups are always neutral grip never more than 5 reps, usually 2-3. Oh, I forgot one, decline press. Never found it of any use. |
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Dan John Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 12292
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03-26-20 03:30 PM - Post#896152
Ponty, that's the way I teach it. Heavy KB snatches: they never made sense to me. I get it is impressive, like heavy single leg DLs, but go back and look at the guys showing off doing these and you might find they don't have an internet presence any more...
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Steve Rogers Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 6158 
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03-26-20 03:50 PM - Post#896154
... Heavy KB snatches: they never made sense to me. I get it is impressive, like heavy single leg DLs, but go back and look at the guys showing off doing these and you might find they don't have an internet presence any more... How heavy do you mean by heavy? Some of the guys doing A+A style snatches seem to be holding up well with 32kg to 40kg bells. Others start having issues with 28kg.
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BrianBinVA Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 5140
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03-26-20 05:04 PM - Post#896156
I can't imagine a reason to do heavy KB snatches, but that is just me. Sort of like loading up swings to double beasts, or one of those 200-lb KBs. At some point, the tool loses its utility. |
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Dan John Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 12292
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03-26-20 05:30 PM - Post#896158
Well, I snatched 314 pounds in a weightlifting meet and I think that was "safer" than some of the heavier snatch nonsense I have seen. I still think the dynamic snatch with the 16, 20 or 24 is still the place you want to be in with the KB snatch. Once you start going heavier, you best be good. Also, let's see how long the heavy snatch fad stays around again. I remember when the Viking Warrior Conditioning was the answer to all questions then... Poof. Magician trick!
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Steve Rogers Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 6158
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03-26-20 06:49 PM - Post#896161
I can see a heavy Olympic snatch being safer than a heavy kettlebell snatch, inherently more stable mechanics and performed for low reps. I agree about being good before progressing to heavier weights for the kettlebell snatch. I'm currently doing A+A snatches with a 24, have done a few with the 28 and don't plan to progress to the 28 until I've done a lot of perfect snatches with the 24. I think Harald Motz looks pretty good with the 40.
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BrianBinVA Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 5140
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03-26-20 07:12 PM - Post#896162
Right, o-snatch is way safer (and far more useful if going heavy), from my perspective. And, I somehow forgot the good morning from my original list! Rank oversight for sure. |
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Old Miler Grand Pooh-Bah Posts 1744 |
03-26-20 07:50 PM - Post#896166
At various time I had lifts I felt very unsafe on. But when I put the time in, practiced regularly starting with a light load, I got better at them and now they don't bother me. |
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Silverback61 Grand Pooh-Bah Posts 1834 
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03-26-20 07:56 PM - Post#896168
I wont say never again, but... The Barbell Clean & Press / Standing Barbell Press. For me, Kettlebells are just better for Overhead Pressing.
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Jg64 Getting the hang of it Posts 46 |
03-26-20 08:50 PM - Post#896171
Well, since I brought up the snatch...I can and did snatch heavily, i.e. 40 or a 44 kg for multiple lower rep sets ala A+A. I really enjoyed them and one day about 8 weeks ago I felt an odd pull and ended up with an annoying dull ache in my shoulder. It's better now but I feel like I learned a valuable lesson. At 55 yoa I am not sure it's worth risking as I enjoy training and don't want to stop because of an injury. The kb snatch is a great movement and I can reap the benefits of it with a 24 or 28. I don't want to be in a situation wherein one slightly wrong move severely injures me. |
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Jordan Derksen At home here Posts 392 
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03-26-20 09:15 PM - Post#896172
-Barbell back squat - which I’ve spent most of my training life centered around. Mostly for recovery issues with going heavy on it. I just don’t care anymore. -Weighted Pullups. I can still do solid high rep sets with body weight, but the last few times I’ve tried to weigh them down my elbow gets tender and pinky/ring finger get tingly. -Olympic lifts (my first love) with a caveat. Not exactly a never again movement but for sure never again without a platform. Had the worst neck tweak ever catching heavy power cleans in my basement. -TGU. They feel great for me, but when I was teaching my wife the movement I watched her almost destroy her face with a 35lb kettlebell. She saved it but jacked up her arm pretty bad. I abandoned it myself quickly after. -flat bench press. Not for injury reasons, but my dad told me when he was in college a guy died cause he dropped the bar on his neck. Freak accident yes. But every time I get close to the mid 200’s I have mental images of my shoulder giving out or it slipping and smashing my teeth in. Not a good image to have when you’re trying to focus on a heavy lift. Pushups and it’s many variations are more than enough. |
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Andy Mitchell Factus non verbis Posts 5269 
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03-27-20 05:01 AM - Post#896177
I’ll never give my daughters a lift to school again
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RupertC Master trainer Posts 1479 
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03-27-20 07:34 AM - Post#896179
- Heavy TGUs. I find 24k to be about perfect. I can do 32k, but probably best not to start there if I haven't been working on it for a while. Nothing heavier than that has ever felt safe. - Pistols. I think bottom-position pistols work as a stretch, but that's about it. Why bother? - Mixed-grip deadlifts. Sure, it can get a few extra kilos, but never feels very safe. - Bent press / Side press. I might revisit these two if a circus strongman can give me some coaching. Otherwise, no thanks. - Trap bar jump pulls. What was I thinking of? - Lifting outside in a thunderstorm. Yes, I did this. No, I don't recommend it.
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Chris Rice Old hand here on IOL Posts 702 |
03-27-20 08:30 AM - Post#896180
It's not so much lifts I don't like (although there are some) but lifts that don't like me. |
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Heck Settling in pretty good Posts 62 |
03-27-20 10:47 AM - Post#896183
Doing Dan's KB snatch test prep protocol for the RKCII gave me new respect for the lightweight snatch. Like 12 or 16kg. I honestly don't see the need to go heavier anymore. Aside from absolutely cruising through the test itself, it just gave me that "wow, am I in incredible shape right now" feeling while hiking or doing most anything else. My friend who is an SFGII and can snatch the 40kg for reps agrees. When I've done stretches of either "high reps and long rest" or VWC-style low rep, low rest, it always feels great. Doing heavy snatches... I don't feel great. Honestly, I feel the same about the bent press. Standing or (even better) half kneeling, that thing is good medicine with light weight. |
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BChase Old hand here on IOL Posts 854 |
03-27-20 01:56 PM - Post#896187
It's nice to see some exercises that I refused to do in the first place. Pistol for example. Thought it was a circus trick then. Never thought Zercher squats were worth anything. I used to snatch a 32 once in a while. Never felt great on the elbows on the lock out. VWC gave me tennis elbow. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Dan, great line about the internet presence. |
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Dan John Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 12292
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03-27-20 05:43 PM - Post#896191
Thanks, BC. That's my biggest issue with the zealots of these certs and programs: the answer is always "do the program." Reminds me of another weekly meeting. These fads...I'm sorry for any of my influence on encouraging these kinds of things.
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Jg64 Getting the hang of it Posts 46 |
03-27-20 07:04 PM - Post#896195
Coach John, you make a good point about the "zealots"....on another unnamed forum you have followers asking for "updated" or "redone" protocols because the original protocol doesn't include the "newest" craze. I'm not being critical of the A+A protocol at all, nor the Quick and Dead protocol but changing an already established system like the ROP or "Kb Strong!" Is just nuts to me. I do recall years ago following the VWC protocol as the "go to" fat loss program. Then its followers seemingly overnight disappeared. I am aware there has been some disagreement between the VWC's author and the SF management but it just goes to show that some protocols will come and go and some will be there forever. (Delorme) |
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Neander Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 7755 
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03-27-20 09:32 PM - Post#896199
I’ll never give my daughters a lift to school again Thanks Big for that grin, Andy!
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Andy Mitchell Factus non verbis Posts 5269
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03-28-20 05:26 AM - Post#896206
I’ll never give my daughters a lift to school again Thanks Big for that grin, Andy! I did that for us.
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Ville Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 2770 
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03-28-20 07:23 AM - Post#896209
Difficult to say. I think I've gotten an injury or two from most of the lifts I'm doing now, but after a time, I can do them again. I would say I'll never lift too heavy, too often again. Try to ease an extra rep or set here and there and just enjoy being alive. I've been very surprised that I can progress just doing a lift once a week. Goes against everything I've read ("To press a lot, you have to press a lot", 40 days program, etc.).
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Ville Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 2770
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03-28-20 08:34 AM - Post#896211
I am terrified of lifts and I’m taking steps to avoid them. (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)
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Timo Haven't posted much Posts 12 |
03-29-20 12:08 PM - Post#896248
- Machine knee extension - Machine laying leg curl Two horrible machines that gave me knee pain. Never again (at least not low-medium rep) |
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Pepper At home here Posts 296 |
03-29-20 04:11 PM - Post#896257
When I boxed at uni, I was really, really good at pushups. Now, they hurt my shoulders even with good form. Strangely enough, I could not do overhead presses for two years or so and started doing one arm bench presses instead. I started doing them again and now they work fine, so things seem not to be set in stone, here. |
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JDII Carpal tunnel from posting! Posts 7319 
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04-01-20 07:22 AM - Post#896335
Preacher curls (haven’t done them in years). It was the start of my tennis and golfers elbow issue, both at the same time in both elbows ...completely destroyed my elbows even to this day. |
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Ricky01 Old hand here on IOL Posts 709 |
04-01-20 11:21 AM - Post#896347
I know, I might be hated for these, but.... Barbell deadlifts - most daily lifts from the floor would allow you to stand over the weight more. When I teach someone to hinge and pick something up we stand over it (we use objects that allow this) so the weight can truly move in a straight line up the way. I don't feel the barbell allows for this. Also Heavy back squats....risk/reward I guess. Richard |
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Kyle Aaron husband, father, trainer - in that order Posts 1911 
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04-05-20 06:07 PM - Post#896508
I do recall years ago following the VWC protocol as the "go to" fat loss program. Then its followers seemingly overnight disappeared. I am aware there has been some disagreement between the VWC's author and the SF management but it just goes to show that some protocols will come and go and some will be there forever. (Delorme) The difference there is how many and what kind of people the programme was tried on before the book or article was written. Delorme had over 100 subjects for his original study. VWC had... see if you can get the authour to tell you. As well, Delorme was dealing with people rehabilitating from war wounds. Safety was a key consideration. What kind of person do you think VWC was tried on? As to the original question, when I read through these responses, the first thing I think is: technique? I know, I know: everyone on the internet without videos for us to check and without a coach has perfect technique. I mean all those other guys. This is kind of a sore point for me, a while back I had someone try out my gym, they decided to go elsewhere to a more hardcore powerlifting gym - they got injured, then came back, I have to fix them now, as best I can at a distance because of the shutdown. But I've seen again and again over the years. The second thing I think is: load and reps? Obviously, load and reps are their own thing in terms of stress - but if you do a 20 rep squat with your bodyweight or more on the bar, well nobody has good technique on the last 5 reps. Because there is a difference between for example 3 sets of 10 goblet squats with a 20kg dumbbell with good technique and 8 sets of 4 with 180kg low-bar back squat with a loose lower back and a corkscrew action on the ascent. So that's what I always think of. Technique, and load and volume. On the wall of my gym is written: "The purpose of physical training is to impose a stress on the system sufficient that the system adapts so that it is no longer a stress." That word "sufficient" is key: enough, but not too much. Which is to say: is it the tool, or the tool using the tool?
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JasonC Haven't posted much Posts 5 |
04-06-20 01:32 AM - Post#896521
KB press. I screwed up an elbow in 2002 doing a tiger bend and ever since, acute elbow angles are a problem. Barbell front squats. I get knee tendonitis. Lunges. Knee tendonitis. |
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Andy Mitchell Factus non verbis Posts 5269
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04-07-20 01:18 AM - Post#896575
Most people Start exercising because they want to look good, look better than they are and most people can use any exercise do achieve this very quickly, extremely quickly, they have no concept of how quickly it can happen I even think that even when one just thinks about exercise growth of muscle tissue begins. It’s what happens after that initial intense burst of muscle tissue and available strength where things or problems begin to appear...this period of time differs for most people although I think the average (all things being equal) is about 6 months Finding 10 or 15 exercises that you can use to keep injuries at bay is key, and I see no reason why a trainee can’t just stick with them for the rest of their lives.
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Jordan D Old hand here on IOL Posts 771
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04-07-20 09:59 AM - Post#896593
Most people Start exercising because they want to look good, look better than they are and most people can use any exercise do achieve this very quickly, extremely quickly, they have no concept of how quickly it can happen I even think that even when one just thinks about exercise growth of muscle tissue begins. It’s what happens after that initial intense burst of muscle tissue and available strength where things or problems begin to appear...this period of time differs for most people although I think the average (all things being equal) is about 6 months Finding 10 or 15 exercises that you can use to keep injuries at bay is key, and I see no reason why a trainee can’t just stick with them for the rest of their lives. That’s kind of brilliant, sir. I started to think “10-15 is too many,” but then I started thinking “2-3 squat movements, 2-3 hinge movements, 2-3 presses...hmmmm.” Can we get a round table of strong men over the age of 60 to list their “lifetime movements?” I’d buy that book right now. Literally right now, before it’s written. |
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Andy Mitchell Factus non verbis Posts 5269
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04-07-20 07:36 PM - Post#896606
Yeah I’m thinking one could just cycle through a collection of doable exercises to at least make things interesting. For example; If one could hold onto a dip, OH press of some sort, french press and dumbbell fly or chest press and just add in or take out said exercises here and there over many years it would be good.
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blkjss Grand Pooh-Bah Posts 2265 |
04-14-20 12:57 AM - Post#896861
It is just my personal experience and issues but - Full range Deadlift - neck Press - high rep dips to failure
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