are calves soley genetic?

[bula]

Train calves heavy twice a week. Raises, DOnkey (My Fav) and seated.

Calves and Forearms are critical but they recover quickly. You got to keep them under hard training. The calves should move at least 4 inches up and down. And you MUST squeeze the ever living shit out of the calves at the top for several seconds every rep.

Also, if you do cardio, get that treadmill angle as high as possible. I do 15 deg incline every cardio session. Great way to bring out the detail and continue to pressure the calves, especially the Soleous.

Hit it.

 

[painless2]

So you're saying that years of advice given by those in the fitness community regarding training that muscle group are worthless?

~edit~ I'm not trying to start an argument here. It's just that every piece of advice I've ever been given and everything I've ever read regarding training this muscle group points to "toe in toe out" working different areas. If I'm wrong I'd like to know why. That's all. We're all here to learn right?

No worries. I am not saying it is "worthless" just inaccurate. There's lots of misconceptions in bodybuilding and strength training. A lot of them are very detailed and scientifically based, and difficult to convey, but the calf one is fairly simple. It's the same thing as saying you can train inner and outer chest, upper and lower biceps etc.... The anatomy of the calf allows it to do 2 things, flex the knee and plantar flex the ankle, nothing else. The reason toe in toe out doesn't do anything for them is because it doesn't change the muscle action at all. The calf is still working in either of those motions, but isn't benefitted by them whatsoever. If you take a look at the anatomy of the calf complex you will see what I am talking about.
http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/Gastrocnemius.html

 

[KRAZYLARRY]

cavles are very genetic, but not only genetic. my calves suck geneticly, but i have put on about 1/2+ in the past 4 months, by kicking the shit out of them. sometimes everyday. I have found the 3 times a week heavy in the 6-8 rep range work well. also i keep constant presure on them, i walk on my toes all the time

 

[rubberduckyo]

No worries. I am not saying it is "worthless" just inaccurate. There's lots of misconceptions in bodybuilding and strength training. A lot of them are very detailed and scientifically based, and difficult to convey, but the calf one is fairly simple. It's the same thing as saying you can train inner and outer chest, upper and lower biceps etc.... The anatomy of the calf allows it to do 2 things, flex the knee and plantar flex the ankle, nothing else. The reason toe in toe out doesn't do anything for them is because it doesn't change the muscle action at all. The calf is still working in either of those motions, but isn't benefitted by them whatsoever. If you take a look at the anatomy of the calf complex you will see what I am talking about.
http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/Gastrocnemius.html

Hmm....that's interesting. Of course ya know I'm gonna stick with what I've always been told.

 

[inked1]

Hmm....that's interesting. Of course ya know I'm gonna stick with what I've always been told.

sure, and incline bench will build your upper pecs, flat bench will give you saggy titties

 

[jcp2]

Hmm....that's interesting. Of course ya know I'm gonna stick with what I've always been told.

I have read that distance between the feet is what should be adjusted every set, not the toe in toe out. I still beleive you can build your upper chest, sorry. My upper chest used to be huge, or much bigger, now that i started powerlifting and don't do any upper chest work, i have no upper chest again.

 

[rubberduckyo]

I have read that distance between the feet is what should be adjusted every set, not the toe in toe out. I still beleive you can build your upper chest, sorry. My upper chest used to be huge, or much bigger, now that i started powerlifting and don't do any upper chest work, i have no upper chest again.

I guess we are all somewhat creatures of habit. If I try something and it works for me I'll stick with it regardless of opinions to the opposite because....well....it worked for me! I guess if I'd gotten no results from that approach I'd be more likely to change it.

I do think that area is largely genetic so it makes sense to say that different approaches would work differently from one individual to the next.

 

[mister69]

last summer i was doing sets of 30 reps, but that didnt work. now i just go heavier and to failure.

But to tell you the truth i wasnt deadlifting and squating deep enough last summer, now i am on track and hope to get these calves to grow.

e

 

[Bast]

Dont think theyre genetic, maybe a little but not much.
The thing is my calves reaaaaallllyyy sucked before, then i startet hitting them heavy as fuck 2times/week (1 tgime on leg day and 1 on delt day) then they grew really good.

 

[Deep South Chris]

thanks for all the replies, ive been away so havent been able to reply...well i guess i just dont have them lol...but ill stil train the piss out of them to get them to grow somewhat...they are close to 15" now...sad i know but again im 5'6"

and 1HUGE1 - whats your beef with my avatar?

 

[painless2]

I have read that distance between the feet is what should be adjusted every set, not the toe in toe out. I still beleive you can build your upper chest, sorry. My upper chest used to be huge, or much bigger, now that i started powerlifting and don't do any upper chest work, i have no upper chest again.

You certainly can build the upper chest, there are specific fibers (mainly the clavicular fibers) whose main line of pull is in that orientation.

 

[inked1]

You certainly can build the upper chest, there are specific fibers (mainly the clavicular fibers) whose main line of pull is in that orientation.

how can you specifically train the clavicular fibres vs sternocostal?

 

[painless2]

Angles of pennation in muscles and their line of pull are designed to resist force from specific locations. The clavicular fibers are aligned to assist in inclined movements and those that rise from the bottom up. This is not to say that the sternal fibers are not activated, just that a horizontal fiber pennation doesn't help as much as a vertical or angled pennation for obvious reasons, the muscle works best when contracting directly from its orgin to it's insertion in a linear line of pull.


http://www.exrx.net/Muscles/PectoralisClavicular.html