Question for Sean Herbison

[umairsemail]

So if you're squatting 405 at 181, the calves are underworked?

The prime movers are not the calves and the toes don't move up and down (dorsiflexion/plantar flexion) like they do during every stride of a sprint or during a vertical jump. The calves are just trained isometrically, but during explosive movements they're used in a much, much greater ROM.

EDIT: The core, unlike calves, has a primarily isometric function during explosive movement...so it can be trained well during the squat.

[John Hanley]

And Hanley, do you still have a 34" SVJ with that ankle in that shape? I'm asking because I'm currently recovering from ankle surgery and it could have deleterious long term effects.

There's no way I'd hit 34" right now. I haven't done a real athletic movement in 6 months. Correction: I played a game yesterday that my 2 year old invented. It included lateral shuffles around the kitchen and strange rabbitty hops around the living room sofa. This is who I am. Rabbitty hops.

My ankle has been this way for years, dude. The last traumatic sprain was 13 years ago.

[mkgillman]

So, I heard someone mention today that the secret to being a true oral master is a variant on the old Sam Kinison bit about lick the alphabet. The secret is to use the Chinese alphabet.

[umairsemail]

There's no way I'd hit 34" right now. I haven't done a real athletic movement in 6 months. Correction: I played a game yesterday that my 2 year old invented. It included lateral shuffles around the kitchen and strange rabbitty hops around the living room sofa. This is who I am. Rabbitty hops.

My ankle has been this way for years, dude. The last traumatic sprain was 13 years ago.

Dang. Good luck with the ankle. What do you think about my calf theory btw?

[umairsemail]

Are you sure about this?

No i'm not sure tbh. But during a jump or sprint you do a half calf raise before each movement.

[John Hanley]

What do you think about my calf theory btw?

I'm distracted by the sad fact that I do not know one Chinese character.

I will learn "Mu". I will fucking learn "Mu". And then I will learn "Happy Wife". And then something ironic & meta. Wait, what if "Happy wife" is ironic? Fuck.

I think back/front squats & cleans/snatches work my calves really hard (but I've only got a long strap of tendon with a tiny dallop of muscle belly for calves).

[umairsemail]

I'm distracted by the sad fact that I do not know one Chinese character.

I will learn "Mu". I will fucking learn "Mu". And then I will learn "Happy Wife". And then something ironic & meta. Wait, what if "Happy wife" is ironic? Fuck.

I think back/front squats & cleans/snatches work my calves really hard (but I've only got a long strap of tendon with a tiny dallop of muscle belly for calves).

Well that could be why you (and most people) don't have calves. I am certain that the whole triceps surae muscle group is greatly used during the "touch off" phase during sprints or jumps. Is that touch-off phase replicated by movements that do not actually raise the heel off the ground? I do not know. Cleans should be much better than squats for this though.

[John Hanley]

Well that could be why you (and most people) don't have calves. I am certain that the whole triceps surae muscle group is greatly used during the "touch off" phase during sprints or jumps. Is that touch-off phase replicated by movements that do not actually raise the heel off the ground? I do not know. Cleans should be much better than squats for this though.

I'm guessing I've done more turns of a jumprope than anyone on these forums. It really is just a huge amount of tendon. Good for jumping.

[umairsemail]

I'm guessing I've done more turns of a jumprope than anyone on these forums. It really is just a huge amount of tendon. Good for jumping.

Very little time under tension for explosive movements like jump roping, which means little hypertrophy. Perhaps the solution is progressively getting stronger at weighted calf raises. I know how dumb it sounds, but it makes sense.

[John Hanley]

Very little time under tension for explosive movements like jump roping, which means little hypertrophy. Perhaps the solution is progressively getting stronger at weighted calf raises. I know how dumb it sounds, but it makes sense.

Try it. Report back.