Too tall?

[groundskeeperwillie]

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/how_tall_guys_get_jacked

gkw

[maroon]

Thanks for posting this

I fall into the "tall" category at around 6'3 and I've decided a while ago to just take the apparent "disadvantage" and try to turn it into something positive instead of focusing on how much better the shorter guys are at massive big poundages initially.

The squat will probably be my main nemesis. But hell, a goal like 1.5bw for reps I'm determined to slaughter. Just given some time.

When a tall guy's deadlift is massive, and weighted pullup #'s are strong - the performance will be fine I'm sure. Sure the relative strength may not be top banana compared to a strong powerplug at 60kg, but the lifts can get massive anyhow - and totals likely higher. You just have to add some serious muscle mass to the tall frame first. If you want to be genuniely strong at my sort of height you probably have to weight in at around 120kg. It takes a lot of effort which most tall guys' won't ever bother with. I'm not sure I'll ever weigh that much; but then again it will depend on what I adjust my goals to after achieving my current ones.

Absolutely no point overdoing the focus on height, most people with powerful lifts put in a LOT of hard work no matter their height. Still, very interesting to read an article dedicated to the subject - I do get the feeling the inherent disadvantages are a bit overdone and over the top.

[reckoner]

Great article, thanks for posting this. I'm 6'2 190 and I know how hard I work only to see "shorter" friends look twice as big because of their height. It was nice to see them talk about how tall guys elbows seem to flare out during bench press, I know its a constant struggle for me to keep them in.

[itsbruce]

I was thinking about that article and this thread yesterday, at the gym, when there was a tall guy waiting impatiently for me to finish my squats. I was trying to make a PR after a stall on Sunday, so I was in no mood to hurry. After my third set, on discovering I wasn't finished, he offered to alternate, promising to be done and have the weights back to my setting in the intervals. Since he looked pretty solid, I was surprised to see him take 30kg off my weight and bob a series of partial squats.

[luco]

I was thinking about that article and this thread yesterday, at the gym, when there was a tall guy waiting impatiently for me to finish my squats. I was trying to make a PR after a stall on Sunday, so I was in no mood to hurry. After my third set, on discovering I wasn't finished, he offered to alternate, promising to be done and have the weights back to my setting in the intervals. Since he looked pretty solid, I was surprised to see him take 30kg off my weight and bob a series of partial squats.

I definitely learned not to judge a book by it's cover. Especially in mainstream gyms. Some of the biggest guys there use mainly machines and use the power/squatrack for curls and 1/8 squats . They all bench over 100kg though.. Annoying.
The small/skinny guys are the ones fullsquatting 2x BW..

On topic: Being tall might not be beneficial for lifting, but pretty much everywhere else I'd see it as a blessing.. Every guy in Holland is like 2 meters. Good to know there's advantages to being shorter. Ofcourse, this might be my little man syndrome talking .