strength training and height

I have heard that being tall and strength training dont go to well together.

I know that shorter guys have an advantage in the mass department, it takes taller guys a little more time to fill out.

but how well does the strength training thing hold up? I would imagine because we have a much longer ROM that taller people are a little more handicapped.

I was talking to a 6'8" guy at work, he used to train for strength (naturally is what he claims) and he is a big guy. He said he always lacked in the squat/deadlift department because of his height. He says he got his bench up to 500+ though.

Just wanted to see if anyone had any input on this.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

technically taller guys because they have a larger range of motion in most lifts will have a disadvantage.  However they can pack on much more muscle mass because of a larger frame so theoretically they could be stronger than a shorter guy because of the additional space for muscle.

I have seen though deadlifts are easier for taller guys, i dont know why

Yeah I was thinking that, eventually in the long run a taller guy would be able to pack on more mass and surpass the shorter guy.

I suppose its just easier in general for shorter guys to reach mass/strength goals.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

yea and much easier to look bulky.  I think its pretty much universal from guy to guy regardless of size how much they can put on each week.  So for example guy #1 at 5'6" adds a pound a week and guy #2 at 6'5" adds a pound a week obviously the short guy is gunna get to his weight goals way before the tall guy

hmm.. i've tended to notice the opposite, that tall guys have to do more work on deads/squats b/c their legs are longer, and therefore have to go lower and do more work.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

i think for deads it might be even, taller guys dont need to start as low because they have longer arms,  maybe im crazy lol

nah. not crazy at all.  what you said makes sense about the arms too.  

i do know though, that on squats... tall guys have a longer femur, which means that the amount of motion you have to move it to do an ATG squat is higher, which = more work

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=740326

Nice post, i have been looking for something like that the past few days but couldnt really find anything related to the topic.

On a side not, I looked at part one and the squatting discussion. Seeing all those wide leg squats made me think about my own squat. I always go with a Olympic stance, feels more natural but I did some reading about wider stances that I never new myself.

taken from another site...

" Foot placement: This really depends. Squatters that like to use more quadriceps typically use a closer Olympic-style type stance. Hip and glute squatters like myself, go medium to wider. There is some experimentation here as to what style best suits you. As a rule of thumb: The wider you go, the more hip and glute will be involved, but it will be more difficult to break parallel.

The shoe: To me, anything with a flat sole is the way to go. Converse chucks, wrestling shoes, basketball shoes, nothing with a heel. That way, you get more of the stronger hip and glute muscles involves as you squat back on your heels. However, close-stance squatters tend to go with a heeled shoe more to help activate more the quadriceps in their squatting. Olympic lifters, close stance squatters, all use a heel to sit back on while squatting. Rule of thumb: If you squat wide, no heel. If you squat close, heel. "

ORIGINAL: David1991

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=740326

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

Guys who do world's strongest man are tall. Mariusz is 6', Phil Phister is 6'6". A lot of them are around 6'4 - 6'6. Height is no excuse.

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i dont think its being used as an excuse lol, i would say the taller the better, you can have more muscle then

No one is using it as an excuse.

It just always made me wonder if shorter guys have it a little easier, especially while starting out. Its been discussed above, once the taller guy fills out he can pack on a lot more mass on his frame, just takes longer.

ORIGINAL: rippedchick

Guys who do world's strongest man are tall. Mariusz is 6', Phil Phister is 6'6". A lot of them are around 6'4 - 6'6. Height is no excuse.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

ehh i think its a load a bull honestly everyone strongman or powerlifting
its all about how the execution of the lift is done
 
 
 
 
you talk to any powerlifter they'll tell you exactly what i said

Heights not bothering me at this point, it age. 42 inch reach means 42 inch lift off my chest, 42 inch lift over my head, 42 inches away from my torso. leverage is a pain. But, when the muscles come in they look nice with 42 inches.
 
My dad is 5'5". when he came back from the Korean war he had a 28" waist, 54" chest and 20" biceps. Way bigger than I, But I can reach the cans on the top shelf for him.

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

20in. biceps on 5'5 with a 28in. waist? thats pretty hard to believe but i guess it happens occasionally.

ORIGINAL: David1991

20in. biceps on 5'5 with a 28in. waist? thats pretty hard to believe but i guess it happens occasionally.

 
I was 6 when he was 40. I didn't see him that way. He never talked about it. One day in 1990 after my Grandmother died, the family was going through her items. I found a photo album of a BIG guy sitting next to my grandmother. I asked my uncle who it was. He took a quick look and said " Oh, thats your Dad". I said WHAT! No way. Yes, He was big when he came back from the Army. Must have been those bologna sandwiches he liked. later that day I was in her attic and found my dad's uniform. A tailored jacket with a huge chest and a small waist. I'll check with my Uncle and see if I can get one of those pictures. He has the albums now. Would make a great topic. GENETICS...

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

i'd be interested in seeing it. Not that im doubting you, it's just extremely rare to see someone outside of steroid taking bodybuilders having 20in. arms while remaining pretty lean

Duke of the Emancipation Detoxification

ORIGINAL: David1991

i'd be interested in seeing it. Not that im doubting you, it's just extremely rare to see someone outside of steroid taking bodybuilders having 20in. arms while remaining pretty lean

 
I've did not see a "Shirt off" pic. Back in those days you never did it. It was a couple of football sized biceps. I gotta get those pics from him.

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

what does that have to do with the topic?

I was referring to taller guys having a longer ROM.

Until a certain point, it seems like shorter guys/longer torso guys have an advantage over taller/longer limb guys in most lifts. Did you read that t-nation article?

I have always had an easier time deadlifting than squating/benching and cleaning. Thats just what I have noticed though.

ORIGINAL: stalloneIs#1toMe

ehh i think its a load a bull honestly everyone strongman or powerlifting
its all about how the execution of the lift is done




you talk to any powerlifter they'll tell you exactly what i said

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"

ORIGINAL: Wetdawg

Heights not bothering me at this point, it age. 42 inch reach means 42 inch lift off my chest, 42 inch lift over my head, 42 inches away from my torso. leverage is a pain. But, when the muscles come in they look nice with 42 inches.

My dad is 5'5". when he came back from the Korean war he had a 28" waist, 54" chest and 20" biceps. Way bigger than I, But I can reach the cans on the top shelf for him.

 
Started with this. It just blossomed

Team Keine Ausreden = No Excuses
mein scheinehund ist daheim
48 yrs young
6'5" 270 Lbs

ORIGINAL: Soccerking3000

i think for deads it might be even, taller guys dont need to start as low because they have longer arms, maybe im crazy lol

but short people dont really have to get down because they're short frame puts them closer to the bar... and squats have always been a weak point for me, most shorter guys i know can squat 300+ lbs!! thats just from my prespective though

first day with no buds, 11/17, need a new job. 1 down 13 to go.

I'm 6'1 and weigh about 205-210Lbs now probably 15% bf or less and I always had a easier time with deadlifts and squats second but I always had big thighs for a tall skinny dude so yea.

definitely true that smaller guys look bulkier

My 5x5s as of November 2nd 2008.
Bench 150
Squat 150
Deadlift 175
Connelly's 5x5s as November 2nd 2008
Bench 115
Squat 145
Deadlift 165
BodybuildingNovice's 5x5 as November 2nd 2008
Squat 155lbs
Bench 155lbs
Deadlift 155l

Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

President of the Emancipation Detoxification. DBB's oldest forum group, punching baby seals since 2/12/08

David1991


20in. biceps on 5'5 with a 28in. waist? thats pretty hard to believe but i guess it happens occasionally.

After seeing the arms on those olympic gymnists, I can believe alot more lol.  Those guys' arms are insane!  (although they have chicken legs )

Yet


Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

Yeah but who wants to be buried in a baby urn?

just kidding

Anyways me thinkz nobody wants to be mini-me, me thinkz everybody would like to be at least 5'10''

Squat max - 275lbs  30/07/09
Bench max - ¿?
Front Squats(atg)- ¿?

Gottabefit

Yet


Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

Yeah but who wants to be buried in a baby urn?

just kidding

Anyways me thinkz nobody wants to be mini-me, me thinkz everybody would like to be at least 5'10''

x2, nobody actually wishes they were short...they just try to convince themselves that its a good thing lol.

David1991

Gottabefit

Yet


Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

Yeah but who wants to be buried in a baby urn?

just kidding

Anyways me thinkz nobody wants to be mini-me, me thinkz everybody would like to be at least 5'10''

x2, nobody actually wishes they were short...they just try to convince themselves that its a good thing lol.

depends how you priortise ur advantages and disadvantages

My 5x5s as of November 2nd 2008.
Bench 150
Squat 150
Deadlift 175
Connelly's 5x5s as November 2nd 2008
Bench 115
Squat 145
Deadlift 165
BodybuildingNovice's 5x5 as November 2nd 2008
Squat 155lbs
Bench 155lbs
Deadlift 155l

David1991

Gottabefit

Yet


Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

Yeah but who wants to be buried in a baby urn?

just kidding

Anyways me thinkz nobody wants to be mini-me, me thinkz everybody would like to be at least 5'10''

x2, nobody actually wishes they were short...they just try to convince themselves that its a good thing lol.

I wasn't saying anyone wishes they were short.  I was just pointing out the advantages of being small.  By small I meant anyone under 6'0.  Reflexes slow a lot after you hit six feet tall.

President of the Emancipation Detoxification. DBB's oldest forum group, punching baby seals since 2/12/08

Im calling BS, I wanna see some studys. Tall lanky people get a reputation for not being very coordinated, some are some arent. Same with short people. I know plenty of clumsy un-coordinated short people

Yet

David1991

Gottabefit

Yet


Being taller is an advantage for the deadlift, it allows you to recruit more muscle fibers to use the legs more than the back.

Being short has plenty of advantages though ; faster reflexes, less chance of osteoporosis, and longer life.

Yeah but who wants to be buried in a baby urn?

just kidding

Anyways me thinkz nobody wants to be mini-me, me thinkz everybody would like to be at least 5'10''

x2, nobody actually wishes they were short...they just try to convince themselves that its a good thing lol.

I wasn't saying anyone wishes they were short.  I was just pointing out the advantages of being small.  By small I meant anyone under 6'0.  Reflexes slow a lot after you hit six feet tall.

6'3"  @213

Squat 1x20x275

press:200, Deadlift:475, Bench:300, P.clean:235, Squat:385

"The only failure that is final is to stop trying to improve"