[Richmond_Hrvat]

So many people have come seeking strength training that I keep having these weird occurances.

My new new new guy is about 6'7" and weighs approximately 170 pounds. He's skin and bones, and very awkward.

So far, that hasn't necessarily been a recipe for different treatment. So here's the kicker.

His 8rep max on the bench press is 85lbs. He's just so tall and so thin. His arms are extremely long.

Squat form with 95 lbs (8reps) on the bar is getting better, but he twists somewhat near parallel. Parallel for a guy of these dimensions is an achievement. He also leans forward a lot.

Have any of you run into something like this? I want to keep him in the 8-12 rep range to build some mass as fast as possible before we get to straight strength workouts.

With as busy as he is, I currently have him on:

Barbell Squats
Dumbell Lunges
Bench Press
Decline Weighted Situps

Figuring out other stuff as we go along. And currently slated to have him in the gym twice a week.

So the questions are as follows:

Form tips for long, LONG, lanky guys?
Fastest ways to build muscle MASS while prepping it for a strength program?
Any interesting stories?

I figure this'll at least give someone of you some interesting stuff to write about!

Thanks in advance!

--Nick

[SteveX]

yeah one of my friend's is tall and skinny

he can't even do OHP because my rack is too small. he has to sit on a bench and use me as a backrest so he doesn't arch too much

[Fedoraba]

Originally Posted by Richmond_Hrvat

Form tips for long, LONG, lanky guys?

170 at 6'7 is pretty bad.

#1 is for this guy to eat more.

[BabyPhenom]

Barbell Squats
Dumbell Lunges
Bench Press
Decline Weighted Situps

1. Let him start out on good mornings first to develop the posterior chain strength and flexibility needed for squats. Guys over 6'1 have a longer ROM and they need more posterior chain and core strength to be able to squat perfectly.

2. NO bench. Make him do dips instead Make him focus on dips and a standing military press and he'll get built pretty well even without the bench

3. He also needs to do some conventional deads and pullups

I've been training directly or indirectly at least 5 guys over 6'6 in the past year so this isn't really that complicated, you just have to tweak some things,

[Richmond_Hrvat]

Originally Posted by BabyPhenom

1. Let him start out on good mornings first to develop the posterior chain strength and flexibility needed for squats. Guys over 6'1 have a longer ROM and they need more posterior chain and core strength to be able to squat perfectly.

2. NO bench. Make him do dips instead Make him focus on dips and a standing military press and he'll get built pretty well even without the bench

3. He also needs to do some conventional deads and pullups

I've been training directly or indirectly at least 5 guys over 6'6 in the past year so this isn't really that complicated, you just have to tweak some things,

Why no bench?

Would his frame be okay for deadlift if it's not okay for squatting?

Thanks for the replies!

[BabyPhenom]

Why no bench?

Arms are too long and the bar path travelled could be dangerous on his joints.

He can deadlift, make him start out with a conventional deadlift.

After a few weeks on GMs, he would be able to squat. This is what we did with a 6'10 guy and he is squatting a relative total tonnage of over 9000 lbs last time I checked and has pulled 375 for 5x5

[The Colonel]

Man, buy that boy some pizza! I'm 5'11 and walk around at 190 right now.

[Richmond_Hrvat]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Man, buy that boy some pizza! I'm 5'11 and walk around at 190 right now.

Right I'm 5-11 to 6-0 and around 196.

I'd buy him a steak, but I literally have 5 dollars in my bank account.

What if he can't do 1 parallel dip?
I know he's not much for pullups or I'd have him on those.

[Fedoraba]

Originally Posted by Richmond_Hrvat

Right I'm 5-11 to 6-0 and around 196.

I'd buy him a steak, but I literally have 5 dollars in my bank account.

What if he can't do 1 parallel dip?
I know he's not much for pullups or I'd have him on those.

Get him on the negative machine. Has to start somewhere.

Being 6'5 myself I found I had to really strengthen my core before getting heavy on squats/deadlifts.

[liquid!]

He could start on bench dips.