Biceps exercises

Barbell Reverse Curl

Also known as: Curl inversé à la barre · Ανάποδες κάμψεις δικεφάλων με μπάρα · Reverse Barbell Curl · reverse grip curl

Primary
Biceps
Equipment
Barbell
Level
Beginner
Type
Isolation
Force
Pull
Suggested rest
1 min

How to do the Barbell Reverse Curl

  1. Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at shoulder width with the elbows close to the torso. The palm of your hands should be facing down (pronated grip). This will be your starting position.

  2. While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the weights while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Only the forearms should move. Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second as you squeeze the muscle.

  3. Slowly begin to bring the bar back to starting position as your breathe in.

  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth2–410–151 min
Muscular endurance2–315–2545 s

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 2.5 kg (5 lb) next session and work back up.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Biceps

Secondary

Forearms

The biceps bend the elbow and turn the palm up. Curls with different grips and arm angles hit the long head, short head and brachialis.

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Barbell biceps exercises