When it comes to workouts with the help of weights, a barbell is definitely a necessity. It may seem like a very simple tool, and so it is; however, behind a long steel rod there are many functions and features. We’re going to talk about the EZ barbell.
It is very common to encounter the classic barbell, with a regular and straight shape, but it is not the only type that we can find. Even behind a neutral appearance, such as the more regular one, there are different peculiarities, from the point of view of ergonomics, weight, length…; until you reach great differences such as those that vary in shape.
In fact, a barbell is chosen by the athlete for personal taste, physical characteristics and necessity. There are various types of barbells that differ in shape and this feature leads to a different use and performance of the exercises.
What is EZ barbell ?
Among the less common, but frequent, barbells in gyms we find the EZ barbell, also known as kambered or curved. Its peculiarity is certainly the shape that makes it targeted for the biceps and triceps.
In appearance, it is a relatively simple steel bar, usually 120 cm long and weighing 7 kg, but with the particularity of having curves at the height of the grip. In fact, it is precisely this curvature that gives the tool its name, as the zigzag gait is somewhat reminiscent of the letters “e” and “z”.
The curvilinear structure is very useful as it allows for a slightly more anatomical grip than straight bars. This is a good help for the athlete as this position of the arms allows less stress for the elbows and therefore greater attention to avoid discomfort and pain.
What does it mean to do the curl exercises with a curved barbell ?
First of all, you work with a different grip on the bar: the degree of supination of the hands is slightly lower than the total supination on the straight barbell, but a little more accentuated than the neutral grip; in fact, the palms of the hands will be facing upwards and tilted inwards.
This grip on the barbell allows greater activation of the outer head of the biceps, rather than the inner one. The outer head of the muscle is also the one that gives the peak effect, in fact, the curved barbell is great for increasing the peak of the biceps; as a result, another benefit is to have less stressful work on your forearms.
The substantial and most obvious difference is that of the angle of the grip because, as we have said, this determines which part of the biceps is activated the most by the biceps.
The angled barbell, as opposed to the straight one, is definitely a better tool for carrying out the french press.
Angled barbell exercises: french press
The french press is, along with the preacher curl, one of the most common exercises to do with the EZ barbell. It is a workout to be done in a supine position, lying on a bench. Its purpose is to allow the development of the triceps; there are several variants that allow this exercise to be adapted to different types of workouts, but now we are going to analyze its classic version.
The starting position is therefore the one that sees the athlete lying on his stomach, with the shoulder blades adducted and lower than the normal position they would assume. The arms are perpendicular to the ground, while the grip is tight and the hands are at shoulder height.
The eccentric phase, which therefore involves the first movement of the exercise, consists of the flexion of the elbow that must be bent; the triceps has the task of opposing the fall, slowing down the act of descent. This phase ends only when the barbell has come close to the head.
In the concentric phase, on the other hand, the opposite movement is made, i.e. a gradual extension of the elbow until it returns to the starting position. The movement should be slow and controlled, the shoulders and shoulder blades should be kept firm.
This exercise, if performed with an angled barbell, allows the assumption of a more physiological position at the joint level, thus preserving the athlete and ensuring greater safety.
Training your biceps with the EZ barbell, the Preacher Curl
This type of exercise is designed specifically for the flexor muscles of the arm and is able to stimulate the bundles in particular isolation conditions.
It is also known as the Scott bench curl, because it is very often carried out with the help of this tool, and it is very common for it to be carried out with a curved barbell.
In this specific case, the exercise is suitable for different types of barbells up to the use of dumbbells, but the EZ bar is excellent for respecting the natural flexion-extension movement of the elbow. This is because the handle will not allow total supination but only partial supination, reducing the risk of injury.
The starting position already involves the Scott Bench: it consists of a seat and, frontally, a cushion just below shoulder height, inclined outwards. Initially, you will need to sit down and rest your arms on the surface of the pillow, adjusting the heights, so that the forearms are well adhered and the armpits match the upper edge.
At this point it will be necessary to grip the barbell with a grip as wide as the shoulders, but always at the angles of the bars so as to have the hands slightly inclined inwards.
At this point you can start with the movement: you start by flexing your elbows, without changing the position of the other parts of the body, until you bring your forearms to a vertical position. It will be necessary to maintain the contraction for a few seconds and then you will have to slowly bring your arms back to the starting position, stretching your elbows.
Some tips for carrying out this exercise: never take your arms off the bench; always keep your back straight and check that it always remains firm and still when lifting. To obtain the desired results, the eccentric phase is very important, so make sure you perform all the relaxation movement and do not block it halfway down.
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