ger, and then stronger still in the squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press
and a row, with the addition of no more than a few single-joint exercises,
there would be tons more muscle in the world within a few months. And all
without any specialization programs, leg extensions, lateral raises, pec-deck
work, cable cross-overs, etc.. Here are three of the benefits of a specialization program for those qualified
to use it:a. Enables you to bring up a lagging body part or exercise.
b. Introduces variety and heightens training enjoyment and satisfaction
due to different challenges and targets.
c. Exploits an existing strength and enables you to make it outstanding.
is breaks the concept of a balanced physique, but if you have a natu-
ral strength, whether it is a body part and/or a particular exercise, and
want to see how far you can take it, you need to specialize on it and make
it into an even greater strength. is greater strength should, however,
have some beneficial carry-over effect to the rest of your physique.. While balanced development has its merits, exploiting a natural advantage
to make it into something exceptional may satisfy you more. Consider the
stellar example of Bob Peoples, who, in , deadlifted in competition
(with an overhand hook grip) a gigantic . pounds at a bodyweight of
just pounds. Had Peoples kept his deadlift and back development in
proportion with his other exercises and body parts, he would never have
become a colossus of Iron Game history.. e basic hard-gainer specialization formula, following the development of
the necessary foundation, is less work for the rest of the body than usual,
and not pushing yourself to your limit in those exercises—keep yourself
a little below your absolute best there. When the specialization area is the
grip, calves or neck, intensity in other areas does not have to be kept in
check, but I believe that it does when you specialize on other areas.. Successful hard-gainer training is about riveting attention on abbreviated
routines, the best exercises, and progressive poundages. Specialization
focuses this basic approach onto a small area of the body, or a single exercise.
It is not about adding lots of additional work (especially a lot of detail exer-
cises) to an already extensive and excessive training program, as it is in the
conventional approach to specialization.