{"id":504397,"date":"2026-05-27T01:45:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T01:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/504397\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T01:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T01:45:19","slug":"mike-mentzers-method-for-building-bigger-biceps-perfect-reps-matter-more-than-endless-sets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/504397\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Mentzer\u2019s Method for Building Bigger Biceps: \u2018Perfect Reps Matter More Than Endless Sets\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Almost everyone in the gym trains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/a69203378\/100-daily-curls-arm-growth\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/a69203378\/100-daily-curls-arm-growth\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"biceps\" data-node-id=\"4.1\" class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">biceps<\/a> \u2013 but according to bodybuilding icon <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/workouts\/a70789810\/mike-mentzers-minimalist-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/workouts\/a70789810\/mike-mentzers-minimalist-workout\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Mike Mentzer\" data-node-id=\"4.3\" class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mike Mentzer<\/a>, most people are doing it wrong.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Building <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/train-smarter\/a71345983\/study-simple-workouts-build-muscle-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/train-smarter\/a71345983\/study-simple-workouts-build-muscle-beginners\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"bigger arms\" data-node-id=\"9.1\" class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">bigger arms<\/a> is one thing. Building a pronounced biceps peak is another entirely.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Mentzer, known for his ultra-intense \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/train-smarter\/a67959687\/mike-mentzer-heavy-duty-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/building-muscle\/train-smarter\/a67959687\/mike-mentzer-heavy-duty-workout\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Heavy Duty\" data-node-id=\"13.1\" class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Heavy Duty<\/a>\u2019 training philosophy, believed the problem wasn\u2019t a lack of effort \u2013 it was poor exercise selection and sloppy execution.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u2018It\u2019s not about doing more curls or endless extra sets,\u2019 Mentzer argued. \u2018The key is choosing the right curl and performing it perfectly.\u2019<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">According to Heavy Duty coach Daniel Cortizas, the key to building a more pronounced biceps peak lies in targeting the long head of the biceps \u2013 the outer portion of the muscle responsible for that elevated shape.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"27\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u2018Traditional curls often lose tension towards the end of the movement,\u2019 Cortizas explained on Facebook. \u2018But that final contracted position is exactly where the biceps should be working hardest.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Mike Mentzer\u2019s Favourite Exercise for Building a Biceps Peak<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"33\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Mentzer\u2019s solution was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/how-tos\/a68015673\/guide-to-preacher-curls\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.menshealth.com\/uk\/how-tos\/a68015673\/guide-to-preacher-curls\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"preacher curl\" data-node-id=\"33.1\" class=\"body-link css-10fnnmt emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">preacher curl<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"37\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Performed correctly, the preacher curl keeps constant tension on the muscle \u2013 especially during peak contraction, where Mentzer believed the greatest growth stimulus occurs.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"41\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">The goal wasn\u2019t to move as much weight as possible. It was to maximise muscular tension through strict execution and controlled tempo.<\/p>\n<p>How to Do Mentzer\u2019s Preacher Curl Properly<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"46\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">According to Cortizas, Mentzer focused on a few key technique principles:<\/p>\n<ul data-node-id=\"47\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"47.0\">Let the arms hang fully straight at the bottom<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.1\">Keep the elbows close together<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.2\">Use a slightly wider grip<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.3\">Lift the weight under control<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.4\">Pause briefly at peak contraction<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.5\">Lower the weight slowly<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"47.6\">Avoid momentum completely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"51\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u2018Maximum contraction equals maximum stimulation,\u2019 Cortizas says.<\/p>\n<p><video playsinline=\"\" style=\"height:100%;width:100%;\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; width=&quot;24&quot; height=&quot;24&quot; fill=&quot;%23ffffff&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 256 256&quot;&gt;%0A%09&lt;path d=&quot;M240,128a15.74,15.74,0,0,1-7.6,13.51L88.32,229.65a16,16,0,0,1-16.2.3A15.86,15.86,0,0,1,64,216.13V39.87a15.86,15.86,0,0,1,8.12-13.82,16,16,0,0,1,16.2.3L232.4,114.49A15.74,15.74,0,0,1,240,128Z&quot;&gt;%0A&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"Play video\"\/><img alt=\"Video poster\" title=\"Video poster\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/thumb_1920x1080_00002_1673638532_46075.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/>Mike Mentzer\u2019s Biceps Training Volume Was Surprisingly Low<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"57\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Unlike modern high-volume arm workouts, Mentzer kept things minimal.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"61\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">His typical biceps session included:<\/p>\n<ul data-node-id=\"62\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"62.0\">One heavy working set of 5-6 reps<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"62.1\">One lighter set focused entirely on control and technique<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"66\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">That was it.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"70\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">He also limited direct biceps training to once or twice per week at most, believing recovery was just as important as intensity. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Almost everyone in the gym trains biceps \u2013 but according to bodybuilding icon Mike Mentzer, most people are&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":504398,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[278],"tags":[115873,18,525,135,19,17],"class_list":["post-504397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-discover","tag-eire","tag-fitness","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116644015491526517","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=504397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/504398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=504397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=504397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=504397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}