How do you define true muscular failure?

[Jimbo]

I want to start training via just 1 set again but I noticed something a little off. Everytime you read that work, people say until you cant do any more reps. Here is the thing
take barbell curls for example.

I can do 8 reps with 100lbs. if I lower and wait a few seconds i can do another..... So if TRUE failure reached at the end of the 8 or if I wait and keep pumping out, is that true failure?

 

[A50#]

Failure

I think failure is reached when you cant possibly do another rep no matter what. When I'm training to failure I just keep pumping it out until I can no longer move the bar. 100% all out effort.

 

[bigheinz]

I am sorry friends, you are wrong

The real point of muscle failure is when you get the impossible rep and you need the help of your trainer to finish it, and it takes about 10 to 15 seconds in the concentric way, then you lower the weight under control; after of course, 2 forced reps.

It is only on this moment when the 100% of the muscle fibers are involved in the exercise. Before the impossible only the 60 or 70% of the muscle fibers are working.
It is the only way to grow, and any version of HIT is the best way....

 

[Chuck999]

I just do the good old dropsets. If you don't have a training partner, it depends on the equipment you are using for the exercise, but like for curls, I just line up about 6 or 7 sets of dumbells - start at the top (I'm an old guy) for me about 45-50 lbs is the max on dumbells, then keep on doing each lower weight to failure until I can't even get 10 lbs up one more time! I don't think its a good idea to do every set like this, but I generally try to get several of these in each workout. It does give me one hell of a burn/pump.

 

[Chuck999]

Just so you guys won't think I'm a total wimp, in my "younger days " I had times when I could do several dumbell curl reps at 65-70. That was also at times I was doing some fairly high levels of supplementation.

 

[bigwil]

Re: I am sorry friends, you are wrong

The real point of muscle failure is when you get the impossible rep and you need the help of your trainer to finish it, and it takes about 10 to 15 seconds in the concentric way, then you lower the weight under control; after of course, 2 forced reps.

It is only on this moment when the 100% of the muscle fibers are involved in the exercise. Before the impossible only the 60 or 70% of the muscle fibers are working.
It is the only way to grow, and any version of HIT is the best way....

I agree with this statement but make sure you aren't resting at all during your set. You have to go to failure without resting! Later, bigwil