| If presented with the option of "You can have the | | | | set of muscle fibers, and using a variety of |
| pectorals of any bodybuilder in history", most | | | | movements allows you to rest assured you are |
| bodybuilders would probably opt for those of either | | | | indeed addressing all necessary areas of the muscle |
| Ronnie Coleman or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Both | | | | group. Decline movements should be brought into the |
| were multiple Mr. Olympia winners, mostly in part due | | | | mix after you have been training for four month. By |
| to the fact they possessed pectoral muscles which | | | | then you should have developed the adequate muscle |
| were large, squared, and complete. | | | | support infrastructure to allow your shoulders to |
| Of course, most bodybuilders never have the option of | | | | support the weight load at an actual angle below zero |
| selecting their pectoral shape, or the shape of any | | | | degrees. |
| muscle, for that matter. We are destined to possess | | | | Once you have spent a year using these movements, |
| the genetic muscle shape given to us at birth. We can, | | | | you can begin integrating movements which add a bit |
| however, work to influence the development of | | | | more "finish" to your muscle groups. Hammer Strength |
| different parts of our muscle groups, so that some | | | | and Nautilus machine presses, pullovers, cable |
| aspects can be emphasized and others can be | | | | crossovers, and dozens of other machines all provide |
| diminished in their influence or impact upon appearance. | | | | excellent muscle fiber recruitment all over the pectoral |
| This can be accomplished through well-balanced | | | | muscle group in a way the initial flat, incline and |
| training which neglects no aspect of the pectorals. | | | | eventually decline movements cannot. |
| Then, as weaknesses begin to emerge, they can be | | | | Once you have been training your pectorals |
| addressed using your strong understanding of which | | | | consistently for a year or eighteen months, you'll |
| exercises affect which area of the group, and how to | | | | develop a pretty good picture of what is right, and |
| use these movements. | | | | what is wrong, with your pecs. Their appearance will |
| Every successful chest routine will begin with flat | | | | be influences by both training and genetics. You cannot |
| movements which train the entire chest region. Flat | | | | change your genetic shape, nor the poor tie-ins or any |
| bench presses are great for beginners, with flat | | | | rounded pec shape malady. What you can do is adjust |
| dumbbell presses more optimal for intermediate and | | | | your training to de-emphasize the strong areas and |
| advanced trainers who discover their rotator cuffs | | | | focus upon the strong areas. It's a personal journey, |
| might not like the angle of the flat bench press. Once | | | | and one that only you (or perhaps an advanced trainer |
| you have mastered the flat bench movement, after | | | | like Charles Glass) can write for yourself. Learn your |
| about two months of training, it becomes time to add | | | | body inside and out, and frequently adjust the |
| incline movements. These include incline bench press | | | | exercises you select in order to maximize your genetic |
| and dumbbell presses using varying angles, from 15 to | | | | potential. |
| 60 degrees. Each of these angles works a different | | | | |