Go to failure for hypertrophy?

I've read enough to know that leaving a rep in the tank is a good approach for strength-oriented lifters, but what about if hypertrophy is your focus?

I remember reading a while back on the over 35s section of bb.com a thread where several guys said they made their best gains when training to failure.

I find it a little odd when I read guy's journals when they do nice, neat 3 x 8 pullups/dips/curls whatever. To me, if I'm doing squats or deadlift where good form is crucial for safety, then I'd hesitate to go to absolute failure, but for dips etc I like to go to failure.

Keeping in mind that muscle size is the goal, is my thought process wrong?

Even some PL gyms will do hypertrophy phases where they trained to 8+ reps to failure.

eg Rep effort at Westside

I know iv'e made my best strength gains not training to failure/without a spot, the numbers talk. Hypertrophy on the otherhand is harder to gauge, so i'm not sure.

There is video of ken liestner at gridironin NYC going to fatigue doing 20 reps.

I personally like to exercise to fatigue.

If one is going to MMF on squats, they have to know what their doing.

1, 4, 8, 12, 20 30 or 50, as long as it's used in a progressive manner.
Get stronger you get bigger, trick is mixing up the reps over many years, not just weeks.

Im reading Arnolds encyclopedia of bodybuilding at the moment.

He says go to failure to where you can't do another rep unless you have a rest, not going to your dead.

But yes dkd I reckon you're spot on.

I will always try and get that last rep, and then try again.

I tell my people though; every rep must be performed using the same cadence and no squirming around to get the last rep

Look at the muscle chart I posted...

Muscle hypertrophy needs effort above all else. Sure, variety as well as gradual progressive overload is paramount for muscle growth, but at the end of the day, it's applied effort that is going to get the job done.

Going to failure is but one method out of many, and for as long as one does not restrict themselves to one method at the expense of neglecting all the rest, muscular growth will take place.

"Better than" is a dangerous term in bodybuilding. Different bodybuilders pushing their winning method above all others because it's "better than" all the rest is one sure way to failure ... sooner or later.

Proponents of High intensity rubbish proponents of high volume and on it goes. What both camps need to realise is that irrespective of which method is applied, if muscular effort is not at the forefront of one's workout, then one might as well go home.

When it comes to bodybuilding, the weight on the bar is but one part of the equation to muscle hypertrophy. Overload does not necessarily mean more weight, as some understand it to be.

Going to failure on a particular set on a particular exercise focusing on a particular bodypart (say legs), is different from going to failure on another exercise, focusing on a smaller muscle for example.

Everything works but nothing works all of the time.


Fadi.

What he said