Strength Training Anatomy [Paperback]

Frederic Delavier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

Coombines the most effective exercises for all the major muscle groups with detailed, full colour illustrations of the muscles used during the exercises.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Without question, this book is a must for anyone interested in strength training or in teaching strength training. No other book more clearly represents the functional anatomy of nearly every resistance training exercise. The illustrations are highly detailed and the material is accurate. This book will spend very little time on your bookshelf because you will constantly be referring to it."

David R. Pearson, PhD, CSCS Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology Ball State University, Muncie, IN

About the Author

The former editor-in-chief of the French magazine PowerMag, Frédéric Delavier is currently a journalist for the French magazine Le Monde du Muscle and a contributor to several other muscle publications, including Men’s Health Germany.

Delavier is a gifted artist with an exceptional knowledge of human anatomy. He studied morphology and anatomy for five years at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and studied dissection for three years at the Paris Faculté de Médicine.

Delavier won the French power-lifting title in 1988 and makes annual presentations on the sports applications of biomechanics at conferences in Switzerland. His teaching efforts have earned him the Grand Prix de Techniques et de Pédagogie Sportive. Delavier lives in Paris, France.

Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736041850
• ISBN-13: 978-0736041850
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The former editor in chief of the French magazine PowerMag, Frédéric Delavier is currently a journalist for the French magazine Le Monde du Muscle and a contributor to several other muscle publications, including Men's Health Germany. Delavier is a gifted artist with an exceptional knowledge of human anatomy. He studied morphology and anatomy for five years at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and studied dissection for three years at the Paris Faculté de Médecine. Delavier won the French powerlifting title in 1988 and makes annual presentations on the sports applications of biomechanics at conferences in Switzerland. His teaching efforts have earned him the Grand Prix de Techniques et de Pédagogie Sportive. Delavier lives in Paris, France.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

240 of 247 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Execllent Anatomical Reference for Weight Training, July 18, 2002

By 

JC (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength Training Anatomy (Paperback)

This book is an excellent weight training reference for insight into the anatomy of the major muscle groups, and the exercises best suited to train specific muscles.

The book is broken down into seven major muscle groups: arms, shoulders, chest, back, legs, buttocks, and abdomen. Within each muscle group are multiple exercises, each comprised of detailed anotomical illustrations, instructions on performing the exercises, and key information such as variations (for specific focus on particular muscles) and warnings (to aviod injury).

Using this book, one could easily select a variety of exercises to build a total body workout program. The selection of exercises also allows for some routine variation to keep one's workout from getting stale.

The illustrations are of an exellent quality, as are the materials. The pages are of heavyweight paper, with a semi-glossy finish.

Although I rated this title highly, I did so with the understanding that it suits a very specific purpose, and is not a general purpose introduction or guide to weight training. This is an ANATOMY REFERENCE, specific to selected weight training exercises. It does not contain any other information concerning weight training, diet, exercise, etc. In fact, there is not even a brief introduction by the author, simply the reference material itself. But, in terms of its intended purpose, it is an excellent reference. If you already have some sort of "Bodybuilding Encyclopedia", you probably already posess much of the information contained in this title. Having no interest in the history, self-promotion, and general testosterone driven attitudes of many of those types of titles (as well as the phonebook sized package), I much prefer this concise book as an exercise reference.

107 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable!, December 12, 2002

By 

MarvelousMarla "MarvyM" (Way down in Dixie) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strength Training Anatomy (Paperback)

I buy lots of fitness and strength training books, and this one is by far the best I've purchased. The book may look small, but it provides an extensive listing of exercises and includes tips about variations that will change how you work each muscle. This is important for a couple of reasons.

To maximize your gains in the gym, you have to constantly change your program so that your body doesn't hit a plateau. Regularly incorporating new exercises will also keep you from becoming bored with your workout. This book will show you how using a rope attachment with the pulley works a different part of the triceps as opposed to doing bench dips or doing a kickback. Also, the illustrations show you the auxiliary muscles that are recruited during compound movements like presses and deadlifts.

At first I was worried that the book might be too much for me to absorb, but it's not because the author does not get overly-technical with the explanations. The text is concise, yet thorough, and the pictures are highly detailed.

This is a wonderful reference book, and I highly recommend it.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for weight training!, August 8, 2002

By 

"jaguarwoman" (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength Training Anatomy (Paperback)

This is the best reference book I have found for anyone interested in weight training. It gives very specific information on which muscles are used in many many weight-lifting exercises and, especially helpful, in different variations of these exercises. If you want to develop a routine that involves the different parts and aspects of a particular muscle group, this is a great place to look. The information is presented in an easy-to-understand written form and also visually with beautiful illustrations. I was very pleased to find that the illustrations include women's bodies as well as men's. This book presents complex information (which I have found missing or difficult to understand in other books) in a straight-forward and well-organized manner. The only negative thing I have to say is that I wish it had an index. I'm really glad I found this book!