Big, powerful legs are essential to any winning physique. Just ask Jay Cutler, whose gigantic quads made him an Olympia legend and the subject of one of the most iconic bodybuilding photos ever.
But quads alone are not enough. as a bodybuilder Guild Hunter explains in his latest Tuesday Tips video, you can’t ignore your adductors. Check it out:
[Related: The Best Bodybuilding Leg Workouts for Your Experience Level]
Hunter Labrada on the importance of developing your adductors
As Labrada explains, ignoring the adductors – the group of muscles on the inside of the thighs – causes a gap in the thighs which will make the legs look smaller overall.
“In bodybuilding, the more negative space you eliminate (negative space meaning gaps in your physique) every time you pose, the bigger you’ll look,” says Labrada. “Think about Ronnie Colemanthe legs of […] His legs would be wobbly, but his adductors would literally touch his knees, almost.”
[Related: Embrace the Pump With Hunter Labrada and Brett Wilkin’s Biceps and Triceps Workout]
Labrada emphasizes that well-built adductors give the legs a full look that complements the quads and calves. For bodybuildersin particular, this helps add much-needed volume when posing from the side and back.
How to train your adductors
While Labrada says that the main compound leg exercises – I like it squats, lungesY dead weight – will hit your adductors, they won’t focus on them enough. To grow them, you’ll want to isolate them with an adductor machine.
You’ll find this machine in most gyms, and Labrada explains that it’s a fairly simple move to perform. First, keep your spine straight on the machine and grab the handles. Then, with your legs in a neutral position, bring the pads toward each other with the inside of your knees. Your feet shouldn’t come into play at all.
Labrada also emphasizes that while the adductor machine isn’t often viewed as a powerful muscle-building move, you should use it with the same intensity you use on squats or leg extensions.
“If you have seen us train legs […] this is like any other exercise,” says Labrada. “We’re growling at them and going to failure and force a repeat or two. Y [we’re] landing in that eight to 12 rep range.”
More tips from Hunter Labrada
Hunter Labrada offers weekly training tips on his YouTube channel and Instagram page. Here’s more of his advice:
Featured Image: Hunter Labrada on YouTube
