Written by Shuvangi Sen Chaudhury
Hunter Labrada Leg Day - Image via @Hunter Labrada Youtube
Even though in an off-season, Hunter Labrada isn’t taking his foot off the gas. Since the bodybuilder hasn’t yet started his official 2022 Olympia prep, he is focusing on increasing his training volume.
Labrada catapulted to the mainstream after winning gold at the 2020 Tampa Pro. However, he had to contend with an eighth-place finish at the Olympia the same year. Following a humbling 2020 competitive season, Labrada was back in business after winning the 2021 Chicago Pro and earning his qualification for the Olympia. At the 2021 Olympia, Labrada won fourth place, beating archrival Nick “The Mutant” Walker.
On Jul. 16, 2022, the 2020 Tampa Pro champ took his viewers through his leg day routine on his YouTube channel.
Check out the bodybuilder’s leg training routine:
The standing calf machine Hunter uses comes with a pad that adds stability to the lift. Before starting the exercise, he explains the proper form for performing the standing calf raise:
By following these tips, you’ll be focusing entirely on your calves.
Hunter executed controlled and steady reps to kick start the blood flow in his calves while activating the other lower-body muscle groups.
He did the second calf exercise with heavy weight but executed controlled reps, boosting strength and muscle endurance.
“Biggest things — foot placement and width. You want to place [your feet] at a width wide enough so that your ankles, knees, and hips all are in a straight line. You don’t want to be extremely duck-toed or pigeon-toed. All that does is an extreme misalignment of the joints. It doesn’t emphasize one particular point of the muscle.”
For the exercise, the bodybuilder explained the ankles must remain forward when pushing the weight up. The ankles must continue to remain forward while lowering the weights and heels to attain a stretch in the calves.
A post shared by Hunter Labrada IFBB Pro (@hunterlabrada)
After completing the calf exercises, Hunter moved on to the first hamstring lift of the leg workout routine.
Hunter’s suggestions for setting up the seated hamstring curl machine:
Per the bodybuilder, keeping the core active and rib cage down can trigger an effective bracing of the hips, which is an important element in the exercise. Labrada suggests wearing a seatbelt if you have access to one to ensure the hips remain on the pad.
Hunter moved to the back squat machine next. He attached resistance bands to the machine to increase the resistance. Each of these bands helps add approximately 150 pounds at the top of the motion.
Before doing the volume set, Labrada performed a normal set. He maintained a moderate pace, ensuring constant tension on the quads.
Instead of doing one heavy set, Labrada did a set with four plates on each side before moving to six plates on each side.
Read More: Bodybuilder Hunter Labrada Shares an All-Machine Pull-Day Back Training Workout
The men’s open division bodybuilder moved to the next exercise on the leg day routine. He chose to do unilateral hip press as it promotes symmetry and helps build equal strength in both legs. Additionally, working one leg at a time provides a fresh change of pace in his workout routine.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done any unilateral stuff in my program. So, I feel like it’s going to give me a new degree of hip health and like a new challenge and everything.”
Hunter finished the workout with the leg extension. Instead of doing multiple sets of moderate difficulty, Labrada focused on working his way up to one real hard set.
He finished the working set with adductors, which requires bringing your legs inwards. The movement helps build hip strength and inner legs and closes the thigh gap.
Leg extensions are an effective exercise to isolate the quadriceps. It puts tension on the outer quad sweeps, forcing the smallest muscle fibers into growing.
Hunter Labrada plans to train his legs once every nine days in his new eight-week split in light of his preparation for the 2022 Olympia. On the other hand, he aims to work on other muscle groups at least twice a week.
The 2022 Olympia will take place in Las Vegas, NV, from December 15th to 18th.
Shuvangi Sen Chaudhury is a fitness enthusiast who covers news and other workout related topics. She began her fitness journey in 2016 and along with it began her journey as a writer, with an aim to cover a broader range of topics.
If anyone's back was big enough to carry the sport, it was bodybuilding legend Dorian Yates'. In a recent update...
Following his well-deserved triumph at the 2022 Arnold Classic (AC), classic physique competitor Terrence Ruffin will probably face his next...
Michal Križo made the switch from the IFBB Elite Pro League into the NPC last week, marking the first step...
Brett Wilkin is a new school bodybuilder who quickly made a name for himself in the Men's Open division. In...
Shawn Ray is a veteran of bodybuilding and recently engaged in a discussion regarding Nick Walker's potential in the sport....
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
At FitnessVolt.com Our mission is to help our readers to achieve their fitness goals, regardless of where you’re at on your journey, we are on a mission to educate You with the latest from strength and fitness space. Read more. Email: sm(at)fitnessvolt.com Disclosure: FitnessVolt.com has an affiliate relationship with different brands and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. However, our reviews are based on well research backed analysis.
© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2010 - 2022 Fitness Volt IBC. All Rights Reserved.