06/04/2026
Arnold Schwarzenegger was known for training biceps and triceps together in the same workout, creating an intense “arm pump” by alternating between the two muscle groups.
Typical Arnold Arm Exercises
Biceps
* Barbell curls
* Dumbbell curls
* Incline dumbbell curls
* Concentration curls
* Preacher curls
Triceps
* Close-grip bench press
* Triceps pushdowns
* Lying triceps extensions (“skull crushers”)
* One-arm dumbbell triceps extensions
* Dips
Arnold’s Secret to Arm Size and Definition
1. Train with maximum intensity and focus — he believed the mind-muscle connection was critical.
2. Chase the pump — he viewed a massive pump as a sign that the muscles were being fully stimulated.
3. Use a full range of motion — stretching and contracting the muscles completely on every rep.
4. High training volume — more quality work than most people were willing to do.
5. Build overall body mass — he believed bigger arms come from getting stronger and bigger everywhere, not just from arm isolation work.
His famous philosophy was that you should visualize the muscle growing while you train it and focus on feeling every rep, rather than simply moving the weight from point A to point B.