How the Musclebuilder Checks Form

How the Musclebuilder Checks Form

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From the Brickyard | Subject: Form is the foundation, here’s how to check it

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Form isn’t a suggestion. It’s the foundation.

Bad form is a crack in the armor—one that will eventually shatter under heavy load.

If you want to build, you’ve got to know how to check your form.

Here’s the playbook.

1. The Mirror – Quick, Easy but Limited

  • Use it when: You need instant feedback.
  • Strengths: Easy, accessible, right in front of you.
  • Weaknesses: Limited angles. You can’t see what’s happening behind you or on the subtler details.

Mission Tip: Use it, but don’t hyper-fixate on the mirror. Reps should be focused, not distracted.

2. The Phone – The Tech Audit

  • Use it when: You want easy and real accountability on your big lifts.
  • Strengths: Multiple angles, slow motion, track progress over time.
  • Weaknesses: Some gyms ban filming. Setup can be a hassle.

Mission Tip: Film your more technical lifts regularly (if you can). That’s your form report card.

3. The Buddy – An On-Site Spotter

  • Use it when: You’ve got a partner who knows the game.
  • Strengths: Real-time feedback. Can stop you mid-set if you’re off track.
  • Weaknesses: Only works if your buddy actually understands form. A bad eye gives bad intel.

Mission Tip: Choose someone seasoned, who knows what they’re looking at. Your newb buddy isn’t going to be much help.

4. The Feel – The Internal Sensor

  • Use it when: You’ve built some training years and know your body.
  • Strengths: You can tell if the right muscles are firing. Mind-muscle connection is elite-level awareness.
  • Weaknesses: Beginners often confuse strain with activation.

Mission Tip: Cut out all distraction and really focus between sets, drive home that mind-muscle connection.

5. The Coach – A Professional Audit

  • Use when: You’re ready to invest in precision.
  • Strengths: A trained eye sees what you never will. They can correct small flaws before they become big problems.
  • Weaknesses: It costs money.

Mission Tip: Even one or two sessions can reset your foundation and save years of mistakes.

The Final Word: Audit, Adjust, Attack

Form checks aren’t about obsession. They’re about mission readiness.

Audit yourself. Adjust what needs fixing. Then attack the iron with confidence.

That’s how you build safely. That’s how you build big. That’s how you build forever.

Brick by brick.

-Brickwall