leg thickness?

[dethfire]

I was thinking about my leg size while watching a chelsea game. I was looking at Essien legs and compared them to mine. Massive massive difference. How does Essien get his legs so stocky and thick? It must be partially genetic. I work out my legs twice a week and they are chiseled, but still very thin and stick like. My legs are more like beasley style. Is it better to have thick strong essien legs or thin strong beasley legs? I can leg press 2 sets of 10 reps of 450 but my legs are soooo skinny looking.

[Shrapnac]

If your legs get the job done who cares what they look like? You're overthinking things. Look at other sports/athletes. There are tons of different body types, some people just build muscle differently.

If you want to see freakish legs, Obafemi Martins.

[Skizz]

My upper thighs are 40 inches. They are monstrous.

[Bobbyswe]

My upper thighs are 40 inches. They are monstrous.

That's impossible... pro bodybuilders dont have thighs bigger than 32 inches. your gonna beat juiced up pros by 8 inches... sounds very strange

[joeginto]

i've seen michael essien up close and the man is an absolute freak of nature. he is rock solid top to bottom. you cannot compare yourself to the top professional athletes, it just doesn't add up. if your legs get the job done, so be it.

one way to really improve leg strength though is through polymetric exercises. get a solid box or bench and jump on it. you can try variations then (jump on, step off/ jump on, jump off/ jump completely over the box), etc...

[ctsoccer13]

one way to really improve leg strength though is through polymetric exercises. get a solid box or bench and jump on it. you can try variations then (jump on, step off/ jump on, jump off/ jump completely over the box), etc...
This is a great training technique for perfecting balance as well. Many specialists recommend this type of training for preventing ACL tears.

[ranova]

That's impossible... pro bodybuilders dont have thighs bigger than 32 inches. your gonna beat juiced up pros by 8 inches... sounds very strange

Body type varies greatly. I am only 5'10" and my thighs are about 32 inches, and I have lost a lot of muscle mass (being 55 y.o.) and haven't lifted in about ten years. At every level, performance is the measurement that counts.

[dougcar99]

That's impossible... pro bodybuilders dont have thighs bigger than 32 inches. your gonna beat juiced up pros by 8 inches... sounds very strange

Well a lot depends here on amount of body fat ....

[Bobbyswe]

Still... if it's a fat you would have to be 400lbs + to have em that size.

These are lean 34 inch thighs, the size is ridiculous...

http://www.bbszene.de/html/2006/mr_olympia_2006/men_prejudging/P9302630.JPG

add 6 inches and you have 40" that's 100cm...

[JohnR]

How much does that stuff really matter? This guy plays the same position as Essien, and just as well, and his legs are those of a sparrow.


http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/pic/152/SP0102~Arsenal-Football-Club-Patrick-Vieira-Posters.jpg

[ctsoccer13]

Still... if it's a fat you would have to be 400lbs + to have em that size.

These are lean 34 inch thighs, the size is ridiculous...

http://www.bbszene.de/html/2006/mr_olympia_2006/men_prejudging/P9302630.JPG

add 6 inches and you have 40" that's 100cm...

Dude, I didn't see you in the crowd! How'd you get that picture of me?!

[Raja Casablanca]

It just depends on the players genetic body design. Tall lanky players can be good with seemingly smaller thighs. Mine are just shy of 2 feet around but I'm 5'6 so the muscle is much more condensed than someone who is 6'2 and might have just as much muscle or be as fast as me. From a physiological and anatomical standpoint some people like Essien are just freaks of nature since there is an exception to every rule. But I have little body fat and weigh just as much as someone much taller than me while looking small and skinny since it is just my body type. I'm getting way too deep into this but humans are the only animal to have such a variation from person to person.

So in the end you don't need tree trunk thighs to go fast or have strong legs, sometimes they can be a disadvantage.

[Bobbyswe]

Very well put!

I had alot bigger legs before but i have purposely shrunk them to a smaller size for playing and agility reasons. Playing football and running is alot easier now, you have more room to move. They are 24 inches now btw.

[Skizz]

My upper thighs are 40 inches. They are monstrous.
That's a typo. I actually meant to say 4 inches ;) :D

[Bobbyswe]

haha i thought it would be something like that :D

[BuckeyeScoot]

Body type varies greatly. I am only 5'10" and my thighs are about 32 inches, and I have lost a lot of muscle mass (being 55 y.o.) and haven't lifted in about ten years. At every level, performance is the measurement that counts.

Are you kidding? I am looking at my waist, which is 33 inches, and trying to imagine a soccer player with thighs one inch smaller.. it's just hard to believe. Well, unless you are well over 6' tall, with a massive build and are somewhat obese. And you play in some rec league where the players don't run a whole lot.

[rca2]

Are you kidding? I am looking at my waist, which is 33 inches, and trying to imagine a soccer player with thighs one inch smaller.. it's just hard to believe. Well, unless you are well over 6' tall, with a massive build and are somewhat obese. And you play in some rec league where the players don't run a whole lot.

Yes, I am overweight, big bones, and play in a rec league. And I haven't taped my thighs in decades, but I measured them just now and upper thighs were 30 inches which would translate into 31 inches easily pumped up. (As I played yesterday, I have just been resting today.) Which is why I said "about" 32 inches originally. For what its worth, I am the runt in my family standing less than 5'11", but due to the big bones and four years of manual labor in the construction industry and many more in military service I always weighed as much as my male family members who are 3-4 inches taller. (When I was running 20 miles a week, I was 205 pounds.)

[BuckeyeScoot]

Yes, I am overweight, big bones, and play in a rec league. And I haven't taped my thighs in decades, but I measured them just now and upper thighs were 30 inches which would translate into 31 inches easily pumped up. (As I played yesterday, I have just been resting today.) Which is why I said "about" 32 inches originally. For what its worth, I am the runt in my family standing less than 5'11", but due to the big bones and four years of manual labor in the construction industry and many more in military service I always weighed as much as my male family members who are 3-4 inches taller. (When I was running 20 miles a week, I was 205 pounds.)

Well, I'll take you at your word, then. Heck, I've gone up against some big, big soccer players, but never one that fits as much weight into a frame such as yours. Even opponents who were around 6'4 or above, and definitely 230+ lbs didn't have that build.

In any case, I am curious.. don't your knees hurt like heck after playing a game or two? Especially if you play indoor?

[rca2]

In any case, I am curious.. don't your knees hurt like heck after playing a game or two? Especially if you play indoor?

Of course I would be better off if I weighed less, but my knees are in relatively good shape. I haven't played two games in one day in over ten years.

I don't look that big. The weight is due to big bones. Except for the thickness of my joints and chest, I appear like someone weighing 30 pounds lighter.