Strength without Size

[mafiaboy]

Thanks everybody for clearing some stuff up.

[fcokeefe]

I didn't know that there was another forum to talk about hand strength, If some one could please point me into that direction I would be much abliged. If adding on size was a great concern wouldn't calistenic and other body weight exercises be good to add strength and not size.

[Sean Dempsey]

strength is the nerve adaptation to muscle fibers. Once you get good and using all the fibers you have, you won't get much stronger without making your fibers bigger. You can get strength without size, but once you stop overloading/progressing, you'll strength will plateau unless you increase your overload, which will make your fibers increase in size (hypertrophy).

Bruce Lee was strong and had great muscles, BUT he wasn't stronger than people bigger than him. Strenght is directly proportional to your body mechanics, neuromuscular adaptation (how much your nervous system can make your muscles work) and cross sectional area of muscle fiber. Bruce Lee would kick my ass in a fight, but I'd destroy him in a weight lifting contest.