Ask fifty different fitness influencers or personal trainers about the best approach to working out, and chances are, you’ll get fifty different answers. One trainer might insist on prioritizing cardio for fat loss and stamina. Another might emphasize strength training as the ultimate way to transform your body. Then there are those who say the real secret lies in balancing both cardio and resistance training in your weekly routine. And let’s not forget the fitness gurus who experiment with unusual, even bizarre, regimens that leave most people scratching their heads in confusion.
The truth is, there’s no universal “right” way to exercise. There are countless paths to fitness, and nearly all of them involve challenging your body in some way to spark positive change. What matters most is consistency, effort, and aligning your routine with your personal goals. Whether you’re working out for weight loss, muscle gain, or mental clarity, the journey is personal—and deeply varied.
That being said, most people would agree that working out only one muscle group, especially at the expense of everything else, is not the most effective way to achieve balanced results. The human body is made up of hundreds of muscles, each supporting the others to help us move, lift, and live our daily lives. Neglecting the majority of them to hyper-focus on just one seems… well, counterproductive.
But that hasn’t stopped one 19-year-old TikToker from going viral for doing exactly that. Known as @thecrookedman10, this content creator has sparked massive online debate by training only his trapezius muscle—specifically, just one side of it. For those unfamiliar, the trapezius is a large muscle group that spans the upper back and the neck, playing a role in posture and shoulder movement.
What’s even more mind-boggling is that he’s intentionally building up only the left side of his trapezius, leaving the right side practically untouched. This deliberate asymmetry has earned him widespread attention, confusion, and more than a few jokes across TikTok, Instagram, and fitness forums.
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Photos of his physique show a stark difference between the left and right sides of his upper body, which naturally led to a flood of questions from curious users. Why is he doing this? What’s the reasoning behind it?
In a video response, The Crooked Man explained his unconventional logic: “Why does the one trap guy work out one trap? It’s pretty simple. I was scrolling TikToks in my Ferrari, and I kept getting these looksmaxing TikToks.”
For context, “looksmaxing” is a trending concept on TikTok that pushes people—usually young men—to do everything possible to enhance their appearance. This includes going to the gym every day, following extreme morning routines, undergoing skin treatments, and even considering cosmetic procedures, all in pursuit of becoming more physically attractive.
The Crooked Man wasn’t having it. “And they were like, ‘Do this, do that. You’ll look more attractive. You’ll get more women,’” he said. “And it’s like, people have that problem? I have the opposite problem.”
According to him, he receives so many direct messages from women that he can’t even get through all of them. “So I was like, ‘If I have the opposite problem, then I need the opposite solution. What’s the opposite of looksmaxing? Looksminimizing.’”
Yes, you read that right. His self-styled movement, “looksminimizing,” is his satirical answer to the pressure many men feel to improve their looks. In his mind, if most guys are trying to become more attractive, then his solution to being “too attractive” is to become less so—by making his body look intentionally off-balance.
“What was the best way to looksminimize? Become more asymmetrical,” he said, doubling down on his strategy. “Work out one trap, it solved my problem. And man, it has worked like a charm.”
Whether or not his logic holds up is another conversation entirely. From a health and fitness standpoint, intentionally creating muscular imbalance isn’t something most experts would recommend. Asymmetrical training can lead to posture issues, joint strain, and a higher risk of injury—especially in the neck and shoulders. The trapezius muscle plays a vital role in stabilizing the shoulders and upper spine, and neglecting one side may result in long-term discomfort or physical complications.
Yet, The Crooked Man doesn’t seem too concerned with traditional fitness advice. For him, this exercise plan is more of a social statement—or perhaps a viral stunt. His audience continues to grow, and reactions to his physique vary from admiration to disbelief to sheer amusement.
Is it effective? That depends on the goal. If the goal is balanced muscle growth, injury prevention, and long-term fitness, then no—working out only one side of one muscle group isn’t likely to help. But if the goal is to challenge societal beauty standards, go viral, and spark conversation? Mission accomplished.
Still, it’s important to remember that fitness isn’t just about how you look—it’s also about how you feel and how your body performs. While The Crooked Man’s one-sided trap workouts may be entertaining or thought-provoking, they’re not a blueprint for most people.
If nothing else, his story is a reminder that fitness journeys can be wildly unique. Some people train for aesthetics, others for strength, mental health, or even self-expression. And in the case of The Crooked Man, perhaps all of the above.
What do you think of his training approach? Would you ever try something like this—or do you believe in a more traditional, full-body fitness routine? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
