When Jonathan Lawson and I trained together at the IM Training & Research Center, we both got a bug to squat 500 pounds—separately; not tandem…
After many false starts due to back tweaks, JL eventually did it for 2 reps. Me? I squeezed out 1 doubt-it-was-powerlifting-legal rep. But we both did it…
At our photo shoot with Michael Neveux later that year, we bragged to him about our feat. With a deadpan look Mike said, “Why?”
I have a couple of vertebrae that ask me that same question when I twist too far to get out of my car .
And by the way, my quads did NOT benefit much despite the impressive power squat—which brings to mind Tom “Quad Father” Platz…
He said strict form with higher reps is what builds muscle best: “Reps are where the gold is.”
He likes to mention Dr. Fred Hatfield, who squatted 1,000 pounds and whose quads were not impressive…
Many bodybuilders from back in the day were on the same page as Tom—they did it without crushing their joints. For example, 8-time Mr. O Lee Haney (Michael Neveux photo)…
His mantra: “Exercise to stimulate, not annihilate… I used different systems such as pre-exhaust. Guys would go into the gym and the first thing they would do: squats. Pre-exhaust teaches leg extension [first], squats after.”
“Your legs don’t understand how much weight is being lifted. All they understand is the feel. Pre-exhaust allows the weights to feel heavy and give you the same stimulation while using less weight. You save your knees, your back, your hips. And it can also save you a lot of pain in the years to come.” [HotStuffNutritionals.com]
By the way, he’s still hitting it hard, no injuries, in his 60s….
And that’s the very reason I continue to emphasize and recommend the ideal, biomechanically sound exercises as the first move for every muscle—like sissy squats or leg extensions for quads.
Those ideal, or ultimate, exercises are the core of the workouts in Old Man Young Muscle, OMYM2 and Never Stop Growing. Conversations with Mr. America and biomechanics expert Doug Brignole opened my eyes to the ideal exercises…
In the next training newsletter, I’ll discuss another pro bodybuilder, Danny Padilla, who had a unique density method for building one of the top physiques of the 1970s.
Train hard—and smart—for BIG results.
Steve Holman
Former Editor in Chief, Iron Man Magazine
X-Rep.com
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