Two legendary Mr. Olympias of the past couple of decades are pictured below, Ronnie Coleman (left) and Jay Cutler (right). (Bill Comstock photo). [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 26: Doug Brignole, 59-year-old Mr. Universe
Our friend and colleague Doug Brignole just won the 2019 Drug-Free Mr. Universe Open division at age 59. Very impressive [photo courtesy of Doug Brignole ]… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 24: Mike Mentzer’s Triceps
In a previous newsletter, we talked about Mentzer’s incredible overall mass and his Heavy Duty training style. But Mike Mentzer’s triceps were one of his most impressive muscle groups… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 22: Freddy Ortiz & Larry Scott
The photo below of Larry Scott and Freddy Ortiz was taken circa 1962 in front of Vince’s Gym in Studio City, California. [Read more…]
Get More Muscle Size From One Set
Q: I’m using the Basic Workout in the X-traordinary X-Rep Workout e-book with great success. Using the single best Ultimate Exercise for each bodypart is just what I need because I’m short on time. Gains are excellent, but I have a problem is with chest. I use decline presses, but I can’t feel my pecs at all on the heavy pyramid. I don’t feel my chest working till the drop set I do last, and I really want to get more muscle size. Any suggestions?
A: It sounds like you have low neuromuscular efficiency, or nerve force, in your pectoral muscles. When you do a big compound exercise for a bodypart with low nerve response, the ancillary muscles take over, so it can be tough to build more muscle size. We would guess you’re feeling decline presses in your triceps and/or front delts on the power pyramid—but there is a solution… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 20: Lee Haney
The photo of Lee Haney below was taken by our friend and former Iron Man owner/photographer Michael Neveux. It’s iconic to say the least, and Mike was one of the best bodybuilding photographers of all time. But back to Haney… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 18: Dorian Yates
Dorian Yates ushered in the mass-monster era of bodybuilding with his 1992 Mr. Olympia victory. Even the Mr. O before him, Lee Haney, who was massive in his own right, knew that Dorian was a new breed of sheer mass and density. [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 16: Lee Labrada
Lee Labrada never won the Mr. Olympia, but he got close due to his incredible symmetry, proportions, and muscle size and density. An Iron Man editor (Steve) gave him the monicker “Mass With Class” back in the ‘80s for good reason–his physique was a work of art (photo by Michael Neveux)… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 14: Tom Platz’s Quads
1980 Mr. Universe Tom Platz had a pair of the freakiest legs bodybuilding had ever seen—and even today they look Photoshopped. Trust us—they aren’t (Steve interviewed Tom face-to-face back in the late ’80s for Iron Man magazine)… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 12: Zane on the Beach
We’ve both lived in a beach town—Steve still does—and nothing fuels workouts more than summertime near the ocean. You know you’re going to be hitting the sand (or lake or pool) more than a few times, so you better be hitting the gym hard. [Read more…]