Dedicated to Your Physical Transformation
Q: Speed Sets [1.5-second reps] feel great and are working. Just wondering why not do the first high-rep set with speed to get at more fast-twitch fibers. Or how about all sets in the entire workout in Speed style?
A: Have you been watching elite-bodybuilder training videos? Mr. Olympia winners like Jay Cutler use a rapid-fire cadence on almost all of their work sets… [Read more…]
Who knew four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler could sing well enough to do a residency in Vegas? Here he is belting out “The Hills Are Alive” from the Sound of Music. [Read more…]
Throughout my training career, it’s always bothered me that so many top bodybuilders talk about the importance of slow rep speed—especially on the negative or lowering stroke, yet most don’t follow that protocol… [Read more…]
I’ve always enjoyed watching the top bodybuilders train. It’s always motivational, and I often discover ways that they’ve gotten huge through instinctively doing the right thing… [Read more…]
A few newsletters ago I mentioned the middle traps’ line of pull as it relates to fiber direction—which resulted in a new add-on move for elongation: overhead scapulae retractions. Overhead trap stretch may be a better description… [Read more…]
Q: I know you train at home, so you have limited exercise choices. But I train in a commercial gym with many alternatives. Should I ever change ideal exercises? Like for chest, there are some cool decline press machines and even dip machines that seem to be ideal. Should I change to gain? If so, how often? [Read more…]
Here’s an eye-opening quote from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler: [Read more…]
Ronnie Coleman won the Mr. Olympia eight times, and his incredible monstrous physique set a new standard in the pro ranks. Check out the back shot on the right—striations on top of striations. Incredible… [Read more…]
Q: I’ve seen you mention “StatX” in some of your previous workouts. What is that? If it’ll get me bigger, I want to use it. Please explain.
A: StatX stands for Static Hold at the X Spot, usually at the end of a regular set. And, yes, you should use it often to get bigger. In fact, it may be the ultimate mass move, as you’ll see… [Read more…]
Q: After being involved in weight training for many years, and after working with many people as their instructor at home and at gyms, I think the main reason, and by far the most important one, that lifters get big and strong is because of their own personal genetics. How they train doesn’t make much difference. High reps, low reps, whatever. If they put even a little amount of effort in, they get big. Of course, drugs help immensely, but the actual type of training system they use is of little consequence, as long as it’s reasonably sound. I built 22-inch arms without drugs, and I performed a standing press with 400 pounds. I honestly do not believe it was because I trained scientifically. I did train hard, but it was because of my genetics that I gained so well and got so strong.
A: You are correct, but most trainees who are genetically gifted probably aren’t reading this. That’s too bad because by experimenting with science-based training, most of them could be so much better; however, because they gain easily, they think they’re doing things right and they keep plugging away with mediocre methods and never reach their full potential. [Read more…]
