Is the ideal exercise all you need to fully stimulate a target muscle? Doug said absolutely—but he never convinced me. [Read more…]
Ideal-Exercise-Only Workout for the Most Mass?
Q: I just read your newsletter on Position-of-Flexion [ideal exercise plus stretch- and contracted-position exercises]. I thought the natural strength curve of muscles is hard at the stretch and then tailing off at contraction. Doug [Brignole] said the ideal exercise is all you need. If others were beneficial, wouldn’t he have said so? [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 182: Dave Draper’s Shock at McArdle’s Triceps
Here’s a rare shot of Mr. America/Mr. Universe Dave Draper’s reaction to Bill McArdle’s massive arm: “Aye, your trrricep looks like a wee thick Irrrrish lass straddling yourrrr upper-arm bone.” [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 173: Larry Scott’s Beach-Ball Biceps
Larry Scott’s guns aroused attention everywhere in the ’60s, especially on the beach. Ladies would swoon as they walked up to him and asked, “So exactly how did you shed all of your body hair?” [Read more…]
Mr. America on Mr. O’s Biceps Shape Shift
A few newsletters ago, I had photos of the first Mr. O Larry Scott in his prime and later in life after he decided to see if he could reshape his biceps—higher peak—by removing preacher curls from his arm workout and emphasize “peak-contraction” exercises. Results… [Read more…]
Muscle-Morphing Memories
Yesterday I discussed how the first Mr. Olympia Larry Scott reshaped his biceps somewhat from bulbously long and thick to more tweaked and peaked. [Read more…]
Muscle-Shaping Madness (photos)
In the last few newsletters, I focused on researcher Chris Beardsley’s observation on how muscles can grow in specific areas…
In a nutshell, he says that muscle can grow in length from stretch resistance, which creates more size at the ends of the target muscle, OR muscle fibers can increase in diameter from contraction, or contractile force, which thickens the muscle more near the center, a.k.a. the belly of the muscle. [Read more…]
Intensity vs. Density for Muscle Mass
Two legends in the evolution of bodybuilding training are Arthur Jones, the so-called father of high-intensity training and creator of Nautilus machines, and Vince Gironda, a.k.a., the Iron Guru and Studio City gym owner who trained Larry Scott, the first Mr. Olympia, as well as many other champion bodybuilders and movie stars, including Clint Eastwood. [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 133: Vince Gironda’s Aesthetic Physique
This classic shot of Vince Gironda, the legendary Iron Guru, was taken way back in the 1950s. His aesthetic physique, with its symmetry, lines, and rippedness, holds up today.
Yep, even now most guys would kill to hang out by the pool looking like Vince… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 122: Larry Scott’s Bowling Ball Biceps
When best arms and Golden Age are mentioned together, the first bodybuilder that comes to mind is Larry Scott.
He was the very first Mr. Olympia, and while his entire physique was excellent, it was his Larry Scott’s bowling ball biceps that had people shaking their heads in disbelief… [Read more…]