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Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 286: Don Howorth’s Legendary Delts

Don Howorth posing at Vince's Gym

When you meet your cellmate your first day of prison and he says, “We’re going to have so much fun,” do not believe him.

Don Howorth posing at Vince's Gym

That’s actually Don Howorth, a Vince Gironda disciple and 1967 Mr. America. The photo was taken under the skylight at Vince’s Gym and had the bodybuilding world buzzing about his incredible shoulders. (Steve Downs photo)

One of Gironda’s and Howorth’s favorite cannonball delt moves was wide-grip upright rows. Vince often had trainees use a Smith machine, but dumbbells can be less restrictive…

Always stop the upward movement when your elbows are on the same plane as your shoulders to avoid joint injury.

Vince was a legendary Hollywood trainer who berated, er um, convinced us to move to Density Training—short rests between sets with moderate poundages.

He emphasized sculpting the physique rather than hammering it into submission. Here’s how Vince looked in his late 50s…

Vince Gironda at almost 60 years old

Now that we’re past middle age, we’re glad we latched onto his advice before the hammer—and possibly scalpel—came down on our joints.

Remember, you don’t have to use joint-crushing poundages to build massive muscles. And you should be able to train hard as you age without debilitating aches, pains, and/or surgery.

Use Density Training, like moderate-poundage STX, and emphasize the ideal exercises, the safest, most effective mass moves. For more, see the ebooks below.

Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.

Steve Holman and Jonathan Lawson
X-Rep.com
 

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Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: bodybuilding zen, round delts, shoulders, vince gironda, vince's gym, wide delts, wide shoulders

10×10 Mass-Building Method

Close up of Jonathan's biceps' vein

Q: I know that you like all sets in your workouts to failure or close. I’m wondering if you ever tried the 10-sets-of-10 method. Most of the sets are easy, with only the last two sets to failure. Is it worth trying?

A: Yes, Jonathan and I used 10×10 at the Iron Man Training & Research Center for about two months and got good gains; however… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 10x10, 10x10 method, mass building, muscle building, vince gironda

More Sets for Young Muscle?

Steve after adding a bit more muscle...and a beard.

Q: I’m 45 years old, 20 years your junior. I was blown away by the Old Man, Young Muscle ebook and workout. It all makes so much sense. But I’m wondering if my younger age means that I should add sets to the workouts you recommend?

A: First, I’m 63, so you’re only 18 years younger. It’s the gray beard, isn’t it? Seriously, your question is tough to answer because recovery ability is so specific to the individual. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: before and after, iron guru, neuromuscular efficiency, recovery, short workouts, supercompensation, vince gironda

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 192: Zane vs. Arnold

Arnold and Frank Zane in tank tops

Here’s a vintage shot of Arnold and Frank Zane during Tank Top Week at the original Gold’s Gym. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed at the gym during Tiara Week. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 1968, arnold, arnold schwarzenegger, bodybuilding zen, frank zane, john balik, mr. universe, vince gironda

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 182: Dave Draper’s Shock at McArdle’s Triceps

Dave Draper looking at Bill 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…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 1965, aesthetic, Bill McArdle, Carl Withers, Dave Draper, larry scott, Mr. America, mr. olympia, mr. universe, physique, vince gironda

Sarcoplasmic Muscle-Size Myth?

Ronnie Coleman in a most muscular pose

I received an email insisting that the sarcoplasm doesn’t make a muscle bigger. Remember, the sarcoplasm is the “energy fluid” in the muscle that contains ATP and other substrates.

That used to be a prevailing belief; however, here’s a quote from hypertrophy researcher Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D. on the subject: [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Brad Schoenfeld, capillarization, creatine, myofibrillar growth, sarcoplasm, sarcoplasmic expansion, vince gironda

New Study: Quick Workouts, Faster Muscle Growth

Vince Gironda, lean and vascular

I’ve been told that my 35-minute workouts need to be longer because my rest between sets need to be more than a minute if I want the best growth effects.

I caved and recently tried it. But my results were not any better—in fact, I felt as though I was regressing. Could it be that my body type and musculature are just more responsive to 20-second-rest “density” training? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized, X Files Tagged With: muscle building, muscle growth, short workouts, vince gironda

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 173: Larry Scott’s Beach-Ball Biceps

Larry Scott at the beach flexing his biceps for a girl

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…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: biceps, biceps shape, big arms, bodybuilding zen, density training, larry scott, mr. olympia, STX, vince gironda, vince's gym

Hypertrophy Hack for New Mass

Vince Gironda in black and white

Have I mentioned I’m in the “scarecrow” ectomorph category? I know, I know, my story has grown tiresome; however…

There are quite a few skinny dudes out there who could pack more mass on their physiques with some specific workout tweaks, like some sets with high reps…

In case you missed it, [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Chris Beardsley, continuous tension, ectomorph, high-rep sets, hypertrophy, short rests, vince gironda

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 159: Danny Padilla’s Quad Flex

Danny Padilla in the gym flexing his leg

Here’s a shot of Danny Padilla doing the River Dance, an Irish jig believed to be the secret to massive leprechaun legs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: bodybuilding zen, brazilian study, danny padilla, giant killer, growth threshold, progressive muscle-fiber exhaustion, STX, stx method, vince gironda

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