Our double-team plan had failed. As you can see, my book is distinct from the others. Everyone involved agreed that this was a doable arrangement. Pull downs - 1 x 8 reps Ellington Darden: It was less than that. A few years later, a significantly more muscular Mentzer emerged in the IFBB and began an incredible career, climbing the ladder of national and international physique titles, growing gigantic in the process. Drew Baye: When Jones trained someone, was he a stickler for form? Try this routine and let the detractors claim you do 'roids, sneak in extra sets after the gym closes or you're naturally muscular. Also, Im in the process of updating my Web site, which was called Classic X. 1-2 Sets of 6-8 Reps. Yates Barbell Row or One Arm Cable Row. Drew Baye: In your book, you discuss the importance of negative work in building muscle. My name is Val and I am Mike's close friend, pupil and protg. Remember, this was on an advanced bodybuilder, the hardest specimen to realize real muscle growth because of being so close to his genetic potential. He built a super, heavy duty hydraulic with a control that a training partner could operate. Between 1979 and 1980, Mr. Olympias, high intensity training, got on the peak and Mike Mentzer (Born on 15th November 1951 - Died on 10th June 2001) even seemed to be on the verge of giving transformation to the realms of bodybuilding. Thank goodness, Hutchins and I were not seated near Cooper, as our heads and necks needed rest. Ray found out he had kidney issues in 1999. It would be impossible to sell a book to each of those existing, 1.6 million trainees. When Hutchins was a senior in high school, Conroe had one of the best football teams in Texas. Mike eventually decided to call it a day and go to bed as exhaustion set in. One of the greatest bodybuilders of his time was Ray Mentzer. Dip That being the case, then I must go with chapter 16: shocking your hips and thighs. At a powerful 5'4", Franco was able to deadlift 750 pounds, bench press 525 pounds, and squat 655 pounds. He was at rep 15 and Arthur walked into the gym with a couple of people. Kens parents would not permit him to play football. Also, my soreness from deadlifts lasted an entire 7 or 8 days! Thats right, Ray Mentzer did single leg extensions in a normal positive-negative manner with 290 pounds, which is equivalent to handling 580 pounds with both legs. Leg Press In fact, Ray would regularly host Saturday night squat parties. 1976 Jr. Mr. America (Tall) In fact, NTF workouts may speed recovery by supplying some of the chemistry to guard against atrophy and to facilitate active rest. Cooper, answering a question, knocked strength training. Of course, the lower back is also stimulated because it is involved in the move. In the middle of the Nautilus compound was a non-descript, 30- by 50-foot, metal building, which was the home of 40 large crocodiles that Jones had brought in from Jamaica. The #1 Source For Oldtime Strongman Training Secrets. Drew Baye: Are you currently working on anything new and exciting? If Mike would have won the Olympia, the world of professional bodybuilding might now be significantly different. It works. Remember, this was on an advanced bodybuilder, the hardest specimen to realize real muscle growth because of being so close to his genetic potential. If you have ever made a new year fitness resolution as a bodybuilder, you can attest that keeping your new years Hormones are chemical substances released by glands in the body to regulate various functions. Ellington Darden: I was a fan of Mikes books, especially the ones that chronicled his training for the 1978 Mr. Universe and the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Ray quickly surpassed the 250 lb weight threshold thanks to an excessive intake of calories. Furthermore, he bench-pressed and deadlifted significantly more weight in 1970 than I did in 1962. By Steve Wedan (visit his website at www.SteveWedanArt.com). . As you age, your body undergoes changes With Valentines Day just around the corner, everyone is looking for gift ideas and ways to spend time with their special Jonathan Majors is a fitness and actor model featured in Fitness Magazines and Workout DVDs and has even been on the Have you ever wondered how to get bigger arms and why it is essential to have them? Ray, his brother, who is also suffering from illnesses, found him. So, during the experiment, he was rebuilding previously existing levels of muscular size. Ray would throw Saturday night squat parties every Saturday night. There is this rumour going on that Ray had squatted as much as 900 pounds, with Darden confirming Ray could almost certainly handle 700 odd pounds in powerlifter form. The advanced and super advanced techniques were fully researched and tested by Mike in the late 70's, but following the infamous 1980 Mr.Olympia . But it was no use. I never attended because I worked at a club. Photography: To illustrate the history, I also have more than a hundred photographs from the 1970s that are placed throughout the text. In this interview the author of the best-selling Nautilus book series retraces his early training days with Arthur Jones and Casey Viator and talks about some of the golden-age bodybuilders who inspired him. Body Building Links. As well I found him very bias towards AJ, as in he was never wrong. I think back then they relied on blood,sweat,tears more than juice,which sadly . Take the hips and thighs as an example. They shared an apartment after moving in together, and during the ensuing months, they became closer. After some small talk, he was going to ask him bluntly to define exercise. That question will go down in history with Who really killed JFK? Ellington Darden: Yes, I believe youre right, especially those who recommend only three exercises once a week, or even once every-other week. In the summer of 1979, if you had viewed an upstart, 27-year-old philosopher and former pre-med student with the alliterative name Mike Mentzer as he prepared to make his Olympia debut by trading sets with his youngest brother Ray (who won that year's Mr. America), it would've looked like some sort of madness. Drew Baye: If you place those potential HIT users on the far left side a normal, bell-shaped curve, what would you label those on the far right side high-volume trainees? With Flanagan and me pushing him, hed have stopped at 20. For those recommendations to come close to producing maximum results, the trainee would have to extremely big, strong, and advanced. And although their lights have faded, Ray and Mike Mentzer built some of the biggest muscles the world has ever seen using these methods. What would a split routine do for his calves, abs and arms, which he feels need three workouts in a week? Squat I remember coming in on a Monday and Benny informed me that Ray had squatted 900 that past Saturday. Jones began immediately training Viator on a three-times-per-week schedule, and true to his expectations, Viator started growing. This new one will be directed to men over 60 years of age. Ray thought that by using these techniques to extend his time under tension, he would improve his muscle growth. Mentzer preached high-intensity exercise once a week or once every five to seven days and stressed that 20-30 minutes were ideal for achieving maximum muscle stimulation. As for gaining eighteen pounds of muscle in two weeks, Ive never personally trained anyone who has put on that much size, but knowing how quickly I can put on a few pounds with creatine I wouldnt rule out the possibility that someone like David Hudlow who is much larger than I am could gain a significant amount of size with Ells creatine loading protocol. Now, youll experience some of the reasons why this is my least favorite routine. Born: by Greg Merritt. Ellington Darden: Mike moved to Lake Helen, Florida, in 1983 and worked for Nautilus approximately 6 months. Ray used the same Heavy Duty Training training regimen as his brother Mike. Does he start splitting his workouts? Ellington Darden: Over the last 25 years, I worked with a lot of major publishing houses, such as Little Brown, Simon & Schuster, Contemporary Books, and Putnam. Im grateful that Ive spent as much time as I have with both Jones and Hutchins. The legacy he left to those in the Iron Game is his controversial workout program, Mike Mentzer's Heavy Duty. It was the essential basic Heavy Duty routine consisting of four to five sets per bodypart and broken into two workouts. If isometrics are doing something to foster the creation of cross-bridges, I wonder if theres a performance-price to be paid elsewhere? I was a bit worried. It wasnt unusual for Jones to discuss various deals with well-known athletes, or their agents. None of the suggestions (including exercise, diet, products or services) mentioned should be performed or otherwise used without clearance from your physician or health care provider. Start your reps immediately with each breakdown; don't spend an extra moment as a breather. Arthur Jones frequently said that when he trained Viator, Casey got bigger and leaner, by the day. Joness personal form when he trained himself was impeccable. Ray won the title of IFBB Mr. USA in 1978. It was Dr. Kenneth Cooper. When a trainee thought he was finished, Jones could always get at least two more reps from that individual. Important, you must have a clock or a watch with a second hand that you can place in plain sight. Leg Curls . (The before-and-after photos confirmed that also.) Then his brother died two DAYS later at age 47. Use about half the weight (50 percent) that youd normally use. Ellington Darden: Now were talking about a probable world record for muscular growth, but as I point out in chapter 3 of my book, Viator had been in a disabling accident and his muscles had atrophied. In a local physique contest, however, Hutchins would have been pressed to finish in the top 10 (just kidding, Ken). There is nothing wrong with repeating things other people have said if those things are right, if you give credit where credit is due, and if you are adding value to it or making it accessible or understandable to a new group, and Ell accomplishes all of these with his books. The New Bodybuilding for Old-School Results by Ellington Darden. That year he also took part in AAU Mr. America and placed at 10th. Thus, he simplified his routine to upper body only. Shrug Get ready for an incredible pump. Conroes head football coach, W. T. Stapler, who had been there for 10 years, told me that Hutchins bench-pressed 50 pounds more and dealifted 100 pounds more than the strongest guys on the team. Make no mistake Ken Hutchins was one strong, Texas teenager. With Arthur Jones Supervision, a Little Goes a Long Way. The latest statistics from the Sports Goods Manufacturers Association reveals that approximately 20,000,000 males in the United States are actively involved in bodybuilding and strength training. He registered no weight gain during days 12, 13, and 14, so I just called it two weeks to keep it in line with the other two-week plans in the book. That would amount to 160,000 copies sold of The New High-Intensity Training in 12 months. Who framed Roger Rabbit? Is the science of microtrauma and its alleged role in hypertrophy well understood? Make them alternate days, and try to rest on your off days. Over the course of several videos, the brothers put Markus through three high intensity workouts: 1. Mike Mentzer was focused on High Intensity, Low Volume training, capitalizing on a six to nine rep range. He and some other guys would perform squats for hours on end. Halfway through the photo shoot, I could tell that Carol was quickly getting a handle on the subject matter. Preacher curls - 1 x 10 reps, Note: Ray Mentzer's Routine is based on High Intensity Training for more info see The Colorado Experiment Workout. Did he ever do any amusing things around Nautilus? Maintaining a healthy weight as a bodybuilder becomes increasingly essential, especially after age 40. That reinforced to me that the weight gain was added muscle and not just water brought about from the creatine loading. "Many bodybuilders sell themselves short. Ray frequently rested completely for 34 days after his rigorous training sessions. They favored lower reps so it was different than the way someone like Platz and Casey generated intensity. But as I look back on my 45 years of bodybuilding experience, combined with the thousands and thousands of individuals Ive trained (and observed training), I can say with confidence that more people would profit from an understanding and application of proper form, than from proper intensity. And when an almost unbelievably muscular Mentzer materialized in 1979, once again it was due to another application of increased intensity. But the arithmetic of bodybuilding soon presents a difficult problem, If he needs, say, 20 exercises to work everything, and he's decided to cut back to 16 total sets of high intensity work in order to keep gaining, how does he cover all bases? Mike suffered a heart attack while he was sleeping. Flat barbell bench press (5 sets, 6-8 reps) 3. Mentzer would spend hours in the gym every day when he began training. Mentzer is a man of enormous natural talentpotential no less notable than other bodybuilders who know little of high intensity. Ray had no choice but to have a replacement kidney due to the severity of the illness. Targeted to fitness and bodybuilding press, newsletters, and Web sites. Overall, Im very pleased with whats happening with the book. Drew Baye: How many bodybuilders do you figure are interested in HIT? Studies since then have confirmed much of what Jones believed concerning negative work. During the 10 years that Ken worked at Nautilus, he and I were involved in four major strength-training and fat-loss projects, as well as dozens of Nautilus-related seminars and workshops. His greatest asset was his physical strength. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Mike Mentzer split What was the Mike Mentzer's training split? Many years ago, the entire bodybuilding world watched Mike Mentzer grow very large. And yet, Ellington Darden, Ken Leistner and Peary Rader have watched hundreds of men and women gain real muscle that was impossible for them to build before training harder and briefer. Workout 1 of Mentzer's Routine Leg Exercises. Born in 1941, Franco Columbu was a Strongman competitor and bodybuilder who won two Mr. Olympia titles: in 1976 and 1981. He stood only 5'8 yet packed 215 pounds of rock-solid muscle on his frame. Ellington Darden: Yes thats precisely what we were thinking. While Mike showed little desire to train intensely in Lake Helen, Ray was just the opposite. In a relative sense, the so-called easiest stage will not seem at all easy. HIT training w/deads can be brutal, squats are equally brutal. Staying off stages for most of the rest of the decade, Viator worked for Jones at Nautilus until 1978. His triceps, in particular, when viewed from behind, reminded one of two large watermelons hanging out of a T-shirt. When did you go all absolutionist? Incline dumbbell fly (5 sets, 8 reps) 2. What was Ray Mentzer's arm training routine? Ellington Darden: Hes Andy McCutcheon and hes been using HIT principles since 1988, when he trained at Dorian Yatess gym in Birmingham, England. Concerning frequency, I believe the results from the vast majority of the once-a-week training could be improved with the addition of one not-to-failure (NTF) session each week. The awesome Mentzer brothers, fuelled by their intense rivalry, show what they can do when they pump iron at the gym. When we took the HIT photography, 38-year-old McCutcheon weighed 184 pounds, at a height of 6-feet even, and I personally measured his body fat at 3.4 percent. Drew Baye: In chapter 9 of your new HIT book, you talk about meeting and working with Mike Mentzer. After years of competition, Mike decided to quit his competitive career and concentrate on new projects in 1982. If you can press two partners into service, there will be hardly a break in your breakdowns, make this a very advanced principle. Twenty reps, Arthur repeated, after asking us about his progress, hell, he can do 50 with each leg. Over the next three minutes, Viator not only did 50 reps, but 2 more for good measure. So we use the body's abilities to create inroads into existing strength to our advantage. I had a tremendous pump throughout my upper body. (No commercial intended, but the book will truly help.). Ellington Darden: Ive trained Boyer Coe, Joe Means, Scott Wilson, and Ray Mentzer to name four. Could someone from Nautilus pick her up at the Orlando International Airport the next day at 11:00 AM? Ray and Mike both visited their mother while she was in the hospital. Also make sure to increase the weight in a particular exercise whenever possible. Theres probably a few more, but I cant recall them right now. But soon after Ray called it a day on his bodybuilding career, he developed kidney issues. . A little known fact is that Arthur Jones went through the same training program in Colorado as Casey, with one exception: He did no lower-body exercise. Was Arthur Jones the first person to introduce negative work to bodybuilding? "A LOOK AT HIGH INTENSITY BODYBUILDING" is a professionally made film featuring the legendary MIKE MENTZER, one of bodybuilding's most massive physique champions and world renowned expert and teacher of HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING. Not-to-failure (NTF) workouts: Several chapters and a detailed chart illustrate precisely how to integrate NTF workouts into your standard HIT routines for best-possible results.