Tag: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Samir Bannout Shares Old School Stories Of Gold’s Gym And Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Samir Bannout talks about first coming to America, Gold’s Gym, and some early stories he’s heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Samir Bannout is a bodybuilder who came into his prime during the tail end of the Golden Era of bodybuilding. He’s also a bodybuilder who lived the American dream similar to athletes like Franco Columbu and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He came to the US with a passion for bodybuilding and became a superstar and Olympia champion. So of course, he has some amazing first and second hand stories of the Golden Era of the sport. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout shares stories about coming to America, Gold’s Gym, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bodybuilding is a very different sport today than it was in the Golden Era. The core elements of the sport remain of course but it is now an entire business model compared to the fledgling niche sport it was in the past. Many bodybuilding fans today romanticize the Golden Era. A time when Gold’s Gym was an iconic location and not a business chain. A time when Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilding champion and not a politician or action star. A time before social media and a time when Joe Weider was still alive.
That’s why we asked Samir Bannout to tell us some stories from his time as a bodybuilder coming to America and rising in the ranks. Samir Bannout was present for the tail end of the Golden Era. He saw Arnold Schwarzenegger and other greats. He trained at Gold’s Gym and personally knew Joe Gold. He also made connections with individuals who were there from the very beginning.
Bannout describes reading the famous bodybuilding magazines in Lebanon and dreaming of becoming a bodybuilder in America. He saw how Joe Weider inspired athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger to the USA. So Samir Bannout headed out to the United States. He landed in Michigan originally but eventually had an opportunity to meet Joe Weider. That convinced him to move the California and enter the Mecca of bodybuilding.
Samir Bannout describes it as a dream. He made it out to California and Gold’s Gym in 1978. He describes it as coming there just in time. It was the tail end of the Golden Era and he was able to meet Joe Gold, get a lifetime free membership, and that changed everything. He describes himself as a kid in a candy store.
Samir Bannout also describes meeting a man named Art Seller. This was the man who first picked up Arnold Schwarzenegger from the airport when he arrived in Los Angeles. Bannout ended up becoming close friends with Seller and learned of wonderful early stories about Schwarzenegger. During our interview – he shares a short but funny story of Schwarzenegger when he first landed in America.
You can watch Samir Bannout talk about his journey to the US, his stories of Gold’s Gym and some funny short stories of Arnold Schwarzenegger in our latest GI Exclusive interview above. Bannout mentions that he wants to help continue spreading the passion and love and stories of bodybuilding’s past – especially as many of these greats start to recede into time. This video is a great little oral history keeping the past alive.
6 Ways To Improve Your Mind-Muscle Connection
Improve Your Mind-Muscle Connection With These Steps
The mind-muscle connection is the difference between just going through the movements and establishing a connection with your muscles. The Governator, Arnold, brought the concept into the limelight in the classic documentary, Pumping Iron.
While performing an exercise, you should have a laser focus on your working muscle. Having a good mind-muscle connection will help you get an incredible pump and annihilate your muscles.
Slow Down The Movement
Many people make the mistake of rushing through their reps. Going through the motions for the sake of it isn’t going to do you any good. You can significantly improve your mind-muscle connection by slowing down the reps.
Arnold didn’t train his muscle, he became the muscle. Your entire focus should be on your muscles while performing an exercise. You can try taking two seconds on the concentric, two seconds on the eccentric movement and a second at the top and bottom to improve your mind-muscle connection.
Warm-Up Before Training
Some people jump into their workouts as soon as they reach the gym. You should allow your body enough time to warm-up and get ready for the exercises. One of the best ways to warm-up for resistance training is to stretch out your muscles and warm up the joints.
Other than priming your muscles for your workout, warming up before training helps in circulating blood to the muscles. Warming-up before training can help you experience a better mind-muscle connection.
Use Isolation Exercises
It can be harder to establish a mind-muscle connection while performing compound movements as compared to isolation exercises. As bodybuilders, we are pump chasers. A pump is when blood rushes into the working muscle and expands it. The blood takes the essential nutrients for growth to the muscle fibers.
If you don’t feel a pump while performing compound (multi-joint) movements, try doing isolation (single joint) lifts. For example, instead of performing the barbell bench press, prefer the hammer strength press or a chest press machine.
Hold and Contract At The Top and Bottom
Holding and contracting your muscles at the top and bottom of the movement can be incredibly effective in inducing a pump by establishing a mind-muscle connection. A mind-muscle connection and pump are inter-connected.
Hold a rep for a couple of seconds and squeeze the living hell out of your muscles at the contraction point to help ignite new muscle growth. You should also consider user lighter weights and focusing on your muscles if you’re not able to set-up a mind-muscle connection.
Have Your Training Partner Tap Your Working Muscle
A lack of mind-muscle connection can be overcome by actively engaging your muscles while performing an exercise. As an example, while performing the tricep cable pressdowns, ask your training partner to tap on your tris while you perform the required number of repetitions.
The external tapping by the spotter will send signals to your mind and force it to connect with your muscles. The tapping should be gentle and continuous following a pattern. You shouldn’t be disturbed or rocked back and forth by the tapping.
Pose Between Sets
Most people unknowingly lose their mind-muscle connection between sets while they are resting. Some of them either start chatting or using their phones and break out of the workout “zone”.
Posing between sets is the best way to maintain or establish a mind-muscle connection. Contract your working muscles as hard as you can, and you’ll feel the mind-muscle connection and pump in your sets.
Header image courtesy of Envato Elements
What do you do for better muscle pumps? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Golden Era Lifts: 5 Exercises From The Iconic Era You Need To Try
5 Exercises From The Golden Era of Bodybuilding That You Need To Try
Many physique aesthetic fans will tell you the golden era of bodybuilding was the best time for the sport. They might be right as the kind of symmetry and conditioning the bodybuilders had in the golden era are almost non-existent now.
The quality of muscle and shape in those days was a result of some lifts which were the favorites of the bodybuilders. With time and introduction of new equipment, the golden era exercises have almost been forgotten.
Concentration Curls
The concentration curls turned into an iconic exercise after Arnold Schwarzenegger was seen performing them in the classic documentary, Pumping Iron. The concentration curls are an isolation exercise which works the peak of the bicep.
There are many variations of the concentration curls. If you’re a beginner, you should perform the exercise while sitting on a chair or a bench. Bend over and place your right elbow on the inside of your right knee while holding a dumbbell in your right hand.
Without swinging your arm, curl the dumbbell by flexing at your elbow. Keep the eccentric motion of the exercise slow and controlled. Switch to the left arm after completing the recommended repetitions on the right side.
Cross-Bench Dumbbell Pullovers
Cross-bench dumbbell pullovers can help you better isolate your lats by letting you drop your hips below the level of the flat bench. Lie down across a flat bench and place your upper back on the bench while holding a dumbbell with both your hands over your chest.
While keeping your elbows and lower body locked in place, take the dumbbell towards the floor. You should feel a contraction in your lats at the bottom of the movement. Bring the dumbbell back to the starting position and repeat for the recommended reps.
Sissy Squats
Sissy squats are an incredibly effective exercise when it comes to building the teardrop in your quads. With the advancement in training machines, sissy squats have unfortunately lost their charm amongst the Gen-X lifters.
Hold onto a machine or a column with one arm as you get in position to perform the sissy squats. Squat down while leaning your torso back so all the stress is on your quads. Always keep your hips forward while performing the exercise.
If you’re doing the sissy squats correctly, you won’t need any additional resistance. In case you do need to use weight, you can hold a weight plate in front of your chest with your free arm.
T-Bar Rows
The T-Bar rows are one of the most brutal back exercises which have been wiped out of the modern exercise guides. There are only a few other back exercises which can build the thickness in your back like the good old T-bar rows.
If you don’t have access to a T-Bar rows machine at your gym, you can use a barbell by putting one end of the barbell in a corner so it doesn’t move while you perform the exercise. Make sure you maintain an arch in your back while performing the exercise.
Forearm Roller
Most people treat their forearm workouts like accessory work and train them if they have some time to spare after their workouts. The golden era bodybuilders considered symmetry and muscle proportions to be the most important aspect of the sport and gave equal importance to all their muscle groups.
The forearm roller is one of the easiest exercises to perform but will leave you with a nasty forearm pump. While keeping your arms fully extended, raise the weight by rolling the bar until the weight reaches the top. Slowly unroll until the weight reaches the starting position and repeat for the recommended repetitions.
Header image courtesy of Envato Elements
Who is your favorite golden era bodybuilder? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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THROWBACK: Flex Lewis Tells His Story – “The American Dream Was Put In Front of Me”
Inside the mind of Flex Lewis.
UPDATE: In celebration of Independence Day – we are republishing our article from 2018 detailing Flex Lewis’ journey to America and becoming arguably the single greatest Men’s 212 champion in pro bodybuilding. Below is the original article.
James ‘Flex’ Lewis won his sixth straight 212 Mr Olympia title in 2017, tying the record set by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Now the 34-year-old legend lives and trains in Florida, but still holds close to his Welsh roots. He sat down with WalesOnline to talk about his life- past present and future.
Flex said that rugby and gymnastics gave him a fantastic frame for bodybuilding. In fact his nickname “Flex” was from rugby, long before his bodybuilding days. When he did start training in a local gym, they had a massive poster of Mr Wales up and the gym owner said he would give Lewis a free membership if he competed in the show. Lewis agreed, won the show, and it’s head judge, Niel Hill, still coaches Lewis to this day.
“He advised me at the time to go for Olympic junior under-21 weightlifting. I won that show. Pictures from that show ended up on the internet, which was still relatively new at the time, and it made its way to the owner of the famous Gold’s Gym in America. The next thing I knew, he was requesting I fly out to LA.”
On his first-ever trip to America, Lewis was having dinner with guys like Hulk Hogan and Jean-Claude van Damme. He sees himself as a poster boy from the American dream, attributing all his success to hard work and dedication.
“I wasn’t given any blueprint of how to be a bodybuilder; I just decided to give it my all.”
Lewis also commented on his rigorous training mentality.
“I see it as a job. You don’t want to go to work sometimes, but that’s why I’ve given my body that mental break…I never cheat, I never miss training sessions and I’ve never missed a cardio session in the years. Even when I’ve had injuries, I’ve still altered my cardio and training to get around the injuries.”
Though he still stays in excellent shape, Lewis is now pursuing opportunities outside of bodybuilding. He has developed many contacts in entertainment though he says the work can be less than exciting,
“Up until this year, I’ve never been presented or entertained anything to do with acting,” he said. “I’ve done some stuff with Paris Hilton when I lived in LA, but I found it incredibly boring standing on set all day long and eating from a food truck.”
No matter if he decides to dive into acting, Lewis says he is proud of what he’s created for himself and his family.
“The investments I’ve made ten years ago are now doing very well, and I’ve got other businesses in the process of being bought out. I pride myself in knowing what I’ve gone through, my family will never have to go through. They’ll be financially secure for life.”
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Lou Ferrigno Answers: Who Deserves To Be Called The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time?
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Lou Ferrigno debates who is truly the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Lou Ferrigno is a bodybuilder who competed in the Golden Era of the sport alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu. Even after retiring, he has remained passionate about bodybuilding and fitness up until today. That’s why we asked him who he thinks is the best bodybuilder in the history of the sport. Of course, Ferrigno finds the answer not 100% easy to answer. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lou Ferrigno answers – who truly deserves to be called the greatest bodybuilder of all time?
Lou Ferrigno competed alongside many greats in his time – and was inspired by legendary bodybuilders before him. He’s stood on stage next to Arnold Schwarzenegger and looked up to Steve Reeves – which inspired him to become a bodybuilder. So who does he think deserves to be called the greatest bodybuilder of all time?
That’s the very question we asked Lou Ferrigno when we sat down with him for a video interview about his latest hearing implant. As a true lover of bodybuilding – he can’t easily pick one name. He compares each legendary bodybuilder like a different type of muscle or sports car. They each stand tall as beautiful and beloved machines (or people). Neither is truly 100% better or worse than the other. It just depends on your preference.
For Lou Ferrigno – that preference might ultimately fall on Steve Reeves. To Ferrigno, Reeves had one of the greatest classic physiques of all time. His proportions, aesthetic, and conditioning all came together like a marble statue. He explains in our interview that it was Steve Reeves who inspired him to become a bodybuilder in the first place. Without Reeves, we wouldn’t have the Incredible Hulk – nor would we have the epic rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger seen in Pumping Iron.
Lou Ferrigno also of course mentions Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bodybuilder who stood tall with seven Mr. Olympia titles and ultimately became an international phenomenon through big screen movies. It’s impossible to deny that Schwarzenegger is in contention for the greatest of all time.
Interestingly enough, Lou Ferrigno does not mention the new school bodybuilders in his self debate trying to determine the best of all time. Perhaps this is due to his connection to the Golden Era. While he does pay attention to the modern sport – he finds the denser physiques less appealing than the Classic Physiques of the past. He enjoys that the sport has spread its wings with multiple divisions. But he does find it a completely different sport than the one he participated in all those years ago.
Ultimately, Lou Ferrigno doesn’t land on a particular name. He does find that the bodybuilders of the past had more camaraderie than bodybuilders today. This is something that he has stated much in the past as well. He also doesn’t completely discount his own name from the options for best of all time. He doesn’t go as far to say he is the greatest – but he believes that his placement and past shows – including the Mr. Universe – put him as an option (a type of sports car to go back to the analogy) that some would find preferable to the rest.
You can watch Lou Ferrigno go into full detail about the best bodybuilders of all time in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Samir Bannout: Arnold Schwarzenegger Won Olympia 1980 Because Of His Name
Samir Bannout’s First Hand Account Of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Controversial Olympia 1980 Win
One of the most controversial Mr. Olympia competitions in history was in 1980. It was the year that Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to compete last minute after stepping away from the sport. He ended up winning first place and his 7th Olympia trophy. Many fans believed that it was an unearned win fueled by his rising Hollywood fame. It was an infamous moment in pro bodybuilding history. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout shares his first hand account both back stage and on stage of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Olympia 1980 win.
Samir Bannout is a bodybuilding legend in his own right. He is a Mr. Olympia champion and considered by many to have one of the greatest physiques of all time. He was also present at the 1980 Mr. Olympia competition. We sat down with Samir via video chat for our latest GI Exclusive interview. During that conversation, we asked him to reflect on his first hand account of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return and the drama that ensued at Mr. Olympia 1980.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Secret Competition Prep
Samir Bannout notes that the first thing he remembers I seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger in the gym about a month before the Mr. Olympia. While Arnold did not confirm anything, Samir could tell from the nature of his training that he was preparing to compete again. In fact, he was not completely surprised when Arnold eventually announced he would appear at the Mr. Olympia. It seems that perhaps it wasn’t as last minute a decision as many believe. Simply a surprise to the public.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive segment with Samir Bannout above!
The Press Conference Aggression
Samir Bannout goes on to describe the press conference before the Mr. Olympia. This is where the drama started to build up. Samir recalls Arnold Schwarzenegger saying some harsh words – particularly to Mike Mentzer. This wasn’t particularly off character for Arnold – who was always cocky as part of his bodybuilding persona. But due to his sudden appearance last minute at this specific competition – the cocky trash talk was received a little differently.
Mike Mentzer became so angry from the press conference comments that he and Arnold Schwarzenegger physically attacked each other. The rest of the athletes and staff had to pull Mike and Arnold apart. That’s how heated things were before the actual competition even started. Of course, this didn’t bode well for what was to come.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Controversial Olympia Win
Arnold Schwarzenegger ultimately was crowned the winner of the Mr. Olympia 1980. This decision was so poorly received that Frank Zane threw his trophy to the ground and multiple athletes stormed off stage. It was clear that many disagreed with the judges decision.
So what about Samir Bannout? Did he disagree with the call? He makes it clear in our conversation that he felt Arnold Schwarzenegger did not deserve to win the Mr. Olympia 1980. In fact, while he does not have confirmation, he has heard many rumors from trusted friends in the industry. Rumors that imply that Arnold Schwarzenegger received help from the judges due to his rising star in Hollywood.
There are those who thought perhaps Arnold was scored more favorably because of how much power he held as a celebrity. Or alternatively, he was so beloved that the judges scored more on Arnold the icon rather than his conditioning.
“Yeah of course so many people got pissed off and I also believe they have the right to get mad,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. He continues:
“I think the assumption was then… do I know exactly what happened or why did Arnold win? Sometimes you have to remember, Arnold had a lot of fans. And he’s Arnold. Everyone looked up to Arnold. And so, I heard that some of the judges loved Arnold. Loved him as Arnold. They didn’t care about his conditioning that day. They voted for him as Arnold and that’s not right. Me personally if my brother was on stage, doesn’t deserve to win, I wouldn’t let him win.”
Samir Bannout makes a point to state he has no proof of this. It’s a rumor he has heard from enough people to trust in the topic. That’s a testament to just how controversial Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1980 victory was. While all of these claims may simply be one day proven false – it’s the optics that led to such fervor.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s last minute entry, his conditioning being off compared to his prime, and his rising fame outside of bodybuilding all created an atmosphere ripe for conspiracy theories and unhappy fans.
We may never know the truth behind what exactly happened or if there was truly foul play. But Samir Bannout’s recounting of the Olympia 1980 is wonderfully entertaining and insightful. It provides a behind the scenes oral history of a very infamous and dramatic moment in bodybuilding history.
You can watch Samir Bannout go into full detail about the 1980 Mr. Olympia by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!