Tag: Bodybuilding
Top 10 Things Every Woman Should Know About Strength Training
Women tend to keep a distance from the gym – especially the weights – because of the myths that have been pelted by broscientists for decades. Most of the ill-things that are said about women’s strength training are either incorrect or unproven.
Through this article, we want to put an end to the obnoxious myths and list a few benefits of strength training for women. You’ll surely be shocked – in a good way – to know some of the advantages of hitting the gym.
What All Should You Do?
If you want results, you should follow a structured plan that must include compound, isolation and isometric exercises. Sticking to one form of training will make you hit a plateau sooner or later.
You Won’t Become Manly
Most girls shy away from the weights because they have been told that it can make them look manly. Women don’t generate enough testosterone to build muscles like boys. Training with weights, on the other hand, will help you tone, sculpt and tighten your muscles.
Spot Reduction Doesn’t Work
If you always shake your head unapprovingly while watching ads about sauna fat reduction belts but go to the gym and solely rely on crunches to lose belly fat, you’re in the same boat with the people who buy spot reduction products. Spot reduction is a myth. If you want to shed weight, you’ll be better of doing HIIT cardio.
Lifting Weights is Not Necessary
Many people have the misconception that strength training can’t be done without lifting weights. Lifting weights is a small part of resistance training. If you don’t like to pump iron, you could use resistance bands, medicine balls, do bodyweight exercises, etc.
You Don’t Have To Train Every Day
A busy schedule and the inability to hit the gym every day shouldn’t stop you from starting your transformation. Design your workout program around your hectic schedule and not the other way around.
What Should Be Your Intensity?
Many people are confused about the weights they should be lifting, the number of reps they should be doing and the amount of time they should be spending in the gym. There is no short answer to this question. Your intensity will depend on your goals and current experience level.
A beginner who wants a chiseled physique should be spending at most an hour in the gym, doing 12-15 reps per set and using moderate weights. A pro should be spending the same amount of time in the gym as the beginner, lifting heavier weights and doing a lesser number of reps.
How To Get Better?
Like other things, you can only get better at fitness by putting in the time. Malcolm Gladwell, an award-winning writer, thinks that you need to dedicate 10,000 hours to a subject to achieve mastery. We’re sure you can transform your physique by putting in a fraction of this time.
You Won’t Gain Weight After Quitting
Some people believe that once you quit working out, you go back to your old self. They use this myth as an excuse to never start working out. While you might lose your peak conditioning after you quit training, you won’t go back to ground zero if you control your diet and engage in some kind of physical activity.
One Fitness Plan Works For Everyone
Googling “the best fitness program for beginners” is the first thing most of the noobs do when they start their fitness journey. Remember – there is no one-program-fits-all solution for physical transformations. For desired results, design a fitness program that suits your lifestyle and schedule.
Consistency is Key
Discipline and consistency are the names of the game when it comes to fitness. If you can’t stick to a diet, training or recovery program, you should never start a transformation program in the first place. Save yourself the time, energy and money.
How often do you work out? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
The Key To Massive Legs
Raise your very own quadrasaurus.
Having gigantic ripped legs are things of legend. Sure, everyone loves having massive biceps and chests – but that’s the obvious choice. When you see someone with truly massive legs it’s a sight to behold.
But why don’t you have legs like that? (Unless you do, then congratulations!) We’re here to help you out with that. Many people tend to take it easy on their leg workouts or even skip it all together. This is mostly because legs are one of the harder areas to make look lean and massive.
But instead of giving your legs the silent treatment, here are some ways that you can improve your leg workout game and hopefully build some truly massive muscles.
Your Deadlift and Squat Form Really Sucks
Let’s start off with a simple one. Almost everyone knows that deadlifts and squats are essential workouts for bodybuilding and a great way to strengthen your legs. But it’s not that simple if you are slacking off and screwing up your form. If you curve the crap out of your back on squats or slam the weight down onto the floor for every deadlift rep – you are doing something wrong. This leads to ineffective muscle building. It leads to an inflated sense of how much you can lift. It leads to weak legs. The opposite of what you want.
Use Isolated Movements as Accessory Exercises
This is where a lot of people make mistakes. All of those machines like Leg Extensions and Leg Curls should not be the main focus of your leg workout. These are not go to machines that will make your legs look like bulging monsters.
But don’t ignore these exercises completely. You can work with these machines at high repetitions and medium resistance to really isolate and tone your quads and hamstrings. While the compound exercises will really bulk up the muscle – these exercises will perfectly tone them into incredible definition. Think of these as accessories and not the main meal.
Make Sure to Work Unilaterally
No matter who you are, almost everyone is either right or left dominant. This goes for any body part. This means that when you work your muscles one is always doing a little bit more work than the other.
In order to prevent this, you need to include unilateral workouts into your routine. Exercises like lunges, single leg squats, and single leg deadlifts are surefire ways to make sure your muscles develop evenly.
We suggest that you perform these exercises at the beginning of your workout rather than the end. It’s very common to see these kinds of exercises as something you just sort of tack on at the end of the day. This leads to a half-hearted performance on your sets. Try to hit these exercises while you are fresh to improve the balance between your muscles.
Exercises You Should Add to Your Arsenal
With all of these helpful tips to help you move towards bigger and stronger legs, let’s put all of the essential workouts that you should use in your workout arsenal. Try mixing and matching these different exercises to create something that really maximizes your muscle gains.
Major Exercises
Squats
Traditional Deadlifts
Stiff Leg Deadlifts
Sumo Deadlifts
Romanian Deadlift
Power Clean
Single Leg Squats
Single Leg Deadlifts
Accessory Exercises
Lunges
Leg Extensions
Leg Curls
Standing Calf Raises
Are you a master of meaty legs? Share your tips with us in the comments section below. You can also give us a shout out on our Facebook and Twitter pages too.
Brad Castleberry Explains: Is 24 Hour Intermittent Fasting The Key To A Shredded Physique?
Brad Castleberry explains how 24 hour intermittent fasting can be an extra tool to create a lean and conditioned physique.
Brad Castleberry has his fair share of controversies but one thing that can’t be denied is his fantastic and consistently lean physique. He’s the kind of bodybuilder that maintains great conditioning all year. This can be a true challenge given the twists and turns life throws our way every single day. So how does he do it? We asked Castleberry that very question. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Brad Castleberry details his tactics, including intermittent fasting, for maintaining a shredded physique year round.
Brad Castleberry is the kind of bodybuilder who can throw off his shirt any day of the week at any point of the year and look shredded. While genetics play a big part of that ability – Castleberry doesn’t want to be written off just for good genetics alone. The truth is that maintaining a consistent conditioned physique takes a lot of work. The kind of work you can never take a break from.
In our new video conversation with Brad Castleberry, we asked him how he stays shredded all year round. He explained that it’s all in the diet. Most importantly, it’s about being extremely strict in your diet every single day, 365 days a year. That’s the part that’s a challenge for almost everyone. There’s no days off. There’s no breaks. There’s no turning on and off the diet. If you want to look like Castleberry throughout the year – you need to work throughout the year.
Of course, this isn’t the answer people want to hear. They want to know tips and tricks to make that hard work easier. Or how to optimize their diet habits to make the goal more obtainable. For Brad, his key additional tactic is 24 hour intermittent fasting.
[embedded content]
Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Brad Castleberry above!
Brad Castleberry details how he fasts for a full 24 hours one day per week. Absolutely no food or carb filled drinks for a full day. He swears by it and he claims it’s a helpful tool to bringing in your physique to truly shredded levels. Though he does warn that this is just a cherry on top. It’s not the end-all be-all way to become shredded. If you’re eating like a slob but intermittent fasting – it won’t work.
Beyond helping his physique – Castleberry also shares the benefits of doing a full 24 hour fast once per week. He claims that it actually helps your energy levels rather than depletes them. Many people think that fasting will make you drained and tired. But the opposite is true if you do it intermittently. It detoxes your system and the hunger can help keep you focused. That focused energy can help you stay on track with your goals. This includes eating healthy and keeping your strict diet the rest of the week.
While this advice is purely anecdotal, it’s no secret that intermittent fasting has been proven to help with weight loss (if paired with a healthy diet). Fasting for a full 24 hours is not the only way to intermittently fast. You can also fast for 16 hours and eat within an eight hour window every single day. There are a variety of intermittent fasting tactics available. They all work. For Castleberry, going all in on a 24 hour fast works best for his lifestyle.
If you’re the kind of person who already eats well but has trouble getting your physique to that next level of shred. Consider intermittent fasting as a helping hand to your routine. It might just be the edge you need to become a lean mean bodybuilding machine. Just don’t use it as an excuse to scarf down an extra cheat meal after you fast.
You can watch Brad Castleberry breakdown his full tactic for staying as lean as possible all year in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
NY Pro 2021 Preview: Who Has The Best Chance of Victory?
Who wins at the NY Pro?
The NY Pro is upon us and there is a ton of competition at this show. With the previous year’s runner-up, an outspoken upstart, his budding rival, and a contender with a ton of momentum, it’s anyone’s guess who will win this show. Let’s take a closer look at the competitors and see who has the best chance at victory.
Hassan Mostafa
A favorite to win the show, Hassan Mostafa is looking to be in some incredible shape heading into the NY Pro. Prepping with the likes of Flex Wheeler and Jose Raymond, Mostafa has kind of experienced wisdom behind him to take his game to the next level. With such a balanced physique, incredible symmetry, with well develop musculature, it’s easy to see why Hassan Mostafa could crush the competition at the NY Pro.
Blessing Awodibu
After coming in third place at the Indy Pro, a lot of questions have been raised of Blessing Awodibu. While he did develop some impressive legs for the show, he was still lacking in the conditioning department. If you let Blessing tell it, it seems that the Indy Pro was merely a dress rehearsal for the NY Pro. That said, it’s hard to imagine he could transform his physique enough in a weeks time to make it count. Whether he wins or not, chances are good that he will at least crack the top five.
Nick Walker
Looking to make a big impression in his come back to the stage, Nick Walker has been putting his all into his NY Pro prep. With some monstrous legs that deft humanity, Walker has a great chance at taking top three at this show. It will be interesting to see how his rivalry with Blessing Awodibu will play out. While Walker does have some great legs, his chest is a bit of a week point that his rival Blessing could potentially exploit. For now, whether they are battling for first or not, many eyes will focused on the battle between Nick Walker and Blessing Awodibu.
Justin Rodriguez
Winner of the Indy Pro, Justin Rodriguez has a ton of upside. Riding high on the momentum of his win, Rodriguez has a great chance to repeat at the NY Pro. The package he brought to the Indy Pro was very impressive and complete. There’s no question that his biggest competition at the show will be Hassan Mostafa. Both have symmetry, both are balanced, and both are well muscled. Don’t be surprised if Justin Rodriguez ends up in a head to head battle with Hassan Mostafa.
Who do you think will win at the NY Pro?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
NY Pro Preview: Who Has The Best Chance of Victory?
Who wins at the NY Pro?
The NY Pro is upon us and there is a ton of competition at this show. With the previous year’s winner, an outspoken upstart, his budding rival, and a contender with a ton of momentum, it’s anyone’s guess who will win this show. Let’s take a closer look at the competitors and see who has the best chance at victory.
Hassan Mostafa
The favorite to win the show a second year in a row, Hassan Mostafa is looking to be in some incredible shape heading into the NY Pro. Prepping with the likes of Flex Wheeler and Jose Raymond, Mostafa has kind of experienced wisdom behind him to take his game to the next level. With such a balanced physique, incredible symmetry, with well develop musculature, it’s easy to see why Hassan Mostafa could crush the competition at the NY Pro.
Blessing Awodibu
After coming in third place at the Indy Pro, a lot of questions have been raised of Blessing Awodibu. While he did develop some impressive legs for the show, he was still lacking in the conditioning department. If you let Blessing tell it, it seems that the Indy Pro was merely a dress rehearsal for the NY Pro. That said, it’s hard to imagine he could transform his physique enough in a weeks time to make it count. Whether he wins or not, chances are good that he will at least crack the top five.
Nick Walker
Looking to make a big impression in his come back to the stage, Nick Walker has been putting his all into his NY Pro prep. With some monstrous legs that deft humanity, Walker has a great chance at taking top three at this show. It will be interesting to see how his rivalry with Blessing Awodibu will play out. While Walker does have some great legs, his chest is a bit of a week point that his rival Blessing could potentially exploit. For now, whether they are battling for first or not, many eyes will focused on the battle between Nick Walker and Blessing Awodibu.
Justin Rodriguez
Winner of the Indy Pro, Justin Rodriguez has a ton of upside. Riding high on the momentum of his win, Rodriguez has a great chance to repeat at the NY Pro. The package he brought to the Indy Pro was very impressive and complete. There’s no question that his biggest competition at the show will be Hassan Mostafa. Both have symmetry, both are balanced, and both are well muscled. Don’t be surprised if Justin Rodriguez ends up in a head to head battle with Hassan Mostafa.
Who do you think will win at the NY Pro?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
‘Strength Wars: The Movie’ Clip – Anabolic Horse Vs Terron Beckham
Strength Wars: The Movie – A neck and neck battle between two vastly different athletes.
Strength Wars: The Movie is officially available on digital. You can order the film today right here. In this clip, Anabolic Horse battles against football athlete Terron Beckham. Both athletes vary widely in training discipline but the competition is close as these two swing back and forth for victory.
Strength Wars: The Movie released on April 16, 2020 and quickly became one of the top sports films on digital in the United States. That’s thanks in large part to the elite cast of athletes who agreed to compete in one of the most grueling strength competitions currently in action.
You can currently watch the film on all major digital platforms. But if you haven’t had a chance to see the film – we have a brand new exclusive clip to give you a look at just how intense the battles become.
In this clip, Strength Wars veteran Anabolic Horse squares off against Terron Beckham. Anabolic Horse describes himself as a powerbuilder while Beckham is a former football player and still maintains that style of training. Looking at both of their physiques and training disciplines – the two couldn’t be farther apart. But both are masters in their respective field.
[embedded content]
Check out Anabolic Horse vs Terron Beckham in this Strength Wars: The Movie clip above!
This is exactly where the excitement of Strength Wars comes into play. Two totally different training methods battling in a course designed to put them both to the test. Which will win out in the end? Powerbuilding or Football athletics? We won’t ruin that here – you’ll have to watch the movie for that.
But what you can see is that the battle is truly neck and neck. This clip showcases only one section of the course – but the two swerve back and forth for the lead. With each passing rep and each new section of the course – endurance fads. Who will outlast the other for ultimate victory?
More About Strength Wars: The Movie
Introduced in 2012, Strength Wars pits two muscle and strength athletes from different sports such as Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Strongman, and Cross Fit against each other, by competing in a collection of strength exercises to determine an ultimate winner. Now in 2020, Strength Wars gets the feature film treatment with the biggest strength tournament in the competition’s history.
Welcome to Strength Wars: The Movie.
Directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron series, The Hurt Business, Dorian Yates The Original Mass Monster) and produced by Edwin Mejia Jr., the film will feature an all-star cast including Larry Wheels, Anabolic Horse, Terron Beckham, Jerry Pritchett, Blaine Sumner, Big Neechi, Leonidas Arkona, and NDO Champ. The film will increase the stakes, transforming the 2v2 battles into an eight person tournament where only one can stand tall as champion. The film will also dive deep into the lives of each competitor across the globe as they train and prepare for the Strength Wars tournament.
Strength Wars: The Movie is available now on digital. You click here or the banner below to order today.
The Benefits Of Supermans For Posture & Core Strength
Great for all levels, the benefits and variations will elevate your performance to new heights.
We’ve all done a superman exercise at one point in our workouts. On the surface, it looks like a great exercise. Lie down, on your front, and hangout. But to get that Superman strength, knowing how to properly do this exercise holds the key for many benefits to aid in your overall performance and physical wellness. Great for lifters and fitness folks of all levels, the superman exercise is one to tuck into your workout routine for sure.
As a solid exercise for foundational health, the strengthening benefits of this exercise hold the key to really helping you on multiple levels. Aside from increased core strength, your lower body does get work done and while it may not be the gains a squat provides, the superman exercise still forces your legs to feel a burn. Improved posture will alleviate unwanted pain and keep you working harder in the gym, allowing you to lift more and feel stronger doing so (1).
Check out these awesome benefits and other variations of the superman exercise to really get you going so you look and feel great with whatever challenge you face in the gym or out of it.
Benefits
Strengthen Core
In order to properly perform this exercise, your core remains the foundation of not only proper form but also stability in the action (2). In order to effectively lift your arms and legs, your core must be engaged, and as those legs and arms go even higher, your core is isolated really working to hit that hard. With the core being a solid foundational base of strength for many lifts, this is certainly one exercise to enhance overall performance.
Improve Posture
Stemming from strengthening your core, the superman exercise allows for improved posture as a result of that more stable foundational support system. Take the deadlift for example. By engaging your core, you allow for a solid, stable base to then lift heavy weight. Even as you walk or sit, a stronger core allows you to stand taller and keep that spine long (3).
Alleviate Low Back Pain
Your lower back and glutes get a lot of attention with the superman exercise and allow for increased development with more advanced exercises and posture. By strengthening your core, low back, and glutes, smaller stabilizer muscles also see growth, thus alleviating any pain that may creep up during big lifts.
All Bodyweight
A benefit to any bodyweight exercise is that you don’t need any equipment. Especially during a time where people may be uncomfortable with going to the gym, finding unique exercises to advance your growth that you can do from the comfort of your home is a huge plus. Put this into a bodyweight workout circuit and you will be glad you did.
How To Perform Supermans
Performing the superman exercise is relatively simple, but it is important to remember good form. With simple exercises, we often overlook the really basic tips that make them super effective.
Start on your stomach with your arms extended overhead and legs fully extended as well. A relaxed head and neck and neutral spine are key for this. Really working to engage your core, contract those core muscles and allow for balance and stabilization in your spine. While doing this, simultaneously raise your arms and legs slightly off the ground, still keeping your head and neck neutral. Hold at the top for a brief pause and slowly lower back down to the starting position.
What To Watch Out For
When performing the superman exercise, it is important to remember to hold the position as solid and stable as you can. This is done by serious core engagement and by keeping your arms and legs as extended as possible. Always remember to breathe and stay as center as possible because breathing more efficiently will yield better results.
Superman Variations
Like any great bodyweight core workout, the superman exercise has many variations to really aid in your overall benefit. Depending on your experience, strength, and skill level, it doesn’t matter. You can still reap the benefits of this exercise by finding what works best for you.
Arms/Legs Only
For those who may find lifting both arms and both legs off the ground at the same time too difficult to start, working on raising just arms or just legs can be a great initial boost for getting you into this workout. Performed the safe way, the only difference is you will lift either both arms or both legs while keeping the other option down on the ground.
Alternating Superman
Alternating superman is another great variation of this exercise where you lift one arm and the opposite leg, thus alternating limbs as opposed to lifting all four. Switching between opposite sides will still give you great benefits and allow for a slightly easier variation on this exercise.
Reverse Superman
Reverse superman shakes things up a bit by actually having you on your back. Also referred to as a hollow hold, you will lift both arms and legs in a straight line towards the ceiling while working to really engage your core and feel a great burn.
Wrap Up
The superman exercise is a great bodyweight exercise to incorporate into any circuit or workout routine as a simple yet highly effective exercise. With the ability to strengthen your core, improve posture, alleviate low back pain, work your glutes and lower body, and need zero equipment, the superman exercise is certain to help make you feel like Superman himself. Trying variations offers diversity in the exercise and depending on your experience level, you can still enjoy the benefits of this workout. As a warm-up exercise, a mid-workout burn, or part of a post-workout ab circuit, this exercise slides easily into any of your routines so you see great gains and feel like the superhero you want to be.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Reiser, Fernando C.; Durnate, Bruno G.; de Souza, William C.; Mascarnehas, Luis P. G.; Bonuzzi, Giordano M. G. (2017). “Paraspinal Muscle Activity during Unstable Superman and Bodyweight Squat Exercises”. (source)
Clark, David R.; Lambert, Michael I.; Hunter, Angus M. (2018). “Contemporary perspectives of core stability training for dynamic athletic performance: a survey of athletes, coaches, sports science and sports medicine practitioners”. (source)
Hibbs, Angela E.; Thompson, Kevin G.; French, Duncan; Wrigley, Allan; Spears, Iain (2008). “Optimizing performance by improving core stability and core strength”. (source)
The 10 Highest-Rated Bicep Exercises
Best Biceps Exercises You Can Do
Biceps have been the symbol of strength and masculinity for a long time. Gym bros love training biceps and are one of the most often trained muscle groups. Broscientists around the world hardly skip a bicep workout.
No two bicep exercises are the same. You need to have a balance between isolation (single-joint) and compound (multi-joint) exercises to ensure an overall development of your biceps. We will list the five best isolation and compound exercises each in this article.
Before we get into the exercises, here is the bicep anatomy to help you better understand the muscles recruited while performing these exercises.
Biceps Compound Exercises
Barbell Curls
Barbell Curls are the gold standard when it comes to biceps training. Using the Olympic bar on this lift will help you get the best results. Switching between the shoulder, narrow, and wide-grips will help you target your biceps from different angles.
Dumbbell Curls
Dumbbell curls help in building the peak (brachii) and the long head (brachialis) of your guns. Most people make the mistake of supinating their wrists at the bottom of the movement. You should rotate your wrist in the middle of the movement while curling the dumbbell.
Hammer Curls
Hammer curls work the long head (brachialis) and the brachioradialis which runs from your wrist across the inside portion of your elbow and into your upper arm bone. You can perform the hammer curls with your thumbs over the dumbbell handle to better recruit your brachioradialis muscle.
Zottman Curls
The Zottman curls are a complete bicep builder. Zottman curls have the same curling motion as the normal bicep curls but you have to rotate your wrists at the top of the movement so your palms are facing the floor while you perform the negative motion. The curling motion works the brachii while the negative motion works the brachialis and the brachioradialis.
EZ Bar Curls
EZ bar can be a lifesaver for people with wrist problems. The EZ bar takes off the tension from your wrists as you curl the bar. The EZ bar can also be used to focus on the long and short heads of your biceps.
Biceps Isolation Exercises
Machine Preacher Curls
Machine preacher curls can completely exhaust your pythons. You should maintain a full range of motion while performing the isolation exercises. Performing drop sets on these isolation exercises will fill your biceps with lactic acid.
Incline Bench Dumbbell Curls
Incline bench dumbbell curls are different as compared to the standard dumbbell curls as this exercise restricts you from using momentum to lift the dumbbells. You’ll be able to lift lighter weights than you lift while performing the normal dumbbell curls.
Cable Bicep Curls
Incorporating cables into your workouts is a great idea as they can completely smoke your muscles by putting constant tension on your muscles throughout the exercise. While using the cables, you will have tension on both the concentric and eccentric motions. On the other hand, you only have tension on the concentric movement while using dumbbells.
Concentration Dumbbell Curls
Isolation exercises primarily help you in building the peak and definition in your biceps. The concentration curls work your brachii. Maintaining a mind-muscle connection and squeezing your pythons at the top of the movements is a must to get the best results.
Overhead Cable Curls
The front double bicep is the most common pose and the overhead cable curls help you in shaping your guns for this pose. Keep your elbows pinned at a place and squeeze the living hell out of your biceps at the top of the movement.
Which is your favorite bicep exercise? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Lawrence Marshall Dies At 58 Years Old
Marshall was notable for being the second bodybuilder from Trinidad to turn professional in the IFBB pro league. He was an iconic athlete in the local community for his impressive physique, local wins, and kind personality.
Lawrence Marshall held a wide array of local wins under his belt throughout the 1990s and early 2000s – eventually earning his IFBB Pro card. He had even qualified for the Mr. Olympia and placed 15th in his one and only showing.
Initial rumors began to spread that he had died due to losing a battle with COVID-19 but those reports have been debunked by his family. They have stated they are waiting for an autopsy for confirmation and cause of death.
Lawrence Marshall clearly had a massive impact on the bodybuilding community due to the outpour of support for his family and friends during this time. Despite not being a household name in the mainstream of the IFBB, he was an athletic icon and considered a hero in Trinidad representing the country on the world stage in bodybuilding.
You can watch the D’Dial Fitness Club tribute video and post below:
Unfortunately, this news comes after a series of other bodybuilding deaths have been reported including Mr. India Senthil Kumaran Selvarajan and 212 Olympia Competitor Fahd Zaid Hazzazi. Though this series of events is simply due to chance, it has been a devastating blow for fans of bodybuilding.
Generation Iron sends sincere condolences to the friends and family of Lawrence Marshall during this time. For more news updates in bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports – stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Melle Mel: “Frank Zane Is Hands Down The Best Bodybuilder Ever”
Melle Mel explains why he thinks Frank Zane stands tall as the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
During our Generation Iron interviews, we always make sure to ask who the top five bodybuilders are of all time. Each person has a different list that reveals something about how they view bodybuilding. This held true for rapper and bodybuilding aficionado, Melle Mel. He not only picked a diverse top five – he placed a wild card for the very top of his list. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melle Mel details why he believes Frank Zane is the greatest bodybuilder ever – even above the likes of Ronnie Coleman.
Frank Zane is truly a legendary athlete. This much is known throughout the bodybuilding community. But if you were to start discussing the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Zane might not be at the very top of the list. That is usually reserved for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, or Lee Haney among perhaps a few others.
Melle Mel thinks it’s time for Frank Zane to get his due. Again, there is no one who undervalues Zane as a whole. He has gone down in history as a true legend in the sport. But for Melle Mel – that’s not enough. Zane should be noted as the single greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Of course, this comes back down to the debate of size versus aesthetic. Bodybuilders like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman changed the game. The limits were pushed into inhuman levels and created the term mass monster. Ever since then, the broader and heavier look has reigned supreme.
[embedded content]
Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Melle Mel above!
For Melle Mel, Frank Zane represents a perfect physique before the world turned towards mass monsters. His aesthetic, conditioning, and size all came together into something perfect. More reminiscent to a Roman statue than The Hulk. It showcased a true mastery of bodybuilding without the bigger health risks.
Melle Mel believes that health should still be more of a consideration in pro bodybuilding. He prefers classic physiques of yesteryear because they still mastered muscle without taking it to extremely unhealthy places. It’s an opinion that he shares with a sub category of fans. Their outcry eventually led to the creation of the Classic Physique division.
Melle Mel even draws direct comparisons to Ronnie Coleman. Typically, Coleman is placed as a contender for the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Melle Mel thinks this is misplaced. Coleman certainly is one of the greatest but the sacrifice he paid for that physique promotes unhealthy choices. To Melle Mel, that’s not what bodybuilding should be about.
“Everybody loves Ronnie Coleman. He’s a great guy. I met him, I love him,” Melle Mel states in our interview. He continues:
“The difference between him and Frank Zane is like… I could look like Frank Zane… But you’re never going to look like Ronnie. And if you do there’s a price to be paid to look like Ronnie. And he’s paying the price and he’s a great man because he don’t shy away from it… but there’s a price to be paid because to look like Ronnie Coleman you will pay the price.”
You can watch Melle Mel list off his top five bodybuilders of all time and go more in-depth on Frank Zane by checking out our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!