Tag: Bodybuilding
Bryan Jones Lays Out Comeback Plans for Men’s Open in 2024, Says He Wants to be 270 Lbs
Classic Physique talent Bryan Jones is ready to battle with the big boys of the Men’s Open division. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Jones revealed he’s closing in on his anticipated move to the Open class and hopes to compete at next year’s 2024 Arnold Classic.
With exceptional definition, balanced proportions, and stellar quads, Bryan Jones has already proven himself against some of the world’s best. As a pro bodybuilder, he garnered hype quickly after finding success at the 2019 Ultimate Warriors Pro show where he placed fourth.
In 2020, Jones registered the best season of his IFBB Pro League career after earning gold at the Chicago Pro. This victory earned him an invite to the prestigious Mr. Olympia contest. Similar to Open star Nick Walker, Jones finished his first Olympia show in fifth place, a promising sign of his career’s trajectory. During the event, Jones stood against four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead, two-time winner Breon Ansley, and two-time Arnold Classic titleholder Terrence Ruffin.
Jones’ last pair of contests came in 2021 as he took fifth at the Arnold Classic and ninth in his sophomore Olympia appearance. Jones’ move to the Open class has been in the works for quite some time. He excited fans last March after making it clear he planned to switch divisions. At the time, he was weighing 244 pounds, though it appears now, Jones intends to add even more muscle before his big Open debut.
Bryan Jones Talks Comeback to Men’s Open in 2024, Growing Physique to 270 Lbs & Training Style/Diet
Looking ahead, Jones wants to make a ‘big statement’ when he tests his talents in the Open division next year.
“Yeah, I just want to make a big statement so I was like, I have to take as much time as I need. I don’t want to get on stage just to get on stage, you know? High volume, yeah, high volume, high intensity – yeah. Things of that nature. Very short rest breaks and whatnot, a lot of drop sets. Yeah, traditional bro split.”
“It’s gaining muscle – it’s easy for me but it just takes me longer to gain weight. I have a problem gaining weight. People think I’m bigger than what I am but for some reason my calories are high and for some reason, I don’t really gain too much weight really. Yeah, I stay lean no matter what. My fats are really high, but for some reason, my body doesn’t want to get fat so we’re trying to make me spill over a little bit, things of that nature,” said Bryan Jones.
As far as nutrition goes, Jones said he consumes cheat meals four times a week and struggles to gain weight. In the months to come, Jones says he wants to weigh 265-270 pounds.
“My meal plan, I have like three or four cheat meals a week,” said Jones. “I was in Classic, so I’m going to do Open now. This is a different ball game, you know, so maybe I don’t know yet… it’s hard to tell, I haven’t done a show as an Open competitor yet.”
“My off-seasons… I really couldn’t grow too much, I was really just maintaining for the off-season. Then my last two shows, we kind of grew, we kind of sucked up and we grew some. Then I was like oh shit, I can barely make weight. Exactly, now I’m barely making weight. I can’t do this for another 5-10 years.”
“I said 270, but we go by the eye test, it could be smaller, this could be the weight right here, no need to get any bigger you know. But yeah, 265-270 [pounds],” said Jones. “I’m back. I’m back.”
When asked by Ron Harris when he planned to step on stage, Bryan said the following:
“Most likely early 2024 most likely, Yeah [at the Arnold Classic]” said Jones. “My back, my hamstrings, I need to get the calves up a little, that’s really it. Hammies need some work still, I still haven’t figured that part out. I’m getting better. My back always [needs improvements].”
According to Jones, the criteria for judging physiques at bodybuilding shows hasn’t changed. Simply put, he believes the best physiques are being awarded at shows.
“It makes me excited and also too, I don’t know if that’s the actual direction they are looking at [at Olympia] I just think those guys are at the top of their game right now.”
“It’s no trend. Bodybuilding judges remain the same, it doesn’t change. They’re not looking for a specific waist size or anything of that nature, it’s whoever comes in that day, who peaks better, does everything better, it just so happens that the guys with better aesthetics for the past couple big show.”
“Just I could say the physiques have evolved but as far as judging-wise, it’s been the same. It’s been consistent for the most part. Trends… no, not really. I really haven’t seen any trends where like I have to look like this in order to win you know what I’m saying? It’s just the same criteria.”
Following the last Olympia and 2023 Arnold Classic, judging and scoring contests have become a hot-button issue. Fans online have debated whether or not former champ, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unfairly overlooked on the Olympia stage.
Meanwhile, fans and some bodybuilding veterans took issue with Samson Dauda winning the Arnold Classic. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo, on the other hand, believes the judges got it right in Vegas and in Columbus, Ohio. He has taken to various Voice of Bodybuilding Podcasts to lay out how to accurately score a bodybuilding contest to enlighten misled followers of the sport.
Given Bryan Jones’ experience at the highest level, when he does make his Men’s Open debut, fans expect something big. Aiming to tip the scales at 270 pounds, Jones’ transformation from Classic Physique to Open will make for an exciting storyline in 2024.
RELATED: ‘Don’t Give Big Ramy False Hope’: Bob Cicherillo Doubles Down on Fallen Champ & 2023 Arnold Classic Judging
Watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below:
Published: 27 June, 2023 | 11:41 AM EDT
Shaun Clarida Shows Off Insane 206-Lb Physique Update 20 Weeks From 2023 Mr. Olympia
Shaun Clarida has officially begun preparations for his upcoming title defense in November. The reigning two-time 212 Olympia champ took to Instagram and showcased an impressive physique update where he tipped the scales at 206 pounds.
While he doesn’t enjoy the height of some of his peers, Clarida makes up for it with density, conditioning, and pure grit. He’s been referred to as a ‘Mini Ronnie Coleman,’ who is known for throwing around heavy weight for high reps.
With cartoonish proportions and three-dimensional muscle mass, Shaun Clarida quickly emerged as a preeminent threat in the 212 Bodybuilding class. After several years of failing to win the coveted Olympia title, Clarida reached the pinnacle of his career in 2020 when he ousted Kamal Elgargni for gold in a memorable showdown.
In 2021, he brought an improved physique but struggled against Derek Lunsford, a competitor held in high regard for his shape, aesthetics, and pronounced v-taper. In the end, Shaun took runner-up to Lunsford. Testing a new division, Clarida entered and won the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro, earning him the nickname ‘The Giant Killer.’
And while Derek Lunsford opted to compete in the Open at 2022 Mr. Olympia due to a special invite, Shaun stuck it out in the 212 class, aiming to win his title back. Clarida dominantly won his second 212 Olympia title last December. Instead of taking time to map out his next move, Clarida entered and finished fifth at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
Having led a busy schedule, Clarida is motivated to become a three-time champion later this year. He believes the birth of his daughter and a recent move to Texas will serve as huge boosts to his motivation on the horizon.
Shaun Clarida Shares ‘Starting Point’ for 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep, Shows Off 206-Lb Physique 20 Weeks Out
Clarida clarified that this photo was taken last week and served as his starting point for the 2023 Mr. Olympia prep.
At 206 pounds, Shaun appears full but is still holding on to a substantial amount of definition. Despite the off-season, his legs are impressively separated as well.
“?UPDATE?
This is my starting point 20 weeks out (taken last week) from the 2023 ⭕️lympia sitting at 206lbs.
Despite being one of the busiest years of my life/career between doing both the Olympia and the Arnold last season, the birth of my daughter and moving my family from New Jersey ➡️ Texas, it’s been one of the most productive. The new environment, having the fuel & motivation with Baby GK and always having a supporting cast of friends, family and sponsors have all kept me grounded and focused on the task and goal come November 3rd. ???
OFF TO THE RACES WE GO!” Shaun Clarida wrote.
Clarida has ambitious plans before he puts an end to his bodybuilding career. In March, he revealed he would like to break Flex Lewis‘ all-time 212 Olympia record of seven victories. During his appearance on Hany Rambod’s The Truth Podcast, Shaun elaborated on his future. He said his goal was to win multiple titles as a 212 athlete but still planned to occasionally test his mettle in the Open class.
In addition to their YouTube collaboration, Clarida and Rambod teamed up for an FST-7 chest workout. With hypertrophy as the primary objective, the training session was a success and highlighted how freaky Shaun looks when his physique is pumped up.
The 212 division is growing in popularity, and Clarida will have his hands full with contenders later this year. Breon Ansley, who gave Chris Bumstead trouble in the Classic Physique category, announced his switch to the 212 and said fans should expect another ’10 pounds of muscle mass’ when he hits the stage later this year.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Shaun Clarida Crushes A Demanding Chest And Delts Workout
With top contenders from last year and new blood like Ansley, fans are in store for an epic 212 showcase at the 2023 Olympia show. Clarida, who has flipped the switch for prep, plans to bring his best look to date in the near future.
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 9:56 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s Craziest Lifts
Ronnie Coleman was revered for his monstrous physique and strength during his bodybuilding career. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman reacted to some of reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan’s most impressive gym lifts.
“What’s going on guys? Big Ron here. I’ve seen my boy Hadi Choopan been doing a lot of work over the years and finally got himself a title. I thought it would only be appropriate if I did some reaction videos to some of his training, so let’s get into this, yeah buddy,” said Coleman.
During his tenure, Coleman dominated the Men’s Open division for nearly a decade. Nicknamed ‘The King,’ Coleman brought unparalleled size, conditioning, and firepower to the world’s brightest stages. He routinely pushed and defeated heavy hitters in the category such as Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.
Coleman wasn’t just known for his skills on a bodybuilding stage. Throughout his career, he made headlines for recording stunning feats of strength. He’s deadlifted 800 pounds for reps and has leg pressed over 2,300 pounds.
A pioneer of freaky mass, Coleman collected eight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005. He was well respected for his intense training style which often incorporated heavy weight for a high number of reps. Despite retiring in 2007, Coleman’s impact on the sport is undeniable. Given his experience and expertise, his opinions regarding the Men’s Open division are often sought out.
In the wake of the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, Hadi Choopan claimed gold while Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia champ, finished runner-up. The contest was close and in Coleman’s opinion, Derek Lunsford now has the potential to take out Choopan this November. In his latest endeavor, however, Coleman isn’t looking at the Olympia contest. Instead, he examined some of Choopan’s greatest lifts inside the gym.
Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Blown Away by Hadi Choopan’s Greatest Lifts
The video starts with Choopan performing a series of cable exercises.
“Show me how you got that title, show me all the thickness you got there, let’s go, let’s do this, light weight.”
Then, Coleman reacted to Choopan firing off reps of heavy barbell curls.
“Get them arms as big as possible. That’s a big-armed dude. Let’s go Hadi. Let’s do this. What you got going on? Just playing around in the gym right now,” said Coleman. “Let’s show them how it’s supposed to be done. Yeah, buddy! Big thick chest, big thick arms, lifting that light weight baby, like it ain’t nothing. Ain’t nothing to it but to do it Hadi, you got this.”
Coleman watched Choopan hit huge barbell squats and reps on the leg press machine, an exercise Ronnie was famous for in his prime.
“Let’s go, you got this,” said Coleman. “Hard work always pays off. Now you got the title buddy.”
“Who is going to be the Mr. O in 2023. Those were some impressive lifts. Congratulations on the title Hadi, I’m looking forward to seeing you on the stage later this year. Yeah buddy.”
In retirement, Coleman is a busy man but makes time for fun reaction videos, usually in response to impressive lifts or gym fails. In addition to looking at the Open Mr. Olympia’s latest lifts, Coleman recently assessed four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead’s best feats of power. Coleman was most impressed after Cbum managed to deadlift 600 pounds with relative ease.
Though, it’s not just top-tier bodybuilders that Coleman keeps an eye on. He’s also given his reaction after watching four-time World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw demonstrate some of his craziest exercises performed on camera. Overall, Coleman was stunned at the strongman’s abilities on the car deadlifts and truck pull.
With the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest approaching in November, fans expect that it will be another unpredictable contest. Choopan will again aim to fend off his teammate Lunsford, third-place 2022 O finisher Nick Walker, and frontrunner Samson Dauda, who recently claimed gold over ‘The Mutant’ at the recent 2023 Arnold Classic show.
RELATED: 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Gives Health & Mobility Update: “My Walking Is About the Same”
You can watch the full video from Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 4:33 PM EDT
Dennis James, Milos Sarcev Talk Stephane Matala’s Potential, Say He’s a Threat to Chris Bumstead
Rising bodybuilder Stephane Matala is determined to make a statement when he takes to the stage in July. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev discussed the Classic Physique division and how Matala will fare should he compete against top-tier Olympia talent, such as four-time winner, Chris Bumstead.
“You know how it is always. You can look great standing by yourself. We have to see him stand next to these guys to really compare him,” shared Dennis James.
Since Classic Physique’s inception, the category has been talent-rich and extremely competitive. The division’s popularity only grew year-to-year and the same can be said for the skill level of the participants. Over the last four years, Chris Bumstead has worn the crown after taking the honor from two-time Classic Physique Olympia Breon Ansley in 2019.
In his latest title defense, Bumstead managed to defend his throne against hungry bodybuilders like 2023 Arnold Classic champion Ramon Queiroz and third-place 2022 Olympia finisher Urs Kalecinski, who has since bulked to 275 pounds in an effort to dethrone the champ in November.
Given Bumstead’s continued dominance, fans are curious what it would take to overthrow such a formidable champion. And while no competitor has found a winning recipe, the community is rapidly getting behind a new Classic Physique contender: Stephane Matala.
Known as ‘Mr. Unchained’ on Instagram, Matala continues to captivate fans with a jaw-dropping physique. He first began his bodybuilding career by entering a number of local contests. Eventually, he took on the Musclemania Paris Junior Champion competition, where he impressed fans in the Men’s Physique category.
He’s showcased progress photos and videos in preparation for his Classic Physique splash at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal. Given his lines, condition, shape, and striations, the community is highly confident in his chances ahead of the show.
“The Dude Looks Fuc**ng Ridiculous,” – Dennis James & Milos Sarcev Debate Stephane Matala’s Potential
According to Milos Sarcev, he’s never seen a chest as striated as Stephane Matala’s
“Let me ask you something else guys, did you guys see that Classic guy that’s out there training in Dubai, that brother, that black guy. What’s his name, Stephane Matala,” said Dennis James.
“Oh, oh, holy shit. Yeah, I don’t know his name,” said Milos Sarcev.
“That dude hasn’t even been on stage yet and he has a huge following on Instagram. I don’t know if it’s just the videos or the pictures, the dude looks fuc**ng ridiculous,” added James
I’ve seen him pose next to Andrew Jacked,” added Sarcev. “That puts it in perspective man. Probably [doing Portugal], the guy is – I’ve never seen a striated chest like this in my life.”
Dennis James believes Matala possesses an ‘old school bodybuilding look’ and said he was impressed with his lack of scar tissue from steroid injections. After, Sarvev suggested Stephane work on his front double biceps pose.
“He’s clean, he’s clean, all his muscles are clean. The striations are still there, you can see it’s not all shot up with scar tissue everywhere. He’s clean. Chris you know what I’m talking about, you see the striations in the shoulders, you see stuff that you don’t see on the guys anymore. And full and round,” said Dennis James. “Stephane, crazy. I see old school bodybuilding when I see this guy. You’re absolutely right Don. With the striations in his shoulders, all the way, it’s just good to see there’s still people out there.”
“I think the front double biceps he doesn’t show correctly. There’s more to it. It doesn’t pop,” Milos Sarcev explained. “This is as good as it gets. Oh my God.”
Milos Sarcev Says Chris Bumstead Has Better Structure But Stephane Matala Beats Him ‘Muscle for Muscle’
Sarcev believes Bumstead would defeat Matala in a battle right now. However, he agreed with Dennis and Chris Cormier that he’s a future threat to the reigning champion.
“When we talk about Classic Physique, major thing is structure. Like Chris Bumstead when you compare him muscle for muscle with this guy, would lose right? But structure is so dominant, then, once it’s only front double biceps, back double biceps, serves that crazy v-taper, that Chris is so goddamn good [at] then his side chest is excellent, this guy’s [Stephane] side chest is excellent. I think Chris has more detail through the hamstring glutes tie ins, so there is still level that I think Chris could beat him now. If this guy gets expanded and gets a little bit more wider and creates that v-taper illusion…” said Sarcev.
“I just see a picture of him standing next to Mike Sommerfeld. I guess they were training together. But they were posing next to each other, now look at the size difference, and Mike is not the biggest guy.”
Dennis James is so confident in Stephane’s chances he believes he’ll earn a qualification to the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
“Like I said, the condition that this guy brings, and if he brings that to the stage, I think he’s going to do very well. I think he will qualify for the Olympia this year. And I think because of his fanbase, he has a huge fanbase, I think because of his fanbase he won’t get overlooked,” Dennis James shared.
Maintaining health and longevity as a bodybuilding pro is no easy feat. It takes considerable attention to measures such as diet, supplementation, and training. When Bumstead first began his journey in the sport, he was thankful for guidance from his brother-in-law and Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair Podcast, Bumstead said Valliere helped him prevent long-lasting damage to his physique from unnecessary steroids.
While there is mystery surrounding Stephane Matala, fans will have a clear idea of his potential when he competes next month. Should he claim victory at the 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, he’ll have a shot at competing against Bumstead in November.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari Says Classic Physique Is Saving The Art of Bodybuilding
You can watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 11:59 AM EDT
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results and Scorecards
The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show took place on June 25 in Milan, Italy. This competition is a qualifying event for this year’s Mr. Olympia in the Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini categories.
Fans are excited for the return of the annual Mr. Olympia show, taking place November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida inside the Orange County Convention Center. There are fewer months and events to qualify for the most prestigious event of the year. Currently, athletes have until October 9 to guarantee their spot on stage.
Any top three finishers from the last Mr. Olympia show from Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini are automatically invited back for this year’s edition of the event. The winners of each category this weekend will have the opportunity to stand against the reigning 2022 Olympia winners in November.
Ahead of the anticipated showdown, fans highlighted a few Men’s Physique contenders to keep an eye on. Riccardo Croci is hoping to nail down three victories in a row after taking first at the 2023 Tropicarium Budapest Pro and the 2023 Mile High Pro. Should he win this event, he’ll take a Mr. Olympia spot away from someone.
Youcef Djoudi is another competitor brimming with talent to keep tabs on. Djoudi took first at the 2022 Mr. Big Evolution Pro but finished outside the top 15 at Olympia. This will be his first show of the 2023 season.
Lastly, fan-favorite Sidy Pouye will be back in action. He took fourth at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro and third at the New York Pro, which was a solid testament to his consistency and skill level. With his eyes on first place, fans were counting down the seconds until he stepped on stage.
Find Out Who Won The 2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Below:
Men’s Physique: Sidy Pouye
Classic Physique: László Király
Bikini: Molnár Zsófia
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Results
Men’s Physique
Winner — Sidy Pouye
Second Place — Riccardo Croci
Third Place — Jessy Pigury
Fourth Place — Daniel Leone
Fifth Place — Dario Beloli
Sixth Place — Andrea Mosti
Seventh Place — Marcos Iglesias Garcia
Eighth Place — Adama Jammeh
Ninth Place — Fabian Feber
Tenth Place — Luca Biolo
Classic Physique
Winner — László Király
Second Place — Antoine Loth
Third Place — Edwin Owusu
Fourth Place — Adam Bomert
Fifth Place — Damian Kuffel
Sixth Place — Florian Hartiage
Seventh Place — Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Saman Udaya Kumara
Eighth Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Bikini
Winner — Molnár Zsófia
Second Place — Anna Setlak
Third Place — Priscila Leimbacher
Fourth Place — Roberta Mangraviti
Fifth Place — Kristina Brunauer
Sixth Place — Lisa Reith
Seventh Place — Claudia Clemente
Eighth Place — Tatiana Lanovenko
Ninth Place — Patrizia Vaccaro
Tenth Place — Sara Fratella
2023 Sheru Classic Italy Pro Show Scorecards
Classic Physique
Mens Physique
Bikini
FitnessVolt congratulates the winners!
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Joseph Baena Flexes His Bulging Biceps and Sculpted Legs at Iconic Gold’s Gym
Legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena is carving his own path in fitness and entertainment. He followed in his father’s footsteps and explored his passion for working out although he doesn’t compete professionally. In a recent post made on Instagram, Baena looked massive while hitting a classic bodybuilding pose, the front double bicep.
Arnold Schwarzenegger pioneered the IFBB Men’s Open division during his days of competing on stage in the 1970s. He displayed a stellar blend of muscle mass, size, and symmetry and racked up seven Mr. Olympia titles against the likes of fellow legends Franco Columbu, Lou Ferrigno, and Sergio Oliva.
Besides his athletic talents, Schwarzenegger became renowned for his acting abilities. He showcased his charismatic personality and witty nature in the 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron and endeared himself to the fans. Following his retirement, Schwarzenegger found success as a certified action star with several blockbuster projects under his belt.
Joseph Baena made headlines for his insane resemblance to Schwarzenegger after he recreated some of his father’s classic bodybuilding poses in Aug. 2022. The Internet was left stunned by the uncanny resemblance between the two as Baena performed the famous back pose. Then, he opened up about the struggles that come along with being Schwarzenegger’s son. While the comparisons were tough in the beginning, Baena learned to focus on crafting his own path.
Baena teamed up with fitness sensation Mike O’Hearn for a brutal arms workout last August. The bodybuilding veteran exchanged some techniques with Baena, including their favorite supersets to build muscle in the arms. The duo reconnected for an ‘old-school’ training session targeting back for enhanced longevity days later.
In Sep. 2022, Baena provided the grueling shoulder workout he utilized to get ready for his debut in the reality dance competition show Dancing With The Stars. He enlisted the help of bodybuilding veteran Robby Robinson and O’Hearn to refine his posing skills weeks later.
Joseph Baena channeled the spirit of his father’s iconic role by recreating the iconic look from Conan the Barbarian (1982) last October. He donned a leather kilt and flexed his muscles through a series of poses. After being on the show for six weeks, Baena revealed he shed 10 pounds in a lean physique update.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son Joseph Baena Strikes Classic Bodybuilder Pose at Gold’s Gym
In a recent Instagram post, Joseph Baena showed off his impressive physique while performing the front double bicep.
Earlier this year, Joseph Baena opened up on his ambitions to play the role of a superhero. He expressed his desire to lead a hit franchise film like The Terminator and hinted at steering away from Mr. Olympia. He followed up with a fierce pull-day workout to build mass and strength.
Baena offered an intense workout challenge to test endurance in a shredded physique update last month. Based on the latest update, Baena is staying consistent with his workouts and keeping up his fitness game.
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 4:04 PM EDT
61-yo Dorian Yates Shows Shredded Abs in 40-Year Physique Progression
Legendary bodybuilder Dorian Yates made a name for himself with one of the best back muscle development of all time. Besides his solid build, he was renowned for his intense training methods. In a recent post made on Instagram, Yates showed off his insane consistency with a jacked 40-year physique progression from age 22 to 61.
Dorian Yates first gained attention for his massive muscle size, mass, and conditioning in the 1990s. After dominating the regional UK scene, he tested himself against the most elite bodybuilders in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. He narrowly missed out on gold to eight-time champion Lee Haney in his Olympia debut in 1991. He returned stronger than ever the next year and won his maiden Sandow trophy at the 1992 Mr. Olympia.
Yates went essentially undefeated from 1992 to 1997, racking up six Mr. Olympia titles in a row. His tendency to stay away from the spotlight and let his physique do the talking on stage earned him the nickname, ’The Shadow.’ He utilized high-intensity training, where he’d go near failure in every workout.
Yates’ inaugural triumph was not merely a passing of the torch, but rather a seismic shift in the bodybuilding world. He astounded fans with his awe-inspiring and unprecedentedly massive physique. His muscularity and uncompromising training style, characterized by a no-frills, all-out effort, stood in stark contrast to Haney’s more traditional emphasis on controlled stimulation.
Dorian Yates / Instagram
Earlier this year. Yates offered an instructional video on how two properly perform hamstring curls to build muscle in the lower body. He stressed the importance of using a full range of motion using controlled reps with a slow negative to get optimum results.
‘The Shadow’ opened up on the training, diet, and steroids cycles he used in his prime to get ready for competition two months ago. He revealed his training didn’t differ too much in the off-season except for cardio. Since stepping away from professional competition, Yates quit steroids altogether and later got on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) to improve his health.
Dorian Yates laid out some valuable tips on optimizing high-intensity training last month. He recommended limiting workout time to 45 minutes to ensure maximum effort and focus on providing your body with the right level of stress to get the response for building muscle.
Yates believes squats are not necessary to include in a training regimen for muscle growth. Having suffered a hip injury from squats, he argued the risk was unnecessary as the same results could be achieved using enough intensity on other exercises. He underwent stem cell treatment to heal his injuries in the shoulder, knee, and elbow nearly two months ago. The treatment appears to be working for Yates as he reported feeling less inflammation and improvement in his delts earlier this month.
61-yo Dorian Yates Shows Jacked 40-Year Physique Progression
In a recent Instagram post, Dorian Yates showed off his consistency with an impressive 40-year physique progression from age 22 to 61.
“22 years old… 61 years old!” he wrote. “Almost 40 years difference between these pics! I’ve always had a visible set of abs, partly down to my genetics. Fitness has, and always will be a part of my life.
Although not strictly bodybuilding in the past 20 years or so, I’ve discovered other practices of health and fitness such as yoga, biking, Pilates to name a few.”
Dorian Yates provided his two-exercise ab workout routine he used to win six Sandow trophies over two weeks ago. He incorporated the workouts after performing heavy shoulder and triceps training. Then, he detailed the essential chest workout he used in his prime.
Yates’ latest offering will serve as a dose of motivation for both the older and younger generation alike.
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 11:11 AM EDT
Larry Wheels Takes Posing Lessons From Joe Linder aka Joesthetics
Bodybuilder, powerlifter, and arm wrestler Larry Wheels is a multi-faceted personality and one of the most famous fitness influencers on YouTube. Wheels is known for wrecking his own personal records in the gym. However, most of his strength feats were backed by pharmacological help. The 28-year-old extensively used PEDs to fuel his performance for a very long time.
Wheels chose to stop using steroids after a back injury and underwent a significant physical transformation as a result. The powerlifter has never shied away from admitting steroid use and maintained honesty about his experiences with PEDs. He admitted that steroids helped him achieve insane feats of strength but also caused several health issues.
He feels far better without the abuse and continues creating new gym records. In recent months, he performed a 183.7-kilogram (405-pound) bench press for 22 reps and smoked a 150-pound incline dumbbell press for 25 reps.
Wheels made his amateur bodybuilding debut at the 2018 NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic and won the competition in the overall category. He now desires to compete in the Classic Physique division and feels he can beat other competitors without abusing steroids.
Larry Wheels and Joesthetics perform an arm workout
Wheels has been taking bodybuilding and posing lessons from the sport’s veterans and recently partnered with German bodybuilder, influencer, and fitness model Joe Linder aka Joesthetics. The duo trained arms together, discussed PED usage, and Linder gave some interesting posing lessons to Wheels. So let’s take a closer look at the detailed account of this session.
Cable Biceps Curl
Wheels and Linder performed cable biceps curls to build the biceps and did a few sets while discussing different aspects of bodybuilding. Cable machines keep the muscles under tension throughout the movement; hence, they potently induce hypertrophy.
Triceps Rope Pushdown
The duo next took to the triceps rope pushdown to work the triceps and performed a few solid sets that targeted all three triceps heads. Wheels spoke into the camera and marveled at his training partner’s insane diet discipline.
“I was talking to all these IFBB Pros back in the day, and I asked everyone. Everyone told me the same thing — there is no magic pill. The only thing that you can do is burn the fucking calories, bro. If you want to eat them, you have to burn them,” said Jo Linder.
Following this, the bodybuilders proceeded to practice posing.
Overall, the workout included:
Joe Linder speaks about his experience with steroids
As Wheels watched Linder perform the exercise, he pointed out that the latter looked lean but still bigger than the last time they trained together. The 30-year-old stated he is always on a strict diet to get big and lean. There is pharmacological assistance as well. However, it is in a smaller dose than you may imagine.
“For my last show, I took 75 MG of Tren — a week, not a day! A week! So very low dose…” Linder said.
He added:
“I believe that I gained another 5 pounds of muscle during my prep for the show. Because I kind of dieted very slow, and I grew even into the show.”
Linder pushed the diet really hard and also did a lot of cardio. However, he did not get as flat and was able to retain the muscle mass on his frame.
The German bodybuilder said he had stopped steroid use two days before his last show and looks much better even while only on TRT.
Continuing the discussion about his cycle, he stated that he got blood work done after using Tren for three weeks. A surprising thing that he encountered was extremely high estrogen levels. However, Joe believes the tests do not accurately reflect what’s happening in the body while on Tren.
“That’s something that people need to understand. The first few weeks when you take Tren, and you go test your levels, the Tren makes your estrogen level appear high depending upon the testing methods they use…” Linder said.
However, he believes that Tren does not harm the body in any way.
Linder gives Wheels posing lessons
While going through the workouts, Linder and Wheels decided to practice posing. Wheels admitted to being a novice in this area.
“Different physiques, different styles, and we’re about to correct each other with our posing,” Linder said.
He then went on to teach Wheels a few posing basics. The duo started with the front double biceps pose, and Linder said:
“You technically need to know what to do with your legs. When you stand on the stage, you can’t just do this (raise the arms and flex the biceps)… You have o squeeze your legs, hold the tension there…”
While responding to Wheels’ query, he stated that you have to try to separate the floor with your feet. This means you have to try to apply the force with your feet in the opposing direction to create the lines. However, everyone has their own way of creating tension, as he added:
“You have to practice. The way some people do it is with their toes — almost squeeze it together so it gives you the feeling of trying to squeeze your toes together, so you have more tension.”
Linder further stated:
“What personally helped me is when I put my feet a tiny bit apart. So I (duck slightly) because then my quad sweep comes out better.”
“I stand very narrow because I have shitty hamstrings but good quads,” he concluded.
The posing lessons continued as the partner hit the side chest pose.
“Always when you do poses, you start from the bottom,” Linder said.
“You have your calves, you press it against, then you have your glutes and everything else.”
Wheels admitted that his side chest is his worst pose. Linder taught a few more tricks to Wheels. He also shared a tip for making the side chest stand out.
“You have to squeeze the (visible/front) leg against the knee (of the other leg) so that it creates an illusion (of bigger hamstrings),” Linder added.
Some more tips followed, and the duo wrapped up the posing session after hitting a few more poses.
You can watch the full workout video below, courtesy of Larry Wheels’ YouTube channel:
Published: 25 June, 2023 | 12:05 AM EDT
Mike O’Hearn Shares Kai Greene-Inspired Back Training for Better Mind Muscle Connection
Mike O’Hearn understands training on a deep level and has possessed a shredded physique for most of his life. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn demonstrated two back exercises he learned from Kai Greene for improved mind-muscle connection.
For over 30 years, O’Hearn has been a juggernaut in the training room. He has built a reputation as one of the most dedicated and accomplished fitness personalities of all time. He won the Mr. Universe title as well, but O’Hearn’s talents extend far beyond bodybuilding. He has also been featured in numerous magazines, acted in movies, and even released his own fitness clothing line.
What is perhaps most impressive about O’Hearn is his longevity. At 54 years old, he is still in peak physical condition. He continues to train hard and has shown no signs of slowing down. Mike regularly collaborates with fitness influencers for workouts like Joseph Baena, the son of seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With longevity a top priority for many, O’Hearn doesn’t mind sharing some of his trade secrets. The last time he teamed up with Baena, he led the aspiring actor through a back workout intended to strengthen joints and ligaments. During the training session, Mike said if Joseph followed his guidance, he’d be able to lift like his father well into his 70s.
Mike O’Hearn Shares 2-Exercise Training Routine for Enhancing Back Mind Muscle Connection
O’Hearn performed sets of GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers as part of his workout demonstration.
GHD Back Extension
Dumbbell Pullover
While training the back can be a daunting task, O’Hearn underlined its importance for overall longevity. He added that he trains back even when he’s stiff or sore.
“Like Robbie or Arnold or anybody… when you see them doing an exercise, you can see it working. It’s a beautiful thing to see. So hopefully you guys can see exactly where I’m rotating at and where I’m trying to develop. Again, I think I would have incorporated this in so much younger but I just thought it was always such a – that young mentality. The lesser exercise compared to the deadlifts and everything. Yeah, there really is no lesser exercise, they all do something. They all play a part. Here’s rotation and flexing contraction. Three great reasons to do it.”
“I want you guys to know at home if it’s stiff when you wake up, that’s so irrelevant to the day and the workout if your schedule is set up. Our back is sore and stiff. Doesn’t mean we’re not going to train back. We’re just warming up. As soon as your warm-ups are done and you start getting into it, everything loosens up.”
“I would not not force blood into that area. That seems to be what a lot of people think. What’s going on there if I’m not putting any blood into that which I think is a very weak mental state because blood heals. Just keep that in mind when you’re feeling like something is a little stiff when you wake up, we’re all stiff when we wake up.”
According to O’Hearn, he learned these exercise techniques from bodybuilding veteran Kai Greene. During the mid-2000s, Greene was a perennial Mr. Olympia contender who gave seven-time winner Phil Heath all he could handle on stage. Even though Greene never touched a Sandow trophy, he’s well respected for his mass, class, and posing routines.
“I got this one from Kai Greene. He was talking about, sometimes – I don’t want to mislead this – he said for me… to connect to the muscle and I agree with this, this is how I do squats and everything. To connect to the muscle, you can choose an exercise to start with, that’s a hard exercise, by connecting to that muscle using that exercise not fatiguing yourself, it sets you up for a good back workout for guys that maybe can’t connect.
And the back is maybe one of the hardest muscles to connect to. And pull overs is one of the hardest exercises of anything to connect that to the back or to the chest depending on what you’re training,” said Mike O’Hearn.
O’Hearn said he can achieve better mind-muscle connection with a thorough warm-up.
“What I’m trying to do is what Kai Greene talked about is to connect solely with the back and have that great connection between my mind and that muscle today, prior to getting to the workout. I’m not even considering this part of the workout right now. I think that’s and again, it’s a great statement for all you kids. When somebody says well pull overs are a chest exercise, well pull overs are a back exercise, pull overs can be a triceps exercise if you do it incorrectly.”
“My point is just to be focusing on that connection between the back which it’s doing. You’re getting a nice sweat going right now waking up the body especially coming off a leg day like I did. That’s the biggest thing.”
Range of motion is important for O’Hearn but keeping the mind-muscle connection in his back was the main reason he performed this particular workout.
“On this one today for me, I’m just trying to keep it connected to the back. And then the range of motion is – if I feel any hiccups, I’m going to try to work through the hiccups, but I’m feeling nothing like that. What I mean is when I feel like something is holding me back, that’s a red light to me, like an engine light. Wait a minute why is there something going on? But I don’t feel anything like that. So I’m just going a good range of motion and stretching the back.”
Regardless of age, fitness level, or injury, O’Hearn doesn’t miss a chance to impart wisdom to other athletes. Fans last saw him join hands with strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson for a Tom Platz-inspired training session. Mike guided an injured Thor through most of the leg day workout.
After countless hours of training in the gym, O’Hearn has a unique grasp on exercising whether it be for muscle, leanness, longevity, or strength. As for training the back, O’Hearn highly favors GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers.
You can watch the full video from the Mike O’Hearn YouTube channel:
RELATED: Mike O’Hearn Joins Hands With Strongman Brian Shaw For A Chest Workout
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 2:43 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Breaks Down 2023 Mr. Olympia Top Contenders: ‘Can Andrew Jacked Shock the World?’
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler led a highly decorated career that saw him become a four-time Mr. Olympia. Since moving on from professional competition, he’s turned into a revered figure known for his sharp eye for talent. In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, Cutler shared his breakdown of the top contenders for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
Jay Cutler first made headlines for his monstrous muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the 2000s. He dominated the competition at the 2002 Arnold Classic and racked up two more AC titles in the following years. He developed an intense rivalry with eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, who kept him at bay from the top prize. After four runner-up finishes, Cutler finally dethroned his longtime foe and secured his maiden Sandow trophy. He hung up his posing trunks with four Mr. Olympia wins under his belt.
The Men’s Open division hosts some of the freakiest mass monsters in the world and serves as the marquee category at any bodybuilding event. The division’s landscape continues to evolve with a rise in talent joining the division from around the world.
Former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay got knocked off the top at the 2022 Mr. Olympia last season. Hadi Choopan reigned supreme as the new champion whereas former 212 Olympia king Derek Lunsford stunned the world with a silver in his Open debut. Nick Walker moved up the ranks and rounded out the top three. Meanwhile, Hunter Labrada missed the mark and fell out of the top six, meaning he would need to earn an invite to the competition this year.
Andrew Jacked / Instagram
Rising sensation Andrew Jacked is another contender who presented a major threat to the more experienced veterans. Samson Dauda emerged as a budding contender after placing sixth at the previous Olympia event. He further asserted his place in the mix by coming out on top of the 2023 Arnold Classic three months ago.
Slovakian bodybuilder Michal Krizo entered the group with a lot of hype behind him last year. He presented insane arm development along with freakish overall muscularity. He’s coming off a commanding performance in his last outing at the 2023 Empro Classic Pro that saw him score gold last week.
Jay Cutler breaks down top contenders of 2023 Mr. Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Jay Cutler shared his analysis of the top contenders for the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler started by praising Krizo’s latest win and identified areas he would like to see improved.
“He was looking so paper thin, especially in the upper body, the arms are some of the best in the business and it looked like he made improvements, which I think he did improve from his prior showings. But I don’t know if he came down in size a little bit to gather the condition,” said Cutler. “I still feel like he’s still going to have trouble pushing the top spots at the Olympia.
“He still needs to get more density in the side of the leg, the hamstring, glutes, and the back’s improved but he still… arms are so big. When you have arms that big it kinda takes from the lats unless you’re like a Nick Walker.”
Cutler believes Dauda and Lunsford are the frontrunners for the contest. He also highlighted the danger Choopan and former champ Brandon Curry may present.
“I didn’t want to start counting places because I hated when people did that to me but there’s a lot of good guys. That six to ten is going to be… We just saw Derek and Samson too. They trained together a couple days ago and Derek looks tremendous which he always has and Samson looks tremendous which he has for the past few years. Obviously, the Arnold winner. Question is if Derek would’ve done the Arnold, we could keep talking about that.”
“Contention wise, Hadi’s been kind of shouting out ‘don’t forget about me.’ We’re also forgetting Brandon Curry.”
Derek Lunsford / Instagram
Cutler supports Big Ramy competing at the event
Jay Cutler extended his support for Big Ramy to return and compete at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. He believes Ramy doesn’t have enough time to sit out a year and could perform well if he came in his best form.
“Ramy sounds like he’s going to come back and compete, which I’m all for. He needs to possibly take a step away and I think it’s got a little misconstrued. I hate the fact that Steve Weinberger has kinda been put on the spot because he said basically go back to what you’re doing. I don’t think he ever said like he needs to take the whole year off. I don’t even know how it was said but there’s a lot of controversy right now.
“The point is he just needs to regroup and do what he does best and come in the best of his ability. There’s no real timeline on that. He’s 38, he can’t take a few years off, his health is really great. I hear his training is really great. He’s had some atrophy compared to years prior on the arms, triceps, I think he’s admitted to having some downsizing there. But he looked great at the Arnold. He could’ve probably placed a little better but I don’t want to discredit the people that did.”
‘Can Andrew Jacked win & shock the world?’ asks Cutler
The 49-year-old praised Andrew Jacked for his immense potential in the sport. He expressed his excitement about watching Andrew go up against Hunter Labrada and others at the nearing 2023 Texas Pro. For Cutler, the biggest question is if Jacked could do enough later this year to win the coveted Sandow trophy.
“I hear great things about Andrew too. The big showdown is going to be Texas. There’s going to be other guys too. I know there’s a lot of international shows but that’s going to be like what, who’s not going to qualify there. Those two guys [Andrew and Hunter] need to be in the lineup because they’re people we’re talking about and the question is, can Andrew come and win the Olympia and shock the world?”
Jay Cutler is currently on a mission to take his physique to the next level as part of the ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge for his 50th birthday. He revealed he’s gained 15 pounds in preparation for the challenge earlier this week.
This year’s competition in the Men’s Open division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive. Fans will be waiting in anticipation to see which competitors qualify and who ultimately takes the crown of Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Offers Tips for Sculpting Abs: ‘Remember You’re Trying to Condition Them, Not Build Muscle’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 10:24 AM EDT