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Rich Gaspari Full Interview | Strengths & Weaknesses Of Bodybuilders In Men’s Open & Men’s Physique

Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Rich Gaspari. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as the strengths and weakness of top bodybuilders in Men’s Open and Men’s Physique, the biggest difference in bodybuilding training today, and the future generation of competitors.Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
During our recent conversation with Rich Gaspari, who was a commentator of the Mr. Olympia 2020, we went into detail about the results. Specifically, Gaspari believed that both Brandon Curry and Phil Heath had specific glaring weaknesses that ultimately led them to fall behind Big Ramy.
We asked for him to give us analysis and Rich Gaspari held nothing back. He also notes that he made these same observations during the actual competition before the results were called. While it was a close race, Gaspari knew what would lead to the downfall of both Curry and Heath.

According to Rich Gaspari, Phil Heath still had trouble with his stomach area. Not only that, but he had trouble preventing himself from fading as he was put through the comparison rounds. Gaspari points out that Phil is usually used to being brought out, being the obvious winner, and then being left alone by the judges. Here he had to fight harder and was put through far more comparison rounds than he is used to.
For Brandon Curry, Rich Gaspari points out that he had made many solid improvements in his upper body. When seen from the front, Curry looked unstoppable. But when he hit a side pose, Gaspari saw weaknesses in his lower half. His hamstrings and glutes just couldn’t compare to the likes of Big Ramy.
Based on the consistent improvements and hunger of Brandon Curry, Rich Gaspari isn’t counting him out to make a comeback at a future Olympia. He’s open to the fact that Curry just might return as an Olympia champion if he could further improve. For Phil Heath, Gaspari believes that it might be time to hang up the towel.
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Watch our full GI Exclusive interview with Rich Gaspari above!
What Men’s Physique Needs To Change To Gain More Respect From Critics
During our interview we decide to ask Gaspari, what can the Men’s Physique division change in order to win over the respect of old school guys like Rich Gaspari? In his response, Gaspari had an idea. And surprisingly, it had nothing to do with the board shorts. Instead, he thought it had everything to do with the core of how Men’s Physique competitions work.
The Men’s Physique division doesn’t have traditional poses. Instead, their poses are more a natural standing position. The key goal of Men’s Physique is to showcase a stellar physique and conditioning in a natural state. No front double biceps or most muscular poses. While the athletes do tighten up and flex slightly in their natural pose – they cannot hide any weakness with a good angle on a mandatory pose.

Rich Gaspari respects that in theory. He understands how much harder it is to be a Men’s Physique athlete without being able to use angles to hide weaknesses like other divisions often do. Instead, a Men’s Physique athletes needs to bear it all out. They have to solely rely on the power of their physique.
And while Gaspari finds this impressive, he doesn’t find it exciting. He believes that allowing traditional mandatory poses similar to Men’s Open will make for a better competition. It brings drama and excitement to the stage. Rich Gaspari doesn’t have lack of respect for the athletes. Instead, he simply has lack of excitement for the competitions themselves.
Wrap Up
Rich Gaspari discussed far more topic than can be covered in one article. That’s why you can watch the full uncut hour long interview above. Get an in-depth look on Rich Gaspari’s insights and opinions on the recent trends in bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive!
You can also listen to our entire full length interviews on the Generation Iron podcast. Visit our official GI podcast landing page right here for the full list of episodes and platforms to subscribe!

The 8 Best Bodyweight Exercises for the Back

The 8 Best Bodyweight Exercises for the Back
There’s a tendency to assume that back pain is a result of back problems. That’s sometimes the case as anyone with herniated discs in the lumbar spine can attest.
More often, however, the modern epidemic of back problems comes from our sedentary culture where spend too much time sitting. This shortens our hamstrings, locks up our hips, and creates muscle dysfunction throughout the body that translates into back pain.

That’s why to address back problems, we must attack the entire core region, turning to moves that open the hips and lengthen and strengthen our bodies, putting them back in proper alignment.
A back workout not only should produce that coveted V-shaped back but also create the core strength that will prevent long-term back ailments (to say nothing of back injury in the gym). Bodyweight back moves are especially effective as studies suggest they improve movement quality.
Here are eight bodyweight exercises that not only will strengthen the back but also keep us from developing back problems down the road.
Rib Opener
What it does: This move lengthens and strengthens the muscles of the chest and back, creating mobility in the thoracic spine.
How to do it: Lay on your left side with the left (bottom) leg straight and your right (top) leg at a 90-degree angle atop a foam roller. Your left hand is on your right knee. Reach your right arm across your chest as if pinning a newspaper to the chest. Pull your chest to the right, getting a good stretch. Hold for two seconds.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps on each side.
Bow and Arrow
What it does: A variation on the rib opener that also strengthens the muscles of the chest and back, creating mobility in the thoracic spine.
How to do it: Kneel on your right knee and place a short foam roller between the side of your left knee and a wall. Bring your hands together in front of you and then extend your right arm fully back, similar to a yoga Warrior 2 pose but with palms facing out. Hold for two seconds.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps on each side.
Pull Ups
What it does: No other move makes you feel like you’re building that V-shape back. You’re hitting the muscles of your upper back, along with the shoulders, biceps, forearms, and chest.
How to do it:  Grab the bar with an overhand grip. Hanging from the bar, pull your shoulder blades back and down to lift your body, and build momentum. Finish by pulling up with your arms.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps (or as many as possible) with 30 seconds rest between sets.
Backward Lunge with Twist
What it does: This move provides all of the benefits of a lunge while also giving you a great stretch of the back.
How to do it: With feet together, step back with your right leg into a lunge. Arch your back and twist your torso over your left (front) leg while reaching your right hand to the sky. Push out of that position into the next lunge.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps with 30 seconds rest between sets.
Sliding Leg Curls
What it does: This move challenges your hamstrings as well as your glutes and lower back.
How to do it: Lie faceup on the floor with your arms at your sides, legs straight, and heels on a towel on a slippery surface (or while in socks on a smooth surface). Lift your hips off the ground, keeping a straight line from ankle to shoulders, sliding your heels to your body. Return to the starting position.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps with 30 seconds rest between sets.
One-Arm, One-Leg Plank
What it does: This move challenges you to keep your back flat and stabilized.
How to do it: From a pushup position with forearms on the ground, push up off your elbows supporting your weight on your elbows. Tuck your chin so that your head is in line with your body. Lift one arm and opposite leg, hold for two seconds. Switch limbs.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps (per side) with 30 seconds rest between sets.
Floor Ys
What it does: This move not only strengthens the back and shoulders, it counteracts the effects of sitting by pulling your shoulders back and down where they belong.
How to do it: Lie face down on the floor so that your back is flat. Squeeze your shoulder blades back and down and lift your arms above your head to form a Y, rising off the floor. Keep your thumbs up.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps with 30 seconds rest between sets.
Half Locust
What it does: This yoga move strengthens the erector spinae muscles, which run on both sides of the spine from the pelvis to the upper back.
How to do it: Lie face down on the ground with arms by your sides. Inhale and lift your head and upper chest off the ground. Only lift a few inches, which should be enough to have everything above your breastbone in the air. Hold for two seconds and return to starting position.
How many? 2 sets of 10 reps with 30 seconds rest between sets.

Pete Williams is a NASM-CPT and the author or co-author of several fitness books, including Core Performance and Every Day is Game Day. His work has appeared in publications such as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, and USA Today.

Nelson Montana Now On TikTok!

Bodybuilding, Steroid, & Supplement Expert Nelson Montana is now on TikTok. Nelson’s Favorite Things: Favorite Protein & Supplements: Protein Factory! 2. Favorite Product: Unleashed 3 Bottles Unleashed 3. Favorite Research Peptides: SwoleAF (click link or image) Articles Written By Nelson Montana https://proteinfactory.com/author/nelson-montana/ Alex Rogers is a supplement manufacturing expert. He has been formulating, consulting, &…