I learned how to do these things by reading and "digesting" the works of novelist/philosopher, Ayn Rand. Anything less is not optimal.2. [2], Mike Mentzer Bodybuilder, Writer, and Philosopher by Bob Burns, "DotTeeVee: Mike Mentzer with Nantucket Nautilus Rock Video", Mike Mentzer's Last Interview By: The Sandwich, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Mentzer&oldid=1130872340, Sportspeople from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Sportspeople from Los Angeles County, California, University of Maryland, College Park alumni, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (Overall), 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW), 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW), 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 2nd, This page was last edited on 1 January 2023, at 11:36. It was that morning that Mike was to be found dead by his sibling. Now a recently surfaced interview reveals his thoughts on steroid use. Avoid these meal planning mistakes and sail to single-digit body fat in no time at all. Series presents all the information residents need on hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow reconstruction in adults. He won the 76 Mr. America contest at a bodyweight of 205 pounds while training on such a program, but he didnt stay with it, switching eventually to a split routine performed four days per week. The weightsmoved in a perfectly controlled and slow manner. And, as I stared in disbelief at the massive shoulders and arms he was sporting that day, I had empirical proof of the efficiency of his most productive routine., Web site 2021 Drew Baye. Hewill always be remembered for not only having one of the greatest physiques of all time, but also for having one of the greatest stories. His first breakthrough became known as the 'Ideal (Principled) Routine', which was a fantastic step in minimal training. I found that I could get the same benefits from the high-intensity training while avoiding the overwhelming exhaustive effects of the three-days-a-week routine.. That was the most result-producing routine that I ever used. I asked Mike why he thought that such a split routine was more productive than the three-days-per-week whole-body program that had carried him through to victory in the Mr. America contest. On this chest routine, Mike Mentzer performed 5 different exercises with an average of 5 sets. Some time later, Mentzer attracted more attention when he introduced Dorian Yates to high-intensity training, and put him through his first series of workouts in the early '90s. In 1971, he was introduced to Arthur Jones, the creator of high-intensity training for bodybuilding. Born in 1951, Mike Mentzer was one of the earliest superstars in modern day bodybuilding. Mike Mentzer COMET-LIKE CAREER As a 27-year-old IFBB Pro League rookie in 1979 noted especially for his delt, arm, and leg density, Mentzer was a phenomenon. Dumbbell side lateral raise (5 sets, 8-10 reps) 2. Required fields are marked *. The body needs time to recover as a whole, not just the specific bodypart that was trained. As 1990 came, Mike found himself once again in a hospitalized state. Your email address will not be published. In around mid-1983, Mike had managed to find a role as editor of Workout Magazine. This would require a weight that would take you to failure in between 6 and 9 reps. Then, once you hit failure, keep going. In his last interview before his death, Mentzer said he was delighted to get so many phone clients and close personal bodybuilding friends, such as Markus Reinhardt, who had been influenced by him to become Objectivists. Burt No, perhaps not, he said. Then I might finish off with two sets of lying triceps extensions. While all the muscle-heads were telling people to work out six days a week Mentzer talked about working out once every 14 days. It wasnt until the morning of the competition that he felt he had recovered. Dumbbell flyes or pec deck 1-2 x 6-8 And while keeping up that kind of training in addition to a full college schedule, a part-time job with a physician and the demands of an ongoing relationship with a nice young lady, I found that I just didnt have the energy. Life isnt without hardships, and no matter how difficult things may seem or how far from the path you have strayed, you can always turn things around. Mentzer though, built on this model, opted for a Heavy Duty variation. He died in 2001 from heart complications. Leg extensions 1 x 6-8 Ill post my training routine if asked, Just want to see what others are doing. Squats 1 x 6-8 He is a content creator who got famous for his live streaming and gaming tutorial videos for NBA 2K gameplay which he posts on. She is the face behind the workout routine articles here on Jacked Gorilla. Dont tell me about all this bullshit working out. This was met with anger from many contestants, including Mentzer. On this shoulder routine, he hits a total of 6 different exercises. In that kind of a case the best thing that can happen would be that you merely wouldnt make any progress; youd just spin your wheels. He said his ultimate goal during that period was to become a psychiatrist. Emmy has been studying celebrities careers, lifestyles, and workout routines for over 3 years. Early life. Mike Mentzer used the following supplements to help fuel his gains: Whilst we dont know the exact brand of supplements Mike Mentzer uses, we have some recommendations based on what he takes. The Pennsylvania native finished a . His triceps, in particular, when viewed from behind, reminded one of two large watermelons hanging out of a T-shirt. Required fields are marked *. Well, Mike replied, it was back in 1979. Standing barbell curls 1 x 6-8 Enter Mike Mentzer. In my opinion, Mike's ideas on bodybuilding were "allowed" to emerge because of his Objectivism. I asked him if perhaps exhaustion, such as that experienced on the whole-body routine, was, then, truly a requisite for growth stimulation, bearing in mind Jones adage that unless you were made nauseous from a set of barbell curls, you didnt know what hard training was. Many thanks for your updates! Dumbbell side lateral raise (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 2. Mike Mentzer is a legendary bodybuilder from the 1970s who won the Mr. Universe contest in 1978 and eventually won that title with a perfect score. In the summer of 1979, if you had viewed an upstart, 27-year-old philosopher and former pre-med student with the alliterative name Mike Mentzer as he prepared to make his Olympia debut by trading sets with his youngest brother Ray (who won that year's Mr. America), it would've looked like some sort of madness. Mike Mentzer Competition Record 1970 Mr Pennsylvania - AAU, Winner 1971 Mr America - AAU, 10th Teen Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd Teen Mr America - AAU, 2nd 1975 Mr America - IFBB, Medium, 3rd Mr East Coast - IFBB, Medium, 2nd Mr USA - IFBB, Medium, 2nd 1976 Mr America - IFBB, Medium, 1st Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner If they find its too exhausting, try the four-day. Finally, I asked Mike to summarize his experience for the benefit of all those bodybuilders looking to build mass. Mentzer started pumping iron again in 1975 after a four-year hiatus. Mike believed that bodybuilders do not need the levels of protein they were sold by magazines. It wasnt the long-term recovery that was required. He changed my life and my entire training routine. In 1975, he started attending the University of Maryland as a pre-med student where his hours away from the gym were spent in the study of "genetics, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry." Jones also had many devout followers over the years including the legendary yet controversial Mike Mentzer. Jones was an accomplished trainer, and inventor of many of the early exercise machines he began training Mike, firmly believing in the teens potential. However, Mentzer was just getting warmed up. Reports varied as to the actual size of his arms. The formula is: brief training, intense training, infrequent training, he said. In short, man can and ought to be a hero.. At least do light reps a couple of those days for arms, delts, lats, upper legs, abs. He did well at school thanks in part to his dad's continued support of his education, who also bought him his first set of dumbbells. 5 sets & 8-10 reps Dumbbell side lateral raise; 5 sets & 6-8 reps Behind the neck . The original Ring novel was written by Koji Suzuki. Most bodybuilding and weightlifting authorities do not take into account the severe nature of the stress imposed by heavy, strenuous resistance exercise carried to the point of positive muscular failure.[8]. His return came at the 1975 Mr. America show where he placed third, behind Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. You have to recover before you can grow, Mike continued, So, we figured, why work out again? Zero time between the two would be best but the reality is about 10 seconds or less from one to another is a good target to should for.4. We knew that recovery was important in terms of overall, or systemic, recovery. He made a respectable comeback (1975 IFBB Mr. America), coming in at a modest third place. Dont make the same mistake.. But carried on for too long, that kind of effort actually causes you to lose muscular mass and strength, youll always be making inroads into your recovery ability and never allowing yourself to recover, let alone grow, which is secondary. His father would regularly test and encourage his academic knowledge using many rewards, such as cash to ensure he excelled. Legs, Chest and Triceps. All of a sudden it occurred to me that it would be useless to train with anything less than all-out intensity, since that was required to induce maximum growth stimulation. Bill spoke fondly of both Mike and his brother; Mike and Ray Mentzer used to write to me when they were young kids back in Pennsylvania, when Ray was 9 years old and Mike was 11 years old. Mentzer began training 3 times a week when he was 15 years old and he could bench press 170 kg back then. The booklet suggested that he train no more than three days a week, so Mike did just that. In the 1980 Mr. Olympia he placed fourth (in a tie with Boyer Coe) behind Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris Dickerson and Frank Zane. What does Mike Mentzers workout routine look like? Close grip supinated cable pulldown (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 4. He clearly saw mike doing 4 sets for an exercise, 4 exercises per bodypart pyramiding up the weight in a 10-12, 8-10, 6-8, 4-6 fashion. Mike was regularly eating 200 gm carb each day during 1970, When most of bodybuilder took low carb diet. Superset Mike and I talked about a great many subjects during that trip, but first and foremost on my mind was finding out what Mike Mentzers most productive training routine had been. After that I would do one set of squats to positive failure, usually in the neighborhood of 400 to 500 pounds, and then proceed on to leg curls for two sets. We offer the following story as a means of paying tribute to the passing of a forceful and enigmatic individual who has surely attained the status of bodybuilding icon. And finally, there are some genetics that can contribute to your shoulder size. And finally, Id finish up with biceps, where Id do one set of standing barbell curls to failure followed by one or two sets of either seated concentration curls or preacher curls., Legs [10], Mentzer believed that carbohydrates should make up the bulk of the caloric intake, 5060%, rather than protein as others preferred. IFBB pro Mike Mentzer was one of the most successful bodybuilders of his time (1951-2001). Barbell preacher curl. Your email address will not be published. Superset Theyd send me little pictures of themselves and all types of stuff. He described Objectivism as the best philosophy ever devised. He has been a life saver for me, from last in my class in high school and 130lbs to 1985 Jr. Mr. Mississippi,1987 Mr. Mississippi,1985 Middle weight Southern Classic,1987 Light Heavy 3rd place Southern Classic,1988 Heavyweight 3rd place Southern Classic, on the same stage with Shawn Ray when he won Nationals,U.S. Upon hearing that, I quickly realized how much deceit was being practiced in the bodybuilding world, where champions whose arms were obviously far less substantial than Mikes would loudly proclaim measurements of 21 inches or, in some instances that stretched credibility to the breaking point, 22 inches. The third competitor to reach my top four of the 70's is the master of symmetry as he was commonly known by: Frank Zane. Then, prior to his Mr. Olympia appearances in 1979 and 80where he tipped the scales at a rock-solid 215 pounds, he spread out his routine even further, training only once every two to four days. Dont forget to share this article with your friends and family. Mentzer mostly focused on a heavy-duty variation and this would require a weight that would take you to failure in between 6 and 9 reps. Mike Mentzer always wanted to stay in his best shape and he would often keep his training week down to 3 working days and 4 days for rest. Arnold Schwarzenegger - He's been named the Austrian Oak, The Terminator,John Matrix, Mr. cycle, and energy level (where Vit. Plate loaded incline T-bar row (4 sets, 8-12 reps) 4. Has a great fear of ocean swimming because he doesn't "want to become filet mignon for some shark!". >to win the Mr. Olympia. Barbell preacher curl (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 7. Iwrote in my book Heavy Duty II: Mind and Body that the idea is not more is better or less is better but precise is best; and as I learned from training close to 2,000 people plus myself that the precise amount of exercise required to induce optimal growth stimulation isnt nearly as much as youve been led to believe or would like to believe.. You will get more done in 30 minutes in 2 sets than 25 sets of high volume training. >Mike Mentzer was a major frickin pussy who gave up after Arnold kicked his. . Bent-over barbell rows 2 x 6-8, Traps That would be it.. The zoom zooms on youtube don't like it because they're dogmatic and think that if they spend 5 hours a day in a gym eventually a woman will talk to them and let them fuck. The volume of training that Arnold recommended was far too much for the average joe. P.S. I looked my best, but I didnt feel at my best. Mike Mentzer's training routine Triceps Choose two different exercises and do them both for two sets. What to take. Workout 2. Mike Mentzer is one of the classic bodybuilders of the early years. Barbell forearm curl (5 sets, 10 reps). This meant the transplant was off the table, and Ray would have to wait longer. Really, the buildup of lactic acid was so quick, so dramatic and so severe that until my body metabolized it, usually about two hours later, I was almost incapacitated. B comes in). Mike Mentzer understood that he had to stick to a clean diet and he took a fairly broad approach to his nutrition in terms of different food sources. Mentzerwas 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 225 lbs. Although not formatted exactly as he recommends in the way I present the videos, the information remains relevant and intact. Mike being Mike, stayed up late to work on the scripts. Heres the full workout breakdown:Warmup (not shown in the video): 3 sets of behind the neck smith machine presses (15 reps, 7 reps, 3 reps)1 Set Pre-exhaust Standing Dumbbell Lateral Raises superset with Behind the Neck Smith Machine Shoulder Press2 Minute rest1 Set Bent Over Rear Dumbbell Raises for the rear deltsDONE!INTENTION: Overtraining is an epidemic for those that cannot continue to produce results. In early 1975, however, he resumed training and returned to competition in 1975 at the Mr. America contest, placing third behind Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. Mike would often keep his training week down to 3 working days with 4 for rest. Erroneously attributing their lack of satisfactory progress to a poverty of the requisite genetic traits, instead of to their irrational training and dietary practices, they give up training. [7], Mentzer was an Objectivist and insisted that philosophy and bodybuilding are one and the same. 2023 Greatest Physiques. And there were times when we skipped even two days in between workouts, 72 hours. Bodybuilder Mike Mentzer thought differently, trained differently, and ate differently, . Rear-delt rows 2 x 6-8, Biceps It struck me that Mike had been the only high-intensity advocate who actually broke with Arthur Jones on the point of employing a split routine. Cable triceps . Mikes form would be kept absolutely perfect. I just have to comment that Burt should get a life and realize that if he was half the man Mike was hed be something! In 1971 he suffered his worst defeat, placing 10th at the AAU Mr. America, which was won by Casey Viator. I interviewed Lou Ferrigno, John Grimek, Paul Anderson, Doug Hepburn, Frank Zane, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Lee Labrada, Steve Reeves and both Mike and Ray Mentzer, among others. On this back routine, Mentzer hit 5 different exercises. Mentzer's theories are intended to help a drug-free person achieve his or her full genetic potential within the shortest amount of time. He was unopposed). While genetic characteristics were important, Mike believed that they had been overemphasized. Regarding what he learned from Ayn Rand, Mentzer said in an interview:[4]. If we had not recovered, then, in fact, there was no way we could have grown from the first workout. Nice article, but there is a huge mistake in the compilation of Mike Mentzers bodybuilding achievements segment (despite Rudolpfh Plizetskaias attempt to rectify it) ; in 1978, Mentzer won the IFBB Mr. Universe in Acapulco, Mexico with the first and only perfect 300 score. Bodyweight dips. He maintained that the contest was rigged until the day he died. Upright rows 2 x 6-8, Shoulders I would start with leg extensions, six to eight reps to failure, and then continue beyond that with forced reps and negative reps, and then go immediately to leg presses, preferably on a Nautilus Compound Leg machine, as that would allow me to go from one exercise to the other without pausing. [11] Eventually, however, Mentzer concluded that even Jones was not completely applying his own principles, so Mentzer began investigating a more full application of them. Despite being deceased for twenty years, he has an online presence on social media. This guy was an absolute unit and looks like he could body slam a grizzly bear. How to take thm, [] how about Mike Mentzer, who was around 215 lbs in this photo; would your 215 lbs look like Mike []. Not everyone is going to become Mr. Olympia, but we can all improve ourselves.. [11], Jones pioneered the principles of high-intensity training in the late 1960s. Bullshit. Concentration curls 2 x 6-8. Many say he was a bodybuilding genius. Walking dumbbell lunge (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 6. - John Doe Bodybuilding, 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (Overall), 1977 IFBB North American Championships 1st (MW), 1978 IFBB World Amateur Championships 1st (HW), 1979 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational 2nd, Cereal and Grain Foods Four or more servings per day, Fruits and Vegetables Four or more servings per day, The high-protein group (Fish, meat, eggs) Two or more servings each day (Basic serving of meat = 3.5 ounces). To get started on the proper, methodical path read her books of explicit philosophic essays Philosophy: Who Needs It-- especially the Introduction and the first two chapters and The Romantic Manifesto especially the second chapter, "Philosophy and Sense of Life." His approach to critical thought, analytical thinking, and knowing there is one truth, all allowed him to buck conventional thought and push onward with his own mental effort. 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