Arnold Schwarzenegger (steroid era) vs Modern Bodybuilders (HGH era)..................video link
- Thread starter Michael.Felli
- Start date
Arnold speaking - THIS YEAR - on the present state of bodybuilding at his own Arnold Classic Competition...
If any of you want a "real" hero, choose from this short list: John Grimek, Dan Lurie, Vince Gironda or the immortal Steve Reeves. You younger guys may not know that bodybuilding was never favored by the mass public. And, the aforementioned people trained in primitive gyms - dungeons, really. They set the tone for the sport...er, I mean, "art" of bodybuilding. An art that is now lost, perhaps, forever. They developed the tools that you younger kids rely upon today.
And, get this...they did it WITHOUT steroids or HGH!
And, get this...they did it WITHOUT steroids or HGH!
Tradition?!? What is that, really? Well, bodybuilding has its tradition, too. It predates 1959. A much simpler time, really. When bodybuilding was body "building" and not body "destroying".
Anyone who has seen the original Hercules or Maciste flicks sees no drugs used to build bodies.
The "sport" of bodybuilding bores me now. One can't even have conversations with the younger guys like before. Everyone is carrying their gallon jug of water with, their iPOD and their attitude. And, that's just the FEMALE bodybuilders.
Bodybuilders today take things waaaaaay too seriously. There's no joy in the gym like there used to be.
Training is a refuge for me, though. It clears my mind. I do miss many of the people I used to train with (back in the day). PA used to be a strong ADFPA state. Not sure about that anymore. I miss those powerlifters immensely.
The gym saved me as a teenager the way some people discover "Jesus". And, to those 30-40 year olds back in the day, when I was a green teenager, I am eternally grateful. They were good people to be around. I would never have gone to Penn State (or became Catholic) if it wasn't for them. I exist today b/c of them (and, Arnold, of course. His writings in the magazine were always about forward thinking and positive attitude). A true comaraderie in the gym existed back then that lacks today. People trained b/c they simply enjoyed it. Good well-rounded people to be around.
It's funny to think about it, now. How being in a simple cinder block square, no air conditioning, chalk on the floor, and, nothing but cold steel and machinery around you is the place I miss the most. Funny.
Sometimes, I think I'd like to judge, though. Compete? Never again. It's important to me to just be healthy as I age.
I've turned the page. Today, I'm about getting back into competitive shape. But, doing that is via "giant sets" and proper diet. I'm more about how many times can I squat 225 than seeing "how much" I can squat, for example. Giant sets really fatigue the muscle and, probably, most importantly, for me, help to prevent injury. In 2013, I had a scare with my left shoulder. I probably should have had surgery. It's healed now. I don't want to go through that again.
Bodybuilders today take things waaaaaay too seriously. There's no joy in the gym like there used to be.
Training is a refuge for me, though. It clears my mind. I do miss many of the people I used to train with (back in the day). PA used to be a strong ADFPA state. Not sure about that anymore. I miss those powerlifters immensely.
The gym saved me as a teenager the way some people discover "Jesus". And, to those 30-40 year olds back in the day, when I was a green teenager, I am eternally grateful. They were good people to be around. I would never have gone to Penn State (or became Catholic) if it wasn't for them. I exist today b/c of them (and, Arnold, of course. His writings in the magazine were always about forward thinking and positive attitude). A true comaraderie in the gym existed back then that lacks today. People trained b/c they simply enjoyed it. Good well-rounded people to be around.
It's funny to think about it, now. How being in a simple cinder block square, no air conditioning, chalk on the floor, and, nothing but cold steel and machinery around you is the place I miss the most. Funny.
Sometimes, I think I'd like to judge, though. Compete? Never again. It's important to me to just be healthy as I age.
I've turned the page. Today, I'm about getting back into competitive shape. But, doing that is via "giant sets" and proper diet. I'm more about how many times can I squat 225 than seeing "how much" I can squat, for example. Giant sets really fatigue the muscle and, probably, most importantly, for me, help to prevent injury. In 2013, I had a scare with my left shoulder. I probably should have had surgery. It's healed now. I don't want to go through that again.
Good. Summer break started for me five weeks ago and I'm getting worn down. Gotta take it easy, I don't heal so fast nowadays. First day of a mandated week off, sucks.
But going to the gym, pushing yourself, watching others push themselves, It's something you grow to need to get through the day.
But going to the gym, pushing yourself, watching others push themselves, It's something you grow to need to get through the day.
Thanks for sharing. I totally agree with Arnold's thoughts. It does seem like it is all about size now rather than proportion, the beauty and the art.
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