All rights reserved. Date of Death: June 10 th, 2001. The contention centered on the participation of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had announced his retirement from competition in 1975 after winning six consecutive Mr. Olympia titles. Mike Mentzer won Mr. Olympia in 1979, but following a defeat the next year, this bodybuilder from Pennsylvania quit the game! But they look well over 20 inches! I exclaimed. RIP. Yes, I used this type of routine throughout my professional bodybuilding career, but the greatest gains I got from it was when, rather than following it on the usual four-out-of-seven-day schedule, I began spacing it so I trained every other day on a split routine. You must take each and every set and rep to all-out failure. Employ forced reps when possible. 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. Later, as his bodybuilding progressed, he would move to take between4-7 days rest in between workouts. Workout 2. Mike Mentzer died on Sunday, June 10th, 2001. However, year also marked his worstdefeat; 10th place at the AAU Mr. America. Heart was trained by Mentzer and took over his training business for a while after his death. It can easily be read cover to cover Here is Mike Rashid's back routine: 1. In his book, High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way, Mike states that he performs barbell rows parallel to the floor pulling to the sternum. And there were times when we skipped even two days in between workouts, 72 hours. Couldnt do Tom Bradys huh?!! Mentzer went on to win that competition the next year, in 1976. Remember to use strict form when doing all of your exercises. I wasnt interested so much in his theories (they were not as advanced as they would become from 1993 on, when he reduced the sets to one on a split routine that saw his clients training but once every four to seven days) as I was in learning what he actually did; i.e., how hed trained to build the incredible muscle mass that he was known for and what hed personally found to be the most productive muscle-building routine of his entire career. Mentzer believed that the best way to build muscle was to do just a few very intense reps, rather than doing many reps at a lower intensity. By 15 he could bench over twice his bodyweight . Calf raises 2 x 6-8 All Mike Mentzer training sessions are high-intensity fail mode.The set of classes consists of 1-2 exercises for each muscle group, which are done separately or in super series. Anything less is not optimal.2. In the 1980 Mr. Olympia he placed fourth (in a tie with Boyer Coe) behind Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris Dickerson and Frank Zane. Mentzer though, built on this model, opted for a Heavy Duty variation. Overhead cable triceps extension (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 4. Dumbbell Laterals 2 x 6-8. [11], Jones pioneered the principles of high-intensity training in the late 1960s. Pushdowns 1 x 6-8 When Greg asked mike if he'd abandoned hit, mike snapped (Mentzer was an asshole btw) that it was the last set that only counts. Regarding what he learned from Ayn Rand, Mentzer said in an interview:[4]. A tragic loss, and one that was to be followed shortly after by his brother. in Community Counseling,Ph.D. - Mike Mentzer, 2002 ( 1) Mike Mentzer was a bodybuilding genius. At the very young age of 12, this phenomenal bodybuilder started training, later entering professional bodybuilding in his teen days. Dumbbell flyes or pec deck 1-2 x 6-8 Mike would often keep his training week down to 3 working days with 4 for rest. Avoid these meal planning mistakes and sail to single-digit body fat in no time at all. I knew that high-intensity training was the best, there was no question about that, but I couldnt put up with that kind of exhaustive effect immediately after the workout; I had to either go to a job or back to school, and all I could do was to collapse in a heap and sleep. In short, man can and ought to be a hero.. On this shoulder routine, he hits a total of 6 different exercises. The booklet suggested that he train no more than three days a week, so Mike did just that. In 1971 he suffered his worst defeat, placing 10th at the AAU Mr. America, which was won by Casey Viator. This may have been a bad move, as 2 years after the blacklisting, Mikehad virtually no income. We knew that recovery was important in terms of overall, or systemic, recovery. Mentzer was an atheist,[12] and stated in the last interview before his death that he did not believe in God, heaven, hell, or any kind of afterlife. Here is how Mike Mentzer exercises: Mike performed an average of 5 sets of each of the 5 arm workouts mentioned below: Supinated chin-up. 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]. Here is Mike Mentzer's shoulder routine: 1. I train in Golds, when I do train, and I see this as probably the most pervasive mistake among bodybuilders, including advanced bodybuilders. Great profile! Single leg hamstring curls (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 5. Mentzer started pumping iron again in 1975 after a four-year hiatus. Growing muscle takes time. Squats 1 x 6-8 Emmy Wallin is a writer for Jacked Gorilla. I learned how to do these things by reading and "digesting" the works of novelist/philosopher, Ayn Rand. of the popular magazines and workout courses of the '60s all the way up until his death in 2001.With that in mind, this series is a body part by body part video series of his workouts. To care for him, Mikemoved in with Ray, and the two grew closer over the following years. 2023 Greatest Physiques. Then it would be on to shoulders, for which I would do two superset cycles of Nautilus lateral raises followed by Nautilus behind-the-neck presses and two sets of either rear-delt rows, performed by sitting backward in a pec deck machine and squeezing your elbows as far back as they can go, or two sets of bent-over dumbbell laterals. 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. 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. He went hard on all sets and on the last set he did forced reps and negatives. Arnold, despite breaking formation on several occasions and receiving a warning from the judges placed 1st. Arnold didnt even like cardio you know, probably because he didnt quite like a strict regimen diet. Years later, Mike said that his father "unwittingly was inculcating in me an appreciation of capitalism. 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. After graduating high school, Mentzer served four years in the United States Air Force. Consult a physician before starting any exercise/nutrition program. He began training clients in a near-experimental manner, evaluating the perfect number of repetitions, exercises, and days of rest to achieve maximum benefits. She is a telepath who has killed a journalist. Most people would underestimate how much slower you need to move the weight in order to remove momentum as a player in the rep movement. [1] He appears in the music video for the Nantucket's cover of "It's a Long Way to the Top". 1978 IFBB USA vs the World 1st (HW) When it comes to dieting, Kevin Hart follows an 80/20 rule: . How to take thm, [] how about Mike Mentzer, who was around 215 lbs in this photo; would your 215 lbs look like Mike []. Both Mentzers were jack offs with ray being the biggest jack off. In short, man can and ought to be a hero.". 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. Many thanks for your updates! I wish he continued to compete. These roles will need to be filled if the Wolverines are going to contend for a national championship. He had suffered a heart attack in his sleep. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After failing to turn up to a dialysis session, Ray too, was found dead in the same apartment, not 48 hours later. Check regularly for the latest, Greatest Physiques. 2 GIANT TIPS that can SUPERCHARGE your workouts! in Phychology,BSN in Nursing, now 16 year old son will compete in Teen Mr. Mississippi in July! He stood only 5'8 yet packed 215 pounds of rock-solid muscle on his frame. That brought his bodyweight up again, but only slightly. What can you take from this? His return came at the 1975 Mr. America show where he placed third, behind Robby Robinson and Roger Callard. Mentzer's theories are intended to help a drug-free person achieve his or her full genetic potential within the shortest amount of time. Reports varied as to the actual size of his arms. Mikes form would be kept absolutely perfect. [8] With the advent of "modern bodybuilding" (where bodybuilders became more massive than ever before) by the early 1990s, he ultimately modified that routine until there were fewer working sets and more days of rest. That three-days-a-week program left me so exhausted that when I did another full-body program on Monday, I was so shot afterward that all I could do was go home and sleep for a while.. Mike Mentzers life was certainly not one without tragedy. Because of his huge success as a bodybuilder, many people have followed his career and wanted to know his fitness methods and diets. IFBB pro Mike Mentzer was one of the most successful bodybuilders of his time (1951-2001). It was just too much all at once. Ronnie Dean Coleman was born in Monroe, Louisiana, on May 13, 1964. During his downtime, Mike began studying to be a psychologist in 1974 to keep his academic mind active. 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.. Jacked Gorilla is the middle brother of the 'Gorilla Family'. Mike Mentzer placed 5th. Incline presses 1-2 x 6-8 Contents Mike Mentzers HIT Chest Back Part I Mike mentzer s high intensity training system Early life and education Amateur Professional Retirement Legacy Bodybuilding philosophy Diet and nutrition Due to a severe shoulder injury, he was forced to quit training from 1971 to 1974. Cable triceps pushdown (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 3. The routine I followed was the essential basic Heavy Duty routine consisting of four to five sets per bodypart and broken into two workouts, he began. Mike was seated at his desk, and I was directly across from him on a sofa in the living room when I first asked him about it. Mike did not get his ideas from Jones. Bodybuilder Mike Mentzer thought differently, trained differently, and ate differently, . Set achievable but challenging goals, and work every day to move one step further toward conquering your hearts desire.Until next time, dont forget to subscribe, thanks for your support, and keep training and gaining!P.S. Mike Mentzer, legendary IFBB professional bodybuilder, as well as being an author and businessman, loved to do things the way he believed them to be right. I need to know the steroid cycle. Flat barbell bench press (5 sets, 6-8 reps), 5. 1st exercise: Dumbbell side lateral raise 5 x 8-10. As Mike puts it in his book Heavy Duty: The fact that muscle is only 22 percent protein suggests that our protein requirements are not nearly that high. Rather than blaming others, he realized it was he was the one out ofcontrol, not everybody and everything else. Full Name: Michael Mentzer. Through years of study, observation, knowledge of stress physiology, the most up-to-date scientific information available, and careful use of his reasoning abilities, Mentzer devised and successfully implemented his own theory of bodybuilding. He said "Man is an indivisible entity, an integrated unit of mind and body." 1. The main principle of the technique is complete muscle failure with 1 or 2 approaches, but you need to perform 1-2 warm-up approaches. Back, Shoulders and Biceps. 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. P.S. However,two people remained and supported him; a senior writer for Flex magazine called John Little, and Mikesex-girlfriend Julie McNew. Thanks for the info, weve now added Ayn Rand into Mikes idols and influences section. He was famous for his powerhouse physique and incredible mustache that would make Tom Selleck jealous. Mentzer began training 3 times a week when he was 15 years old and he could bench press 170 kg back then. The three principals wanted to capitalize on the physically fit lifestyle, which today has gone mainstream. Mike Mentzer started bodybuilding at age 12. He died in 2001 from heart complications. Personal Trainer, Researcher, Author, Inventor Gym Owner, Doctor, Physical Therapist, Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Superset From there, it wasonward and upwards. These exercises target all your major muscles, including your chest, back, shoulders, arms, and legs. We knew that happened relatively quickly after a workout. [8], High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way was Mentzer's final work. Jones was an accomplished trainer, and inventor of many of the early exercise machines he began training Mike, firmly believing in the teens potential. Dips 1 x 6-8 Sadako Yamamura, also known as "the ring girl", is an iconic character from the Ring series. This would require a weight that would take you to failure in between 6 and 9 reps. Then, once you hit failure, keep going. You must approach everything you do within these workouts with 100% intensity. Mike's goal at the time was to look like his bodybuilding hero, Bill Pearl. He never wrote me off.. He described this feeling as being at deaths door. Nautilus presses 2 x 6-8 Despite his younger brother insisting he took a break. I always admired Mike Mentzer and knew from my own experience that his training philosophy had great validity. There was a strain and tension in the air all the way through.. He read the more traditional philosophers then, and "probably" didn't fully embrace Ayn Rand until the mid- or later 1980s (since none of his writings mentioned her until at least the mid-80s if not later). Bent-over barbell rows 2 x 6-8, Traps What could possibly be better than a well-balanced diet, which covers all of your nutritional needs.. (And there is much merit in that approach.) Check out our guide to protein-rich foods to help you on your way - a completely new fitness level is just around the corner. Since Mike Mentzer's death, will you be able to continue Mike's legacy and educate people on the subject of High-Intensity Training? Perhaps it still would. To get back in the action, Mike entered1975 IFBB Mr. America to see where he stood. Complex, B-12, B-2. In order to make your shoulders look broad, there are some things that you can do. 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. High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way Mike Mentzer 2003-01-03 A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL High-intensity bodybuilding advice from the first . Young bodybuilders reading this should be cautioned against doing too many sets on too many days for all bodyparts. We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Single leg extension (5 sets, 8-10 reps), 3. Check out our top rated fat burners to find out what actually works. This is fine, however, an additional row targeting the lower lat area in addition to this movement would be useful so that the entire lat is hit. Who is Mike Mentzer? Mike Mentzer (1951-2001). Without question genetics played a huge role in providing the foundation for the muscular mass that Mike built, as he was the first to admit. Mentzer won the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia titles with perfect 300 scores in 1978 and 1979, respectively. In around mid-1983, Mike had managed to find a role as editor of Workout Magazine. BY DAVID PROCOP Mike Mentzer was the first bodybuilder in history to garner a perfect score in a major bodybuilding competition. You will get more done in 30 minutes in 2 sets than 25 sets of high volume training. 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 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. Universal machine shrugs 2 x 6-8 Follow Jacked Gorilla on Instagram: @jackedgorillanews, Your email address will not be published. Thank You Mike. Leg extensions 1 x 6-8 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. 3rd exercise: Bent over dumbbell raise 5 x 8-10. Due to both a shoulder injury and increasingly more responsibility in the Air Force, Mentzer was . 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. I readily accepted, for I knew that it would afford me an opportunity to talk not only bodybuilding but philosophy, a passion that Mike and I shared for more than two decades. You would think it would only be half, but apparently, after a certain point, in terms of volume of training, the exhaustive effects grow geometrically as opposed to arithmetically. Mike Mentzer believed that natural bodybuilders should introduce long rest periods between training sessions to ensure proper muscle and joint recovery. Mentzer learned that Viator trained in very high intensity (heavy weights for as many repetitions as possible, to total muscle fatigue), for very brief (2045 minutes per session) and infrequent training sessions. When he signed my book I was in AWE! 1971 Mr. Lancaster 1st Greatest Physiques is the number 1 destination for the best looking bodies on the planet. Think about it. On this arm routine, Mentzers would hit a total of 7 different exercises. 1976 IFBB Mr. America 1st (Overall) 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.