Here are five fitness experts from the “pre-PED” world of bodybuilding and strength training.
You should definitely look into these people because, properly applied, what you will learn from them will get you into much better shape than you think you’re capable of (without drugs, obviously).
1. Reg Park
Allegedly, it was a picture of Reg Park on the cover of a magazine that inspired Arnold Schwarzenegger to pursue bodybuilding and movie stardom. What more reason could you possibly need to learn everything you can about this man and what he taught?
2. George Hackenschmidt
The first World Heavyweight Wrestling champion, and the man who popularised the hack squat, George Hackenschmidt possessed a superhuman physique and frightening strength at the turn of the 20th century – long before the proliferation of performance enhancing substances. (Notably, he floor pressed 164kg in 1898, which is, frankly, insane).
3. Alvin Roy
Alvin Roy was professional football’s (the American kind, so not actually football) first strength coach and a vocal opponent of the myth that lifting weights makes an athlete “musclebound”. Fair warning: Insofar as I am aware, he was the first coach to administer steroids to NFL players, but that’s all the more reason to read about him and his methods.
4. Vince Gironda
Bodybuilder and later trainer to movie stars and presidents, Vince Gironda had some, shall we say, divisive views and methodologies. For instance, he banned traditional situps from his gym and advocated eating a “low carb” diet decades before it became popular.
You’ll notice I’ve not furnished you with links to articles or books written by or about these legendary figures.
This is because it’s infinitely better for you to explore the rabbit hole for yourself because you’ll have to apply critical thinking to what you discover.
Something else that requires you to engage your critical thinking faculties is my latest book, Shift.
I’m just days away from sending it to the printers, so if you want to pre-order a copy, now is the time.
Here’s all the info you need to determine if it’s right for you:
https://philtyreman.co.uk/shift/
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman