I'd like to wish my friend Mike Mentzer and his brother Ray (wherever they may be) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I will be bringing Mike's work to the attention of the sports community as I continue to do new things in the Physics of Sports & Exercise. I think he'd like that.
The Mentzer brothers are no longer with us. They passed away 20 years ago, a double tragedy: Mike from Heart failure 10/06/2001, Ray from kidney failure 12/06:2001, within 2 days of each other.
@@drbonesshow1 ‘Pulsonator’? Kinda arrogant and insulting way to address, was there a need for that? I gave the European dd/mm/yyyy format, they were not mixed up, and they are in correct chronological order. Besides I said that the brothers died within 2 days of each other. Any reasonably astute person not familiar with the date format can see the day refers to the ‘dd’ position as they’re the only figures in the dates given that differ by 2. Just as well I didn’t give the dates in the ISO-8601 format, think of the calamity…
@@stevemann1299 100%, I mean you just need to look at the pictures @ 10:33 to see how much ahead Mike was in terms of physique, it's shocking he was denied given that clear evidence. But I suppose those behind the industry understood that Arnold had more star power and would generate more positive publicity overall and that may have played a big part.
@@EvilestGem No question about it. It was PURE POLITICS. I followed Mentzer from the age of 14 in 1978. When he won the universe with a perfect score. And at the time Mike was the most popular bodybuilder in the world for seminars and selling training courses. And the PROBLEM was what he was pushing was the OPPOSITE. of the Weider tripe. That told natural trainers to do as much as 50 sets a workout 5 days a week. Which is ridiculous. So they couldn't have some upstart in the form of Mentzer being Mr Olympia. When he didn't follow the Weider bandwagon. So they got their biggest salesman back on the stage in sub par condition. Put several judges on the panel who were in Arnold's pocket And the rest is history. The saddest part of it. Is Mike being a sensitive deep man of principle and integrity. He was so affected by the fix. It both messed him up. And denied his fans of ever seeing him on a competitive stage again. At only 29 years of age. This wasn't the first time the corrupt Weiders pulled this. When Sergio Oliva fell out with Weider in 1971. They made sure he lost to Arnold in 1972. When again it was clear to nearly everyone he should have won.
Touching on the last line of the video, I just dont know why he got so out of shape the last few years of his life and was chain smoking etc. thats not intelligent at all.
I see a consistency in Mike that is always steady, but to hear many others talk about him then he’s a “headcase “! I talked with Mike 24 -25 years ago on the phone and he sounds exactly like he does everywhere else , calm, collective, and totally rational Great video and a real pleasure to watch and think about Thank you
People are just jealous of Mike... and too many people have put their ego and soul into volume (thanks to the magazines) .... I have always been a fan of mavericks.. the group-crowds-masses are always wrong.....
I have talked to Mike also many time from 98- 2001. He was as we know very intelligent. But more than that he was very patient and kind. I paid him for 2 phone consultations 1 hour both times. But Mike stayed on phone for longer and answered many questions. Also 4or5 times I called him without paying him and we talked for a couple of hours (I wish I recorded these phone calls) never brought up money, he enjoyed talking. One time we just talked about current events, philosophy of course and even talked about religion. He made me feel like a friend! Mike was a sincere man! It's sad that people want to tear him down based on some "negative" events that occurred in his life. "Before you pull the straw out of your brother's eye, pull the rafter out of yours."
Mike Mentzer was, and will forever be, a pro bodybuilder’s bodybuilder. He never looked down on budding bodybuilders, was always mindful of what he said when encouraging them and has given back more to the sport than Arnold and his ilk ever have or can.
@L P Hi L P. I’m not in the habit of giving my personal contact information out. As you can observe, I do reply to a good number of TH-cam postings on this channel, and for those people looking to learn more about my approach to high-intensity training, they are welcome to sign up for my course through Simon Shawcross’s HitUni (info here: www.hituni.com/video/conversation-john-little-six-minute-no-nonsense-high-intensity-resistance-training-course/#.Ya-naS3b1mA), in which I answer questions about that approach to training with the students who enrol in the course. Apart from these options, unless I grew up with you, or you are a member of my family, I really don’t have that much else to talk about. You had indicated in an earlier post that you wanted to learn the Heavy Duty method that was created by Mike Mentzer. I have posted over 40 videos in which Mike himself goes into great detail about his method. These would be the best teaching sources on the subject, as they come directly from Mike himself.
Sorry for my bad english but I really experimented the benefits if the Mentzer's philosophy cause I used to train five days a week and my body seemed to be overtrained. Then I trained only twice a week during a short period because of my new job and an intense trimestrielle. So my physic improved and gained a lot of mass. Now I train tree times a week and It works for me.
Appreciate the continued content John. Even though I followed Mentzer's career from the 70's when he trained at the University Maryland. I had no idea that his intellect was such.
A man who not only developed and refined his body... but also his mind! So many guys are all about physical gains but lack on the focus and discipline of developing the mind to match the body. They are able to life hundreds of pounds at a time but lack the ability to lift a book. Mind of a stoic... body of an athlete... spirit of a warrior...👊
Aaron Baker had one of the best physiques I've ever seen, I had no idea Mentzer trained him until recently. Every video of an old show I saw with Baker in it I said damn that guy is top condition and balanced. His interviews are also very cerebral, Mentzer and his folk are very intelligent types.
Subscribed because of all the Mike Mentzer content. I first became aware of Mike in 1994, after Dorian mentioned him in a magazine. After reading Mike's philosophy, I became hooked because it made so much sense. It was logical and radical.
What set this guy apart for me was the fact that he actually challenged the mainstream way of doing things literally because he knew that most guys were loaded up on gear and that their high volume and very cognitively flawed approaches didn't produce consistent results. He didn't hold all the answers but man he helped me set me on my path to actually figuring out what worked for the average layman and what steps needed to be taken in order to progress. His emphasis on proper recovery was the best one IMO. It's actually quite funy now seeing how much gear and supplements are glorified by the mainstream fitness community and how many always try to reinvent the wheel to sell useless garbage.
@@hutchmusician not at all. He was 100% on gear as it's the only way that one could compete. What his training method does though is save the natural builder (and enhanced), a crapload of time. Correlation doesnt equal causation.
John You wove a nice tapestry of related content into a wonderfully instructive and inspiring narrative Terrific Thank you for the time and effort you put into making this for us Chris
I used to think Mike was jiving about only working out a couple hours per week. But I mimicked one of his training videos recently on machine bench press and LORD ALMIGHTY I'm not nearly as much of a skeptic as I used to be. I think if I did deadlift like this I'd kill over.
At beginning of the internet I connected with Mike over a new thing called a chat room. He and I also exchanged emails. Wonderful man. Sad he and his brother went so fast together
A scientist forms a hypothesis, then experiments to disprove the hypothesis. The frustrating thing for Mike was that his clients may have been as unreliable as those he was disenchanted with in bodybuilding. Another theory that fits is that one set is not sufficient for some people, that they are unable to generate sufficient intensity in that one 'standard' set to stimulate growth. This also fits with the acknowledgement that ischaemia build up increases with exertion. Those described as 'morons of recovery' may equally be unable to train as intensely. No amount of rest will undo this. The equation becomes how intensely can a subject train, and what is the optimal amount/method of training to elicit a growth response at that intensity?
Yeah, I think the fundamental problem with HIT is its insistence of one set. Although I think there is value in one set, ultimately the most important part is going to failure and resting. However many sets that takes is not terribly relevant. Personally, I have found better results with three sets, with the third going to failure.
@@spiceforspice3461 same, also believe it was not the amount of set that mike was advocating, but rather the amount of intensity. i honestly cant get to 100% in just one set, so i add a set extender and sometimes, 2nd set
The weight on the bar is always going to be the meat and potatoes whatever methods you use, and the strength is that this system focuses on the intensity/mechanical tension/weight on the bar. But that is not the only factor either so if you did take this to the extreme you would almost definitely be leaving a little gains on the table. But it is certainly many times better than what the typical guy in the gym does which is go through the motions with the same piddling weight for years on end and go nowhere.
Thanks John! Once again Mike explains why most people never really made all that good of gains with the routine that Arthur Jones had setup. Arthur knew that people were over training but his routine was just more of the same but just not as much. As Mike said Arthur did not take into account that not everyone could not tolerate the stress of working a full body workout 3 times a week. Jones did say later on when he was much order that if he had to do it all over again he would have trained people just twice a week instead of three times a week. Mike was willing to take his theory and put it too the test by adjusting each person's workout to what that person was able to do and not a cookie cutter approach to a one fits all workout. This is where Jones fell short but he was on the right track it just too Mentzer to perfect it.
I have done his high intensity training and modern bodybuilding of more sets and workouts. I prefer high intensity and it cuts my time in the gym by half. You need to be careful and smart with high intensity because if you go too heavy you easily can get injured. You need to know your limits in the 6-8 rep range and always focus on form. Once your form breaks you need to lessen the weight. I can imagine most people try to push through and break form then get injured. I follow Dorian Yates plan which he derived from high intensity training and in my opinion is perfect. High intensity doesn't mean PR all the time. So just go by what your comfortable with when you go heavy. And always focus on form first.
You’re definitely right about it being dangerous. Dorian tore his bicep and his tricep and he was already a professional 5 time Mr. Olympia by that point.
@@Meangenehimself ya but Dorian was at the highest level. Most of us will never reach that amount of weight and intensity. I guess he just didn't know how to be content and kept pushing. I think breaking form at any weight can cause injury at anyone's max. The weight will stop moving if it's too heavy and you keep your form. When you start swinging or compensating to just move the weight you increase the chance of getting injured. Just stay disciplined on form and know when to lower the weights and not try to just get your reps completed.
What i have learned at 56 yrs old is that intensity needs to be controlled also. So i do 2 sets of 20-25 reps and a higher frequency works great for me now. JS
Interesting. I am completely opposite. 5 -8 reps to failure works for me. 1 - 2 sets. Twice weekly with 3 - 4 days rest between workouts. I am 56 working up to 400 lbs half squats and rack lifts. I do too realize when I competed in the early 90's I was chronically over-trained.
Hello John, first of all thanks again for another one 👆🏽 I wanted to ask you If the approach of the high intensity brief and infrequent workouts now in 2021 is still the way to go? I remember Mike said that there’s only one right way to train : high intensity training. But still today a lot of professional bodybuilders train with a lot of volume, they train intense, but with long duration and multiple workouts a week with multiple sets per exercise.
By the way John I wan’t to add that your book with Mike mentzer is truly a masterpiece. I have read ‘HIT the mike mentzer way’ twice and I just ordered ‘the wisdom of Mike Mentzer’ can’t wait to read it
Most bodybuilders, as Mike pointed out, "train according to tradition, convention and imitation." As most bodybuilders (both back in Mike's era and today) train in a high sets fashion and like being in the gym, that won't change anytime soon. That high-intensity training will build muscle and save you time is as true now as when Mike was teaching it. The choice, as in all things, is up to the individual.
Not really. Most Pros today follow the the bodypart per day split where each bodypart only gets trained directly once per week. Also if u watch them train on video, they usually use ramping sets on each exercise where the rep range is the same but the weight increases with each set. So the last set of each exercise is actually challenging or close to failure. In a sense its HIT but with more warmup sets.
@unidentfied Charless Glass always makes his bodybuilders go to failure, true concentric failure. He does it with excessive volume to minimize cns involvement, and it is less optimal due to the muscular damage, but it works on a larger subset of the population. For example, after his chest workout he says you shouldnt be able to do a single pushup for the whole day, so Glass believes in failure training but reaches it differently.
John.. at 6:40 is mike talking about how some people need 3 days off and some 5 days off? like that.. I kinda knew that already from Mike but just wanted to make sure
Hi Charles. I went back and listen at 6:40, but didn’t hear that particular part. However, that is the correct sentiment. Mike believed that individual exercise tolerance varies across a broad continuum, with some people able to make progress training once every two days, and others requiring three days, others requiring five days, etc.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE I wonder how many days it would take to lose gains and strength like lets say your body is every 5 days... like if you skip to 10 I wonder if you had lost ?
@@charlesbukowski9836 I don’t think so (but, again, I would suspect that there’s a strong genetic, and, thus individual-specific, component to it). Mike (and other trainers, including myself) have had clients stay away from the gym for two weeks to two months without losing much if any gains.
My thing is what was the warmup overall or warmup sets🤔 or did they just go right in. Because the warmup alone can be 5-10min and then you have the workout so I don’t think an half hour was probable I’ve been trying this program for a month now and I tend to be done at 1hr 15min everytime. I used to workout 2 and a half to two hours everytime now my program is down to 1 hour and fifteen so I’m just missing a step or something to minimize the time more. My warmup on bench is normally 10min due to wait time. MY warmup on squat is the same. My rest are no more than 2min not 3-5 anymore so with cutting wait time and a few exercises I have cut my time down an hour in the gym.
Mike said ALWAYS warm up to prevent injuries. But the warm up for the individuals can vary because of multiple factors. Basically do minimal warm up that you think is necessary for you to do the heavy working set safely.
@@comasoul2093 thanks but again I’ve heard that before. From Mike and Arthur jones. What’s is the warmup is it 10 sets altogether? I lm trying to understand how I gradually get to my max with comprising anything in the gym
I remember reading an article years back where Arthur comments on Casey. I think he was asked something along the lines of if he understood the principles of what he was teaching him. Arthur's reply was basically to compare Casey to a race horse and that it may be in peak condition but doesn't really have any idea about what the trainer is doing to it to get it there.... Unfortunately many today claiming to train High Intensity (or stick heavy duty in their video descriptions for views) are in the same camp. It's a pity Mike never took the opportunity to push his physical shape again even out of personal curiosity of how far he could go. But given the circumstances surrounding the IFBB, it's totally understandable as to why.
Hi yezzzsir. Yes, I recall Arthur saying of Casey that he was "a little boy in a gorilla suit." Perhaps not a fair assessment, but such was Arthur. I agree with you about Mike. Thanks for your post.
There are Mentzer training and posing videos out there in the world....Mike and Ray training in the gym, posing on the beach, etc...is there any chance you @JohnLittle and Ms. Sharkey might ever obtain (reacquire?) the rights to them, and release/re-release them properly? Combined with other Mike audio you have, and re-released to the public, I believe these would be of enormous interest to Mike's following.
I am trying to do the HIT workout program but I do not understand how many repetitions should be in a set and how many sets should be per body part please help
John, did Mentzer ever consider NABBA after 1980? In some ways the judging process and sensibilities in London would have been more favorable, and it might have been the best revenge to spread HIT among Europeans raised on heavily researched Soviet principles.
Hi DaveConleyPortfolio. I don’t believe he considered NABBA, only because the IFBB stamped out the fires of his enthusiasm for competition after the 1980 and 1981 Olympias.
Obviously, a machine can also "work" without moving. That is what happens when you are trying to drive up a very steep hill. The engine may be running, trying to move the wheels, but the pull of gravity is so strong that the car refuses to move uphill. It remains stationary.
Is he saying he quit working out too? Why? It wasn’t that hard, 3-4x a wk for 30min is too demanding? Lol I love Mike and really came to appreciate him lately and he’s inspiring the heck out of me. I just don’t get why he would ever not train consistently post 1980 Mr Olympia?!
Mentzer, 1st, (only?), bodybuilder to achieve a perfect score, '78 U. Again, '79 'O', 1st/HWs. Zane 'won' title. How does perfect lose to less than perfect?
Would you do it again, Mr Mentzer? No, as my values have changed. The sport of bodybuilding is a political game. Build your physique while growing your intellectual faculties.
He had to stop training in and around 1996 after neck surgery, that was a slow recovery. Then he slipped on some stairs and tore a triceps; that necessitated another lengthy recovery period. Next it was discovered (while having tests run to see if could donate a kidney to his brother Ray) that he had developed blood clots in his lungs (I believe), which meant no training at all. And finally he had several silent heart attacks which saw him hospitalized several months prior to his death.
Interesting to listen to Mike, But there's a number of things to consider he was on the juice when he was competing was a young man at the time and had training partners to help push him along, I`am 57 now train on my own and don't take anything I only train upper and lower body one week apart, if I try to train with less time between lower and upper body workouts my strength falls of its the same if I go for longer, so I've learnt one week is my best recovery time between workouts shame I didn't know that when I first started training.
Almost hate to say it because I know many in the " high intensity" community are anti drug but could you imagine Mentzer in the GH era?- A total muscular freak...
Thanks for your comments John. You certainly understand. I don't think some HIT enthusiasts realize what a necessary evil steroids and GH were and are to professional bodybuilders at the Olympia level.
I'd like to wish my friend Mike Mentzer and his brother Ray (wherever they may be) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I will be bringing Mike's work to the attention of the sports community as I continue to do new things in the Physics of Sports & Exercise. I think he'd like that.
The Mentzer brothers are no longer with us. They passed away 20 years ago, a double tragedy: Mike from Heart failure 10/06/2001, Ray from kidney failure 12/06:2001, within 2 days of each other.
@@Pulsonar The Pulsonator has his dates mixed up or how he prefers the order: Mike (06/10/2001) Ray (06/12/2001). What I show appears less confusing.
@@drbonesshow1 ‘Pulsonator’? Kinda arrogant and insulting way to address, was there a need for that? I gave the European dd/mm/yyyy format, they were not mixed up, and they are in correct chronological order. Besides I said that the brothers died within 2 days of each other. Any reasonably astute person not familiar with the date format can see the day refers to the ‘dd’ position as they’re the only figures in the dates given that differ by 2. Just as well I didn’t give the dates in the ISO-8601 format, think of the calamity…
@@Pulsonar I gave you the benefit of the doubt being familiar with date variations. But now I can comfortably refer to you as a European hot-head.
@@drbonesshow1 what are some things you’ve had published or researching about regarding bodybuilding?
RIP Mike you always won that Olympia in my eyes.
Always. As soon as Mike does that iconic crucifix pose its GAME OVER.
@@stevemann1299 100%, I mean you just need to look at the pictures @ 10:33 to see how much ahead Mike was in terms of physique, it's shocking he was denied given that clear evidence. But I suppose those behind the industry understood that Arnold had more star power and would generate more positive publicity overall and that may have played a big part.
@@EvilestGem
No question about it. It was PURE POLITICS. I followed Mentzer from the age of 14 in 1978. When he won the universe with a perfect score. And at the time Mike was the most popular bodybuilder in the world for seminars and selling training courses.
And the PROBLEM was what he was pushing was the OPPOSITE. of the Weider tripe. That told natural trainers to do as much as 50 sets a workout 5 days a week. Which is ridiculous.
So they couldn't have some upstart in the form of Mentzer being Mr Olympia. When he didn't follow the Weider bandwagon.
So they got their biggest salesman back on the stage in sub par condition. Put several judges on the panel who were in Arnold's pocket
And the rest is history. The saddest part of it. Is Mike being a sensitive deep man of principle and integrity. He was so affected by the fix. It both messed him up. And denied his fans of ever seeing him on a competitive stage again. At only 29 years of age.
This wasn't the first time the corrupt Weiders pulled this. When Sergio Oliva fell out with Weider in 1971. They made sure he lost to Arnold in 1972. When again it was clear to nearly everyone he should have won.
Agreed 100% ! Mike Mentzer is the Uncrowned 1980 Mr Olympia!
Touching on the last line of the video, I just dont know why he got so out of shape the last few years of his life and was chain smoking etc. thats not intelligent at all.
I see a consistency in Mike that is always steady, but to hear many others talk about him then he’s a “headcase “!
I talked with Mike 24 -25 years ago on the phone and he sounds exactly like he does everywhere else , calm, collective, and totally rational
Great video and a real pleasure to watch and think about
Thank you
Thanks for your post, Andrew. Mike always had enemies, and they came out in full force after he passed away.
People are just jealous of Mike... and too many people have put their ego and soul into volume (thanks to the magazines) .... I have always been a fan of mavericks.. the group-crowds-masses are always wrong.....
I think that in bodybuilding only very few people understand Mike knowledge . Usually the average bodybuilder is not very profound. R.I.P. Mike
I have talked to Mike also many time from 98- 2001. He was as we know very intelligent. But more than that he was very patient and kind. I paid him for 2 phone consultations 1 hour both times. But Mike stayed on phone for longer and answered many questions. Also 4or5 times I called him without paying him and we talked for a couple of hours (I wish I recorded these phone calls) never brought up money, he enjoyed talking. One time we just talked about current events, philosophy of course and even talked about religion. He made me feel like a friend! Mike was a sincere man! It's sad that people want to tear him down based on some "negative" events that occurred in his life. "Before you pull the straw out of your brother's eye, pull the rafter out of yours."
Mike Mentzer was, and will forever be, a pro bodybuilder’s bodybuilder. He never looked down on budding bodybuilders, was always mindful of what he said when encouraging them and has given back more to the sport than Arnold and his ilk ever have or can.
No worries I will be on stage again like mike did
I'm not sure anyone has given back to the sport more than Arnold has, without him most people wouldnt even care about it.
@@velenvskaelhas exactly
Wow, the last words are most precious! Amazing wisdom and intellectual.
Man had a vision. He executed it with honor and left a great legacy behind. I have the utmost respect for Mike & Ray Mentzer.
Thank you for these John. They are priceless to me as I've been a fan of Mike for many years.
No worries! Thanks for your post.
@L P Hi L P.
I’m not in the habit of giving my personal contact information out. As you can observe, I do reply to a good number of TH-cam postings on this channel, and for those people looking to learn more about my approach to high-intensity training, they are welcome to sign up for my course through Simon Shawcross’s HitUni (info here: www.hituni.com/video/conversation-john-little-six-minute-no-nonsense-high-intensity-resistance-training-course/#.Ya-naS3b1mA), in which I answer questions about that approach to training with the students who enrol in the course. Apart from these options, unless I grew up with you, or you are a member of my family, I really don’t have that much else to talk about. You had indicated in an earlier post that you wanted to learn the Heavy Duty method that was created by Mike Mentzer. I have posted over 40 videos in which Mike himself goes into great detail about his method. These would be the best teaching sources on the subject, as they come directly from Mike himself.
@L P Happy New Year to you as well, L P.
Sorry for my bad english but I really experimented the benefits if the Mentzer's philosophy cause I used to train five days a week and my body seemed to be overtrained. Then I trained only twice a week during a short period because of my new job and an intense trimestrielle. So my physic improved and gained a lot of mass. Now I train tree times a week and It works for me.
Please explain your full routine?
Buddy your English grammar is better then most Americans. I had a similar realization.
If you gained a lot of mass and improved your physique with twice a week workouts then why did you switch to three times a week?
Appreciate the continued content John. Even though I followed Mentzer's career from the 70's when he trained at the University Maryland. I had no idea that his intellect was such.
Hey RCL. You knew Mike at the U of M? That’s pretty cool!
This is now the official main channel / place to come for Mike mentzer info. Merry xmass John.
Thanks Lone wolf. Merry Christmas to you as well.
I appreciate Mikes education on the topic of building muscle RIP Mike Metzer
A man who not only developed and refined his body... but also his mind! So many guys are all about physical gains but lack on the focus and discipline of developing the mind to match the body. They are able to life hundreds of pounds at a time but lack the ability to lift a book.
Mind of a stoic... body of an athlete... spirit of a warrior...👊
Arthur Jones, and Mike Mentzer were Einsteins of Bodybuilding 🗿❤️
Aaron Baker had one of the best physiques I've ever seen, I had no idea Mentzer trained him until recently.
Every video of an old show I saw with Baker in it I said damn that guy is top condition and balanced.
His interviews are also very cerebral, Mentzer and his folk are very intelligent types.
Subscribed because of all the Mike Mentzer content. I first became aware of Mike in 1994, after Dorian mentioned him in a magazine. After reading Mike's philosophy, I became hooked because it made so much sense. It was logical and radical.
Awesome. Welcome aboard.
10:34.. Obvious difference and hugely!
I like his dramatic approach in the posing as well. RIP brother.
Great compilation of interviews and lectures John, thanks for another great one.
You're welcome, AM. Thanks for your post.
What set this guy apart for me was the fact that he actually challenged the mainstream way of doing things literally because he knew that most guys were loaded up on gear and that their high volume and very cognitively flawed approaches didn't produce consistent results. He didn't hold all the answers but man he helped me set me on my path to actually figuring out what worked for the average layman and what steps needed to be taken in order to progress. His emphasis on proper recovery was the best one IMO.
It's actually quite funy now seeing how much gear and supplements are glorified by the mainstream fitness community and how many always try to reinvent the wheel to sell useless garbage.
Hi MrJabbothehut. Good points. Thanks for your post.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE thanks for your amazing channel and videos!
@@MrJabbothehut Glad you like them.
Are we saying that Mentzer never juiced? I find that hard to believe.
@@hutchmusician not at all. He was 100% on gear as it's the only way that one could compete. What his training method does though is save the natural builder (and enhanced), a crapload of time. Correlation doesnt equal causation.
You are legendary Mike, Thank you
Now that I look at photos of him in 1980 Mr Olympia, he actually should have won. He was flawless
You cannot beat corruption. And a judging panel who were hanging off Arnold's sack.
Apart from zero chest and a shoulder imbalance
@@nevadamareno3713 zero chest? You're looking at it through the wrong eras lense. Mike was natty, unlike anyone else on the stage.
@@mikeschmidt4800 u mean lens?
@@mikeschmidt4800 are you joking
Mike Mentzer name remainds in my spirit. God bless this man
You don't see any of these great Nautilus machines around anymore in most gyms! They were the best!
Most places dont even have a pullover let alone a nautilus. gotta do it standing up with a straight bar cable attachment like a LOSER
John
You wove a nice tapestry of related content into a wonderfully instructive and inspiring narrative
Terrific
Thank you for the time and effort you put into making this for us
Chris
Thanks for the kind words, Chris!
I enjoy how the different clips fit together really well and made up a nicely structured compilation. Thank you.
Thanks Steven. I'm glad you liked the video.
I used to think Mike was jiving about only working out a couple hours per week. But I mimicked one of his training videos recently on machine bench press and LORD ALMIGHTY I'm not nearly as much of a skeptic as I used to be. I think if I did deadlift like this I'd kill over.
Thanks for your post, RedfishCarolina.
Mike, what a beautiful man. A philosopher of the highest order!
Really appreciate these videos.. Thanks John!
Glad you like them, Joseph!
A Golden Era LEGEND !
At beginning of the internet I connected with Mike over a new thing called a chat room. He and I also exchanged emails. Wonderful man. Sad he and his brother went so fast together
Thanks again my friend and merry Christmas to you and your family 🙂
You’re welcome, Ben. And Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
The eyebrows..... thats the highest intensity brow workout I have ever watched... that man emphasized every word with those brows lol
I searched for an eyebrow comment 😂😂 high intensity eyebrow training
His eye brow is doing to many sets in this conversation,and definitely being over trained lol
A scientist forms a hypothesis, then experiments to disprove the hypothesis. The frustrating thing for Mike was that his clients may have been as unreliable as those he was disenchanted with in bodybuilding.
Another theory that fits is that one set is not sufficient for some people, that they are unable to generate sufficient intensity in that one 'standard' set to stimulate growth. This also fits with the acknowledgement that ischaemia build up increases with exertion. Those described as 'morons of recovery' may equally be unable to train as intensely. No amount of rest will undo this.
The equation becomes how intensely can a subject train, and what is the optimal amount/method of training to elicit a growth response at that intensity?
Yeah, I think the fundamental problem with HIT is its insistence of one set. Although I think there is value in one set, ultimately the most important part is going to failure and resting. However many sets that takes is not terribly relevant. Personally, I have found better results with three sets, with the third going to failure.
@@spiceforspice3461 same, also believe it was not the amount of set that mike was advocating, but rather the amount of intensity. i honestly cant get to 100% in just one set, so i add a set extender and sometimes, 2nd set
@@arjunaaa9668 That's absolutely correct. It's high intensity training, not one set training.
@@arjunaaa9668 th-cam.com/video/XVAElcOMp8A/w-d-xo.html
The weight on the bar is always going to be the meat and potatoes whatever methods you use, and the strength is that this system focuses on the intensity/mechanical tension/weight on the bar. But that is not the only factor either so if you did take this to the extreme you would almost definitely be leaving a little gains on the table. But it is certainly many times better than what the typical guy in the gym does which is go through the motions with the same piddling weight for years on end and go nowhere.
Thanks, John. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Mike!
Mike Mentzer had an amazing physique he definitely stood out for me just a shame he didn’t get the recognition he deserved!!
very nice ;you re putting out some good stuff .
Thanks Reggie. Glad you like it.
The eyebrows of Arthur Jones never took a rest: 3:56
Best guy ever!
Thank you for these .
You’re welcome. Adam. Thanks for your post.
Absolutely fantastic video of great man , great job John
Thanks, Carl!
He was certainly ahead of his time
That he was, Charles. Thanks for your post.
In the 1970s he was ahead of the pro bodybuilders of today, and not just in appearance.
HIGH INTENSITY FOR SURE...R.I.P...MR MENTZER. YOU ARE A GREAT LEGEND.
Merry Christmas John! And to all viewers. Happy Holidays!
Thank you, and Merry Christmas to you as well!
Very inspirational. I appreciate your videos!
Man that last quote at the end was deep af. Rip Mike.
I’ve been training correctly this whole time
Brief infrequent 😎
Lightyears ahead.
I wish Mike Mentzer was still alive. Can you imagine him on podcasts dropping knowledge.
Thanks John! Once again Mike explains why most people never really made all that good of gains with the routine that Arthur Jones had setup. Arthur knew that people were over training but his routine was just more of the same but just not as much. As Mike said Arthur did not take into account that not everyone could not tolerate the stress of working a full body workout 3 times a week. Jones did say later on when he was much order that if he had to do it all over again he would have trained people just twice a week instead of three times a week. Mike was willing to take his theory and put it too the test by adjusting each person's workout to what that person was able to do and not a cookie cutter approach to a one fits all workout. This is where Jones fell short but he was on the right track it just too Mentzer to perfect it.
Hi Golf Tips. Excellent post - thanks!
When you being to honest and sincere...
I have done his high intensity training and modern bodybuilding of more sets and workouts. I prefer high intensity and it cuts my time in the gym by half. You need to be careful and smart with high intensity because if you go too heavy you easily can get injured. You need to know your limits in the 6-8 rep range and always focus on form. Once your form breaks you need to lessen the weight. I can imagine most people try to push through and break form then get injured. I follow Dorian Yates plan which he derived from high intensity training and in my opinion is perfect. High intensity doesn't mean PR all the time. So just go by what your comfortable with when you go heavy. And always focus on form first.
You’re definitely right about it being dangerous. Dorian tore his bicep and his tricep and he was already a professional 5 time Mr. Olympia by that point.
@@Meangenehimself ya but Dorian was at the highest level. Most of us will never reach that amount of weight and intensity. I guess he just didn't know how to be content and kept pushing. I think breaking form at any weight can cause injury at anyone's max. The weight will stop moving if it's too heavy and you keep your form. When you start swinging or compensating to just move the weight you increase the chance of getting injured. Just stay disciplined on form and know when to lower the weights and not try to just get your reps completed.
RIP Mike the uncrowned 1980 Mr Olympia
Menza is the man he knew what he was talking about ❤
Wow, the right picture at 10:35 tells me everything I needed to know & how Mike was ripped off from winning thst Olympian 1980
Hi John, are there any videos around of Mike training people one to one in his later part of his life please?
I'm sure there are, but I don't have access to them. Perhaps they will post them some day.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE Thanks, fingers crossed eh! 😉👍🏼
What i have learned at 56 yrs old is that intensity needs to be controlled also. So i do 2 sets of 20-25 reps and a higher frequency works great for me now. JS
Interesting. I am completely opposite. 5 -8 reps to failure works for me. 1 - 2 sets. Twice weekly with 3 - 4 days rest between workouts. I am 56 working up to 400 lbs half squats and rack lifts. I do too realize when I competed in the early 90's I was chronically over-trained.
Thanks for your post, El Dragon.
@@eldragon4076 your joints only.have a certain shelf life.
Hello John, first of all thanks again for another one 👆🏽
I wanted to ask you If the approach of the high intensity brief and infrequent workouts now in 2021 is still the way to go? I remember Mike said that there’s only one right way to train : high intensity training. But still today a lot of professional bodybuilders train with a lot of volume, they train intense, but with long duration and multiple workouts a week with multiple sets per exercise.
By the way John I wan’t to add that your book with Mike mentzer is truly a masterpiece. I have read ‘HIT the mike mentzer way’ twice and I just ordered ‘the wisdom of Mike Mentzer’ can’t wait to read it
Most bodybuilders, as Mike pointed out, "train according to tradition, convention and imitation." As most bodybuilders (both back in Mike's era and today) train in a high sets fashion and like being in the gym, that won't change anytime soon. That high-intensity training will build muscle and save you time is as true now as when Mike was teaching it. The choice, as in all things, is up to the individual.
Not really. Most Pros today follow the the bodypart per day split where each bodypart only gets trained directly once per week. Also if u watch them train on video, they usually use ramping sets on each exercise where the rep range is the same but the weight increases with each set. So the last set of each exercise is actually challenging or close to failure. In a sense its HIT but with more warmup sets.
@@gunz9894 thank you for your post and your very kind words.
@unidentfied Charless Glass always makes his bodybuilders go to failure, true concentric failure.
He does it with excessive volume to minimize cns involvement, and it is less optimal due to the muscular damage, but it works on a larger subset of the population.
For example, after his chest workout he says you shouldnt be able to do a single pushup for the whole day, so Glass believes in failure training but reaches it differently.
Very good video. 👍
Thanks, Sean!
Intellectual growth is very important too.I can see both standards in high level .That separates him from the other bodybuilders.
That is true.
John.. at 6:40 is mike talking about how some people need 3 days off and some 5 days off? like that.. I kinda knew that already from Mike but just wanted to make sure
Hi Charles. I went back and listen at 6:40, but didn’t hear that particular part. However, that is the correct sentiment. Mike believed that individual exercise tolerance varies across a broad continuum, with some people able to make progress training once every two days, and others requiring three days, others requiring five days, etc.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE I wonder how many days it would take to lose gains and strength like lets say your body is every 5 days... like if you skip to 10 I wonder if you had lost ?
@@charlesbukowski9836 I don’t think so (but, again, I would suspect that there’s a strong genetic, and, thus individual-specific, component to it). Mike (and other trainers, including myself) have had clients stay away from the gym for two weeks to two months without losing much if any gains.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE wow ok... thanks
What year was the interview at the beginning?
The television interview was from 1991.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE thank you
@@johnm5081 no worries, sir.
Great little tune in beginning,what is it named?
People are going to hate you. Might as well have them hate you for who you really are. Rest in peace Mike.
I respect this video.
My thing is what was the warmup overall or warmup sets🤔 or did they just go right in. Because the warmup alone can be 5-10min and then you have the workout so I don’t think an half hour was probable I’ve been trying this program for a month now and I tend to be done at 1hr 15min everytime. I used to workout 2 and a half to two hours everytime now my program is down to 1 hour and fifteen so I’m just missing a step or something to minimize the time more. My warmup on bench is normally 10min due to wait time. MY warmup on squat is the same. My rest are no more than 2min not 3-5 anymore so with cutting wait time and a few exercises I have cut my time down an hour in the gym.
Mike said ALWAYS warm up to prevent injuries. But the warm up for the individuals can vary because of multiple factors. Basically do minimal warm up that you think is necessary for you to do the heavy working set safely.
@@comasoul2093 thanks but again I’ve heard that before. From Mike and Arthur jones. What’s is the warmup is it 10 sets altogether? I lm trying to understand how I gradually get to my max with comprising anything in the gym
what a man!
May he rest in peace 🙏
I remember reading an article years back where Arthur comments on Casey. I think he was asked something along the lines of if he understood the principles of what he was teaching him. Arthur's reply was basically to compare Casey to a race horse and that it may be in peak condition but doesn't really have any idea about what the trainer is doing to it to get it there.... Unfortunately many today claiming to train High Intensity (or stick heavy duty in their video descriptions for views) are in the same camp.
It's a pity Mike never took the opportunity to push his physical shape again even out of personal curiosity of how far he could go. But given the circumstances surrounding the IFBB, it's totally understandable as to why.
Hi yezzzsir. Yes, I recall Arthur saying of Casey that he was "a little boy in a gorilla suit." Perhaps not a fair assessment, but such was Arthur. I agree with you about Mike. Thanks for your post.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE Lol Gorilla suit! Sounds just like Arthur.
There are Mentzer training and posing videos out there in the world....Mike and Ray training in the gym, posing on the beach, etc...is there any chance you @JohnLittle and Ms. Sharkey might ever obtain (reacquire?) the rights to them, and release/re-release them properly? Combined with other Mike audio you have, and re-released to the public, I believe these would be of enormous interest to Mike's following.
Thanks you so much jhon.
What mike thought about Ken hutchin’s super-slow method?
Hi Joel, he thought the cadence a bit excessive on the slow side, and he thought having a “guild” of people who trained that way was odd.
Absolute genius!!!
Thanks for your post.
He retired only at the age of 29, quiet sad
He's like the Giordano Bruno of bodybuilding
Edit: typo
شكرا جون انا ممتن لك ماك مانتزر كان ومايزال ملهمي في صالة الالعاب 💚💚💚🌷💪💪😚😚😚😚😚
I’m going to train the Mentzer way until I die. Long live Heavy Duty
Mike doing the Crucifix pose is the greatest ever. Perfect proportions and flow. Today they look pregnant. Like they are about to give birth.
I am trying to do the HIT workout program but I do not understand how many repetitions should be in a set and how many sets should be per body part please help
If you watch the video on my channel "Heavy Duty: Theory and Practice" Mike explains how many sets and reps to do.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE thank you. I did watch that video maybe I need to watch it again
So knowledgeable
That he was. Thanks for your post.
wish you hadn't added the music
If I worked out 2 days in a row but one day was chest and tris, the second day legs, would that still constitute overtraining?
Yes. If you can train next day you did not go hard enough on the first day
John, did Mentzer ever consider NABBA after 1980? In some ways the judging process and sensibilities in London would have been more favorable, and it might have been the best revenge to spread HIT among Europeans raised on heavily researched Soviet principles.
Hi DaveConleyPortfolio. I don’t believe he considered NABBA, only because the IFBB stamped out the fires of his enthusiasm for competition after the 1980 and 1981 Olympias.
Obviously, a machine can also "work" without moving. That is what happens when you are trying to drive up a very steep hill. The engine may be running, trying to move the wheels, but the pull of gravity is so strong that the car refuses to move uphill. It remains stationary.
Is he saying he quit working out too? Why? It wasn’t that hard, 3-4x a wk for 30min is too demanding? Lol I love Mike and really came to appreciate him lately and he’s inspiring the heck out of me. I just don’t get why he would ever not train consistently post 1980 Mr Olympia?!
he got into drugs. like hard core drugs.
He had cardiovascular issues and battled depression.
Mentzer, 1st, (only?), bodybuilder to achieve a perfect score, '78 U. Again, '79 'O', 1st/HWs. Zane 'won' title. How does perfect lose to less than perfect?
It's called politics
07:18 "You have morons on the far left and (very stable?) geniuses on the far right" lmao
Thankyou John.
You’re welcome, Bryan!
Would you do it again, Mr Mentzer? No, as my values have changed.
The sport of bodybuilding is a political game. Build your physique while growing your intellectual faculties.
Its alot of champions but if I had to pick how I look it would be Mike or Robby Robinson and maybe Serge Nubret. I also like Danny Padilla physique!
Anyone know what he meant by training once a week? U think he would do full body once a week or split up body parts on 2 different weeks?
I forgot would love a body like the great Sergio Oliva sr
Why did he stop training? I’m not talking about competing, but just exercising? He started to look pretty sloppy.
He had to stop training in and around 1996 after neck surgery, that was a slow recovery. Then he slipped on some stairs and tore a triceps; that necessitated another lengthy recovery period. Next it was discovered (while having tests run to see if could donate a kidney to his brother Ray) that he had developed blood clots in his lungs (I believe), which meant no training at all. And finally he had several silent heart attacks which saw him hospitalized several months prior to his death.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE Thanks for the info!
@@worldnomad2301 You’re welcome.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE didn't both of them get into meth and other drugs? that's what caused their health issues
So train heavy with low sets? Or train light with medium sets?
LEGEND!!
You're my new click bait John. Everytime I see a post of yours I have to check it out!
Haha! Thanks, Tod!
This footage is from 1996? It looks much older. Great vid though, Mike's a pioneer. RIP
Hi Ella J. The in studio interview footage is from 1990; the Arthur Jones footage is from the mid-1980s, as is the footage of Casey.
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE Oh, sorry.. I read the description and stupidly thought the actual footage was 26 years old. Thx for the correction. ☮
@@EllaJay No worries, Ella J!
The interviewer of Arthur Jones had a HUGE head!!!
and once done with the intellectual potential, we move to the spiritual potential.
Interesting to listen to Mike, But there's a number of things to consider he was on the juice when he was competing was a young man at the time and had training partners to help push him along, I`am 57 now train on my own and don't take anything I only train upper and lower body one week apart, if I try to train with less time between lower and upper body workouts my strength falls of its the same if I go for longer, so I've learnt one week is my best recovery time between workouts shame I didn't know that when I first started training.
Now Arnold's coming out saying he overtrained...over enthusiasm kills
What about the PEDs and/or GHs he took?
Almost hate to say it because I know many in the " high intensity" community are anti drug but could you imagine Mentzer in the GH era?- A total muscular freak...
No kidding!
@@HEAVYDUTYCOLLEGE I don't think anyone could've surpassed Mentzer If he had access to GH. Mentzer had better legs than Coleman without it.
@@todbeard8118 You’re undoubtedly right about that.
Thanks for your comments John. You certainly understand. I don't think some HIT enthusiasts realize what a necessary evil steroids and GH were and are to professional bodybuilders at the Olympia level.
@@todbeard8118 A “necessary evil” indeed, But necessary nonetheless.