How Arnold Schwarzenegger
Changed Bodybuilding Forever
Hailed as the greatest bodybuilder
of all time, Arnold Schwarzenegger rewrote the history of muscle training
through his philosophy, workout program, nutrition plan and motivational
thoughts. Since the early days,
Schwarzenegger saw himself as a champion bodybuilder and through his commitment
to a bodybuilding lifestyle he went on to take his physique to a level that
only a handful of bodybuilders have ever achieved.
What made Schwarzenegger one of the
greatest influences to ever grace the bodybuilding and fitness fraternity? How
did a young man from Graz, Austria manage to revolutionize the sport as we know
it today? Here’s a look at some of
Schwarzenegger’s principles that shaped modern bodybuilding.
It
Takes More Than Lifting To Make It
Schwarzenegger’s most valuable
asset as a bodybuilder was not his body but his mind. He demonstrates that it
requires more than lifting to build muscle mass. It’s his concentration that
helped him achieve incredible intensity. Through his visualization techniques,
he was able to harness mental imagery to take his physique to incomparable
heights.
In modern day bodybuilding, the
ability to mentally coax the muscles is perceived as one of the most important
aspects of growing bigger and stronger.
The
Importance of Training Hard
Schwarzenegger focused on becoming
better than his counterparts at the gym, thus he trained harder than everyone
else. His training was such a spectacle that people in the gym would stop and
watch. Despite the attention, he kept on training because he already knew how
to synchronize his mind and his muscles.
Today, the most celebrated
bodybuilder at any given gym is likely the most hardworking.
Choosing
the Correct Exercises
Schwarzenegger didn’t just train
hard; he did it in a smart way. He believed that getting a big body starts with
becoming strong. That translates to focusing more on multi-joint exercises as
opposed to concentrating on single joint movements. Multiple-joint exercises
include deadlift, squat, power clean and pressing for example. To execute these
exercises, a number of muscle groups have to work in harmony.
While it may take some time to
comprehend multi-joint exercises, they help increase the bodybuilder’s ability
to overload the working muscle. To master these moves, Schwarzenegger
challenged himself with heavier weights.
In the current training climate,
choosing the right exercise is regarded as the single most essential element of
gaining size and strength.
Prioritizing
and Working on Weaknesses
If you have big biceps, it goes
without saying that you would want to show them off. Consequently, you are most
likely going to focus a little bit more on them when you hit the gym.
Schwarzenegger did exactly the opposite. At some point during his training, he
realized that his calves were not in line with the rest of his physique. Thus,
he started wearing shorts from then on and doubled his efforts to grow his
calves. Additionally, Schwarzenegger embarked on a regular regimen to train his
calves, at times between sets.
Fitness experts lay emphasis on the
need to focus on building muscle mass in every part of the body to encourage
the overall development of the physique.
It was not by accident that Arnold
Schwarzenegger became one of the world’s greatest bodybuilders. His training
principles have been used by other bodybuilders after him to achieve
overwhelming success. That said, Schwarzenegger will forever hold a special
place in the bodybuilding and fitness sorority, as one of the greats!
About
the Author
Mental fitness is just as important
as physical fitness and for a person to succeed, both area’s need to go through
periods of training and be aligned.
Kevin Hodges is the founder of Crazy
Gain and focusing on helping people
become healthier, stronger and fitter through diet and hard training. Staying safe and legal is also key to drive
your mind and body to success.
