There are no new fundamentals

Transform

I was reading some old weight training material from yester year and came across the following gem i thought i would share -

"To obtain an increase in body weight the beginner must work to a higher number of reps per exercise if the action of the lungs is to be speeded up. The organic process of the body must be stimulated before any general increase in bodyweight can be expected. The deep knee bend (squat) stands alone in this respect". Don Doran 1948

This is coming from a man who over 60 years ago was dishing out advice via postal mail and did so very successfully - helped train some of the best bodies in the uk in the 1940-1970's. He advised one heavy session per week followed by one light and one medium. Eg squat 300lbs 3 by 6 heavy, 180 3 by 6 light and 240lbs 3 by 6 medium.

He also advised that once beyond beginner status the main exercises must be pushed more and on a rotating basis. For example, if you were trying to increase your bench press then all other exercises were trained on mintenance poundages only. It would be counterproductive to attempt to make gains on EVERY exercise (once beyond beginner status).

So for all those looking for NEW basics and finding the best exercise that will make you shredded and muscular, keep looking! remember the above was advised at a time prior to steroids when programs were more realistic, weight training gyms were rare to even find, overhead pressing/squatting was vital to look impressive and guys were encouraged to do the bsics well so they could stop getting sand kicked in their face.

yes i know there are some improvements in weight training over the past 60 years but when the training masses are more addicted to going to the gym for a given number of times and duration rather than progress then i think we really have not come very far and must stop using the programs of pro bodybuilders (split programs 4-5 days a week) to reach our potential.

http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Dorans/Dorans.htm

http://www.charlesatlas.com/

brianthebard

but, but....bose balls=new fundamentals???

nah great post transform, I love the way these guys write about lifting as well. the first page of this link is just wonderful; http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Dorans/Progressive/Progressive.htm

Nice find dude.

Brian?

Cheers Transform thats a great read.

The writing style is brilliant, I particularly like the use of "A chap must....." and "it matters not".

I had a read of this the nutrition section in this article as well:

http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Dorans/MrBritain/MrB.htm

The fundamentals have not changed there either, just look at the foods to avoid section. Anything made with white flower, anything overprocessed etc.

Transform

No worries,

just constantly amazes me that people can be conned into adding more exercises into their program or doing more weights days in order to look and feel better all the while ignoring the basics best philosophy that was pushed prior to the steriod era.

kevpants

Transform wrote: »

He also advised that once beyond beginner status the main exercises must be pushed more and on a rotating basis. For example, if you were trying to increase your bench press then all other exercises were trained on mintenance poundages only. It would be counterproductive to attempt to make gains on EVERY exercise (once beyond beginner status).

That's an interesting point and something I had been thinking about recently.

As I'm now probably an intermediate my bench seems to have come to a near-standstill while my squat/deadlift continue to grow. I had been thinking, thanks to Malteaser taking a lash at it, about Smolov and how it works for the squat while everything else is neglected, if that principal could be applied to the bench and you could cycle growth & maintenance phases of the lifts would it be a better way to approach things?

I've not done too much research as it was just a thought but your point really rings true for me. Any gems of wisdom you or anyone else could offer would be well received.

BrianD3

Loads more similar stuff here
http://web.archive.org/web/20060514054605/www.naturalstrength.com/history/default.asp

Re: the writing style of those old articles how about this quote

Alan Calvert wrote:

The human teeth prove that a man can eat either meat, vegetables or grain,
and it seems to me that the ordinary individual will grow faster on just the
mixed diet that the average housewife provides.

Roper

Sandow is a legend. If you want confirmation that there's nothing new under the sun you should read up on him. There were people doing what others are raving about on the internet today in the 1800s.

We lost our way in the 60s!

Transform

Arnold has a lot to answer for!!

Roper

Eugen Sandow. But WAIT! Where are his chesticles!!!!!

rubadub

More here http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/old_time_strongman_training_articles.html


A lot were going for the grecian ideal look (like statues) so had fairly thick bodies, not really much taper between waist and chest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSHJRgaVGBU

I'm now thinking the real secret is to grow a fancy moustache, they all seemed to have them!

Transform

Part of the problem with todays training programs are they are most are based on info from steroid users and have no application for the typical trainee.

Pre-1960 at least we knew there were no steroid users so the programs have greater application for the typical (working, kids, study, diet) trainee.

For me i will look up to the likes of steve reeves or even bill pearl (check out arnold pre-steroids in one of the shots with bill)

http://www.ifbbpro.com/hall-of-fame-welcome-message/steve-reeves/

http://www.ifbbpro.com/features/pearls-wisdom/

At least i can look at them and honestly say - yea i can look like that with hard work and dedication

injured365

If anyone is interested i have copies of the following book saved on my laptop and should be able to email them. PM me if you want me to email
Strength and Health by Viking (aka Adolph Nordquest)
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Nordquest/Viking/s&h/s&h-intro.htm

The Way To Live by George Hackenschmidt
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Hackenschmidt/wtl/wtl-intro.htm

Sandow's System of Physical Training by Eugen Sandow
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/S/sspt/Sandow%27s%20System%20of%20Physical%20Training/album/index.html

Strength and How To Obtain It (Revised Edition) by Eugen Sandow
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/S/strength/strength1.htm

I think all of them are available here online to download as well
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk

Edit - Left this one out....Muscle Building by Earle Liederman
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Liederman/MuscleBuilding/mb-intro.htm

Roper

I want them books! I thought the Hackenschmidt one was never published? Did I read that in Supertraining?

send them on to baz.oglesby[at]gmail.com

injured365

Il send them on you so in a minute.
The one by the hack was published and reprinted alot......the edition i have is old but it was printed on the 21st reprint i think....not too sure on that as it isn't too clear

Edit - Due to the size of some of them, each book has its own email so its taking a while

injured365

To the people who PM'd me.....if you have a hotmail or yahoo account you will only be able to get two of the books as the rest are bigger than 10mb whoich is the limit of those emails but a gmail account can take them alright

joepenguin

Ah good old charles.


Good point transform, these are guys who young trainees can look at and honeslty say that with hard work and dedication, they can look like that.