Hi guys, this is an article I wrote and subsequently posted on another website forum. It was warmly received at the time so I thought some of you may be interested. I discovered the T-mag site only a few months ago and since then I am definitely more into the strength/power side of training than the pure ?bodybuilding? (aesthetic) element. Anyway this is the (true) story:
On the afternoon of Saturday 24th April 2004 my good friend and training partner, Steve and I (both Londoners living approx. 5 minutes apart from each other) set off for an extended weekend trip to Birmingham to take a look around the city, whose University we are both contemplating going to in September to start our degrees. Whilst up there, we managed to take in the delights of this often (albeit unfairly) mocked city of Midland England, both in the form of its nightlife as well as its bodybuilding amenities in the shape of Temple Gym. In the following series of posts I shall tell the story of our eventful 72 hours there, which culminated in a chance meeting with the legendary bodybuilding champion himself, the ?Shadow?, Dorian Yates.
DAY 1- ARRIVAL
Having slept for the duration of the two hour train journey from London to Birmingham?s New Street Station, both Steve and myself felt somewhat refreshed upon arrival. We made forth top our residence for the weekend, the house of my very own grandmother, who was conveniently abroad on holiday. Thus, we had free reign of the house. Having dropped our bags off at the house we made the short trip to Birmingham?s main night-spot- Broad Street, a veritable haven of clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants. Confronted by hoards of young ladies aged between about 17-25, we found ourselves in a state of sheer awe, trapped somewhere between excitement and delirium.
After a moderate drinking session consisting solely of pints of Guinness, fully ?carb-loaded? we staggered home in the early hours; with an incredible sense of expectation of what awaits us in our university days in this fair city of scantily clad young women.
Day 2- Seni 2004 Martial Arts Exhibition
The next morning, after shaking off sore heads, our first foray into the lifestyle of a Bodybuilder began at the breakfast table. Removed from the kitchen-hovering of family members, we were able to gorge on our 10-egg white pancakes in peace.
Soon after, we headed for the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) on the outskirts of Birmingham to visit the Seni 2004 Martial Arts Convention. The highlight of which was the Arm Wrestling Contest, in which technique was seen to triumph over sheer size, as a slim man from the midlands overcame all, including a former bodybuilding champion from Slough, the proud owner of a set of 18? ripped to the bone arms. Other memorable events included gruelling bouts of Thai Kick Boxing and some outstanding oriental gymnastics.
Having been drained by the sheer heat inside the NEC, and somewhat worse for wear from the previous nights? excess, we struggled back; to the house and immediately feasted on tins of tuna and turkey slices & by way of re-grouping in preparation for our visit to Temple Gym the very next day.
DAY 3- GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
After a good nights sleep, followed by yet another 10 egg-white pancake and an MRP we both felt ready for the day ahead of us. At noon we set of for Temple Gym, with the address and a map of the city centre in hand. As I sat on the train, listening to my mini-disc, feelings of anxiety reminiscent to those I have felt previously on the journeys to important rugby matches ran through my blood. Having been directed by other pedestrians, we finally reached the alleyway that marks the route towards Temple Gym.
With unforgiving surroundings, it was as if we (Steve and I) were suddenly struck by some terrible trepidation, a fear of failure perhaps? Whatever it was, we had come this close to it and were not about to let our nerves get the better of us. We were resolutely determined to get a glimpse of this slice of hardcore, no-nonsense bodybuilding establishment. All the years of sweat, agony, pain, hurt, blood, guts, clanging steel that had proceeded our visit, what scars they had had left on this place? Winners and losers created, some fallen by the way-side, others who chose to fight, to march on, who chose to succeed , to battle with themselves, overcome their struggles and ask for more, what had their ventures left on this place?
Walking down the steep stairs, I reached the young man behind the counter if it was possible to pay for a one-off workout.- eagerly, both Steve and myself handed over our five pound notes. It was soon after that IT happened. Turning towards the changing room, after a brief glance around the new surroundings I found myself in?.there he was, there was Yates, the legend himself. We had come to his gym, but we never really expected to actually see the man, let alone see him train.
Surely he would chose to train in his own private hours, with no-one around, free from peering eyes? - None of it. There he was, striding away on the cross trainer, woolly hat and all. This man mountain, gargantuan warrior, striding, pounding, bounding away on the cross trainer. Unbelievable, a sight to behold, in all his muscular enormity. Let me stress this, looked at from the side, the man appears about two foot thick. Steve and I had immediately dashed into the changing room, powered by pure adrenalin, bubbling with excitement, we wanted to get at out there and hit the weights, inspired by such a sight.
Hitting the bench press straight away I can truly say that for those first few sets my legs were literally quaking. They were no longer composites of bone, muscle tissue, nerve endings, tendons, ligaments etc but were now reduced to mere jelly. There we stood in this tiny basement in a Birmingham back street with no more than half a dozen other people around. Yet one of these people was Dorian Yates, a colossus of a man. I have seen competitive bodybuilders before, I have seen retired bodybuilders. This guy looked as though he was in the stage of his life where his immediate attention should be focused in rehearsing his pre-amble rhetoric for an up and coming major IFBB Pro Bodybuilding contest rather than sending in forms to the tax office regarding early retirement benefits, pensions plans or ?SpecSaver? optician discounts.
With my camera tucked away in the changing room having taken to frenetic snapping of Birmingham?s city centre and its young ladies, I immediately realised the opportunity ahead of me. Not wanting to irritate the great one with any unauthorised photographs, I promptly asked the young man at reception if it was ok to get a picture with Dorian. If it was not on, I added, I completely understood. However, I need not have worried. The young man informed me that all was fine just so long as I waited till Dorian had completed his training session.
So, at this point my attention turned away from ?Diesel? pressing 100kg on each arm on the ?Hammer? Chest Press Machine, and rather, shifted towards concentrating on my own session?.not for long though as you will soon find out. Meanwhile, as Steve and I progressed with our session, it was now evident to both of us that Temple Gym must possess some kind f contagious, infectious ?electric? energy and I witnessed at first hand the intensity of our workout grow rapidly.
A TRULY HUMBLE MAN
As I lowered to the floor the 75lb dumbbells at the end of my final set of seated shoulder presses, whilst turning round I saw Steve scrambling around the swamp of dumbbells on the floor in search of a couple of 105lb monsters.
It was at this point that Dorian exposed his astounding selflessness in assisting my friend. Noticing Steve?s unfamiliarity with the dumbbell system at Temple (I.e pre-historic looking dumbbells with barely legible, worn off weight markings) Dorian came across, and inquired with a genuinely caring manner as to what was troubling my friend. He then, after looking around for a short time removed the two dumbbells in question from the rack and laid them out in front of our bench for POWERBUILDER to use. The phrase ?service with a smile? sprung to mind. It did not end there.
Minutes later, Dorian asked to borrow Steve?s 105?s to which PB obviously obliged. Having completed a warm up set of incline flyes with them, ?Diesel? immediately, without hesitation, returned them all the way back to in front of the bench we were using. There we stood, stunned at how friendly and hugely considerate and helpful this hulking figure who we had only previously seen on magazine covers really was.
As quality tune after quality tune rolled out of the sound system, amidst a vocal from Naz, I could scarcely contain my excitement about the prospect of being a full member of this gym when my university course begins later this year.
When it was evident the great man was done, we approached with a greater feeling of easiness that we would not have expected top have felt in the presence of one so legendary.
Having showered and changed, we then made our way to the bar area where we ordered Dorian?s own range of MRPs whilst basking in the hardcore yet appealing atmosphere of Temple Gym. The young man behind the counter, we soon ascertained was Dorian?s son; confirming what we had initially suspected when we entered the Gym.
A thoroughly friendly, down-to-earth bloke, much like his father, we chatted to him as we sipped our MRPs which he had just whipped up for us. Pumped, happy, bursting with endorphins, we left Temple, our satisfaction of a great afternoon scarcely hidden by the expressions on our faces.
We made our way back home to London that evening, via a pit-stop for a couple of Subs and spent the journey home reflecting on a day of immense satisfaction. This chance meeting with ?The Shadow? having not really sunk in, even at this time. A professional, assuming no air of superiority whatsoever. A legend, a bodybuilding champion many times over, but above all a thoroughly humble, good bloke, Dorian Yates.
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