Recently, I’ve been reading Dinosaur Training and The Complete Keys To Progress…and it got me thinking about how all the old timers such as Paul Anderson and John Grimek built enormous strength without drugs or supplements…does anyone have any theories about how they managed to do this…or have we gotten weaker as a result of too much empahasis on supplements and drugs…I’ve decided to do a little experiment…I’m going to cut out all supplementation (*except for multivitamins) and just work on the heavy basic movements (including some sandbag carrying)using a 5x5 protocol on a MTTF split. On the other hand, my training partner who is taking Tribex and Powerdrive (everything else is illegal here in Australia) will be doing the Ian King Super Strength program from get Buffed over the next 12 weeks. The goal of this is to see whether brutal basic work triumphs over scientific training…any thoughts or suggestions?
That’s great you’ve been reading McCallum. His programs will put on the mass you’re looking for. You’ll also have the strength of a bear if you work with the heavy basics.
You’re training partner is going to want to know how you gained so much more size than he did at the end of your test.
Squats and milk. I wish the little 135lbers asking about how to get ripped and huge would give it a try. 20 rep squats are going to be all out war.
A great thing about McCallum is he emphasizes that the military press is so much more conducive to overall strength and mass than the bench press. Focus on the press for a few months and when you go back to regular benching you’ll be amazed.
Stick with it. Stay focused. And eat.
Tan, it’s ironic that you brought this up. Just recently, I’ve been reading a lot of info on the old time strongmen. People like Sandow, Saxon, Hackenschmidt, Louis Abele, and Maxick. I found some great sites about these guys and some of their training. In fact, I purchased a “pamphlet” from Ironmind based on Louis Abele’s training programs. I was expecting it to be a small book, but it was really a pamphlet. Nevertheless, the info is awesome. Here are guys that look IMHO better than today’s bodybuilders. And not only were they very muscular, but they were super strong and flexible. And that’s what I think we should be like today. Over time, I think people started getting away from heavy lifting and acrobatics and focused purely on getting bigger without having any functional use.
I have been intrigued by the "oldtimers" and have begun to gear my training toward lifting heavy with basic exercises. I'm getting toward the end of a 12-week program that I put together using Ian's book "How to Write Strength Training Programs." Once I'm done with this program, I'm going to do a little more homework on the oldtimers, and put together a very simple but effective routine that should give me functional strength as well as build muscle. Also, I highly recommend reading Milo and some of Ken Leistner's articles. It's also interesting that some of these training programs share similar ideas that Ian King uses today. Also, Pavel Tstatsouline has had some good articles in recent issues of Milo. I like his idea of doing 3-5 sets of 3-5 reps using 3-5 exercises and working 3-5 days a week and resting 3-5 minutes between sets. He also stresses the importance of lifting slow and tight to increase time under tension. Which leads to great increases in strength.
And you guys are going to think I'm crazy, but I actually found the old charlesatlas web site. I was checking it out and decided to buy his program that he used to sell in the back of comic books. I haven't received it yet, but I have a feeling it's similar to Matt Furey's ideas using bodyweight exercises. I'll have to let you know what I think when I get it. Anyway, this is a great topic and I hope you make great progress. I'll keep you updated as well.
Nate…you should get the Complete Keys to Progress if you are into this kind of stuff…John McCallum was talking about concepts similar to the T-Dawg diet and German body comp in 1965!!!..in addition, his stories are really funny and insightful…by the way, which issues of Milo did Pavel’s ideas appear in??.. i did not get Power to the People as i heard that it wasn’t very good (i think you said something about that as well).
Jethro....i agree that 20 rep breathing squats are a killer......nothing ever hurt so bad before.....2 weeks ago....i passed out for a few seconds after doing them...downright brutal!
Tan, The Complete Keys to Progress is on my list of books to get. Actually, I’ve been reading Milo for a few years, and collected many back issues. Each one has an article by John. I think many are taken from the book. I agree, his style of writing is great. And some of his training information seems good.
As for Pavel, the best article of his that I read is in the 2001 March issue of Milo. It’s the one that talks about SWAT strength training and recommends his 3-5 concept. He also talks about three key exercises for those who serve on the police force or related field (pullups, one legged squats, hanging leg raises). It’s a good article. Some of the other articles have been okay, but this is a good one. And yes, Power to the People is okay, but I wouldn’t put it high on your list. If you have money to spend, then go for it. I did enjoy reading it and agreed with some of his ideas. But didn’t feel that it was that good. 
I always strongly recommend to people with less than five years of training that they (1) focus on the basic lifts and a quality diet and (2) minimize their supplementation. Obviously, I think you’re on the right track there. (You didn’t discuss your diet, but I assume you know what you’re doing in that regard.) With respect to your experiment, however, it’s not going to prove jack regarding the efficacy of those supplements. Why? Because the variance in genetics and training protocols will render your results meaningless; plus, your buddy will be trying two supplements at once. How will he be able to tell whether one or both was efficacious? Answer: he won’t. The only way to experiment like this is to use two genetically similar people (which is very tough to determine from appearances only), place them on identical training protocols, and then have them try one supplement at a time.
I agree with you, Nate. Some of those old-timers were unbelievably strong. Supposedly Sandow could do a one-finger chin-up!
Bob, i’ve been training seriously for 2 years…and am currently on the t-dawg/metabolic diet as i need to lose some fat …switching to Massive Eating after that…I’m 19 years old …currently 170 pounds at 12% bf at a height of 5’8…my training partner has about the same stats but is 26 yo…good point about the supplementation…will ask him just to use Tribex. I just can’t get over the fact that many of the so-called cutting edge diets today were actually used 30-40 years ago…will give you guys an outline of my training and updates on my progress if anyone is interested. Oh yeah, i’ve decided to stop Matt Furey’s combat conditioning programs for a while and use conditioning methods like the sandbag carry, farmer’s walk and a favourite of Ken Leistner, namely walking around the block (or in the gym in my case) carrying a loaded barbell on my traps…
Good luck with the training Tan. Definitely keep us posted. As for me, my training will be a mix of combat conditioning and functional strength training. We’ll see how it works! Creamdream, that is quite impressive about Sandow. And many of the other guys have done similar things. I was looking at some stuff the other day and was amazed at the size and strength of some of these guys!
If i do anything besides the basics, when i go back to them im weak as hell. Nothing else works for me. If i start doing cables and lying overhead zottman preacher curls i get nowhere. Sure i get sore, but for some reason when i go back to doing my basic stuff its like ive never lifted. I can see my body respond to the heavy basic lifting. I think im a purely fast twitch kinda guy so that might explain it.