Before everyone starts throwing stones at me, let me just say that I’m not a disciple of Menzter, nor am I seeking to defend him; this is just something I am curious about. Why do people here at T-Nation seem to hate Mike Menzter so much? All I know about the man comes from what I have read in his own books. This is the only place where I have come across so much animosity toward him. Is it because he comes across as arrogant? Is it perhaps because he was a disciple of Ayn Rand? Is it just an objection to his philosophy of high-intensity training? Or something else? I look forward to your comments.
[quote]Worf wrote:
Is it just an objection to his philosophy of high-intensity training? Or something else? [/quote]
Basically that’s the reason. I don’t think anyone actually hates him, just the over hyped use of hit system.
I think my feelings of animosity towards him were related to his dogmatice approach to training. He believed only in his system and that is it. He attacked anyone that disageed with him and never looked seriously at any alternatives to his way.
He also whined constantly about “unfairly losing” the Olympia. Never could get over it. Was bitter and entrenched. Not a positive person and not the type of person I like to be around or read about.
That is my humble opinion.
[quote]Worf wrote:
Before everyone starts throwing stones at me, let me just say that I’m not a disciple of Menzter, nor am I seeking to defend him; this is just something I am curious about. Why do people here at T-Nation seem to hate Mike Menzter so much? All I know about the man comes from what I have read in his own books. This is the only place where I have come across so much animosity toward him. Is it because he comes across as arrogant? Is it perhaps because he was a disciple of Ayn Rand? Is it just an objection to his philosophy of high-intensity training? Or something else? I look forward to your comments.[/quote]
Well, yeah, the guy came off as a dick. I never met him before his death but that’s the way he came off. I’d feel pretty confident in saying he’s not a guy I’d really want to meet. Furthermore, what I have read of his was just bullshit dressed up with pretty language, but bullshit nonetheless.
I think hes cool
I was curious of the same thing…
HIT.
It’s not the be-all, end-all to training. But to Mentzer, it would seem that way.
Everything works. Nothing works forever. Those that have used HIT after a high-volume program will reap benefits. Those that use HIT forever seem to go no where. But Mentzer would make it seem as though HIT is great and can be used all the time.
I hate Mike Mentzer because he gave my Nana a brumski without permission. She did NOT like the way that mustache felt.
He’s the embodiment of “there is only one way to train” and other snobbery HIT trainees are known for. And the system sucks too. He had people train once a week. Idiot.
He comes across as a little arrogant to me, too. However, I was wondering if he is somewhat justified in his arrogance. Have there been many bodybuilders who have used the HIT philosophy successfully?
[quote]cleansnatch wrote:
He also whined constantly about “unfairly losing” the Olympia. [/quote]
Probably because he did lose unfairly.
[quote]Worf wrote:
He comes across as a little arrogant to me, too. However, I was wondering if he is somewhat justified in his arrogance. Have there been many bodybuilders who have used the HIT philosophy successfully?[/quote]
Dorian Yates had his own version of HIT.
Fact is hit training and other hit variations are a very effective method to get big. It was the type of training that dominated most my programs for a very long time. But as it’s already been mentioned it will work, but not forever. The problem with Mentzer is that he has a tunnel vision when it comes to training. In his view if you’re not making progress it’s because you’re overtraining.
The other problem is that he puts very little focus on nutrition. So in his case I attribute his success to genetics and steroids, how the hell else can one look like that? Eating 3 meals a day and 2-3 workouts a week will not get you like that. Let’s say you train chest once a week and progress stops. He would suggest training it once every 2 weeks. Then when that stops working, every 3 weeeks… Or even doing one rep and just one set per muscle every 2 weeks!
I know this because I had done some personal consulations with him over the phone. And yes he was screwed on that olympia. Another reason why competing is a waste of time and money. Not meant to piss off anyone who competes… I truely respect anyone who puts that type of dedication to all the aspects of it. It’s just that most people usually are left very dissapointed.
I met Mentzer around 1979-80 while I was in high school. He was really ascending the BB hierarchy and becoming a big deal. He had just won one of those early ‘Night of Champions’ contest.
He appeared at a local sporting goods store, not sure exactly what his reasons (read contractual obligations) were but he appeared in athletic shorts and a ‘Weider’ T-shirt. There was a relatively big group there and he took questions. Someone asked him to ‘flex’ and he did a front double bi with his t-shirt on.
They asked if he would take his t-shirt off and he said “they are not paying me enough to do that”. I asked him how big his legs were and he said “big” (I was expecting a measurement). At the conclusion as he walked out he muttered “I gotta get out of this town”. He acted like he did not want to be there, never smiled that I could recall.
I had heard from the mags that he was arrogant and my conclusion from having met him was that he was. He was not particularly warm to those who came to see him.
In contrast I met Franco Columbu about the same time also at a sporting goods store. It was right after he retireed and after his biography ‘Coming On Strong’ came out. It was also after he retired and after he trashed his knee in the World’s Strongest Man contest.
He was in Street clothes and people asked him to take his shirt off and pose. Franco was very reluctanct, not because he was not being paid, but because he was so out of shape but he obliged and was very gracious. They then asked him to do a feat of strength so they assembled one of those really crappy multi-benches and loaded 350 on the bar. Franco pumped out 20 reps on the bench without a warmup! People loved him.
because he fucking drove over my girlfriend’s cat one day. what an asshole!
There is nothing wrong with the fact that he only believed in the merit of his training approach. Although we may not agree, it’s no more “wrong” to believe in only one thing than it is to believe in many different things.
Menzter annoys me not because of his beliefs, but rather his evangelistic nature and his tendency to stray from the argument by jabbering at length about Ayn Rand.
The real reason? That cheesy, 1970s pornstar moustache of his. Pisses everybody off.
your post remind me one of my post:
All Coaches:HIT Come Back?
http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1048486
I don’t HATE Mentzer personally. but his tunnel vision about training(HIT is the ONLY way of training)make me sick!!! just like the New HIT, in my post, i’m trying to get some support against the HIT.
Mentzer against “more is better”, but his “less is better” sucks!!!
there is a line where LESS is simply NOT ENOUGH for growth…
I wouldn’t say I hate Mike. I really thought he had a very good bodybuilder and got ripped off by Arnold. What bother me about Mike after that was that he totally caved in and never recovered. Arnold destroyed him mentally and emotionally. When I moved to Venice in the early 80’s, I used to watch he and his brother trained. They were big, but I think it had more to do with the juice than their training.
In those days, lot of dudes were big and once they fell, most never recovered. They were huge, but they were not mentally tough. The first sign of adversity and loss and they were done.
That’s funny considering Mentzer devotes so much of his bodybuilding books to the subject of mental toughness.