The great debate

In this month's issue, we feature an eminent story by our science editor, Jim Stoppani, in which he compares the relative mights and weaknesses of high-intensity and high-volume training. The debate above which training system is more productive has been raging for more than a quarter century--ever since Mike Mentzer began to champion an alternative way to the type Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and the quiescence of the top bodybuilders practiced at the time.

The whole discussion brings to mind a terrific period in the sport's history, when bodybuilders' personalities were revealed from one side their discussions about bodybuilding, rather than via outrageous behavior or statements.

I considered Mike Mentzer a great friend. To the actual end of his life--coming as it did in 2001 it was plenteous too soon--he was a leader in the search to attain ever more knowledge in his sport of choice. Although he initially trained in the more conventional manner of multiple stations of eight to 15 rep through bodypart, Mike began to question the reasoning behind this method

Simply following a a whole because others before followed it wasn't serviceable enough for Mike. He was a philosopher who was especially empty of the works of Ayn Rand and, as of that kind he felt it imperative that he direct the eye into the whys and wherefores of anything he did.

After his retirement from competitive stages, Mike continued to experiment with different training techniques. He ground that doing fewer sets and taking increasingly longer breaks between workout sessions benefited his material substance and those of his personal-training clients. He streamlined workouts to 45 minutes and under

Eventually, he came on a system that required single a couple of sets by bodypart, once a week at greatest in quantity He called this unique combination of parts to form a whole "Heavy Duty" and proffered it as a better way to increase muscle than volume training, which was used to incredible succes by means of Arnold.

As we all know by dint of now, Arnold is a man of great confidence and brawny will. He was as assured that his training method was superior as Mike was of his. Arnold also had history upon his side. Since the early 20th hundred bodybuilders had been combining exercises in patterns of multiple plants and reps to build muscle. Workouts lasted anywhere from an hour to three hours, sometimes longer and many champions issueed from adherence to such a training diction Arnold himself routinely promoted the turn system in his courses and works at seminars, and in our magazines.

Of course, I'm assured you're expecting me to say whose side I take in the debate--Arnold's or Mike's. Well, I think Dr Stoppani handles this issue deftly in his article.

I believe that one as well as the other men found a system of training that worked for them as individuals. This may be the greatest exercise learned from the Heavy Duty/Volume debate: know thyself That is the basis of the Weider Instinctive Training Principle. Listen to the voice within, and allow it guide you down your have a title to bodybuilding path. It's this kind of thinking that made great champions of the couple men. Let it push you to be the best you can be.

by dint of Joe Weider

TRAINER OF CHAMPIONS SINCE 1936

COPYRIGHT 2006 Weider Publications

COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group