AI Summary
This video ranks the best bodybuilder physiques from each decade, starting from the 1900s to the present day, highlighting the unique attributes and training styles of each era's standout athlete.
Chapters
Known for ridiculous quads and shoulders, with a verified 269 lb single-arm overhead shoulder press.
A 100% natural physique, as steroids didn't exist until the 1950s.
Had crazy shreds, with a physique comparable to natural pro Eric Helms, despite the photo being 102 years old.
Chosen for his muscle shape and roundness.
Multiple Mr. Universe titles, maintained he was a lifetime natural.
First Mr. Olympia, famous for his biceps and popularizing the preacher curl.
Most iconic physique, trained with brutally high volume, often two workouts a day.
Known for 'stimulate, don't annihilate', emphasizing building muscle while avoiding injury and focusing on proper form and recovery.
Ushered in the mass monster era, made super low volume training famous with one or two all-out max effort sets per exercise.
Freakiest combination of size and strength, with striated glutes on stage close to 300 lb, trained like a powerlifter with 800 lb squats.
Brought a bubbly look with crazy arms, trained with a lot of machine work.
Brought back a classic look with a smaller waist and vintage aesthetics, trains with progressive overload, meticulous technique, and a focus on longevity.
The video provides a historical overview of bodybuilding physiques, highlighting how training styles and aesthetics have evolved over the decades, from natural physiques to the mass monster era and back to a classic look.
Study Flashcards (5)
Who was the first Mr. Olympia?
easy
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Who was the first Mr. Olympia?
Larry Scott
01:09
Which bodybuilder was known for the 'stimulate, don't annihilate' philosophy?
medium
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Which bodybuilder was known for the 'stimulate, don't annihilate' philosophy?
Lee Haney
01:25
What was George Hackenschmidt's verified overhead press?
medium
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What was George Hackenschmidt's verified overhead press?
269 lb single-arm overhead press
00:01
Which era is associated with the 'mass monster' training style?
medium
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Which era is associated with the 'mass monster' training style?
1990s, with Dorian Yates
01:38
What training style did Ronnie Coleman use?
hard
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What training style did Ronnie Coleman use?
Powerlifting-style training, including 800 lb squats
01:52
💡 Key Takeaways
Historical Context
Highlights that steroids only appeared in the 1950s, making earlier physiques fully natural.
00:01Training Philosophy
Lee Haney's 'stimulate, don't annihilate' contrasts with high-volume approaches, offering a longevity-focused principle.
01:25Training Evolution
Dorian Yates popularized low-volume, high-intensity training, a significant shift from previous high-volume methods.
01:38Modern Aesthetics
Chris Bumstead's classic look and focus on longevity reflect a current trend away from extreme mass.
02:18Full Transcript
[00:01] decade? 1900s go to George [music] Hackenschmidt. Ridiculous quads and Hackenschmidt. Ridiculous quads and shoulders with a verified 269 lb single arm overhead shoulder press. For the 1910s, I've got Flavio Massimo. His lat
[00:13] shows today. Steroids don't come around until the 1950s, but this is a verified 100% natty physique. The 1920s go to Alan Meek. Crazy shreds. He even had at him next to natural pro Eric Helms. Their physiques are so similar, yet the
[00:29] pic of Alan was taken 102 years ago. 1930s go to John Grimek. He mostly used when it comes to muscle shape and roundness. 1940s, the last decade before steroids. Steve Reeves was the most
[00:42] best build. If he was an influencer today, most of you would say he's not come in, and I'm giving the best physique from this era to Reg Park with multiple Mr. Universe titles. Reg did maintain that he was a lifetime natty,
[00:56] and shape starts before it gets completely out of control. 1960s, Larry Scott was the first ever Mr. Olympia, and to this day has some of the best biceps ever. He made the preacher curl so famous that some trainers still call
[01:09] to Arnold. Probably the most iconic physique ever with his scalloped [music] was brutally high volume, often doing two workouts a day with marathon high to Lee Haney. He was known for his famous stimulate, don't annihilate
[01:25] admire for emphasizing building muscle while avoiding injury and emphasizing proper form and proper recovery. I'm giving the 90s to Dorian Yates simply because his physique ushered in the mass monster era. Way too big for the average
[01:38] person, but bodybuilders still admire his grainy look. He made super low volume training famous, just one or two all out max effort sets per exercise. obviously goes to Ronnie Coleman. This is the freakiest combination of size and
[01:52] strength that anyone has ever seen. Ronnie had striated glutes on stage close to 300 lb. He trained like a powerlifter, combining 800 lb squats and training. I'm giving the 2010s to Phil Heath. He brought this bubbly
[02:05] with some of the craziest arms ever. Phil trained with a lot of machine work connection. For the current era, I'm going with Chris Bumstead, who brought back a classic look, smaller waist, and [music] vintage aesthetics. Chris trains
[02:18] using progressive overload, meticulous technique, and an intelligent focus on longevity. Which era do you think was the best?
