History of the Arnold Classic From Humble Beginnings to a World-Class Event

[Giles]

Yes, I have read many times that no one pumps legs before going to the stage and that the last leg training must be a week before the contest, the last days would be for the upper body.

What I am not sure is whether to keep the cardio up to 1 or 2 days out it affects that they look flat.

Personally my quads look much better than my back and shoulders.

The longer you leave your quads (within reason) before a show the more separated they get mate, absolutely!

I think if I remember rightly my last quad workout was around 2 weeks before a show, then all I would do would be slow negative, lightish leg presses, extensions with held contraction for a few secs each rep, glute/ham hypers, single leg smith machine lunges etc.

[Giles]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! He would show a clip of whatever movie he was working on. I think 89 was Last Action Hero, but when he showed a clip oof T2 OMFG.....I went home and told EVERYONE at the gym how bad ass that looked.

Mate, when I just turned 15, me and my training partner went backpacking for a month up and down the east coast of America & Canada and I got to see T2, opening night on July 4th in 1991 at a cinema in Rhode Island in Providence!

The crowd went nuts when the titles came up, especially when Arnold’s name came on the screen, being a Brit I had never experienced anything quite like this before.

[Beti ona]

The longer you leave your quads (within reason) before a show the more separated they get mate, absolutely!

I think if I remember rightly my last quad workout was around 2 weeks before a show, then all I would do would be slow negative, lightish leg presses, extensions with held contraction for a few secs each rep, glute/ham hypers, single leg smith machine lunges etc.

2 weeks, Wow, that sounds a bit too cautious. Also, you never had to do cardio, right?

[bigmikecox]

Mate, when I just turned 15, me and my training partner went backpacking for a month up and down the east coast of America & Canada and I got to see T2, opening night on July 4th in 1991 at a cinema in Rhode Island in Providence!

The crowd went nuts when the titles came up, especially when Arnold’s name came on the screen, being a Brit I had never experienced anything quite like this before.

That might be his best movie!!!

[lifepulse]

Mate, when I just turned 15, me and my training partner went backpacking for a month up and down the east coast of America & Canada and I got to see T2, opening night on July 4th in 1991 at a cinema in Rhode Island in Providence!

The crowd went nuts when the titles came up, especially when Arnold’s name came on the screen, being a Brit I had never experienced anything quite like this before.

T2 was the first R-rated movie that I ever snuck into, at the age of 12. I was as much a fan of Guns N Roses as I was of Arnold. Match made in heaven.

[lifepulse]

2 weeks, Wow, that sounds a bit too cautious. Also, you never had to do cardio, right?

You can still train legs to pump blood into them and retain fullness, but not train them so hard that they actually break down tissue, with heavy lifting. End of prep, you're on a ton of gear usually, you're not going to lose any legitimate size or density. You're more likely to lose fullness, usually from doing cardio. So the goal (when possible) is to pull back on cardio towards the end (if you're ready ahead of time) -- train legs for a pump but don't destroy them -- continue to train upper body as normal up until about a week out.

[bigmikecox]

T2 was the first R-rated movie that I ever snuck into, at the age of 12. I was as much a fan of Guns N Roses as I was of Arnold. Match made in heaven.

There was something satisfying sneaking into an R rated movie as a kid

[Beti ona]

You can still train legs to pump blood into them and retain fullness, but not train them so hard that they actually break down tissue, with heavy lifting. End of prep, you're on a ton of gear usually, you're not going to lose any legitimate size or density. You're more likely to lose fullness, usually from doing cardio. So the goal (when possible) is to pull back on cardio towards the end (if you're ready ahead of time) -- train legs for a pump but don't destroy them -- continue to train upper body as normal up until about a week out.

Good suggestions

Although I have not competed if have cut for photos and normally I train heavy always until the end, legs can be on Saturday or Sunday, and the upper body until Wednesday or Thursday. I also keep up the cardio, just because I wake up early and have that urge to do it.

I think I need to slow down and intensity because every time I try to do a load, I can't get it.

[Giles]

Good suggestions

Although I have not competed if have cut for photos and normally I train heavy always until the end, legs can be on Saturday or Sunday, and the upper body until Wednesday or Thursday. I also keep up the cardio, just because I wake up early and have that urge to do it.

I think I need to slow down and intensity because every time I try to do a load, I can't get it.

Why don’t you do a show mate? You’re mega in to it all, you’re knowledgeable and clearly train hard by the sound of it.

Do what I did and just say “fuck it”, honestly mate it was the best decision I ever made! Go for it!!!!! Just get shredded and jump in a first timers, you WILL shock yourself with what you’ve built over all these years.

When I stripped off all my bodyfat, threw on the tan, the oil and the trunks and saw my photos back after prejudging in my first one I couldn’t believe my eyes!!!!! Pointed to a ‘guy’ in one of the photos doing a rear double and I said “wow, he looks great!” My mate said “that’s you Giles you idiot!” Ha ha, true story.