Guns, Ammo and Muscle

Q: First let me say a huge "Thanks." I've been doing some kind of weight training since... geez, the early 70's. I spent a career with San Diego PD and worked out at Gold's for years. Got pretty big, 6'1, 260 lbs @ 10% BF.

Cruising through Amazon the other day for Gironda readings, and I happened upon your books. Did my due diligence, saw that you are PD and decided to get The Articles and  Neo-Classical Bodybuilding.

Holy Schazam! Read The Articles: clarity and simplicity in less than an afternoon. Years of past practices gone. So simple even a "Blockhead" like me can figure it out!

I tried one of the "Trisets" mixed in with one of my splits. Nice pump, some burn but nothing super-duper. Until today! Holy Crap, I feel like it was my first time to the gym. I haven't felt this way for a long time! Awesome!!!

So I quickly dove into Neo-Classical Bodybuilding and ordered Tactics and Strategies and  Training for the Busy Bodybuilder.

I am planning my start next week with your "Mesocycle". I've had thoughts along these lines but just didn't have the inside track on what, why, how much or how long.

Thanks for your PD service and a super thanks for your exquisite bodybuilding books.

-Retired SDPD Sergeant


P.S. By chance do you know Roy Huntington, a Guns & Ammo writer?


My Answer: Thanks for the high praise, Sarge. I don't know Roy Huntington. It's not like all us magazine writers hang out together, you know?

I'm glad that you're getting a lot from the books. The longer you train, the harder it is to find that new stimulus, new ways of training that reboot muscle growth. You'll enjoy the next 2 volumes, because there are a lot of different programs and training philosophies in these books.

I am planning on writing a 5th and final book, one that shows a variety of exercises to hit your musculature at different angles and with different force curves. I've shot all the photos that will go into the book, but my writing of the book has been on hiatus due to work and family. Hopefully Volume 5 will be out in 2012 before the apocalypse.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Targeting the Deltoids, Minimizing the Traps

Image
Q:  I've read your article about shoulder workouts as well as many others, and I have a question. I really appreciate if you can spare some time to answer it. I heard from almost everywhere that you can get wider shoulders by working out. I have a very slim body (56 kg, 172 cm tall, 24 year old male) and very narrow shoulders. The width of my shoulders is only two times of the width of my head (1/2). I checked this ratio by measuring photos of a man with broad shoulders, and this ratio is usually 1/3. I know it has a lot to do with genetics, but how much exactly can you add to your shoulder size by workout? Someone told me that you can add 2 centimeters to each side at a total of 4 cm maximum. Even if that's true, by working out my deltoids I will also work my trapezius muscles as well, even if I don't want to. And the growth of the trapezius makes your shoulders look narrow, because it gives your shoulders an angle to the ground rather than being nearly parallel to...
Keep reading

Bench Press to Increase Pushups

Image
Q: I must say I enjoy reading what you write and find you somewhat an inspiration. I have wanted to be a police officer my entire life, but considering a juvenile criminal record (JUST expunged) I can't join the Marines as an MP. I can't join period either, because I got my GED and so I'm volunteering at the YMCA, and answering phones at the fire department until I start college for a degree in Education. I do have one area of concern. I used to box. I'm 17, but started boxing when I was 16. I weighed 115 and was benching 180. Around New Year’s I cut myself on the wrist and severed several tendons, which put me to all running and biking for a good many months. Just this past month I've gotten back to work out, but I've found myself hesitating from the bench press due to a concern that it might affect my push up reps. My goal I've set is 100 push ups by New Year's, as well as squatting 200 pounds 20 times, running 5k, and 20+ chin ups. It...
Keep reading

Leg Presses and 5x5

Image
Q: What's your opinion on the 5x5 training programs? They are very well liked by many.  Also, because of tight hamstrings, I like leg presses better than squats. Are leg presses effective? Squats are very useful and build overall strength. Can the same be said about leg presses? -CS My Answer: The 5x5 is a solid program and has been around for a long, long time. Of all the programs floating around in the gym, it is second to the 10-8-6-15 program as far as popularity. But while the 5x5 is a solid program by itself, it works even better as a decompression program, which I go over in Strength and Physique: The Articles . As far as leg presses, it really depends on what your goal is. If you're an athlete looking to gain real world strength and size, then the leg press won't do anything for you unless you're a speed skater. If you're just concerned about size and nothing else, then the leg press is good choice, even better than the squat. Q: ...
Keep reading