In this month's issue.

In this month's issue, we feature an worthy story by our science editor, Jim Stoppani, in which he compares the relative toughnesss and weaknesses of high-intensity and high-volume training. The debate from one side of to the other which training system is more productive has been raging for more than a quarter century--ever since Mike Mentzer began to champion an alternative means to the type Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and the quietness 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 in consequence of their discussions about bodybuilding, rather than via outrageous behavior or statements.

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

Simply following a combination of parts to form a whole because others before followed it wasn't upright enough for Mike. He was a philosopher who was especially senseless of the works of Ayn Rand and, as of the like kind he felt it imperative that he expect into the whys and wherefores of anything he did.

After his retirement from competitive stages, Mike continued to experiment with different training techniques. He set up 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 the subject of a system that required barely a couple of sets by bodypart, once a week at greatest in number He called this unique body "Heavy Duty" and proffered it as a better way to wax muscle than volume training, which was used to incredible succes on Arnold.

As we all know according to now, Arnold is a man of great confidence and able-bodied will. He was as strong that his training method was superior as Mike was of his. Arnold also had history upon his side. Since the early 20th hundred years bodybuilders had been combining exercises in patterns of multiple puts and reps to build muscle. Workouts lasted anywhere from an hour to three hours, sometimes longer and many champions consequence ed from adherence to such a training manner of writing Arnold himself routinely promoted the tome system in his courses and works at seminars, and in our magazines.

Of course, I'm abiding 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 hindrance it guide you down your confess bodybuilding path. It's this kind of thinking that made great champions of the one and the other men. Let it push you to be the best you can be.

through Joe Weider

TRAINER OF CHAMPIONS SINCE 1936

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