Would some of you people recognize the true theory of hypertrophy if you saw it? The point is what is the test of truth of any theory? Well, in bodybuilding it surely is whether that theory can produce the results it claims. HST and HIT and Heavy Duty and every other theory has failed to generate continuous growth in believers. What happens is that those who do not make gains blame the theory.
One fact that cannot be disputed is that Arthur Jones helped generate additional size on already huge Sergio Oliva. So, what Arthur said cannot easily be dismissed. That success has to be part of the true hypertrophy theory.
Casey and Sergio were known volume trainers and known steroid users. Read below on Sergio and Jones.
The September 2002 Issue of Ironman had an interview with “The Sandwich” (TS) and Sergio Oliva. Here are a few direct excerpts from the interview.
TS: What were your impressions of Arthur Jones?
Sergio Oliva: Oh, Arthur Jones is a terrific man. A very honest and smart man. He was the only one who offered everybody a lot of money to go to Deland Florida to train with him. He also was the first one to find out how big our biceps really were. Arthur measured my head, and it was smaller than my arm! (laughs) It is true I was weighing in at my biggest and at my best when I was training with Arthur.
Max Rep commentary… so now your thinking well Arthur Jones is the father of HIT so Sergio got his biggest and best using HIT right? And he was “paid a lot of money by Jones “just to train”. Being photographed on HIS equipment. Nice.
TS: Tell us how you did it.
Sergio Oliva: My routine was basic –– and the same for nearly all body parts. The only difference was weight. But even so I used a good amount of weight because I didn’t like to go too light.
TS: How about sets and reps?
Sergio Oliva: I did lots of sets –– 32 sets just for chest, for example –– with a variety of exercises. I trained chest and other body parts twice a week.
Max Rep commentary… does THAT sound like low volume HIT that Jones advocated? 32 sets for body parts. But let’s continue later on in the interview.
TS: I know you never went to failure on your sets, but how do you feel about Mike Mentzers style of HIT training?
Sergio Oliva: Mike and all of those guys had a great routine and were very strong. Arthur did things a little different and so did I. No one routine works for all, and I’ve seen many variations. Bodybuilding is suited for the individual athlete in more ways that one.
Max Rep commentary… keep reading this next statement nails it.
At one point in the interview Sergio is talking about diet and says “Sometimes I make six to twelve whole eggs and mix them in with white rice. That’s a lot of protein. I then eat my fruit and work out. I would work out hard for 3 ˝ hours.
Max Rep commentary… 32 sets on a body part. Body parts 2 times a week. Workout length 3 ˝ hours. Yup that sounds like Jones style training the way we’ve been sold it to me!