Rich Gaspari Strength Claims

[Ex Coelis]

I was re-reading the July 1991 issue of Flex magazine when I came across an article about Ripped Richie's leg program.

At the beginning of the article, Gaspari wrote:

"In my early years of squatting, I went as high as 750 pounds and was doing 405 for 35 reps and 465 for 20"

I know he was like 5 feet tall, a definete advantage for squatting, but I'm not entirely convinced these figures are 100% accurate.

Any thoughts?

[The True Adonis]

Gaspari was known to be a lot stronger than his training partner Haney,however those numbers are a little high for a midget.

[alexxx]

No way gaspari was stronger than haney on upperbody movements!

[Farcry]

He was known as the dragon slayer, at 18 he could squat like 730 pounds which was a record then or close to it.  There is a article writtin on bodybuilding.com, and he talks about his training

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/planet53.htm

[Scimowser]

ive never seen Haney bench more than 315 or curl more than 50. His legs werent exactly stellar either so who knows.

[alexxx]

ive never seen Haney bench more than 315 or curl more than 50. His legs werent exactly stellar either so who knows.

Then you've never seen him train! Here is a clue.. check out his training video!

[kyomu]

I dont believe this at all.
Now a day I am surrounded by people bigger than him and almost nobody can do it.(Mmmmm I doubt that Paco can do it that much reps with that weight....Ogawa can do 15 reps with 667lbs.)
I can do 10 reps deep squat with 440lbs and my weight is 200lbs...So i am near from him. Imagine that.

[simon]

ive never seen Haney bench more than 315 or curl more than 50. His legs werent exactly stellar either so who knows.

haney does reps in the flat bench with 495 in his training video

[Dan-O]

Gaspari was known for his strength.

Haney, while obviously a great bodybuilder, wasn't an especially heavy lifter most of the time.  His oft-stated training philosphy was "stimulate, don't annihilate" and it clearly worked for him!

Gaspari's strength claims are legitimate and completely believable.

[HUGEPECS]

Gaspari may have been Haney's Training partner, but that doesn't justify those strenght claims

[Scimowser]

haney does reps in the flat bench with 495 in his training video

i never said he couldnt lift heavier, i just said ive never seen him lift heavier. I have nevr had an interest in him because i just dont like the guys physique. I prefer Fox and Gaspari from that era, cnt say why really but i just dont find haney interesting for some reason.

[dan18]

Yes gaspari was that strong,as for saying guys bigger than him cannot do that look at franco he was way stronger than arnold.

[JMentis]

I was re-reading the July 1991 issue of Flex magazine when I came across an article about Ripped Richie's leg program.

At the beginning of the article, Gaspari wrote:

"In my early years of squatting, I went as high as 750 pounds and was doing 405 for 35 reps and 465 for 20"

I know he was like 5 feet tall, a definete advantage for squatting, but I'm not entirely convinced these figures are 100% accurate.

Any thoughts?

I will vouch for all those claims. I tried with Rich 2 years. They were the most grueling workouts ever.

[michael arvilla]

I will vouch for all those claims. I tried with Rich 2 years. They were the most grueling workouts ever.

that must of have been awesome!!

Rich was known for being one of the most intense trainers         ever!

[gracie bjj]

richie was that strong,i witnessed him doing those poundages back in 83 in golds gym in milltown new jersey

[JMentis]

richie was that strong,i witnessed him doing those poundages back in 83 in golds gym in milltown new jersey

Good ole Milltown Gold's..I heard it's called something else but Ron still owns it. Rich and I had some great workouts in that gym.

[Hedgehog]

240 or Bust claims 405 lbs for 20 reps after 2? years of training. Natural.

Now, Gaspari ain't no 240 or Bust...

YIP
Zack

[JMentis]

that must of have been awesome!!

Rich was known for being one of the most intense trainers         ever!

Mike,

It sad to say that I never hit those workouts ever again. It was all down hill after that...lolol

[IceCold]

some say rich was strong, but i dont believe those numbers.  not like he had big bones and joints (ex. ed coan).  those numbers are def. exagerrated.  well, i think they are.

[littleguns]

Personally I think alot of the athletes do not train as heard as athletes of the yesteryear but I think many of us can agree on that.

As someone claimed....many of the Pros now don;t do that but again how many Pros train with the intensity of a Columbo, Gaspari or Rhino

[IceCold]

Personally I think alot of the athletes do not train as heard as athletes of the yesteryear but I think many of us can agree on that.

As someone claimed....many of the Pros now don;t do that but again how many Pros train with the intensity of a Columbo, Gaspari or Rhino

stop kissing ass.  you've never seen or even heard how rhino (jack london) trains.

by the way, he really isnt a pro.  maybe a PDI "pro", but so is everyone on this board.

nothing against rhino, best of luck at the NOC.

[sarcasm]

haney does reps in the flat bench with 495 in his training video

bullshit.

[littleguns]

stop kissing ass.  you've never seen or even heard how rhino (jack london) trains.

by the way, he really isnt a pro.  maybe a PDI "pro", but so is everyone on this board.

nothing against rhino, best of luck at the NOC.

Hey jackass I in fact do know how he trains.....moderately heavy in the 8-12 rep range. Putting his name with everyone else was a joke.

[Ex Coelis]

haney does reps in the flat bench with 495 in his training video

the heaviest I've seen Haney do was 405 for 6 in his Mr. Olympia Workout Video (only 3 bucks on ebay!)

he certainly wasnt doing it with ease either

[IronMagazine.com]

muscle size does not equal strength, and there are many contributing factors to srentgth, i.e. leverage, being short helps, but so does bone length and tendon attachments.

I have no proof, but I have heard he was extremely strong for a bodybuilder.