Whats the story with Vince Gironda?

[Bluto]

that pic is from about 1960, and Vince was already in his 40s.   back then, bodybuilding was a very young man's sport.  30 was considered past your peak, 35 was very old.

thats the only pic that comes up most of the time

[Max_Rep]

it's from the 334 page book vince gironda legend & myth. whether it's a genuine quote i dont know.

I know he said don't drink water from a water fountain while training because you end up gulping it and getting bloated while training. He felt it was better to sip the water from a jug or glass. I think whoever wrote that in the book was not quoting directly.

[Bluto]

"Another thing I would like to stress in that the fact that any exercise
course is dependent on supplements used. I have never personally trained any pro who
did not depend on supplements to balance his nutritional intake. It is impossible to get
maximum results without supplements."

[Bluto]

"Another aspect, of which no one is aware, is that abdominal work should never be
done by a beginner in weight training. Any abdominal exercises involve the Solar
Plexus. This area sometimes known as the “second brain”. Here can be found a great
network of nerves and blood vessels that join and congregate. Abdominal work is such a
shock to the nervous system that I could take any undeveloped beginner in my gym and
add abdominal work and it would stop all muscular gains."

[Bluto]

"The breath that
you use to talk to someone in the gym is also the breath you could have used to do your
next set." 

[JasonH]

I only remember Vince Gironda when he used to have a Q & A column in Musclemag back in the day. All his answers to questions from fans were just bad-tempered ramblings. I used to think he was an old coot who was angry and bitter.

[Bluto]

he actually recommends front squats in his q&a

"Front Squats – Heels 18” apart – Toes out as wide as you can get them. At all times must
the hips remain under the shoulders (Never Back) – Use the 1 and ˝ style for all 8 reps
and sets. Full rep and ˝ rep constitutes one rep."

"I would advise leg work 3 days
a week. Harder leg work makes everything else respond 15 to 20% better."

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

I only remember Vince Gironda when he used to have a Q & A column in Musclemag back in the day. All his answers to questions from fans were just bad-tempered ramblings. I used to think he was an old coot who was angry and bitter.

He was bitter because he was broke and destitute in his final days.  He only had around 27 dollars in his bank account when he died.

[timfogarty]

He was bitter because he was broke and destitute in his final days.  He only had around 27 dollars in his bank account when he died.

and where did you get that info?  he was onry long before he closed his gym in November 1995 and died October 1997.  kind of hard to be destitute when you owned prime Los Angeles real estate in the 1990s that you probably bought in the 1940s.

[Max_Rep]

and where did you get that info?  he was onry long before he closed his gym in November 1995 and died October 1997.  kind of hard to be destitute when you owned prime Los Angeles real estate in the 1990s that you probably bought in the 1940s.

Actually Tim I remember reading that it ws worse than Vince stated. I read that his account was overdrawn. I think that was published in Muscle Mag. I know people very well who were close to him. He was not a great businessman. Remember there was a Nautilus-Aerobics Plus almost across the street that virtually put him out of business, few of the bodybuilders went to him anymore and neither did the Hollywood people. Are we sure that he owned the property or was it leased/rented?

The who started Icarian equipment company used to work for Vince and patterned much of thier original designs after Vinces equipment. A few of the supplement companies promoted his nutrition principles (Blair/Beverly Nutrition) but Vince never endorsed them AND probably never got any financial benefits that would have come from such endorsements.
 

[JasonH]

He was bitter because he was broke and destitute in his final days.  He only had around 27 dollars in his bank account when he died.

26 more than me then.

[Bluto]

He was bitter because he was broke and destitute in his final days.  He only had around 27 dollars in his bank account when he died.

having a lot of money when you die is really important.

[JasonH]

Yep. Ain't no pockets in shrouds.

[pumpster]

I don't know that he was particularly bitter when he died; he never cared much about money. Cantankerous in typical Bronx NY fashion, that could be endearing:

Schwarzenegger walks in to Vince's Gym for the first time, shortly after arriving in America:

"I am Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Universe"

Gironda: "You're nothing but a fat f***"


If he cared about money he could've cashed in during the 70s-90s the way Gold's did.

[Peaking at 45 !!!]

He was controversial but respected-------I remember most about how drinking water from a water fountain causes you to swallow too much air and bloat you, also how abdominal work is a shock to the central nervous system and will stunt your progress, and how full squats will widen your hips.

I do recall Clint Eastwood and Robert Blake (Baretta) among some of his hollywood stars that he trained.

I wish I had his midsection !!!

[Sergio Rules 77]

I only remember Vince Gironda when he used to have a Q & A column in Musclemag back in the day. All his answers to questions from fans were just bad-tempered ramblings. I used to think he was an old coot who was angry and bitter.

Dude, you are spot on. I've got loads of old Muclemags from the early 80's and some of the answers to the questions are just flat out rude, but priceless. There's some where guys are writing legit questions and he just tells them to stop wasting his time by writing stupid letters.

There was one where a guy asked what kind of routine he recommended in order to impress the chicks. Vince responded by saying that girls are impressed by money not muscles, you need to build up your wallet. I could be wrong but I think Vince also trained Carl Weathers for the Rocky movies.

SERGIO!!!!

[Vince B]

Gironda said that everywhere he went people wanted information. That was true. He was a pioneer of training methods and had a bodybuilding gym long before they became popular. He achieved a lot in his life and he certainly influenced a lot of people through his gym, articles and courses. He was one of the first to sell T-shirts with Gym logos on them.

Vince was afraid of no one. He also exaggerated points to make people sit up and think. Arnold trained upper body at Vince's Gym when he arrived in LA but went to Golds to train legs. Arnold quickly got the message about definition after Frank Zane beat him in a contest in Florida in 1968. If was after that defeat that Arnold came to California. It was October 1968.

Vince had definition long before it was popular. They called him the Iron guru and I suppose he was the first bodybuilding guru we had.

Here is what happened to me when I first met him in 1968. I told him I had some photos of Arnold in the car. He told me to fetch them. When I did a few blokes came to look at them. Vince shouted out, "Hey, here's a guy who has photos of guys in his wallet!" That must have pleased Gironda because he repeated it louder a second time! I instantly disliked the man. Years later I called him to ask if it was okay to call my gym Vince's Gym in Sydney. He didn't mind.

I don't think Gironda was flexible enough in business. He kept the same equipment and business plan and was eclipsed by the fitness revolution in the 1980s. He did install a women's section upstairs but it was too little too late. It remains to be seen if a specialist gym like he had could survive today. Maybe, maybe not.

[DK II]

thanks to bluto for posting these BS quotes.

lol, i cannot believe somebody actually wrote that.

2007 version: "The breath you use to rap along your cell phone gangsta rap ring tone and then talk on the phone could be used on your next set. this would also be less annoying to the others in the gym."

[DK II]

I remember another great answer in his MM magazine column:

Q: Hey Vince, how can I lost around 20 ponds in around a week?
A: Cut your head

Priceless, he was a genious

stupid i would call it. making fun of people who ask serious questions is not funny. 

[Tapeworm]

I instantly disliked the man.

Haha!  Is there anyone you DID like Vinnie?

I could be wrong but I think Vince also trained Carl Weathers for the Rocky movies.

I heard they worked together for Predator.  Lotta juice for that 2 second biceps shot.

[LatsMcGee]

yeah, right, water...sure...who needs it anyways...
it's only a life-necessity...guys a genious 

This is only half truth.  Vince believed that you should cease to drink water 30 minutes prior to a meal because it hindered digestion.  He believe a half an hour after the meal you should drink a glass water though.   

As for the squat Vince believed that certain people with very narrow waists (ala Melvin Anthony) could get a way with squatting while others would just develop too much glute and not enough quad.  Vince was a big advocate of squatting for women.

If anyone in here is really interested in learning the whole truth about Vince shoot me a PM.  I consult regularly with one of his students and his former right hand man Ron Kosloff.

[DK II]

This is only half truth.  Vince believed that you should cease to drink water 30 minutes prior to a meal because it hindered digestion.  He believe a half an hour after the meal you should drink a glass water though.   

As for the squat Vince believed that certain people with very narrow waists (ala Melvin Anthony) could get a way with squatting while others would just develop too much glute and not enough quad.  Vince was a big advocate of squatting for women.

If anyone in here is really interested in learning the whole truth about Vince shoot me a PM.  I consult regularly with one of his students and his former right hand man Ron Kosloff.

Why not post it here?

[LatsMcGee]

Why not post it here?

Because it's really elaborate stuff.  I don't want to bore people to tears who aren't interested in reading it.  I'd even be willing to make some copies of some of Vince's courses for people if they are wanted.

[bmacsys]

When Arnold came here in 1968 Joe Weider sent Arnold to Gironda to be trained. That speaks volumes right there.

[bmacsys]

He was bitter because he was broke and destitute in his final days.  He only had around 27 dollars in his bank account when he died.

Vince never cared about money. He cared about his gym. He wasn't bitter. He just never suffered fools lightly. So I guess he wouldn't like being around you.