No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?

[Royalty]

I have seen pictures of Arnold benching 500, Franco benching 500, Nubret benching 500, Viator benching 500. I bet that Oliva and Ferrigno were benching 400+. Haney and Bertil were big benchers.


I just see Mentzer doing dips and nautilus machine press. I thought that he was supposed to be a heavy duty guy?

[Fortress]

We’ve been over this.

Arnold, Serge, etc. never benched 500.

[oldtimer1]

Arnold benched 440lbs with his long arms with no arch. Franco is on film doing reps with around 415lbs so it might have at some point gotten 500lbs. Oliva was ranked at one point in the top ten in the world in Olympic lifting so maybe he had a big bench but mostly he did partial movement pumping benches with 315lbs in training. Ferrigno was a great deadlifter having won that in the strongest man competition against heavier powerlifters lifting the rear of a car loaded with plates but I don't know about his bench. Viator I don't believe he could do 400lbs. Serge Nubret is often mentioned at one point early in his career as being a big bench press guy but for bodybuilding was known for using light weights. The bench is a meaningless lift in athletic carry over anyway.

[JAGO]

I have seen pictures of Arnold benching 500, Franco benching 500, Nubret benching 500, Viator benching 500. I bet that Oliva and Ferrigno were benching 400+. Haney and Bertil were big benchers.


I just see Mentzer doing dips and nautilus machine press. I thought that he was supposed to be a heavy duty guy?

Nubret . . . fake weights.

Mentzer used the universal bench station.

J

[The Scott]

Nubret . . . fake weights.

Mentzer used the universal bench station.

J

I saw him use that machine as well as doing inclines on a Smith. He also used the universal bench press machine for shrugs. 

[Bevo]

I have seen pictures of Arnold benching 500, Franco benching 500, Nubret benching 500, Viator benching 500. I bet that Oliva and Ferrigno were benching 400+. Haney and Bertil were big benchers.


I just see Mentzer doing dips and nautilus machine press. I thought that he was supposed to be a heavy duty guy?

Any evidence of Arnold and Nubret doing 500?

[Beefjake]

Oliva was ranked at one point in the top ten in the world in Olympic lifting so maybe he had a big bench? /
The bench is a meaningless lift in athletic carry over anyway.

First time I've heard this about Oliva? But like you said, benching mostly hinders olympic lifts.

[Powerlift66]

Arnold did 440 in 1968, unsure of anything he did after that in legit PL contest.

1968 German powerlifting championships. A brief summary of the results was given in Kraftsport revue (Nr. 45, p. 38). These indicated that Arnold deadlifted 310 kg for a total of 725 kg. Full results were promised for issue nr. 46, which I don’t have. However, Thomas Klose has previously told us that the full results were later reprinted as, Squat 215 kg (473 lbs.), Bench 200 kg (440 lbs.) and Deadlift 310 kg. (682 lbs).

[ratherbebig]

how dare you suggest that arnold could bench 500 when he only benched 440 at age 21!

[Humble Narcissist]

First time I've heard this about Oliva? But like you said, benching mostly hinders olympic lifts.

Yes, Olympic lifters do not do benches at all in their training.

[Powerlift66]

how dare you suggest that arnold could bench 500 when he only benched 440 at age 21!

Very good deadlift as well. Bodybuilders were strong in those days (very few, if any machines).

[oldtimer1]

First time I've heard this about Oliva? But like you said, benching mostly hinders olympic lifts.

Oliva represented Cuba in Olympic lifting. He actually escaped while being in over seas representing them. I think at the time he was in the old 198lbs class. Now the weight classes has been revamped.  He ran from their quarters overseas to claim asylum and it was granted. I don't recall where he was competing at the time but maybe  it was Jamaica. If you want I could go through my stuff and find the facts about his escape from Cuba.

[fredrollon]

Yes, Olympic lifters do not do benches at all in their training.

1:00.

Of course,in the 60's , Olympic lifting still had the clean and press - in addition to the clean and jerk and snatch.
So any benching was probably done as an assistant exercise for that lift.

[funk51]

Arnold benched 440lbs with his long arms with no arch. Franco is on film doing reps with around 415lbs so it might have at some point gotten 500lbs. Oliva was ranked at one point in the top ten in the world in Olympic lifting so maybe he had a big bench but mostly he did partial movement pumping benches with 315lbs in training. Ferrigno was a great deadlifter having won that in the strongest man competition against heavier powerlifters lifting the rear of a car loaded with plates but I don't know about his bench. Viator I don't believe he could do 400lbs. Serge Nubret is often mentioned at one point early in his career as being a big bench press guy but for bodybuilding was known for using light weights. The bench is a meaningless lift in athletic carry over anyway.

    so you're saying the mags were lying when they said viator could incline press 455.

[milone79]

Arnold benched 440lbs with his long arms with no arch. Franco is on film doing reps with around 415lbs so it might have at some point gotten 500lbs. Oliva was ranked at one point in the top ten in the world in Olympic lifting so maybe he had a big bench but mostly he did partial movement pumping benches with 315lbs in training. Ferrigno was a great deadlifter having won that in the strongest man competition against heavier powerlifters lifting the rear of a car loaded with plates but I don't know about his bench. Viator I don't believe he could do 400lbs. Serge Nubret is often mentioned at one point early in his career as being a big bench press guy but for bodybuilding was known for using light weights. The bench is a meaningless lift in athletic carry over anyway.

"USELESS LIFT IN ATHLETIC CARRY OVER" ? lol Is that why it is still part of the NFL combine?? You know who says a bench press is "useless"? Weak kunts who cant bench more than 225 lbs!!!

[Humble Narcissist]

"USELESS LIFT IN ATHLETIC CARRY OVER" ? lol Is that why it is still part of the NFL combine?? You know who says a bench press is "useless"? Weak kunts who cant bench more than 225 lbs!!!

The NFL combine is interesting.  They run the 40 in speedos and track shoes to determine speed even though they will always be in pads during a game.  The vertical jump which has no function for football.  The max bench with 225 when everyone knows that is more of an endurance exercise than strength exercise.  Cone drills that have no function for football.  Quarterbacks throwing into a garbage can or through a hoop from long distance with no pads on.

Either the NFL has kept those tests for decades simply to see which players prepare and which ones don't or they need to rethink their testing methods.

[Titus Pullo]

Arnold benched 440lbs with his long arms with no arch. Franco is on film doing reps with around 415lbs so it might have at some point gotten 500lbs. Oliva was ranked at one point in the top ten in the world in Olympic lifting so maybe he had a big bench but mostly he did partial movement pumping benches with 315lbs in training. Ferrigno was a great deadlifter having won that in the strongest man competition against heavier powerlifters lifting the rear of a car loaded with plates but I don't know about his bench. Viator I don't believe he could do 400lbs. Serge Nubret is often mentioned at one point early in his career as being a big bench press guy but for bodybuilding was known for using light weights. The bench is a meaningless lift in athletic carry over anyway.

Why couldn't Viator do 400?  He was known for his strength...and fwiw, even as a much older, fatter guy, he claimed he could "still do 500."

He was probably lying, but Art Jones reported Casey was doing 350*20 (!).  Who was the bigger liar?  I dunno.

[Fortress]

   so you're saying the mags were lying when they said viator could incline press 455.

Yes, they’re lying.

I worked at MuscleMag and know what’s what. Kennedy exposed me to all the lies that run rampant in the industry.

He was friends with Arnold and spent a lot of time with that whole crew at the original Gold’s when they were all in their prime and said Arnold couldn’t press anywhere close to 500. At his strongest, he’d mostly use something in the 300s. He was good for a rep or two in the low 400s at his biggest.

Viator couldn’t incline 455, to his chest, unassisted, to save his life.

Sergio would have been pinned for eternity under 500.

Franco was good for sets of 8-10 with 315-365. In Pumping Iron he’s working hard to get a decent set with 315.

Mentzer was all about machines and extreme partials. Like his brother, who’d partial squat off the rails in a cage and then state he could do several hundred. Not a chance in hell.

Bertil could press a massively sloppy 500. Bounce and huge body English.

[Humble Narcissist]

Yes, they’re lying.

I worked at MuscleMag and know what’s what. Kennedy exposed to me all the lies that run rampant in the industry.

He was friends with Arnold and spent a lot of time with that whole crew at the original Gold’s when they were all in their prime and said Arnold couldn’t press anywhere close to 500. At his strongest, he’d mostly use something in the 300s. He was good for a rep or two in the low 400s at his biggest.

Viator couldn’t incline 455, to his chest, unassisted, to save his life.

Sergio would have been pinned for eternity under 500.

Franco was good for sets of 8-10 with 315-365. In Pumping Iron he’s working hard to get a decent set with 315.

Mentzer was all about machines and extreme partials. Like his brother, who’d partial squat off the rails in a cage and then state he could do several hundred. Not a chance in hell.

Bertil could press a massively sloppy 500. Bounce and huge body English.

This is shocking finding out bodybuilders lie about their lifts.

[Hypertrophy]

Yes, they’re lying.

I worked at MuscleMag and know what’s what. Kennedy exposed to me all the lies that run rampant in the industry.

He was friends with Arnold and spent a lot of time with that whole crew at the original Gold’s when they were all in their prime and said Arnold couldn’t press anywhere close to 500. At his strongest, he’d mostly use something in the 300s. He was good for a rep or two in the low 400s at his biggest.

According to the post above by Powerlift66: "1968 German powerlifting championships. A brief summary of the results was given in Kraftsport revue (Nr. 45, p. 38). These indicated that Arnold deadlifted 310 kg for a total of 725 kg. Full results were promised for issue nr. 46, which I don’t have. However, Thomas Klose has previously told us that the full results were later reprinted as, Squat 215 kg (473 lbs.), Bench 200 kg (440 lbs.) and Deadlift 310 kg. (682 lbs)"

So there is verifiable data that Arnold did press 440. I imagine some years later as he got into pure bodybuilding he didn't chase the singles anymore. Makes sense.

[ratherbebig]

lee priest benched 525 for 6 reps!

[deadz]

lee priest benched 525 for 6 reps!

Muscular midgets can do that, brutal 4" ROM.

[ratherbebig]

Muscular midgets can do that, brutal 4" ROM.

yeah people will claim that he's lying but one has to remember that muscle midgets play by different rules

[Titus Pullo]

Rob,

Who *were* legitimately strong bodybuilders?  What sort of weights were they moving?

[Beefjake]

If you want I could go through my stuff and find the facts about his escape from Cuba.

Don't bother.
Thats how it used to happen. Foundations were built in real sports and only after that one started to bodybuild.

Now there are teens who have never taken a running step without treadmill...