Author Topic: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?  (Read 16535 times)

funk51

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 42543
  • Getbig!
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #25 on: April 18, 2019, 01:07:48 PM »
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.


                                        kennedy would know.
F

IRON CROSS

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 8901
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #26 on: April 18, 2019, 02:16:56 PM »
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.

Oliva, took of with teams money bag ;)
+ he didn't escape from Cuba !.

 ;D

Bevo

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19280
  • Buc ee’s is numero uno
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #27 on: April 18, 2019, 04:14:01 PM »
lee priest benched 525 for 6 reps!

He isn’t stronger than Levrone in pressing and unlike lee, Levrone has all his lifts on video while lee does all Smith machine presses and struggles with “315” on smith, he’s all lies, just so happens he tells everyone he’s telling “the truth” ::)

OlympiaGym

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 2139
  • they/them/their
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #28 on: April 18, 2019, 05:06:34 PM »

Sergio would have been pinned for eternity under 500.


 ;D ;D ;D ;D

BB

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 17755
  • I hope I'm not boring you.
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #29 on: April 18, 2019, 05:43:26 PM »
This is actually an interesting question on Mentzer. I, too, can't recall seeing a photo of him barbell benching or for that matter Deadlifting. I've seen him squat out of a rack, loads of heavy free weight arm training, but no benching. Closest to it is maybe this photo of a heavy set of flies -

.

I'm sure he was schooled on freeweights, etc.... because he grew up and did his early training around PA and MD which is prime York Barbell country, but perhaps no pictures were taken/survive.

IRON CROSS

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 8901
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #30 on: April 18, 2019, 05:53:49 PM »
M.M. was promoting  'Heavy Duty' training  ..................

tres_taco_combo

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5246
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #31 on: April 18, 2019, 06:20:19 PM »
I feel my chest is lacking due to the fact ive avoided heavy flat and heavy incline barbell bench press as a youth...


Fortress

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20748
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #32 on: April 18, 2019, 07:51:01 PM »
He isn’t stronger than Levrone in pressing and unlike lee, Levrone has all his lifts on video while lee does all Smith machine presses and struggles with “315” on smith, he’s all lies, just so happens he tells everyone he’s telling “the truth” ::)

Priest was strong (I’ve lifted with him), but his pressing claim is utter horseshit.

Fortress

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20748
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #33 on: April 18, 2019, 08:15:29 PM »
Rob,

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

Firstly, anyone benching over four is hugely strong, period.

People seem to ignore Arnold’s relatively small body weight. Two hundred and forty-five-odd pounds isn’t big under 500 pounds. Those who can do so at such a weight are almost always specialists and/or are using support gear. Or they’re midgets.

And back then, although the gear they were on was great stuff, they weren’t doing anywhere close to the amounts, and variety, done in the modern age (‘90s and on).

Arnold had huge biceps and pecs, but these do little to accomplish a huge bench press. Triceps and shoulders (and back) are where it’s at, and The Oak had lackluster triceps and non-powerful (nor dense) shoulders.

I’m sure, too, the alleged 440 back in Europe would not have included a pause or much of an adherence to strict judging criteria.

All the big bodybuilders of yesteryear were very strong. But the 500-plus fellas were almost exclusively pure strength athletes. Even the “massive” (in his day he was considered a new frontier) Haney was good for around 2-6 reps with 405, “only”. Peter and David Paul doing five plates was considered freakish in the bodybuilding realm.

Levrone is (when gassing) a very gifted presser. Dorian hitting very controlled and strict inclines with 405 for several reps is amazingly impressive.

With a barbell, Coleman could press five plates, but only for a sloppy few, at best. When he was around 300-or-more pounds.

Michael Francois was suited well to monstrous strength, but I’m not sure what he could bench, if “pressed” (haha).

Labrada told me he once did 365 for one repetition.

The specialists and YouTube spectacles would have many believe a 500 bench is commonplace. It isn’t.

Going over 600 is freakish.

Seven? There are four men who’ve (documented) done this. Three with a legit pause. These guys are WELL over 300 pounds and taking life-threatening amounts of extremely powerful chemicals/hormones.


The Scott

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 22552
  • I'm a victim of soicumcision!!
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #34 on: April 18, 2019, 08:32:22 PM »
Firstly, anyone benching over four is hugely strong, period.

People seem to ignore Arnold’s relatively small body weight. Two hundred and forty-five-odd pounds isn’t big under 500 pounds. Those who can do so at such a weight are almost always specialists and/or are using support gear. Or they’re midgets.

And back then, although the gear they were on was great stuff, they weren’t doing anywhere close to the amounts, and variety, done in the modern age (‘90s and on).

Arnold had huge biceps and pecs, but these do little to accomplish a huge bench press. Triceps and shoulders (and back) are where it’s at, and The Oak had lackluster triceps and non-powerful (nor dense) shoulders.

I’m sure, too, the alleged 440 back in Europe would not have included a pause or much of an adherence to strict judging criteria.

All the big bodybuilders of yesteryear were very strong. But the 500-plus fellas were almost exclusively pure strength athletes. Even the “massive” (in his day he was considered a new frontier) Haney was good for around 2-6 reps with 405, “only”. Peter and David Paul doing five plates was considered freakish in the bodybuilding realm.

Levrone is (when gassing) a very gifted presser. Dorian hitting very controlled and strict inclines with 405 for several reps is amazingly impressive.

With a barbell, Coleman could press five plates, but only for a sloppy few, at best. When he was around 300-or-more pounds.

Michael Francois was suited well to monstrous strength, but I’m not sure what he could bench, if “pressed” (haha).

Labrada told me he once did 365 for one repetition.

The specialists and YouTube spectacles would have many believe a 500 bench is commonplace. It isn’t.

Going over 600 is freakish.

Seven? There are four men who’ve (documented) done this. Three with a legit pause. These guys are WELL over 300 pounds and taking life-threatening amounts of extremely powerful chemicals/hormones.



I watched Kal Szkalak do 5 or 6 reps with 405 and a wide grip in (ancient memory alert!)  the mid  70s at Gold's.

I could not bench press for shit just making 350 with a touch and go was my best at around 250 lbs bodyweight.  Inclines?  No way.   

Fortress

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20748
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #35 on: April 18, 2019, 08:38:29 PM »
There’s a guy who was known to be very strong, Kal, yes.

Dieter

  • Getbig III
  • ***
  • Posts: 374
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #36 on: April 18, 2019, 08:48:13 PM »
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.



I'm sure Robert Kennedy knew Ric Drasin. Ric was well known to be a big bench presser during the Gold's Gym early to mid 70's era. Ric reports he benched around 440 lbs in his prime working out as Arnold's long time training partner during this period. I don't think Ric was using massive dosages either and probably weighed around 220 lbs max so that's pretty impressive if you ask me.

Here in this video he talks about it around the 3:45 min mark.


Straw Man

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 41012
  • one dwells in nirvana
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #37 on: April 18, 2019, 10:15:47 PM »
speaking of utter bullshit

In this video (~ 4:30) Danny Padilla claims he could bench 450 and even more nutty that he could incline 400





tommywishbone

  • Competitors II
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20535
  • Biscuit
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #38 on: April 18, 2019, 10:37:12 PM »
Legit 400+ bench pressing bodybuilders from the 1990's. Guys that I actually watched train in Golds Venice and bench over 400 pounds.

Aaron Baker
Chris Cormier
Rico McClinton
Craig Titus
Tom Prince
Billy Smith
Jim Quinn
Michael Francois
Mike O'Hearn

More coming...
a

MAXX

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 17462
  • MAGA
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #39 on: April 19, 2019, 12:15:49 AM »

ratherbebig

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 9997
  • if you got more than 10k you're gay
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #40 on: April 19, 2019, 01:00:14 AM »

People seem to ignore Arnold’s relatively small body weight.

and yet he pressed 440 at 21.


Quote
Arnold had huge biceps and pecs, but these do little to accomplish a huge bench press. Triceps and shoulders (and back) are where it’s at, and The Oak had lackluster triceps and non-powerful (nor dense) shoulders.

and yet he pressed 440 at 21.

Quote
I’m sure, too, the alleged 440 back in Europe would not have included a pause

oh, so now it's not asbout him not being built for the job, too small etc now it's about that he didnt PAUSE!  ::)

arnold may not have benched 500, but anyone who bench 440 in a meet at 21 sure have the pontetial to put up big numbers, as they can do so into their 40's.

i believe that it's possible to add 60 pounds to your bench in 20 years.

with or without pause.

Humble Narcissist

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 32445
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #41 on: April 19, 2019, 03:57:21 AM »
Legit 400+ bench pressing bodybuilders from the 1990's. Guys that I actually watched train in Golds Venice and bench over 400 pounds.

Aaron Baker
Chris Cormier
Rico McClinton
Craig Titus
Tom Prince
Billy Smith
Jim Quinn
Michael Francois
Mike O'Hearn

More coming...

Not surprised by any of them except Aaron Baker.  Never would have expected him to be that strong.

IroNat

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 39019
  • "Make up your mind, Rico." - Lt. Jean Rasczak
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #42 on: April 19, 2019, 04:22:11 AM »
speaking of utter bullshit

In this video (~ 4:30) Danny Padilla claims he could bench 450 and even more nutty that he could incline 400






He had a short stroke.

oldtimer1

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18139
  • Getbig!
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #43 on: April 19, 2019, 04:44:54 AM »
Franco getting 5 clean reps with 405lbs in the bench.

Royalty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 33098
  • Nasser Endorses Trump 🇺🇸
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #44 on: April 19, 2019, 05:12:49 AM »
Legit 400+ bench pressing bodybuilders from the 1990's. Guys that I actually watched train in Golds Venice and bench over 400 pounds.

Aaron Baker
Chris Cormier
Rico McClinton
Craig Titus
Tom Prince
Billy Smith
Jim Quinn
Michael Francois
Mike O'Hearn

More coming...


What about Mike Quinn, Mike Matarazzo, Paul Demayo, Paul Dillet, Flex Wheeler, Melvin Anthony or Jay Cutler?

ratherbebig

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 9997
  • if you got more than 10k you're gay
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #45 on: April 19, 2019, 05:21:27 AM »
so we have franco on video doing 5 reps at 405.

then we have the getbig expert fortress "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."

what gives  ???

ratherbebig

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 9997
  • if you got more than 10k you're gay
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #46 on: April 19, 2019, 05:22:34 AM »
What about Mike Quinn, Mike Matarazzo, Paul Demayo, Paul Dillet, Flex Wheeler, Melvin Anthony or Jay Cutler?

i think we can rule out paul dillet

Bevo

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 19280
  • Buc ee’s is numero uno
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #47 on: April 19, 2019, 06:33:34 AM »
so we have franco on video doing 5 reps at 405.

then we have the getbig expert fortress "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."

what gives  ???

No doubt Franco is very strong but he was struggling hard at pressing 315 in pumping iron, so what gives?

ratherbebig

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 9997
  • if you got more than 10k you're gay
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #48 on: April 19, 2019, 06:34:45 AM »
No doubt Franco is very strong but he was struggling hard at pressing 315 in pumping iron, so what gives?

maybe he forget his pwo that day


MAXX

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 17462
  • MAGA
Re: No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?
« Reply #49 on: April 19, 2019, 06:44:02 AM »
Several pics of Franco benching 400+ eveb 450ish

He competed in strongman so he was a strong dude.

About Mentzer there's not any footage of him benching. Probably prefered machines.