No Heavy Bench Press for Mentzer?

[Hypertrophy]

Based on his writings, Mike favored inclines and dips over flat bench.  He was especially big on dips, and he spoke at length to me about how he and Ray would really psyche themselves up to dip very heavy -- up to hanging 180 from their waists for reps.  (When he said "psyche themselves up," I imagine that entailed popping Speed.)

That said, in an old interview, he was asked about some of his best lifts.  He listed flat benching either 425, 440 or 445 for a 1 RM; I can't remember the exact number.  He also said he singled 300 in a behind-neck press, and 10 good reps with 225 on the same.

I believe that, but I don't believe the 475*30 squat claim for a minute.  Then again, that came from a magazine caption; I don't think Mike ever said anything about his best squat...Ray was the one claiming a double with 900 :/  

I wouldn't be surprised if Mentzer did 475x30. He was a strong guy and from this pic his legs were at least as big as Tom Platz's were:

[MAXX]

I wouldn't be surprised if Mentzer did 475x30. He was a strong guy and from this pic his legs were at least as big as Tom Platz's were:

MM had great legs. Best in this lineup for sure

[Bevo]

I wouldn't be surprised if Mentzer did 475x30. He was a strong guy and from this pic his legs were at least as big as Tom Platz's were:

I’m sure he can do 650 for 30

[Hypertrophy]

I’m sure he can do 650 for 30

Yes.

[Humble Narcissist]

MM had great legs. Best in this lineup for sure

Better than Roger Walker?  If anyone got screwed in that contest it was Walker not Mentzer.

[_bruce_]

Mentzer was built like a Tank - he almost looked like a dwarf due to his compressed structure.

[Powerlift66]

Spoke to D-Mass today (Mastorakis) who was very good friends with Mike. He said what Titus Pullo said above about the incline benching, Mike wasnt satisfied with his upper pec's.
(So he favored inclines).

Never really saw him flat-bench, so he was unsure of his max.

[BILL ANVIL]

Mentzer was built like a Tank - he almost looked like a dwarf due to his compressed structure.

The proportions of a toddler.

[oldtimer1]

Based on his writings, Mike favored inclines and dips over flat bench.  He was especially big on dips, and he spoke at length to me about how he and Ray would really psyche themselves up to dip very heavy -- up to hanging 180 from their waists for reps.  (When he said "psyche themselves up," I imagine that entailed popping Speed.)

That said, in an old interview, he was asked about some of his best lifts.  He listed flat benching either 425, 440 or 445 for a 1 RM; I can't remember the exact number.  He also said he singled 300 in a behind-neck press, and 10 good reps with 225 on the same.

I believe that, but I don't believe the 475*30 squat claim for a minute.  Then again, that came from a magazine caption; I don't think Mike ever said anything about his best squat...Ray was the one claiming a double with 900 :/  

I wonder if any of it is true? ABC use to have a program called the super stars where athletes competed in a bunch of different events like the half mile, 100 yard dash, rowing a boat; baseball hitting from a machine; bowling, obstacle course, weight lifting and other events.  The weight lifting was a push press from squat stands.  I believe Ferrigno got 300lbs with bad form. I think Mentzer failed with 300lbs. There is no way Mentzer was capable of a 300lbs PBN.  Maybe in a smith machine with the bar positioned 8"plus higher than his traps.   Ferrigno did well in the competition winning his preliminary heat against top shelf athletes but had some bad breaks in the final. Mentzer didn't do well at all. I remember the 100 yard dash and this was in his prime he looked like he just wasn't an athlete as every one blew by him. Ferrigno overall did amazing in the competition against football players, baseball, and other known athletes. I could be wrong on the time buy if my memory serves me he ran a 2:21 half mile. Fantastic for a man of his size.

The best moment in the show was boxer Joe Frazier competing in the swim contest. He jumped in and had to be rescued. He admitted he didn't know how to swim but figured he could learn during the competition. He nearly drowned.

[Humble Narcissist]

I wonder if true on any of it is true? ABC use to have a program called the super stars where athletes competed in a bunch of different events like the half mile, 100 yard dash, rowing a boat; baseball hitting from a machine; bowling, obstacle course, weight lifting and other events.  The weight lifting was a push press from squat stands.  I believe Ferrigno got 300lbs with bad form. I think Mentzer failed with 300lbs. There is no way Mentzer was capable of a 300lbs PBN.  Maybe in a smith machine with the bar positioned 8"plus higher than his traps.   Ferrigno did well in the competition winning his preliminary heat against top shelf athletes but had some bad breaks in the final. Mentzer didn't do well at all. I remember the 100 yard dash and this was in his prime he looked like he just wasn't an athlete as every one blew by him. Ferrigno overall did amazing in the competition against football players, baseball, and other known athletes. I could be wrong on the time buy if my memory serves me he ran a 2:21 half mile. Fantastic for a man of his size.

The best moment in the show was boxer Joe Frazier competing in the swim contest. He jumped in and had to be rescued. He admitted he didn't know how to swim but figured he could learn during the competition. He nearly drowned.

Frazier figured he'd learn on the job.   Boxers aren't known for being smart.  Mentzer is probably THE most overrated bodybuilder in history.

[oldtimer1]

Frazier figured he'd learn on the job.   Boxers aren't known for being smart.  Mentzer is probably THE most overrated bodybuilder in history.

He lost the Universe twice. Once to Robby and the other was Kalman. Yet his fans say he should have beaten both. Nope, they were both better. Not even close. Then he loses to Zane in the Olympia.  Zane was better yet his fans say he was again ripped off. Now hear comes the 1980 Olympia.  He comes in 5th and they say he should have won. Nope, he deserved 5th.  I think fans of high intensity have a warped perception when it comes to their heroes. 

[Humble Narcissist]

He lost the Universe twice. Once to Robby and the other was Kalman. Yet his fans say he should have beaten both. Nope, they were both better. Not even close. Then he loses to Zane in the Olympia.  Zane was better yet his fans say he was again ripped off. Now hear comes the 1980 Olympia.  He comes in 5th and they say he should have won. Nope, he deserved 5th.  I think fans of high intensity have a warped perception when it comes to their heroes. 

Agreed.  It seems most who train HIT almost worship the guy and can't look at the pics of the 80 Olympia and see he was not even close to being the best at that contest.  Same with the others you mentioned.

Even his training system was shit.  He trained volume for years and then switched to Jones's HIT before turning pro.  He attributed all of his success to the new program even though there were probably other factors he never factored in like upping the dose.  Then he was telling guys to do just one work set per bodypart even though he never trained like that. Later on in life he had guys training once every 3 weeks.

He truly was "all drugs" if there ever was a bodybuilder as such.  He used meth to lose bodyfat while eating 800 calories a day.  Of course if he wasn't juiced to the gills he would have lost all of his muscle doing that.  I wonder what he would have looked like if he didn't train at all. Probably not much worse.

[Hypertrophy]

MM and Arthur Jones shook the training world in the 70’s- and we are still talking about them today. I liked MM’s build and his attitude. Arnold was amazing but I preferred some science involved in explaining hypertrophy. Arnold’s training was pretty rote.

Is HIT shit? I don’t think so. It is extremely effective in a short amount of time. But unless you are a drug assisted lifter, I think it was far too intense both in frequency and degree of failure in the original writings. Once a week close to positive failure does a lot in my experience.

Mike’s chest was unique- somewhere between Franco and Arnold.  I actually think it is more of an athletic level of development- Arnold’s was almost too much.

[Humble Narcissist]

MM and Arthur Jones shook the training world in the 70’s- and we are still talking about them today. I liked MM’s build and his attitude. Arnold was amazing but I preferred some science involved in explaining hypertrophy. Arnold’s training was pretty rote.

Is HIT shit? I don’t think so. It is extremely effective in a short amount of time. But unless you are a drug assisted lifter, I think it was far too intense both in frequency and degree of failure in the original writings. Once a week close to positive failure does a lot in my experience.

Mike’s chest was unique- somewhere between Franco and Arnold.  I actually think it is more of an athletic level of development- Arnold’s was almost too much.

I agree with you on the once a week close to failure thing although they went far beyond that to doing forced reps and extended sets to complete failure.

Arthur Jones was a genius at marketing more than a genius of science.

[Dokey111]

Mentzer had the legit tough guy look, that's why getbiggers diss him 

[Humble Narcissist]

Mentzer had the legit tough guy look, that's why getbiggers diss him 

Because he was insane, a crybaby and overrated.

[The Scott]

I prefer Mentzer's earlier training style to the one he advocated toward the end of his life.  Five or six sets per body part seems to work best for me, although there are times I will do the warmup set followed by the one working set of madness. 

I think he destroyed his mind with Meth or whatever form of speed he was on. 

I remember a book called, "The Complete Book of Running".  Later they came out with a newer one.  It was the same with Mentzer and his books.  Books are written to be sold.