subject: Bodybuilding And Understanding Muscle Growth Methods [print this page] Bodybuilding And Understanding Muscle Growth Methods
Talking about cashing in on the old muscles, it's a pity that one area where some bodybuilders managed to do this has all but disappeared in the UK. I refer of course, to Professional Wrestling. In the fifties and sixties several physique stars found their way into the square ring. Not all of them were able to hack it, but those that did found that it was a good way to make a living and (more important) it beat going out to work.
Despite what their publicity said, these boys didn't make any fortunes, but they did earn a good living. Usually this was about double what they would have made in a normal 'day job'. They also had plenty of time to train. Alas! The game seems to have died a death in this country, probably through over-exposure on television. Through this media the promoters themselves first made and then destroyed, the goose that laid those much quoted eggs.
However wrestling is still alive and kicking in America and judging from appearances, lots of bodybuilders are still cashing in. Earl Maynard, Brian Lancaster, Spencer Churchill, and Johnny Yearsley were among those that made it on the British wrestling scene and of these Churchill was the first and probably the most successful. It gives me much satisfaction to report this as I was instrumental in his starting wrestling in the first place.
Wrestling was very much a closed shop in those days. It had its own sort of union or 'Federation' as it was known. The main purpose of this was to keep outsiders out and thereby ensure a sufficiency of work for those that were 'in'. So getting into the business was more a matter of who you knew than what you knew. You needed a bit of pull from the inside. As I was a Federation member I was able to get Spence his first trial bout and he never looked back.
Try this one for a great upper-body pump. No equipment needed. Just good old fashioned push-ups, but the secret is in the way you do them. Ready? Assume the 'on the hands down' position. Do one push -up (yes that's right just one) and return to the standing position. Take a couple of breaths then get down and do two reps. Back on your feet again, a couple of breaths and then go down and do three reps.
Continue like this, adding one rep each time until you reach 15 reps - well twelve at least. It's not quite as simple as it sounds and you might have to increase the rest time between sets to a little more than two deep breaths. What a pump! The pecs feel as if they are about to burst. Great for endurance too. It sounds easy, but wait till you've tried it. This little routine is good for holidaymakers and travellers as it can be done almost anywhere. No Fred, not Waterloo Station at rush hour.
Someone might ask you where the lady went. What happened the tape measure? Once upon a time the P.C. mags were full of measurements. Beneath almost every photograph would be the subject's measurements, sometimes in great detail, sometimes readers had to be content with only chest arms and thighs. Now, for some reason the practise is obsolete, readers can consider themselves lucky if they are told a man's height!
I am not quite sure what the reason is behind this reversal of policy though of course I am aware that this measurement business has its down side. Some said it could be misleading because there were many false claims made. In many cases people claimed 'cold' arm measurements when, in fact these had been taken after a twenty minute thrashing. Others were accused of being 'tape happy'. (Ed's note: funny you should say that Lou, my friend got three months nick for a TWO minute thrashing - mind you, he was on the railway station at the time!).
On the plus side, one must admit that measurements gave fans some sort of a yardstick for comparison purposes, whether the measurements were hot, cold or indifferent. Many rank and file bodybuilders used their idols' measurements as inspirational goals. I remember that one of the arguments against measurements was that it placed too much emphasis on sheer size, when size should not be everything.
Well, I would find it easier to understand the disappearance of the tape measure if size had gone out of fashion. The thing is size and bulk are still very much 'in'. The good big 'un still beats the good little'un. Mass is King. Anyway, the tape has disappeared from the scene and we are just left with photographic images on which to base our judgements and comparisons. The reason for this remains a puzzle, but perhaps somebody out there can come up with the answer?
Sloppy Instruction All too frequently one hears this charge levelled against some gyms and health clubs. Fortunately for most of us the main offenders are usually the big plush top of the market emporiums. Because of the emphasis placed on hi-tech machinery some instructors seem to think that it is only necessary to point the beginner in the direction of the right machine and that glittering monster will do the rest.
