Tag: GI News
Jay Cutler On Mike O’Hearn And The Rock Not Discussing Natural Status: ‘For A Long Time, I Did The Same’
Jay Cutler has been open about bodybuilding in retirement and recently discussed Mike O’Hearn and The Rock being natural.
Since retiring from competition, Jay Cutler has been open and honest about the sport of bodybuilding. It does not matter whether it is about his own career, the status of the sport, or other topics gaining attention. In a recent interview, Cutler took the time to discuss the natural status of Mike O’Hearn and The Rock.
Both O’Hearn and Dwayne Johnson are figures that carry great attention when it comes to building an elite physique. O’Hearn is a former Mr. Universe champion who has been featured on the cover of many fitness magazines. The Rock made a great career for himself in the WWE before becoming a star on the big screen. Over the years, he has continued to work on his physique and is larger than life now.
On The Michael Sartain Podcast, Jay Cutler discussed the notion that both Mike O’Hearn and The Rock are natural. This is a topic that Cutler knows well and understands why it is not discussed.
“You know those things I don’t really comment as much on because I understand the positioning. Everyone has their own position and if they choose not to talk about it, I respect that because for a long time I did the same right. I didn’t come out and say I take this or that and I kind of went into interviews knowing that many weren’t going to ask and the ones that I thought might, I was protected where, ‘hey don’t blatantly ask me hey do you take this or that, don’t put me on the spot’ and that’s why I was limited on where I put my publicity.”
Jay Cutler is a four-time Olympia champion and one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. During his career, Cutler dealt with plenty of noise in solving steroids in the sport. This is something he did not discuss when he was competing but it has come out since he is done on stage.
Cutler also discussed how the Olympia was covered and the vibe around the reporters. Steroids and bodybuilding are linked and it was kind of understood heading into shows.
“All the local news stations before the Olympia covered the event but they didn’t touch on that and I think it was kind of known, hey don’t ask these kinds of questions but you have to prepare yourself.”
Jay Cutler did not accuse either The Rock or Mike O’Hearn of using steroids. Nor did he acknowledge the claim that they are all-natural. Cutler simply said that it is not his place to comment on the alleged use of steroids by others. This is a stance that many around the sport should take until the athlete themself wants to come out and discuss it.
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Announces He Will Compete In A Bodybuilding Show This Year
Former pro wrestler and jacked action movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has officially announced that he will step onto the competitive bodybuilding stage in 2022.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has always been known for his incredible mass monster physique put on display in countless Hollywood action movies. He has also been known to be a lover of competitive bodybuilding – even planning the Athleticon event set to feature a star studded IFBB Pro show (it is unknown if this will still happen after many setbacks). Now it seems that the muscle-bound actor has built up enough passion to actually step onto the competition stage. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson officially announced that he plans to compete in a bodybuilding competition before the end of 2022.
The announcement comes via an interview with the UK-based outlet Bodybuilding Today – who interviewed The Rock during his recent stay in Hawaii. However, he has yet to make the announcement on any of his official social media channels.
The Rock has given no specific information, such as what league he plans to compete in or when exactly we can expect to see him on stage. His only promise was to prepare to step on stage before the end of the year. He went on to state that he has been a life long fan of bodybuilding and respects the dedication and lifestyle required to be an elite competitor. They have long been the same kind of tenets he lived by (giving him one of the most muscular physiques in modern Hollywood).
The Rock continued by stating there would be “no greater honor” than to at least compete on the bodybuilding stage at least once in his life. After many setbacks with his own attempt to start a pro bodybuilding competition and expo (Athleticon) he believed that now was the right time – as he is “not getting any younger.”
The announcement comes just days before Wrestlemania 38 – with many fans and outlets suspecting that The Rock is planned to make an appearance. Most recently, he has been staying in Hawaii, where many WWE fans believe he is preparing for the event. If The Rock does, in fact, appear at Wrestlemania – perhaps it will be during this event that he makes a broader announcement of his competitive bodybuilding plans.
Beyond his previous attempts to kick start a new big budget pro bodybuilding show with Athleticon, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had long been involved with pro bodybuilding in some indirect form. He helped produce the 2016 Mr. Olympia with Dany Garcia and his production company Seven Bucks Productions. He has also occasionally appeared behind the scenes at some NPC/IFBB Pro events.
As it stands, the Rock is 49 years old, so it remains to be seen what category of bodybuilding competition he will attempt to compete in. Will he receive some sort of special invitation by a major league such as NABBA or the IFBB Pro? Or will he choose to simply compete in an amateur competition or masters competition? Despite his age, he’s displayed an incredible physique – should he choose to focus even more squarely on competitive bodybuilding for even just one show, we may see something truly exciting step on stage.
At this moment, little more information is available. Generation Iron will continue to update this story as more updates are announced. Until then, you can see more information in Bodybuilding Today‘s official post below:
APRIL FOOLS!
19-Year-Old Liam Newell Sets New American Record With 777-Pound Deadlift
Liam Newell might be new to powerlifting but he has already set a new record in deadlift.
Liam Newell is a powerlifter who has been training for quite some time but is new to sanctioned competition. It did not take the 19-year-old lifter long to make an impact and set a new American record with a 777-pound deadlift.
Newell competed in the 90kg division during the 2022 USAPL Collegiate Nationals from March 27-30. Newell highlighted an incredible performance over the course of the week by attacking a massive deadlift — and making it look easy. This beat a record that stood for over a decade.
In 2011, Ian Bell claimed the American record during the USAPL Southside Classic. This was a record that was not approached in 11 years until Newell was able to get over the hump. Not only did he break the record, but Newell did so by 5.5 pounds.
“19 88kg. American record. Unofficial world record maybe idk. Thank you to @joe_wee_ @johnny__kaufman @deadlift_lord868@sanjeevteelucksingh_ for the perfect call love you boys. Will post full recap eventually.”
Liam Newell has competed just three times. His debut competition came in January of 2021 and there have been two since. Newell has already notched two victories and an American record. At Collegiate Nationals, he was able to set new PRs in each lift.
This began when Newell completed a 556.7-pound squat on his third and final attempt. Newell continued by completing a 308.6-pound bench press and of course, his record deadlift. All together, Newell totaled 1,642.4 pounds, which was a new PR as well.
“555squat308bench777deadlift1640 9/9 day4th placeConservative on bench and probably had a little more on squat but really wanted to be 6/6 going into deadlift. Fun time. Time to get a little less chubby and get stronger.”
At 194 pounds, Newell was able to pull four times his bodyweight. The 777-pound triumph was also the second heaviest lift all time in the 18-19 division. There is clearly a bright future for Newell when looking at what he has already accomplished.
At 19 years old, Liam Newell has made a huge impact on the sport of powerlifting and he still has plenty of developing left. With one record under his belt, Newell has a chance to break many more in future competitions. Considering his age and numbers already, there is a chance that Newell continues to rise and becomes of the sports’ elite lifters before long.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Calum von Moger Aims to Bounce Back From Legal Issues: ‘I Learn From My Mistakes And Become A Better Person’
Calum von Moger will learn from his mistakes and believes that he will prevail in the end.
Calum von Moger is a promising bodybuilder who has a chance to make an impact on stage if he can get certain issues straightened out. The Australian bodybuilder has found himself in some legal trouble recently and this has halted his career. Now, he vows to get everything in line and become a better person on and off the stage.
von Moger ran into some trouble in Australia recently. First, he was put in headlines for an alleged road-rage incident that involved the bodybuilder chasing down the other driver after threatening him with a machete. Also recently, von Moger was arrested for possession of drugs.
Every athlete, and person, has their own demons and Calum von Moger vows to learn from his mistakes in the past. He took to Instagram to share a message about how he will turn it around.
“Everyone has a past. We’ve all been through hard times. I admit, I messed up bad many times. But I don’t care about dwelling on negative thoughts of the past. All I care about is that I learn from my mistakes and become a better person. I’m trying my hardest to stay strong but I have my days too.The Media will always focus on the negative news to get our attention and start gossips. But the positive achievements I’ve done in my life far outweigh the muck-ups I had along the way ⚖️ That I can swear on ?Anyway, All I can ask is for your forgiveness so I can keep moving forward on the right path again ?”
Calum von Moger burst onto the scene in 2020 when he won Classic Physique at the NPC Mr. Universe competition. This performance earned him an IFBB Pro card but he has been unable to get on stage to make his debut.
Aside from the legal troubles, von Moger suffered a bicep tear while attempting a massive 400-pound barbell curl. This workout came during a session with Chris Bumstead. If von Moger is looking to emerge in the IFBB in Classic Physique, there is no one better to train with than the reigning three-time Olympia champion.
There are still charges pending against Calum von Moger. Once these are taken care of, the bodybuilder can focus on keeping his work and bettering himself in his career. When looking at his physique, von Moger has a chance to make a name for himself at the next level and this is what fans have been waiting for.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hassan Mostafa Looks Massive In Physique Update Preparing For 2022 Orlando Pro
Hassan Mostafa has been making improvements to his physique 13 weeks out of the Orlando Pro.
Hassan Mostafa looks hungry to take the next step during the 2022 season. In a recent physique update on social media, Mostafa is looking massive as he prepares to take the stage during the Orlando Pro.
The Orlando Pro will take place on July 2. With 13 weeks to prepare, it looks as though Mostafa is focusing on his conditioning in training. This is something that impacted his results in 2021 and it is clear that he is looking to make the necessary changes needed to get back on the podium.
“13 weeks out. Everything going as planned ?”
Hassan Mostafa finished fourth during the 2020 New York Pro and this is when he caught the eye of many in the bodybuilding world. Following the show, Mostafa was forced to take some time off after being hospitalized with an infection. This impacted his overall physique but Mostafa was able to get back on stage seven times in 2021.
Mostafa earned qualification to the 2021 Olympia despite not winning a competition. He was able to total enough points in the standings to earn his spot that way. Mostafa finished 13th at the Olympia and ninth at the 2021 Arnold Classic, which took place just two weeks prior. With the bodybuilding season back to its normal schedule, Mostafa is preparing to attack Orlando before anything else.
During the 2021 season, Mostafa’s conditioning was the main talking point about his physique. He is an extremely muscular bodybuilder and has plenty of mass needed to compete in Men’s Open. Now, he needs to work on the details and that has been his method of training. In recent physique updates, he has stated his goals and they are all leading up to Orlando.
The Egyptian bodybuilder has a chance to make some noise if he is able to make these changes to his physique. Hassan Mostafa has been working out frequently with Rafael Brandao at Flex Lewis’ Dragon Lair Gym. This has been motivation for all involved to give it their all while training.
For Mostafa, this is an important season to get back on track and all signs point to major improvement during competition. Fans have plenty to be excited about after looking at some recent updates.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Bruce Willis Diagnosed With Speech And Language Disorder Aphasia, Will Step Away From Acting
The family of Bruce Willis made a statement after his diagnosis.
Bruce Willis will be stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that impacts speech and language.
Willis’ daughter, Rumer, took to Instagram on Wednesday to make a statement on behalf of the family. Rumer is the eldest daughter of Willis and his ex-wife, Demi Moore.
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia is a contrition that can affect a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand language, both verbal and written. There are different types of aphasia and it typically occurs after a stroke or head injury. It can also also come on slowly from a slow-growing brain tumor or disease that causes progressive damage.
At this point, it is unclear what led the the diagnosis of Bruce Willis but he will be forced to take some time away from his extremely successful acting career.
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do just that.Love,Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn”
Bruce Willis has appeared in many classic movies over the years including Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense. His career dates back to the 1980s when he first burst onto the scene as an actor.
Aphasia is a condition that robs a person of their ability to communicate. Once diagnosed, the best treatment for the disorder is speech and language therapy. This is where a person can relearn how to communicate and practices language skills. Family members are often a big part of the process as the person learns new ways to communicate.
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JF Caron On Future After Injuries: ‘I Think Strongman Is Really Done’
JF Caron suffered lower-body injuries that might have ended his strongman career.
JF Caron was forced to withdraw from the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic on day two after sustaining injuries to his lower body. After the recovery process, Caron recently explained how his days in strongman might have come to an end.
Caron suffered two torn quads and an ankle injury during the competition. These are injuries that have forced him to basically learn to walk again. In an interview on “Big Los Official” YouTube page, the strongman revealed how he might have to step away from competition.
“I do not want to risk it. It’s what the doctor said because if you broke one more time, it would be very hard to come back 100% from that. You have to think, also, the life after strongman…You have to think when you are in this position that you are lucky to compete at this level and keep going and the body follow. We have a great time but you can not do that for 30 years.”
During this recovery process, JF Caron has lost nearly 60 pounds since the Arnold Strongman Classic. This is because of his loss of appetite from medications that he has been on. At the same time, this has helped in the recovery process because carrying extra weight could prolong it.
“I just restarted to walk, you know, with the helping machine. It was like a restart from point zero. I have to learn to walk, it was very hard. I did not think that it would be that hard but the thing thing is I lost a lot of weight. It was good advice the surgeon gave me. When you are in bed and on medication, you do not have many appetite and I do not eat so much.”
Caron also took some time to discuss his life after strongman. He believes that it is important to think about his quality of life after competition even though this is something that fans might not have in mind in the present day.
“It’s not easy but I always told myself it was part of the sport. I was likely to this point that I never had a serious injury. Just muscle tear and normal stuff for strongmen. It’s probably possible that it could happen one day and that will happen and you have to stop. It was just an accident and you have to stop…I will recover from that and continue the normal life.”
JF Caron has built a career that will put him up there with some of the all-time greats in strongman. He has competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition 12 times in his career beginning in 2008. The highest finish in the show came in 2020 when he placed third. While he has never won a WSM title, Caron turned in a career that was extremely consistent and spanned into three different decades.
Caron kept a positive mindset throughout the entire interview with Big Loz. He has taken the time to exhaust all options and have discussions with different doctors to make a decision on what would be best for him moving forward.
JF Caron did explain that he might do something again in some capacity because of the desire to compete but it seems as though his best days of strongman could be coming to an end.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Martyn Ford “Leaving Nothing To Chance” Preparing For Battle With Iranian Hulk
Martyn Ford is not taking his upcoming bout with Iranian Hulk lightly and showed it off once again in training.
The original fight date for the battle between Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk is just four days away. Right now, both fighters would be putting the finishing touches on their preparation but instead, they are still able to get some serious work in to improve. That is exactly what Ford is doing as he continues to share some of his methods in the gym.
Ford took to Instagram recently to show a simple method used to train his feet. He is seen bouncing around a bosu ball going foot-to-foot on top. While his feet look quick, the impressive part is that Ford is around 320 pounds in the video. He expressed how he is “building a new beast” and is “leaving nothing to chance” as he prepares for his battle.
Martyn Ford and the Iranian Hulk are set to meet on April 30 at the O2 Arena in London. The fight was pushed back in order to give both men some extra time to recover and prepare. This is to ensure that fans see both men at their best. If Ford’s social media in any indication, he should be right there.
“Changing my narrative, building a beast from scratch, leaving nothing to chance …. moving well for 145kg, BUT we can always be better ….”
Martyn Ford has been taking time training with some of the best fighters in the world. This includes sessions with Rico Verhoeven. He is an athlete who has trained in many areas such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. Because of his recent training, Ford is the favorite heading into the fight with Iranian Hulk.
This does not mean that Sajad Gharibi is going to go quietly. He has also shared some training methods that he has been using. Gharibi is not as active on social media but he has taken some time to share physique updates and live action during workouts.
This is a battle that is going to see two men settle their differences in the ring. There is expected to bd a crowd of 20,000 people in attendance to see the match take place at the end of April. After seeing what both Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk have been putting their bodies through, it should be nothing short of exciting.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jordan Shallow Answers: What Is Cardio’s Place In Men’s Open Bodybuilding?
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Jordan Shallow comments on different cardio tactics in Men’s Open Bodybuilding.
Bodybuilders hate cardio. At least, that’s the stereotype you often see within the sport. And this makes sense. Men’s Open competitors weigh in at around 250+ pounds. That’s a lot of weight, muscle or not, to move around with aerobic movement. That being said, all serious bodybuilders understand that cardio is a necessary part of training – whether they like it or not. The question is – how much cardio is too much? And how much is too little? What is the proper tactic for cardio in mass monster categories like Men’s Open bodybuilding? In our latest GI Exclusive, Jordan Shallow shares his advice on how to properly utilize cardio in a Men’s Open training program.
The biggest fear bodybuilders have about cardio is that it could burn away some of that hard earned muscle. Muscle, of course, is the key factor in sculpting a perfect physique and the lifeblood of a competitive bodybuilder’s career. However, a bodybuilder also needs to go through a cutting phase during contest prep to be as conditioned and shredded as possible on game day. Cardio is a part of that equation. On top of this, cardio has universal health benefits for your heart and lungs that should not be ignored.
So what’s the right answer here? We’ve heard of some successful pro bodybuilders who do zero cardio and others who do two hours of cardio during contest prep each day. What is the truly best tactic for including cardio into a Men’s Open bodybuilding program? The Muscle Doc Jordan Shallow gives his take on this very topic in our latest interview segment.
How to properly use cardio in a Men’s Open bodybuilding training program
Jordan Shallow believes that the days of a Men’s Open bodybuilder doing two hours of cardio during contest prep are over. The reason? Because more athletes are understanding that cardio during the offseason is not taboo but in fact vital towards building the proper core for contest prep later.
Shallow believes that a part of this shift is happening because competitors are wising up to the health risks of modern bodybuilding. Unfortunately, we had a tragic year of bodybuilding deaths in 2021 that has continued to bleed into the beginning of 2022. While we cannot directly correlate this to any specific aspect of the bodybuilding lifestyle – athletes are becoming more self aware of their health.
Jordan Shallow believes that doing three days of light cardio per week during the offseason is a huge benefit for a competitive athlete. It helps manage physical stress and also helps manage the emotional stress that comes with the competitive bodybuilding lifestyle.
Over time of building that simple cardio base during the offseason, a bodybuilder will require much less cardio during contest prep. If you combine this with thoughtful and tactical weight training that has cardio elements – you have a much more balanced training program and run less of a risk that you will burn muscle away.
Jordan Shallow points out Milos Sarcev’s giant sets as an example. Here’s what Shallow had to say in this example:
“You do a Milos giant set, that’s cardio. You’re running a marathon with your lats. You’re running a Milos lat marathon. But if you have a strong aerobic base you’ll be able to derive a more muscle building benefit in the actual duration of the set as well as have a greater toolbox to pull from to recover from that stimulus.”
Wrap Up
While Jordan Shallow is not a Men’s Open bodybuilder himself, he sees these kinds of changes happening on the inside of the industry. He believes that the taboo behind cardio is starting to lose its grip – which is beneficial for all in both terms of overall health and better contest prep.
You can watch Jordan Shallow’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above. He also talks about how the general public can learn to count their macros for fat loss.
Blessing Awodibu Vows To Be In Best Shape Heading Into Competition: ‘I Feel Like This Is The Year’
Blessing Awodibu shared a massive leg day workout where he said he will be at his best.
Blessing Awodibu is planning to return to the stage at the 2022 Indy Pro. He has made some improvements to his physique and has vowed to show up in his best shape. Awodibu recently shared a massive leg day and spoke on entering competition at his very best.
During his rookie year, Awodibu finished third at the Indy Pro before heading into the New York Pro. He wanted to earn qualification to the Olympia but finished sixth in New York with Nick Walker winning the show. This is when a feud began between the two competitors but they have since started training together.
Heading into the 2022 season, Awodibu knew some improvements that he had to make and has been focused on training. Recently, he took to YouTube to share a leg day workout that targets one area that Awodibu has been able to improve.
The 2022 Indy Pro will take place in May and Blessing Awodibu wants to make sure that he is at his absolute best.
“10 weeks out for the boogie man. I feel likes this is the year. You know, I’ll finally be able to give you guys what you guys deserve. I will finally be at my best. I truly believe it. This year, I will be at my best. My very best,” awodibu said.
I feel like my very best is an extremely dangerous look. I feel like it’s totally different from a lot of the people that you guys see now. I’m super excited man. The work goes on.”
Blessing Awodibu Leg Day
Awodibu explains that he was focusing on quads and gluten during this particular leg workout. His hamstrings were still feeling effects from last week and he wanted to take some time to recover.
“They still sore, they not fully recovered yet so I don’t really think it’s wise enough to train them today.
I’m not going to do hamstrings today. I’m going to push them to Friday. So that’s the end of my quad workout. Now, I’m going to blast a little bit of the glutes and then we’ll call it a day.”
This workout began with leg adductors and leg extensions. This was a way for Blessing Awodibu to pump blood into the legs before hitting 10 sets of 15-20 reps squatting on the Smith Machine. He then continued with four sets of 15-20 on leg press to continue heavy work on his quads. Awodibu finished with sets of flute extension, hip extension, and leg abductors.
Blessing Awodibu continues to be a rising star in bodybuilding and he is ready to show it on stage this year.
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