Tag: kai greene
Mike O’Hearn Shares Kai Greene-Inspired Back Training for Better Mind Muscle Connection
Mike O’Hearn understands training on a deep level and has possessed a shredded physique for most of his life. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn demonstrated two back exercises he learned from Kai Greene for improved mind-muscle connection.
For over 30 years, O’Hearn has been a juggernaut in the training room. He has built a reputation as one of the most dedicated and accomplished fitness personalities of all time. He won the Mr. Universe title as well, but O’Hearn’s talents extend far beyond bodybuilding. He has also been featured in numerous magazines, acted in movies, and even released his own fitness clothing line.
What is perhaps most impressive about O’Hearn is his longevity. At 54 years old, he is still in peak physical condition. He continues to train hard and has shown no signs of slowing down. Mike regularly collaborates with fitness influencers for workouts like Joseph Baena, the son of seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With longevity a top priority for many, O’Hearn doesn’t mind sharing some of his trade secrets. The last time he teamed up with Baena, he led the aspiring actor through a back workout intended to strengthen joints and ligaments. During the training session, Mike said if Joseph followed his guidance, he’d be able to lift like his father well into his 70s.
Mike O’Hearn Shares 2-Exercise Training Routine for Enhancing Back Mind Muscle Connection
O’Hearn performed sets of GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers as part of his workout demonstration.
GHD Back Extension
Dumbbell Pullover
While training the back can be a daunting task, O’Hearn underlined its importance for overall longevity. He added that he trains back even when he’s stiff or sore.
“Like Robbie or Arnold or anybody… when you see them doing an exercise, you can see it working. It’s a beautiful thing to see. So hopefully you guys can see exactly where I’m rotating at and where I’m trying to develop. Again, I think I would have incorporated this in so much younger but I just thought it was always such a – that young mentality. The lesser exercise compared to the deadlifts and everything. Yeah, there really is no lesser exercise, they all do something. They all play a part. Here’s rotation and flexing contraction. Three great reasons to do it.”
“I want you guys to know at home if it’s stiff when you wake up, that’s so irrelevant to the day and the workout if your schedule is set up. Our back is sore and stiff. Doesn’t mean we’re not going to train back. We’re just warming up. As soon as your warm-ups are done and you start getting into it, everything loosens up.”
“I would not not force blood into that area. That seems to be what a lot of people think. What’s going on there if I’m not putting any blood into that which I think is a very weak mental state because blood heals. Just keep that in mind when you’re feeling like something is a little stiff when you wake up, we’re all stiff when we wake up.”
According to O’Hearn, he learned these exercise techniques from bodybuilding veteran Kai Greene. During the mid-2000s, Greene was a perennial Mr. Olympia contender who gave seven-time winner Phil Heath all he could handle on stage. Even though Greene never touched a Sandow trophy, he’s well respected for his mass, class, and posing routines.
“I got this one from Kai Greene. He was talking about, sometimes – I don’t want to mislead this – he said for me… to connect to the muscle and I agree with this, this is how I do squats and everything. To connect to the muscle, you can choose an exercise to start with, that’s a hard exercise, by connecting to that muscle using that exercise not fatiguing yourself, it sets you up for a good back workout for guys that maybe can’t connect.
And the back is maybe one of the hardest muscles to connect to. And pull overs is one of the hardest exercises of anything to connect that to the back or to the chest depending on what you’re training,” said Mike O’Hearn.
O’Hearn said he can achieve better mind-muscle connection with a thorough warm-up.
“What I’m trying to do is what Kai Greene talked about is to connect solely with the back and have that great connection between my mind and that muscle today, prior to getting to the workout. I’m not even considering this part of the workout right now. I think that’s and again, it’s a great statement for all you kids. When somebody says well pull overs are a chest exercise, well pull overs are a back exercise, pull overs can be a triceps exercise if you do it incorrectly.”
“My point is just to be focusing on that connection between the back which it’s doing. You’re getting a nice sweat going right now waking up the body especially coming off a leg day like I did. That’s the biggest thing.”
Range of motion is important for O’Hearn but keeping the mind-muscle connection in his back was the main reason he performed this particular workout.
“On this one today for me, I’m just trying to keep it connected to the back. And then the range of motion is – if I feel any hiccups, I’m going to try to work through the hiccups, but I’m feeling nothing like that. What I mean is when I feel like something is holding me back, that’s a red light to me, like an engine light. Wait a minute why is there something going on? But I don’t feel anything like that. So I’m just going a good range of motion and stretching the back.”
Regardless of age, fitness level, or injury, O’Hearn doesn’t miss a chance to impart wisdom to other athletes. Fans last saw him join hands with strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson for a Tom Platz-inspired training session. Mike guided an injured Thor through most of the leg day workout.
After countless hours of training in the gym, O’Hearn has a unique grasp on exercising whether it be for muscle, leanness, longevity, or strength. As for training the back, O’Hearn highly favors GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers.
You can watch the full video from the Mike O’Hearn YouTube channel:
RELATED: Mike O’Hearn Joins Hands With Strongman Brian Shaw For A Chest Workout
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 2:43 PM EDT
Kai Greene Shows Off Beastly Physique in Guest Posing Appearance in India
American bodybuilding icon Kai Greene is widely recognized as one of the best IFBB Men’s Open competitors to have never won the Mr. Olympia contest. Although he hasn’t competed since 2016, he maintains a high level of personal fitness. In a recent post made on Instagram, Greene showed off his monstrous physique in a guest posing appearance at the 2023 Sheru Classic Pro in New Delhi, India.
Kai Greene found his passion for bodybuilding as a teenager. He emerged as a budding prospect in the mid-2000s when he joined the IFBB Pro League. In 2008, he came out on top of the New York Pro and placed third at the Arnold Classic. Greene dominated the 2009 Arnold Classic to take home gold and rounded off the season with a fourth-place showing at Mr. Olympia. He continued to work his way up the ranks and claimed another Arnold Classic title in 2010.
During his days of competition, Greene developed a fierce rivalry with fellow bodybuilding legend Phil Heath. The seven-time Mr. Olympia kept Greene at bay and outmuscled him for the win in three consecutive events (2012-2014). Greene stopped participating in the competition following his third silver medal and took to the sidelines for a period of time. His final season (2016) saw him clinch three victories at the Arnold Classic, Arnold Classic Australia, and Arnold Classic Brazil.
Greene teamed up with rising Open sensation Blessing Awodibu for a taxing arm workout in July 2022. He mentored ‘The Boogieman’ through the training session focused on building the mind-muscle connection with some of his favorite exercises. Then, Greene partnered with Blessing again for a fierce upper-body workout in preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. The duo went through a challenging shoulder training routine six weeks out from the show.
‘The Predator’ strengthened his partnership with Blessing with a brutal back and hamstrings workout days out of the Olympia contest. He offered his best superset to enhance neurological awareness for improving rear poses.
Earlier this year, Kai Greene opened up about his 15-year-long experience competing as a natural bodybuilder. He stressed the importance of reaching your genetic limit before taking gear and laid out his current diet which can go up to 6,000 calories per day. He also weighed in on the prevalence of TRT use (testosterone replacement therapy), which he considers a steroid.
Greene praised his old foe Phil Heath for his amazing career three months ago. While Kai Greene hasn’t competed in seven years, he left the door open for a potential comeback and made it clear he did not formally retire.
Kai Greene shows off Monstrous Package in guest-posing appearance in India
In a recent Instagram post, Kai Greene looked enormous in a guest-posing appearance at the Sheru Classic Pro in New Delhi, India.
Greene donned his signature superhero-style mask and robe to kick off the guest posing. He went through a series of poses before taking the robe off and continuing his performance.
Kai Greene gave fans a look into his intense shoulder workout routine two months ago. He utilized supersets and trained his back in order to work on a better sense of mind-muscle connection.
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest called for an Olympia-themed superhero showdown with Greene earlier this month. He recommended performing a skit together at the bodybuilding show to entertain fans while playing characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
RELATED: Bodybuilder Kai Greene and Will Tennyson Demolish a High-Volume Chest Workout
Greene may not have any plans for a comeback but he could surely give many competitors a run for their money if he decided to return based on the latest update.
Published: 20 June, 2023 | 4:46 PM EDT
Lee Priest Wants ‘Olympia-Themed’ Superhero Showdown with Kai Greene: ‘Come Back for an Encore’
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest has an undying passion for fitness and working out that he has kept up even in his later years. Since stepping away from professional competition years ago, he has become a revered analyst in the game. In a recent episode of Iron Rage, Priest called for an Olympia-themed superhero showdown with Kai Greene at an upcoming bodybuilding show.
Lee Priest rose to prominence for his insane arm muscle development along with his impressive muscle definition and conditioning as an IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open contender in the 90s and early 2000s. He dominated the regional circuit before making his way to internationally renowned shows like the Arnold Classic.
Priest secured a qualification to the Mr. Olympia contest in 1997 and place sixth in his first outing under the banner. While he didn’t lay claim to the Sandow trophy, he was one of the most consistent athletes with six Mr. Olympia appearances. He took to the sidelines after a final showing at the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe, where he dominated the competition to score gold.
With the anticipated return of the 2023 Masters Olympia set for August, Priest expressed his interest in potentially competing at the show. However, he would not be able to do so due to the atrophy in his chest and compromised arms. Earlier this year, he revealed the difference would be significant if he leaned out to step one stage.
The 50-year-old laid out some crucial bicep-focused tips on the preacher curl to maximize pump three months ago. He explained the reasons for using different rep ranges, equipment, and grip variations while offering his take on developing the bicep peak.
Two months ago, Lee Priest criticized the eligibility criteria for the 2023 Masters Olympia. He took issue with the show allowing athletes above age 40 and suggested raising the bar to 50 along with the condition they did not compete for at least two to three years.
Lee Priest / Instagram
American bodybuilder Kai Greene is regarded as one of the best Men’s Open contenders of all time to have never won Mr. Olympia. He displayed an impeccable blend of freakish muscle mass, size, and definition. He separated himself from the pack with his memorable posing routines.
Greene came close to winning the Mr. Olympia contest multiple times but kept falling short of legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath. He developed a fierce rivalry with the seven-time champion who kept knocking him down to second place from 2012 to 2014. After taking three silvers, Greene did not return to the Mr. Olympia stage again and stepped away with three Arnold Classic titles under his belt.
Greene teamed up with budding Men’s Open competitor Blessing Awodibu for a grueling arm workout in Jul. 2022. The duo forged a strong partnership as they regrouped for another brutal shoulder workout six weeks out from the 2022 Mr. Olympia. The veteran helped solidify Blessing’s prep for the show with a final hamstring and back training session where he stressed the importance of building neurological awareness.
Three months ago, Greene reflected on his career competing as a natural athlete for over 15 years. He encouraged his followers to avoid steroids and revealed he consumes anywhere between 2,500 and 6,000 calories daily. Then, he showered praises on his former rival Heath, and left the door open for a comeback. He followed up by showing off his massive delts in a workout update two months ago.
Related: 5 Superhero Workout and Diet Programs: From Hulk to Ant-Man
Lee Priest wants an Olympia-theme superhero showdown with Kai Greene
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest called for an Olympia-theme showdown with Kai Greene where they’d portray superheroes and villains for an entertaining skit.
Priest donned the prosthetic arm worn by Bucky(the Winter Soldier) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before suggesting the idea he plays a superhero against Greene’s villain.
“I’m getting ready, I can cover the bad arm [with the prosthetic arm]. I can come back for an encore,” said Priest. “We could do like a skit. Kai could be a villain. I could be Superman. It would be great. Kai could make a really good Venom character or something or Predator.
“I could do like the Bucky and then do something else but at the end the big Superman muscle suit.”
Dave Palumbo responded, “I’d like you to reenact the scene where Superman’s dead and then he comes back from the dead. I think that would be better if you could do that.”
“Can hit me on stage like a big bright light and then the cables raise me up off the stage. That would be amazing,” Priest said. “Then the music changes, the lightning flashes, and Kai comes out as the evil villain.
“They’re going to have a painted backdrop of Metropolis or something or just project Metropolis and then have scaffolding there because remember Kai did that routine once where he started climbing the scaffolding. He could be up on the scaffolding Venom hanging down.”
Lee Priest would like to incorporate the play into a bodybuilding show to entertain the fans.
Palumbo said, “I mean really you’re Superman. What about would you do Spider-Man or whatever? I would like to see actually I’d like to see Kai as octo. He gets in all those positions and yeah that would be Dr. Octavius versus Spider-Man. You could be Spider-Man.”
“Or the Punisher. The villains and the heroes together.”
“The whole show’s just going to be Lee and Kai. It’s Lee and Kai variety hour. It would be entertaining like Lee and Kai going to do three or four different skits throughout the show but they’re well-choreographed and all that sort of stuff. It would be entertaining. But then you could use some of the other bodybuilders too, just people on the stage that you’re working around like general public type thing.”
Palumbo: “It’d be nice to have an Olympia theme.”
“I think it would be good too because superheroes these days people associate whatever they are with the muscular characters in superheroes and that X-Men type things and stuff.”
Lee Priest detailed the difference in his diet and training routine from the time he was in his 20s to now that he’s his 50s last month. While a lot did not change, he modified his training due to injuries and believes burning body fat might have got more difficult.
Last week, Priest suggested doing a Golden Era seminar with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler and facing the four-time Mr. Olympia in a guest-posing appearance after the conclusion of the 2023 Masters Olympia.
Priest’s idea of bringing Greene back to the stage in such an entertaining fashion would surely be a treat for the fans to enjoy. However, it remains to be seen whether it comes to fruition.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 4 June, 2023 | 12:39 PM EDT
Kai Greene Powers Through A Massive Shoulder Workout
Although Bodybuilder Kai Greene‘s return to the stage is not warranted at the moment, the veteran bodybuilder continues to train hard and improve his massive physique further.
The 47-year-old bodybuilder competed for nearly two decades in the IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open division. Greene won several Pro shows during his career, including three Arnold Classic wins. He is a six-time Olympia participant and finished in the top five in all but one of those instances.
A perfect antagonist in 7-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath‘s story, Greene gave the champ everything he could handle. However, he never won the prestigious title despite coming close to achieving it on multiple occasions. “The Predator” is among the greatest bodybuilders who never won the Mr. Olympia title.
The 2016 Arnold Classic Brazil was Greene’s last competitive appearance, and he walked away with a victory at the show. However, he has not retired from the sport officially. In a recent interview, Greene refused to close the door on a potential comeback.
The 47-year-old has a significant presence on the internet and routinely shares bodybuilding content on social media platforms. Recently, he tackled an intense shoulder workout in the gym with Pro Wrestler and AEW star Brian Cage.
The duo trained with furious intensity but in Greene’s usual playful manner. So let’s see which exercises they included in the training session.
Kai Greene’s back workout in the Elevation gym
Superset: Reverse Pec Deck Flye and Machine Lateral Raise
Greene and Cage kicked off the workout by targeting the medial and posterior deltoid muscles with this superset. Supersets can be very useful to increase the aerobic intensity of the workout and reduce the workout time.
The duo performed all the sets within this superset to warm up the deltoid muscles and took to a front delt exercise next.
Panatta Smith Machine Shoulder Press
The overhead press primarily targets the anterior deltoid muscles but also activates the pectoral and upper back muscles.
The training partners cranked out heavy sets of this compound movement and returned to working the lateral delts again.
Dumbbell Lateral Raise
While the anterior and posterior deltoid muscles get sufficient work during push and pull movements, the lateral deltoids have to be activated with lateral movements. Therefore, it is essential to include those in the shoulder training routine for complete growth. The training partners next took to the dumbbell lateral raises, pushed through some heavy sets of the movement, and took to another anterior deltoid movement.
Machine Overhead Press
Another variation of overhead press followed the lateral raises. Greene and Cage started with a few sets and then interacted with each other about injury prevention.
“With a little bit more experience and mileage on my joints, I kind of have to become a little more conscious of how I do certain things. Joint health is something I think is a continuing learning process to help continue the longevity possibly,” Greene said.
The duo agreed that facing an injury can really change a person’s outlook toward longevity, and Green said:
“Everybody’s invincible until they’re not! Everybody’s a tough guy until this.”
A few intense sets later, the Titans jumped into the next movement.
Bent-Over Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Although posterior deltoid muscles get stimulated during many back exercises, activating them with other shoulder movements is difficult. Therefore it is essential to incorporate rear delt-specific movements in the shoulder training routine.
Greene and Cage annihilated a few sets of bent-over dumbbell lateral raises without compromising the technique and took to the next movement.
Neutral-Grip Dumbbell Front Raise
Dumbbell front raises almost exclusively target the anterior deltoid muscles, but they also activate the clavicular head of the pectoralis major muscles to an extent. Following some sets of the movement using a neutral grip, Greene moved on to another rear delt exercise.
Machine Rear Delt Raise
Free weight as well as machine variations of rear delt raises load all the muscles that make up the shoulder girdle. Although posterior deltoids are the primary target muscles of this movement, it also helps improve the posture by working several upper body muscles.
The training partners performed a few sets on a plate-loaded machine and took to the next exercise.
Cable Front Raise
Anterior deltoid muscles are utilized in heavy compound movements like the bench press. Developing them through various anterior deltoid movements can translate to heavier compound movements.
Cable machines keep the muscles under tension throughout the range of motion and hence help bring about hypertrophy and strength gains more effectively.
Greene and Cage powered through solid sets of cable front raises to work the anterior deltoids and switched to the day’s final exercise.
Cable Face Pull
This cable machine exercise helps with overall training and development as it targets the upper posterior chain muscles.
The duo cranked out a few sets of the cable face pulls to work the lateral delts, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, trapezius, teres minor, and the brachialis and the brachioradialis muscles in the arm.
This movement served as the finisher of Kai Greene’s shoulder training session as he wrapped up the movement after some good sets.
The back workout followed this exercise sequence:
Greene has a wealth of bodybuilding knowledge and decades of training under his belt. It is always an enriching and motivating experience to watch him train.
Looking at his impressive physique after all those years away from competition, one can’t help but hope to see him compete again soon.
You can watch the full workout video below, courtesy of Kai Greene’s YouTube channel:
Published: 29 April, 2023 | 11:09 AM EDT
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – Phil Heath Gets Real About The “Ugly” Rivalry Moments With Kai Greene
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Phil Heath speaks honestly about the most intense moments from his rivalry with Kai Greene in new exclusive clip from Kai.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available now on digital! You can order KAI today right here. In this clip, Phil Heath gives a rare interview reflecting on his rivalry with Kai Greene. Looking back at the 2014 Mr. Olympia press conference, Heath gives his side of the story commenting on things got “ugly” during their clash both at the press conference and on the stage.
The Kai Greene vs Phil Heath rivalry just might be one of the most famous rivalries in the entirety of bodybuilding. Nearly evenly matched with different body types – Kai and Phil clashed at multiple Mr. Olympia competitions. They were the featured duo in the original Generation Iron – and things only heated up from there.
Most famous was the 2014 Mr. Olympia, where Kai Greene and Phil Heath clashed before the stage show even started. The press conference, usually an exciting affair with some trash talk, nearly broke into complete chaos. It was no longer the Olympia press conference. It became the Kai and Phil show.
This set the stage for what only escalated from there. Kai Greene and Phil Heath nearly came to blows on the competition stage. It was one of the most memorable unexpected moments in Mr. Olympia history. Ultimately, Phil defeated Kai on every Olympia occasion. But it didn’t matter. Both men were etched into history for their larger than life personas to match their massive physiques.
In Kai, Phil Heath provides a brand new exclusive interview – where he reflects on the rivalry beat by beat for the first time in years. In this clip, Phil looks back at the 2014 press conference and admits to how “ugly” their rivalry became in that moment. Now nearly a decade later – it’s fascinating to see what both of these bodybuilding veterans think of not just that moment but the rivalry as a whole.
Kai is available now on all major digital platforms! You can order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
Kai – The Kai Green Story Debuts As Top 5 Documentary
The Kai Greene life story documentary, Kai, earns a top 5 documentary debut on the iTunes digital charts.
The wait is over. Kai – the Kai Green feature film documentary – is now available on all major digital platforms. And it looks like the film has made a splash receiving a top five documentary debut on the iTunes charts. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the film yet – you can order your digital copy right here.
The film’s rise in the charts continues to the trend of bodybuilding entertainment becoming more accepted in mainstream culture. One that has seen many bodybuilding storylines adapted into feature narrative films and TV shows.
Kai Greene is arguably one of the most complex bodybuilding legends in the history of the sport. Not only did he have a unique personality that literally shined on the stage (in the form of his unique posing routines), he also had a mysterious past that was never directly addressed in public. Instead, Greene would use art to express his reflections of the past. Art via sculpting his own physique, or through his posing routines, or through his paintings and later comic books, or through a live experimental stage play.
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding powerhouse, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an artist. It’s not surprising that this combination made him one of the most memorable athletes in the sport’s history. Now for the first time ever – fans will get to understand the truth behind the mind of this mysterious legendary bodybuilder.
Kai promises to be an all-encompassing deep dive into the life story of Kai Greene. Not only will the film chronicle his entire bodybuilding career, including his entertaining and bitter rivalry with Phil Heath, but it will also explore Greene’s childhood and struggles before bodybuilding. The film promises to be the most direct reflection on the past, present, and future of Kai Greene than ever before seen.
That fact becomes all the more clearer with the release of the latest Kai trailer. Kai Greene was interviewed for over 20 hours over the course of production – peeling down and exploring the ultimate truth behind the legend that is Kai Greene.
Kai also features bodybuilding contemporaries such as Mike O’Hearn, Victor Martinez, Rich Gaspari, and long time rival Phil Heath opening up on his relationship with Kai for the first time on film since the original Generation Iron.
Kai Official Synopsis
Kai Greene is one of the biggest modern day legends in bodybuilding both on and off the stage. He’s an athlete, an artist, an actor, and an entrepreneur. But his journey to greatness first started in childhood – when he chose bodybuilding as a form of survival. Growing up in Brooklyn without parents and later locked up in a juvenile correctional facility, bodybuilding became Kai’s source of hope that eventually took him to stardom.
Later in life Kai became one of the most recognizable faces in the fitness industry, praised by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. His talent was only matched by one singular opponent, his rival and Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Now witness Kai Greene’s story of survival and climb to success in the first ever all-access documentary chronicling his life and career into the sport of bodybuilding and beyond.
Where To Watch
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by David Gendron, Russ Riggins, Viviana Zarragoitia, and The Last Dance‘s Matt Maxson.
Kai is available now on all major digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. You can grab your digital copy right here or by clicking the banner below.
WATCH: ‘Kai’ Official Release Trailer | The Life Story Of Bodybuilder Kai Greene
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Witness the inside story of bodybuilding’s biggest modern legend – Kai Greene.
We are exactly one day away from the release of Kai on digital. Available on August 26, 2022 – the film will be the first comprehensive and official look into the life story of bodybuilding legend Kai Greene. To celebrate the launch, Generation Iron Network has released one final trailer for the film – which you can watch above. You can also pre-order the film today right here.
Kai Greene may be one of the most exciting and mysterious bodybuilders to ever exist in the history of the sport. His powerful physique speaks for itself and is among one of the best in modern bodybuilding – if not bodybuilding as a whole. But his artistry took that physique to the next level bringing him fame beyond the sport and into the mainstream arena.
However, despite being so large in the public eye, Kai Greene’s life and past have always been a mystery. The large strokes are known by most. During childhood, without a father in the picture, Kai was taken away from his mother by child services and he became a ward of the state. He grew up in orphanages only to eventually be arrested and sent to juvenile detention. It’s there where he was introduced to bodybuilding. He left juvy, became a male stripper for a short while, and eventually rose in the ranks to be a champion bodybuilder.
But many intimate questions remained. What was his experience like in juvenile detention? What was life as an exotic dancer like? How did he receive the massive scar on his face? And what’s up with that grapefruit video? Up until now, the closes we have been to learning of this past was in the form of an experimental stage show called BELIEVE.
Kai promises to answer all of this questions. For the first time ever, after dozens of hours of interview footage, Kai Greene has fully opened up above his entire life story. From his days as a child in a troubled home, through juvenile detention, and into pro bodybuilding. The film also follows up with Kai in the present – as he attempts to publish his graphic novel – The Chronicles Of King Kai.
The Kai Greene documentary is not just a deep insight into a bodybuilding legend for fans of the sport. It’s a dramatic life story that promises to resonate with anyone from all walks of life.
Kai also features Victor Martinez, Rich Gaspari, Mike O’Hearn, George Farah, and longtime rival Phil Heath – all speaking in brand new interviews.
From The Producer Of The Last Dance
In addition to being produced by The Vladar Company and Generation Iron Network – producer Matt Maxson is also attached to the Kai Greene documentary – who is best known for producing The Last Dance.
Emmy nominated Producer Matt Maxson’s The Last Dance starring Michael Jordan took the world by storm in 2020 – becoming one of the most talked about TV events of the year on ESPN and Netflix. He now took his producing talents to the world of bodybuilding and fitness with his involvement in the Kai documentary feature.
Matt Maxon’s other producing credits include Andre The Giant and The Circus: Inside The Greatest Political Show On Earth. Before producing, he spent five years working in production at HBO Sports where he worked on the network’s documentary series 24/7 which garnered 18 Emmy Awards.
The Last Dance received critical acclaim, with praise for its directing and editing. It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 96% based on 53 reviews. The documentary series provided the most in-depth look at Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls where he played alongside other legendary players such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson.
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by Matt Maxon, David Gendron, Russ Riggins, and Viviana Zarragoitia.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26, 2022. You can order your digital copy today right here or by clicking the banner below.
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – How Kai Greene Was ‘Born’ In Juvy: “I Wanted To Kill Every Living Thing”
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Kai Greene holds nothing back reflecting on the violence, anger, and rage of prison that was channeled into the KAI persona.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available August 26 on digital! You can pre-order KAI today right here. In this clip, Kai Greene reflects back on his time in prison and how a lifetime full of rage was channeled into a passion for bodybuilding. It was here that he adopted the first name of Kai. Leslie Greene was dead – Kai Greene the bodybuilder was born. You can watch the exclusive clip above.
Kai Greene’s physique is more than enough to warrant the fame and legendary status he achieved during his bodybuilding career. But Kai’s past and journey into bodybuilding is nearly as fascinating as his elite physique itself. His past was one full of trauma, abuse, and struggle. And like any champion stories – he overcame many hurdles to grow only stronger. To grow into the champion bodybuilder we know and admire today.
One segment of Kai Greene’s past was a period of time behind bars in juvenile detention. After Kai became an orphan and ward of the state – a few violent encounters at school landed him in prison. The lifestyle Kai led up to this point combined with the dangerous and violent lifestyle in juvenile detention turned him into a ball of pure rage. If something didn’t change soon – he would possibly fall into a deep spiral of violence, pain, and despair.
Instead, Kai Greene challenged all of that rage and energy into becoming stronger. He wasn’t sure what bodybuilding was as a sport quite yet. But he knew he wanted somewhere to place the extreme rage that consumed his very soul. If it wasn’t into becoming stronger – it would have gone into potentially more dangerous and less healthy endeavors.
So Kai Greene did pushups. Over and over again. He ate only bread and water – believing that was the best food he can eat in prison to bulk up and become stronger. He repeated the pushups, bread, and water over and and over ad nauseam. It was at this moment that Kai was no longer a boy. He dropped the use of his real first name (Leslie) and transformed into Kai Greene. The man. The bodybuilder.
During this period of time, a man working at the juvenile detention facility would notice Kai Greene’s strength and determination. So he showed Kai a bodybuilding magazine. He introduced him to a world where his hard work and desire to be stronger could be an actual athletic career.
With an origin story in place, so to speak, Kai Greene had a new goal upon returning to the world outside of prison. He would become a bodybuilder. While his journey to the IFBB Pro league would still be filled with hurdles including a stint as a male stripper and a video involving a grapefruit – the stage was set. Nothing would stop Kai Greene from becoming the legend we now all know today.
You can watch the exclusive Kai clip, in which Kai Greene becomes extremely emotional reflecting back on some of the angriest years of his life, above.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26. You can pre-order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – Kai Greene Tells All On The Grapefruit Video
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Kai Greene opens up about the infamous grapefruit video in this exclusive clip from the Kai movie.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available August 26 on digital! You can pre-order it today right here. In this clip, Kai Greene directly confronts his past by addressing the infamous grapefruit video that shocked the bodybuilding industry during his rise to success in the sport. Kai’s past has always been mysterious – but that didn’t stop the internet from unearthing an erotic video that temporarily changed the conversation surrounding his bodybuilding success.
While Kai Greene‘s past is still mysterious today – there is much more we know about the artistic champion bodybuilder than we knew back in his early days of competing. Today, it’s well known by fans that Kai grew up as a ward of the state, went to prison, and turned towards exotic dancing upon release. This was less chronicled during Kai’s rise to fame in bodybuilding.
So it certainly came as a shock to fans, judges, and fellow competitors alike when a certain video surfaced and went viral on the internet. That video in question is the “grapefruit video” as it’s causally known. The video was recorded during Kai Greene’s exotic dancing days. But instead of it simply being a video of Kai dancing alone – it was a “soft core” video of Kai having relations with a grapefruit.
The video’s release coincided with Kai Greene’s rapid rise in competitive bodybuilding. By the time the video went viral – Kai was already seen as threat at the Mr. Olympia. His rivalry with Phil Heath was just getting started. He was on top of the world.
The grapefruit video slightly altered the perception of Kai Greene and nearly derailed his success in the sport. While there was no direct action taken or proven penalty for the video (why would there be?), it pained Kai in a different light by the public. There is often talk about how a Mr. Olympia champion is seen as an ambassador to the sport. Would the IFBB Pro league want a man who simulated having sex with a grapefruit as their ambassador?
Ultimately Kai Greene moved past the drama of the video’s release. He continued to succeed in the sport and battle with Phil Heath year after year. While he did not ever win the Mr. Olympia, there’s little to no evidence that the grapefruit video had an affect on his placing on stage.
But questions always lingered. Why exactly does this video exist? What was the origin of why Kai Greene decided to record it? In the feature film documentary, Kai, we finally get a direct answer. Kai looks directly at the camera and lays out a play-by-play of how he ended up filming the grapefruit video. You can watch a preview of the exclusive clip above.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26. You can pre-order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
Kai Greene Reveals The Truth Of His Past In New ‘Kai’ Trailer
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Bodybuilder Kai Greene reflects on the “revealing” truth about his past in the new official trailer for Kai. Available August 26.
We are less than a month away from the release of Kai on digital – and the film promises to be a revelatory reflection on the true origins of Kai Greene. Generation Iron Network released a brand new official trailer for Kai. In the new promo, we see deeper glimpses into the mysterious childhood that would help shape Greene into the legend that he is today. Kai will be available on August 26, 2022 on all digital platforms. Click here to order your digital copy!
Kai Greene is arguably one of the most complex bodybuilding legends in the history of the sport. Not only did he have a unique personality that literally shined on the stage (in the form of his unique posing routines), he also had a mysterious past that was never directly addressed in public. Instead, Greene would use art to express his reflections of the past. Art via sculpting his own physique, or through his posing routines, or through his paintings and later comic books, or through a live experimental stage play.
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding powerhouse, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an artist. It’s not surprising that this combination made him one of the most memorable athletes in the sport’s history. Now for the first time ever – fans will get to understand the truth behind the mind of this mysterious legendary bodybuilder.
Kai promises to be an all-encompassing deep dive into the life story of Kai Greene. Not only will the film chronicle his entire bodybuilding career, including his entertaining and bitter rivalry with Phil Heath, but it will also explore Greene’s childhood and struggles before bodybuilding. The film promises to be the most direct reflection on the past, present, and future of Kai Greene than ever before seen.
That fact becomes all the more clearer with the release of the latest Kai trailer. Kai Greene was interviewed for over 20 hours over the course of production – peeling down and exploring the ultimate truth behind the legend that is Kai Greene. You can watch the new trailer above.
Kai Official Synopsis
Kai Greene is one of the biggest modern day legends in bodybuilding both on and off the stage. He’s an athlete, an artist, an actor, and an entrepreneur. But his journey to greatness first started in childhood – when he chose bodybuilding as a form of survival. Growing up in Brooklyn without parents and later locked up in a juvenile correctional facility, bodybuilding became Kai’s source of hope that eventually took him to stardom.
Later in life Kai became one of the most recognizable faces in the fitness industry, praised by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. His talent was only matched by one singular opponent, his rival and Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Now witness Kai Greene’s story of survival and climb to success in the first ever all-access documentary chronicling his life and career into the sport of bodybuilding and beyond.
Release Date Info
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by David Gendron, Russ Riggins, Viviana Zarragoitia, and The Last Dance‘s Matt Maxson.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26, 2022. It’s also available for pre-order today. You can reserver your digital copy now right here or by clicking the banner below.