Tag: nEWS
PNBA Mitch Jarvis On Why You Shouldn’t Blame Genetics for Skinny Legs
Image via Instagram @mitchjarv
PNBA bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis refutes blaming genetics for tiny legs.
Omitting leg day is a newbie gym-goer mistake. Leg day is imperative to build a strong, muscular physique. But gym rats often claim that bad genetics are responsible for their lack of muscle growth (not skipping leg days). However, Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) British bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis explains why genetics aren’t to blame for your lack of leg growth.
Mitch Jarvis was the 2020 UKDFBA Overall UK Champion, 2021 PNBA Pro UK Champion, and Pro World Runner-up. A few months ago, Jarvis garnered much attention on social media after uploading his massive leg transformation. Jarvis says that as a former gymnast, his legs were small. During a Longetiviy Muscle Podcast interview, Mitch Jarvis detailed how he got his legs to grow and rebutted, blaming poor genetics for lack of leg muscle growth. Jarvis stated:
“In gymnastics, obviously, I still had quite small legs compared to some of the other guys. And growing up, my dad would always say, “uh, it’s just our genetics; we can’t grow big legs. He said I’ve tried. I’ve squatted, I’ve done leg press, I’ve done all sorts over the years. We just can’t do it.” And that kinda that got me going. And I was like, well, well, I’ve gotta have big legs. You have big arms. You might as well have big legs as well.”
Training at a High Intensity Trumps Genetics
Mitch Jarvis credits consistently squatting at a high intensity for his massive leg transformation. He claimed he was squatting 3x a week from 2015 to 2017. And Jarvis would start with squats every gym training session–this was when Jarvis was still doing gymnastics before he transitioned into bodybuilding.
Jarvis said he tried many different training approaches, including German volume training. However, it was through Mitch Jarvis’ training intensity that bolstered massive leg growth. Doing more volume wasn’t the primary factor in Jarvis’ leg transformation.
Low Volume to Avoid “Junk Volume”
Mitch Jarvis described how he’s been getting better results in the gym after reducing his training volume. Jarvis describes this extra volume as “junk volume.” Jarvis describes junk volume as:
“Those sets that you’re just not really do anything with. It’s just it’s just filling up time in the gym. And it gives you a nice pump, and it makes you feel good. But they don’t really build the muscle. And I think that’s what I learned a lot. It’s, it’s all about the intensity.”
You can see a clip of Jarvis explaining this phenomenon below.
Natural Bodybuilding Training Volume
Mitch Jarvis says his training is focused on lower volume at a higher intensity, which is why he reduced his training volume to four days a week and cut “junk volume” training. Jarvis says that his body struggled to recover from training five days a week, even with proper nutrition and sleep.
Of course, natural bodybuilders won’t be able to train with as much volume as performance-enhanced lifters can since their bodies will take longer to recover.
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2022 South Korea Pro Classic Physique Results
Denis Romanov wins the 2022 South Korea Pro Classic Physique Show!
The 2022 South Korea Pro Classic Physique show took place on Sunday in Gyeonggi State, Korea. The Classic Physique division was on display with a winner gaining qualification to the 2022 Olympia. In the end, Denis Romanov was crowned champion.
Romanov will make his first appearance on the biggest stage since earning his Pro Card. He finished seventh at the 2022 Thailand Pro in March and was able to make improvements in order to punch his ticket to the Olympia.
The full results from the event have been announced. Checkout the full breakdown from the show, along with na official score card.
2022 South Korea Pro Classic Physique Breakdown
First Place – Denis Romanov
Second Place – Seong Hun Park
Third Place – Hyoung Joo Kwon
Fourth Place – Jang Sung Yong
Fifth Place – Jun Seok Yoo
Sixth Place – Chan Young Kim
Seventh Place – Jin Ho Seok
2022 South Korea Pro Classic Physique Official Score Card
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2022 Janet Layug’s Battle of the Bodies Pro Bodybuilding Results
India Paulino wins the 2022 Battle of the Bodies!
The 2022 Janey Layug Battle of the Bodies took place on Saturday, highlighting the Bikini Division. The event was held in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In the end, India Paulino was crowned champion and will have a chance to compete at the Olympia.
Paulino is no stranger to the Olympia stage. She has competed at the biggest event of the year six times in her career and has three finishes in the top five. Paulino competed four time this season thus far and has finished in the top five in each event. This includes the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro and New York Pro.
The full results from the show have been announced. Checkout the full breakdown from the event, along with the official score card.
2022 Battle of the Bodies Breakdown
First Place – India Paulino
Second Place – Brittany Hamilton
Third Place – Alessia Facchin
Fourth Place – Maia Gordon
Fifth Place – Erin Dennis
Sixth Place – Elizaveta Shmukler
Seventh Place – Ashley Smith
Eighth Place – Misty Gauthier
Ninth Place – Soily Rivadeneira
Tenth Place – Leslie Billups
2022 Battle of the Bodies Official Score Card
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Shaquille O’Neal Shares Physique Update Showing Off Abs Following Workout
Shaquille O’Neal continues to transform his physique.
Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed a career on the court that landed him in the Hall of Fame. Now, he continues his career in basketball as an analyst. In retirement, O’Neal has found a passion for fitness and continues to transform his physique. He recently shared a physique update showing off his defined abs following a workout.
Shaq is considered one of the most, if not the most, dominant player in NBA history. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds during a career that included four NBA Championships and an MVP award following the 1999-2000 season. O’Neal even has a passion for bodybuilding and has followed the sport over the years.
Shaquille O’Neal was named an honorary ambassador for the 2020 Olympia. In 2021, he attended the Arnold Classic and took some time to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is clear that O’Neal has put in some work in the gym following his latest update.
Shaquille O’Neal Continues To Make Changes In The Gym
At 50 years old, Shaquille O’Neal is making some changes to his lifestyle. Last year, he revealed his diet and workout plan. It consisted of protein shakes and a complete change to his diet. In the gym, O’Neal works out an hour a day and has incorporated cardio.
The results are clear as Shaq showed off his defined abs to his 26.9 million followers on Instagram.
In 2018, Shaquille O’Neal jokingly called out Phil Heath and shared a posing routine of his own. Shaq has been knowledgable about the bodybuilding world for years now and that is going to continue as he is a fan of the sport.
During his NBA career, Shaq used his incredible size and strength to dominate opponents down low. He built an NBA career that has him as one of the best of all-time and now, the changes to his routine are paying off.
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The IFBB Indy Pro To End After Seven Years Of Competition
The Indy Pro has officially ended after years of competition.
There are certain shows over the course of the bodybuilding season that gain more attention than others. The Indy Pro was in that category. Known as one of the top shows of the year, the Indy Pro held an Olympia qualification for winners but it looks like the 2022 event will be the last. In a recent announcement, Dave Bowers has decided to end the IFBB Indy Pro after seven years of competition.
Over the years, the Indy Pro has featured some of the top talent in bodybuilding. Blessing Awodibu won this year’s competition, taking the crown from Justin Rodriguez. Steve Kuclo became a back-to-back champion after winning the show in 2018 and 2019.
Bowers decided to make the decision because of many aspects, from “family” to “logistics business.”
Dave Bowers: “IFBB Indy Pro Has Retired”
Bowers took to the official Indy Pro Instagram account to make the announcement on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s been a wonderful 7 years getting to know so many great athletes, sponsors and spectators. We’re blessed the IFBB & NPC supported us every step of the way. This decision is solely based on the need to focus my time on our Logistics businesses, employees, and family. Thank you all for everything….. maybe you’ll see me on stage in the future. Yours in Bodybuilding, DB”
Following the announcement, there are many athletes who have made statements in the comment section. This includes the likes of Nathan Epler and Hassan Mostafa. Yumon Eaton also commented after making his pro debut at this year’s event.
The Indy Pro will be missed moving forward because of the impact that it had on bodybuilding as a whole. Now, competitors will have to focus on other shows in order to make up for the loss of the Indy Pro.
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Brandon Lirio Gives Physique Update 9 Weeks Out From Natural Olympia
Brandon Lirio shares update 9 weeks out from the Natural Olympia competition.
INBA PNBA Classic Physique bodybuilder Brandon Lirio gave a recent physique update 9 weeks out from his next show. The Natural Olympia champion posted the update on social media showcasing an impressive and shredded form.
A lighter weight bodybuilder focused on maintaining a lean yet powerful physique, Brandon Lirio has proven to be one of the best natural competitors out there. While bodybuilding could be his sole focus and pursuit, Lirio also focuses on other strength sports as well. Training and competing in both powerlifting and strongman, Lirio has taken his gains to whole new heights. This kind of cross training has helped him gain a tremendous amount of strength which in turn has helped his bodybuilding gains.
Big Strength Gains
By undergoing this strongman and powerlifting journey, Brandon Lirio has expanded his already proven base of strength. The kind of strength gains he’s making through heavy training will allow him to lift more when he’s focused solely on bodybuilding style training.
Working on some endurance in the high rep ranges here between deadlifts and stones. This was after about 7 sets of atlas stones so I was REALLY surprised it moved so smooth.
Now with 9 weeks until his next show, The Natural Olympia, Brandon Lirio is getting serious about his preparation. It appears that he’s putting the powerlifting and strongman training on hold to focus on the competition. He’ll face off against the best natural bodybuilders in the world and he’ll need all the focus he can muster if he hopes to win the Natural Classic Physique title.
Physique Update
In his most recent update to social media Brandon Lirio posted an image of himself striking a strong pose. From what we can see Lirio seems ready to kick things into full gear and get his prep underway.
Alright… time to get serious. 9 weeks to go.
What do you think of Brandon Lirio and his most recent physique update?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Iain Valliere Criticizes Derek Lunsford’s Special Invite, Claims “There Is No Excuse Not To” Qualify During A Show
Iain Valliere shared his thoughts on Derek Lunsford receiving a special invitation to the 2022 Olympia.
Derek Lunsford officially received a special invitation to compete in Men’s Open at the 2022 Olympia. Naturally, this decision was going to ruffle some feathers from those who disagree with the decision. Iain Valliere decided to share his opinion and criticize the process claiming that Lunsford could have competed in a show.
On Instagram, Bi’s and Tri’s shared the news of Lunsford receiving an invitation. Valliere appeared in the comments section of the post sharing his thoughts on the decision.
“My main issue with it here is absolutely no effort was made to qualify and go through the proper channels like everyone else competing there, and there is still plenty of shows, so there is really no excuse not to. He was in good shape all the way back in Pittsburgh for the guest posing, he easily could have done a show and qualified, but instead he used the extra time to be better for the O and rely on an invite. Just not a kosher move imo.”
Derek Lunsford and the 2022 Olympia
Derek Lunsford appeared as a guest poser during the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. This is when he got the initial chance to show off the size that he put on next to other mass monsters in Men’s Open. The event in Pittsburgh took place during the first week of May so Iain Valliere believes Lunsford should have entered a show over the summer to qualify for the Olympia.
Valliere was victorious at the 2021 Texas Pro and Tampa Pro in back-to-back weeks to qualify for the Olympia. This year, he won the Vancouver Pro and will now appear at the biggest show once again. As for Lunsford, he is the reigning 212 Olympia champion and will now have a chance to compete in the biggest division.
There were many who believed that Derek Lunsford would miss the Olympia if he did not receive this invite. The size that he put on would be difficult to lose to get back down to 212. At the same time, he was not qualified for Men’s Open.
Nonetheless, we will see what Derek Lunsford has to offer in Men’s Open come December. Do you believe that Iain Valliere is right to criticize the decision? This will be an added storyline heading into the event.
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Strongman Commentator Eddie Butler Has Passed Away At 65 Years Old
Eddie Butler became known for his incredible work commentating the World’s Strongest Man competition.
Eddie Butler, legendary strongman commentator and Rugby player, has passed away at the age of 65. Many sources have reported that Butler died in his sleep while on a charity mission on the Inca Trail in Peru.
Butler became known for commentating the World’s Strongest Man competitions. He was the voice of Strongman competitions because of his language and tone. Butler even went on to work for BBC over the course of his career.
“The World’s Strongest Man is saddened by the news that legendary commentator Eddie Butler has passed. We will forever be grateful to Eddie for giving his voice to a golden age of Strongman. Rest in strength.”
The Career Of Eddie Butler On The Field And Behind The Mic
Eddie Butler was an incredible Rugby player before taking his talents to the mic. During the 70s and 80s, Butler helped Pontypool reach elite status in Welsh Rugby. Butler had a chance to play 16 games for the National Team during his career.
Butler moved to commentary after retiring from Rugby. He was known for his work in Strongman but also had the chance to commentate the Olympics and Rugby.
Burnage Rugby Football Club posted a tribute to Butler on Instagram. The page described Butler as “one of the best sports commentators around” because of “his iconic deep welsh tones becoming synonymous with rugby and 6 Nations.”
Many Strongmen have had the chance to meet and get to know Butler over the years. They have shared condolences via social media following the sad news.
Generation Iron sends condolences to the family and friends of Eddie Butler during this time. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Derek Lunsford Has Received Special Invitation To Compete In Men’s Open Division During 2022 Olympia
Derek Lunsford will now have a chance to compete in Open bodybuilding!
Reigning 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford will now have a chance to compete in a different division. After speculation, Lunsford has received a special invitation to compete in the Men’s Open division during the 2022 Olympia.
Lunsford submitted a formal request to receive a special invitation for the biggest show of the year and it was approved by Olympia promoters and the IFBB Professional League.
“After careful consideration, the Olympia promoters and the IFBB Professional League have granted Lunsford a Special Invitation. The addition of Lunsford further bolsters what many are calling “one of the best lineups” in the history of the event.”
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Hunter Labrada Says “Low Volume, High Intensity” Training Benefits Enhanced And Natural Athletes
Hunter Labrada reveals his thoughts on enhanced and unenhanced lifting strategies.
Men’s Open bodybuilder Hunter Labrada has become one of the top competitors in the world. He is currently working to build a championship physique for the 2022 Olympia. During training, Labrada took some time to give viewers tips on how to train if you are an enhanced or unenhanced athlete.
Labrada has bodybuilding in his blood. His father, Lee Labrada, was an elite competitor during his career. Now, Hunter Labrada is working to capture the elusive Sandow Trophy. In 2021, Labrada won the Chicago Pro and qualified for the biggest show of the year. He finished fourth at the Olympia in October.
There are many who believe Big Ramy will win his third consecutive title come December. Labrada finished behind Ramy, Brandon Curry, and Hadi Choopan. It will be interesting to see if he can make a jump over any competitor he finished behind.
Hunter Labrada Believes Lifters Should Focus On Intensity
Hunter Labrada shared tips on how enhanced athletes should train compared to natural lifters. He believes the best way is to focus on intensity rather than volume.
“I’d like to say based off of people’s body of work and the people that are at the very top of the bodybuilding food chain right now, most of them are training in a relatively low volume, high intensity fashion.
Which, surprise — it’s the best way you can be training as a non-enhanced athlete. Why? For the exact reason that enhanced athletes recover better; you are not recovering better. You need to pick and choose your battles.”
Despite your status as an enhanced lifter or not, Hunter Labrada believes that all should focus on the same strategies in order to build muscle and speed up recovery.
“I know this might be surprising, but at the end of the day, the best thing that you can do as a non-enhanced lifter is to truly lift like an enhanced lifter. Bang caveat being that progressive overload training style.”
Hunter Labrada Explains The Purpose Of Steroids
The amount of weight that bodybuilders can move in the gym over the course of a workout is eye-opening. Labrada explained that the use of steroids helps during recovery and this helps do more in the gym.
“I want you to take a step back and think about what all of those steroids that we are taking do. They greatly enhance your recovery capabilities, meaning we can do more work in the gym versus someone who isn’t. So… what does that mean? That means the non-enhanced lifters should be at the level of volume or even a lower level of volume than the enhanced lifters.”
There are many athletes who claim to be natural because of the reputation that steroids have. This is something that Hunter Labrada spoke on in the beginning of the video. He believes that no matter if you are enhanced or natural, it is nothing to discuss or be ashamed of.
I’m going to preface this by saying: if you are natty, good for you. If you are enhanced, good for you. If you are either of them and you brag about it and take pride in the fact and tear others down who are the opposite, shame on you,” Hunter Labrada said.
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