Tag: nEWS
Dexter Jackson Looks Impressive in Retirement, Shares Epic Back Training
Dexter Jackson is looking impressive in recent back training.
Dexter Jackson is looking impressive in retirement as he shared an epic back training video. Jackson still appears in top form despite not actively competing.
Dexter Jackson is a certifiable beast. Not only was he a top bodybuilder for multiple decades, Jackson is the winningest competitor in history. Winning multiple titles including the Arnold Classic and Olympia, Jackson has set himself apart from other bodybuilders with his many accomplishments in the game.
Then he retired from competition.
Of course retirement is an inevitability for us all, but the where Dexter Jackson is concerned it just didn’t seem real. Time and again Jackson turned back the clock throughout his career beating out top flight competitors well into his forties. He proved that age is indeed just a number. Whether it was genetics or from making all the right moves, Jackson was able to remain a top flight competitor into his fifties, a feat no one could have ever imagined.
But like every other athlete Dexter Jackson eventually had to see the light and hang things up. After all you can’t compete at the highest levels of the sport forever. Or can you? Once again Jackson is proving that with enough motivation one can stay in some incredible shape.
Dexter Jackson is still pushing himself hard even in retirement. The veteran bodybuilder is still training hard and his recent back training proves that he could still compete with some of the best in bodybuilding.
Back Day baby!! Happy Monday People!!! ?
Dexter Jackson is an absolute legend there’s no doubting that. Jackson has pushed his body to the max and has embraced the lifestyle of a bodybuilder even in retirement.
Do you think Dexter Jackson could still compete now?
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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.
3x Natural Olympia Champion Brandon Lirio Discusses How to Identify Performance Enhanced Bodybuilders
INBA PNBA Natural Olympia 3x Classic Physique champion Brandon Lirio discusses distinguishable characteristics of enhanced bodybuilders.
Some lifters choose to stay natural, and others take performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the weightlifting world. The disparity between natty or performance-enhanced is especially true in bodybuilding. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a lifter or bodybuilder’s physique is natty or not, though. Brandon Lirio interviewed with Longevity Muscle Podcast and gave the scoop on how to identify performance-enhanced bodybuilders.
Brandon Lirio is an International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Classic Physique professional natural bodybuilder. He’s a 3x Natural Olympia champion, 2x World champion, and 2x Natural Universe champ. Lirio also competes in strongman and powerlifting and has a multi-media contract with Generation Iron and Iron Man Magazine.
Recently the Longevity Muscle Podcast released footage on their Instagram (IG) page with a clip from their interview with Brandon Lirio, specifically touching on the critical differences between a natural bodybuilder and an enhanced bodybuilder. Lirio stated:
“If you see somebody who wasn’t show-ready a week out and then out of nowhere, they’re super hard, dry, and dense. Alright, the percentage meter’s going up a little bit on the BS call here.
If within one year, they’ve put on 20 pounds of lean muscle naturally. Alright, that 99 percentile is starting to come back here.”
Brandon Lirio went on to say that most people posting comments online don’t understand how to differentiate natural and enhanced. Or they’re there to hate.
You can see an IG clip of Brandon Lirio discussing this on the Longevity Muscle Podcast below.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cb94HPBj_nU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Difference Between Performance Enhanced and Natural Lifters
Of course, their size is a distinguishable difference between performance-enhanced and natural bodybuilders. For example, if you look at the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro league, their contenders are noticeably bigger than INBA PNBA athletes.
INBA PNBA’s natural bodybuilders’ physiques are impressive and show us how much muscle you can build naturally. Although, they won’t be able to compete with bodybuilders taking PEDs such as steroids. This is why leagues that don’t test for drugs are separated from those that do.
INBA PNBA natural bodybuilders prove the amount of muscle mass the human body can produce naturally with hard work and dedication. But it takes time, consistency, and following a well-structured plan. As Lirio denoted, naturals won’t randomly be able to put on 20 pounds of lean muscle mass in one year.
Natural Bodybuilders
Not all bodybuilding leagues will drug test their athletes, but natural bodybuilding leagues do. And the INBA PNBA screens its athletes through the most thorough drug testing standards – the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Of course, some INBA PNBA natural bodybuilders disobey this. But these athletes are banned from competing, stripped of their titles, and placed in the Hall of Shame.
Natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA PNBA put fair competition and the health and safety of their athletes a priority above all. Moreover, the INBA PNBA rewards and recognizes its athletes with more cash and prizes than other natural bodybuilder federations. It also helps set their athletes up for success through opportunities like multi-media contracts.
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Chris Bumstead Attacks Leg Day With 585-Pound Squats For Six Reps
Chris Bumstead continues to show his strength and did so with massive squats during leg day.
Chris Bumstead is already at the top of Classic Physique bodybuilding and it is clear that he is not going anywhere. The reigning three-time Olympia champion has been hitting the gym had since his return and it showed in a recent social media post on leg day. Bumstead shared videos including massive 585-pound squats for six reps.
Bumstead has competed just once a year since climbing to the top of the sport. He has mastered the offseason and right now, Bumstead is in the bulking phase to add that muscle mass necessary. He is back to full training and is in full swing of his diet plan. Bumstead was forced to take some time off early in the year after contracting COVID-19. Just a couple months later, there is clearly no effects.
“Just want to be big and strong when I grow up. Please and thank you??”
Chris Bumstead shared two videos in the post. The first was of squats, which he hit on the Smith machine without shoes on. Bumstead controlled the weight and lowered himself to the ground slowly before exploding up. The next workout was Bulgarian split squats, which Bumstead performed with two dumbbells. He completed 11 reps before reaching failure on the 12th.
These workouts along with his diet plan, which consists of 5,000 calories during bulking, are the reason that Bumstead is difficult to take down on stage. He is often seen training with Iain Valliere, who competes in Men’s Open bodybuilding. This is something that Bumstead hinted at in a recent interview.
Chris Bumstead discussed the possibility of competing in Open bodybuilding before he retires. It is unlikely that he makes a permanent switch but he might appear in a show or two before calling it a career.
Wherever Bumstead is, it is likely that he is going to find success. He has built great motivation and has a massive following because of his physique. Bumstead continues to showcase his elite strength and workout plans fo others to follow. It will be interesting to see how his preparation continues over the course of the offseason.
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Ronnie Coleman Reacts To Absolutely Insane Lifts By Bradley Martyn
Ronnie Coleman took a break from lifting and decided to react to some of Bradley Martyn’s feats.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders of all-time and is still very much involved in the sport. Not only does he continue to follow bodybuilding but he is active in the gym and provides insight to other lifters. Coleman has also started some entertainment content reacting to other huge lifts by strength athletes.
On his YouTube page, Coleman was reacting to some eye-opening lifts by Bradley Martyn, who has become a social media sensation showcasing wild lifts of all sorts. This is the video that Coleman is commenting on and it features five minutes of some of Martyn’s best.
Early in the video, Martyn is seen doing an incline bench press with a dumbbell in one hand. In the other hand, he is lifting a woman by the lifting belt around her waist. He is able to control both and keep his reps steady.
“Don’t hurt that girl. Don’t hurt her. Woah, woah. Yeah, I, that’s pretty impressive right there,” Coleman said.
Other lifts that Bradley Martyn showcased was a flat bench press but instead of dumbbells, he used two barbells that were 225 pounds. Many lifts are unorthodox but Martyn also mixes in some normal lifts with massive amounts of weight, including barbell shrugs and deadlifts.
Ronnie Coleman explains how these are all lifts that show strength and coordination. He expresses many times over the course of the video that these lifts are impressive and should not be attempted by many. This includes a 405-pound bench press for reps in the middle of the street.
“Who did this? Put this in the middle of the street now? In the rain, too. Benching 405. I’d never do that one.”
Ronnie Coleman ends the video saying that they can get together for a session but he will not attempt the crazy lifts. Coleman has remained active in his retirement and still has plenty of muscle mass.
“That coordinated strength right there. A lot of that stuff he doing right there, he’s the only one who can do it….Maybe we can get together when I come out there and we can talk about it because there’s no way I can do any of that stuff.”
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Kyle Kirvay Makes A 225-Pound Shoulder Press Look Easy For 20 Reps
Kyle Kirvay continues to show off massive lifts for high reps to work on cardio.
Kyle Kirvay might be a professional bodybuilder but he clearly has a future in powerlifting as well. Kirvay frequently shows off enormous lifts for many reps as he works on cardio throughout his sets as well. Recently, it was Kirvay demolishing 225-pound shoulder presses for 20 reps.
Kirvay took to Instagram to show off the effortless reps. He simply sat upright on the bench and did not use any get to aid him in the lifts. It seemed as though Kirvay did not even use effort to move the weight until about rep No. 15. Even those final 4-5 went up quickly.
“Cardio, 225 shoulder press version. Don’t neglect the 20 rep sets!”
Kyle Kirvay has accomplished many incredible feats of strength including a 495-pound squat for 22 reps. Let’s not forget that he is a professional bodybuilder.
Kirvay earned his Pro Card in 2018 after winning Men’s Heavyweight and Classic Physique at the 2018 NPC Universe Championships. This was just his fourth bodybuilding competition and it did not take long for Kirvay to turn pro. Since 2018, he has only competed in one IFBB show and that was the 2020 Chicago Pro.
Despite being new to powerlifting, Kirvay has performed like a veteran. He took part in the 2022 USPA Battle of Atilis where he shined with massive lifts. This was his first powerlifting competition and set the bar for future marks.
During this show, Kirvay totaled 1,005kg (2,214lbs). He began with a 365kg (804lb) squat followed by a 275kg (606lb) bench press. Kirvay’s final lift was a 365kg (804lb) deadlift. All three individual lifts and his total was good enough to set New Jersey State Records.
The combination of bodybuilding and powerlifting is not something seen too often but it is exciting when it comes up. Larry Wheels is another example of a do-it-all performer, including arm wrestling. Kirvay is 27 years old and has plenty of time to build more strength and train for powerlifting.
Kyle Kirvay already has the ability to put up huge numbers and has shown this on social media. After an eye-popping performance in his first powerlifting competition, Kirvay will continue to set new marks and take his numbers as high as they can go.
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Iranian Hulk Claims Martyn Ford Pulled Out of Fight: “For Me The Fight is Still On”
The Iranian Hulk calls out Martyn Ford for pulling out if they’re bout.
It appears that the Iranian Hulk is claiming that Martyn Ford pulled out of their fight. Originally it was reported that the Hulk was the one to pull out, but a recent video posted by the Iranian strongman tells a different story.
It appears that a new wrinkle has formed in the case of the recently cancelled bout between popular strength sport figures Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk. Their much anticipated bout has now been put on the shelf. But according to the Hulk, it’s Ford who pulled out of their bout breaking contract in the process.
A great deal of hype and build up was put into the bout between the Iranian Hulk and Martyn Ford. Both men offered up training footage and Ford in particular talked up the battle with a great deal of trash talk. Ford even mentioned that he’d be able knockout Hafthor Bjornsson if the two met in the squared circle. But it appears talks of a fight with Bjornsson was premature. That’s especially true considering that the bout between the Hulk and Ford was reported canceled.
According to initial reports the Iranian Hulk was forced to pull out of the fight. While Martyn Ford never made this claim himself, that didn’t stop his fans and supporters to hurl allegations at the Hulk claiming he was running away from the fight. But it appears that a new video from the Hulk is challenging the original reporting of the fight cancellation.
Ford Pulled Out?
In a recent post to Instagram the Iranian Hulk had much to say about the fight cancellation. Chiefly the Hulk made it clear that he didn’t pull out of the fight. In fact he claims that is Martyn Ford who pulled out of their bout.
Today i heard ford dont want fight not me not any other fighters i never cancelled any fight but he dont want see me again ! its against the contract and my legal team started.
actually pretty boy cant never fight, who just hide and run away
he must have a permission from women first i cant believe opponent like him its shameful this victory isn’t honor for me
its a century joke not century fight.
The Iranian Hulk seems none too happy about the bout cancellation. It appears that he and his team could also take legal action against Martyn Ford for breach of contract.
The Generation Iron team will continue to follow this story as it develops.
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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.
Natural Olympia Champion Laura Guzman Credits Carb Cycling for Losing 130 Pounds
Image via Instagram @girlgonefit_24
INBA Natural Olympia Body Quest champion Laura Guzman says she used carb cycling to lose 130 pounds.
Anyone who loses weight, especially 100 pounds plus, is an inspiration. And when you combine that with becoming a natural bodybuilding champion, it’s sensational. Laura Guzman won the gold medal in the Body Quest category at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) 2021 Natural Olympia after undergoing an over 100-pound weight loss journey via carb cycling.
However, Guzman admits it wasn’t an easy path and that it took perseverance and patience. Guzman shared an inspiring transformation photo on social media and detailed how carb cycling led her to lose 130 pounds and a Natural Olympia title. She stated:
“When I started out at 285 lbs never would have guessed I would make it this far in my weight loss or compete in bodybuilding competitions. My amazing coach @mari.daniella would set out realistic goals and we would crush those and keep going and look where we ended up.
It wasn’t easy at all and ya can ask her lol I complained at times but got it done.”
Guzman said she lost 130 pounds from carb cycling in a separate Instagram post. She also noted that carb cycling helped her control endometriosis. You can see her full post below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbslV89pA79/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
What Is Carb Cycling?
Carb cycling is a popular diet that has helped many people lose weight. In general, it’s having a mix of high-carb and low-carb days. If you have a higher carbohydrate day, you’ll eat more fats. However, your protein intake will typically be similar each day. Carb cycling is supposed to force your body to burn fat as fuel. Therefore, causing you to drop weight and body fat.
Although carb cycling can be an effective strategy to lose weight, many experts will agree that you should still be in a caloric deficit if your goal is weight loss.
How to Apply Carb Cycling
The day people decide to eat high or low carb will vary. But typically, you’ll want to eat higher carbs on the day you exercise and save your lower carb days for non-exercise days.
That’s because carbs give your body energy and your muscles glycogen to fuel you through your workouts. Of course, if you exercise multiple times throughout the week, you will likely have some low-carb days on workout days.
There are several different approaches to take and include a variety of factors. To name a few examples, you can:
Have higher carb days on training days and lower carb days on non-training days
Include one or multiple refeed days where you load up on carbs after a period of lower carb days
Eat low carbs during a cutting phase, followed by a high carb diet during a bulking phase
You can also split up your days and weeks into high-carb, moderate-carb, and low-carb days depending on the activity level you’re doing.
There isn’t a necessarily cookie-cutter approach to carb cycling. It’s what works best for you and your goals. It’s best to advise with a coach.
Recap
Laura Guzman was able to lose 130 pounds and become a natural bodybuilding champion by implementing carb cycling. Carb cycling has a mixture of higher and lower carbohydrate days to help your body burn fat. There are various ways to implement carb cycling, and it’s best to discuss the right strategy for you with a coach.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more inspiration from the best natural bodybuilders!
Oleksii Novikov Shares Military Training Footage While Defending Ukraine
Oleksii Novikov is training to help defend his home country against Russian attack.
Oleksii Novikov dedicated his recent victory during the 2022 Europe’s Strongest Man competition to his home country of Ukraine. The event took place on Saturday and it did not take long fo the strongman to share a video on his YouTube page to tie it all together. Novikov has been training as a soldier to defend Ukraine against the Russian attack and shared some footage.
In the video, Novikov is seen participating in drills along with other soldiers. In the midst of this war, Novikov has been able to stay at the top of strongman and that is what is most impressive. Following his victory in England, Novikov made sure to dedicate it to Ukraine.
“I dedicate this win to Ukraine. We’ll win, we’re the strongest, remember it. And we’ll be the most prosperous country in the world. We’ll live a very good life, I promise. I travel a lot and know that Ukraine is truly the best country and I don’t want to live in any country apart from Ukraine.”
In March, Oleksii Novikov finished second at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic behind Martins Licis. This competition came after Novikov began raising money for supplies for soldiers in Ukraine. Despite finishing as the runner-up, Novikov was gifted a larger prize to bring home for the cause.
What makes his feats even more impressive is that he is unable to train like a true strongman during this time.
“Unfortunately, I can’t train very well like strongman…[for] months, I train like soldier. Glory to Ukraine.”
Oleksii Novikov returned home after wining his most recent event and began training with soldiers. He was geared up fully and was able to handle the weight because of his training as a strongman. In the video, Novikov was seen going through the courses and shooting at targets, including once that had pictures of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko.
Novikov is set to appear in competition in May during the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. This will be a week-long event in Sacramento where the world’s best strongmen will compete for the title. Novikov won the event back in 2020 and he has some extra motivation this time around.
Even while training as a soldier, Oleksii Novikov has remained at the top of strongman.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Nick Walker Shows Off Impressive V-Taper in Recent Physique Update
Nick Walker has an impressive v-taper.
Nick Walker reveals an impressive v-taper in a recent physique update on social media. The rising bodybuilding star looked strong as he maintained his waistline while building up the rest of his massive frame.
Nick Walker has been often criticized for his bulky and blocky physique. It was the reason so many gave for the talented bodybuilder taking fifth place at the 2021 Olympia. So many claim that the mass monster doesn’t possess the kind of silhouette that can make him an Olympia champion.
Well it appears that a recent physique update from the talented bodybuilder suggests the opposite is true.
Nick Walker has been hard at work trying to improve his physique since his showing at the 2021 Olympia. Hoping to still build muscle while keeping a slimmer waist, Walker appears to have pulled it off.
A recent post to his Instagram shows a much improved Nick Walker still in the midst of his off season. He looks massive yet is able to maintain a slim waistline. His front double bicep showcases the slimmed down waost as well as an impressive v-taper.
Just trying to grow and keep the waist intact
From what we can see here Nick Walker is doing a great job at building his frame while keeping his midsection under control. This must be quite the challenge. Considering that a bodybuilder needs to up their calories in order to build solid muscle, it can be easy to see their waistline expand in the midst of a bulk.
Despite that fact, Nick Walker is managing to keep a tight midsection and make good on his intentions to bulk while keeping his waist under control.
With this kind of improvement it’s clear that Walker will be a problem for anyone he goes up against in the near future.
What do you think of Nick Walker and his impressive v-taper?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Brandon Hendrickson Introduces New NFT To Train In The Metaverse
The emergence of NFTs and the Metaverse are branching out into many areas and that includes fitness!
Brandon Hendrickson is the class of the Men’s Physique division in bodybuilding. He is a three-time Olympia champion and will enter this year’s competition as the favorite once again. Now, Hendrickson is venturing out into the Metaverse by launching his first NFT collection.
Power Shakers NFT is a collection that allows followers to reach their fitness goals and achievements. By owning this collection, followers will be able to workout online with different instructors while earning passive income. There are multiple ways that members can train. Also, they will have access to a private application that calculates and distributes Power Powder tokens.
The Power Shakers website shared its mission and some perks that members will receive when they join.
“Power Shaker NFT utility is where owners receive a physical piece of art that matches the NFT they purchase; unique access to events, exclusive memberships, or future use in the Metaverse.
Our NFT itself, is the key that opens the doors, is a membership card to an exclusive card. By joining us today, you choose to create the future you deserve.”
Brandon Hendrickson won the 2018 Olympia to gain his first victory at the biggest competition in bodybuilding. After being defeated in 2019, Hendrickson won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. Now, he is focused on completing the three-peat in December.
Members who want to join Power Shakers will have a chance to follow certain workouts by Hendrickson and other fitness stars. This is a craze that is growing quickly and now, fitness and working out is beginning to make its way to the Metaverse and NFTs.
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