Tag: nEWS
Luke Stoltman Crushes 661-Pound Pause Deadlifts For A Triple
Strongman Luke Stoltman continues to put up some huge numbers preparing for 2022.
The Stoltman brothers have climbed to the top of the powerlifting game. Both have recently been invited to participate in the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic and this is just one event for what could be a packed year in 2022. This is especially true for Luke Stoltman if he is able to continue this level of training.
Luke Stoltman seems determined to increase his numbers heading into the new year. This was made clear when Europe’s Strongest Man loaded 661 pounds on the bar and completed three reps while pausing in between. Stoltman completed this lift without a belt. This has gone with Stoltman’s recent trend of lifting heavy in order to reach his max.
Luke Stoltman entered a training session with his brother Tom, who has been more focused on high volume speed reps. In a recent video posted to the Stoltman Brothers YouTube page, you can see how Luke completed these deadlifts and the form he used to do so.
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During the 2021 Rogue Invitation, Luke Stoltman struggled with deadlifts and this was his weakest lift at the event. It is clear that he wats to bump up those numbers and has been doing so by lifting extremely heavy.
Despite this performance at the Rogue Invitation, Stoltman was able to put up a big year in 2021. He won the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man and 2021 Giants Live World Tour Finals. At the Giants Live, Tom Stoltman finished second to his brother. Stoltman is known for massive lifts and thrives in log lift.
In 2020, Stoltman set the British record with a 221kg (487lb) log lift. It seems as though he could attempt the world record in the coming year. This is currently held by Iron Biby at 229kg (504.8lb). For the time being, Stoltman seems to have his focus on deadlifts and strengthening a part of his craft that has been down recently.
If Luke Stoltman is able to get his numbers up, there is no telling what levels he will be able to reach. Stoltman already has one show on tap for 2022 at the Arnold Strongman Classic. It will be interesting to see when he competes next and what he decides to attempt. There is no doubt that he continues to be one of the top strongmen in the world and lifts like this remind us all.
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Vitaliy ‘Good Vito’ Ugolnikov Makes Switch Over To NPC
Good Vito will have a chance to compete in an NPC competition moving forward.
Vitaliy Ugolnikov, better known as Good Vito, has built quite a following and fanbase on social media. He has posted many physique updates to show off progress and he will not have a chance to show it off at a different level.
Good Vito has been competing in the IFBB Pro Elite Circuit and fans were wondering when he was going to work his way up. That seems to be happening as Ugolnikov is making the switch to NPC. This could allow Good Vito to eventually earn his pro card and move up to IFBB competition.
This is a decision that has been in the works for about a year now. Good Vito wanted to win a major international tournament, such as a European or World Championship. Now, he will have the chance to matchup against some competition at a higher level to see whee he stacks up. According to some physique updates, Ugolnikov should hold his own and then some.
At the beginning of November, Good Vito shared a picture and an achievement of winning another championship in Russia.
“3x Time Champion of Russia! So what?! Time for a bigger land?”
Good Vito is a 24-year-old bodybuilder who has made some serious progress in recent years. This has been done on social media and on stage. The time has come for Ugolnikov to join NPC competition and it can only go up from here. He certainly has built a physique that can compete at the highest level and he will have a chance to do so.
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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.
With Santi Aragon Retiring at 33, Can We Expect More Athletes to Walk Away Early?
Santi Aragon retires from competitive bodybuilding.
Santi Aragon, 212 and Classic Physique veteran, has decided to retire at the age of 33. The bodybuilder sites that he wished to walk away on his own terms with his health intact.
Competing as a professional athlete can be quite the daunting thing. It can take a considerable toll on the physical body. Bodybuilding in particular can be especially taxing for the athletes. To push your body to the limit then cut down a tremendous amount of water weight and step on stage dried out and depleted can be truly challenging for the average person.
So when athletes state that they’re leaving competing behind it usually comes as no surprise. After all you can only stay in the game so long before it has diminishing returns…unless your name is Dexter Jackson that is. But it appears that the latest athlete to retire from the sport is doing so at a relatively young age.
212 and Classic Physique competitor Santi Aragon is walking away from competition. Aragon still at the height of his powers is choosing to call it quits at 33 years of age. The great news is that Aragon isn’t retiring due to health concerns. The bodybuilder made it clear that he’s walking away from the sport at a high point rather than going too long.
Leaving The Sport Behind
Santi Aragon wrote this message on his Instagram post addressing his retirement.
I am formally announcing my retirement from the bodybuilding stage. It’s been something that I have been wanting to do for the past year. I am walking away from the stage on my own terms and was not forced in anyway to do so. As time goes on, your priorities in life change. My priorities are my future, my health and my family. Bodybuilding was getting in the way of those 3 things which I hold dear to my heart. Bodybuilding has brought me so much joy the last 10 years. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve traveled to and all the life lessons I can take with me into the future. I am very grateful for the last 10 years and all of the people that were a part of it. Just because I’m retired from competing, does not mean I am disappearing from the fitness world. Your boy has to look peeled come summer time ? Love all you ❤️
While Santi Aragon may still be healthy and fit, there have been a string of bodybuilders who have passed away in recent years that is certainly raising some alarms. These deaths have certainly put many athletes on notice. At the end of the day all we have is our health and it appears that rather than push on for too long Aragon is choosing to walk away with his head held high and with all his faculties intact.
What do you think of Santi Aragon retiring at age 33?
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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.
2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster Has Been Announced
Here are the strongmen who received invitations to the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic!
The 2022 Arnold Sports Festival is set to take place from March 3-6, 2022 in Columbus, OH. This is the first time that this event is preparing to take place in full in over two years. The festivities from 2020 and 2021 saw cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because this was disrupted last year, there was not a chance for athletes to qualify for the 2022 competition.
The roster has been announced for the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. This was an invitational contest. Like the 2021 Rogue Invitational, strongmen had to receive an invitation to compete in the event. There was not a need to qualify for this specific competition.
The official roster of strongmen was announced on Thursday. Bobby Thompson will act as an alternate in the case that any competitor is forced to withdraw for any reason. Check out the full list of athletes below, along with the breakdown of prize money.
2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Roster
Maxime Boudreault
JF Caron
Rob Kearney
Mateusz Kieliszkowski
Martins Licis
Evgeny Markov
Trey Mitchell
Oleksii Novikov
Luke Stoltman
Tom Stoltman
2022 Arnold Strongman Classic Prize Breakdown
First Place — $80,000
Second Place — $25,000
Third Place — $20,000
Fourth Place — $15,000
Fifth Place — $13,000
Sixth Place — $8,000
Seventh Place — $7,000
Eighth Place — $6,000
Ninth Place — $5,000
10th Place — $3,000
There are many World’s Strongest Man titles, along with other victories, that will be present during the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. With this being the first full event in over two years, there is bound to be plenty of excitement that comes with each show. The strongmen will certainly put on a display that will be must-see action.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Kayla Rowling Praises Natural Bodybuilding for Balancing Yin and Yang
Kayla Rowling thanks natural bodybuilding for balancing masculine and feminine energy.
If you were tuned in to 2021 Natural Olympia this past November, you might remember the stunning Kayla Rowling. She was the champion of the Bikini Divas Open division and back-to-back winner. In the Bikini Divas class, contestants are judged on their presentation, individuality, and sex appeal. So not only do you need to be toned and look good, but you have to present yourself in a way that’s alluring to the judges.
Kayla Rowling believes balancing and cultivating her masculine, and feminine energies played a role in her success. And she credits natural bodybuilding for helping her find this equilibrium. On an Instagram (IG) post posted on November 23, 2021, Rowling said:
“Lifting weights is very masculine and I need it, but bodybuilding gives you the best of both worlds. Once you understand the right amounts you need of both you are completely balanced and you feel whole.”
Here’s the IG post below where Kayla Rolwing goes into detail on how you can increase your feminine energy:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWoVn8aPVQO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Kayla Rowling is proof of how powerful these energies are for success. In 2019, Rowling placed 15th at Natural Olympia yet was able to earn a champion medal within two years. On IG, she voiced, “Everyone wants to avoid pain and seek out pleasure. I do the opposite!”
Masculine and Feminine Energy
According to Chinese philosophy, Yin is your feminine energy, and Yang is your masculine energy. Masculine energy represents fire, and feminine energy represents water. Power and fierce come to mind when you think of fire. Whereas with water, you muse therapeutic and healing. In a sense, both of these are analogically linked to your traits. The masculine side symbolizes strength, purpose, competitiveness, and decisiveness. Feminine energy denotes intuitiveness, empathy, and passion.
Both are important for you to feel happy and fulfilled. And letting one get out of whack can wreak havoc on all areas of your life – health, relationships, and career. With too much masculine energy, it leads to anger and ego. In contrast, an overflow of feminine energy can make you frail. A fluid dance between the two is the key to balancing these powerful energies.
On IG, Rowling stated:
“When you are in your feminine energy, you have a strong connection to your body and your intuition, and you make decisions based on what you feel in your heart. It’s what you tap into when you are being creative and inspired. It loves beauty, is fluid, empathetic, passionate, and flows from moment to moment like the waters of a river.
Masculine is all about taking action; loves to build (weight lifting) and loves to fix things. Masculine energies are strong, decisive, competitive, likes to win and break through barriers. Its energy is logical and rational.”
Final Word
Balancing your masculine and feminine energy is being harmonious to help you achieve your dreams. Fortunately, weightlifting is a great way to stabilize your Yin and Yang for all the fellow lifting brothers and sisters. So if there’s any other excuse you need to bang metal and plates around, honing your energy is a force to be reckoned with.
Generation Iron would like to congratulate Kayla Rowling for her success at 2021 Natural Olympia. And the positive energy she spreads to others.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated with your favorite natural bodybuilders!
John Haack Completes Massive 600-Pound Bench Press In Training
John Haack continues to put up huge numbers during training sessions.
There is no doubt that John Haack is one of the top powerlifters in the 90kg division. He has been on a tear recently — both in competition and in training. Recently, Haack completed another monstrous lift in the gym.
Haack continues to get stronger and stronger each time he shares a lift on social media. He recently took to Instagram to share his latest accomplishment on the bench. Haack accomplished a 600-pound bench press, which is more than his heaviest competition lift.
“Joining the 600lb bench clubs feels oh so good.”
John Haack’s heaviest bench press in competition is 579.8 pounds. Here, he was able to unofficially beat his own record with a 600.8-pound lift. Haack competes in the 90kg division but his weight at the time of this lift was not specified.
Haack has set many records in this division. He currently holds the world record and became the only 90kg competitor to total over 1,000kg in competition. During the Bucked Up Showdown, Haack totaled 1,005.5kg (2,216.8lb), including breaking the deadlift world record of 410kg (903.9lb). This is where he really solidified himself as one of the best in the world.
There has been plenty of reactions to John Haack’s recent lift. It is always special when the all-time record holder acknowledges a lift. Julius Maddox currently holds the raw bench press world record. He is looking to become the first person to ever bench press 800 pounds raw. He took the time to comment on Haack’s recent Instagram post showing off his lift. Maddox simply said “This is crazy.”
Crazy indeed. Haack has made a huge name for himself in powerlifting but 2022 could hold much more. There has been talks about Haack preparing for a massive year going up. With just three weeks left in 2021, Haack is beginning to heat up in the gym and this gives some hints that he is preparing for something special.
This would not be the first time that John Haack made some noise on stage. Haack has been seen competing some massive deadlifts and now he is adding huge bench press numbers to the list. Do not be surprised to see even more weight being put on the barbell moving forward.
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The Muscle Doc Jordan Shallow On The Stigma And Vast Misconceptions Of Chiropractors
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Jordan Shallow, aka The Muscle Doc, breaks down the realities behind chiropractors and their place for bodybuilders.
Dr. Jordan Shallow is probably best known in media as The Muscle Doc. He’s a Chiropractor, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and hosts the RX’D RADIO podcast. He’s a vastly knowledgable person when it comes to fitness, bodybuilding, and strength sports. Which is why we connected with him to discuss a wide range of topics. In our latest GI Exclusive, Jordan Shallow debunks myths about chiropractors and evaluates their relationship with pro bodybuilding.
The world seems to have a love/hate relationship with Chiropractors. Some people believe they are a total scam, while others swear by them. And even those in the middle seem to be disappointed if a chiropractor can’t accomplish the healing that a patient is looking for. Dr. Jordan Shallow is a chiropractor himself – and spent some time during our GI Exclusive interview detailing the realities behind the profession. He also explains why the public has such a complicated relationship to it.
During our discussion about Chiropractors, Jordan Shallow was hesitant to give any blanket advice. The reason for this, is that every patient’s body is different. There is no general rule of how, when, or why to use a chiropractor. In fact, he wouldn’t want to trust any chiropractor that did provide black and white general advice.
This is because chiropractors are a form of manual therapy vs traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is often consistent. You know what you will get when you go to a typical doctor’s visit. But a chiropractor visit can be vastly different depending on who is your doctor and what your specific needs are.
“Say what you want about conventional medicine – I know what I’m going to get when I got to a doctor’s office,” Jordan Shallow states in our interview. He continues:
“For better or worse, at least it’s consistent. Which I think is one thing people are always hesitant with when approaching manual therapies of any kind. Is the relative inconsistency, especially at the level of chiropractor, of wha the treatment is going to look like.”
Jordan Shallow points out that the consistency of a traditional doctor can be a blessing and a curse. It means both successes and failures for your ailment will be relatively consistent. Whereas manual therapies like a chiropractor can open your options and provide relief where a traditional doctor might otherwise not be able to.
That being said, there is such a wide variety of approaches a chiropractor can take – which can lead to trial and error for a patient’s experience. This can often lead to frustration for the patient. On top of this, there are pop culture references that often depict chiropractors a certain way – which might flavor the opinion of a potential patient before ever even visiting a chiropractor.
On top of this, the advent of social media has also allowed for viral videos to mislead people on chiropractors as well. Jordan Shallow mentions Tik Tok chiropractors that “Jean Claude Van Damme people’s heads off” that are more stunt than they are realistic therapies that should be used in a professional environment.
So where do chiropractors come in for bodybuilding? We’ve seen across many pro bodybuilders’ socials and also many time in our very own films that top pros often go to chiropractors. Jordan Shallow had some words on that as well. Most specifically the instrument assist soft tissue mobilization (aka the metal bar you see make pro bodybuilders scream like babies).
Jordan Shallow thinks this is a case where it’s become over-popular. That many bodybuilders believe that it’s breaking up scar tissue – which in Shallow’s opinion is impossible. If it were breaking up scar tissue, the pressure needed would also break the person’s bones. So what he’s seeing here with this popular chiropractic tactic is that a little of this bar probably helps somehow on a neurological or vascular level.
The reason it has become so popular seems to be tied into something called “dose dependent relationships.” It’s a concept that Jordan Shallow believes bodybuilders are predisposed to getting tied up into. He explains in our interview –
“Bodybuilders get tied into what’s called a dose dependent relationship. If some is good, more is better. And we’ve seen this play out to the detriment over the last six months it seems but we all fall victim to it man. When I first started training I was like, ‘Wait creatine can make me bigger? So if 20 grams is good, 40 grams must be better – you’re an idiot.”
Jordan Shallow doesn’t see this as a problem unless it gets out of hand. In fact, as is mentioned in the quote above, he thinks it’s a part of what everyone goes through as they learn more about strength and fitness.
So it would see that chiropractors, like most things, is far more complicated than can be explained in pop culture or in broad media profiling. Ultimately, it depends on each individual to decide what is right for them. And as with any medical profession – doing your own personal due diligence to ensure the person you are working with is an actual professional.
You can watch Jordan Shallow’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above. And make sure to stick around in the coming weeks for more excerpts from our in-depth conversation with The Muscle Doc!
Breon Ansley Speaks On Oxygen Gym: ‘My Personal Experience Was Incredible’
Breon Ansley had positive things to say about his experience at Oxygen Gym in Kuwait.
It seems as though opinions on Oxygen Gym in Kuwait will vary depending on which athlete you ask. The gym has received criticism from some who have trained there because of its intense nature. This is an establishment that is known for rushing the limits. This training style is not right for everyone but it is hard to argue with some of the results.
Oxygen Gym, which is owned by Bader Budai, has produced some elite competitors in the sport of bodybuilding. Recently, two-time Olympia Classic Physique champion Breon Ansley sang the praises of the gym. In a recent interview, Ansley described his experiences, which he described as “positive.”
“I would say my experience, my personal experience was incredible. I had the utmost support from Bader. I had Chris out there. You know, all of the guys. You know that trained in the gym. All of the competitors and just regular gym-goers, they were all great and all supportive. Yeah, everything was great. Everything was absolutely wonderful.”
There have been plenty of contrary statements made about the gym. Regan Grimes recently spoke about his experiences in Kuwait. He explained how he gained 40 pounds in a short amount of time and the trainers were not thrilled about him going home. Grimes admitted that the style of training works but he was not for him. Also, reigning two-time Olympia champion Big Ramy left the gym back in 2018 after exercise regiments and increased supplements kept getting pushed harder and harder.
On the other end is Brandon Curry. The former Olympia champ and two-time runner-up still trains at Oxygen Gym. Breon Ansley explained how he used to room with Curry in Kuwait and how the presence of other bodybuilders adds to the overall energy.
“Yeah and the energy with Rolly in there and Ramy at the time, Ahmad was in there training. Ahmad Axomoni, yeah and Brandon, and shit, I was roommates with Brandon. We stayed together so that was really cool. So yeah nothing but great things for me to say about the experience there in Kuwait at the Oxygen Gym. My ears haven’t been on the streets to what’s going on, so I don’t know what happened.”
Breon Ansley continues to train hard at age 42. He continues to be one of the top competitors in Classic Physique. Ansley is a two-time champion and has three consecutive top-three finishes, including back-to-back bronze medals.
The 2021 Olympia saw many young competitors stop up and finish in the top five. Ansley does not feel like his age is a disadvantage. In fact, quit the opposite.
““Oh, I feel it’s an advantage. Because it’s just as well, we were talking about, the maturity. The quality of the muscle, you know. I feel now that, even with, even with certain little nagging stuff I have, when I am close to 100% my strength, my strength stride is the highest that it’s ever been.”
The overall confidence and mindset of Breon Ansley is a key factor in remaining near the top. Of course, this does along with an elite physique. Despite some recent heat that Oxygen Gym has been under, Ansley remains an advocate of the gym.
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Hafthor Bjornsson Meets Tyson Fury During Speaking Event
Hafthor Bjornsson and Tyson fury took time to take some pictures prior to the event.
It is not everyday that two men standing 6-foot-9 get a chance to measure up against each other.
On Wednesday, that is what we saw when Hafthor Bjornsson got the chance to meet WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The duo got together for a photo session during an event where Fury was speaking. The two compared height to see who was taller and posed for some shirtless photos.
Bjornsson took to Instagram to shared a slideshow of pictures that were taken.
“Peak performance male athletic body shape vs me… all jokes aside what an honour meeting @gypsyking101 tonight and going to one of his shows! Looking forward to learning more from the champ himself in the near future! ?”
Hafthor Bjornsson has gone through an incredible physique transformation as he has gone from strongman to boxing. The former World’s Strongest Man hs lost a significant amount of weight and now sports a shredded physique. As he continues to prepare for his fight against Eddie Hall, Bjornsson met Tyson Fury, who could share some pointers.
Bjornsson and Hall are expected to meet early in 2022. This was a bout that was supposed to take place back in September but Hall was forced to postpone after suffering a torn triceps. Bjornsson has appeared in the ring three times this year in preparation for his match against Hall.
It began with a bout against Irish cruiserweight Steven Ward followed by English heavyweight Simon Vallily. Bjornsson handled the exhibition fights well before entering September. Devon Larratt stepped in for Hall to face Bjornsson in their scheduled match. This was another victory for Bjornsson as he continues to prepare for Hall.
Tyson Fury is the right man to meet. He is considered the best heavyweight in the world and currently holds the WBC title. Fury had been hoping to face Oleksandr Usyk next but has been ordered to defend his title against Dillan Whyte.
Fury is coming off a victory via knockout in the 11th round during his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder. He will return to the ring soon to defend his title and keep his standing as the best heavyweight right now.
This was a great moment for Hafthor Bjornsson as he got a chance to meet one of his favorite boxers. Tyson Fury is a huge name in boxing and Bjornsson is trying to make an impact as well. One thing that we know is that there was a lot of size and muscle in that room when the two got together.
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Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker Turn From Rivals to Training Partners
Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker turn from rivals to training partners.
Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker have rekindled their rivalry as they train back together. The bright spot is that the two appear to be on friendly terms.
Rivalries can be extremely toxic or healthy depending on the individuals involved. A rivalry can bring out the absolute best in two competitors as well as the worst. But when it’s on the positive side it can certainly end up being a treat for the competitors, fans, abs everyone else involved. That brings us to two former rivals who have once again crossed paths.
It appears that top bodybuilders Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker have rekindled their rivalry. The two traded a ton of words back and forth on social media ahead of their fated meeting at the 2021 NY Pro. The unfortunate part is that they never got to share the stage together.
While Nick Walker took top honors at the show, Blessing Awodibu would in sixth place at the show. Walker has since gone on to compete at and win the 2021 Arnold Classic and even took fifth at the Olympia. Blessing on the other hand decided to take an extended off season and improve upon his physique.
It seemed as if the two bodybuilders would t cross paths for quite some time. But in the bodybuilding world it isn’t too uncommon to run into an old friend or in this case an old rival.
After burying the hatchet, it appears that Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker are on pretty good terms. The two rivals recently met up and trained back together.
Video with the @blessing_awodibucoming soon!!!!
We killed back today!!!!! Awesome workout!!!!! My man is looking huge and excited to see what he looks on stage!!!!
More workouts to come!!!!!
Not only did they train together, but they also took the opportunity to have a friendly pose down together. You can tell that both bodybuilders were having fun during the recent collaboration.
Finally getting pose down with the mutant ?? @nick_walker39
It’s great to see that Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker are in good terms. Who knows, their collaboration could lead to both of them bringing the absolute best out of each other. Of course only time will tell if that rings true, but like the old adage says: iron sharpens iron.
What do you think of Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker training together?
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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.