Tag: Victor Martinez
Cedric McMillan’s Top Back Workouts By Victor Martinez
Get a great back workout in honor of Cedric McMillan here!
The bodybuilding community recently lost Cedric McMillan, a beloved bodybuilder and fierce competitor in the sport. The 44-year old was very open about his health and past heart issues that resulted in a near death experience in 2021. While details are not confirmed, the bodybuilding community is deeply saddened by the loss of this true competitor and friend, as yet another bodybuilder has passed away too soon.
Cedric had great workout routines which contributed to his massive physique and sheer determination to be a top competitor. Generation Iron took on one of Cedric’s top back workouts with help from Victor Martinez. While Victor and Cedric weren’t extremely close, they met a handful of times. In honor of Cedric, Generation Iron wanted to take on this workout and share it with all of you to see just what it took to get Cedric to where he was.
Let’s jump into this Cedric McMillan back workout so you too can try and see gains like Cedric himself. A thoughtful and focused athlete, while being playful and funny off stage, Cedric leaves a powerful legacy and one we all can embrace and remember.
About Cedric McMillan
Cedric McMillan was born in Maplewood, New York and loved all things muscle. He would draw superheroes based on bodybuilding and workout magazines and was always talking about bodybuilding and how to get physiques like them. He went pro in 2009 after winning the NPC Nationals contest and from there, there was no slowing him down. He became a top contender in the bodybuilding community after he won the 2017 Arnold Classic in the Men’s Open division.
What Cedric did for bodybuilding was bring back the “classic” look, the one fans and athletes wanted to see most. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger was impressed and optimistic about Cedric and his amazing physique.
Cedric would, however, undergo serious health issues and was optimistic about recovering and getting back to his true form. His death is tragic and the bodybuilding world lost a true competitor and pioneer for change .
Photo via @cedricmcmillan Instagram
Cedric’s Back Workout
Generation Iron took to the gym with Victor Martinez, pro bodybuilder and a force in his own right, to perform one of Cedric’s top back workouts. His movements were precise and meticulous and each exercise had a purpose that lent to his massive physique and incredible resume.
A note for readers: All advice and tips on these workouts are coming from Victor Martinez.
1. Smith Rows
For the Smith rows, Cedric never went crazy with weight. He would perform one warm-up set and then two working sets and would use a smith machine because it was more stable. Staying slow and controlled during the entire movement, he would pause slightly at the top for that added squeeze.
2. Lat Pulldown
The lat pulldown also saw a warm-up and two working sets and was performed with a wide grip. With this grip, it is important to use your back to the best of your ability to not lose the grip as you go as far down as you can without losing control. If your shoulders start to raise during this movement, really try to keep them down as you go up in order to not let your shoulders take over the principle movement.
3. Cable Rows
For cable rows, you will perform one lighter set and usually around two heavy sets. For this exercise, keep your chest up as you engage and perform this exercise and as you lean forward to initiate the movement, hinge from the hips but keep your spine neutral.
As you pull into your abs, don’t lean too far back and give your lats a squeeze for that added level of work. If you pull into your upper chest, you will target your upper back and the lower you pull, the lower down your back you target. Victor does say that while you can add variations to this movements, nothing crazy really happens.
Make sure to stabilize your back and engage your core to avoid unwanted back pain as well.
4. Superset (Underhand Pulldowns & One Arm Lat Pulldowns)
Underhand Pulldowns
These are used with a shorter bar and require you to lean back slightly as you hit the center of your back. As you pulldown, exhale, and as you return to the top, use this time to inhale, according to Victor.
One Arm Lat Pulldowns
For this exercise, keep the movement controlled and your shoulders stable to only work your lats. By keeping your arms straight, you will engage the lat and won’t get so much movement out of the shoulders.
Other Tips From Victor
During this workout, Victor offered up advice and answered questions from those watching the live workout.
Stretching
Victor offers two great lat stretches for better circulation and pumps. Stretching during the workout allows for better growth as well (1). The first is to grab a stable object and slowly lean back, keeping the arm grabbing the object straight and you squat lower into the stretch.
The second stretch is the same movement in terms of stretching the lat and leaning back slowly, however, your arm is twisted to engage the muscle differently.
Supplements
When asked about three of the most important supplements, Victor offers up glutamine, creatine, and carb drinks.
Glutamine: Allows for better muscle growth, less muscle wasting, and increased performance by allowing for better recovery. You will also find that glutamine can improve cognitive function and offer up less stress (2).
Creatine: Creatine can increase strength and provide for better muscle pumps while also boosting athletic performance and improving your metabolism. You will also find better power output and more refueled energy stores (3).
Carb Drinks: May improve energy and fuel endurance by giving you extra carbs to replenish stores. Can also work to improve cognition and focus.
Victor was also asked which three supplements he couldn’t live without. His response: protein, aminos, and carb drinks.
Victor offered up his approach to working out which was to skip a body part every week. This offers up the chance to get plenty of rest, increase your pump for the next workout, and benefit from both recovery and a fresh and ready to work muscle.
When asked about working legs, Victor says to do so twice a week and to alternate between a heavier set day and a lighter set day. There is no point in doing the same workout twice. What you will find is you can cut your first workout’s sets in half for the second day.
As for unilateral exercises, like the one arm lat pulldowns above, Victor states that working one arm at a time allows you to maximize unilateral effects and fix any unwanted imbalances that can ruin a great physique.
Wrap Up
In honor of Cedric McMillan, Generation Iron, along with Victor Martinez, took on one of Cedric’s top back workouts to see just how he did it. A beloved and accomplished bodybuilder, Cedric’s legacy will live on in the bodybuilding community and outside of it alike, and his workouts that got him to where he was can be passed down for all. Taking notes from the pros can give you serious results and this top back workout from Cedric is no exception.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
References
Nunes, J.; et al. (2020). “Does stretch training induce muscle hypertrophy in humans? A review of the literature”. (source)
Gleeson, M. (2008). “Dosing and efficacy of glutamine supplementation in human exercise and sport training”. (source)
Francaux, M.; et al. (1999). “Effects of training and creatine supplements on muscle strength and body mass”. (source)
Victor Martinez Pays Tribute To Cedric McMillan & Shares Favorite Memory
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Victor Martinez shares some memories with Cedric McMillan highlighting his intense focus and playful sense of humor
On April 12, 2022 the bodybuilding world lost another fantastic and vibrant bodybuilder – Cedric McMillan. He passed away at 44 years old, far too young and one of many over the past year that have left too soon. Many in the bodybuilding community have been paying tribute and sending condolences since the news was announced. After a training session at the Generation Iron Personal Training Facility, Victor Martinez recorded a video paying tribute and sharing some stories about the late Cedric McMillan.
While Victor Martinez was not extremely close with the bodybuilder, he had spent time with him a small handful of times. Two moments in particular took place at the Arnold Classic. Once in 2019 and a second time in 2021.
Many knew Cedric McMillan from his on stage persona – a very focused and thoughtful bodybuilder that aimed to make big changes to the sport with his more classic style physique. Despite the new Classic Physique division, McMillan remained in the Men’s Open category – seemingly looking to prove a classic style physique can stand tall as champion. He proved just that in 2017 when he won the Arnold Classic.
But despite this introspection and focus – Cedric McMillan was also a playful and funny man. This was seen in his interactions with Arnold Schwarzenegger after winning the 2017 Arnold Classic. It’s that side of McMillan that Victor Martinez focused on in his memories of the late bodybuilder.
Victor Martinez admitted that before meeting Cedric McMillan, he “never knew how to read him.” So his sudden witty bouts of humor surprised him on numerous occasions. One came in 2019 at the Arnold Classic. McMillan looked focus about to step on stage. As a sort of courtesy/small talk, Martinez asked him, “Are you alright?” Without a beat, McMillan responded with a grin, “You expect me to be Poppy Joe and laughing?” Victor Martinez appreciated both his humor and focus in the moment. Two qualities that would come to define the champion bodybuilder (alongside his fantastic physique).
Victor Martinez then shares a second story from last year’s 2021 Arnold Classic. Though neither were competing, they had an opportunity to speak and catch up backstage. Martinez had noticed that Cedric McMillan was working on building some sort of project on social media. Martinez asked him about it and McMillan responded, “Well, Vic, if you build something you probably have less kids.” Another funny quip without a beat.
While McMillan’s humor was evident on stage – his more focused and serious side normally took the lead. Which is why in his final words during his tribute message, Victor Martinez wanted to remember the light and humor behind Cedric McMillan’s personality:
“If you took him serious, you probably took him too serious. But he was a standup guy… and every word that came out of his mouth was nothing but truth. I wish everybody was like that. Cedric, miss you bro.”
– Victor Martinez
Cedric McMillan’s loss is yet another tragic moment in a rough to years for the sport of bodybuilding. Generation Iron would like to once again send condolences to the friends and family of McMillan at this time. As Victor Martinez said – he was a stand up guy and will truly be missed.
Victor Martinez: “Fans In Bodybuilding Are The Most Disloyal”
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Victor Martinez reacts to bodybuilding fandom of social media age.
Victor Martinez has always been a pro bodybuilder unafraid to speak his mind in a casual and candid way. So after the past year saw a major backlash against bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger due to his “freedom” comments, Martinez was not afraid to speak his mind on not Schwarzenegger’s comments but rather the fan reaction. In fact, Martinez knows all too well what it’s like when fans that supported you suddenly turn on you due to unforeseen circumstances. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains why he thinks bodybuilding fans might be the most disloyal compared to other sports.
Victor Martinez previously commented on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “freedom” comments back when it was making viral headlines across the internet. But in our latest interview segment he goes into an even deeper reaction beyond the Schwarzenegger situation. Martinez sees these kind of hyper-reactionary fan comments as a sign of something bigger in the bodybuilding community.
While not the exact same situation per se, Victor Martinez is familiar with bodybuilding fans suddenly turning their backs on him. Unlike Schwarzenegger, this was less due to his direct comments and more due to something outside of his control. Martinez was incarcerated for some time right when his bodybuilding career was flourishing. This put a screeching halt on his progress. He lost a massive amount of weight. Upon returning to the free world, he faced massive criticism due to the state of his physique as he tried to return to his prime shape in the sport.
It’s this kind of reactionary commenting that turns Victor Martinez off. He quickly learned to treat it as white noise and ignore the comments. It was the only way he could confidently march forward and focus on his career. He ignored most of the comments – but from what he was told by friends and fellow athletes – he was nearly betrayed by the loyal fanbase he once had.
This this kind of mob reactionary mentality that Victor Martinez sees more and more in bodybuilding fandom. It’s something that he believes has been accelerated by social media (this of course is true beyond sports and has affected culture as a whole). But it’s also something that he thinks is particularly bad in pro bodybuilding. Perhaps because of the emphasis on judging the aesthetic of physiques.
“Maybe other sports do have better fans than bodybuilding,” Victor Martinez stated in our interview. He continued to explain:
“That’s what brings me to the now of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Of how the fans in bodybuilding are the most unloyal [sic] fans, you know? They can be with you today but come war tomorrow, they’re gone. They aren’t the most stick by you die-hard fans.”
Victor Martinez goes on to say that bodybuilding fans are more focused on “how great you are now” and can quickly change “how they are going to treat you later. It’s very subjective to where you are.”
It’s this kind of reactionary in the moment thinking that taught Victor Martinez to stop caring what other people think. Instead he only focused on the comments that mattered – the comments of judges scoring his physique. It might also explain why he’s willing to be so candid during interviews. He doesn’t worry about the backlash that may come.
You can watch Victor Martinez talk in detail about the reactionary core of bodybuilding fandom in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Victor Martinez Reacts: Has Hafthor Bjornsson’s Weight Loss Gone Too Far?
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Victor Martinez reacts to Hafthor Bjornsson’s insane weight loss and shred.
Hafthor Bjornsson used to be best known as a powerhouse strongman and as “The Mountain” in Game Of Thrones. But perhaps now he is getting most attention for his turn towards boxing – and the massive amount of weight he’s shredded off in the process. The transformation has certainly turned a lot of heads, but there are also bodybuilding and strongman fans who are less excited about seeing his signature size downgrade. Some even believe that he has taken the weight loss too far. In our latest GI Exclusive, Victor Martinez reacts to Hafthor Bjornsson’s weight loss and also to fan complaints about his transformation.
Victor Martinez is no stranger to getting negative attention for massive weight loss. Much earlier in his pro bodybuilding career, Martinez was incarcerated. This prevented him from maintaining his bodybuilding lifestyle fully. He dramatically lost weight and had trouble getting back to proper size in his first year upon being released. That struggle was captured in part during the filming of our original Generation Iron documentary.
So we thought Victor Martinez would be the perfect person to ask about the recent developments with Hafthor Bjornsson. The situations are different but the outcome is the same. Bjornsson decided to retire from strongman and turn to boxing. More specifically to fight fellow strongman Eddie Hall. This has yet to happen due to Hall suffering some injuries. Meanwhile, Bjornsson has stuck the course and committed to other boxing matches as he continues to improve.
As part of this change in career, Hafthor Bjornsson decided to trim down and get much more conditioned. He understood that his massive size was not best suited for winning boxing matches. But some fans are upset with just how small he’s become – especially compared to Eddie Hall. Hall had lost weight as well – but mostly maintained his larger size while also gaining conditioning.
Victor Martinez believes that bodybuilding and strongman fans are coming only from a selfish place when they criticize Bjornsson. In fact, Martinez is convinced that Bjornsson’s weight loss is not only best for his boxing career – but healthier for his overall future. Bodybuilding and strongman fans don’t care as much about his boxing exploits – and are looking at his physique only through their subjective lens of the sports of bodybuilding ands strongman.
There’s nothing wrong with this exactly. But Victor Martinez wants fans to understand that Hafthor Bjornsson is in a new stage of his life and career. This statement matches something Jujimufu stated to us in a previous GI Exclusive interview as well. If Bjornsson can succeed as a boxer – he will always still have his former legacy as a successful strongman. Losing the weight does not reduce his legacy. In fact, succeeding in two different sports is an even better lifetime legacy. If he can also improve his overall health during the process – that’s even better still.
So what is Victor Martinez’s overall reaction to Hafthor Bjornsson’s transformation? He’s impressed. That kind of transformation and dedication to conditioning is not easy. And was the smart thing to do for his health and his boxing future. Martinez may be a bodybuilder at heart – but he can appreciate the hard work and results of someone else on their own separate journey.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Hafthor Bjornsson’s physique transformation in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez’s Bicep Workout | Training With Victor Martinez (Part 3)
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Victor Martinez’s in-depth bicep training guide.
Victor Martinez is an iconic pro bodybuilder and legend in the sport. He is considered by many to have one of the greatest physiques of the 2000s era of bodybuilders. In 2007, in a controversial decision, he nearly beat Jay Cutler for the Mr. Olympia title. That’s why we met up with Martinez at the Generation Iron Personal Training Gym for an epic workout. In this GI Exclusive, Victor Martinez ends this 3-part training series with a powerhouse bicep workout guide.
It’s easy enough to find a training routine online – but the real work comes in knowing the details. A list of exercises, sets, and reps is simply the most basic foundation for a successful workout. Knowing proper form, full movement, and specific tips can transform a workout from good to great. It’s what separates a “normal” in shape person from a shredded bodybuilder.
That’s why Victor Martinez met up with Vlad Yudin to go through the ultimate gauntlet of a workout. In part two of our training mini series with Martinez, he puts Vlad through the paces and shares important tips on how to optimize your routine. A workout sheet is one thing – but this video guide will give you play-by-play examples of how to actually perform like a pro bodybuilder.
This exercise is an immediate follow up to Victor Martinez’ in-depth chest training and shoulder training guide and should be completed within the same session.
Victor Martinez’s Bicep Training Workout
As mentioned above, this bicep training session immediately follows a full chest day workout alongside half of a shoulder workout. Victor Martinez prefers to combine muscle groups in his workout sessions that he believes create the best combo for most effective progress. He combines chest with shoulders because chest exercises often indirectly workout your shoulders – then expands to an arm workout for a more complete upper body training session.
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Cable Bicep Curls (Warmup)
3
20-15-12
Barbell Curls
4
10-12
Dumbbell Curls
3
12
Cable Hammer Curls
3
15
When it comes to weight, that’s impossible to recommend broadly. Each individual has different limits on how much weight to push. Ultimately, you want to lift enough weight to complete all three sets for each exercise. By the end of the final set for each – you should barely be able to finish. It may take trial and error to begin with – but you’ll ultimately find a sweet spot this will be more than enough to exhaust your muscles completely.
Victor Martinez also has some tips on how to ensure you’re fully pushing yourself with each workout session. For every exercise, make sure you always hit the number of reps you are shooting for. On the final set, if you can’t hit, let’s say, 15 reps. Don’t stop. Drop weight so you can hit that number. That’s where real muscle growth comes from – pushing beyond your first perceived limit. In this video, Martinez explains there are two ways to get intensity when you are started to get exhausted – dropsets or supersets.
Cable Bicep Curls (Warm Up)
Victor Martinez starts this segment of his workout program with another warm up. This consists of cable bicep curls – three sets. The first set is 20 reps. The second set is 15 reps. And the last set is 12 reps.
During this warm up, Victor Martinez also shares some sound advice about how to prepare for a workout. He suggests never training on a completely empty stomach. If you are someone who trains in the morning – always make sure to have some food beforehand. If you train fasted – you will simply lose weight. If that’s your goal – that’s great. But if you are looking to build muscle, Martinez always recommends getting some food in you before hitting the gym.
Barbell Curls
For the first official exercise after the warm up, Victor Martinez recommends traditional barbell bicep curls. Four sets of 10-12 reps. During this workout, Martinez shares a tip for getting an extra bit of work into the workout. When the weight is lighter – Martinez likes to hold the peak of the movement for a extra split second to get more of a squeeze. He emphasizes only doing this on lighter weight. With heavier loads this can risk injuring your tendon.
Dumbbell Curls
For the second exercise, Victor Martinez moves onto traditional dumbbell bicep curls. He uses a bicep curl bench to help prevent cheating or loose form. For this exercise he recommends three sets of 12 reps.
During this exercise, Martinez reiterates the importance of always hitting the correct number of reps. Even on the final set if you feel fully exhausted, do not give up early. This leads to slower or sometimes no improvement in muscle gains. Always drop weight and complete the max reps.
Cable Hammer Curls
Victor Martinez ends his bicep workout focusing on cable hammer curls. For this exercise, Martinez suggests three sets of 15 reps. While performing this workout, Martinez emphasizes focusing on safety, even when using machines in the gym. Always check your equipment to make sure it’s working properly to avoid injury.
He tells a story of injuring his quad when he was just 20 years old. He was lifting on a leg press machine that had misaligned ball bearings. It caused the machine to stop suddenly half way through a press – causing a tear in his quad and disabling him from full training for over a year.
Wrap Up
That about wraps up Part 3 of Victor Martinez’s upper body training routine. Make sure to watch the GI Exclusive training video above to get complete play-by-play tips on each exercise. Soon you’ll transform your workout into a pro level routine.
Victor Martinez’s Shoulder Workout | Training With Victor Martinez (Part 2)
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Victor Martinez’s in-depth shoulder training guide.
Victor Martinez is an iconic pro bodybuilder and legend in the sport. He is considered by many to have one of the greatest physiques of the 2000s era of bodybuilders. In 2007, in a controversial decision, he nearly beat Jay Cutler for the Mr. Olympia title. That’s why we met up with Martinez at the Generation Iron Personal Training Gym for an epic workout. In this GI Exclusive, Victor Martinez follows up his chest workout with a grueling shoulder training guide.
It’s easy enough to find a training routine online – but the real work comes in knowing the details. A list of exercises, sets, and reps is simply the most basic foundation for a successful workout. Knowing proper form, full movement, and specific tips can transform a workout from good to great. It’s what separates a “normal” in shape person from a shredded bodybuilder.
That’s why Victor Martinez met up with Vlad Yudin to go through the ultimate gauntlet of a workout. In part two of our training mini series with Martinez, he puts Vlad through the paces and shares important tips on how to optimize your routine. A workout sheet is one thing – but this video guide will give you play-by-play examples of how to actually perform like a pro bodybuilder.
This exercise is an immediate follow up to Victor Martinez’ in-depth chest training guide and should be completed within the same session. You can watch Part 1 of this training guide right here.
Victor Martinez’s Shoulder Training Workout
As mentioned above, this shoulder training session immediately follows a full chest day workout. Victor Martinez prefers to do a half-day shoulder workout within the same session as chest day. He does this because chest exercises often indirectly workout your shoulders. So Martinez’ weekly schedule typically consists of a full shoulder workout followed by a half shoulder workout on his chest day training.
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Side Laterals (Dropsets)
2
15
Shoulder Press
4
15
Upright Rows
4
15
Cable Pulldowns
4
15
When it comes to weight, that’s impossible to recommend broadly. Each individual has different limits on how much weight to push. Ultimately, you want to lift enough weight to complete all three sets for each exercise. By the end of the final set for each – you should barely be able to finish. It may take trial and error to begin with – but you’ll ultimately find a sweet spot this will be more than enough to exhaust your muscles completely.
Victor Martinez also has some tips on how to ensure you’re fully pushing yourself with each workout session. For every exercise, make sure you always hit the number of reps you are shooting for. On the final set, if you can’t hit, let’s say, 15 reps. Don’t stop. Drop weight so you can hit that number. That’s where real muscle growth comes from – pushing beyond your first perceived limit.
Side Laterals (Dropsets)
Since these exercises are coming after a full chest workout. So Victor Martinez recommends doing the side laterals sitting down. This prevents you from using your legs and swinging your arms. Often times, lifters will compensate when fatigued by dropping legs to “reach” the full range of motion. This cheats you out of gains and could also lead to injury.
Shoulder Press (Machine)
For the shoulder press, Victor Martinez stresses the importance of having your shoulders right under the bar. If you sit back too far you end up training more of your front delts. You also want to bring the weight down to your ears to get the full range of motion for this exercise.
You also want to avoid slouching forward with your chest caved in as you continue this exercise. This can lead to injury. It’s important to have your chest out and your back locked for this movement.
Upright Rows
For this exercise, Victor Martinez recommends holding the bar with a wide grip, bringing your hands all of the way to the edge of the weights on either side of the barbell. Your palms should be facing inward towards your body. When you perform this movement – you want to bring the bar up in front of you. Pulling the bar up close to the chest will train your traps. Watch in the video the specific difference to ensure you are targeting the right muscle.
Cable Pulldowns
For the cable pulldowns, Victor Martinez recommends doing three down and then three overhead. During this exercise, Martinez further explains why he prefers to do shoulders with chest. This is opposed to doing biceps with back training. His reasoning is that you are using so much bicep with a back workout, that you end up being too fatigued for the bicep workout afterward. You aren’t fully stimulating the muscle to maximum efficiency.
Martinez also feels this way about quads and hamstrings. If you give yourself a powerhouse quads workout and then jump into hamstrings in the same day – you won’t get the same level of effort needed to fully develop that muscle group.
Wrap Up
That about wraps up Part 2 of Victor Martinez’s upper body training routine. Next week, we’ll return to hit up the back in a new selection of exercises. Make sure to watch the GI Exclusive training video above to get complete play-by-play tips on each exercise. Soon you’ll transform your workout into a pro level routine.
Victor Martinez’s Physique Featured In Charitable Graphic Novel, Promotes Kickstarter
Victor Martinez plans to back the new project during its opening weeks.
Victor Martinez has found success on stage as a bodybuilder in the Men’s Open category. His incredible physique was enough to make an impact during competitions and could be used to spark some creative ideas in other art forms as well. This is especially true of a kickstarter that Martinez will be promoting.
Victor Martinez inspired a character in a new graphic novel written by Jonathan Naranjo. Shadow Syndicate Chasin File is a project that will be released by Flamewrite Entertainment. Naranjo created the story with intentions to raise money for a good cause. The money raised from this project will go toward Mental Health Awareness to support men and women in uniform.
This is a cause that Martinez wanted to get behind. He posted a recent video to explain his plan to get on board.
“The whole thing why he wrote it was to help a lot of mental health, anybody who is suffering from mental health. The men and women in uniform. Please check out the kickstarter. Please support this film, this script. The graphic novel — you will be entertained, you will be supporting a good cause. Let’s get this out there. Let’s get it financed and support it,’ Victor Martinez said.
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The initial goal of this is to raise $30,000 to help different families. Once this goal is reached, there will be stretch goals of up to $100,000 so that many families can be helped. Naranjo was impacted by losing the mother of his children to PTSD/depression. She served in the US Army. Naranjo is now raising awareness for this very special cause.
The graphic novel will eventually be turned into a movie. The story is led by Colonel Chasin. He is the head of a team of special ops soldiers who are ordered to seize control of an underground city of ruins from a band of terrorists. The two forces unleash the long-buried secrets but discover that divine powers have wills of their own.
Victor Martinez has decided to promote the graphic novel because of the cause it is for. Martinez is a well-known bodybuilder whose career has spanned close to two decades. Martinez began competing professionally in 2001. He has victories in some top shows such as the Arnold Classic and Tampa Pro. Martinez has appeared in 11 Olympia competitions over the course of his career.
In 2007, Martinez finished as runner-up in the Olympia to Jay Cutler. This was his second straight finish in the top three. Martinez made a return during the 2020 Arnold Classic, where he finished ninth. This was the last time he stepped on stage professionally.
The project was launched in October and will continue through the month of November. This is in hopes that it can reach its goal and even go beyond. Victor Martinez is one of the promoters that will do what it takes to make that happen.
Victor Martinez Opens Up About The Moment Diuretics Made Him Scared For His Health
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Victor Martinez talks candidly about a “miscalculation” with diuretics that made him fear for his health before a bodybuilding competition.
2021 has been a tragic year for bodybuilding with many beloved and legendary athletes passing away far too young. Most of these reported deaths are not connected nor have they revealed conclusive evidence on the cause of death in each case. However, many have started reflecting inward and posting publicly about a change to health standards in the sport. During our recent conversation with Victor Martinez, we asked him if he was ever scared for his health during his career as a bodybuilder. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez reveals the one time diuretics almost put his health in danger.
Victor Martinez has always been candid and honest when speaking with Generation Iron. He’s not afraid to tell it like it is – but he’s also not one to point fingers. So when we asked him if he had ever faced a bodybuilding situation where he feared for his health, he was more than happen to speak openly about it. However, he also chose not to mention names or even the specific bodybuilding event in his story. His reason? Because he doesn’t cast blame on any specific coach, promoter, or event.
In our conversation, Victor Martinez describes a moment when his use of diuretics before a show led him to fear for his health. He awoke the day of the show to shallow breathing and incredibly low energy. He felt that he didn’t have the strength to stand, let alone pose.
“I remember being in bed, man, it was this one… I’m not going to name the show because I don’t want to pinpoint the coach. I don’t want to pinpoint anybody again,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He goes on:
“You guys have to understand this, I’m not one to throw people under the bus just because of a miscalculation. But I still remember just being in bed, Vlad, I didn’t even want to pose man. I was just there and I was just breathing. My friend came into the room and he goes… I can hear such shallow breathing.”
Victor Martinez then describes that he went back to sleep four four more hours. And at that point upon waking – he felt he could sleep even more. This was not typical for Martinez, who would often have trouble sleeping before a competition.
Victor Martinez goes on to describe actually competing. He felt that each pose was a struggle. His arms felt like they weighed a ton. He describes his legs feeling like stilts. After posing, he drank massive amounts of water. He couldn’t eat. He just kept drinking water. Eventually he started to feel recovered – luckily avoiding a trip to the hospital.
“It all had to do with diuretics man,” Victor states at the end of his story. “I knew there was a better way. A healthier way in bodybuilding terms.”
Shortly after that incident, Victor Martinez decided to train himself and make some slight changes to how he prepared for a show. He again reiterates that it was no ones fault – and that these kinds of risks are inherent in an extreme pro sport like bodybuilding. What was important is that he learned from that incident and decided to change strategies to lessen that risk in his future.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments about diuretics and his health as a bodybuilder in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez: A Lot Of Bodybuilding Coaches Want To Be Dictators Over Athletes
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Victor Martinez talks about the importance of constructively questioning coach protocols… and how many coaches don’t want to be questioned
Health has been a heavy topic of discussion in bodybuilding as of late. This is due to an unfortunate string of deaths that passed through the industry over the past few months. While there is no real connection or deep evidence as to how many of these deaths happened – the specter of death looming over the sport has put health on a lot of people’s minds. So how do bodybuilding coaches play into this conversation? Are they responsible for the health of their clients? We asked this very question to pro legend Victor Martinez. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez warns of coaches that want to be dictators over their athletes… and the importance of asking questions.
Over the years, there has been questions raised about the ethical relationship of coaches to athletes. It’s no secret that coaches provide protocols, not only of nutrition and training, but also recommended drug use. Some of these drugs are legally obtained without prescriptions… others are not. Coaches are not doctors though – so what happens if a protocol leads to health issues both long term and, potentially tragically, short term in the form of sudden hospitalizations or death? Is a coach responsible if something bad happens to an athlete under their supervision?
During our latest conversation with Victor Martinez, we asked him this very question. He believes that, while coaches are partly responsible, putting the full ethical blame on them is a scapegoat. His reasoning being that athletes know what is being recommended to them. They also know these coaches are not doctors. Martinez believes that athletes need to be responsible for themselves by doing their own research and asking questions. If an athlete blindly follows a coach’s protocol – they have no one but themselves to blame for bad outcomes.
“If a coach says ‘do this’ and you don’t question it, it’s your fault,” Victor Martinez states during our interview. He goes on to stress just how important it is for athletes to constantly ask questions.
Of course, he also understands that the system is not perfect. Victor Martinez admits that many coaches see themselves as dictators over their clients. They don’t want to be questioned. They are experts who should be trusted based on their reputation and name alone. It’s also part of the reason why some coaches get angry when an athlete leaves them for another coach.
“I know some coaches can be a little… a lot of coaches want a dictatorship. If you train with them, you’re great. You follow them. You leave them… they’ll fucking call you the worst athlete ever. Listen, if you’re training the athlete for free. By all means. Air out your grievance. But if the athlete is paying you. No. He’s allowed to leave you.”
Victor Martinez uses the word “dictatorship” to drive the point home. He’s not being literal but he does want to warn athletes that they shouldn’t feel trapped by their coach. If they think something is wrong in how they are being trained, for their health or otherwise, they should be able to leave without issue in a business relationship.
You can watch Victor Martinez talk in full detail about the ethics of coaching in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Victor Martinez Warns: All It Takes Is One Bad Injection To Collapse A Muscle
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Victor Martinez opens up about the threat of nerve damage caused by badly performed injections.
Victor Martinez is a legend in the sport of bodybuilding. He was a top tier competitor in the early aughts and also a featured subject in the original Generation Iron documentary. While he may no longer compete today (for now), he is a highly skilled and respected modern bodybuilder. That’s why he hopes his words in our latest interview segment are heeded carefully – as he brings up a topic often overlooked in the bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains how bad injections can lead to nerve damage and collapsed muscles.
Though best known for his heated face-offs with Jay Cutler during the 2000s, Victor Martinez also had the experience of going toe to toe with Ronnie Coleman. Known for his unbeatable physique and a world record matching eight Olympia wins – we asked Martinez what it was like to (mentally and physically) to prepare to battle against Ronnie.
Martinez’s answer was an interesting one – “I stayed in my lane.” He knew that he couldn’t train the same way Ronnie could. Martinez also admits that nearly everyone competing during that time wouldn’t talk about actually winning the Olympia – they would know the battle was for second place. That is – until Ronnie’s physique started noticeably declining.
This then pivoted our conversation into something unexpected but very vital in the bodybuilding world. Victor Martinez notes that Ronnie Coleman’s later years competing started showing signs of his nerve damage and injuries (that were then later documented in more detail in Ronnie Coleman: The King). This sprung us into a conversation about the dangers of nerve damage for bodybuilders.
Victor Martinez goes into detail on how nearly all pro bodybuilders are on a slow and steady path towards nerve damage. It can be prevented – but it’s not nearly talked about in public as Martinez thinks it should be. He even gets candid about how nerve damage can come from the constant injections many bodybuilders undergo throughout their career.
“When you have a muscle and you can’t flex it and you can’t feel it – a lot of people don’t know they think it’s something simple. No, it’s just nerve damage,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“People don’t realize when you take an injection it’s a form of acupuncture. You can take a bad injection and collapse a muscle without even noticing by hitting a wrong nerve. I hope people are listening to this because people think they can just poke themselves and be fine the next day. It only takes is one bad angle, one injection, and one bad part of hte muscle and it will collapse a bicep, a tricep, a shoulder, a lat, a quad – it will just collapse it without you noticing.”
Victor Martinez then mentions that he knows someone personally who suffered through this. A friend who took a bad injection that killed his triceps permanently. Of course, we all know that muscle is the most vital aspect to a bodybuilder’s career. That’s why Martinez wants this information to be more spoken about publicly. Bodybuilders will be injecting substances into their body – they should know the warning signs before it’s too late.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!