Rader Abbreviated Routines for Building a Classic Physique!

(Photo Above: Classic Physique Builder John Grimek on the Cover of Peary Rader's Iron Man Magazine - Feb 53 issue)

In the pre-roid, Golden Age of Classic Physique Building (the 1940s and 50s), Peary Rader promoted a number of abbreviated routines. An abbreviated routine is a workout schedule consisting of just a few compound exercises that work the major muscle masses of the body.

Rader said that these routines were for people in the following situations:

(1) for those who have only a little time to devote to working out

(2) for those who, by their nature, seem to have low energy

(3) for those who cannot gain on heavier programs

(4) for those who want to gain weight (build mass)

We can add that abbreviated programs are also great for:

(5) breaking through a rut

(6) older trainers (who may also have lower energy and less time)

(7) true beginners (as an intro to weight training).

(8) providing a foundation of core exercises to build upon to create a larger, more varied program.

So you can see there are a lot of upsides for abbreviated programs. The downside is that they do not usually hit all parts of the body (just the major muscle masses) and so your weak areas (e.g., calves) might not get enough work. If you do not address this, you can end up with an out-of-balance physique. So they are a tool to be used properly in the appropriate circumstances.

Here is the abbreviated routine that Peary introduced in the "Rader Master Bodybuilding and Weight Gaining System" in the pre-roid, Golden Age. The core of the program is 3 exercises (plus pullovers):

1. breathing bench press 12 reps

2. breathing barbell rows 12 reps

3. breathing squats 20 reps (1st set only, other sets 10 reps),

superset with

4. breathing pullovers 20 reps (using no more than a 20 lb barbell)

The breathing bench press and rows follow the same principle as the breathing squats. You take 2 deep breaths before pushing the weight out (bench press) or pulling the weight up (rows). This really revs up the metabolism!

Although Peary put the reps at 12 for benches and rows, it would be best to use a rep range of 8-12. Use all the weight you can to barely complete 8 reps. Then work up to 12 reps (do not try to increase your reps on all exercises during the same session - focus on 1 or 2 exercises each session).

The number of sets depends on your status. If you are a true beginner, then do only 1 set per exercise for the first month. Take a week layoff every 4 weeks. Continue with 1 set until the gains slow down. Then after a week layoff, go to 2 sets. Repeat this process and work up to 3 sets.

If you are an intermediate trainer, then start with 2 sets (if you are just transitioning from being a beginner) and follow a similar process as above and work up to 4 sets. If you have been an intermediate for a while and want to use this program for mass building, then start with 4 sets and work up to 6 sets.

If you are an advanced trainer, then you know what to do! :)

Rest between sets: try 2 - 3 minutes (since you will strive to use heavy weights).

Workout Frequency: It depends on you. Do this routine no more than 3 times a week. But most will gain fine on just 2 days a week.

Remember to rest properly, eat properly (include whole eggs in your diet if you can), and be persistent! Don't do any cardio or follow any other sports activity while on this program. Get extra sleep!

In our next issue (Fall 2009) of Classic Physique Builder (CPBzine), we will go into Rader's Abbreviated Routines in more detail and show how these kind of routines can be used as a basis for creating a more varied program. So stay tuned!

- CPB

P.S. For a free, 1 year subscription to Classic Physique Builder (CPBzine) - a pdf zine patterned after the muscle mags of the pre-roid, Golden Age of Bodybuilding (of the 1940s and 50s) - just send your name, the name of your city (not your address), state/province, and country to cpbzine@gmail.com. That's it! Any info you send us is completely confidential. We don't share our info with anyone. You won't get on any unwanted lists or receive any unwanted, automated email (even from us)!

Alan Stephan's "Gaining Bulk is Easy" Routine for Building a Classic Physique!

(Above: Classic Physique Builder Champ - Alan Stephan, Mr. America 1946)

Here is a no nonsense, classic routine for beginners by Alan Stephan for building mass that is right out of the pre-roid, Golden Age!

In an article in Your Physique magazine (Sept 1950 issue), Alan talks about the general rules for a beginner to follow in putting together a bulk building program. He said "All you need to do is follow the right exercises, eat plenty of nourishing food and get as much rest and relaxation on your non training days as you possibly can." So, in other words, he is talking about proper training, proper nutrition, and proper rest! Notice that he doesn't say anything about needing special supplements (no NO boosters, pump enhancers, creatine, or even protein powder)!

In talking about mass building programs, Alan goes on, "Let's deal with the right exercises first. If you build a schedule around either the deep knee bend or the dead lift and take it from there, you are on the right track." So in 1947, they knew well that including the big exercises like squats and deadlifts in a routine kick started the growth mechanism! They didn't have to wait until scientific studies showed that such exercises increased the level of testosterone in the blood! They knew it worked from their own experimentation and results!

Alan continues, "The fundamental movements such as the supine press or any of its variants - bench presses of incline presses - , curls, rowing motions, squats, or dead lifts or leg presses combined with sets of bent arm pullovers, are the best." What Alan is describing here is basically the approach advocated by Peary Rader (the founder of Iron Man magazine).

Peary Rader and many of the Golden Age champs (like Ed Yarick, Steve Reeves, and George Eiferman) were big believers in the high repetition breathing squat-pullover combination. They believed that this combination really kick started the growth mechanism and also expanded the rib cage. It is such training that gave the Golden Age champs that more massive upper body impressiveness that you don't see among most of today's drug-free, natural bodybuilders (ever notice how shallow their upper bodies look these days?). If you look at Steve Reeve's beginning and intermediate routines (which we have posted previously), you can see that Steve employed this breathing squat-pullover combo in his training.

Alan is also describing the basic, "compound exercise philosophy" of having a short routine consisting of compound exercises (multi-joint exercises that work large groups of muscles) rather than a longer routine using isolation exercises (exercises which work only a single muscle or muscle group across a single joint). This philosophy was also a centerpiece of the Rader approach.

Here is the example routine that Alan provides:

1. Bench Press 8-12 reps
2. Barbell Curls 8-12 reps
3. Breathing Squats 20 reps (1st set), 10 reps (remaining sets)
4. Bent Arm Pullovers 20 reps (superset with each set of breathing squats)
5. Bent Over Rows 8-12 reps

That's it! However, we (CPB) would add a sixth exercise: calf raises for 20 reps.

Rest between sets: 2-3 minutes! (Yes, that's right! You'll need that much time to recouperate between sets so that you can use heavier weights)

This is a classic abbreviated routine for mass building! Abbreviated routines are routines with a relative small number of exercises that work most of the body. This type of full-body, abbreviated routine allows you to use maximum energy in your workout and get more recovery time between workouts (you will have more total non-workout days for complete rest than modern, exotic split training that keeps you in the gym 4-6 days per week).

For the beginner - do 1 set of each exercise for the 1st month, 2 sets the second month, 3 sets the third month. Workout twice a week (e.g., Tue and Sat, or Mon and Fri). For the 1st workout, use light weights just to get used to the exercises. For the second workout, try to determine for each exercise the amount of weight you can handle to complete 8 reps (with good form) and no more. Then, at each successive workout, try to increase your reps by 1 or 2, until you reach the top of the rep range. At that point, add a little weight to the bar. Continue in this fashion for the course. Keep your focus on this process of increasing reps, then increasing poundages. This is how you use the principle of "progressive resistance." It is this process of gradually increasing your strength and poundages that will result in larger muscles!

For the breathing squats, use proper squat form, take one breath between each of the first 5 reps, then after that take 2-3 deep breaths in between repititions until you reach 20 reps. By the end of the set, you should be panting! In month 2, your second set of breathing squats should only be 10 reps. The same for month 3 (only the first set is ever done for 20 reps). Each set is to be immediately followed (supersetted) with light barbell pullovers. Use no more than 20 lbs total (including the bar weight). The point is to stretch the rib cage (not to use maximum weights to exercise the muscles). Bend the arms slightly and try to really stretch your rib cage.

Here's Alan's advice on diet: "Don't forget to drink lots of milk and eat plenty of good food such as fresh vegetables and meat, eggs [whole], cheese, and butter. Fruits and salads are also good.

On rest, he advises: "An important factor in a weight gaining programme is to rest all you can on non-training days. Whatever you do, don't play other games [sports] and expect to make progress. You must rest completely between workouts and get a good night's rest each and every night of the week.

Alan's final advice: "Work hard on your schedule [routine], be persistant and determined and you are going to have little or no trouble in gaining bulk!

For the intermediate - This program of Alan's is also good for intermediate CPB trainers. If you are an intermediate trainer (have more than 3 months experience following a proper course but have not yet reached your size goals), then you can use the above program as well. Just start with 3 sets for all exercises following the guidelines above and stay with 3 sets for the duration of the course. Take a week lay off between each month. Your major goal for this course is to concentrate on increasing your poundages - this is the key to growth! By the end of each month, you should see a significant increase in strength (indicated by your training log records of reps and poundages) and this will correspond to a noticeable increase in muscle size!

So there you have it - a classic, Golden Age Bulk (Mass) Building Program - straightforward, no nonsense, - just a train big, eat big, rest big, and grow big approach!

- CPB

P.S. For a free 1 year subscription to Classic Physique Builder (CPBzine) - a pdf zine patterned after the pre-roid, Golden Age muscle mags (of the 40s and 50s) - just email your name, the name of your city (not your address), state (or province), and country to cpbzine@gmail.com. That's it! Any info you send us will be strictly confidential. We don't share our info with anyone, so you won't get on any lists or receive any unwanted, automated emails (even from us)!

Maurice Jones - Inspiration for Classic Physique Builders!

(Photo Above: Maurice Jones)

Perhaps one of the most unknown, old-time, classic physique builders is Maurice Jones. Although he was not a physique contest competitor, he was regularly featured as an example of a well-rounded weight trainer in John McCallum’s writings. (John was a well-known gym owner, trainer, journalist who wrote for Strength and Health magazine in the 1960s and is known for his “Keys to Progress” column and book. John was an advocate of the lifting big, eating big, and getting big approach).

Maurice stood 5´9 and weighed 200 pounds in his prime (all natural, no drugs). He started weight training in the 1930´s at the age of 17. In an interview in 1997, he stated “As a kid I was sickly. I can remember the awful colds I used to have. I wasn’t that healthy, so that’s what made me embark on some kind of training regimen, and one thing led to another.”

He was an advanced trainer, who used more abbreviated routines and strict exercise style. The following is one of his typical training routines:

Warmup: Calisthenics, bending, arm waving, and pushups on the steep board.

Workout: Military Press - 3 sets, superset with
Curls 3 sets (rest a minute between supersets)
Rowing - 3 sets, alternate with
Bench Press – 3 sets
Squat 1 set 12 reps (he would use 400 pounds).

In between Sets : He would rest a minute. He would not sit down.

He also did hiking on the weekends and would have an additional 30 or 40 pounds in his Rucksack. So he got plenty of leg work. Sometimes he reduced the weight on the squat and increased the reps. Maurice always used a strict style while training.

Maurice used to do presses behind the neck with 200 pounds for 12 reps and dumbell curls 70 lbs. x 12 well before World War II – a figure what that’s worth in today’s terms, and it would just take your breath away. He also was able to squat with over 500 pounds.

Asked about his diet, Maurice said it “was just very plain. I’m afraid that I just qualify as a meat and potatoes man.”

He included running a couple of times a week. Maurice attributes his high level of muscular and cardiovascular endurance to a combination of his weight training, running and his mountain hiking.

When the interview was done in1997, Maury was 85 years old. He still did some weight training with 50 pound dumbbells (curls, presses) and still did hiking at that time.

Asked what he’d say if a young kid came up to him and said, “Mr. Jones, do you think I should take drugs to get bigger muscles or to get stronger?”: “I would say, don’t become a fanatic, although I must have appeared that way to a lot of people. If you get fanatical about something, it spoils it. You have to recognize the line – that’s the trouble.”

Ibrahim,

CPB Blog Contributor

Golden Age Advice for Hardgainers!

(Above photo: Golden Age Mag - Muscle Builder Magazine, July 54 issue)

Are you a beginner interested in gaining muscular weight? Have you been training for a few months and yet have seen no results? Well, you are not alone. Many in the Golden Age (the 1940s and 50s) experienced the same thing. Here is some classic advice from the Questions and Answers column of Joe Weider's Muscle Builder Magazine (July 1954 issue):

Question: Dear Sir, I've been exercising for 3 1/2 months now and have made good progress, so far as strength and muscularity are concerned. But I've not gained weight. I maintain a good protein diet and still no results. Please advise me on what to do. D.L. Brooklyn. N.Y.

Answer: Donald, you are an example of what the Weider Research Clinic has always taught...Each man is a law unto himself where bodybuilding is concerned. One man will make great gains in bodyweight, but little in strength, during his beginner's peroid in weight training. Another man will get powerful and muscular in his first training months, but make little gains in weight. But these physical qualities gradually reach the point of balance with each other. Progress in power...bulk...muscularity, is made in a series of steps...a little gain, then maybe a slight drop or a leveling off, then a slight gain once more. You appear to have gained first in strength and delineation. I am not too concerned with your failure to gain weight at this present stage of training since you have only been bodybuilding for 3 1/2 months. If you had been weight training for a year without any great bodyweight gains, then I'd say you had something to worry about. My advice to you is this. Cut down slightly on your upper body work such as the various curls, presses and rowing motions. Shorten your routine to the bench press, barbell curl, squat and breathing pullover. Use as heavy a poundage as possible in the squat and alternate each set of squats with a set of breathing pullovers. Rest up completely on your non training days. Get at least eight hours sleep each night and at least 10 hours in bed! Don't hurry. Don't worry...and buy the Weider Gaining Food Supplement.

CPB Commentary: So there you have it - a classic, abbreviated routine to kick start some muscular weight gaining. In a nutshell, here is the routine again:

1. Bench Press
2. Barbell Curls
3. Squats - superset with
4. Breathing Pullovers

Use as much poundage as possible (so that you can barely squeeze out the last rep). Keep pushing the weight up as you get stronger. It wasn't specifed, but fewer sets (e.g., 2-3 sets per exercise) and low reps (e.g., 6-7 reps) were usually recommended for such routines.

Note how important a lot of sleep and rest are as well as not worrying & hurrying. The Weight Gaining Food Supplement that was recommended was really a vitamin B complex supplement that acted as an appetite stimulant.

So if you are having trouble gaining weight, you can give this classic routine from the Golden Age a try! It's worked before and may well work for you! - CPB

Alan Stephan's Abbreviated Beginners Prep Routine for a Classic Physique!

(photo above - Alan Stephan, Mr. America 1946)

Are you an absolute beginner? Would you like to build a classic physique? Are you confused by all the mainstream muscle mags as to what kind of routine you should follow? Don't worry! We have a nice, absolute beginner's routine from the Golden Age of Classic Physique Building (the 1940s and 50s) that can help get you started! It was offered by Alan Stephan, Mr America 1946 in Joe Weider's Your Physique Magazine (Feb, 52 issue).

This routine is, what we would call today, an "abbreviated" routine - a very short workout of only 4 exercises - that is designed to get the absolute beginner started out in the right direction. The 4 exercises are compound (or basic) exercises which work multiple groups of muscles at the same time. This program was meant to be followed for 2 to 3 months prior to beginning a more comprehensive bodybuilding course.

If you have never lifted a weight before and have lived a sedentary life, then Alan recommended 3-4 weeks of conditioning doing walking, running, push ups, and deep knee bends before starting this program.

For this program, he recommended getting plenty of rest (9 hrs of sleep each night) and relaxation and a high protein diet consisting of meats, milk, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Alan said that you can see great improvements in a few weeks, in following such a program, but don't let anyone tell you that you will get a "Mr. America Physique" in a few months. It will take persistence, hard work, and following a good, comprehensive course of training.

But great things begin with the first few steps! So here is the program:

1. Bench Press, 8-12 reps, 1 set

2. Breathing Squats, 8-12 reps, 1 set

3. Bent Over Rows, 8-12 reps, 1 set

4. Press Behind Neck, 8-12 reps, 1et

Each exercise is to be done for 1 set. Pick a weight that allows you to complete only 8 reps. Then, each workout, try to increase your reps until you reach 12. When you can complete 12, then increase the weight at your next workout. Continue in this way for the course of the program. Do this program 3 days a week (e.g., M, W, F or T, Th, Sa),

For the bench press, make sure you have friends to act as "spotters". Or, these days, you can do bench presses on a Smith Machine where you can set the locks so that the bar will stop before hitting your chest.

For the breathing squats, between each squat, take 3 deep breaths. Breathing squats really kick up the metabolism and natural growth mechanisms!

For the bent over rows, keep the knees slightly bent and grasp the bar with a wide grip. Use a strict form.

For the press behind neck, perform it in a seated position. Warm-up your shoulders before hand and be careful not to use too much weight in the beginning until you know how much you can really handle.

Don't worry about doing multiple sets! By fighting to increase your reps and weights at each workout, you will be getting stronger and getting bigger. After 2 or 3 months, when you notice the gains (in strength and/or size) coming to a halt, then it will be time to switch to another beginner's program. There are many good beginner's programs to follow up Alan's Prep Routine (e.g., see Steve Reeve's beginning program by clicking on our "beginning workout routine" label on the sidebar) that will introduce you to the "set system" soon enough!

Also, don't worry that you are not doing direct exercises for each body part. The bench presses work your chest, shoulders, triceps, and even forearms. The breathing squats work your lower body. The bent over rows work your back and biceps. The press behind neck works your shoulders, triceps, and trapezius. So most of your body - and all the large muscle groups - are getting worked in this program!

CPB recommends starting a training log to keep track of your reps and poundages for each exercise. Don't rely on just your memory. It is critical, for making gains, to increase your reps and weights each workout if you can. So you really need to know what you did at your last workout. You need to be very systematic in your training. You don't want to be one of those who wonders around the gym, doing endless numbers of sets and reps, and getting nowhere. We are sure you want to use "Golden Age Methods to attain a Golden Age Physique!" - CPB