Rule #1 of Classic Physique Building: Don't Ruin a Perfectly Good Physique!

(Photo Above: Classic Physique Building Champ - Reg Park)

The key to building a classic physique is that you must know what a classic physique is in the first place! How many people train with weights and yet could not describe the characteristics of a classic physique? Such knowledge was fairly common in the pre-roid, Golden Age (the 1940s and 50s), but gradually was forgotten as bodybuilding entered into its dark ages (from the 1960s until today).

Without knowledge of what a classic physique is, a weight trainer goes to the gym, does some exercises, builds some muscle, and perhaps ruins what could have been a perfectly fine physique! Just yesterday at the gym, there was one fellow with nicely developed delts and arms. But his shoulder width was naturally narrow. So what was he doing? - Sets of shoulder shrugs with heavy weights on a Smith machine! He apparently didn't realize that if he developed the mass of his traps, his already narrow shoulders would look even more narrow! Clearly, he did not have a clue as to what to do and what not to do to build a classic physique.

Then there is the guy with the very well developed upper body, that I see from time to time, who walks around the gym proudly doing set after set of arm exercises. His arms must be 17-18 inches! But his thighs are thin and calves couldn't be more than 13 inches! He is walking around on "toothpick" legs! I never see him working his thighs or calves. His body is way out of proportion. yet he doesn't seem to have any sense that his physique is flawed! How many of you have seen similar things in your gym? (And I don't mean to fault these people. Where are they supposed to go to get info about classic physique building? They certainly can't get it from the modern, roid-based muscle mags!)

So, the take-home lesson is this: Don't go to the gym and do exercises without a clear idea of what kind of physique you want to develop and how to get it. Learn what a classic physique is (reading Classic Physique Builder Zine and CPB Blog will help). Have a clear understanding of what classic proportion/symmetry is! Could you quickly summarize the characteristics of a classic physique if someone asked you at the gym?

- CPB

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

The Golden Age, the Classic Ideal, and Mainstream Bodybuilding!

(Photo above: Muscular Development Feb 09 issue - a modern mainstream bodybuilding mag; Photo Below: Mr. America June 58 issue - a Golden Age mag)

When we say that during the Golden Age of Classic Physique Building (the 1940s and 50s), the classic ideal was valued and promoted, we aren't kidding! The contrast between the classic ideal of the Golden Age and the abandonment of that ideal by the modern, mainstream bodybuilding world is clearly seen in the contrast in magazine covers above.

The photo above shows the current cover of Muscular Development magazine (Feb 09 issue) - a mainstream bodybuilding mag. The photo below shows the cover of Mr. America magazine (June 58 issue) - a Golden Age mag.

Look at the Mr. America cover. Is there any question that during the Golden Age, the ideal of physique building was to build a classic, natural, healthy, athletic, and attractive physique - reminiscent of the statues of the heroes, demigods, gods of ancient Greece and Rome? This is a worthy goal! This is a worthy endeavor! What male, young or old, could not identify with this ideal?

Now look at the MD cover. What happenned? Where is the classic ideal? What goal is being promoted? The mainstream bodybuilding ideal represented here is NOT classic, NOT natural, NOT healthy, NOT athletic, NOT attractive - and is NOT derived from the best of ancient Greece or Rome. Does this ideal represent a worthy goal? Is this kind of bodybuilding a worthy endeavor? How many males, young or old, can really identify with this mainstream bodybuilding ideal?

Which ideal would you rather pursue? Which ideal will serve you better?

The ideal that you hold is important, because it will consciously or unconsciously guide your actions - for better or worse. So as you start to work out and build your physique, it is best to have your ideal and goals clear so that you can gravitate to those things that can help you achieve them (and stay away from those things that cannot).

- CPB

Classic Physique Champion - Clancy Ross!

Meet Classic Physique Champion Clancy Ross (photo above) - Mr. America 1945, Mr. Pro America 1946, Mr. USA 1948. Clancy was known as "King of the Bodybuilders" back in the Golden Age (the 1940s and 50s). He was born in 1923 and passed away this year at the age of 85.

There are many good things we could say about Clancy. In addition to being a champion, he owned his own gym and wrote articles for Joe Weider's Your Physique, Muscle Power, and Muscle Builder mags. He competed against the likes of Alan Stephan, George Eiferman, and Steve Reeves and was one of the few to beat Steve Reeves in a contest.

Just look at his classic physique! It is powerful, muscular, symmetrical, and yet attractive. There is no hint of over-development or extreme definition. He is in no way fat. He has muscular definition, yet he doesn't look like an "airbrush-tanned, dissecting-room cadaver". Instead, his skin and entire physique has a healthy glow! His physique is reminescent of a classical Greek god! It is in no way "cartoonish." He is a great role model for aspiring, classic physique builders of today!

Now take a second look at his incredible physique and realize that at the time of this photo, modern nutritional supplements (like creatine, NO and testosterone boosters, pump enhancers, anabolic agents, fat burners, etc) did not exist! Even protein powders did not exist at that time. The first protein powders for bodybuilders didn't appear until 1950-51! All they had, up until that time, was proper training, proper nutrition, and proper rest. How's that for an "eye-opener?"

There is something else you can see in the photo. He is pictured holding a classical Greek column. This shows you that the classical ideal was clearly valued in the Golden Age. It was a healthy ideal which inspired the Golden Age and one which can still inspire us today! - CPB

Joe Weider - Some Regrets?

Photo Above: Joe Weider on the cover of Your Physique Magazine (Nov 1947)

Recently, Joe gave a revealing interview which leads us to believe that indeed he does have some regrets about the direction that modern mainstream bodybuilding has taken. You can find the entire article here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_3_26/ai_n25357605/print?tag=artBody . But here are some selected quotes:

Interviewer: You mentioned on several occasions that while you are happy to see how bodybuilding has progressed over the years, you feel that your original message never reached the public in its entirety.

Joe: ...From the very start, I wanted bodybuilding to be seen not just as a way to build massive muscles, but also as a way to get healthy. I'm afraid that message got lost, and I still want to get it out there.

Interviewer: Do you feel that people's perception of bodybuilders must be changed for them to accept that message?

Joe: Sure. Who wants to look at a guy who is lumbering and doesn't look healthy? They want to see guys and girls who are beautiful to look at. People should look at a bodybuilder and say, "Hey! There is someone I'd like to look like." You know, bodybuilders are heroes to a lot of people, and they should look like heroes...

CPB's Take on Joe's Comments: Well...we might be misunderstanding Joe here, but if you look at all the back issues of Joe's magazines (Your Physique, Muscle Power, Muscle Builder) in the Goden Age (1940s and 50s) before steroids appeared, the bodybuilders indeed had classic physiques and looked like heroes! They often posed like the classical statues of ancient Greek hereos and gods. They received the admiration of women and guys wanted to be like them!

There is no better proof of this than Steve Reeves. Most guys would be more than happy to look like him. Most women would find his physique attractive. Now compare that with today's mainstream top bodybuilders. How many guys would honestly want to look like a Jay Cutler or Marcus Ruhl - whether on or off-season? How many women are really attracted to "Hulk-like" physiques?

Modern bodybuilding has truly lost the classic, heroic ideal and now has become an EXTREME SPORT - designed to shock and entertain perhaps - but mainstream top bodybuilders are certainly not "beautiful to look at." Yes...Joe's original vision and message has indeed been lost in mainstream bodybuilding. But, here at Classic Physique Builder, we hope to keep that original vision and message alive!

The Classical Look

The tradegy of modern, mainstream bodybuilding is that it lost the ideal of the classic physique in favor of the gargantuan, "hulk-like" physique.

Before steroids, bodybuilders were inspired by the great classical sculptures of the ancient greeks which were muscular, proportionate, and yet attractive. Read the following excerpt from an article written by the great Reg Park (Mr Britain 1949, Mr Europe 1950, Mr Universe 1951, 1958, 1965) for Your Physique Magazine (Nov '50):

"The Classical Look for Physical Perfection

by Reg Park, Mr. Europe

When I first became interested in bodybuilding I took a new interest in not alone my own body, but in any statue or photograph which portrayed a well developed physique. I spent many hours studying the statues of the great masters at the Tate Gallery at Millbank in London, as well as at the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. There, enchanted by the sculptural grandeur of Apollo, Discobulous, Hercules and others representative of the great Grecian art which has endured the years and remains even today the accepted peak of physical perfection, I received my first education in physical proportions and impressiveness.

I was quick to notice how each body part blended perfectly with the rest of the anatomy in these masterpieces. How Hercules, thick, powerful and heavily muscled retained this massive proportionate development throughout his entire body..." (end of quote).

Can you imagine that article having been written by today's Mr. Olympia? So the classic ideal has been lost by mainstream bodybuilding. But we don't have to follow their lead. Bodybuilding can be natural, healthy, and lead to classic, muscular, and attractive physiques. We would do well to follow the example of Reg Park! (photo above is Reg Park on the cover of Your Physique Magazine, Jan 1951). - Classic Physique Builder

The Golden Age of Classic Physique Building: The Classic Ideal

What made the Golden Age of Classic Physique Building "Golden" was a conscious effort to emmulate the classic ideal. This can be seen quite clearly in the physique photography of that era (from 1940 - 1959).

Take a look at the above photo. It shows Clancy Ross (Mr. America 1945, Pro Mr. America 1946, Mr. USA 1948) on the cover of the March, 1956 issue of Joe Weider's Muscle Power magazine. Clancy is shown next to a classical Greek column. This is a clear attempt to portray bodybuilders as exemplifying the classic ideal of a muscular, powerful, symmetrical, yet attractive body. There is no glorification here of "freaky" size. Many other examples of this kind of physique photography can be found from the Golden Age of Classic Physique Building.

In the Golden Age of Classic Physique Building (before the advent of steroids), a classic physique was valued as the ideal. Today, that ideal has been lost in the mainstream bodybuilding world. Our mission here at Classic Physique Builder is to bring it back - if not to mainstream competitive bodybuilding, then to regular guys who want to build a fantastic physique and have no interest in using drugs. Many would be proud to have an all-natural, classic physique like that of Clancy Ross!

The Classic Physiques of Reg Park and Steve Reeves

Reg Park (photo: left) was an English bodybuilder, businessman, and film actor. He won the Mr. Britain 1949, Mr. Universe 1951, 1958, and 1965 titles. After winning the Mr. Universe title again in 1958, he went on to star in five Italian Sword and Sandal films – a genre first popularized by Steve Reeves. His films include "Hercules in the Haunted World" (1961) and "Hercules and the Captive Women" (1963). In the 1950’s, he published The Reg Park Journal – a bodybuilding magazine featuring the best bodybuilders of that time.

Although Reg's physique seems bulkier and more massive than Steve Reeves (photo: right), actually their measurements were very similar. Reg's measurements were: height (6' 0"), weight (218 lbs), neck (18 in), arms (18 1/4 in), calves (17 1/2 in), chest (53 in), waist (32 in), forearm (14 1/4 in), wrist (8 in). Steve's measurements were: height (6' 1"), weight (215 lbs), neck (18 1/4 in), arms (18 1/4 in), calves (18 1/4 in), chest (52 in), waist (29 in), forearm (14 3/4 in), wrist (7 1/4 in).

This comparison shows that despite having different looking physiques (Reg's "appearing" more massive and bulky and Steve's "appearing" more sleek), both actually embodied the ideal of the classic physique. So, it doesn't matter whether you have thicker bone structure and a more massive appearance or a thinner bone structure, you can still build a classic physique!

Visit Reg's official web site: http://www.regpark.net/.

The Classic Proportions of Grimek and Reeves

In a previous post, we put forward the basic characteristics of a classic physique: Broad shoulders and chest, narrow waist & hips, straight thighs, and arms, claves, and neck that measure the same. This is a simple description and there is more to than that (e.g., how large should the forearm be in relation to the upper arm, etc) that we shall discuss in future posts. However, this is enough to get us started.

To illustrate the point that people of different heighths and builds can still embody the ideal of a classic physique, we can look at the measurements of two Golden Age bodybuilding champions: John Grimek (Mr. America 1940, 1941, Mr. Universe 1948, Mr. USA 1949) and Steve Reeves (Mr. America 1947, Mr. World 1948, and Mr. Universe 1950). John Grimek was shorter (5'8") and had a relatively thicker bone structure (wrist size = 8.0"). Steve Reeves was taller (6'1") and had a relatively sleeker build (wrist size = 7.9"). Nevertheless, they both illustrate perfectly the characteristics of a classic physique.

Grimek's measures were: neck (17 in), arm (17 in), calves (17 in), chest (47), waist (31 in), thigh (25 in), forearm (14 in), and weight (195 lbs). Reeves measurements were: neck (18.25 in), arm (18.25 in), calves (18.25 in), chest (52 in), waist (29 in), thigh (26 in), forearm (14.75 in), and weight (215 lbs). Notice how the neck, arms, and calves have the same measurement.

Genetics certainly places some constraints on how narrow the waist and hips can be relative to the shoulders and chest. Reeves certainly excels in this area. However, both Grimek and Reeves, being of different heights and builds still embody the ideal of a classic physique. Why? Because they held it as an ideal and trained for symmetry and proportion - not for "freaky size at all costs."

So, when you are in the gym, pay attention to total body symmetry and don't just work the "t-shirt" muscles. There is nothing impressive about having a huge upper body with "toothpick" legs. Think "symmetry" and train to attain it! There is no reason why you can't have the symmetry of a Grimek (above photo: right) or Reeves (above photo: left)!

What is a Classic Physique?

In short, a classic physique is one which is muscular, symmetrical, yet not over or under-developed. Shoulders and chest should be broad with waist and hips narrow - producing a nice "V-taper." The arms, calves, and neck should measure close to the same size. Thighs should be straight rather than "carrot-shaped."

There should be reasonable muscle definition and separation without the extreme "shredded" or "ripped" look of a dissecting room cadaver. A glow of health should radiate from the skin. These are the basic elements.

There is no better embodiment of the classic physique than that of Steve Reeves, Mr. America 1947, Mr. World 1948, Mr. Universe 1950, film star (e.g., "Hercules" and "Hercules Unchained"), author (Building the Classic Physique the Natural Way and Dynamic Muscle Building), and rancher. You can visit the official page of the Steve Reeves International Society at http://www.stevereeves.com/.

In future posts, we will see other classic physiques from the Golden Age of Drug-Free Bodybuilding (1940-1959).