Answering John Grimek . . .

by The Weider Research Clinic

Why has John Grimek changed his opinion about certain bodybuilding exercises he formerly recommended and which he now condemns as being 'unnatural'?

TO JOHN C GRIMEK, Mr. America, Mr. U.S.A., and Mr. Universe crown wearer, could belong the glorious opportunity of physique immortality, in which he could be remembered for generations as the most honored bodybuilder of all time.

However, after impartially examining recent developments, most specifically his article in the December 1956 issue of the magazine he works for, pages 30 and 31, under the title of 'Unnatural Exercises', this man whom a favorable destiny singled out as the 'banner bearer' of modern physique perfection, may yet live to see himself less respected by followers of the iron game as a bodybuilding authority.

His mighty muscles cannot be denied, for he wears them ably and with the dignity they warrant. But, his importance as a bodybuilding authority appears subject to question. Whether Grimek is guilty of purposely disseminating erroneous bodybuilding information, or if his writing merely displays an alarming lack of knowledge, the interested public will have to decide.

Pertinent to this discussion is the truth that Grimek is an associate editor for a magazine where caustic references to current bodybuilding ideals are common. Such identifying terms as 'boobybuilders and monsters' sum up the views of certain writers. The publisher of the magazine Grimek works for has shown his contempt of the high ideals of bodybuilding to which we are dedicated by calling physique contests "sissified things," and he presently stands accused of improper conduct in an important bodybuilding event. It is therefore, open to conjecture, whether Grimek's opinions as offered in his articles are wholely his own and devoid of editorial dictate.

Let us examine Grimek's opinions now:

According to him, an 'unnatural' exercise is, and we quote directly from this article: ". . . any exercise that feels awkward or strains the muscles or joints can be considered unnatural."

To the above, we partly agree. Webster has to this say, about the word strain. "To wrench, harm by over-exertion, as, to strain a muscle." Based on this definition, any exercise which strains a body part cannot be beneficial from a muscle building standpoint. We have cautioned against such incorrect training in our magazines and courses many, many times. Therefore, in what appears to be the most valuable bit of advice in his text, Grimek merely echoes our published opinion in this respect.

We must, however, take exception to his mis-use of the word awkward as being an indication of an 'unnatural' act. Nothing is more awkward than a child seen in the act of taking its first, faltering steps. Yet, according to medical opinion, walking is the most natural physical activity known to man.

Likewise, the total beginner in bodybuilding finds EVERY weight training exercise awkward to some degree. He finds it difficult to control the weights, to maintain the balance of his body, or to perform any movement in a smooth, skillful manner.

A novice in any sport - swimming, baseball, running, etc., is awkward at the start. Skill, or a lack of awkwardness, results entirely from regular practice along approved lines.

Awkwardness, therefore, need not be a consistent quality. Once the muscles of the body become adjusted to the specific movement, skill replaces awkwardness and what may have felt 'unnatural' at one time, is now easily and naturally performed.

To Grimek, this ability of the body to adapt itself to various means of muscular expression and to progressively advance from elemental physical acts to ones more complex in nature without muscular damage, but rather, muscular benefit, is ignored.

Instead, he graciously consents to pinpoint a group of 'unnatural' exercises to illustrate his article. The group consists of a photograph of George Eiferman performing the bent forward lateral raise, which is condemned because it 'cramps' the triceps; there is a photograph of Steve Reeves performing a hack lift; a rear pose of an unidentified model is used, in which the model is shown performing the two hands dumbbell French Press and John Grimek poses for the lying down biceps pulley curl.

These are only some of the 'unnatural' exercises Grimek warns bodybuilders against. In our examination of the supporting text we cannot agree with his observations, nor can we find any of his claims justified to the slightest extent. The best that Grimek manages is to allude to the dire consequences which were suffered by certain UNNAMED subjects. By neglecting to name the unfortunate recipients of physical injury resulting from 'unnatural' exercises, Grimek neatly closes the door on any authentic attempt to check his claims. He also opens the door of disbelief, for unnamed subjects could prove to be nonexistent, merely the figments of an overly active imagination. Or--if such individuals do exist, by withholding names, facts could be distorted without danger of redress, to favor the article.

We suspect that this may be the case when he offers the following vivid illustration of an advocate of the lying down biceps pulley curl, who sustained physical damage. We again quote from the Grimek article:-" After finishing his training one day on which he included more of these lying-down-curls than usual, he joined some of us who were having fun lifting" one end of a car. He lifted the car with ease, but while he was holding his end up with ridiculous ease, it happened! The biceps tendon snapped! This wasn't because his biceps were weaker than any of the others, but they were weary and played out from those "Cramped Curls and snapped from sheer exhaustion. It's possible, had he not exhausted his biceps with those unnatural curls, he could have lifted the car with all of us sitting in it without tearing the tendon. But unnatural exercises have a tendency to fatigue muscles faster because of the strained or cramped position the muscles are forced into, which doesn't speed development."

To the best of our knowledge, John Grimek has never completed any recognized course of instruction in anatomy, physiology or the workings of the human body. Therefore, this statement is rather sweeping, and merely represents a personal opinion, which can hardly carry much scientific weight. Such radical statements on the part of an individual, when not backed by conclusive fact, could, of course, prove dangerous.

At best, and giving him every benefit of the doubt, Grimek merely concludes that the curls made the biceps injury possible. It is just as logical to conclude that the foolhardy display of strength by the individual in lifting the end of a car might have resulted in even graver injury if he had not strengthened his biceps by cramping curls. We are not stating that this is so, but such conjecture is just as logical as the one advanced by Grimek. It is also rather significant that the injury did not occur during a work-out in which an 'unnatural' exercise was performed more often than usual, but rather, during a childish 'show-off' physical display which had absolutely nothing to do with a scientific bodybuilding work-out.

This leaves Grimek in the inevitable position of condemning certain exercises which have been practiced throughout the years by thousands of bodybuilders without reportable muscle damage, while he apparently advocates the indulging of a 'show-off' complex, more specifically the lifting of the end of a car, which we feel is a dangerous practice and one which all mentally-adult bodybuilders should avoid.

We also wonder if the whole story has been told. We, of the Weider Organization, make it our business to investigate every case of injury among bodybuilders. The only case we know of which fits the above description was of a former weightlifting champion who at the height of his career suffered an acute attack of phlebitis which hospitalized him for many months. At one time his life was in danger and only through dint of personal determination did he not only live, but was able to train again. The cause of his phlebitis is not absolute, but there is strong suspicion that it resulted from a football injury sustained before he ever handled weights. After his recovery, this man did lift the end of a car, and his biceps was ruptured. Due to the gravity of his illness, despite his recovery, there is still some possibility his entire muscular tone may have been subnormal at the time of the accident and that it was traceable entirely to medical cause.

Since Grimek has seen fit to leave this person unnamed, we will do likewise. However, if the individual is the one we have in mind, then obviously Grimek withheld certain pertinent details when presenting the illustration.

However, while Grimek appears to display a remarkable inaptitude for factual instruction, he does reveal a genius for double talk. Golden gems of wisdom dance nimbly from his typewriter keys as he completely beclouds the issue in this manner :- "Feeling unnatural doesn't always decrease the developing potential of the exercise, however, since many of us are constructed slightly different anatomically so that some of these exercises can be done more naturally by some while others find it impossible, which proves "what's good for the goose is NOT ALWAYS GOOD for the gander!"

If this style of double talk is to become the bodybuilding standard, future articles dealing with the training success of the champions may be written in this manner:- "He performed certain exercises in a slightly different way because his anatomical structure was not the same as someone else which means if we told you what he did, it wouldn't be of any use to you anyway, so why not be smart and make up your own routines if you want to build muscle!"

Even more serious than his lack of journalistic and instructional worth as displayed in his article, is Grimek's apparent short memory. The same exercises that Grimek now terms unnatural, were publicly advocated by him in the past. If they were advocated by him, we must presume they were used by him. And-if they were both advocated and used by him, they must have contributed to some extent, at least, to his development. The bodybuilding world is entitled to an explanation why he has now changed his views.

For specific instances, consider these: In the March 1948 Strength and Health Magazine, an article appeared, written by Jay C. Gee, which was Grimek's pen name at that time. The title was, 'BICEPS AND TRICEPS IN A HURRY!' In this article, Sam Loprinzi is used as the exercise model and the French Curl is one of the illustrations, At that time, Grimek wrote:- ". . an excellent exercise for triceps, especially for acquiring definition."

Another illustration shows the bent forward dumbbell, curl, or a variation of the 'cramping' type of exercise Grimek now criticizes. At that time, however, Grimek recommended it because a 'fuller contraction' was obtained.

In another early article, titled, "How I Built These Arms," by John Carl Grimek, he relates how he built up his arms at the start of his training with a: - "Great variety of curling and pressing in every conceivable effective manner my knowledge could serve me. . . ." He personally poses for the French Press with a barbell in that article and for the elbows raised barbell curl which is a severe biceps cramping exercise.

As recently as January 1954, in an article, 'The Arms Have It', by John Grimek, there appears to be no objections to certain of the exercises he now terms 'unnatural.' In this article, Earl Clark poses for the illustrations and among the exercises there appears the one arm concentration curl with a dumbbell, which is a cramping exercise, and the one arm French Press with a dumbbell. Grimek wrote:-"For most beginners a training schedule consisting of eight or ten exercises is enough to stimulate muscular growth if employed two to four times a week. After two or three months they should add a few more exercises to their programs, or repeat some of them in two or three series with corresponding resistance to work the muscle and pump enough blood into the tissue. If such exercise is properly planned and persisted in, one will rarely reach a sticking point."

If our interpretation of the above is correct, Grimek admits that muscles must be worked regularly harder and that they must be pumped up if sticking points are to be avoided. Yet, exercises which do pump up muscles effectively and which do work them regularly harder, are called 'unnatural' by him, now. This appears to be a surprising 'about face' which merits further Grimek explanation.

In September 1944, or when Grimek was probably at his developmental peak, an article, 'Molding Superb Deltoids,' appeared under his name. In that article, Grimek posed for, and recommended the bent over lateral exercise for shoulder development. A caption accompanying the photograph carried this text:-"Not only do the deltoids derive much benefit from this movement, but other chest and back muscles are actively brought into play." Just how today, a dozen years later, Grimek condemns this same exercise for its detrimental influence on the triceps is the anatomical discovery of the age, worthy of high ranking scientific exploration.

We readily admit that our publications advocate the use of exercises Grimek now calls unnatural. However, based on his record, Grimek personally used and recommended most of these exercises and so have all the top stars. We feel that they have therefore stood the test of time and can be practiced with benefit by the bodybuilder. Our substantiating proof of their value is certainly more conclusive than Grimek's present criticism.

We have never received any reports of injuries sustained from their practice when they were employed sensibly and in accordance with Weider Recommendations. We have never suggested that any bodybuilder strain until blue in the face and neither have we advised anyone to train to the point of physical exhaustion. We are quite aware that muscles need to be gradually and progressively conditioned to handle heavier loads. A 300 pound squat, attempted by a weak and skinny beginner, might cripple him for life. Yet, this same weight represents a sensible load, one this same former beginner can handle with benefit once he has built up his body with modern Weider Training.

Weider Pupils know that they are instructed to start off with from 5 to 35 pounds in various exercises and that they are told to avoid strain at any cost. We also caution beginners against jumping their poundages too high and that they should increase exercise weights gradually according to their improvement in strength and development. Certainly there is nothing 'unnatural' nor harmful in such a training plan. It has produced countless of stars and all safely and quickly.

However, while Grimek takes exception to some of the exercises we advocate, which have stood the test of time, we wonder if he might not rather forget that in January 1955 he posed for and recommended the highly dangerous practice of hanging by the heels from overhead straps while holding dumbbells in the hands. This was the method he says he used to encourage height increase and the caption which accompanied the pictures indicated that pullovers in that position were beneficial

At that time, our medical advisor informed us, when we were horrified at seeing these pictures,that tremendous damage to the circulatory system could result from exercising in that position and that even merely hanging upside down could be harmful to many individuals.

If hanging by the heels is natural, while the French Press is 'unnatural,' then perhaps we have not completely outgrown the habits of our simian brothers who enjoy hanging from their tails.

As an added dividend, it requires little imagination to recognize the fact that home made 'heel hanging' equipment, could prove insecure, with a broken neck a grave possibility if the feet should slip out of the straps.

In presenting this critique of Grimek's 'Unnatural Exercises' article, we are well aware that we are placing ourselves in the delicate position of taking exception to the printed words of a great bodybuilder who has stood as a symbol of muscular perfection for two decades.

We are, however, taking exception to his words, only, and not to the man, whom we have often saluted in the past as a mighty monarch of muscledom.

We feel that it would be a pity, if now, in the twilight hours of his star-studded career, he should commit any acts to dim the cherished memories of his accomplishments which all men of weights hold close to their hearts.

Indeed, we were moved to this rebuttal, solely due to the many requests we received for clarification, from bodybuilders throughout the world. Otherwise, in respect to the man and to what he has stood for in our sport, we should have ignored his article completely.

Since doubt and confusion have sprung from his words, as a bodybuilding service we were forced to set the record straight.

Even now, we do not deny the fact that Grimek is entitled to his beliefs. We do feel, however, that when he turns heretic and denounces bodybuilding exercises which he recommended in the past, he must, in keeping with his rank as honored citizen of the muscle world, support his views with concrete fact. We sincerely believe that he has failed in this instance.

We trust we have succeeded in making him more conscious of his obligations to bodybuilders and that in the future his articles will prove above reproach. If we have accomplished this, our article has justified its space and Grimek will fulfill his destiny as an immortal of the iron game.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- The mighty John Grimek in one of his greatest muscle shots. In this article we take exception to his viewpoint about 'unnatural' exercises which was published recently in another magazine. Read the exciting details.

- Grimek claims that the 'hack' lift, as performed by Steve Reeves, at right is DANGEROUS. Yet, he RECOMMENDS exercising while hanging from the feet!

- Grimek claims that the French Press and cramping exercises are BAD. He previously recommended them as proved by illustrations, taken from his articles.

- Grimek claims that Bent Forward Laterals are unnatural. Yet, he poses for that same exercise here.

- Grimek claims that all exercises should be performed in 'natural' position. Note his form here.

- Grimek claims any exercise which produces strain, is dangerous. Note 'strain' evidenced here.