My early inspirations were martial artists: Bruce Lee, Tom Laughlin (Billy Jack), early Chuck Norris (Good Guys Wear Black, A Force of One).
Even though it was Royce Gracie whose path I followed, I’ll admit that seeing Ken Shamrock in the early UFCs was probably the thing that provided the spark that eventually led me to serious weight training.
I was all for being able to fight like the so-called “skinny kid from Brazil.” But I wasn’t sure I wanted to look like him.
Seeing Frank Mir on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine about 8-9 years later as I was moving toward my mid-thirties was a pretty big deal for me, also. It reminded me of what I liked in Shamrock: the combination of strength, power, and efficient, technical fighting skill.
I remember watching it on TV a year or two back again and only then realizing that the Russian was Kevin Nash. It strangely aged well as a movie. I think mostly because of how indendely campy it was.
McRoberts is a good read and I would suggest it for allot a new individuals … But I have a few issues with some of his stuff which honestly is not worth getting into and would be a thread hijack.
eh, as much as Arnold talks about psyching his opponents out, which was a nice part of a mostly scripted film (I’m sure a lot of people’s heads are exploding at that fact), Lou was never a real threat to the Olympia ever. If he wasn’t in PUmping Iron, or TV’s Incredible Hulk, he’d be another Tall Pro who never was able to fill out.
The only reason Lou was even in the film was because of issues between the IFBB and Serge Nubret who was supposed to be Arnold’s “real” competition in the film.
My parents. I was always an active kid, always liked competing and pushing myself and what not. We didnt have the circumstances though to put me in school sports or whatever. So…they got me doing stuff like pushups, situps, and chins. Thats where it started and it has continued ever since. Throughout the years, i had other influences, but my parents are the biggest ones.
What inspired me were the guys in the gym on the ship(exNavy) I learned a valuable lesson. The better shape I got in, the more women I got. I was overweight in high school. Hardly any girls noticed me. My nickname was “Buffalo butt” Working out gave me more then a better body. It gave me confidence.
George’s St Pierre
I remember the first time I saw him I
Realised what a super athlete was
And my grandma
She still had PT sessions once a week until she was 94. Even went to the same gym for a bit.
80’s Action Heroes instilled in me the idea that “in an emergency situation where bad guys attack, the guy with the muscles stands the best chance at surviving.”
Arnold sometimes played an average dude with an average job. But as soon as the danger started, you had no doubt that he was gonna kick everybody’s ass. I knew I wanted that sort of power when I became an adult.
thb, a guy I was in the army with. He’s taller than me, but we have generally the same build. Anyways, we go on a fishing trip after not having seen eachother in about a year and the fker looks like capt america. I was like, that’s it. Im getting back in the gym
