Hail to the Dinosaurs!
John Grimek started his weight training
career by using his older brother's Milo
barbell set.
The barbell was an exercise bar, not an
Olympic bar. It was probably five feet
long and one inch in diameter. The iron
plates were sized to fit the one inch bar.
In other words, it was a lot like the 110
pound barbell sets that so many of us
started training on when we were kids.
But basic and simple as it was, it worked
pretty well.
Grimek gained about 70 pounds in his
first three years of training, and laid
the foundation to become the best built
man of his generation -- as well as one
of the strongest men of his era.
Even today, many believe that Grimek
was the greatest all-natural bodybuilder
of all time.
And it all started with a very basic barbell
set.
It ended the same way.
After Grimek retired from the York Barbell
Company, he set up training quarters at
home, in his basement.
He preferred training at home because it
was quiet. He could concentrate. He wasn't
interrupted by fans and well-wishers. He
didn't have to stop and sign autographs
or answer training questions.
After all, he'd been doing that over 50
years -- and he was entitled to some
quiet, uninterrupted workouts.
He trained with an exercise barbell and a
hodge-podge collection of iron plates. Some
were York plates, some were made by other
manufacturers, and he even had a couple of
Weider plates!
He didn't care whose name was on the plates.
As long as it was iron, it did the job.
He used a set of old-fashioned, self-standing
squat stands. The old York kind. I have a pair.
They work pretty well, but with anything over
300 pounds you need to be darn sure you
don't tip them over.
Grimek also had some dumbbells. Plate-
loading and adjustable. And again, they
were sized for exercise plates.
He did squats and dumbbell presses, and not
much else. They were his two favorite exercises
at this stage of his career.
And so, after more than 50 years, John Grimek
returned to his roots.
Barbell, basement lifter.
Just like it was when he got started.
And frankly, that's a pretty good way to do
things.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S In other news and notes:
1. The Dinosaur Files
We're doing an all-new MONTHLY Dinosaur
Files newsletter -- with electronic delivery. Go
here to order your copy of the May-June issue:
http://www.brookskubik.com/dinosaurfiles_mayjune2016.html
Also, be on the lookout for the July issue -
it will be out very soon!
2. My New Mini-Course
We've also done a great new mini-course
on effective training for older Dinos --
with a brand new workout. It's available
in PDF format with immediate electronic
delivery:
http://www.brookskubik.com/minicourse_01.html
3. My other books, courses, and DVD's are
right here at Dino Headquarters:
http://www.brookskubik.com/products.html
4. Thought for the Day: "A good barbell is
a friend for life." -- Brooks Kubik
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