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Letters From Readers

Letters
E-mail the editor at:
robdrucker@musclesofiron.com
Letters must include the author's name to be selected for publication. Place of residence (city state, province, country) is optional. Published letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Maurice Ainsworth and the Darwen Karate Club

February 16, 2012

Dear Rob,

I have only recently learned of the 'Muscles of Iron' website and in particular the 'Tribute to Maurice Ainsworth by Peter Yates.' Although I did not know Maurice in the early days, I have known him and his involvement with Darwen Karate Club since the sixties.

The club is still in existence, albeit under it's new title of Darwen Budo- Kai Karate club and being run by Senseis Jim Dearden and Wright Shaw. I have been training with club since the early eighties, and at the age of 70yrs old still train twice weekly. Our numbers have dwindled over the years, but we shall continue to train whilst able.

I read with great interest and admiration Peter's article on the background history of Maurice, who I see occasionally in the town. I would be obliged if you would pass on to Peter our best regards. Alan Southworth, Jim Dearden and Wright Shaw.

Setting the Record Straight

February 16, 2012

Hi Rob,

I really enjoyed the article [My Heavy Duty Life] by Kevin Dye about Mike Mentzer. All of the great physical culture teachers were well-rounded individuals and philosophers, such as Maxick and Hackenshmidt. Mike Mentzer fits into that mold. Real teachers do not want followers; rather, they act as guides so students can think for themselves and find their own way. Much of what has been written about Mentzer has been from people who did not know him, did not give his system a fair trial, or worse still who did know him and wanted to discredit him and his ideas. It is therefore refreshing to read Kevin's personal experience of being mentored by Mike Mentzer and also your previous articles. This helps to set the record straight.

Regards,
Peter Yates

Setting the Record Straight

February 16, 2012

Hi Rob,

I really enjoyed the article [My Heavy Duty Life] by Kevin Dye about Mike Mentzer. All of the great physical culture teachers were well-rounded individuals and philosophers, such as Maxick and Hackenshmidt. Mike Mentzer fits into that mold. Real teachers do not want followers; rather, they act as guides so students can think for themselves and find their own way. Much of what has been written about Mentzer has been from people who did not know him, did not give his system a fair trial, or worse still who did know him and wanted to discredit him and his ideas. It is therefore refreshing to read Kevin's personal experience of being mentored by Mike Mentzer and also your previous articles. This helps to set the record straight.

Regards,
Peter Yates

Inspiration Posts

January 29, 2012

Hi Rob,

I enjoyed the recent posts as per usual. Regarding the great forces of success I have known many gifted and naturally talented people who seemed to obtain success easily. I say seemed to because as things came easy to them they never actually achieved what they were capable of. Often on reaching a certain level they became bored and looked for something else to do. In the majority of cases these people lacked passion for what they were doing and so did not put forth the work needed to take them as far as they were able. Also they never had any real satisfaction from what they did achieve.

On another note, I was relating some of the strength feats of the mighty atom and others to my cousin. He just could not understand how they could accomplish such seemingly impossible acts. I told him first of all they envisioned what they desired to achieve. Then, they set about learning the how. The thought of being unable to do what they set out to do did not enter their heads.

It seems to me that those who have a strong desire, a strong passion for what they are doing, and who are willing to find a way around obstacles and put in the work needed enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Keep those inspirational posts coming.

Regards,
Peter Yates

A "Shoutout" for Paul Wade and Convict Conditioning 2

January 29, 2012

Hey Rob,

A comment on CC1 & CC2:

I have been doing CC1 for 25 months with great results. So, when CC2 came out I bought it figuring it would be good - but not as great as CC1. Boy! Was I wrong. The sections on grip training & the Trifecta are marvelous. Helped bigtime on push-ups & bridging. Give "Coach Wade" a big shoutout!

Mike Griffith

More Insight Regarding The Secret Passage of Bodybuilding Success

January 11, 2012

Hi Rob,

I had the work ethic instilled in me at an early age, and regarding this there were two things my dad said that stuck in my mind. They were: (1)"Do your best every day for the satisfaction it brings you," and (2)"If someone is paying you to do a job, you have a duty to perform it to the best of your ability."

I recently had a discussion with my 14-year-old son about what he would like to do in the future. As he likes and is good at art, writing and computer graphics, I suggested he look at the types of jobs where his skills and likes could be combined. Usually if you enjoy your work you tend to perform it better. The same goes for training. Although I have found the training that works best for me, I have an interest in and respect for how others train. The main thing is to find what works for you and have at it with a passion.

Regards,
Peter Yates

Mike Mentzer Articles and the One-Leg Toe Raise

January 10, 2012

Hi Rob,

Another great article from you, especially about the legacy of the late Mike Mentzer, and the way of powerful thinking as a result of imaginery meetings. For the one leg toe-raise, when I reach total muscular failure I also add some partial reps, then static hold on top portion before trying the negative portion with the help of your other leg. I do only one set once a week for each leg. The problem is I cannot [consistently] add any rep from one week to another. I would like to add a rep on a regular basis and, once the desired number of reps are reached, then try the movement with one arm dumbell. But not for now. I suppose that's because I am also involved in other demanding sports (MMA, with some intense cardio). So my recovery is strictly limited, especially considering my age (41).

Best regards and keep up the good work.
Vincent

More About the Bodyweight Row Exercise

December 4, 2011

Hi Rob,

It is great to see you back in the gym. I also am glad to see you doing two of my favorite bodyweight exercises - the bodyweight row and the jowett pushup.

Interestingly, I have just started to include the bodyweight row recently after not having done it for over a year [it was one of the exercises I used in my shoulder rehab]. I actually used rings with a parallel grip, and for a couple of days after the first workout I felt a nice ache and fullness in the mid scapular region and rear deltoids.

When traveling I have used the end of a table, fence or low branch to perform the bodyweight row. I hope more people can try this great exercise and appreciate its value. The rowing exercise makes a great conditioning superset with jowett pushups.

Regards,
Peter Yates

New Contributor to MOI

November 27, 2011

Dear Rob,

First of all, I am glad to hear that you are on the mend. My name is Mike Talish and I have been enjoying your site for a long time. Physical and personal cultivation is a life long passion of mine and I would like to thank you for all of your hard work putting this information on your site. I have recently come back from a trip to Okinawa. Peter Yates, a good friend of mine, suggested that the trip might make an interesting article. I hope that you like it. If you feel that it is worthy of being put up on your site, please feel free to edit it any way that you see fit. I have attached the article and a few pictures. I can certainly contribute future articles if the interest is there. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Yours in health,
Mike Talish

Kit Laughlin

October 27, 2011

Hi Rob,

I just checked out your blog page and I was pleased to see the video of the Monkey Gym. Kit Laughlin and I go way back. We shared a house together in Japan in the 1980s. Many do not know this, but Kit has an extensive martial arts background. His father was the highest rank in the system of Japanese Kenpo he taught. I used to take Kit's exercise class in Tokyo. He was always an innovator and way ahead of his time. I visited him in Canberra [the capital city of Australia] about the time he was starting the Monkey Gym. He is a gifted teacher, all round physical culturist and still improving in his late 50s. We still keep in touch.

It was also great to hear about your recent hike. Slow and steady you will get there.

All the best,
Peter Yates

Convict Conditioning 2 Book Review, Etc.

September 9, 2011

Hi Rob,

Many thanks for providing your review of Convict Conditioning 2. I would like to thank you for providing such a comprehensive review. My only regret is that it makes the wait for CC2 even harder. Also many thanks as one of the links took me to Al Kavadlo's website and I am looking forward to trying amongst other things the elbow lever. Again thanks.

I have been training, including long distance running, for ages and ages - since 1976. Over the last seven years I have been doing a lot more bodyweight exercises (haven't bench pressed in about 6 years) and recently managed my first flags and front levers. Looking forward to getting to the gym tomorrow and trying the one arm towel hang (and, I can't believe I didn't think of this myself; in the classes I teach we regularly do timed hangs at the end.)

As a minor aside, I help run some strength and conditioning classes here at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra Australia and mentioned your review on my blog page. I have lent my copy of CC out to probably 8-10 students and at least three of them have gone on to buy their own copy. I will also mail a link to your review to the other Strength instructors at Kit Laughlin's Monkey Gym (where I work), some of whom also purchased CC after checking out my copy.

Pierre Le Count
Monkey Gym - ANU - Blog Page

The Power of a Strong Mind

August 4, 2011

Hi Rob,

I want to thank you for putting together Muscles of Iron. It is a terrific website and a joy to visit. I particularly like your recognition and promotion that the mind is the most controlling force with regards to everything, including muscle building. So many guys only want to read about physical training and fail to realize that building a strong mind is what matters most. Your Pushing to the Front Blog Series is excellent, and I really enjoyed reading Success, Failure, Victory, and Defeat. This is a very motivating article, and you don't see this kind of thing many other places, especially on strength sites. Please keep up the good work!

Regards,
David Fogler

Yesterday and Today

August 3, 2011

Hi Rob,

Personally I could not agree more with your sentiments [referring to The Truth About Physical Culture] . When I started training all the guys at the gym squatted, deadlifted, pressed and used heavy dumbbells. Then, each focused on other activities they felt an inclination for, such as the olympic lifts, hand balancing, wrestling, or strength feats. However, everyone would do at least some of everything from time to time. It was a good environment to train in and it all just seemed to fit together. Today, I train pretty much the same, mainly doing heavy basic lifts, some dumbbell quick lifts, handstand pushups and neck bridges. Every now and then, for a bit of variety, I will have a spell of cable and kettlebell training and strongman stunts. On top of that I keep up my martial arts training. Even though there is a crossover with strength training, as you say each affects the body in a unique way.

Regards,
Peter Yates

View About Chemicals

August 3, 2011

Rob,

Good article [The Truth About Physical Culture]. We all have our opinions, but the crux of what you said, mixing training up, was excellent. I think the point of not doing a certain training program long enough was understated for sure.

One thing I wish you would tackle is the subject of taking the newest chemical to get better results. The bodybuilding crowd would be the most guilty of this due to the severe narcissistic nature of bodybuilding. Taking steroids, creatine, GH, or whatever else the laboratories come out with can't be good for you. Just look at some of the blunders of the big pharmaceutical companies with the regular population. This doesn't even touch the subject of eating organic versus foods that are infested with chemicals, hybrid raised, or even meat and fishes contaminated by the human race.

Mark Portaro

Super Quote from Albert Einstein

July 23, 2011

Rob,

I read your piece [Success, Failure, Victory, and Defeat] and congratulate you on addressing our biggest tool, our mind. Here is a quote from Einstein that I think applies to those of us who have lifted weights for years stumbling around with workouts from the muscle comics:

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

There is a statement you made in your article that I may use, with your permission, to motivate my patients, I'm a physical therapist.

Rate of Success Gain = Frequency of Applied Action x Intensity of Effort

I think it really applies.

Keep up the good work,
Mark Portaro

Enjoyment of New Blog Series

July 20, 2011

Dear Mr. Drucker,

I am not a weight lifter, but I want to tell you that I am thoroughly enjoying your new series – Pushing to the Front. The lessons you provide are priceless, and I agree with you that they apply to all walks of life. I also am very impressed with your new article Success, Failure, Victory, and Defeat. A splendid job, and I only can hope that people across America read this. You do an excellent job bringing great thoughts from the past back to life.

Regards,
Allen Hall

Peter Yates on Total Development

July 16, 2011

Hello Rob,

I have really enjoyed the pushing forward blogs [Pushing to the Front Series] and the newest article especially. This is the type of thing that is missing from 99% of strength and training sites and most certainly not in the muscle comics. It is a hark back to the days of physical culture magazines that emphasized development of the total human. As you know, Bob Hoffman would always open Strength and Health with a stirring editorial. it is important to fill our minds with what can be accomplished and positive outcomes - then get down to it. As humans, we possess dormant powers full of potential and possibility. In future articles on martial arts these are some of the areas I would like to explore. The other day I wrote to Brooks [Kubik] and told him this.

I was feeling quite under the weather on Tuesday and thought I may have to postpone my Wednesday morning workout. Anyway, I went to bed after reading a good few chapters of his excellent book on John Davis. I know the courage, dedication, perseverance that john exhibited, and is so wonderfully captured by Brooks, permeated my subconscious as I slept. I woke in the morning feeling like a lion and had a first class workout.

Please continue to offer these type of uplifting articles. As I previously stated, they are unique and so valuable to all.

Regards,
Peter

Legacy of Mike Mentzer

July 9, 2011

Hi Rob,

I just read your article, Does Heavy Duty Work?, and enjoyed it very much!

I have been using HD since 1978. I was a phone consult of Mike's during the mid-90's when he completely revamped HD into HDII. Mike was my main mentor in life; I still miss the guy, and he had a great impact on how I viewed working out, far more than Ahhhnold ever did.

In modern times, Joanne Sharkey - a close friend of mine - do our best to keep Mike's legacy alive, so pieces like you've written on your site are integral to keeping HD and the man behind it alive.

Closing in on 3 1/2 decades of HD I am still progressing, growing bigger and stronger through Mike's principles. If that is possible at 49, then it shows how correct Mike was. What many fail to grasp is Mike provided the structure but it was up to every trainee to make adjustments according to their individual needs to make it work as efficiently as possible. Heavy Duty isn't a ‘one size fits all’, cookie cutter routine, but a premise with sound theory...it is up to every trainee to adapt Mike's principles as needed.

I have always felt thankful Mike got me started off in the right direction. Starting with pushups when I was 12 years old, I went to a Bullworker I received in my 15th birthday. That Christmas, 1977, my parents bought me weights I'd hounded them for all year. Initially Frank Zane was my hero, possessing a slender build which seemed reasonable to strive for...but after 3 months of 12 sets a muscle with nothing to show for it, I discovered Mike and Heavy Duty, and never looked back.

I was fortunate to meet him in his prime in 1980 (see attached pic). That vision is still etched in my mind, his triceps hung over his elbows! I have met many champs since then; mass monsters known for their size; Lance Dreher, Dorian Yates, Gary Strydom, Kevin Levrone, Paul Dillett, Matt Mendendall, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, etc. to name a few, but Mike was the one who impressed me most, the man was unbelievable!

I would be delighted to write a piece for you. I used to write for the now defunct Heavy Duty Bulletin and Hardgainer magazine, and I enjoy writing.

Cheers,
Kevin

It's A Small World

June 29, 2011

Hello Rob,

Hello Rob, I am a physical therapist who has been lifting weights a long time. Back inthe 70's I trained with a guy named Jeff Shoebrooks. I believe he placedsecond in that contest you mentioned finishing third in 1979 [Teenage Mr. Kentuckiana]. I read a lotof stuff on lifting, the last couple of years mostly Dinousaur Training, andstumbled upon your website recently. I read the piece where you mentionedthe Teenage Kentuckiana thing in 1979 and thought what a small world. Keepup the good work. This sport/hobby, weightlifting/bodybuilding, needs asmuch truth spread around as possible due to the, borrowing a term from Mr.Kubik, lies spread in the muscle comics.

Mark Portaro

Peter Yates' Choice of Three Exercises

June 21, 2011

Hi Rob,

Muscles of Iron is off to a good start. I like the emphasis on all round health and vitality. Being someone who enjoys a variety of exercise options it would be hard to limit things to only three. However, all through my childhood and in to my late teens I would run everywhere whether going to school, training or a movie. And, then I slowed down to fast walking from my twenties on. So, I would also pick walking as my first choice. My Siberian husky agrees with this. Number two would have to be high rep squats, and for three I choose the two-dumbbell clean and press, a terrific and under utilized all round exercise. As a martial artist conditioning has always been a high priority, and these three fit the bill, especially as I am now in my sixth decade.

In health and strength,
Peter Yates

Feedback on MOI Website and Course

June 8, 2011

Hi Rob,

Your new website looks great, and your new course on building mighty legs is a quantum leap in article writing. What a thorough and professional job you did on this! I learned quite a few things from Mr. Quellhorst, and it's always good to learn something new. And your new course is no lightweight. It absolutely dwarfs a typical internet article - both in size and in quality. I Also enjoyed the belt squat videos from Mr. Parrillo. They are quite motivating. I'm very much looking forward to your next feature on Muscles of Iron.

Thanks again,
Bill Thompson
Chicago, Illinois

Kind Words and Update from Paul Wade

June 8, 2011

Hey Rob!

Great to hear from you man. Thanks for including my chapter--the publicity is real appreciated.

Love Muscles of Iron. I've visited the link and spent a lotta time reading your "secrets of Bodybuilding" articles. What fun I head reading that. I know we differ on methods, but if only every teen wanting to actually learn how to train got to read your stuff, what a wonderful thing that would be for them.

You are such a talented writer!

I Hope your life is going good. CC2 is still anticipated some time in the Fall or after. Out for the Holidays for sure!

Thanks again,
Paul Wade

Dinosaur Olympic Weightlifters

June 7, 2011

Rob,

Thanks for all of your interest in old dinosaur olympic weightlifters, like me and Alan Nickell. I've really enjoyed all of the conversations we've had concerning olympic lifting in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

We had a great time at Madison [Indiana] with Allan Nickell talking about his career and how he got started with the Wildcat Barbell Club. It is not often that I have a chance to sit down and discuss the intricate details of the two olympic lifts.

I really enjoyed reading your article on the career and the achievements of George Hudson. George and I trained together at Malick's Gym and later at the Chestnut Street YMCA, and we were teaching colleagues at DuValle Junior High School [Louisville, Kentucky].

The article that you did on Ralph Cameron was especially interesting due to my background of teaching at Male High School. I look forward to another session of talking about weightlifting with you and Alan. I enjoy reading the articles that you post on your website and look forward to the publication of your book on us old dinosaur lifters next year.

The success that I had as an olympic weightlifter goes back to the expert coaching of Allan Nickell and I'm honored that you are writing a book that includes both me and my mentor, Allan Nickell.

Sincerely,
Jim Carr

Looking Forward to MOI

May 29, 2011

Hello Rob,

I just wanted to let you know I am looking forward to Muscles of Iron. I know it is not easy to get something like this off the ground with a family, job and training to take care of on a daily basis. It is very generous of you to open MOI up w/o a subscription fee. When it gets up and running perhaps I could submit an article. I recently had lunch with Dan Lurie who is now 88 and he still does some exercise every day. His mind is very sharp and has a clear memory of most of the greats of iron game. He is also a very nice man.

In health and strength,
Peter Yates

© 2013 Rob Drucker

contact email address: robdrucker@musclesofiron.com