For many years, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been thought-about by many to be bodybuilding’s best champion and most intense athlete. His coaching applications are analyzed, studied, and in some instances, criticized even immediately – over 4 a long time since he final held up the Sandow Trophy in 1980. Nonetheless, when was the final time somebody truly tried to coach just like the Austrian Oak? I don’t imply doing one exercise that was shared in a difficulty of FLEX or Muscle & Health. I imply, each set, each rep, in as related of a vogue because the seven-time Mr. Olympia himself for an prolonged time frame. In comes the Arnold Problem.

That’s what I’m going to do.

For 4 weeks, I’m going to do the notorious “double-split” superset and triset program that Arnold shared in one of many bibles of lifting, “The New Encyclopedia of Fashionable Bodybuilding.” Logistically, and equipment-wise, there will likely be just a few tweaks and alternate options, which will likely be defined as we go alongside. However the integrity of the Arnold Problem and energy it takes to finish these two-hour, twice a day marathon exercises will likely be revered.

How Did We Get Right here?

For these of you that don’t know me—and that very properly could also be quite a lot of you—I’ve been writing within the health business for properly over a decade. I began coaching in 1999 as a scrawny teenager in West Virginia. Like many individuals who observe bodybuilding, I noticed Pumping Iron and skim quite a few problems with magazines that featured Schwarzenegger. I had his “New Encyclopedia,” and I actually learn and studied that ebook for thus lengthy that I wore the binding out. Significantly.

Many previous problems with FLEX and Muscle & Health featured samples of his exercises from his days because the No. 1 bodybuilder on the planet, and I’d recurrently take them on for myself simply to see if I may do it. Generally I survived, many others I noticed the depth and quantity had been an excessive amount of for me at that stage.

I adopted bodybuilding, however I used to be properly conscious that the IFBB Professional League wasn’t in my future as an athlete. So, I primarily targeted on getting larger and stronger. Ten years after I began coaching, I started writing blogs for motivation, and after submitting an article to a preferred web site, I received my break signed as a author.

It could have been one small article, however to me, I used to be now a part of the bodybuilding business.

Since I grew to become a author, my private transformation has been coated on just a few platforms, and I’ve been capable of share my very own data with readers around the globe. I’ve additionally finished numerous articles about Arnold’s coaching. I might scale them down for a newbie to attempt or put my very own twist on them. The primary difficulty of a serious print journal that my work was ever featured in truly had him on the duvet. That was 2010, and I nonetheless have my copy to at the present time.

I’m additionally a four-hour drive from Columbus, Ohio, the place the Arnold Sports activities Pageant is held yearly. I’ve coated the Arnold Basic, Arnold Strongman Basic, participated within the Pump & Run 3 times, and even get to attend the Worldwide Sports activities Corridor of Fame ceremony. I’ve met and shook arms with Arnold just a few occasions. In 2022, I even received the picture you see under, and I used to be honored to cowl that yr’s World’s Strongest Firefighter competitors. He shared that article on his social media platforms, which I really feel honored for.

From Protecting Arnold—Now Arnold’s Watching Me

Quick ahead to how this all got here to be. Arnold and his group publish a publication that I subscribe to, and you must as properly. He additionally shared a complimentary e-book which featured certainly one of his Golden Period chest and again superset exercises. I then determined I needed to attempt it. So, I emailed my editor at M&F to see if there could be curiosity in a write-up about this as a result of let’s be actual. The 17-year-old me that learn the journal could be thrilled to be featured on their platform. My editor, Jeff Tomko, prompt I truly attempt it each week for a month. I agreed and was all set on beginning this collection of exercises.

I’ve met a few members of Arnold’s group a yr in the past by way of different tales and they’re good guys. I do some information tales as properly, and if something Arnold associated comes up, they will both confirm or make clear the information so I’ve one of the best data potential to share with readers. I reached out to them to allow them to know this was taking place and to get any recommendation they might have.

A kind of gents solely requested for one favor: “Please don’t die.”

I promised to do my greatest to outlive. The day that I did the primary exercise, they requested for updates all through. I’m sending them pics and video clips, which I’m certain they discovered hysterical. Two hours later, I used to be finished, and so they praised me for surviving. They then most likely thought I used to be loopy for truly going by way of with it. Then, one thing unbelievable occurred.

I posted a kind of movies on my Instagram and Twitter accounts. They had been then shared on Arnold’s social media. For perspective, the video that received essentially the most attentions alone platforms was round 9,000 whole. As soon as it was shared on Arnold’s platforms, it received 230,000 views on Instagram and 125,000 extra on Twitter. I believed that was very cool, but it surely additionally received our wheels turning. What if I did the entire program for a month?

My intentions had been to seek out variations of a full-body coaching program that Schwarzenegger both created or did, and do these exercises as soon as per week for a month. As daunting because the Arnold Problem seems to be, I believed I may do it. Every exercise as soon as per week for 4 weeks? Yeah, I can deal with that, as long as the ache afterwards didn’t hold me bedridden.

I texted Jeff and he known as me. We talk about it and assume this could be nice to do. I inform the 2 gents that I’ve beforehand been sharing this odyssey with, and moreover giving me encouragement, in addition they despatched me one additional message.

“Arnold stated to remind you that there was all the time two hours within the morning and two hours within the night.”

No Turning Again

I had solely supposed to do the exercises as soon as per week. The occasions that he referred to are his well-known “double cut up” routine that he would use to organize for the Mr. Olympia. That wasn’t my authentic intent. I instructed them I hadn’t taken it that far. My spouse received wind of this textual content trade and stated the phrases that sealed my destiny.

“You’ve educated exhausting earlier than, you already know the exercises, I feel you are able to do it.”

I then knowledgeable her of what this entailed. Two- hour exercises, twice a day, six days per week. I must do chest and again s within the morning, legs within the night. On the following day, it will be shoulders within the morning, arms, and abs within the night. I might then repeat that 3 times in per week. Sunday could be my solely off day. She nonetheless thought I may do it.

“4 weeks? You bought that.”

After my tires received pumped up a bit, I agreed to no less than give this one of the best go I can. To be clear and clear, my understanding is that Arnold is conscious {that a} author he’s talked to earlier than is making an attempt this. I don’t assume he is aware of it’s me particularly but, however he might grow to be extra conscious of me by the top of this. That will be superior so long as it’s as a result of I completed it. However for now, my focus is just on the exercises.

The following 4 weeks of my life are going to be intense, and to make the strain much more important, we’re going to recap these 4 weeks on this collection. I’ll break down the exercises, comparisons in weight I exploit to indicate the toll of the exercises, and I’m going to watch my progress and stats alongside the best way. On the finish, you will notice the modifications for your self. Arnold used these exercises to maximise his physique for competitors. I’m going to attempt to shed weight and see how exhausting I can push myself. I probably received’t get stronger, and measurement isn’t my prize.

On a private stage, I wanted to do the Arnold Problem to get myself again on observe and push myself to new ranges of non-public health success, and that is as large because it will get for me. For full readability, some might imagine that that is reside and out there to learn as a result of the exercises are finished and we’re simply going to launch them one after the other. No, by the point you learn this, I will likely be solely in week two. There’s nothing assured. Something may occur, however what I see taking place is me getting the job finished and hopefully inspiring some individuals to push themselves to realize their very own type of greatness. Time will inform, however I’m going to provide it my all, and I hope you’ll be part of me on this journey by studying the articles, following me on Instagram @rocklockridge, and be at liberty to supply encouragement. I’ll probably want it.