BILLY RALPH'S BRONZE ERA BODYBUILDING SYSTEM! THE MAXALDING SYSTEM OF MUSCLE CONTROL

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

If the children or grandchildren of Billy Ralph are still alive and well, please contact me via email at [e-mail]

[@chadtravels]

Monte Saldo is my great grandad and I have always been fascinated with his work. My grandad keeps lots of his memorabilia and teachings 💪🏼

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

@@chadtravels Hi Chad, it's an honour to make your acquaintance. Please email me [e-mail] I would love to see if I could obtain scans or images of literature, training courses, photos etc that may be useful for my research into the methods of the Bronze Era physical culturists. Best regards Carlos

[@TK-pe7sf]

@@chadtravels This is really cool. Would be great to get more info from you as an insider!

[@X10-bz]

My great grandad and my dad used this type of training Handed down to me about in 1969 I am now 65 and I am in the progress of relearning and using this system of training.

[@bhougland18]

@@chadtravels I just bought an original Muscle Control by Maxick program off of Ebay and inside is a autograph from Court Saldo, was this your granddad?

[@howardwatson6814]

I was a pupil of Maxalding in 1976. Court Saldo would send a personal lesson each month. The system was very effective and I still have all the lessons.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Hi! I wish to contact you and interview you if you would do me the honour. My email is [e-mail] Please email me. Best regards Carlos

[@GTE_Channel]

I would be very interested in some copies!

[@MrAlepedroza]

If you ever manage to digitalize them somehow (there's scan apps for phones such as VFlat), some copies would be appreciated 😃

[@hughmungus1072]

@@GoldenEraBookworm make it work I'll be glad to watch that Interview 💪

[@MetalPesado]

@@GoldenEraBookworm I have just found your channel and im very much interested in seeing an interview with you and Howard Watson

[@j-bro894]

When considering how these men built muscle naturally, without steroids or advanced exercise equipment in the 1920’s. There’s something else to consider. They ate real food. Not the processed fake food eaten today. Meats, fruit and vegetables were sourced local. They didn’t sit in a refrigerator or freezer for weeks or months while in transit. All their nutrients, amino acid’s, etc. we’re available for consumption. There was no such thing as high fructose corn syrup. The mass consumption of sugar today kills the potential to build muscle in general. And certainly lean muscle. And all the myriad of chemicals now in our food and water. That destroy the metabolic system. That lower testosterone levels. In the 1920’s sleep deprivation was a rarity in young men. Now it’s the norm. There was little to do at night but sleep. No TV, smartphones, tablets, and 24/7 News cycles. Sleep increases testosterone levels, well being, and is fundamental to a well functioning metabolism. A man in the 1920’s had multiple advantages in building muscle naturally as compared to today.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Very important points laid out here

[@rachidtoumi5075]

You're completely right man

[@matthewgonano636]

Exactly right. I don't even drink the water here I drink all mineral water from italy

[@matthewgonano636]

From Italian mountains

[@gl7257]

I eat sugar and I don't get enough sleep. So according to KZbin fitness standards I shouldn't have muscle. But I do have muscle. 🤔 Stop putting limits on yourself. It's your choice to eat the sugar and watch infinite content. Stop doing those things.

[@BuakawPorAdi]

This kind of physique is so much better than todays builders on all that gear

[@c.m.f.1]

The mind muscle connection is so powerful and so underrated today. Everyone is throwing weights around, talking to their friends and not focusing. It’s like Arnold said in a video around his defunct supplement line, “this is Mickey Mouse stuff to them” when referring to people just going through the emotions of a workout. You’ve gotta use your brain and slow down. Stop swinging the weights!! Great content as always!

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Thank you

[@AnhNguyen-hn9vj]

ya. I think in the old days bodybuilders are more about muscles and muscles control possible influence from India yoga? not so sure.

[@budgetking2591]

But the greatest bodybuilder ever, Ronnie Coleman, was not a believer of mind muscle, as he always used to say, just lift the weights, and the muscle will come xD

[@brownpleasure9320]

like most people actually train to be STRONG, not just getting big muscles who are not strong, just to impress girls. most guys start to train for girls then end up to train for getting stronger physically, which in your wores is " just throwing around weights" ....well some poeple actually want to LOOK AND BE strong....not looking strong and being weak asf

[@viarnay]

People just took the easy way of roids..🙄

[@bernardroemmele5769]

My grandfather taught me this when I was younger this kind of training is better for young kids to be less impact on the growth plates at the same time as helping them in sports. If only I listened more while he was still around.

[@cartman1363]

There is no evidence that says that weight training stunts growth

[@joewarts8283]

I was hard headed when I was lifting at ten . Lifted heavy for my age. My mom asked my doctor when I went for the flu. Doc said not to lift heavy till I get older that it will stunt my growth if I continue lifting like I was. I was hard headed and been same night since 14. My lil sister taller than me. Lol.

[@bernardroemmele5769]

Same here lifting 7 days a week starting at 12 was 5'7" and still that height when I was 12 I was way taller then most kids so I believe it.

[@RagingRugbyst]

see, this is complete and utter bullshit, training has no impact on growth plate closure. it's a bullshit claim.

[@justbreathe8835]

@@joewarts8283 dam dude 10? I was running climbing jumping flipping at that age,started at 14 lifting

[@shaftsburry1773]

I was lucky to have found out about muscle control really early on in my lifting, and I legitimately believe it helped me get more out of my workouts because if you can isolate and understand the muscle you can effectively use it, rather than just throw weights around without reason.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Exactly

[@steroidsR4losers]

roids

[@bobjamer8956]

@@steroidsR4losers Yeah, yeah, yeah! Cause you can never get a great physique without them, right? Did they have gear back in those days? I don't have any evidence that they did, do you?

[@steroidsR4losers]

Steroid users are like little kids wearing a costume and wanting you to believe it's really them! If you don't go along with it, they throw a tantrum! Stay natural buddy!

[@larrydickman1094]

@@bobjamer8956 "Testosterone was first synthesized in Germany in 1935 and was used medically to treat depression. Professional athletes began misusing anabolic steroids during the 1954 Olympics, when Russian weightlifters were given testosterone. In the 1980s, anabolic steroid use began to extend into the general population, and young men began using these substances, sometimes to enhance athletic performance but in most cases to improve personal appearance." NIDA, "What is the history of anabolic steroid use?"

[@szerva9426]

I couldn't even look this good even on peds 💀💀

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Bloody Incredible right?

[@quadplyr13]

@@GoldenEraBookworm You think Billy was pulling some hoes? Was Billy hoe raedy? Lol

[@adamsmith8283]

@captain scentsible39 Myostatin

[@joshtheflatearthjedi222]

Not with that attitude

[@slimjim1104]

@captain scentsible39 it's the opposite issue of muscular dystrophy, both are myostatin issues, but it causes other issues with connective tissues and such.

[@randyrustybuts9566]

I do believe that photo shop was quite big in the 1920s

[@richardyoung1890]

Wow blown away by his awesome physique! I believe that our natural testosterone levels have been steadily decreasing decade by decade! There was no highly over processed foods with additives that you need a chemistry book to intrepid! There were always great physiques like Sandow,Hackenschmid some of the Indian Wrestlers who did thousands of Hindu Squats which further advance your testosterone levels!Genetics,good solid workouts and the right nutrition not the Standard American Diet “SAD”! There were also Professors,Specialists in Physical Culture who could be an influence on their training! How many people would flock to Albert Hall to see Sandow perform.Thanks for keeping these methods and training regimens alive!Stay passionate and keep it coming sound mind in a sound body like the ancient Greeks!

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Thank you mate. It is an amazing topic the Bronze era

[@steroidsR4losers]

roids

[@timbo7873]

From Socrates: "No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."

[@olfrud]

@@steroidsR4losers lol

[@steroidsR4losers]

The ROIDER'S plan book: 1. HIDE the STEROID use. Don't ever bring up STEROIDS. LIE & DENY their use when asked. If that doesn't work, go to plan 2. 2. DOWNPLAY STEROIDS. Tell people STEROIDS doesn't do anything. If that doesn't work, go to plan 3. 3. COMPARE STEROIDS to other UNHEALTHY things like ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, ETC... "Try" and JUSTIFY using STEROIDS. If that doesn't work, go to plan 4. 4. Call them names & CURSE at them. Even if you admit to using STEROIDS, you still have FAKE muscles and FAKE strength! Stay natural buddy!

[@mikthe2004]

1:00 Billy's front double biceps pose - Holy cow!! His arms look like Arnold's!! And the glute pic at 4:10!! WOW!! This is almost 100 years ago!! Before steroids!! Sure, he's not very massive - but what a drug free body!! He's better conditioned than almost every Olympia competitor, and from a time when knowledge of "proper" nutrition would have been difficult to find if not non-existant!! Static contraction is a valid training method. I use it on various exercises like shoulder laterals at the end of the workout to totally fry my delts. Leg extensions hurt both my knees - my left knee was replaced - but static contractions with a lighter weight for 30 seconds with the legs slightly bent really have improved my muscle size. These guys from the bronze era really knew their bodies, unlike todays drug freaks whose knowledge is only about drugs!!

[@JamesCarmichael]

What really wows me about this guy is actually his biceos, triceps and forearms. Those are working man's arms. I know guys in construction who have arms like that and they haven't set foot in a gym ever.

[@Troxclair4]

hey man i’ve been binging your bronze-silver era content and just have to say i really appreciate what you’re doing!! thanks for all the information a natural would need!

[@deaconturk7752]

Same!

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

You're welcome...close to 100 videos on the playlist now

[@deaconturk7752]

Where abouts you from anyway pal? You got me binging the bronze era from South wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

@@deaconturk7752 I'm Aussie but live in Switzerland

[@rachidtoumi5075]

Believe me i feel totally comfortable and extremely satisfied when I watch your regular content about the old school legendary bodybuilders and their fascinating methods of training to achieve such symmetric and smart physiques however most of them were natural and drug free Just one thing: keep up your nice content

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Will do

[@juanrodriguez5404]

The muscle control is the yin side of bodybuilding while the yang is the hardcore training we do to put up muscle. People have forgot the yin side and focus too much on how to get big. It's just a shame that muscle control has been almost lost. I have a copy of muscle control and try to do every exercise to put my mind on the muscles.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

I agree

[@graefx]

I had a martial arts friend that said almost the same thing. Most of us were into the UFC and ultimate fighter, and one night he hit us with that criticism

[@mechatronictd7418]

wtf with that chinese BS?

[@fredazcarate4818]

These men were true pioneers and have created some of the most advance system sof muscle building. Our present era does not come close to matching their achievements. Thank you for producing a great video on the subject.

[@luizalexandregruszynski2215]

It always supris me when I see your videos about the bronze era bodybuilding. These guys from this era, through their methods of training developed a kind of physic that surpasses, in my point of view, the majority of bodybuilders today. How incomparable aesthetic development they were able to achieve in a time where there were no steroids, no supplements, or sophisticated gyms. How amazing was, and still are, these old methods of training , like, muscle control, light dumbbells, body exercises and chest expanders. Anyone can see the diference in the body type of the bronze era athletes and later the silver era in comparison with to modern day bodybuilding. What we see today are the search for overdevelopment with the use of massive supplements, sometimes steroids, what leads to bulking bodies and anti aesthetics what, unfortunately seem to be the trend in modern day bodybuilding. Also it always shocks me that today, even with all the resources available in terms of methods of training, diets, supplements, steroids and gym machines, I don't see athletes that even remotely resembles the muscularity and shape of these bronze era pioneers. Thank you very much for your researches which allows us to know about these athletes of the past and learn something about their way of training.

[@katarinatibai8396]

100% agree + they were also able to muve like a gymnast - many of them. You don't see many of todays body builders to make a salto.

[@teflonarmored]

Mind-to-muscle connection is SO IMPORTANT!

[@Jeflexful]

Yes. This is THE bodybuilding system in my book and the era in which this system was born, designed and created was THE pinnacle of true bodybuilding, fitness and health. They were strong, muscular and above all, fit and healthy. They were the epitome of wholesome bodybuilding that encompasses every important aspect of it

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Long live The Bronze era 🙏

[@BrMark-cu9ih]

Please, what is “… my book…” that you mentioned?

[@Jeflexful]

@@BrMark-cu9ih It's just an expression. Another way of saying 'in my opinion'. Not a literal book

[@jimbro.]

Well said. I am a teacher and practitioner of yoga for nearly 50 years, do weight training and swim for aerobics. Mind and body come together as you so wisely said. Thank you for the video, much can be taken from it, and more should take heed.

[@Vithedel]

This is god-sent for me, thank you so much. Doing slow 6-10 seconds rep and focusing on the technique, coordination really let me workout hard and safely. Now I dont train for fight comp or PR i had alot of troubles with injury and intensity either too much or not enough to feel good and energied. This solves all my current issues thank you.

[@JasonLawrenceNoel]

Just a interesting heads up. I trained major muscle control along with isolating my muscle through Martial Arts, Posing and lifting. What happened is after 10 years of doing this. When I went to do a max lift I would strain or majorly pull muscle because I had taught my muscles to isolate and squeeze independently to much imo. I did look physique wise very good but was no longer very functional. I have spent the past 9 years undoing all of that. Just food for thought and how things like this effected me.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Interesting point of view and experience, thanks for sharing 👍

[@maxuli21]

Muscle isolation is reverse engineering. If you are doing what feels natural and your muscles contract, it's because they are meant to. Which is why most bodybuilders are actually very unathletic in my opinion.

[@christophersierra2149]

you never learned to control your body correctly. you just learned to flex really hard.

[@almightyperformance]

Check out GOATA movement training and calisthenics

[@enochabraham688]

You missed to ability to control the muscle chain in a synchronistic fashion. There is an application aspect of this training that teaches you how to apply the control properly

[@kingsize1182]

WTF! I thought Clarence Bass was RIPPED. This is frigging insane. 1925? That's unbelievable. This man is a GENETIC freak. Mad respect.

[@EDEN-LIMINAL]

Then check Maxick's colored photograph, it is the most insane I (and many others) have ever seen.

[@airsoftsniperm40a33]

Weird fact is...anyone can achieve this look naturally. Look at my profile picture. I grew up starving, in Romania, Eastern Europe. I am a natural bodybuilder. Yes, nothing compared to guys on gear...but still...I managed to build a little muscle

[@benzina7]

This is something totallly different from the actual muscular development mass-oriented world. Thank you for sharing this.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

You're welcome

[@GameKaps]

I have been bodybuilding and what I guess some my label as "meditating" in relation to it for 15 years. I can say with great confidence there is some extreme progression both in the body and mind through connecting the two and really focusing on thinking hard about the exact muscle you are using in any exercise. This is something that I self taught myself after just testing random things over the years. Seeing a video like this about someone who I didn't know existed mastering something very similar to what I have been doing is extraordinary and gives me great confidence that I can probably continue improving upon this. I would say the biggest takeaway from this for someone very new to this is not to worry too much about the exact exercises and following any protocol too specifically, but to develop your mind to adapt and learn how to do the fundamentals here in relation to what you already to, then go from there.

[@marcd1981]

Thank you for this latest video, very interesting to learn about the old school training methods. One thing I was thinking when you were talking about the routine Billy would have used is that it had the use of weights in it. But at the beginning of the video, you stated Billy claimed he didn't use weights. I find it difficult to believe he would have had that level of development without weight training being involved. You also mentioned Maxick was a gymnast, so that could explain the muscle development he had, but there was no mention of Billy being a gymnast.

[@TOYCH]

Would love to see actual video examples of the described exercises.

[@GTE_Channel]

Yes

[@NBDYSPCL]

As a dyspraxic, Total body control is what i want to learn. Hoping to achieve 1 arm Push ups, pistol squats and 5 consecutive Pull-ups by the end of the year.

[@grindsetman488]

@@NBDYSPCLcongrats man you set a goal and you achieved it

[@sjc2721]

Thank you for your in-depth videos of the Golden era.. you do it wonderfully. If I could make one recommendation... For dumbo’s like me, visuals help out a lot. Through your narration, I can tell you understand the movements. If you could “show” the practice of said movements, may help some of us fully understand how it was done properly. You’re the man, Thank you.

[@quintenhuggins2142]

How do you keep finding this awesome information? What you are bringing to light lets me realize that we have lost something along the way. Keep up the great work!

[@HkFinn83]

Naturals lost all the training knowledge because of the users and the Fake natties. Training techniques don’t matter to them, stimulate and the stuff does the work.

[@miamidolphinsfan]

Absolute gem of a video brother ! Love this content

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Yeah, I'll keep making more videos on true natural bodybuilders from the Bronze era...its a fascinating topic

[@toni-kristianpuska9100]

Your channel is underrated... Great content. ❤️

[@terrymedlicott3580]

Genetics play a major part in body shaping

[@tylerbrass4002]

This almost makes me want to start learning/training in gymnastics or something. I lift, and I am pretty happy with my progress with my physique, but when I think about it, I can only move the weight in very specific ways, that aren't really applicable to real life. So it's kind of like, it would be cool to harness the strength in more useful ways, like these guys seemed to be trying to do. It's really impressive.

[@kuji-in-deed369]

This sounds like what we know today as calisthenics. These guys were way ahead of their time. This should be taught as an essential addition to any exercise system. Subscribing for more.

[@dannymoss58]

Good video until the end. You’ve actually overstated the relationship between weights and the system. That paragraph you noted was talking merely about specificity. If you want to be a champion lifter, you won’t reach your peak without lifting weights. However, if you are talking about health and gaining muscle, Maxick himself said he tried weights as a primary training method, and he found them inferior to his muscle control system, as it left him feeling tired and sore.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

You misunderstood...I said what you said

[@Turbo-D]

another proof how important your genetics are..not just for bodybuilding

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Very true, I mean this is 1925...FN INSANE!!

[@Twomps]

Food was much more nutritious too

[@matthewgonano636]

@@Twomps yes all organic grass fed and raw. Nothing processed or pasteurized

[@richardlawson6787]

Very few men can look like that no matter what they take or how hard they work out...genetics

[@lazur1]

I can't wait for Prof.Rojas!!!

[@AnthonyPiccirillo]

They look so much better than today’s body builders

[@songsmith31a]

A great reminder that there were extraordinary physiques before the age of steroids - and surely better examples for any health-minded student of physical development. I once had a book by a man called Oscar Heidenstamm (think that's the correct spelling) - dating back years. It was a fascinating lesson in early strong man history. These videos perform a sterling service in bringing the past to life in a memorable informative manner. Thank you.

[@covingtoncreek]

I would love to get a look at the nutrition program of all of these guys. Considering the time, the body fat percentage of Billy is incredibly low.

[@danielteixeira309]

Yes he looks 8% to 6%bf he could be ready 4 a show in a couple days just a bit of watter depletion .

[@blackphoenix8932]

That neck is outrageous.

[@briancase6180]

Billy Ralph had insane genetics. Wow. It just goes to show that aptitude is important in any pursuit.

[@enochabraham688]

This is my primary training method, along with Charles Atlas training (very similar, with more exercises). This type of work is the Western equivalent of Indian Yoga and Chinese Qigong, although it’s easier to get buff with this work because it is more approachable. However, there is similar training in Indian Yoga and Qigong, and the Western Strongmen spent a lot of time mentioning vital force as a primary focus of this training.

[@carlschnackel3051]

He was also very gifted genetically.

[@bwoodzjjb]

Thank you so much! Will incorporate more of this.. God bless you!

[@jonathandewberry289]

People can say what they want but those old school muscle men were rock solid. They weren't as puffy but you'd easily believe those guys were functionally strong as supermen. At age 70 they'd lift horses and it would freak us out. Anyway, good stuff.

[@siddislikesgoogle]

Just bought the book on Amazon. Kindle is 3 dollars. First excercise is killer. Am very intrigued

[@Jessiesibert]

Great video. I love these golden era strongmen. I’ve watched documentaries on all the old carnival strongmen and wrestlers!

[@DocPaolo]

From my, personal, experience, this is GOLD and not BS. My routine, also inspired from your videos, muscle control, fallowed by self resistance then, also, light dumbbells. My schedule still six days a week, 100 resps on the dumbbells and, I'm counting as a rep, for every breath, inhale and exhale, so, let's say 10 reps every muscle control and self resistance. Thanks for posting, always, such interesting and enlighting videos.

[@mdguitar00]

Have you put on muscle during this routine?

[@DocPaolo]

@@mdguitar00 Yes; honestly, I was in a stagnation period amd, this routine had helped me to overcome it amd gain strength and size.

[@mdguitar00]

@@DocPaolo that’s awesome! Are you following the light dumbbell system from Sandow/Atillia or your own version of it. I’ve been considering leaning away from more conventional bodybuilding to something similar to what you’re doing. Do you have any recommendations for someone to start training like you are?

[@DocPaolo]

@@mdguitar00 I'm fallowing a system adjusted to my needs. As an old crock, I avoid isolation exercises; I keep my daily routine simple with 6 exercises, 100 reps each; I use self resistance as a warmer for my muscles then..

[@DocPaolo]

@@mdguitar00 I forgot to mention then, before, when I start this system, every time I've reached the 100 reps, I was adding some little weight to the dumbbells then.

[@davidjones6470]

Another great upload sir 👌💪

[@eqbal321a]

isometric training works especially if a person has injuries if combined with wights and calisthenics it is even better

[@tdg710]

The Bioneer sent me here and I am not dissapointed. Nice work.

[@ryandavis6660]

Very interesting!

[@BodyByBenSLC]

Billy had the perfect body. Flawless, strong, lean, proportion. Nothing to improve.

[@mattward5010]

actually a form of isometric training that went out of fashion. If you push against object that will not move you will become stronger as soon as you start moving the joint the body use less muscle force. In isometric you can use up to 90% power of the muscle if you where to move the arm the body will only use 30% of force. Someone use isometric training over time they will be able to use of the muscle 80%. In boxing you see them Push against the wall as hard as they can for 6 seconds. Strong man will try and bend steel rods. a lot of people think that the muscle gives him strength but it's actually tendance strength

[@Tancrededebourgogne]

These infos are pure gold.

[@HkFinn83]

I’d love to see some dedicated people today see how far they can take their physique using just these methods. While I’m super impressed by these guys as much as anybody, I admit I have the sneaking suspicion that the additional weight training they did was what actually contributed more to their physiques.

[@moonsod1113]

No. In fact Maxick was a very ill boy who spent most of his time in bed. It was there he started experimenting with muscle control till he grew stronger. In his teens he carried sacks of flour, which were extremely heavy. When I was a teenager in England I used to read Health and Strength magazine in the late 1950's, along with the Joe Weider mags, and Maxalding (probably Monte Saldo, as then Maxick in his seventies was exploring the Amazon jungle) wrote articles and answered questions about the system.In one article it was said weights were not encouraged till near the end of the system, which took several years. Incidentally, Maxick was enormously strong and broke many records.

[@HkFinn83]

@@moonsod1113I believe he said that in magazines, I just don’t believe it’s true. We know how much of the magazines was pure marketing

[@gregoryblake3377]

I'm a older man and I'm not as strong as I used to be, a light weight system is of great interest.

[@lexluger6904]

True natural Testosterone beast. I dont know his birth date and how long he lived but wish i could go back in time n ask him what he thought about the ever so slightly bloated roid heads when the synthesized stuff appeared in the 40s and 50s. Im sure this guy was still alive n saw it all happen.

[@richardlawson6787]

First modern steroid dianabol came out in 1958...prior to alkalization primitive steroids were broken down on the first pass through the liver making them ineffective....so anybody prior to 1958 is natural

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

I'd be interested to know if he had children or grandchildren

[@lars-erikullsgard3320]

Testosterone was available at this time as well- it was from natural sources and also widely used as supplements.

[@lexluger6904]

@@lars-erikullsgard3320 You can't "eat" testosterone in any meaningful amounts for it to make any difference. It needs to be synthesized n turned into a bio available form for ur body to able to pick it up - didn't happen until the mid 1930s. It took another few years for bodybuilders to catch on, so round about 1940s guys probably began using testosterone. This guy is 100% naturally "enhanced", i would guess his serum test is 1500-2000, they don't make em like this anymore.

[@lars-erikullsgard3320]

@@lexluger6904 read « history of doping in sports» by Charles E. Yesalis and you might find some interesting accounts of What was used before synthesized testosterone as early as 1900.

[@ItsAllGoodGames]

Check out the feldenkrais method, its all about refinement of body control. In feldenkrais its critical to learn muscle control in an integrated manner, to arbitrarily isolate muscles has very limited benefits as far as functional movement goes(as far as i know) FOR EXAMPLE: if you lie on your stomach and you begin to raise your right leg, then as your lower back muscles on the right side CONTRACT to raise the leg, the opposite side on the left upper back will also contract as a balance to the lower back, you may even feel your head rise a bit, and left arm and shoulder if you place it near your head. Now if you just tried to flex these muscles individually somehow, then how are they all integrated together afterwards? MAYBE it works fine as part of an functionally integrated regimen too, so who knows. i mean they do all them calisthenic type movements, and theres no way you can do with ease things like one handed pushups or pistol squats without some functional integration i guess, otherwise youd wear out your body with poor movement quality.

[@ItsAllGoodGames]

oh wait i just watched the part where its written that muscle control alone is not enough and must be combines with exercises... LOL literally what i wrote basically before i watched the part yay!

[@jeffg2486]

Should do a video on the strength building attributes of this type of training.

[@christianroach5107]

6:09 That's the craziest one. When they say independent muscle control, that shot of the abs is the poster child of that system.

[@wobbers99]

This is an amazing and superbly narrated video. i do ok natty so should most. Thanks for your effort in bringing us these historic reminders. it's strange how posing in the mirror tensing adds to muscle maintenance.

[@outlander234]

The minute I saw this guy flexing those muscles the first thought came to me is Bruce Lee! He is the only other person that did this stuff and was talking about same things... Since we know Bruce was avid learner and bought and read every single book and magazine on fitness and exercise(had a library of 2000 books) available at that time its clear to me now he knew about this guy. I can literally see the same poses this guy doing that Bruce did also, most famous his scapula manipulation and retraction.

[@persevere6326]

To say he was ahead of his time is an understatement

[@monster_family]

That is beyond impressive.

[@mancal5829]

My mind is blown! It is nearly unbelievable.

[@sour_lemon_00]

I know people can build very powerful physique and be all natural. As a boy I worked in heavy labor. Some men that I worked with were very powerful, their chest and arms were like gorillas. Those men never took anything synthetic, they actually didn't eat much either. They just ate 3 square meals a day, with a small lunch. Years later I would encounter those men again when I was in my 20s & by then they became even stronger. They worked in heavy labor 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week in the hot sun for many years. Who says its not possible should start a job in heavy labor to help them to toughen up. 👌

[@sr.mental5876]

Constant exposure does that to the body. These people think it’s about drugs or some secret genetic lotteries but these men of strength are dedicated and persistent.

[@lizardspiral]

All I see here is a mastered mind muscle connection and adequate Stress to the muscle to make it grow. Maybe revolutionary at the time, but Mike Mentzer got it right.

[@matthowell8985]

to do that pre supplements pre everything is super amazing. this guy was basically in the Stone age of bodybuilding, that's 100% stellar genetics and a work output that is just straight silly.

[@ThorgalsWalhalla]

he looks fantastic! i would like to have a photo of a newer camera though. Crazy muscle controll

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

I don't know. That front double photo looks enhanced to me. Is this taken directly from a vintage publication, or the Internet. His biceps are huge for 1925, a time when experts thought the ideal was an identical neck, bicep and calf measurement.

[@alexandredelbois4157]

Hi awesome vidéo, i think i have now all max and associate book on muscle control, its incredible and its the big deal of their volume but how long they have to hold the contraction? Maybe you said it in the vidéo, please forgive me im not fluent in english and its already the 8th time i watch it...thank you very much for your work, its very important in the bs fitness industry to keep the expérience of people who had better result than us even without chemical.

[@svgcapital1994]

natural test was way higher back then too

[@Khankhankhan420]

I’ve been doing this since I started lifting. I noticed I wasn’t feeling the burn during exercise and figured out I was actually contracting target muscles I was using a muscle group to compensate so I started focusing on the individual muscles as I lifted and I’ve gotten significantly more strength and muscle volume since I figured that out

[@seraphx26]

There's no secret to attaining a good physique, there are many different roads but they all lead to the same destination, work hard, eat smart, and stay consistent in your training and you will see growth over time. Of course "getting big" means different things to different people, to some it means getting stage big like an IFBB steroid user, to some it means reaching your genetic potential or even just looking good with your shirt off at the beach. Having said that I've seen other guys get big from almost every program there is, I've seen big lifters, big calisthenic guys, and big dynamic tension practitioners. Just do the kind of training that you will stick with, turn off the gurus, put down the articles and just go train, eat, and sleep.

[@IronWarrior86]

He was a Bronze Era bodybuilder. The Bronze Era were the true naturals.

[@nocomment1212]

this is one of my favorite channels! keep up the great work!

[@christophermirkovich7290]

Carlos thanks for the clarification

[@mubashirkhan6881]

Just come across your channel here mate and i find this soooo interesting, fascinating stuff...got urself a new sub !

[@johndrake3472]

If this dude had access to modern bulking techniques he could be Mister Olympia today - unreal.

[@mark4lev]

What the hell are modern bulking techniques? You mean testosterone? I think most bodybuilders back then, ate a very high fat diet. Maybe a little protein but almost no carbs. There wasn’t a lot of carbs around back then, and processed carbs hadn’t been developed. In fact the move to a wheat based diet was an American import. Post ww2.

[@evanrutherfordlazyahole9079]

Thank you for this information.

[@mateusdovale5863]

Now, imagine what you can achieve with modern knowledge. You can achieve awesome shape as natural.

[@ziadmir]

Absolutley fascinating 😳

[@crazymodetv]

Love you bro don’t ever stop these videos!🙏🏽🙏🏽💪🏼💯

[@christopherwinrow3878]

Brilliant video mate respect YNWA brother

[@atlaspowershrugged]

I'm going to look into the Maxalding system. It sounds a bit like functional range conditioning, which I'm learning about now. I'm fairly suspicious of Sandow's light dumbell system just given its reputation among his contemporaries, but this seems to have more to it. Did you find anything about Billy Ralph's dietary strategies? There seems to be some kind of Bronze Era secret to getting shredded naturally without looking stringy and starved like today's natural bodybuilders. The silver era guys like Ross and Grimek, were much more massive, but they had to be a little smoother to pull that off, which is in line with how modern naturals understand things, but that didn't seem to be an issue in the earlier era.

[@joesantus1663]

(I'm age 66, been bodybuilding (naturally/drug-free) since age 15 beginning in 1971...) From all I've researched through my decades about the pre-1930 era, I suspect the "secret" of the especially-shredded ones like Pandour, Sandow, and Ralph was simply "the right genetics". They likely had genetics for more-favorable calorie-partitioning (their metabolisms tended to use calories more for building muscle than for storing as bodyfat) as well as for carrying lower subcutaneous bodyfat percentage, so, despite consuming what might have been calorie intakes similar to others with less definition, they were able to acheive those higher levels of definition/separation. Along with the need for carrying a little more bodyfat, so to be smoother, in order to carry greater muscle mass...Grimek once expressed that he didn't see himself as one able to acheive great definition - - he attributed one trait limiting the potential for definition to be "skin thickness" and judged that he himself had "thicker skin", which may mean he realized his skin tended to carry more subcutaneous bodyfat

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

There is little information other than eating in moderation and not overeating

[@RagingRugbyst]

COCAINE AND EPHEDRA WERE AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER.

[@joesantus1663]

@@RagingRugbyst While cocaine, in various forms, and ephedra (marketed by Merck pharmaceutical as "Ephitonin") were readily available in Europe and the US during the 1920s and 1930s, I've never found evidence that either was used as a diet aid/appetite suppressant by bodybuilders then. The fact that both were legal and easily available then, and that stimulants such as those were commonly acceptable in amateur and professional sports, including even the Olympic games, until after 1928, and were openly, publicly discussed then; yet, that no mention is ever made among physical culturists in their publications such as Sandow's or Mcfaddens', nor in the numerous training programs and instruction sold by the fitness industry then, nor in personal letters or writings by the physical culturists (what bodybuilders generally termed themselves then) of their using them for diet aids, is significant silence. However, perhaps I've missed sources containing physical culturists of that era discussing their use for cutting bodyfat? If you've read such discussions or mentions, could you please link or list the sources? Thanks!

[@RagingRugbyst]

@@joesantus1663 i mainly read a blog from a well read powerlifter, I have no actual sources. He takes it as a given that athletes used anything they had acces to. To me it's the obvious answer, humanity has abused stimulants for ages. But no, no hard research. It just looks like a duck and quacks like duck to me.

[@daleholte7234]

Yeah I had in my teens bought the routine of Charles Atlas from a comic book, could not afford weights later I learned to manually tense any muscle by imagining that a broom handle was a barbell, but if you watched movies of Bruce Lee you would see the same him using dynamic tension

[@brianhamilton5195]

For those that say he was on steroids, steroids weren't invented until 1935 in Germany! 👍😎🔥

[@buckaroobonsi555]

Great Video!!!

[@Takuin]

What would these bronze era guys eat to get shredded like this? Is this mentioned in the training books?

[@HellBoy-id6ss]

Truly one of your best videos..keep doing what you're doing..💪

[@marcels5237]

Wooow Billy is amazing,amazing muscular man without anabolic steroids.Perfect video 👍👍😊

[@wimeatsworld]

These man did indeed have beyond impressive builds. What is the Bronze Area your talking about? I don't even know how YT suggested your channel, but it seems they finally did it right.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Hi. Thank you for your kind words 🙏 I am a scientist and have begun characterising the different eras in iron game history. I called the Bronze era anything prior to the 1930s, before testosterone and steroids were juat being synthesised. The 1930s to 1950s is the Silver Era. 60s to 80s is Golden era

[@wimeatsworld]

@@GoldenEraBookworm So up the 1930s Bronze Era all was natural, the Silver Era was the in between, to end in the Gold Era where everything became readily available? It was a really nice introduction. I've been looking for an approach I can apply on the road that is more focused on getting the health benefits down (agility, strength, flexibility,...) rather than focus on not being able to fit through a door at the end of the road.

[@kajusbajus]

Very interesting . Good comment field here - many smart people who subscribe to your channel!

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Thank you. I'm slowly realising this topic should be my niche

[@RWAC685]

Shredded To The Core. Better Than 99.9999999999% Of People Now Days.

[@mofozi571]

Another great video!

[@ericlester5033]

Haven't watched the video yet I just wanted to comment on this guy physique probably one of the best I have seen I want a physique just like him

[@gregglockhart9551]

Looks like a wonderful system!