Did Reg Park Take Steroids? | The Truth with Jon Jon Park

On this episode of the Escape Your Limits Podcast, we have a special guest today who retells the story of one of the most prolific bodybuilders in history, Reg Park, through his own eyes. His son, Jon Jon Park followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming an Olympic athlete and former Mr. South Africa.
Born in Leeds, England, Reg Park became Mr. Universe, and a well-known actor. Apart from his many bodybuilding titles and successful movies, he is best known for being the idol and inspiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reg Park influenced Schwarzenegger from everything including moving to America to his bodybuilding career, and to entering the world of movies.
In this week’s special episode, Jon Jon retells various stories of his father including:
• Meeting Joe Weider
• How Arnold emulated Reg Park throughout his career
• The Reg Park 5x5 program for muscle gains
So please enjoy this special episode of Reg Park through Jon Jon Park’s eyes.
Full Video: • Arnold Schwarzenegger'...
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[@roberthowe2910]

My late coach Harold arkrill..from Hull...who at that time new everybody in British lifting. Body building ..said about reg..at 18. He was naturally big..just gifted...and he was the first person in UK to do 500 bench..in sunny Hull.....in front of Harold...and he was ultra strict.....

[@jamproject9]

The only lifters that see what’s possible are those of us who never have taken that stuff.

[@nicholasmcdaid9143]

So true!!

[@johntaylor5288]

Reg Park was of course amazing, and I do believe with proper training and genetics his physique was achievable without anabolic aids. In my view, no less impressive was Jon Jon's physique that was remarkable during his earlier years, and it would have been fascinating to see how far his development could have gone as a natural bodybuilder. I recall seeing a photo of him in swimming briefs and his shape was outstanding. He had the kind of outer sweep to his thighs that you rarely see, not to mention overall muscle balance and pleasing proportions. It's a shame (in my view) that bodybuilding has fallen so far from its graces in the past 50 years with the direction it has taken.

[@cv6298]

Completely agree with you!

[@cv6298]

@GENETIC BEAST yeah, but at least I don't look as bad as you do, you need to change your name to 'genetic pathetic beast"

[@johndrimmel2805]

Pretty funny people still lie.

[@charlotteh8174]

@GENETIC BEAST Manlet, interesting that you mention that.. as a manlet yourself. Standing at 6"3 and weighing 242lbs 9% bf.. having trained for 15 years to achieve this naturally.. it most certainly is possible. Take yourself for a walk and give your head a wobble you absolute cretin.

[@davidnorton2473]

Amen to that

[@H.K.5]

It’s impossible to achieve Reg Park’s physique naturally, the guy was massive.

[@oliveroconnor2149]

No it is possible look at naturals like Alex leonidas and Geoffrey verity Schofield

[@Supersleuth0987]

@@oliveroconnor2149Not parks physique he was almost the size of Arnold.

[@oliveroconnor2149]

@@Supersleuth0987 dude look at the 1950 mr universe he’s only a little bit bigger than Steve reeves and Steve wasn’t even at peak shape. Steve’s physique is attainable naturally so why can’t reg be?

[@oliveroconnor2149]

@@Supersleuth0987 bodybuilders didn’t start doing steroids until the late 50s

[@Supersleuth0987]

@@oliveroconnor2149 bodybuilders were experimenting with steroids in the 40’s..Grimek said he used them in the 40’s, reeves wasn’t natural either.

[@kylekilraven6647]

so his dad didn't do steroids, the natty titan who sells duck eggs, never did steroids...no of course not. I wonder if Jon Jon would care to mention who did/does steroids.

[@edwardcoviello8430]

Great interview by jon jon and interviewer was excellent !

[@EscapeFitness]

Thank you Edward!

[@littlethuggie]

He *for sure* was on gear in his later career. Not only was gear readily available and being used by everyone in the 60s, but he was twice as big as he was during his wins in the early 50s.

[@smokingjazz5067]

Beautiful interview! I had a common friend in suoth Africa whonyrained with john john park in the 70s !!!!

[@lusianaratna4366]

How do you all explained the muscular statues from the greek that created centuries ago? the statues is ripped as hell! is steroid already found in ancient time?

[@barmawi9650]

statues? do you really think the statues were chiseled based on models whose bodies were exactly like those?

[@lusianaratna4366]

@@barmawi9650 then based on what??? prime Arnold is looks exactly like the statue

[@barmawi9650]

@@lusianaratna4366 I think based on their imaginations of what ideal body should be, and IMO no single greek statue looks like Arnold in his prime, I've never seen a greek statue with rounded shoulders, bulky chest and over size upper arms, six pack yes, but no 22-inch biceps, FYI most heavy weight boxers have only 16-17 inches biceps

[@maxmeier532]

@@lusianaratna4366 are you trolling or are you that uneducated? For real.

[@Supersleuth0987]

True naturals even today with all the scientific training and diet strategies struggle to complete at much above 170lbs for Parks height.

[@LiemNguyen-qr6bq]

Natural bodybuilders probably train harder than steroid users in my experience and it is a very slow process in gaining muscle. When you witness an individual that succumbs to the pressure to take steroids the muscle gains are almost immediate and with a lot less effort, they become hooked. In saying all that, bodybuilding is a very hard sport for most people, either natural or not, it's just with the same effort a natural bodybuilder can never compete with a steroid user, not even close.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Steroids ALLOW you to work harder. So no, natural athletes are actually training less.

[@robbienl8176]

Naturals are more long term, they also look good later on in life. It is the right way, but you probably can't compete with the users.

[@michealgreforcyk3095]

Segio Oliver ate roids like candy

[@jamestaylor9258]

Silver age lifters, perhaps. I am not sure Cutler/Coleman physiques are possible without steroids.

[@solb101]

No. But without them they still had incredible physiques. Coleman took steroids later in his career.

[@0kneelbeforezod0]

@@solb101No, Coleman was on roids throughout his professional career.

[@solb101]

@@0kneelbeforezod0 No. He took them later.

[@osvaldojosedasilva7897]

I am Brazil 💪🇧🇷 Reg Park 🏆💪 the best Bodybuilder 🏆 workout iron Man🏆💪

[@ThomasSirianniEsq]

His son knew whether or not his father took steroids??? Silly. He has no idea.

[@henriklorenzen7516]

If Reg Park had taken steroids he would have been much bigger. People who think that are typically people who don't want to make the sacrifices it takes to get physically fit, and have given up beforehand, and will always say that everyone else in better shape has always just taken steroids , as they themselves are too lazy, and don't have the necessary knowledge, and not the motivation and self-discipline that everything needs, to change one's body to it..! I have seen several people who are very close to looking like Reg Park and who I know 100% have never taken any kind of drugs.. On the contrary, they have been training on a hobby basis and the training was just a hobby , and yet they are very close to Reg Park physically..!

[@maxmeier532]

Completely wrong logic. You have a plethora of guys who take steroids and GH and they all look different. They dial in the look they want and trade off with the amount of juice they have to take. Especially back in the day with less sophisticated medical supervision, they had rules of thumb and experience based dosaging, depending on side effects. Because not only did they use roids in that time, they also knew of the side effects and tried to mitigate them through dose and cycle adjustments. What you see of those guys is just always a short moment in their training cycle. You dont see them with the backne, you dont see them with the tits, you dont see them after their balls are tiny and they cant get it up off cycle. So again, based on that experience, they did what was acceptable and safe based on their rudimentary knowledge. And frankly, Park won his titles at his size and he wont them against a bunch of guys. So to say he wasnt that big, is just flat out ridiculous cause he was among the biggest who competed back then.

[@zaneclone]

I suspect most commenting here are not genetically blessed with regards athleticism or muscularity- and as such have no idea what's achievable with dedication, commitment, hard work AND good genetics- and DRUG FREE. Train your ass off, eat correctly, rest correctly, commit to the cause for YEARS- and see what's achievable... Don't piss about on the bench for 6 months with cat backs and ego lifting- and then bark at those bigger than you saying "They must be taking gear"...

[@cherobinson6371]

Anavar is likely what Reg was taking. He’s got the natural sorta look but Anavar gives that and 20 pounds of muscle it’s by far the least harmful steroid.

[@lhv2k]

Most people in the comment probably train like shit and weak af, and most have average genetics who got their negative black pill from people like Greg Doucette, that's why they become pessimistic and no longer believe what's possible naturally, hence less and less people even come close to their natural limit and believe everyone uses steroid if they look good.

[@maxmeier532]

you're just a naive casual.

[@robbienl8176]

Think most people are fooled too often, i believed that arnold was natural until the mid 00's No one believes anyone anymore. But Reg and Steve i could believe becouse steroïds were hard to come by in the 50 i think.

[@stevewise1656]

He's absolutely right about coaches and overtraining.

[@nicholasmcdaid9143]

People who adamentally assert someone else had to be taking steriods when their character testifies they were probably not are only declaring that they lack such character and possess the inability to produce such standout results. Reg Park was an absolute legend, and for good reason. Such men used to exist, and I expect many still do. But unfortunately, naysayers are all too common nowadays. Such people have hamstrung themselves, and this saddens me somewhat, as they fall so far beneath their potential, into the chasm of unintelligent cynicism, where they want everyone else to wallow. The world doesn’t belong to dismissive jealous uninspiring people.

[@sonamfitness]

Cool dude. Great stories. Really motivating.

[@henryb1555]

This is why I come on KZbin, for completely unbiased views on stuff.......

[@newonevery740]

There are people with amazing bodies who never even trained let alone taking roids

[@Simonet1309]

I suspect it is impossible to achieve a physique like that without chemical enhancements. I doubt it could be achieved with just training, nutrition or genetics. I may be wrong, but I am yet to be convinced otherwise.

[@richardlawson6787]

You've never met a genetic freak...they exist...I went to high school with this guy...he played football...listen ..at age 18...totally natural...no protein powders ..no creatine...no steroids....and he was built like a jr mr.universe......most men could not look like him if they did all of those things...body building may be the world's most stingy sport...you can get good at most sports if you practice...but if you got bad genetics for muscle building forget it ...reg had the genetics

[@ofauvi2089]

Just look at Pre steroid cbum, he was massive already

[@newonevery740]

There are people with amazing bodies who don't even train

[@doomedgeneration1917]

It's not.

[@TheBatugan77]

​@@doomedgeneration1917 You're not.

[@grimmer2005]

So.... his son Jon Jon is a bit slurry to the truth here. Steroids where invented in the 1930s, and they where available to get by the 50s. Reg Park was born 1928, so by 1950 he was 22. Now, Reg Park was not superbig by 1950. But it is very likely to think that somewhere in the 50's, he could have started to use steroids. As alot of bodybuilders did. And it was a small community, the word went around quick. It is also at this time steroids where shooting in popularity, sold as a training supplement, completely legal etc. Of course the bodybuilders are gonna be the first hopping on this big new thing. Reg Park was very similar in size and build as the young Arnold he met as a bit older, as seen in many pictures of them together, and Arnold has admitted to be taking steroids. Now many of the old-timers, refused to admit taking steroids, despite people snitching on them that they did. It was shame involved in admitting, both then and now. There are many incentives to Not admit such a thing. Many would view him as a cheater, and downgrade the hard work he put in... "Ah, he got big, he took steroids, he was cheating". These old time bodybuilders saw what happened to other athletes, sprinters etc, when they got cought taking steroids. Their life was often shattered. You wouldnt wanna be hanged out as a cheater, and not worthy of the prices and glory you got from your bodybuilder career. So what is most likely. That Reg Park, with a very similar size to steroid-packed Arnold, actually took steroids also. Or that he was all-natural? I know where my guesses would go.

[@biblebill6206]

Look at the difference of bodybuilders on then of drugs it's like day and night shows it was mostly the drugs that built their body's .

[@truthandcompassion9932]

The guy is articulate

[@TheBatugan77]

I'm gesticulate.

[@AlexLekas_TakeOne]

They're called performance ENHANCING drugs, not performance substitutes or performance enabling. You still have to do the work and the diet and everything else. They can help with recovery but alone, they don't do anything. Whether you believe the claim or not is immaterial. Reg Park put in the work. Nothing else happens without that.

[@dionysosalters2297]

If he did steroids, he did steroids. If he didnt, he didnt. Muscle protein synthesis all the time vs muscle protein synthesis in a limited window is a very big difference

[@cherobinson6371]

Ha I’ve seen friends who barely work out and are 60 pounds heavier and it’s muscle on them from Steroids. Steroids make a huge difference. 4 times the healing and growth is possible easily.

[@maxmeier532]

nobody claims you can just take something and do nothing and still get big. you're just deflecting, and badly so. Everyone you included knows, that a) PEDs accelerate the process of getting big exponentially (also a psychological advantage when you see results fast) b) you get big with much less effort than if you were natural and c) they make you get bigger when naturally you would have had a plateau way before. If neither was the case, nobody would be taking them in the first place. If they only helped little almost noone would take them, because even most dumb guys would not think health risks were worth it. It's laughable who guys take them to then pretend like they dont really do much. It's seriously hilarious how dumb these excuses are. Everyone who takes them, knows exactly why they take them, because their benefits, just in terms of getting big, are tremendous.

[@anthonyortiz7924]

I don't see the point of people saying this over and over again. It's important to know whether he did steroids or not to give people the proper perspective on whether something is achievable naturally or not, otherwise people will get frustrated wondering why they can't achieve anything near what a steroid user is doing thinking they're "natural" too.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Jon Park looks alot like Tony Danza

[@keithdainton6043]

Everyone's a expert but actually they are not.

[@Frankiarmz]

I believe Reg was mostly if not all natural, simply a huge man with amazing genetics that responded to weight training. If you remember early pictures of Arnold he was huge and muscular, and probably didn’t use steroids until much later in his career .

[@mrm8818]

I think it was arnold that said he started at 15!

[@richardlawson6787]

Wrong..arnold started taking dianabol at age 18...but dianabol wasn't around in 1953 when reg won Mr.universe

[@thomaslee3287]

@@richardlawson6787 but test was

[@doomedgeneration1917]

@@thomaslee3287 test was rarely used for bodybuilding during those days though, it was more of a olympic sports thing considering the soviets started the trend.

[@thomaslee3287]

@doomedgeneration1917 they used small amounts of test for bodybuilding however it was only when ziegler developed dianobol a little white later dud they start taking them. Reg was defo on them at some point the dosage was no where near what us used today you can see it in the water retention most if them had bavk then.

[@michealgreforcyk3095]

Yes he took them when he got older

[@jameskelly6479]

I don't take couch potatoes serious that think they know it all when they don't lift. They are lazy.

[@cherobinson6371]

I’m lazy when I lift. Lifting a great way to get off the couch but at some point Level up and get some Boxing ,MMA,Mountai biking? Get yourself something that will be fun and will get u fit. Lifting does absolutely Zero as far as Fit goes.

[@jameskelly6479]

@@cherobinson6371 That depends on what kind of lifting a person is doing. The amount of weight one would use. We have as humans have 3 major muscles. And the amount of weight one would use along with reps would target witch muscles is getting the work out. 90 year old ladies have been able to put on some muscle by using the right techniques.

[@izzy9112]

I don't know why people are making a big deal out of Steroids ? they are part of the bodybuilding life style and they are part of majority of the sports that we watch, people get over it and go have a life.

[@johntaylor5288]

Unfortunately, too many people share the same sentiment about steroids as you've expressed, which is a very naive and a careless stance to take. Particularly this day and age when we know much more about the harmful effects of steroid usage, it is sad so many are willing to jeopardize their health (physical and mental) going down the path of performance enhancing drugs. Perhaps the US Surgeon General should have a warning posted at every gym in the country about the dangers associated with steroid use, much like the warning placed on packages of cigarettes. Note to self: They are harmful, illegal, and their use in sports is unethical.

[@_Sam62]

In addition to John's response, that people use steroids and other PEDs and seem to consider this normal is very bad. What's even worse is that the fake nattys (and there are a lot of them) claim to be natty, but are not at all. In this way they create false promises and expectations and therefore a lot of frustration.

[@noneyourbusiness341]

@@johntaylor5288 that’s their choice to make, and it doesn’t concern others.

[@johntaylor5288]

@@noneyourbusiness341 Actually, it may very well concern others: family members seeing the ill effects of steroid usage by those they love; those on the receiving end of roid rage; and athletes who abide by the rules and the law to remain natural and then have to compete against the cheaters. People are free to make their own choices and then face accountability for their actions. Rather than turning a blind eye to the problem, we have an opportunity to say something that may save someone from making poor decisions and negatively effecting their lives AND the lives of those around them. You're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

[@jenniferw4157]

You're an idiot if you're for promoting steroids. Steroids today have destroyed everything the oldschoolers stood for. Even in the 50s, they wouldn't be nearing any amount like the freaks... Testosterone was even promoted in the 50s apparently and may have been even before. Fitness industry is destroyed by drugs and false information and reshaping realism & what is possible to achieve naturally, which causes depression and body issues for people starting. Social media is just as dangerous, since it's a platform for all the drug users to claim natural and sell programs. It's all fake. If U promote fakeness and dangerous steroids, U R the problem with today's society. Reeves was right about the new age bodybuilding. Natural is the only way.

[@carlosmaximochanganaquigut4930]

Sergio. Oliva. Workout. With black coffe.

[@jeffreywingham5302]

They all do at that level. People need stop lying.

[@aussiecath]

I used to be accused of taking steroids all the time and I haven’t had anything as hard as creatine. I’ve wondered how far you can go if you keep going. I know for a fact you can go further than most people think.

[@rodamos7979]

@@aussiecath Yup, and that's why you're not famous as any of these world famous steroid using bodybuilders/athletes

[@cherobinson6371]

Every sport uses PEDS and drugs and sex are very part of Athletics.

[@newonevery740]

@@rodamos7979 you are missing the point, he didn't take it and was accused of it. Being famous is another thing because many take it and are not famous

[@maxmeier532]

@@newonevery740 you're missing the point that it's just some random guy on the internet with an anon account claiming shit. lmao you're naive.

[@Yeetdawg20000]

Also 4 pounds ish nothing over night I wrestled junior college and could drop 7 pounds in my sleep

[@shaunvduke]

If I just look at a pint, I reverse that...

[@suniacougar1056]

It's called "Bodybuilder" Has nothing to do with steroids. Steroids, It's a material for building the body. If you want the next level body sizes, steroids is a must. But the generic is very critical in my theory. I have seen many people take steroids and not knowing the math.I see these people in every gym. They will never compete, don't have what it takes 💯

[@Alex-Trejo]

At one point of his life, he did take steroids.

[@JosephMiller-hu7bq]

It's genetics that why you have the same people every year on stage for top 5 in the world if not , and all steroids you would new winners every show and you can see it the top guys have top level genetics

[@MrBluto2761]

In that Era he was probably using testosterone injections. Technically he can claim not a steroid which are traditionally thought of as derivatives of test. Athletes in the 40s were taking testosterone, Jake LaMotta wrote in his autobiography of using it for boxing in the 1940s. All due respect but I don't believe Reg was natural.

[@billyabot3023]

Yes he was as big as arnold and he never took steroids

[@yoholmes273]

Reg Park was most certainly on steroids while he was competing.

[@ORagnar]

It's highly unlikely considering when he was body building, especially in the early years. And some people have unbreakable integrity and honesty. Apparently Reg Park was such a person. It seems that you don't realize that about human beings, which is sad. 2,-3-:

[@jakew2350]

@@ORagnar testosterone had been available in the 1940s. He blew up after his 1949 show

[@luigirnotyourbusiness8127]

I want to believe that Reg was natty

[@adamkane7513]

Do you believe Madonna really is like a virgin?

[@robotsaysbeebooboop]

I expect the answer is "no" but the reality is yes

[@theasianjaywalker4455]

I wonder how long people (like, the average internet viewer) how long do they believe steroids, like the meaningful bodybuilding kinds, how long do they think they were available? For over 200 years? The last 50 year? Over 500 years ago? Not just 'ok, lemme look up google to the FIRST time a lab created this' but as a thing a bodybuilder could buy and use?

[@klw3786]

1958 Ziegler's anabolic steroid -- methandrostenolone -- is released by Ciba Pharmaceuticals under the name Dianabol. So anywhere from then on

[@yoholmes273]

1930's

[@theasianjaywalker4455]

@@yoholmes273 is that when labs could extract some from human cadavers?

[@yoholmes273]

@@theasianjaywalker4455 You are mistaken. Cadavers' were utilized in the earliest HGH projects.

[@theasianjaywalker4455]

@@yoholmes273 I see. So what's the deal with anabolic steroids in the 1930s. This is when they were being produced for patients in some sort of tablet or injection?

[@fightermma]

7:02

[@cherobinson6371]

Reg has the Anavar look. Most mild steroid and won’t give obvious freaky growth. Anavar adds 50% recovery time and about 15-25% muscles

[@bm2618]

Bro anavar was first introduced for medical use in 1964,

[@maxmeier532]

@@bm2618 So? He won 5 international titles after 1964 still.

[@Ray2001ify]

Lol... Oh man.... No roids

[@carlosmaximochanganaquigut4930]

Anavar Diana bol Light. Anabólicos.

[@Yeetdawg20000]

This guy thinks Mike o tren is natty if that tells you guys anything

[@josephfarrier3978]

I did 14 years in prison better looking then reg park when i left no joke i just never went and showed off

[@franzhulk2947]

picture or never happend. btw i look like lou ferrigno no joke but i went and showed off

[@pinkyellowblue007]

Better looking maybe but not as big ripped.

[@panfilovilla467]

I'm ready to give up, those 15 to 20 minutes a day just ain't doing it.lm pretty strong, but can't put no muscle on.

[@yyxy.oncesaid]

Who cares

[@mickmarty2082]

He CLEARLY DID!

[@newonevery740]

Nope

[@ascendotuum9586]

Lies!!!! He did steroids. I love Reg, but he was NOT "natural". You two, are doing TRT and hGH. It's all good fellas, so why lie about it.

[@neilboucher2529]

This guy thinks Mike o tren is natty, so.....