Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isometrics

Did the Austrian Oak use Isometrics to Chisel his Champion Physique?

By Paul J.O'Brien
B.A., N.C.E.H.S., Dip. Acu., Cert Clin. Med. M.T.C.M.C.I., M.C.Th.A.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isometrics are perhaps an unlikely combination. Of course Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most famous bodybuilder of all time, the man who first introduced the concepts of weight lifting and bodybuilding in its current form to popular culture through the cult classic documentary “Pumping Iron”. He is also the man who said this of isometrics –

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isometrics, Quote: In fact, I don’t think you can win a championship without practicing isotension….It isn’t enough to have big muscles, you have to be able to control them as well.... - Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, (Simon and Shuester, 1998), pg, 651

Known, in his competitive days, as the Austrian Oak, Arnold is the undisputed champion of bodybuilding. A 6 time winner of the Olympia and an authority on the development of a staggering physique, he stood in his prime at 6 foot and a massively muscular 260lbs. He attained this amazing physique through diet, a little chemical help and vigorous, excessive weight lifting. So what could Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isometrics have in common?

Very simple. Arnold felt that Isometrics were a vital component of training, and in fact the dividing factor between a great bodybuilder and a champion. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but he’s right. As you may know from reading my site, I’m not a huge fan of weight lifting in the conventional sense, and the fact is the hours and hours of intense daily training advocated by Arnold and the bodybuilding community is not only ineffective time wise, but also dangerous for one’s long term health.

In my opinion the use of chemical intervention in the form of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs as necessary to aid in the development of their incredible muscular gains and improve their recovery so that they could tolerate the excessive training they performed is certainly an indicator of an unhealthy training philosophy.

This has also be borne out over the test of time, with Arnold undergoing elective heart surgery to repair a defective aortic heart valve on April 16, 1997, and many of his fellow competitors suffering chronic pain, long term illness and in far too many cases, premature death. Take this in contrast to those who enjoy the practices of physical culture and you have active fit men and women into their 90’s, like Paul Bragg who was still windsurfing at the young age of 92.

In fact these same training methods and principals I teach in the e-book were used by Arnold to rapidly build up his weak points in training, and to finely balance and sculpt his musculature, resulting in the heavy definition and impression of density that his muscle displayed during his Olympia performances.

I’ll leave you with one final quote from Arnold, talking about his experience of using isometrics in his training –

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isometrics, Quote: He would keep me posing (a form of isometric tension – Paul) for hours, forcing me to flex the Serratus and keep the abdominals tense, until I was exhausted. He almost drove me out of my mind, but I would be so sore the next day that I soon realized the posing had actually been a terrific workout. - Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, (Simon and Shuester, 1998), pg, 651

If it was good enough for Arnold to use, perhaps Isometrics should be part of your training routine too? Find out more and check out the incredible results you can achieve using isometrics here – 7 Seconds to A Perfect Body!

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