The Timeless Appeal of Classic Bodybuilding
I love bodybuilding. There, I said it. I’m not necessarily a fan of today’s current look or scene, but the Bronze, Silver & Golden Era of Bodybuilding absolutely take my heart.
A Different Time, A Different Ethos
There was something different back then before the proliferation of steroids. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not against steroids, far from it. I genuinely believe each person has the right to decide what they do with their own bodies.
For me, bodybuilding of that time had a genuine lifestyle of health quality that’s not here with us today. It was as if the ideals of Physical Culture were embodied in Bodybuilding at the time. Bodybuilders evolved out of feats of strength and health. Eugen Sandow, the first “bodybuilder,” in the sense we’re talking about, started out as a strongman performing in shows. Bodybuilders like Arnold and Franco had also competed in powerlifting and it showed.
The Ethos of Training with Purpose
There was this ethos that the training should have a point and be useful. That your training should leave you healthy and happy. Steve Reeves said it best when he said, “a workout should leave you feeling ready to take on the world,” (to be honest, I could be paraphrasing, so don’t quote that to exact).
The Influence of Le Mouvement Naturel
This also was shown in Le Mouvement Naturel (known today as MovNat and marketed by Erwan LeCorre). Le Mouvement Naturel was started by Georges Hebert, a French sailor who, while helping save lives during a volcanic eruption, noticed that people were no longer capable of doing basic human things. Running, swimming, climbing, etc, these things had fallen away as we grew more accustomed to our post-industrial lifestyles. His training revolved around being capable and, while not chasing looks like bodybuilding, useful.
The Practicality of Fitness
I like this view on training & fitness. Fitness should be the ability to do things, whatever that thing may be. Fitness, in this way, should be useful. Our trainings and routines should lead to results that aren’t only aesthetic based (which is fine, we’re all human) but also aid us in our day to day lives.
A Real-World Example
For example, back in August, Emily and I ran a 5k OCR. We trained hanging and grip, conditioning (going from one energy system to another pretty quickly, like from an explosive pull or jump into an aerobic state of running) and climbing. We also focused on step ups and knee health for Emily which lead to less pain and issues during her ADLs.
Our training was useful and at the same time lead to better aesthetics (we were also gearing up for our wedding). It can be two birds, one stone, but most importantly, your training should be useful.