Full Body Training

[craig71]

John Grimek

I trained everything in every workout-I didn't do what they call split workouts and train legs and arms one day, back and other
stuff the next day. No, the only way I ever isolated a group of muscles was when I was finished with my routine for the day and I
still thought I needed more for my back or chest or legs or whatever. Then I threw in an additional two to three exercises and
much heavier-you know, trying to maximize the thing. And that was it. What is called split training wasn't used then, although I
had read somewhere that Hackenschmidt was using a method where he would isolate certain groups on certain days or else put more
emphasis on a specific part while training the entire body on a given day. But I never had a yen for that. I was making progress
all over, so there was no need for a concentration on a certain area. And I never found that training the whole body in each
workout was too tiring. In fact, when I got through, I was feeling a helluva lot better and more ambitious and energetic than I
did when I started.

Steve Reeves

I trained my whole body every workout. I'd work as hard as I could for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Whatever it took. The split system
of training came later, but I don't believe in that approach anyway. I think if you really train hard, you use up everything- your
nervous energy and all the rest of your energies. So you need to recuperate the next day. Recuperation is just as important as
Training. I'd train three days a week and rest four. I'd train the entire body almost to failure, then take the next day off.


Reg Park


In regards to whether full body routines 3 times a week work is dependant on the time available and individual enthusiasm. For
instance at one stage I worked out 3 hours in the evening Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I trained my entire body. So doing 3 full
body workouts 3 times a week can and does build strength, power and bulk.

Clancy Ross

Except before a contest I still train only three times a week, though my workouts are longer and harder than ever before.

[Jhony K.]

Nice post craig!

[Rich B.]

I have made really quick gains using full body training.  It is a killer training the body in one session.  Also since I have been brain washed since I was a kid that you need a split and a variety of exercises I'm always concerned about just using one or two exercises per body part. 

I think the trick is to change up the routine every two weeks or so to use different exercises.  Read my summer of change below thread to read about my experiences using whole body routines.