The Misconception about Fitness and Bodybuilding’s Popularity
Many hold the belief that fitness and bodybuilding are recent fads, having gained popularity only in the last few years. However, this is far from the truth. Fitness and bodybuilding have a long – standing history, with significant development since the 1980s. It is now considered one of the most talked – about beginnings in fitness history.
Dorian Yates in the Fitness Pantheon
Ronnie Kuhlman is widely regarded as an unrivaled figure in the eyes of most bodybuilders, often seen as the ‘grandfather’ of the sport. But in the era when bodybuilding was truly a major phenomenon, Ronnie was relatively new on the scene. When discussing the old – timers of the fitness world, Dorian Yates is a name that must be mentioned. He was an integral part of the bodybuilding era focused on building bigger muscles.
Although Dorian Yates may not enjoy the same level of internet – based fame as some modern fitness sensations, he was a giant in his own time. Standing at 178 cm and weighing 232 pounds, Dorian Yates had an outstanding career. From 1992 to 1997, he won the Olympia bodybuilding competition six times consecutively. In 1998, he was forced to retire due to injury. Ronnie Kuhlman followed closely behind, creating his own eight – year – long Kuhlman era.
The Different Eras of Bodybuilding
Even though there was only a six – year gap between Dorian Yates’ prime and Ronnie Kuhlman’s rise, the fitness world as a whole had entered two distinct eras. During Dorian Yates’ reign, bodybuilding was just entering the era of the 230 – lb behemoths, yet it had limited mainstream appeal. By the time of the Kuhlman era, the rapid growth of the internet played a crucial role. Ronnie Kuhlman’s training videos went viral, bringing the fitness industry into the spotlight. For a while, the fitness scene and Ronnie Kuhlman seemed to be one and the same, which is why many people today’s knowledge of veteran bodybuilders stops at Ronnie.
Dorian Yates’ Training Philosophy
Dorian Yates, who retired in 1998, undoubtedly missed the golden age of fitness brought about by the internet. However, his achievements were sufficient to sustain him both materially and spiritually. His unique training approach was particularly remarkable. He spread out his training days instead of training daily, but in each session, he pushed his target muscles to the point of exhaustion. During workouts, he rarely relied on multiple movements and reps; his specialty was single – set exhaustion. For each movement, he made the muscles contract to the extreme and then continued until it became unbearable.
Dorian Yates Today
Like all professional bodybuilders, Dorian Yates has experienced muscle loss after retirement. Now 57 years old, he still remains committed to fitness training. Although he cannot regain his Olympia – winning physique, one can still vaguely see the shadow of his former self. Compared to most people of his age, Dorian Yates has maintained an impressive level of fitness. As a veteran of the fitness world, Dorian Yates was a proud figure in the early days of the big – muscle quest. Whether he looks back with regret or not is unknown, but even if he didn’t have the same impact as Ronnie, his achievements far exceed those of most professional bodybuilders.
