💪 Legendary Strongman Switches to Bodybuilding

Author

Andrew Gutman
May 11, 2022

We can spend all year cultivating mass, but what use is it if we don't occasionally harvest?

(Thanks to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for the inspiration there.)

Speaking of harvesting mass, former 212 Pound Mr. Olympia Kamal Elgargni is training for a highly-anticipated return to the sport's biggest stage. And legendary strongman Terry Hollands — he of many, many World's Strongest Man appearances — is already no stranger to bodybuilding competition. But freshly retired from elite strongman, he's leaned out AND bulked up for a return to the bodybuilding stage.

Plus, our friends over at Breaking Muscle have an article with a URL that ends in "/how-to-build-big-arms/" — so that's DEFINITELY worth a read.

COMPETITION PREP

Former 212 Mr. O Kamal Elgargni Is Training For His Olympia Return

Image: @ifbb_pro_kamal_elgargni

Legends never really stop training. And because bodybuilding is a sport of patience and perseverance, that means lots and lots of prep. Whether it’s the offseason or during contest prep, letting off the gas — or the creatine — even briefly could result in sliding down the placings when the big day finally rolls around.

2019 Olympia 212 Champion Kamal Elgargni has been in the game for a while, and he knows his body pretty well by this point. Combining machines and free weights into his routine, Elgargni has a sound strategy when he enters a weight room.

ATHLETES

Terry Hollands Transforms His Physique (Again)

Image: @terryhollandswsm on Instagram

Okay, we lied. This is the REAL "harvesting mass" story.

On May 8, 2022, former strongman Terry Hollands made his return to a competitive bodybuilding stage to compete at Fit X The Insight Supps contest in Leeds, England. The two-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) bronze medalist has shed a significant amount of weight since retiring from professional strongman following the 2021 WSM contest. His competition prep has brought his body weight down to a lean 300 pounds, according to a May 3, 2022, post on his Instagram page.

"I truly believe we become the person we are capable of by going through tough stuff and coming out the other side."

Hollands’ physique has yo-yo’d over his career as a professional strength athlete, reaching as high as 203 kilograms (447.5 pounds).

TRAINING

How to Build Big Arms

Paul Aiken/Shutterstock

If you lift, then you probably want to look like you lift. (Look, there are exceptions, and we don't judge either way. But this article is full of sleeve-busting goodness, so you've been warned!)

For many gym-goers, looking the part includes owning a pair of arms that put the seams of your sleeves to the test. Aesthetically, big arms are imposing and signal to others that you do indeed hoist iron. Functionally, bigger and stronger arms help you bench press, overhead press, and row more weight; they’re not just the end; they’re a means to another end (lots of strength).

And while most folks think hammering out close-grip bench presses and standing curls is enough to target the smaller arm muscles, there’s a science to building up your arms. But there are four fundamentals you need to wrap your head around to comprehend how to build bigger arms fully.

THE DROPSET

Everything Else Around the Web

Image: @w_wittmannphoto on Instagram

We asked, you answered:

Last week's question was "Where do you get most of your bodybuilding news?"

38% of you said Nick's Strength and Power (we get it, his videos slap)

26% said our friends over at Generation Iron (they're also great)

25% said BarBend, one of two sites we run (the other is Breaking Muscle)

5% said Facebook Groups

6% said "Other" and named some competitors we won't list here (it's all love in this game, though!)