💪 Old Man Strength

Author

Andrew Gutman
March 30, 2022

What's up, Ya'll! We're resisting the urge to open this week's newsletter with a joke in case Will Smith is lurking nearby. 

Today's edition of The Ripped Report includes a list of every Masters Olympia winner, more details on Breon Ansley's retirement from Classic Physique, and another grueling workout from Nick Walker. 

LEGENDS

Like Fine Wine

Image Courtesy of @mrolympia08 on Instagram

Things that get better with age:

  • Wine

  • Bourbon

  • Bodybuilders (apparently)

In February 2022, Olympia President Jake Wood teased that the Masters Olympia would make a comeback sometime next year. The announcement had fans and competitors alike buzzing at the prospect of older legends remerging on stage. 

If you're a newer or more casual fan, you may be scratching your head wondering how you've never heard of this event. Well, for one, it's been 10 years since the last Masters Olympia took place. And it has only been held 10 times since the contest's inception in 1994. 

Check out our list of every Masters Olympia winner along with a brief history of the show. 

ATHLETES

What a Ham

Photo Courtesy of Nick Walker on YouTube

Nick Walker has a lot of time on his hands; at least when it comes to building mass. 

It's well-established that Walker's next show will be the 2022 Mr. Olympia. After winning the 2021 New York Pro, 2021 Arnold Classic, and placing fifth at the 2021 Olympia, Walker is dedicating a full year to his Olympia prep. 

Another significant change for "The Mutant" is his split with Matt Jansen and hiring dietician and bodybuilder Dominick Mutascio as his new coach. Mutascio is charged with guiding Walker's prep leading up to and peak for the O.

In the spirit of new, Walker recently debuted a fresh leg workout where he prioritizes his hamstrings and "touches up" his quads. Here's the training session:

  • Seated Leg Curl: 2 working sets of 10 reps, 1 drop set of 10, 10, 10 reps for each weight.

  • Stiff-Legged Deadlift: 3 working sets of 10-12 reps

  • Single Lying Leg Curl: 2 working sets of 10 reps per leg

  • Lying Leg Curl (Both Legs): 1 working set to complete failure

  • Abduction Machine: 2 working sets of 15-20 reps

  • Leg Press: 3 working sets of 12-15 reps

  • Leg Extension: 3 working sets of 10-12 reps, 1 set of 20 reps

  • Machine Glute Kickback: 2 working sets of 12-15 reps

Since the video was published, Walker has close to nine months to build upon his fifth-place finish at the 2021 Olympia.

NEWS

Ansley's Sizing UP

Image Courtesy of @breonma_ on Instagram

Somebody get Breon Ansley a slice of cake.

Last week, the two-time Classic Physique Olympia winner announced that 2022 would be his swan song in the division he once ruled. This isn't completely surprising. Ansley's performances have slowly declined since his back-to-back Olympia wins in 2017 and 2018, and an Arnold Classic win in 2018. He placed second at the O in 2019 to Chris Bumstead and third the next two years. However, his fourth-place finish at the 2022 Arnold Classic seems to have been the final straw. 

On March 25, Ansley revealed that the weight cap (185 pounds) for his height (5'7") in Classic Physique is too restricting. "We will see what the next year and the next chapter in competing brings us," Ansley said in a recent YouTube video.

While he didn't specify his plans entirely, Ansley has competed in the 212 Division before and is eluding strongly to a move up. He says that his body looks best in the mid-190-pound range.

So what's next for Ansley? The 43-year-old says he'll compete in at least one more show before the 2022 Classic Physique Olympia, and that he's 20 weeks out (as of March 25). The Tampa Pro is exactly 20 weeks from when Ansley called his shot. It's a popular Tier 2 contest, and it could be the place he debuts his rebooted 212 physique; he'd have more than enough time (roughly four months) to cut back down in time for the Classic Physique Olympia. 

Of course, this is all speculation. Only time will tell. 

TRAINING

Your Dad's Favorite Row

Image Courtesy of martvisionlk/Shutterstock

The t-bar row has been a go-to back-building exercise for longer than some of you have been alive. 

Like most things in bodybuilding, it was made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The seven-time Mr. Olympia sweats by the movement and was shown performing rep after questionable rep with five plates loaded on the sleeve in the 1977 film, Pumping Iron.

The film may have given the exercise its notoriety, but the t-bar row has stuck around thanks to its enduring benefits: more back size and strength, an enhanced grip, and the chance to Cosplay as Arnold in front of your gym bros without drawing too many odd looks. 

We can only endorse those first two benefits. 

THE DROPSET

Everything Else From Around the Web

Courtesy of @jimstoppani on Instagram

  • For the past six weeks, Dr. Jim Stoppani has been dishing out sage advice for bodybuilders in an interview series by Generation Iron and BarBend. This week, Stoppani says that as long as a lifter reaches muscular failure, the specific weight used and reps perform aren't entirely important. The answer to the question, "should I lift more reps with lighter weights or fewer reps with heavier weights" lies somewhere in the middle. Stoppani says lifters can use both methods, as long as they take their sets to or close to failure.

  • Seven-time 212 Olympia winner Flex Lewis got a chest workout in with Rafael Brandão at his Las Vegas gym, The Dragon's Lair. Brandão was five weeks out from competition at the time the video was released. Lewis and his coach, Neil Hill, led Brandão through a workout and helped him dial in his posing.

  • Australian bodybuilder Josh Lenartowicz recently spoke on his recovery from a brain tumor and confirmed that he isn't retired from competitive bodybuilding. The conversation occurred on an episode of The Menace Podcast, hosted by Dennis James. Generation Iron reported on this story.

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