I love kevin's interviews you never know what he's gonna say. Vlad asks about cardio and he starts talking about powerlifter's using smith machines, Love it
It looks different because the incentive to be an extremely great competitor isn’t there with the power of social media. 90s Guys had to take it to the extreme to be successful because it was pretty much their only means to exposer. Now days social media acts as a safety net for people that can’t make it competitively. I’m not complaining I’m just stating the truth
Exactly...i have never heard dorian revealing any of his strategies rather now. Same goes with Ronnie, cutler and haney...i mean just look at them,isolated with their dreams.🔥🔥
Heavy metal fitness it also has to do with relying on drugs these days. The insulin mass monsters as opposed to hgh and test back in early 90s. That’s why they had that comditioned/separated look. All the insulin abuse and poor dieting makes them all soft and just pretty poor in general.
I love that vlad literally just interviewed all these guys once (MAYBE twice) for like 2-3 hours each and is milking it by releasing 4-7 minute videos every few days in order to actually make it look like he has constant new content. You’re not fooling us vlad lol.
All depends what works for the individual. Dorian Yates stated that normal Squats didn't suit him and preferred Smith Machine Squats. Also Dorian never did flat Bench Press, preferring Incline and Decline Bench Press.
Sean Ryan yes a lot of guys don’t get that flat is for the base of a chest workout and for strongmen etc where incline is more for the upper chest of people that get. Stronger but don’t get a big upper chest from it I do incline one week flat the next and use dumbbells one week bars the next Also squats are hard and not for everyone I’d say 4 out of 5 say there something wrong with their back elbow arsehole etc so they have to use machines you know the same guys that dodge every 3 weight then sees me working hard asks me how I lift then next week there back doing crossovers for mass 😂❤️😂
@@gurvijaybecker yes but early in his career he stopped doing basic squats instead preferring Smith Machine squats. He has said this in a few interviews.
@@michaelmicoowoods712 thanks for your reply. My Chest workout is Incline Bench Press, Flat Dumbell Bench Press and Dumbell Incline Flyes which I find works great for me. I train each body part 3 times over 14 days.
Michael Mayers By your body you mean the muscles that are working, that’s what you feel. You can make something hard on machines (time under tension) and you can make something easy on free weights (swinging, half reps etc) and vice versa. Once again, it’s not what you use, it’s how you use it and more importantly how your muscles respond to it.Stress, repair, grow, that’s it.
Scientifically the cables have a more consistent and longer strength curve than free weights. The difference in physics today rather than 20 years ago, is different drugs, insulin etc.
Anyone who might misinterpret what Kevin is saying about free weights vs machines.. He's not saying that machines are useless. He's just saying that when you're young you need to develop a strength base first. The vast majority of Mr. Olympia's started out strength training, powerlifting, and hitting heavy compounds first. This is why I appreciate new dudes like Chris Bumstead, Iain Valliere, and Nick Walker.. These guys hit heavy compounds in the off-season.
I think Kevin’s point of current competitors putting in the work to become champions shows how humble he is. Dorian said Brandon Curry wouldn’t get into the top 6 which is really unfair because most bodybuilding enthusiasts will agree the 90’s and 2000’s was the golden era of bodybuilding. You can only beat your competition which doesn’t include retired champions 🧐
Wiktor Myrhagen with knowing how to properly warm up the muscles, having controlled weight and not ego lifting as well as keeping flexibility as you should. Nothing should be tearing or majorly affected. In the aspect of “bodybuilders” which is the focal point. Now for the average joe who ego lifts or someone who is an older man/woman this may be beneficial. Or if your rehabilitating a body part. But if perfectly healthy and fine no reason to not take advantage and use the concepts and benefits in place. There’s a time and place for different approaches. Use “ discretion “
@@carloscruz7537 You can build a massive physique on machines buddy, look at Phil Heath who prefers Hammer Strength for chest and shoulder work. Most of the camel crew are using sophisticated converging arc machines. Of course they are still using dumbbells for curls, side laterals etc. Some machine movements are innately superior to free weights. Take a chest fly v's a pec deck. One has full tension at the bottom and zero tension at the top, the other has continuous even tension throughout the full range. Also there is a pec tear safe guard with the machine locking out. I have seen and heard the snap of a trainee snapping a pec tendon doing chest dumbbell flies, not pretty. Also don't forget Levrone tore his pec in '96, and stopped squatting around the same time because of a back injury.
@UC8H-MDE8oskc9HNUbK5fKIQ So you think someone's genetic ability alters or favours a bodybuilders progress on machines v's training with free weights? You have effectively made this statement. You have also made the claim that using PED's will improve machine efficacy v's free weights. This is completely nonsensical, and you are clearly too stupid to see you have actually contradicted yourself. A pro bodybuilder will use the most effective equipment at his disposal to gain the most muscle.. One of the reasons lifters are moving towards machines is they have greater access to them and they have improved tremendously. Aside from the first Universal and Nautilus brand machines there wasn't much to choose from, so free weights played a greater roll. Go back 100 years and no machines existed, only cannon ball dumbbells and barbells. If you look at Levrone's historical training videos he predominantly used machines except for his chest work. Phil Heath did not build his physique on predominantly free weights, you wouldn't know anyway. Have you seen Pumping Iron and seen the chrome Universal brand machines. These were used for lat pulldowns, seated rowing, tricep pushdowns, leg presses and extensions, just to name a few. Machines have progressively played a greater roll since the 70's. I'm 55 and been training since I was 19 so I have forgotten more about exercise physiology than you will ever know BRO. So fuck off you pathetic moron.
@@xanthromera hey doofus....you're too old to be so dumb. YES genetics play a tremendous role in muscle response. LEVRONE trained for 6 months a year because his androgen receptors are THAT good. he responded awesome to juice. a lot of PROS genetics are so good they can throw for and TUT out the window. ever heard the expression he can GROW JUST BY LOOKING AT WEIGHTS. I was in prison for 5 years and some guys got to250 solid just doing calisthenics....wake up old man.being a PRO LEVEL bodybuilder isn't just as easy as hard work. THESE GUYS WERE BORN TO BE BIG. YOU CAN FOLLOW THEIR ROUTINE FOR 50 YEARS AND NEVER ATTAIN ANYTHING CLOSE TO THEIR RESULTS. ARONOLD TRAINED 3 TIMES A DAY AND GREW. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD DO THAT? HAVE YOU SEEN JAY CUTLERS, PHIL HEATHS, ARNOLDS PICS WHEN THEY WERE 15-16 YEARS OLD? THEUR BODIES WERE THAT OF 20 SOMETHING YEAR OLDS.
@@carloscruz7537 Of course genetics play a roll in muscle response, this is not in question. What you specifically said was (in a post that appears to be deleted) that response to machines becomes greater than with free weights if one has greater genetics or is on PEDs. This was an idiotic comment that you are now distancing yourself from. I don't think there is a significant difference between training with either as long as you sufficiently fatigue the target muscle or muscle group. Machines are just safer, especially without a spotter. The rest of your comment has deviated from the initial argument and has become a pointless rant. I may be old dude but I still know more about exercise physiology than you ever will. I have trained or trained with every conceivable somatotype, from ectomorphs who struggled to gain a pound a year to guys who got stretch marks after 4 weeks of training clean. I have also trained with international competitors, including Josh Lenartowicz. Right now I live in city in lockdown where all gyms are closed and I am doing mainly bodyweight exercises off stairs and furniture. I haven't lost a pound because I still train balls to the wall and fail on working sets. You say guys in the slammer were 250lbs doing calisthenics, when really you mean they were doing bodyweight and ghetto exercises. Not surprised you did time with your wonderfully developed intellect. We're done BRO.
I've always loved Kevin, he always seems to represent himself with such class!! He was definitely one of the reasons why I got into bodybuilding!!! The 90s were amazing, but times change and i love how he sees that..
Ive always thought and found that the machines are good to start with especially as a beginner to weights . You need to aquire the muscle memory and correct movement tecnique for the exercise . I think the machine can do this well . After you can then move to the freeweights . It may feel like a half step back when you transition but you get used to it quickly enough. After that You can get better gains with the free weights
The physiques are not looking different because of the equipment lol, Kev just trying to get air time, the physiques look different today because there is a huge boom in the heavier use of insulin gh and expansive oil: everyone in the game who is anybody knows this, don’t fool the new generation, it is what it is
I remember when Kevin worked out at National Fitness in Pasadena Md. Owner of gym was Larry Ray. Of course that was in 1985. We were some young bucks then, now were old bucks lol. I sure do miss those days.
I agree. I only use machines every now and then as a way to give my joints and tendons a break. Like for a week I’ll do machines where needed and then it’s back to free weights.
He is so right. The only cable machine I use now is the pulldown and my gains have come so much quicker with dumbbells. Hell I only use barbells for squat and deadlift. Dumbbells for everything else.
Man my shoulder is so fd up I can’t do free weight benches anymore, also I disagree a little with the legs part all due to Dorian, he started his career with squats sure but he built the bulk of his leg mass on machinery.
As a serious lifter from my mid-20s I would agree with Kevin about free weights only because you’re young, healthy and still growing but as you age especially if you train intense you have to use wisdom and train according to your body’s needs if you want to save those joints and ligaments. I praise the smith machine now which I get a great chest, delt, back and quad workout...
Dexter Jackson and many others, swear by machine work and it works for them. There is the safety aspect too. The other great thing about machines is that you can get more constant tension, vs free weights where you only work against gravity and some of the range of motion gives you limited to no tension. Balance development with free weights is great, and necessary. I think its best if you do both.
so I think there are two issues. one... the Mass Monster guys are injecting lots of fluid, that also causes some pain and inflammation and discomfort, all that makes you not want to squat if glutes are sore from injections. also they are soooooo Huge if they barbell squat they have a 3 inch range of motion because they're stomachs will hit their quads or calf will run Into hamstrings, etc. and squats and deadlifts are freaking hard. if you are 300 pounds you don't have the fitness level to do enough volume for how big they are. Kevin is a legend but it's funny and happens in most sports the best players and athletes have less knowledge than the bench warmers that had to optimize everything just to hold the towels.
Kevin Levrone is in my list of top 5 bodybuilders who were freaks of nature. There is a video of him on a track, and some guy tell's him, "Bet you can't beat me in a race". Kevin laughs, they line up. Now I will say, Kevin lost, but barely. Mind you, the other guy looked like he either was a track and field athlete, or maybe a running back....he was fast. But, Kevin almost beat him. I'll never forget that video.. To see a guy as big as Kevin, run that fast, was just jaw dropping.
Funny how Kevin says Ronnies strength was God given .. Of course . But Kevin's Strength is pretty awesome to . Kevin is a bodybuilder with Powerlifter strength also like Ronnie .. Maybe not quite as strong but still , Very impressive... Love both you guys ..
Free weights are and will always be king. Dumbbells are a little more favorable for symmetrical development, but barbells still provide the conditions to make your muscles adapt/compensate for your weakness. Cable exercises allow for similar scenarios with the ability to move the attachment in any direction freely...machines are horrible. The create muscle imbalances and lead to impingements/strains. Smith machine squats are the worst possible scenario for a squat. Your back, hips, and knees have to adjust to the slide of the machine, instead of your body being able to work in harmony with itself to push the weight. Fuck machines, real weight is for the kings.
I get the point free weights are king but some machines like the pullover,leg extension or hack squat machines might be better for others.Especially if you go for negatives or drop sets.It did work for many including dorian yates.
So is the Sling Shot the same? Would it prevent you from reaching better results than without it. I never have used one but would like someone's opinion....
The sling shot is a tool mainly used for power lifters. It gives you an extra rebound effect that makes it easier to move the weight back up off your chest. It is supposed to keep your shoulders in a safer position when pressing also. Personally I don't think it gives someone's body better growth. I think people who are trying to build muscle need to do to the harder compounds first. Then finish with machine work or easier single joint exercises.
Guys looking different today has nothing to do with training. It’s the huge amounts of insulin, and hgh, even more than the 90s, with less emphasis on insane conditioning. Not only that but less people are competing...and if they are, many are choosing physique and classic. If you removed physique, classic and 212, and forced those guys to do open.....I think we’d see some amazing talent coming up. 🤷♂️
Machines are better safer and give you that real isolation in the muscle 💪 Free weights only get you injured and cause you to use a lot of body momentum.
Every retired bodybuilder criticizes the current generation, while if you go back to their days, you will find the older generation criticizing them. My personal opinion The current bodybuilding sport is safer than their time in all aspects . In terms of using machines for exercise and using steroids as well.
It's all based on what works for you. Free weights are better but that's not to say the Smith machine is crap. End of the day, it all boils down to genetics, diet, hard work and who's got the best drugs.
God! Not only is Mr. Levrone a untitled Mr. Olympia but he may be the last old fashioned bodybuilder! A old time bodybuilder that looked like a freight train that could go right through a wall if he wanted too and why because of the way he trained!!! Its tedious, it's boring, nobody enjoys the real way to train but check this shit out?!?!? IT WORKS!!!
The Real difference is the Guys between 1990 to 1999 just lifted heavier weights the always gave their 95 % Phil Heath and Co just lift 80 % of their max weight
The top guys don't post their training so we don't really know. I doubt the top guys don't train as hard. With all due respect to Kev, he said this when he made his come back and got starched and tied for last place at the O.
@@andrewmartin8612 the nautilus pull over machine was straight from hell, most effective had chains on it. Well if you look at his temple gym see what type equipment u find, hammer strength chest, hammer strength plate loaded lat pull down, plate loaded unilateral row, nautilus leg extensions, and hamstring curl, leg press/ hack squat. Nautilus preacher curl, dumbbells and barbell thats it. Now a days u see gyms with thousands of dollars of worth less equipment.
@@marcusTanthony dorian claims he stopped squating after 91 mr o, but prior to that he was squating heavy numbers, probably around 400 to 500. U cant build big legs without squating, once u have ur solid foundation in place its okay to ditch squats and do other exercises, but for a beginner or a intermediate guy trying to build big legs, squating is a must, to develop strong dense looking quads.
The word that you looking for stability when you work with dumbbells and bench or free weight you working on stability who are the machines take away machine is push that's it it's just like you said you got to think you got to squeeze you got to DAP you got to be cautious
I think Kevin is romanticizing the old school techniques a bit too much here. I agree free weights squats are overall a better exercise for anyone trying to be strong or trying to loose weight. At the same time nothing wrong with using a machine say leg press, you can achieve hypertrophy with it regardless.
Ok, so do 5 sets of 8 reps for pull-ups or chin-ups. Then do 5 sets with the same hand position, on a lat pulldown machine. Lol. Then tell me those exercises take the same amount of effort to complete. Tell me you feel the same after each exercise. 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
@@72Dexter72Manley72 depends on a few things 1. How much weight Im pulling down on the lat pull down 2. Hows my mind muscle connection. Am I doing my negatives at say 1/4th of the speed. 3. Am I progressively overloading the exercise and training myself to near failure at the end of working set. 4. Am I giving enough sets to the muscle group? Body weight movements are great too, but there are multiples ways to skin the cat.
@@gurvijaybecker I don't care how much weight you use on a Lat Pull down machine. 1. There is a Huge reason people line up to use a Lat machine but leave the Pull-up/Chin-up bars DUSTY. People are not strong and can't do them. They would rather use an easier exercise. Lol 1 Your body does not use,recruit more muscles on a Lat Pull down. Then with a Pull up. Proven fact. 2. You can use the same weight with either exercise and the Pull-up is a superior movement. 3. Progressive overload comes in many forms. You don't just need to increase weight. 4. If you train to failure with Pull-ups, you can still take it further with assisted reps and negative reps.
@@72Dexter72Manley72 I agree that pull ups are pretty tough, but I don't agree that its the be all end all of building a huge back. I don't think Dorian or Phil made their huge backs with pull ups only. I will bet my money by saying that pull ups weren't even a big part of their back training regimen. I don't have to go over the plethora of exercises available. You are just arguing in futility by saying that pull ups are holy grail.
@@gurvijaybecker I never said they were the Holy Grail. YOU DID. The Topic was about using machines compared to heavy compound exercises. Or did you Forget?. So don't try to change the subject. I'm sticking the Topic. As I said before, A Lat Pulldown machine does not work more muscles in the back then a body weight or weighted Pull-up. People can use as much momentum as they want doing Lat Pulldowns. I see it every day at the gym. People just about laying back on a bed to move the weight. It's pretty damn funny to me. Lol You work way more muscles doing pull-ups. I will even say doing partial pull-ups are better. But I believe in full range of motion pull-ups, to give the Lats the weighted stretch they need as well, each rep. 💪🏾 And I'm still waiting on you to prove me wrong. Lol Sure, Deadlifts and bent over T-bar rows to me are better back builders then Pull-ups. But you don't do T-bar rows on a machine. And you better not be doing Deadlifts on a Smith Machine. I'll Wait for your Lat machine proof. Lol
Why did Kevin think Ronnie would'nt win Olympia?...Kevin actually gave Ronnie the secret sauce buy having him drink Vodka or some type of alcohol a day before to dehydrate him so he could look more shredded. It worked and the rest is history....several times.
Dorian yates never need squats, he never did flat bench press. He also used smith machine on shoulder press. Yet he beat kevin every year, even although kevin had better genetics then Doiran but Dorian best him because he trained harder. So if it was he's training that beat kevin then kevin saying free weights works better is rubbish. Its he's opinion of course, but i agree with Dorian it dont matter free weight or machine its the intensity of the reps and the weight your lifting the matters.
Love it. Finally some credit to a real icon - Mike O'Hearn. Like I always said (for all you assholes), if O'Hearn was taking gear for years like the PROs, his waist and gut would be thick and wide. Even Dexter Jackson's waist is thick and wide from all the year so GH, steroids, and insulin. O'Hearn lifts and trains intense with the utmost dietary discipline. And has the tiny waist at age 51. Just saying!!!!
With all that knowledge its strange that kevin not become a personal Guru Coach..🤔kevin could be 2 Times Mr.Olympia if he had train harder ,because his Gentics are supiriour and if not give advises to Ronnie...or other Adversarys back then...like dorian he was the smartest and most dedicated...🤔
I love kevin's interviews you never know what he's gonna say. Vlad asks about cardio and he starts talking about powerlifter's using smith machines, Love it
It's called low IQ lol, he's dumb as a rock.
they probably fucked up the video editing.
@@jamiealexander7665 that's a bit unkind lol
@@starwarsroo2448 I love his physique, but he really is super dumb lol.
@@jamiealexander7665 trying say O Hearn natural the other week
Everyone who interviews Kevin should end by asking him to do his Ronnie impersonation.
Man just commenting this let me down thinking he was going to do it here
It looks different because the incentive to be an extremely great competitor isn’t there with the power of social media. 90s Guys had to take it to the extreme to be successful because it was pretty much their only means to exposer. Now days social media acts as a safety net for people that can’t make it competitively. I’m not complaining I’m just stating the truth
I agree
Exactly...i have never heard dorian revealing any of his strategies rather now. Same goes with Ronnie, cutler and haney...i mean just look at them,isolated with their dreams.🔥🔥
Regan grimes prime example
Heavy metal fitness it also has to do with relying on drugs these days. The insulin mass monsters as opposed to hgh and test back in early 90s. That’s why they had that comditioned/separated look. All the insulin abuse and poor dieting makes them all soft and just pretty poor in general.
I love that vlad literally just interviewed all these guys once (MAYBE twice) for like 2-3 hours each and is milking it by releasing 4-7 minute videos every few days in order to actually make it look like he has constant new content. You’re not fooling us vlad lol.
I think he got it from the OG UA-cam Vlad
Idiot it's easy to release video on topics wise ....no one has time to watch full episodes
Ronak Nanda yeh it’s not like podcasts like Joe Rogans arn’t listened to every day that are several hours long..... oh wait millions do😆.
🤣
All depends what works for the individual. Dorian Yates stated that normal Squats didn't suit him and preferred Smith Machine Squats. Also Dorian never did flat Bench Press, preferring Incline and Decline Bench Press.
Sean Ryan yes a lot of guys don’t get that flat is for the base of a chest workout and for strongmen etc where incline is more for the upper chest of people that get. Stronger but don’t get a big upper chest from it I do incline one week flat the next and use dumbbells one week bars the next
Also squats are hard and not for everyone I’d say 4 out of 5 say there something wrong with their back elbow arsehole etc so they have to use machines you know the same guys that dodge every 3 weight then sees me working hard asks me how I lift then next week there back doing crossovers for mass 😂❤️😂
Dorian did a lot of leg presses not smith machine
@@gurvijaybecker yes but early in his career he stopped doing basic squats instead preferring Smith Machine squats. He has said this in a few interviews.
@@michaelmicoowoods712 thanks for your reply. My Chest workout is Incline Bench Press, Flat Dumbell Bench Press and Dumbell Incline Flyes which I find works great for me. I train each body part 3 times over 14 days.
@@Seanryan2001 hmm
Kevin is owed 2 Mr. Olympia titles! He should have won a couple Dorian was gifted.
Phil Heath 7x Mr O predominantly uses machines. The muscle doesn’t know free weight or not it only knows tension.
he uses machines now but I'm pretty sure his foundation was built using free weights.
I agree with you. I also think it's interesting to note the lifting related injuries sustained by levrone as to phil.
Ypur body can fell the diffrence. U can tell the diffrence between the two
Michael Mayers By your body you mean the muscles that are working, that’s what you feel. You can make something hard on machines (time under tension) and you can make something easy on free weights (swinging, half reps etc) and vice versa. Once again, it’s not what you use, it’s how you use it and more importantly how your muscles respond to it.Stress, repair, grow, that’s it.
So true, always take retired peoples opinion with a grain of salt.
Scientifically the cables have a more consistent and longer strength curve than free weights. The difference in physics today rather than 20 years ago, is different drugs, insulin etc.
Exactly!
Lets see your physique. Free weights = better results.
@black lies matter sounds legit haha
Just look at today's physiques, the guys who use heavy free weights have that hard grainy muscle.
Okay do only cables then and see how that works for you.
Anyone who might misinterpret what Kevin is saying about free weights vs machines.. He's not saying that machines are useless. He's just saying that when you're young you need to develop a strength base first. The vast majority of Mr. Olympia's started out strength training, powerlifting, and hitting heavy compounds first. This is why I appreciate new dudes like Chris Bumstead, Iain Valliere, and Nick Walker.. These guys hit heavy compounds in the off-season.
Kevin , flex & Shawn ray !!
Un crowned MR O’s
My favs with Dorian yates
Chirs Cormier
Abhishek Chaudhry lee priest & Cormier both very underrated
I think Kevin’s point of current competitors putting in the work to become champions shows how humble he is. Dorian said Brandon Curry wouldn’t get into the top 6 which is really unfair because most bodybuilding enthusiasts will agree the 90’s and 2000’s was the golden era of bodybuilding. You can only beat your competition which doesn’t include retired champions 🧐
I literally just was recommended watching something was flex wheeler training deadlift with smith machine and training him was Charles glass
U can go beyond failure with machines. But start with compounds first.
100% agree ..nice comment
Not only that, but free weights move with your natural biomechanics. Machines are on a fixed path
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
That is so true in bodybuilding!
Just wait for a: bicep tear, pec tear, lat tear and quad tear before trying to «fix it»
Wiktor Myrhagen with knowing how to properly warm up the muscles, having controlled weight and not ego lifting as well as keeping flexibility as you should. Nothing should be tearing or majorly affected. In the aspect of “bodybuilders” which is the focal point. Now for the average joe who ego lifts or someone who is an older man/woman this may be beneficial.
Or if your rehabilitating a body part. But if perfectly healthy and fine no reason to not take advantage and use the concepts and benefits in place.
There’s a time and place for different approaches. Use “ discretion “
@@wiktormyrhagen9102 i mainly train with free weights... never tore anything
preach
When you get older and the joints start to play up you need to transition to machines. Ask Dexter Jackson.
yes....but he already has 30 plis years of foundation built by free weights....he didn't start on machines
@@carloscruz7537 You can build a massive physique on machines buddy, look at Phil Heath who prefers Hammer Strength for chest and shoulder work. Most of the camel crew are using sophisticated converging arc machines. Of course they are still using dumbbells for curls, side laterals etc.
Some machine movements are innately superior to free weights. Take a chest fly v's a pec deck. One has full tension at the bottom and zero tension at the top, the other has continuous even tension throughout the full range. Also there is a pec tear safe guard with the machine locking out. I have seen and heard the snap of a trainee snapping a pec tendon doing chest dumbbell flies, not pretty. Also don't forget Levrone tore his pec in '96, and stopped squatting around the same time because of a back injury.
@UC8H-MDE8oskc9HNUbK5fKIQ So you think someone's genetic ability alters or favours a bodybuilders progress on machines v's training with free weights? You have effectively made this statement. You have also made the claim that using PED's will improve machine efficacy v's free weights. This is completely nonsensical, and you are clearly too stupid to see you have actually contradicted yourself. A pro bodybuilder will use the most effective equipment at his disposal to gain the most muscle..
One of the reasons lifters are moving towards machines is they have greater access to them and they have improved tremendously. Aside from the first Universal and Nautilus brand machines there wasn't much to choose from, so free weights played a greater roll. Go back 100 years and no machines existed, only cannon ball dumbbells and barbells.
If you look at Levrone's historical training videos he predominantly used machines except for his chest work. Phil Heath did not build his physique on predominantly free weights, you wouldn't know anyway.
Have you seen Pumping Iron and seen the chrome Universal brand machines. These were used for lat pulldowns, seated rowing, tricep pushdowns, leg presses and extensions, just to name a few. Machines have progressively played a greater roll since the 70's.
I'm 55 and been training since I was 19 so I have forgotten more about exercise physiology than you will ever know BRO. So fuck off you pathetic moron.
@@xanthromera hey doofus....you're too old to be so dumb. YES genetics play a tremendous role in muscle response. LEVRONE trained for 6 months a year because his androgen receptors are THAT good. he responded awesome to juice. a lot of PROS genetics are so good they can throw for and TUT out the window. ever heard the expression he can GROW JUST BY LOOKING AT WEIGHTS. I was in prison for 5 years and some guys got to250 solid just doing calisthenics....wake up old man.being a PRO LEVEL bodybuilder isn't just as easy as hard work. THESE GUYS WERE BORN TO BE BIG. YOU CAN FOLLOW THEIR ROUTINE FOR 50 YEARS AND NEVER ATTAIN ANYTHING CLOSE TO THEIR RESULTS. ARONOLD TRAINED 3 TIMES A DAY AND GREW. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD DO THAT? HAVE YOU SEEN JAY CUTLERS, PHIL HEATHS, ARNOLDS PICS WHEN THEY WERE 15-16 YEARS OLD? THEUR BODIES WERE THAT OF 20 SOMETHING YEAR OLDS.
@@carloscruz7537 Of course genetics play a roll in muscle response, this is not in question. What you specifically said was (in a post that appears to be deleted) that response to machines becomes greater than with free weights if one has greater genetics or is on PEDs. This was an idiotic comment that you are now distancing yourself from. I don't think there is a significant difference between training with either as long as you sufficiently fatigue the target muscle or muscle group. Machines are just safer, especially without a spotter.
The rest of your comment has deviated from the initial argument and has become a pointless rant.
I may be old dude but I still know more about exercise physiology than you ever will. I have trained or trained with every conceivable somatotype, from ectomorphs who struggled to gain a pound a year to guys who got stretch marks after 4 weeks of training clean. I have also trained with international competitors, including Josh Lenartowicz.
Right now I live in city in lockdown where all gyms are closed and I am doing mainly bodyweight exercises off stairs and furniture. I haven't lost a pound because I still train balls to the wall and fail on working sets. You say guys in the slammer were 250lbs doing calisthenics, when really you mean they were doing bodyweight and ghetto exercises.
Not surprised you did time with your wonderfully developed intellect. We're done BRO.
Not sure why people knock this channel, not many channels putting out loads of interviews with bodybuilders,, great channel 👍
I've always loved Kevin, he always seems to represent himself with such class!! He was definitely one of the reasons why I got into bodybuilding!!! The 90s were amazing, but times change and i love how he sees that..
Ive always thought and found that the machines are good to start with especially as a beginner to weights . You need to aquire the muscle memory and correct movement tecnique for the exercise . I think the machine can do this well . After you can then move to the freeweights . It may feel like a half step back when you transition but you get used to it quickly enough. After that You can get better gains with the free weights
The physiques are not looking different because of the equipment lol, Kev just trying to get air time, the physiques look different today because there is a huge boom in the heavier use of insulin gh and expansive oil: everyone in the game who is anybody knows this, don’t fool the new generation, it is what it is
👍🏾
lol
Exacly
Levrone would definitely win the Olympia at least twice during this era 💪🏽💪🏽❤️❤️
Should've won it at least once in his era
I remember when Kevin worked out at National Fitness in Pasadena Md. Owner of gym was Larry Ray. Of course that was in 1985. We were some young bucks then, now were old bucks lol. I sure do miss those days.
@ 0:26, 2:15, 3:46 & 5:14 for Levrone.
I agree. I only use machines every now and then as a way to give my joints and tendons a break. Like for a week I’ll do machines where needed and then it’s back to free weights.
He is so right. The only cable machine I use now is the pulldown and my gains have come so much quicker with dumbbells. Hell I only use barbells for squat and deadlift. Dumbbells for everything else.
When u use machines u got to do more workouts . Train smarter
Man my shoulder is so fd up I can’t do free weight benches anymore, also I disagree a little with the legs part all due to Dorian, he started his career with squats sure but he built the bulk of his leg mass on machinery.
Dorian had the genetics for legs also just like Kevin had great genetics for shoulders and arms chest they were beautiful
As a serious lifter from my mid-20s I would agree with Kevin about free weights only because you’re young, healthy and still growing but as you age especially if you train intense you have to use wisdom and train according to your body’s needs if you want to save those joints and ligaments. I praise the smith machine now which I get a great chest, delt, back and quad workout...
It's always good to listen to Kevin, full of knowledge.
There should be a movie on 90s bodybuilding specifically focusing on kevin,flex and shawn.!
old school = injury prone
Exactly
That's because they gave everything in the gym
Not only those have real benefits
Facts. When u young u can train hard free weights but when u close to 30 u need to start using machines and stop lifting crazy. Look Ronnie
@@f0o0rest Very tru .. I'm 47 and I use machines and free weights but I'm a lot more cautious than when I was in my late teens through to 30
Dexter Jackson and many others, swear by machine work and it works for them. There is the safety aspect too. The other great thing about machines is that you can get more constant tension, vs free weights where you only work against gravity and some of the range of motion gives you limited to no tension. Balance development with free weights is great, and necessary. I think its best if you do both.
Dexter did more machines in the later end of his career. He already built a solid foundation if years of free weight.
Kevin always keeps it real
so I think there are two issues. one... the Mass Monster guys are injecting lots of fluid, that also causes some pain and inflammation and discomfort, all that makes you not want to squat if glutes are sore from injections. also they are soooooo Huge if they barbell squat they have a 3 inch range of motion because they're stomachs will hit their quads or calf will run Into hamstrings, etc. and squats and deadlifts are freaking hard. if you are 300 pounds you don't have the fitness level to do enough volume for how big they are. Kevin is a legend but it's funny and happens in most sports the best players and athletes have less knowledge than the bench warmers that had to optimize everything just to hold the towels.
They have the genetics not necessarily the knowledge, this is why they have trainers themselves.
Sorry but I believe Dorian’s method. He used what felt comfortable and it was a combination of both smith and free weights. Use what feels best.
Kevin Levrone is in my list of top 5 bodybuilders who were freaks of nature. There is a video of him on a track, and some guy tell's him, "Bet you can't beat me in a race". Kevin laughs, they line up. Now I will say, Kevin lost, but barely. Mind you, the other guy looked like he either was a track and field athlete, or maybe a running back....he was fast. But, Kevin almost beat him. I'll never forget that video.. To see a guy as big as Kevin, run that fast, was just jaw dropping.
Phill Heath said in a interview he hardly uses free weights
Funny how Kevin says Ronnies strength was God given ..
Of course .
But Kevin's Strength is pretty awesome to .
Kevin is a bodybuilder with Powerlifter strength also like Ronnie ..
Maybe not quite as strong but still ,
Very impressive...
Love both you guys ..
Free weights are and will always be king. Dumbbells are a little more favorable for symmetrical development, but barbells still provide the conditions to make your muscles adapt/compensate for your weakness. Cable exercises allow for similar scenarios with the ability to move the attachment in any direction freely...machines are horrible. The create muscle imbalances and lead to impingements/strains. Smith machine squats are the worst possible scenario for a squat. Your back, hips, and knees have to adjust to the slide of the machine, instead of your body being able to work in harmony with itself to push the weight. Fuck machines, real weight is for the kings.
The difference in the physiques today is drug abuse. Come on, let's be honest. Look at the 40s, 50s, and 60s bodybuilders.
I get the point free weights are king but some machines like the pullover,leg extension or hack squat machines might be better for others.Especially if you go for negatives or drop sets.It did work for many including dorian yates.
Basic and simple. That is the key.
Kevin you worked hard too man. I’ve seen ur videos. Very discipline
So is the Sling Shot the same? Would it prevent you from reaching better results than without it. I never have used one but would like someone's opinion....
The sling shot is a tool mainly used for power lifters. It gives you an extra rebound effect that makes it easier to move the weight back up off your chest.
It is supposed to keep your shoulders in a safer position when pressing also.
Personally I don't think it gives someone's body better growth. I think people who are trying to build muscle need to do to the harder compounds first. Then finish with machine work or easier single joint exercises.
Levrone and Flex wheeler were two guys who deserved to win multiple Mr. Olympia
Listening to the Uncrowned Mr. Olympia Kevin for me is always top notch!!
give away my eyebrow hair from your Avatar.🤣
Is it just me or is this whole interview full of answers that don't really answer questions?
Guys looking different today has nothing to do with training. It’s the huge amounts of insulin, and hgh, even more than the 90s, with less emphasis on insane conditioning. Not only that but less people are competing...and if they are, many are choosing physique and classic. If you removed physique, classic and 212, and forced those guys to do open.....I think we’d see some amazing talent coming up. 🤷♂️
Why does vlad never smile it creeps me out be happy man
Man one of the most beautiful physique ever
Damn the last few questions were awesome
Machines are better safer and give you that real isolation in the muscle 💪
Free weights only get you injured and cause you to use a lot of body momentum.
Someone asks kevin literally anything
Kevin: *SMITH MACHINES, NO*
The only thing i use smith machine for is calf raises
Machine's have their place, you can produce more strength because you dont have to stabilize and you can get more volume in less time.
He is totally Right, todays Bodybuilders except of the Top Ten Mr. Olympias are way weaker then the 90s BB. 🤔👍
I agree with the squats but disagree with bench press
Every retired bodybuilder criticizes the current generation, while if you go back to their days, you will find the older generation criticizing them. My personal opinion The current bodybuilding sport is safer than their time in all aspects . In terms of using machines for exercise and using steroids as well.
You gotta talk more about training in the interviews 👌👍
Those top tier bodybuilders prove time and time again that they have the genetics and do work hard mostly.
BUT, their knowledge is lacking.
It's all based on what works for you. Free weights are better but that's not to say the Smith machine is crap. End of the day, it all boils down to genetics, diet, hard work and who's got the best drugs.
Vlad, will you ever start lifting weights?
Isn't it weird he's such a bodybuilding fan and he's not even jacked at all?
Machines are great if you have injuries .. Dexter likes such too for longevity
In the 90s they wer much more shredded than nowadays, also better quality muscle
nowadays is the bubble gut era
U need both. Free weights for base, and machines for details
Agree 100%, if you're going all out at the end of your workouts, machines are great for that. Can't replace free weights for the compound movements.
I seen plenty of videos of him using smith machine
After pec tear from free weights lol
Who is the interview guy?
I stopped watching when he said Mike O'Hearn.
Lol yeah, but you gotta respect using free weights consistently with good form and you stay healthy..no injuries..that's the point.
Yep, balance is the hardest exercise
Kevin sounds smarter and classier than grumpy Dorian Yates
God! Not only is Mr. Levrone a untitled Mr. Olympia but he may be the last old fashioned bodybuilder! A old time bodybuilder that looked like a freight train that could go right through a wall if he wanted too and why because of the way he trained!!! Its tedious, it's boring, nobody enjoys the real way to train but check this shit out?!?!? IT WORKS!!!
The Real difference is the Guys between 1990 to 1999 just lifted heavier weights the always gave their 95 %
Phil Heath and Co just lift 80 % of their max weight
Kevin is exactly right bodybuilders don't train has hard now
The top guys don't post their training so we don't really know. I doubt the top guys don't train as hard. With all due respect to Kev, he said this when he made his come back and got starched and tied for last place at the O.
They dont. All they do is blast more gear than ever before and look mediocre. Sad. Too many of them are doing shit for social media and not focused.
Best phisique of all time
Look at the gym ronnie and dorian trained, dungeon type, real hardcore gym, no fancy machines.
Well actually Dorian liked to do smith machine squats and he did favour the nautalus pullover.... so..?
Dorian didn’t do free weight squats.
@@andrewmartin8612 the nautilus pull over machine was straight from hell, most effective had chains on it. Well if you look at his temple gym see what type equipment u find, hammer strength chest, hammer strength plate loaded lat pull down, plate loaded unilateral row, nautilus leg extensions, and hamstring curl, leg press/ hack squat. Nautilus preacher curl, dumbbells and barbell thats it. Now a days u see gyms with thousands of dollars of worth less equipment.
@@marcusTanthony dorian claims he stopped squating after 91 mr o, but prior to that he was squating heavy numbers, probably around 400 to 500. U cant build big legs without squating, once u have ur solid foundation in place its okay to ditch squats and do other exercises, but for a beginner or a intermediate guy trying to build big legs, squating is a must, to develop strong dense looking quads.
Makes alot of science. Much more fibers fired with free weights. I cann see that now.They way you explained that. Balance, etc.
Faccccing tell the truth!!! It's the amount and types of PEDS compounds available today period!!!!
kevin is the man
I can see where Kevin shouldhave won an O.
So should have Flex and Shawn.
Wh o do you take it from.
In the end there can only be one.
The word that you looking for stability when you work with dumbbells and bench or free weight you working on stability who are the machines take away machine is push that's it it's just like you said you got to think you got to squeeze you got to DAP you got to be cautious
Dancing with weights technique
I think Kevin is romanticizing the old school techniques a bit too much here. I agree free weights squats are overall a better exercise for anyone trying to be strong or trying to loose weight.
At the same time nothing wrong with using a machine say leg press, you can achieve hypertrophy with it regardless.
Ok, so do 5 sets of 8 reps for pull-ups or chin-ups.
Then do 5 sets with the same hand position, on a lat pulldown machine. Lol. Then tell me those exercises take the same amount of effort to complete. Tell me you feel the same after each exercise.
🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
@@72Dexter72Manley72 depends on a few things
1. How much weight Im pulling down on the lat pull down
2. Hows my mind muscle connection. Am I doing my negatives at say 1/4th of the speed.
3. Am I progressively overloading the exercise and training myself to near failure at the end of working set.
4. Am I giving enough sets to the muscle group?
Body weight movements are great too, but there are multiples ways to skin the cat.
@@gurvijaybecker I don't care how much weight you use on a Lat Pull down machine.
1. There is a Huge reason people line up to use a Lat machine but leave the Pull-up/Chin-up bars DUSTY. People are not strong and can't do them. They would rather use an easier exercise. Lol
1 Your body does not use,recruit more muscles on a Lat Pull down. Then with a Pull up. Proven fact.
2. You can use the same weight with either exercise and the Pull-up is a superior movement.
3. Progressive overload comes in many forms. You don't just need to increase weight.
4. If you train to failure with Pull-ups, you can still take it further with assisted reps and negative reps.
@@72Dexter72Manley72 I agree that pull ups are pretty tough, but I don't agree that its the be all end all of building a huge back.
I don't think Dorian or Phil made their huge backs with pull ups only. I will bet my money by saying that pull ups weren't even a big part of their back training regimen.
I don't have to go over the plethora of exercises available.
You are just arguing in futility by saying that pull ups are holy grail.
@@gurvijaybecker I never said they were the Holy Grail. YOU DID. The Topic was about using machines compared to heavy compound exercises. Or did you Forget?. So don't try to change the subject. I'm sticking the Topic.
As I said before, A Lat Pulldown machine does not work more muscles in the back then a body weight or weighted Pull-up. People can use as much momentum as they want doing Lat Pulldowns. I see it every day at the gym. People just about laying back on a bed to move the weight. It's pretty damn funny to me. Lol You work way more muscles doing pull-ups. I will even say doing partial pull-ups are better. But I believe in full range of motion pull-ups, to give the Lats the weighted stretch they need as well, each rep. 💪🏾 And I'm still waiting on you to prove me wrong. Lol
Sure, Deadlifts and bent over T-bar rows to me are better back builders then Pull-ups. But you don't do T-bar rows on a machine. And you better not be doing Deadlifts on a Smith Machine.
I'll Wait for your Lat machine proof. Lol
Why did Kevin think Ronnie would'nt win Olympia?...Kevin actually gave Ronnie the secret sauce buy having him drink Vodka or some type of alcohol a day before to dehydrate him so he could look more shredded. It worked and the rest is history....several times.
I can work out just has hard on a smithmachine and I dont need a spotter
machines dont help the stabilizing muscle like free weights
The interviewer has a voice that is like I don’t give a shit. Not the right guy to do interviews.
In the fine words of the hodgetwins “ do whatever the f&%k you wanna do!!!”
I agreed what he said.
Class act ... all the way ...
Kevin is saying the same shit for 15 years. Love that dude but these questions are getting boring.
He ask him about cardio 2:00 but never got an answer. He took a left instead of a right..Oops wrong turn
Dorian didn't squat
When your building muscle cardio is not that important in fact you can do to much and burn up your muscles I just do it 2times A WEEK
Dorian yates never need squats, he never did flat bench press. He also used smith machine on shoulder press. Yet he beat kevin every year, even although kevin had better genetics then Doiran but Dorian best him because he trained harder. So if it was he's training that beat kevin then kevin saying free weights works better is rubbish. Its he's opinion of course, but i agree with Dorian it dont matter free weight or machine its the intensity of the reps and the weight your lifting the matters.
Wow… I never heard him talk all that much and now I know why. He’s a bigger derp than Ronnie lmao.
Love it.
Finally some credit to a real icon - Mike O'Hearn.
Like I always said (for all you assholes), if O'Hearn was taking gear for years like the PROs, his waist and gut would be thick and wide.
Even Dexter Jackson's waist is thick and wide from all the year so GH, steroids, and insulin.
O'Hearn lifts and trains intense with the utmost dietary discipline. And has the tiny waist at age 51. Just saying!!!!
Guys from the 70’s were juiced. They didn’t look pregnant. Mike is geared up. Just not taking Mr. O level insulin and GH.
@@marcpost4034
True
Agree
neva worked out but its obvious real shit
Old school is old school.... Nothing aside
This is exactly how you tear shit up to....pro and con
5:19 - Regan Grimes..... Mark my words and mark them well....
Kevin should train Ramy for a year ....see how that goes
With all that knowledge its strange that kevin not become a personal Guru Coach..🤔kevin could be 2 Times Mr.Olympia if he had train harder ,because his Gentics are supiriour and if not give advises to Ronnie...or other Adversarys back then...like dorian he was the smartest and most dedicated...🤔