Is Arnold Schwarzenegger a fortune teller? It would explain quite a lot. Who else can boast a career in bodybuilding, Hollywood, politics, investing and hosting mega events? I am, of course, being somewhat tongue-in-cheek here. I do not believe Arnold could tell the future, although I am surprised this was not the premise of any of his 90s action films.
Arnold was, and is, however, astute when it comes to navigating trends in American life. This is especially true in his home turf of fitness wherein his eye for opportunity was always strongest. Today’s post begins with Arnold’s critically important 1980s book, The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. First published in 1985, the Encyclopedia was a reference guide for trainees seeking to emulate their elite bodybuilding heroes. It covered everything from training and posing to drug use and mind games.
Now admittedly a lot of the book is problematic. The passages on drug usage are written in a breezy and vague tone, the workout programs themselves are made for enhanced lifters and the stories contained within it often aggrandize Arnold above all others. Still with all its faults, it was a popular book, published just as bodybuilding, and gym cultures, were punching into the American mainstream.
What interests me today is a short passage on the future of fitness. Today we’re going to read Arnold’s thoughts from the 1980s and evaluate the success, or not of his predictions.
Enjoy!
The Future of Bodybuilding
As I travel across the country and around the world, seeing more and more good bodybuilders develop in the United States and an increasing number of competitors from Europe winning interna- tional contests, I have great hope for the future of the sport. Body- building is so specialized and so difficult that only a small percentage of people will ever want to do what it takes to become an international champion, but athletes who once would have been drawn to other sports are now beginning to consider a career in bodybuilding. This is one of the things that will ensure that the sport will continue to grow, that the level of competition will remain high, and that the public’s interest will continue to increase.
Bodybuilding means so much more today than it did when I first fell in love with it. Then, there was only competition, but now it has developed a recreational side-bodybuilding for physical fitness, health, and developing confidence and a better self- image. Orthopedists are beginning to use it as a means of rehabilitation for patients with certain types of physical problems. It is being used by the elderly as a means of combating many of the debilitating effects of aging. It is also becoming more important in sports training as many athletes find that bodybuilding can greatly enhance their performance. Women, children, and even whole families are becoming involved in bodybuilding programs. This is not a fad; it is obviously here to stay.
But as the ranks of professional bodybuilders increase, and bigger cash prizes become available, it should not be forgotten that the primary reason for bodybuilding is a fundamental love for the sport. Without this love, the camaraderie between bodybuilders is lost and the athletes compete without joy or satisfaction. If you consider only the financial side, then when another bodybuilder beats you, he has not just bested you in a contest, he has taken away part of your living, and it is difficult for anyone in this position to have anything but negative feelings for other competitors, and eventually for bodybuilding itself.
But I would like to see bodybuilding introduced to many more people than just those who are considering competition. Bodybuilding training is one of the best methods of achieving physical fitness, and the more people who understand this and benefit from it the better. Organizations like the IFBB often forget there is a world out there beyond organized bodybuilding, and put restrictions on bodybuilders as to where, when, and for whom they can give bodybuilding seminars. My view is that bodybuilding should be energetically encouraged on any occasion and for any audience. Enhancing all aspects of life through better physical fitness is a need that takes priority over any jurisdictional considerations.
He’s a Witch! Burn Him!
Before discussing Arnold’s predictions I do want to include one of my favorite Monty Python sketches about witches.
We’ve found a witch, shall we burn her?”
“Burn her! Burn her!”
“How do you know she’s a witch?”
“Cuz she looks like one!”
Moving swiftly on and absolving Arnold from all links to the occult…
The Encyclopedia‘s predictions were less about telling the future and about noticing existing trends. The expansion of bodybuilding globally had already begun as evidenced by the entire premise of Pumping Iron the book and the backdrop of South Africa in Pumping Iron the documentary (both released in the 1970s).
Likewise, people relying on bodybuilding techniques and fitness as a lifestyle, even for athletes was underway. I’ve previously written about Jan Todd, Terry Todd and Jason Shurley’s wonderful book on strength and conditioning in American sports. The inclusion of weight training activities for athletes truly took off in the 1960s and 1970s while the rehabilitative use of weight training likewise existed during this time.
New groups coming to bodybuilding, including women and children, was a prescient observation. Obviously, by that point, women’s bodybuilding had already begun (the first Ms. Olympia was held in 1980, and there were numerous precursors in the late 1970s). It took much longer for medical buy in that children engaged in weight training were safe but again, the tide did change.
What I do want to zone in on is Arnold’s reminder that the primary reason for engaging in these practices is a fundamental love for the sport. Bodybuilding stood at an interesting crossroads in the 1980s. The sport itself was soon to become counter-cultural and defined by mass monsters while the practices (going to the gym, taking supplements etc.) was becoming mainstream.
Maybe I’m becoming cold and cynical but I find both worlds have forgotten the importance of joy and wonderment when it comes to training the body and making achievements. Yes this is soap-box time but if the sport’s biggest star was warning people to remember to enjoy these things, I feel I’m in good company.
Was Arnold a fortune teller? Nope.
Was he aware of a growing trend in the sport which focused on winning and commercialism? Absolutely.
So while I won’t be relying on Arnold for next week’s lottery numbers, I will remember to enjoy my next session.
As always… Happy Lifting!