Trick D

Mike Mentzer was born on November 15, 1951 in Ephrata Pennsylvania. Mike Mentzer in a nut shell changed the way training was viewed. He didn't believe in sitting back and talking to your friends as you lift, nor did he believe you should lift for several hours. He believed in intensity. This wasn't always true. After finishing 10th in the 1971 AAU Mr. America, Mike came in contact with Arthur Jones, who was a philosopher of "the less is best" mentality.

Soon Mike was doing heart pounding short workouts with weight that you couldn't just toss around. By 1976 Mentzer was the IFBB Mr. America. Soon after moving to LA, he won the I1978 FBB World Amateur Championships with a perfect score.

In 1979 Mike lost to Frank Zane for the Olympia. In 1980, Mike finished fourth in the most controversial Olympias of all time when Arnold made his historic comeback to bodybuilding. After this close battle, Mike retired from pro bodybuilding upset with the results. Mike didn't stop training, writing, or making videos. Mike was known for being very good with his words. In 2001 Mike made one last workout tape, a day later after completing it, he was found dead by his brother Ray Mentzer. Two days later his brother Ray died.

Mike to me was known for his intensity, but his physique was nearly flawless. He had huge arms, huge chest, and was incredibly big for his height by yesteryear's standards, standing at about 5'8 225. Even at his size, he could still hit a serious stomach vacuum.


Here are some pictures of the legend. May he rest in peace.

(some of the information used was from http://www.schwarzenegger.it/mro/mentzer.html)



http://digilander.libero.it/mikementzer/m19.jpg
http://digilander.libero.it/mikementzer/me14.jpg
http://digilander.libero.it/mikementzer/mi67.jpg
http://digilander.libero.it/mikementzer/k74.jpg

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