I ask this seriously, where did this idea/notion/rumor start? And if it was started, with what evidence/proof was it backed up with. Was there a point in bodybuilding's history that all of a sudden its top competitors achieved their physique devoid of any respectable strength?

Who was the weak ass bodybuilder that perpetuated this myth?

It seems like people commonly associate strength with powerlifting and size with bodybuilding. But a 495x3 bench by Levrone seems like a pretty significant feat if you ask me? Considering a lot of powerlifters seem pressed(no pun intended) to achieve that with bench shirts for even a single rep, let alone RAW.

This is something that I initially bit on hook line and sinker as I was just starting out, but now, cant believe I bought into given the amount of video proof showing countless bodybuilders moving some incredible weight for reps with impeccable form. Decade after decade!

Are these the same people who got me to buy the ab lounge? that work for fox news? that started national kick a ginger day?

Have wondered this myself...

My guess is that the ignorant public, when comparing, say, elite-level BBs and PLs, naturally assume the BBs are stronger b/c they look so much stronger. Then upon seeing the #s put up by the Coans of the world, wonder why the massive BBs can't do the same.

In fact, the ONLY people they appear "weak" next to are elite, national-level PLs.

Jealousy man. You can't look pretty and lift big. Haha gtfo with that shit.

I would venture a guess that it started in the fitness industry. There's a lot of hate on BBing in the fitness industry, in which I took part in, in the past.

I first heard it through Pavel Tsatsouline. He was comparing relative strength levels. Don't know whether he picked it up elsewhere or not. Don't have a clue as to who started it.

probably by a leviathan powerlifter who hadn't seen his dick in a decade.

My other post didn't show :(.

As I was saying, to be fair, Levrone benched 500 x 4 on M3, yes with a slight spot on rep 4 but still. In that movie, and I'll double check, he is 2 weeks out from the O, 2 fucking weeks out, dieted down, and "weak," that's bad ass and one strong mother fucker.

I saw vids of Branch Warren seated military press 315 x 20. Fucking monster. These dudes are some of the strongest in the world.

Many feel a psychological need, when seeing someone that they feel (but perhaps will not consciously admit) is superior to them in some quality, to denigrate the quality in question, or the person.

This myth isn't anything new, and has been around for many decades. It likely stems from jealousy and misunderstanding.

I suspect it may stem from the whole, bodybuilders aren't maxing all the time, so on any given day, on any given set, they're not lifting AS much weight as, say, a somwhat comparable powerlifter. And then rift went from not AS heavy to light versus heavy, maybe as bodybuilding became less prominent in popular media? All pure conjecture on my part. Though at my (university) gym, it would seem like the only way to get big arms is with heavy partials. Just my two cents, though.

Where are all these people calling bbers weak? Anyone have a link to a site or article claiming this?

Paul Chek.

Part of it probably stems from just ignorance of people not understanding how rep strength correlates to max effort strength, and that the general population doesn't see top end bodybuilders, they see low level aspiring BBers and the weights they're using and convince themselves that "it's not that much more than I do."

Or they just pick apart 1 video from someone like Brandon Ray with a very controlled style of lifting and say "there, bbers are so weak, most PLers kill that guys numbers."

I'm pretty sure this started with bodybuilding mags shockingly... When I was a kid and I read all the mags, they never ever stressed progression. It was always stressed that the wieght on the bar didn't matter. What mattered was straight sets, perfect form, slow reps, hold the stretch, squeeze the muscle hard at the contraction. Basically.. if you get a burn and a pump your doing it right. They never said anything like "If you do the same weight.. session after session, week after week, month after month, you won't grow.

You get a little stronger but progression is very slow when you train like that. So after a while you switch to the next program they give you. Which is all the same as above with different exercises and/or order.

It started like that and then was taken way too far buy certain authors. Authors are under pressure to come up with something new everytime they come out with an article. It's like a huge game of telephone. The years go by and there is so much BS intertwined with common knowledge on training its shocking.

Haha national kick a ginger day. When is this date?

I must mark it on my calendar...

Aren't Jay and Flex considered weak compared to a Ronnie or Arnold?

One thing that may only be me, but in the late 80s, and the 90s, many photo shoots for the magazines, with guys with too much gel in the hair, with ripped denim shorts with suspenders but no shirt wearing work boots with a buddy next to them also with a fake expression may have made many people think BBers were all show.

There are still many great ways to photograph modern BBers and make them look insanely powerful, look at the Animal Pak ads.

I also think it may be natural for people to see the 70s BB look, (non-competition time) where they looked big, but smooth by current standards as being healthier and therefore they were stronger.
It may just be me, but some ripped, overly-vascular behemoth (someone like Branch Warren) just doesn't look as strong as Franco Columbu for example.

Look it's simple. Lets not over complicate things.


Powerlifters = Purpose is to lift ever greater weights.

Bodybuilders = Purpose to find what makes "YOUR" muscles respond and grow. The "Weight" of the weights handled are a distant second to the focus in your workout.

This is why an average person can see a visually muscular dude say finishing a set of biceps with a 25lb Db to bring it to complete failure and think " man for all that muscle he only lifts a 25lb db?"

This is followed by the said average person taking a heavier weight and doing the same exercise next to the bodybuilder and feeling like they fit right in.

Then they look at the powerlifter and see a loaded bar full of plates for deadlifts and watch the misconceptions and rumors start lol :)